New wheat harvest and drying advisory: rainfall expected in the Huang-Huai region on June 1-3

From May 25-28, most of North China, northern Huang-Huai and eastern Shaanxi saw 1 to 2 days of high temperatures with maximums ≥30°C, among which most of central and eastern North China had 1 to 2 days with daily maximum temperatures reaching 32-35°C, and parts of central and southern Hebei, eastern Beijing and most of Tianjin had 3 to 4 high-temperature days; in the above areas, the relative air humidity at 14:00 was below 30% for 1 to 3 days, and parts of Hebei and Shanxi experienced 1 to 3 days of light to moderate dry-hot wind weather. Since soil moisture was suitable in most of the northern winter wheat region and the dry-hot wind weather mostly occurred intermittently, this dry-hot wind process had an overall small impact on wheat grain filling in the northern winter wheat region; only wheat in areas with poor soil moisture in northwestern and central Hebei and parts of southern Shanxi suffered dry-hot wind damage.

It is expected that in the next 10 days, temperatures in the northern winter wheat region will gradually shift from the current notably high levels to near normal, and from June 1-3 there will be light to moderate rain from west to east, which will help increase soil moisture and ease drought in drought-affected areas; the water and heat conditions are generally favorable for wheat grain filling and maturation. However, in southern Huang-Huai, there will be localized heavy rain or rainstorms on June 1-3, which is unfavorable for wheat harvest and drying, and the summer harvest will be briefly hindered; around the 31st, some areas in eastern North China will have light to moderate dry-hot wind, which is slightly unfavorable for wheat grain filling. Precipitation in North China will be less than normal, and some wheat fields will continue to lack soil moisture. Therefore, the following suggestions are made:

1. The winter wheat region in North China should closely monitor changes in soil moisture in wheat fields; areas with poor soil moisture should irrigate at the appropriate time for grain filling to increase field humidity and alleviate the adverse effects of dry-hot wind weather on wheat grain filling.

2. All localities should also do a good job in the “one spray, three preventions” work and guard against the harm of severe convective weather, so as to promote increased grain weight and stable or higher wheat yields.

3. In areas of Huang-Huai where wheat is already mature, attention should be paid to seizing sunny weather for harvest and drying, and after clearing the stubble, summer planting should be carried out in a timely manner when soil moisture permits.