High risk of sudden outbreaks of pests and diseases in late rice; the Ministry of Agriculture demands strict prevention and control

Since the beginning of autumn, temperatures in most of the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, Jiangnan, and South China have been more than 1°C higher than normal. The “late autumn not cool” climate conditions are very favorable for the occurrence and damage of the rice “two migrations” pests, and some double-cropping late rice in South China and Jiangnan and some single-cropping late rice in parts of the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River are at risk of sudden outbreaks. Therefore, pest and disease prevention and control in the later period still cannot be relaxed.

According to monitoring by the national major crop pest and disease forecast network and on-site investigations organized by the Ministry of Agriculture with experts, at present in the double-cropping late rice areas of South China and Jiangnan, the number of rice planthoppers is generally 300-800 per 100 hills, about 20% of fields reach 1,000-2,000, and in some untreated fields the number per 100 hills reaches more than 10,000, among which brachypterous adults reach 200-300; in the single-cropping late rice areas of the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River and the Jianghuai region, the number per 100 hills is generally within 300, while in observation areas the number per 100 hills reaches 1,000-2,000, a week-on-week increase of 50%, among which the proportion of brachypterous adults is about 20%, and the number per 100 hills is generally 50-200, exceeding the major outbreak threshold of 30; in most double-cropping late rice production areas, the residual population of rice leaf rollers is higher than the same period last year, generally more than 1,000 per mu, and in some areas of Jiangxi, Hunan, and other places it is as high as 4,000-5,000.

In response to this severe situation, the Ministry of Agriculture requires agricultural departments at all levels in the relevant areas to continue to fight the battle against late rice pests and diseases and strive to achieve “seizing grain from the mouths of insects” to ensure a bumper harvest. First, strengthen monitoring and early warning. Carry out comprehensive pest surveys to achieve “clear numbers and clear circumstances,” accurately grasp the dynamics of occurrence and development, and clearly identify key prevention and control fields and critical prevention and control periods; second, strengthen emergency prevention and control. Focus on key areas and heavily affected fields, adopt measures combining specialized unified prevention and control with mass prevention and mass control, carry out emergency prevention and control in a timely manner, and strictly prevent outbreak damage; third, strengthen supervision and inspection. Strictly implement the supervision and inspection system with responsibility assigned by areas, organize experts for roving guidance, and ensure that prevention and control measures are implemented in place and technical measures are applied to the fields.