Ministry of Agriculture Deploys Work on Harvesting During Clear Weather and Sowing While Soil Moisture Remains

At present, autumn harvesting and autumn sowing are in full swing across the country. All localities are earnestly implementing the spirit of the national video conference on autumn and winter sowing work, harvesting during clear weather and sowing while soil moisture remains, accelerating the harvest progress, and ensuring timely sowing. At present, more than 30 percent of the autumn harvest has been completed, a markedly faster pace than the same period last year.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture's agricultural situation monitoring, as of September 30, 35.2 percent of the national autumn grain harvest had been completed, 6.5 percentage points faster than the same period last year. By crop, 40.9 percent of middle-season rice (single-season rice) had been harvested, 1.7 percentage points faster than the same period last year. For corn, 35.5 percent had been harvested, 10.8 percentage points faster than the same period last year; the relatively fast progress was mainly because corn in Shandong, Henan, Anhui and other provinces matured 3-5 days earlier this year. For soybeans, 30.0 percent had been harvested, 6.4 percentage points faster than the same period last year. By region, nearly 70 percent of the autumn harvest had been completed in the southwest, more than 40 percent in the Huang-Huai-Hai region and the northwest, more than 30 percent in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, and more than 10 percent in the northeast, all faster than the same period last year.

Since the start of autumn sowing, most of the northern winter wheat region has had sufficient subsoil moisture, and most of the rapeseed-producing areas in the south have had well-matched light, temperature and water conditions, so wheat and rapeseed sowing have generally progressed smoothly. As of September 30, more than 15 million mu of winter wheat had been sown nationwide, a relatively fast pace compared with the same period last year; more than 9 million mu of winter rapeseed had been sown, with progress unchanged from the same period last year.

According to the forecast of the Central Meteorological Observatory, in the next 7 days the northern part of China will see more cold air, while most of the south will be mainly sunny, with alternating sunshine and rain in the southwest. Soil moisture is suitable in most parts of the country, which is conducive to the smooth progress of autumn sowing. The Ministry of Agriculture will remain unshaken in its goal of stabilizing grain production and increasing incomes, strengthen scheduling and analysis, intensify guidance and services, and solidly advance the smooth progress of autumn harvesting and autumn sowing. First, carefully organize and carry out the autumn harvest well. Pay close attention to weather changes, strengthen the scheduling of agricultural machinery, give full play to the role of agricultural machinery, organize cross-regional machine harvesting, accelerate the harvest progress, and promptly dry the grain to ensure that every kernel is returned to the granary. Second, accelerate the progress of autumn and winter sowing. Prepare agricultural machinery and agricultural inputs early and in sufficient quantities, accelerate the pace of clearing stubble, improve the quality of land preparation, guide all localities to scientifically arrange sowing dates, seize the favorable opportunity of rainfall, and sow while taking advantage of soil moisture and when soil moisture is sufficient, so as to ensure that crops are sown at the appropriate time and that full stands are achieved after sowing. Third, rationally arrange the planting structure. Guide the groundwater funnel area in Hebei to appropriately reduce the wheat area. In areas of severe ecological degradation in the southwest, implement the fallow task to the fields before autumn and winter sowing. Other areas should expand the planting of high-quality weak-gluten and strong-gluten wheat according to local conditions to meet market demand. Fourth, strengthen technical guidance and services. Organize experts and agricultural technicians to formulate and issue autumn and winter sowing technical plans as early as possible, rationally arrange variety distribution, guide all localities in scientific seed selection, focus on promoting key techniques for stable and increased yields such as deep plowing and deep loosening, seed dressing with chemicals, and post-sowing compaction, improve sowing quality, and ensure full stands after sowing.