Torrential rains have hit China s wheat fields at harvest time, leaving crops waterlogged and moldy in the country s top producing province.
The state media called it the worst prolonged spell of wet weather during harvesting in more than 10 years. The six days of rain in Henan province have also delayed machine harvesting and caused sprouting, which affects both yields and quality, state media said.
Although it's too early to assess the damage, the damage could be significant. This season is set to be the biggest importer for China, the world's biggest producer and consumer of food. Any shortfall in production or quality could force the nation to increase imports, tightening global supplies.
The US Department of Agriculture has data showing that the province of Henan grows 27% of the country's wheat, followed by other regions such as Jiangsu, Anhui, Hebei and Shandong. In northern North America, the grain is the mainstay, used mainly to produce noodles and steamed buns.
We should expect much more sprouted wheat this year than normal, said Zhang Zhidong, a senior analyst at Guolian Futures. As quality declines, less of the crop will be used to make flour and more will go to animal feed. Online videos show unharvested crops that have turned black, rotted or sprouted. The head of one village in Henan said that about 2,000 mu of wheat is in a similar condition, with another farmer in a different region having to discontinue 600 mu of his crops because of the damage.
The state media reported that hundreds of harvesting machines on the way to gather the new crop in Henan were stuck on highways because of a lack of certification, causing the delays.
The Henan government is taking emergency action to save the crop. It is mobilizing harvesters and drying machines in the region and neighboring provinces to ensure a prompt and efficient harvest. The authorities are also using any available non-traditional locations to dry the grain, from village squares to school playgrounds and flat rooftops.
With all the efforts, Henan has managed to harvest just 4.5% of all wheat acreage in the province so far, state media said. The average length of wheat harvesting in the U.S. typically ends in the third week of June.
none Jazz Struggles on streaming, but vinyl sales give the genre hope.