As of Monday evening, farmers in China have harvested 6.35 million hectares of winter wheat, representing 28 percent of the total summer crops, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs. On Monday alone, 1.27 million hectares were collected, a significant increase from the same day last year, supported by nearly 229,400 combine harvesters nationwide.
For the 2025-26 growing season, China planted approximately 22.6 million hectares of winter wheat. This crop is crucial for the country's annual grain production and food security. In major regions, Anhui province has surpassed the halfway mark in harvesting, while Henan, the largest wheat-producing province, has completed over 35 percent. Harvesting has exceeded 10 percent in Jiangsu and Shaanxi, and has begun on a smaller scale in Shandong and Shanxi. In southwestern China, the harvest is complete.
To mitigate potential losses from adverse weather, authorities in nine key wheat-producing regions have mobilized over 3,300 agricultural machinery service centers and nearly 5,900 emergency machinery teams to expedite harvesting and ensure adequate grain drying capacity.
The China Meteorological Administration forecasted widespread rainfall starting Wednesday, with heavy rain expected in Jiangsu and southern Anhui. However, harvesting in these areas is expected to be largely completed before the rain arrives. Scattered showers are predicted in Shandong, northeastern Henan, and northern Jiangsu, with minimal impact on harvest progress since large-scale operations have yet to begin.
Local governments are advised to prioritize harvesting in early-maturing fields when conditions allow. The ministry has dispatched teams to major grain-producing counties to coordinate operations and address logistical challenges. Additionally, the Ministry of Transport has streamlined inspection procedures for agricultural machinery crossing provincial boundaries, and meteorologists are providing tailored forecasts to machine operators.
