China prepares for nationwide summer wheat harvest as weather conditions improve

China is set to enter a large-scale summer wheat harvesting campaign in the coming days as weather conditions improve following a period of heavy rainfall that temporarily disrupted field work. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs said favorable forecasts across key producing regions are now supporting the rapid expansion of mechanized harvesting.

Henan and Anhui provinces are expected to begin large-scale harvesting by the end of the week, while Jiangsu has already started limited operations and is moving toward full-scale activity. In northern provinces such as Shandong, Hebei and Shanxi, harvesting is expected to begin in early June, while some southern and central areas have already started partial collection of mature wheat.

Authorities estimate that more than 17 million agricultural machines will be deployed nationwide this season, including over 800,000 combine harvesters, with more than 200,000 used in cross-regional harvesting operations. This large-scale mechanization is aimed at speeding up the harvest and ensuring timely processing of wheat across regions with different maturity schedules.

Despite recent heavy rains in central and eastern China, officials say the overall harvest outlook remains stable. Agricultural experts have urged farmers to improve field drainage and quickly remove excess water to prevent waterlogging and reduce potential yield and quality losses.

With improving weather conditions, China is expected to maintain a steady pace of harvesting, helping minimize risks to grain quality and ensuring smooth progress of the summer wheat campaign nationwide.

Tags: harvesting, China, wheat