On October 25, the State Council Information Office held a press conference regarding the agricultural and rural economic operations in the first three quarters of 2024. During the event, a reporter inquired about the progress of the autumn harvest and the ongoing autumn and winter planting, particularly in relation to the current developing trends.

In response, Pan Wenbo, Chief Agronomist of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs and Director of the Crop Management Division, explained that while the autumn harvest is still underway, preparations for autumn planting are already in motion. He emphasized that the autumn and winter planting marks the start of agricultural production for the following year. Notably, the area designated for winter wheat accounts for roughly one-fifth of the total grain area for the year, while winter rapeseed comprises over half of the annual oilseed area. Thus, effectively managing the planting of winter wheat and winter rapeseed is crucial for ensuring a bountiful grain and oil harvest in the summer of the next year.

Pan noted that the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs is proactively advancing autumn and winter planting initiatives while simultaneously managing the autumn harvest. Prior to the autumn equinox, comprehensive plans were laid out, and relevant government departments timely issued policy signals regarding a one-cent increase in the minimum purchase price for wheat. Technical guidance for winter wheat and winter rapeseed planting was also disseminated, along with training on the “Double-late” technique, which involves late harvesting of preceding corn crops and late planting of subsequent wheat. Preventive measures against pests and diseases, such as seed treatment and pesticide application, were implemented right from the planting stage to enhance productivity on a large scale.

Pan reported that, based on field investigations and feedback from various regions, the overall progress of autumn and winter planting has been smooth. Early crops have been transitioned efficiently, most areas have favorable soil moisture conditions, and planting is slightly ahead of the same period last year. According to data up to October 24, 21 million acres of winter wheat have been sown, which is 61.5% of the planned area, exceeding last year’s progress by 5.9 percentage points, despite a slight delay compared to long-term averages as a result of the late planting strategy. For winter rapeseed, over 7.4 million acres have been planted, completing 66.7% of the intended area, which is 3.1 percentage points ahead of last year.

Additionally, Pan mentioned that the Ministry has sent six teams to 14 key provinces to assist local authorities in advancing autumn and winter planting efforts. The focus will be on three main areas: ensuring the sowing area is maximized with timely planting, implementing pre-winter management strategies such as wheat compaction and winter irrigation to promote strong seedling growth, and reinforcing disaster prevention measures to secure a successful harvest next summer by addressing cold weather and pest threats.