Record Autumn Rains Swamp Harvest in China’s Grain-Belt Provinces
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On October 10, in Nanyang City, Henan Province, tractors were carrying harvested rice. Continuous rain has caused severe waterlogging in the fields. Photo: VCG
Persistent and record-setting rains since September have flooded major grain-producing regions in China, including Henan and Shandong provinces, derailing the autumn harvest and threatening the winter wheat sowing season. The onslaught of extreme weather follows a severe drought earlier this year, compounding the hardship for farmers already grappling with crop losses.
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- Record rainfall since September has flooded key Chinese grain regions, impacting over 4.8 million hectares and delaying harvests in Henan and Shandong.
- Excess moisture threatens winter wheat sowing, compromises corn quality, and may strain animal feed supplies, raising concerns for food security.
- Authorities have issued high-risk weather warnings; emergency measures and disaster relief are being implemented as improvement in weather is forecast.
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What Happened When
- Earlier in 2025：
- A severe drought occurred, preceding the onset of persistent rains.
- September 2025：
- Persistent and record-setting rains began in major grain-producing regions in China, including Henan and Shandong provinces.
- Oct. 1 to 13, 2025：
- Shandong experienced its longest uninterrupted autumn rain stretch, with average precipitation surging more than seven times the normal levels.
- By Oct. 14, 2025：
- Estimated 72.1 million mu (4.8 million hectares) of farmland in Shandong had been drenched.
- Oct. 14, 2025：
- The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs and the China Meteorological Administration issued a high-risk warning for continued rain and waterlogging across multiple provinces.
- Oct. 17, 2025：
- Premier Li Qiang chaired a State Council meeting focused on disaster relief and price stabilization for agricultural inputs.
- Oct. 18, 2025：
- The Central Meteorological Observatory reported rainfall in some areas being one to four times above average, with significant reduction in sunshine. As of this date, 90.9% of Henan and 81.2% of Shandong farmland was excessively wet.
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