Major grain crops planting status in China

Grain is China's most important agricultural product. It is the source of most of the calories and protein in the average diet and accounts for a sizable proportion of the value of agricultural production. The major grain crops planted in China are rice, wheat, corn and soybean.

China was the world's largest producer of rice, and the crop made up a little less than half of the country's total grain output, accounted for about one third of total global rice production. In a given year total rice output came from four different crops. The early rice crop grows primarily in provinces along the Chang Jiang and in provinces in the south; it is planted in February to April and harvested in June and July and contributes about 34 percent to total rice output. Intermediate and single-crop late rice grows in the southwest and along the Chang Jiang; it is planted in March to June and harvested in October and November. Double-crop late rice, planted after the early crop is reaped, is harvested in October to November. Rice grown in the north is planted from April to June and harvested from September to October.
 

In 2008 China ranked first in the world as a producer of wheat, accounting for one-sixth of the world output in good years. Winter wheat, which in the same year accounted for about 88 percent of total national output, is grown primarily in the Chang Jiang Valley and on the North China Plain. The crop is sown each fall from September through November and is harvested in May and June the subsequent year. Spring wheat is planted each spring in the north and northeast and is harvested in late summer. Spring wheat contributes about 10-15% percent of total wheat output.

Corn is grown in most parts of the country but is most common in areas that also produce wheat. China is the second largest producer of corn in the world. Corn production has increased substantially over time in China and in some years has been second only to production of rice.

Soybeans, a leguminous crop, are also included in China's grain statistics. The northeast has traditionally been the most important producing area, but substantial amounts of soybeans are also produced on the North China Plain.