Southern China Rice Damage Suspected Due To Rain
By Andrew Owen
Kansas City, June 29 (World Weather Inc.) – Rainfall in the past week improved spring and summer crop conditions in portions of the Yellow River Basin and North China Plain. Sufficient amounts bolstered soil moisture to more adequate levels and periods of rain will 
help keep soil moisture near current levels during the next two weeks. Portions of Shandong and Hebei will be a little dry at times through the end of next week before rain returns later in July.
The main concern for China in the coming weeks will be for the wet weather bias in the Yangtze River Basin and southernmost provinces where heavy rain has already been falling for a while. The additional precipitation will maintain excessive moisture conditions and some flooding raising the potential for rice crop damage and a cut in production. Early rice is maturing and being harvested.
Areas from southern Sichuan and Yunnan through northern Fujian and Zhejiang reported the greatest amount of rain in China’s production areas during the past week. Moisture totals for the seven-day period ending this morning ranged from 3.00 to 10.00 inches most often with local amounts up to 13.15 inches. The ground is saturated and flooding was suspected for several of these areas. Early season rice harvesting normally begins in June and the abundant rain has likely kept producers out of the fields. Rice quality reductions have likely occurred and some production cuts may occur in the wettest areas.
In the meantime, Shandong, Hebei, northern Henan, northern Shanxi, and neighboring areas in Inner Mongolia 
reported 0.50 to 2.50 inches of rain with local amounts up to 4.00 inches during the past week. The rain helped bolster soil moisture to adequate or abundant levels. Drier weather earlier this month delayed some planting and resulted in uneven stands. Conditions after recent rain are now much improved, although additional rain is needed.
Shaanxi, the remaining portions of Shanxi, and immediate neighboring areas reported little to no rain during the past week. The ground is a little too dry to support the best growth, although most areas are not critically dry. A general soaking would promote more aggressive crop development.
Erratic rainfall was reported for Northeastern China in recent weeks. Portions of Heilongjiang and Jilin reported 0.50 to 2.00 inches during the past week while several other production areas were dry. Northern Jilin and neighboring areas are driest and would benefit from a boost in rainfall in the first half of July.
The wet weather pattern will continue for much of the Yangtze River Basin and southernmost provinces during the coming week. Areas from eastern Yunnan and southern Sichuan through Fujian and Zhejiang will again receive the greatest amount of rain. Moisture totals through next Thursday morning will range from 4.00 to 10.00 inches with locally greater amounts. Flooding and standing water will continue in most areas. Rice harvesting and general 
fieldwork will continue to be slowed or delayed on a frequent basis. Crop quality declines and some production cuts are likely.
Light rain will often be scattered across the Yellow River Basin and North China Plain through the end of next week. Most areas will receive enough rain to keep soil moisture near current levels with moisture totals ranging from 0.50 to 2.00 inches and locally greater amounts through next Thursday morning. The drier biased locations in Inner Mongolia will also receive 0.75 to 4.00 inches of rain.
Portions of Shandong and Hebei will not receive enough rain to counter evaporation. These areas will likely lose a significant amount of topsoil moisture due to warmer than normal weather, though rainfall is expected to return to these areas during the second week of the outlook. Crop conditions will remain generally favorable in these areas.
Northeastern China will generally see a good mix of rain and sunshine during the next two weeks. Rainfall through next Thursday will favor Liaoning and southern sections of Jilin and Heilongjiang with moisture totals ranging from 0.75 to 3.00 inches most often. Northern Jilin, northern Heilongjiang, and neighboring areas will miss much of the rain during the next two weeks. The ground will remain too dry to support the best corn, soybean, and spring wheat conditions for these areas.
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