In mid-to-late September 2023, maize is gradually reaching maturity in the Northeast and North China regions, with soybeans in the Northeast being harvested progressively. Soybeans in the Huang-Huai-Hai region are in the mature stage. In the lower reaches of the Yangtze River, mid-season rice is in the milky ripening stage, while in South China, mid-season rice has reached maturity, and late-season rice is still in the grain-filling stage.

According to agro-climatic indicators, there is a significant surplus of rainfall during the maturity period of crops in central Hebei, northeastern Henan, northeastern Anhui, northern Jiangsu, and southern Shandong. Some farmlands have become excessively wet, affecting the harvesting of mature crops and causing a temporary delay in the autumn harvest. In regions such as the Yangtze-Huaihe area, the Yangtze-Hanshui area, eastern Sichuan, and Chongqing, there has been a prevalence of rainy and cloudy weather, which is unfavorable for harvesting and drying mature autumn grain crops and for planting summer grain crops.

Up to mid-to-late September, crop condition is above average in the region south of the Yangtze River, benefiting from favorable hydrothermal conditions. In most northern regions of China, the overall crop growth is close to the average. However, in the southeastern part of Gansu, southern Ningxia, and some areas of Inner Mongolia, crops have been adversely affected by the lack of rainfall and solar radiation, leading to significantly below-average crop growth.

Overall, in most regions, crop condition is favourable, surpassing the average of the past five years.

Figure 1: NDVI departure from 5 years average (2023.09.14 - 2023.09.29)