China’s Weather Extremes Threaten Crops With Flooding and Heat

  • Meteorological agency forecasts more heavy rain in coming days
  • Drought in north damaged wheat harvest, delayed corn planting
Farmland destroyed by floods in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region on July 1.Photographer: Tan Kexing/VCG/Getty Images
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China’s farmers are continuing to grapple with extreme weather from flooding to drought, threatening crops including rice and placing pressure on the nation’s leaders who are promoting food security.

Heavy rain has soaked vast areas of the country over the past week, forcing the China Meteorological Agency to issue a series of alertsBloomberg Terminal, and more precipitation is expected along the Yangtze river. Some parts of northeastern Guangxi could get as much as 150 millimeters (5.9 inches) into Wednesday.