Dim Sums: Agricultural Markets in China

Torrential rains drenched wheat just before harvest in China's biggest wheat-growing province, causing sprouting and mold problems. Now officials face challenges of buying up low-grade wheat at a price that keeps farmers happy, keeping moldy wheat out of the flour supply, funding wheat purchases after financial coffers were drained by last year's zero-covid policies, and forestalling fraud as vast price spreads open up between different grades and regions. Sprouted wheat in Henan Province. Henan Province had heavy rainstorms during the last week of May, especially in southern and western parts of the province. These were the heaviest rains at harvest time since 1961 according to financial news outlet Cai Lian She . The excessive moisture caused wheat stalks to keel over, prompted wheat kernels to prematurely send out shoots and wet wheat became susceptible to mold growth. Depending on the degree of damage, the sprouted wheat is downgraded and may only be useable as feed. Wheat ...