Grain in Beard Farming

Around Grain in Ear, spring sowing across Northeast China is fully complete, rice transplantation is largely finished, and agricultural work shifts comprehensively into summer field management.
Spring sowing ends completely. By Grain in Ear, spring sowing across Northeast China is fully finished, with maize and soybean planting entirely complete and planted acreage reaching its annual peak. Planting quality has now been largely determined, and farmers move into seedling management.
Rice transplantation is largely complete. By Grain in Ear, rice transplantation across Northeast China is almost finished. In the rice-growing regions of Heilongjiang and Jilin, transplanting comes to a complete end and fields move into 返青—分蘖 (*post-transplant recovery to tillering*). Farmers strengthen water and nutrient management by maintaining a shallow water layer of 3–5 centimeters and applying 分蘖肥, thereby promoting recovery and low-position tillering.
Maize seedling management. Spring maize enters a critical seedling-management stage that includes thinning and final stand establishment at the 3–4 leaf stage, leaving 1–2 strong plants per hill; a second intertillage at 8–10 centimeters deep, combined with weeding and fertilization; application of 苗肥 at 5–8 kilograms of urea per *mu* to promote seedling growth and root development; and control of pests and diseases such as corn borer, aphids, and cutworms as they enter treatment windows. Growth during the seedling stage directly affects ear number and final yield.
Soybean seedling management. Soybeans enter the seedling-management stage, with thinning and final stand establishment leaving 2–3 strong plants per hill, intertillage and soil loosening, and control of seedling-stage pests and diseases such as aphids and cutworms.
Pasture management. Pastures in eastern Inner Mongolia enter vigorous growth and livestock grazing expands fully. Herders implement rotational grazing systems and make rational use of grassland resources.
Protected agriculture and open-field vegetables. Greenhouse vegetables in southern Liaoning enter peak harvest, while open-field vegetables enter rapid growth and harvest, with cucumbers, yardlong beans, eggplants, peppers, and other summer vegetables reaching the market in large quantities.

Around Grain in Ear, Northwest China enters summer management: spring wheat moves into jointing, cotton reaches a critical stage of seedling management, and winter wheat in southern Xinjiang enters maturity and harvest.
Spring-wheat jointing management. In the Hexi Corridor of Gansu and the Yellow River irrigation districts of Ningxia, spring wheat enters jointing as stem internodes begin to elongate and young ears differentiate and develop within the stem. Jointing is a crucial stage for determining ear number, so water and nutrient management needs to be strengthened through applications of 拔节肥 at 8–10 kilograms of urea per *mu* and timely irrigation where soil moisture is inadequate, together with control of wheat rust, aphids, and other pests and diseases. Management during jointing directly affects ear number and final yield.
Critical stage of cotton seedling management. Cotton in Xinjiang enters a key seedling-management stage, including thinning and final stand establishment with 1–2 strong plants per hill, a second intertillage at 8–10 centimeters deep, application of 苗肥 at 5–8 kilograms of urea per *mu*, and control of seedling-stage pests and diseases such as aphids, cotton thrips, and cutworms. Cotton growth during this stage directly affects the number of flower buds and final yield.
Winter-wheat maturity and harvest in southern Xinjiang. Winter wheat in the Tarim Basin enters maturity and harvest around Grain in Ear. Ears turn fully yellow, kernels become full and hard, and the crop reaches physiological maturity. Farmers seize clear weather for cutting, with combines carrying out harvesting, threshing, and cleaning in a single operation, followed by prompt drying and storage. As soon as winter wheat is harvested, the land is immediately prepared for summer crops such as maize and cotton.
Orchard management. Apples, fragrant pears, grapes, and other fruit crops in southern Xinjiang enter fruit enlargement. Growers strengthen water and nutrient management through applications of 膨果肥, mainly potash, and control pear psylla, aphids, spider mites, codling moth, and other pests and diseases.
Specialty crops. Potatoes around Dingxi, Gansu, move from flowering into tuber formation; goji in Ningxia advances from fruit development toward early maturity; and processing tomatoes in Xinjiang move from flowering into fruit set.

Grain in Ear is one of the busiest agricultural periods of the entire year in North China, as the “三夏” rush unfolds fully and summer harvesting, summer sowing, and summer field management proceed simultaneously.
Large-scale winter-wheat harvest. Winter wheat across the North China Plain enters large-scale harvest around Grain in Ear—“麦熟一晌，虎口夺粮”. Ears turn fully yellow, kernels become plump and hard, and physiological maturity is reached. Farmers seize clear weather for harvest, with combines operating day and night and completing cutting, threshing, and cleaning in one pass; harvested wheat is immediately dried, and may be stored only after moisture content falls below 13%, ensuring that every kernel reaches the granary. The wheat-harvest window generally lasts only 5–10 days: harvesting too early results in low thousand-kernel weight, while harvesting too late increases the risk of shattering or rain-induced germination on the ear. Farmers therefore need to judge the timing precisely and monitor weather forecasts closely; if rain is predicted, mature fields must be harvested before it arrives. The proverb “九成熟，十成收；十成熟，一成丢” summarizes the principle precisely: wheat can be harvested when it is nine-tenths ripe, while waiting until complete maturity may instead cause grain loss through shattering.
Summer-maize sowing. Immediately after winter wheat is harvested on the North China Plain, summer maize is sown quickly into the remaining soil moisture—“夏玉米抢墒，一天不误”. Sowing is generally completed from early to mid-June using no-till direct seeding, with seed placed directly between wheat stubble without plowing. Planting depth is 3–5 centimeters, row spacing 60 centimeters, and the field is irrigated immediately after sowing with 蒙头水 to ensure emergence. Because summer maize has a short growing period of around 100 days, timely sowing is essential: for every day planting is delayed, yield falls by around 1%.
Summer-soybean sowing. Summer soybeans are sown at the same time as summer maize across the North China Plain, generally from early to mid-June using no-till direct seeding. Planting depth is 3–4 centimeters and row spacing 40–50 centimeters. Summer soybean is an important rotation crop and oilseed crop in North China.
Orchard management. Apple-, pear-, and peach-growing areas enter fruit enlargement, with young fruit developing rapidly in a critical stage of quality formation. Growers apply 膨果肥, primarily potash, at 10–15 kilograms of potassium sulfate per *mu* to promote fruit development and improve quality; strengthen control of apple ring rot, pear scab, peach aphids, oriental fruit moth, and other pests and diseases; and carry out summer pruning by removing vigorous upright shoots and overly dense branches to improve ventilation and light penetration.
Vegetable management. Open-field vegetables across North China enter rapid growth and harvest, with cucumbers, yardlong beans, eggplants, peppers, tomatoes, and other summer vegetables reaching the market in large quantities. Water and nutrient management and pest and disease control need to be strengthened.

Around Grain in Ear, the middle and lower Yangtze enters a stage in which flood prevention and rice management become equally important, as the plum-rain season unfolds fully, early rice enters booting and heading, and rapeseed harvesting is largely complete.
Management of early rice from booting to heading. Early rice across the Yangtze River basin enters booting and heading around Grain in Ear as young panicles complete development and begin to emerge and flower. This is a crucial stage for determining kernel number per panicle and seed-setting rate. Management centers on maintaining a shallow water layer of 3–5 centimeters without allowing the field to dry, applying 穗肥, primarily potash, at 3–5 kilograms of potassium chloride per *mu*, and closely monitoring weather. Persistent cloudy and rainy weather during heading and flowering can interfere with pollination and seed set, while high temperatures of 35°C or above can render pollen inactive. Because cloudy and rainy weather is common during the plum rains, close attention to forecasts is essential.
Flood prevention during the plum rains. Around Grain in Ear, the plum-rain season is fully underway across the middle and lower Yangtze, with prolonged rainy weather becoming the norm, rainfall totals high, and humidity elevated. Farmers need to inspect drainage systems continuously and ensure that the “三沟” remain unobstructed so that standing water and waterlogging do not develop. Because field humidity is high and sunshine limited during the plum rains, rice diseases and pests such as rice blast, sheath blight, and planthoppers occur readily and require stronger monitoring and control.
Rapeseed harvesting is largely complete. Rapeseed harvesting across the Yangtze River basin is basically finished by Grain in Ear and all seed has been brought into storage. Harvested fields have already been plowed in preparation for middle-season or late rice. After drying, rapeseed is stored or sold directly to oil-processing plants.
Ditch clearing and waterlogging prevention. Heavy plum-rain precipitation creates the highest risk of standing water around Grain in Ear. Farmers need to inspect drainage systems repeatedly and ensure that “雨止沟干”—the ditches are dry once the rain stops. Rice-stubble fields face the greatest drainage pressure and require particular attention.
Vegetables and aquaculture. Peak harvesting of fruiting vegetables under greenhouse production continues across the Yangtze basin, with tomatoes, cucumbers, and peppers reaching the market in large volumes. Open-field vegetables enter rapid growth and harvest. In aquaculture, fish enter rapid growth and require stronger water-quality management and disease prevention. During the plum rains, low atmospheric pressure and high humidity increase the risk of oxygen depletion and pond overturning, requiring careful prevention.

Around Grain in Ear, agricultural activity across Southwest China enters summer management, with winter wheat moving into harvest, potatoes entering tuber enlargement, and spring-tea picking fully complete.
Winter-wheat harvest. Winter wheat in the Sichuan Basin enters harvest around Grain in Ear as ears turn yellow and kernels become plump. Farmers seize clear weather for cutting, drying, and storage. Fields are plowed immediately after harvest in preparation for middle-season rice or other summer crops.
Potato management during peak tuber enlargement. Spring potatoes in the main producing areas of Yunnan, Guizhou, and Sichuan enter peak tuber enlargement, with underground tubers expanding rapidly in a critical stage for both yield and marketable quality. Management centers on applying 结薯肥 (*tuber-development fertilizer*), mainly potash, at 8–10 kilograms of potassium sulfate per *mu*; controlling late blight, the crop’s most important disease, which enters its peak treatment period around Grain in Ear and is treated with mancozeb or metalaxyl at intervals of 7–10 days; irrigating at the proper time to ensure adequate moisture without waterlogging; and intertilling and earthing up to prevent tubers from being exposed to light and turning green.
Spring-tea picking ends completely. Spring-tea harvesting across Sichuan, Guizhou, and Yunnan is entirely finished. Tea growers move fully into summer garden management, including immediate pruning after spring harvest, application of summer fertilizer mainly based on nitrogen, and control of tea green leafhoppers, tea geometrid moths, and other pests.
Orchard management. Citrus- and loquat-growing areas across Southwest China enter fruit enlargement. Young citrus fruit develops rapidly and requires stronger water and nutrient management through 膨果肥, mainly potash, together with control of citrus red mites, leaf miners, citrus canker, and other pests and diseases. Loquats enter maturity and harvest, and farmers seize clear weather to pick, grade, pack, and market the fruit.

#### (1) Mainland South China
Early-rice heading and flowering and flood prevention during “龙舟水.” Early rice across South China enters heading and flowering around Grain in Ear as young panicles emerge and flowers open for pollination, making this a crucial stage for seed-setting rate. Management centers on maintaining a shallow water layer of 3–5 centimeters, monitoring weather closely because persistent rain during heading and flowering can interfere with pollination and seed set while temperatures of 35°C or above can deactivate pollen, and guarding against “龙舟水”. Around Grain in Ear, South China enters the peak period of these heavy seasonal rains, with frequent intense precipitation, making unobstructed drainage systems essential for preventing floods and waterlogging.
Growth management of spring peanuts and spring maize. Spring peanuts enter peak pod setting, with large numbers of pods developing and enlarging underground; stronger water and nutrient management is required through applications of 结荚肥 at 10–15 kilograms of compound fertilizer per *mu*, together with control of peanut leaf spot, aphids, cotton bollworm, and other pests and diseases. Spring maize enters grain filling as kernels become full, requiring sufficient water because water demand is high during this stage and drought can reduce thousand-kernel weight, together with control of corn borer, aphids, leaf spot, and other pests and diseases.
Tropical-fruit management. Early lychee cultivars such as “三月红” and “白糖罂” enter maturity and harvest, and farmers seize clear weather to pick, grade, pack, and market the fruit. Middle- and late-season cultivars enter fruit enlargement and require stronger water and nutrient management. Mangoes move from fruit development toward early maturity and require stronger water and nutrient management through 膨果肥, mainly potash, while mango gall midges and anthracnose need to be controlled. Citrus moves from the young-fruit stage into fruit enlargement and requires control of excessive summer-shoot growth together with citrus red mites, leaf miners, and other pests.
Vegetables and aquaculture. Open-field vegetables across South China enter rapid growth and peak harvest. As temperatures rise, pests and diseases enter a high-incidence period and require stronger prevention and control. In aquaculture, fish enter rapid growth; during “龙舟水”, farms need to guard against flooding, strengthen pond inspections, and manage water quality carefully.
#### (2) Taiwan
Rice: The first rice crop in central Taiwan—including Changhua, Yunlin, and the Chianan Plain—enters maturity and harvest around Grain in Ear, with panicles turning fully yellow and kernels becoming plump as farmers seize clear weather for cutting. In southern Taiwan, particularly the Kaohsiung–Pingtung region, rice enters peak harvest. In northern Taiwan, including Taoyuan and Hsinchu, rice enters booting and heading.
Vegetables: Vegetable sowing and transplantation continue across Taiwan during Grain in Ear. Cucurbits such as watermelon, cucumber, and muskmelon enter harvest, and summer vegetables reach the market in large quantities.
Fruit trees: Mangoes in southern Taiwan enter maturity and harvest, with cultivars such as Irwin and Jinhuang harvested intensively. Lychees also enter maturity and harvest, including concentrated harvesting of cultivars such as Yu Her Pau. Citrus advances from the young-fruit stage into fruit enlargement.
Tea: Summer management expands fully across tea gardens in central and southern regions such as Nantou and Chiayi, including pruning, fertilization, and pest and disease control. In northern tea districts such as Wenshan and Sanxia, spring-tea picking is fully complete and gardens enter summer management.
Fisheries: Catches in waters around Taiwan continue to increase during Grain in Ear, with coastal fishing vessels going to sea frequently and the quality of catches remaining good.
Farmer’s proverbs and folk customs: Taiwanese folk tradition preserves the saying “芒種逢雷美亦然，端陽有雨是豐年”—thunder at Grain in Ear and rain at the Dragon Boat Festival are both regarded as auspicious signs of favorable weather and a good harvest. Another saying, “芒種夏至，檨仔（芒果）落蒂”, refers to mangoes beginning to ripen and be harvested between Grain in Ear and the Summer Solstice.