China: MARA FAW Prevention Plan Braces for Widespread Pest Impact in 2020-21 Crops

On February 20, 2020, China’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA) issued the 2020 Plan for Fall Armyworm (FAW) Prevention in the lead up to spring planting. MARA’s Plan anticipates that the FAW damage will be very severe in 2020 with a wider spread of pests impacting a larger area in Southern China. Additionally, the Plan acknowledges that FAW’s movement to Northern China will occur one to two months earlier than last year. Currently, industry predicts the country will suffer a shortage of corn and soaring prices this year, especially if the spread affects large areas of the North China Plain (NCP) and Northeast China, the country’s corn belt.

China:  MARA FAW Prevention Plan Braces for Widespread Pest Impact in 2020-21 Crops