Hamyang-gun Strengthens On-site Guidance for Timely Harvesting of Medium and Late Maturing Rice Varieties

A rice harvesting combine is operating in Hamyang-gun, Gyeongnam.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Choi Soon-kyung] Hamyang-gun, Gyeongnam Province, is strengthening guidance at rice harvesting sites in mid-October to coincide with the harvest season for mid- and late-maturing rice varieties.

The optimal harvest time for mid- and late-maturing rice is about 50 to 55 days after the rice panicle has emerged, which corresponds to when approximately 90% of the rice grains have turned yellow. Even if the leaves still appear green, harvesting should be done once the panicles have ripened to a yellow color.

Harvesting too early results in a high proportion of unripe green rice grains (cheongmi) and incomplete grain filling, which reduces the overall yield. Conversely, harvesting too late causes an increase in broken or cracked grains (donghalmi), which negatively affects the taste of the rice.

Additionally, a higher incidence of panicle neck breakage makes threshing difficult and increases losses. If it rains, damage such as pre-harvest sprouting due to lodging may occur. To facilitate combine harvesting, water should be drained from the paddy fields 15 days before harvest to dry the soil thoroughly.

This year’s rice crop is expected to yield similarly to last year’s, as there was no typhoon damage and weather conditions were relatively favorable.

A county official stated, “Straw should not be collected for feed but rather chopped and incorporated back into the main paddy fields as much as possible. This enriches the soil with organic matter and improves soil fertility, which greatly benefits the next year’s rice cultivation. When harvesting with a combine, the straw should be chopped and returned directly to the field.”

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