BEIJING, CHINA — China produced 4.6% more corn in 2021 than last year for a total of 272.6 million tonnes, Reuters reported, citing the statistics bureau.

Chinese farmers switched to corn because of record prices during the planting season. Heavy rains in the north did impact the harvest, lowering output and quality in some of the crop.

Planted acreage was up 5% from the previous year to 43.32 million hectares. Corn yield fell 0.4% from a year earlier, in part due to flooding in the Huang-Huai-Hai river area.

Corn yield in 2021 fell 0.4% from a year earlier, as flooding in the Huang-Huai-Hai river area hit crops there, bureau official Wang Minghua said in the statement.

Total grain output rose 2% from the previous year to 682.9 million tonnes, the statistics bureau said.

Wheat output was at 136.9 million tonnes, with acreage and yield both rising from 2020.