China urges crack down on illegal destruction of wheat crop.

China's provincial authorities have been asked to investigate suspected illegal destruction of wheat fields for construction projects, and cases of the current crop being diverted into silage, the agriculture ministry said on Tuesday.

China expects a good winter wheat harvest this year, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs said in a statement posted on its website, having spent 5 billion yuan stabilising the crop after heavy autumn rains had delayed planting in many regions and cast doubts over output and yield.

"Wheat production has gone through several hurdles since last year including prevention against flooding in fall, enhancement of the weak crop, and...