,China is one of the world's leading producers of coarse grains. Prior to mid-1982, China was a major importer of coarse grains, but a dramatic increase in total grain and coarse grain production plus some structural changes in the economy led China to export substantial quantities of corn and sorghum. These dramatic changes in circumstances heightened interest in these crops. At the same time, China's statistical authorities published data which enabled analysts to estimate the annual area and output of corn, sorghum, millet, barley, and oats from 1949-83.