In China

the technology of remote sensing for crop monitoring is already mature. It can provide an important data source

just as crop production

for monitoring the national grain supply and demand balance. Also

it can monitor crop growth in crop life. The data from the technology not only has spatiality and multi-type

but also is timelier than the agriculture statistical data

especially for monitoring the annual or seasonal grain supply and demand balance. Therefore

the technology should be integrated into the operational system of national grain management. In this paper

firstly

a short-term model for the national grain supply-demand balance

which can be applying to predict grain balance before the end of year

was brought forward. Then

applying the results of remote sensing and statistical data in the model constructed

the authors studied grain supply-demand balance in China at the turning point of the century. By comparing the two results derived from remote sensing monitoring and agriculture statistical data

the authors believed that the information of remote sensing monitoring could be applied to analyze grain supply-demand balance

while the reliability can be improved and periodicity can be shortened. Hence

the results of remote sensing monitoring should be taken as one of the most important data sources to monitor grain supply-demand balance by the departments of regulating and controlling grain. Moreover

by calculating and analyzing the results of China’s grain supply-demand balance during 1999—2002. It was Suggested that China’s grain at the turning point of the century was approximately balanceable. But because the grain stocks change of government and farmer household was very large at the end of the last century

moreover

with the descending farmer household’s grain stock in recent three years

it was formed that the surplus complexion of grain in market

which should be valued and taken some measures timely by the government during the process of adjusting the agricultural structure.