• Approximately 88 percent of the rice consumed in the United States is grown in the United States.
• The major rice-producing states are: Arkansas, California, Florida, Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi, and Missouri.
• The U.S. has been growing and exporting rice in what is now the United States for over 300 years.
• The United States is one of the largest exporters of rice, supplying more than 13 percent of the rice that enters world trade. This figure reflects the fact that most of the rice producing countries consume all or most of their production at home, and very little of it enters international trade.
• Nearly half of the U.S. rice crop is exported to over 100 countries.
• Rice is one of the United States' oldest agribusinesses, dating back to 1685.
• There are thousands of different varieties of rice (Oryza sativa). At the International Rice Research Institute Genetic Resources Center in the Philippines, there are 80,000 rice samples in cold storage.
• Rice is grown on every continent except Antarctica.
• One seed of rice yields more than 3,000 grains. It is the highest yielding cereal grain and can grow in many kinds of environments and soils, which is why it is grown everywhere.
• Rice is a perennial. If the plant is properly cared for, it can last 20 years, producing thousands of grains each year.

For detailed information regarding the individual rice producing states, review the production chart