WASHINGTON, DC -- According to the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), area planted to rice in 2018 is estimated at 2.84 million acres, up 15 percent from 2017. Area for harvest is forecast at 2.80 million acres, up 18 percent from last year. Acreage increased from last year in all rice-producing states mainly due to lower prices for competing commodities.
Long grain rice planted area increased 18 percent from last year, with increases estimated in all states, except California. Arkansas, the largest long grain rice-producing state, estimates a 22 percent increase in planted acreage compared with last year.
Medium grain acres increased by 9 percent and short grain acres increased by 5 percent from 2017. California, the largest medium grain-producing state, increased medium grain acres by 10 percent in 2018.
As of June 24, seventy percent of the crop was rated in good to excellent condition, compared with 73 percent rated in these two categories at the same time last year.
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