Jun 28, 2019
WASHINGTON, DC -- Today, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Agriculture Statistical Service has released a new report of planted acres for most crops, and while overall rice acres are down, they are not down as much as many had anticipated. According to the report, area planted to rice in 2019 is estimated at 2.76 million acres, down six percent from 2018. Area for harvest is forecast at 2.71 million acres, down seven percent from last year.
Long grain rice planted area decreased 6 percent from last year, with decreases estimated in all States, except Mississippi and Texas. Arkansas, the largest long grain rice-producing state, estimates a nine percent decrease in planted acreage compared with last year.
Medium grain acres decreased by seven percent from 2018. California, the largest medium grain-producing state, decreased medium grain acres by two percent in 2019. Short grain area, estimated at 41,000 acres, is equal to what was planted in 2018. As of June 23, sixty-six percent of the rice acreage was rated in good to excellent condition, compared with 70 percent rated in these two categories at the same time last year.