Cody Lambright
International Business
Rick McEuen
4/14/16
Rice Across the World
When it comes to rice, it is one of the most important crops grown. It is very vital to the economy of the United States, and of all the row crops grown, rice farms are the most capital-intensive, and have the highest national land rental rate average. All rice crops require irrigation, and from 2000-2009 over 3 million acres in the US were being used for irrigation for rice crop, and in the next decade it is expected to be at approximately 3.3 million acres. The six largest rice producing states (in order) are Arkansas, California, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, and Texas.
The Arkansas rice crop is exceptionally vital to the state’s economy, bringing in over $6 million the economy every year and accounts for over 25,000 jobs. Arkansas rice producers' profit margins are directly impacted by domestic farm prices, which are in turn firmly connected to global market prices. Economic return of rice crops within Arkansas vary markedly depending on the different rice cultivated (long grain, short grain, wild, etc.), way the farmers rotate the crops, and region of the state it is grown in.
Rice in China is a little different. China is the largest producer of Rice in the world. This is due to China being the largest in size out of all rice producing countries. China alone accounts for 26% of the world’s rice production and last year alone, rice was taken from 4 different crops in China. Early rice is grown along the Yangtze River. It is planted in February to April and harvested in June and July and is responsible for 34% of the total rice output. Double-crop late rice, planted after the early crop is reaped, is harvested in October to November and adds about 25 percent to total rice production. Rice grown in the north is planted from April to June and harvested from September to October; it contributes about 7 percent to total production
Rice cultivation is...