What is in this article?:
- Heat, drought cut U.S. rice yields
- Arkansas
- California
- Louisiana
- Mississippi
- Missouri Bootheel
- Texas
- In Mid-South and Southwest, impact of hot, dry weather much more severe than many expected.
- California producers struggled through late planting and rising production costs.
- Average U.S. rice yield projected at 6,687 pounds per acre, down from 7,085 pounds in 2009.
- Rice harvest complete in Arkansas, Mississippi, Texas, Louisiana and Missouri. California, 55 percent complete.
More About:
Top adjectives used to describe the U.S. rice crop this season include terrible, disappointing and average.
For many Mid-South and Southwest producers, the impact of hot, dry weather was much more severe than many expected. California producers struggled through late planting and rising production costs.
According to USDA, average U.S. rice yield is projected at 6,687 pounds per acre, down from 7,085 pounds in 2009. Texas yields are off 670 pounds from last year, while California yields are projected 700 pounds lower. Louisiana yields are up 200 pounds from 2009.
Rice harvest is complete in Arkansas, Mississippi, Texas, Louisiana and Missouri. Harvest in California, at 55 percent complete, is behind the five-year average of 87 percent.
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