HDR1012000110090328970830RICE STOCKS                                            
Rice                                                                            
Stocks                                                                          
                                                                                
National                                                                        
Agricultural                                                                    
Statistics                                                                      
Service                                                                         
                                                                                
USDA                                                                            
Washington, D.C.                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
Released March 31, 1997, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS),
Agricultural Statistics Board, U.S. Department of Agriculture.  For information 
on "Rice Stocks" call Barbara Rater at (202) 720-7688, office hours 7:30 a.m. to
4:00 p.m. ET.                                                                   
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                      Rough Rice Stocks Down                                    
                                                                                
                                                                                
Rough rice stocks in all positions on March 1, 1997, totaled 80.7 million       
hundredweight (cwt), down 6 percent from the total on March 1, 1996.  Stocks    
held on farms totaled 16.0 million cwt and off-farm stocks totaled 64.7 million 
cwt.  Long grain varieties accounted for 60 percent of the total rough rice,    
medium grain 39 percent, and short grain varieties 1 percent.                   
                                                                                
                                                                                
Milled rice stocks on March 1 totaled 4.61 million cwt, 25 percent above the    
comparable figure for a year ago.  Milled rice stocks were comprised of         
3.79 million cwt of whole kernel rice and 825,000 cwt of second heads,          
screeningsand brewers rice.                                                     
                                                                                
                                                                                
GrLg 11-3 (3-97)                                                                
                 Rice Stocks:  By Position, United States, 1996-97              
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------   
          :  On Farms   :  In Mills   :  In Whses  :            :               
          :     or      :     and     :    Not     :  In Ports  :    Total      
  Date    :    Farm     :  Attached   :  Attached  :    or in   :     All       
          :    Whses    :   Whses     : to Mills 1/:   Transit  :  Positions    
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------   
          :                              1997                                   
          :------------------------------------------------------------------   
          :                       Rough Rice - 1,000 cwt                        
          :                                                                     
  Mar 1   :    16,003        13,112       50,057        1,510        80,682     
  Aug 1   :                                                                     
  Oct 1 2/:                                                                     
  Dec 1   :                                                                     
          :                                                                     
          :                       Milled Rice - 1,000 cwt                       
          :                                                                     
  Mar 1   :                   3,590          381          640         4,611     
  Aug 1   :                                                                     
  Oct 1 2/:                                                                     
  Dec 1   :                                                                     
          :                                                                     
          :                     Rough Rice - Metric Tons                        
          :                                                                     
  Mar 1   :   725,880       594,750    2,270,550       68,490     3,659,670     
  Aug 1   :                                                                     
  Oct 1 2/:                                                                     
  Dec 1   :                                                                     
          :                                                                     
          :                     Milled Rice - Metric Tons                       
          :                                                                     
  Mar 1   :                 162,840       17,280       29,030       209,150     
  Aug 1   :                                                                     
  Oct 1 2/:                                                                     
  Dec 1   :                                                                     
          :------------------------------------------------------------------   
          :                              1996                                   
          :------------------------------------------------------------------   
          :                       Rough Rice - 1,000 cwt                        
          :                                                                     
  Mar 1   :    20,520        11,102       53,283          941        85,846     
  Aug 1   :       486         5,542       13,818          125        19,971     
  Oct 1 2/:                     401        4,246            0         4,647     
  Dec 1   :    32,719        13,228       72,321          801       119,069     
          :                                                                     
          :                       Milled Rice - 1,000 cwt                       
          :                                                                     
  Mar 1   :                   3,072          148          479         3,699     
  Aug 1   :                   3,296          269           49         3,614     
  Oct 1 2/:                   1,069            0            0         1,069     
  Dec 1   :                   4,056          280        1,315         5,651     
          :                                                                     
          :                     Rough Rice - Metric Tons                        
          :                                                                     
  Mar 1   :   930,770       503,580    2,416,880       42,680     3,893,910     
  Aug 1   :    22,040       251,380      626,770        5,670       905,860     
  Oct 1 2/:                  18,190      192,600            0       210,790     
  Dec 1   : 1,484,110       600,010    3,280,430       36,330     5,400,880     
          :                                                                     
          :                     Milled Rice - Metric Tons                       
          :                                                                     
  Mar 1   :                 139,340        6,710       21,730       167,780     
  Aug 1   :                 149,500       12,200        2,220       163,920     
  Oct 1 2/:                  48,490            0            0        48,490     
  Dec 1   :                 183,980       12,700       59,650       256,330     
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------   
1/ October includes small amount stored on farms.                               
2/ CA only.                                                                     
                                                                                
   Rice Stocks:  By Position, by State, and United States, March 1, 1996-97     
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------   
          :  On Farms   :  In Mills   :  In Whses  :            :               
          :     or      :     and     :    Not     :  In Ports  :    Total      
  State   :    Farm     :  Attached   :  Attached  :    or in   :     All       
          :    Whses    :   Whses     :  to Mills  :   Transit  :  Positions    
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------   
          :                         March 1, 1997                               
          :------------------------------------------------------------------   
          :                      Rough Rice - 1,000 Cwt                         
          :                                                                     
  AR      :     9,000         7,382       19,362           15        35,759     
  CA      :     1,423         1,297       19,080            0        21,800     
  LA      :     1,100         2,295        3,095          312         6,802     
  MS      :         *             *            *            *         6,013     
  MO      :         *             *            *            *         1,753     
  TX      :     1,280         1,484        4,608        1,183         8,555     
  Unall*  :     3,200           654        3,912            0                   
          :                                                                     
  US      :    16,003        13,112       50,057        1,510        80,682     
          :                                                                     
          :                       Milled Rice - 1,000 Cwt                       
          :                                                                     
  AR      :                     756          258           14         1,028     
  CA      :                   1,280            0            0         1,280     
  LA      :                       *            *            *             *     
  MS      :                       *            *            *             *     
  MO      :                       *            *            *             *     
  TX      :                   1,048          123          196         1,367     
  Unall*  :                     506            0          430           936     
          :                                                                     
  US      :                   3,590          381          640         4,611     
          :------------------------------------------------------------------   
          :                         March 1, 1996                               
          :------------------------------------------------------------------   
          :                      Rough Rice - 1,000 Cwt                         
          :                                                                     
  AR      :    12,000         6,239       19,054            1        37,294     
  CA      :     1,500         2,083       21,362            0        24,945     
  LA      :     2,200         1,204        4,402           95         7,901     
  MS      :         *             *            *            *         4,793     
  MO      :         *             *            *            *         2,496     
  TX      :     2,000           793        4,779          845         8,417     
  Unall*  :     2,820           783        3,686            0                   
          :                                                                     
  US      :    20,520        11,102       53,283          941        85,846     
          :                                                                     
          :                       Milled Rice - 1,000 Cwt                       
          :                                                                     
  AR      :                   1,128          125           70         1,323     
  CA      :                     884            0            0           884     
  LA      :                       *            *            *             *     
  MS      :                       *            *            *             *     
  MO      :                       *            *            *             *     
  TX      :                     569           23          240           832     
  Unall*  :                     491            0          169           660     
          :                                                                     
  US      :                   3,072          148          479         3,699     
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------   
*  Included in unallocated to avoid disclosing individual operations.           
                                                                                
             Rough Rice Stocks:  By Length of Grain in All Positions,           
           California, Other States, and United States, March 1, 1996-97        
------------------------------------------------------------------------------  
          :      Long       :    Medium     :     Short     :      Total        
  State   :-------------------------------------------------------------------  
          :  1996  :  1997  : 1996  : 1997  : 1996  : 1997  :  1996  :  1997    
------------------------------------------------------------------------------  
          :                             1,000 Cwt                               
          :                                                                     
CA        :    507       *   23,492  21,026     946       *   24,945   21,800   
          :                                                                     
Oth Sts 1/: 52,123       *    8,772  10,639       6       *   60,901   58,882   
          :                                                                     
US        : 52,630  48,409   32,264  31,665     952     608   85,846   80,682   
          :                                                                     
------------------------------------------------------------------------------  
1/  AR, LA, MS, MO, and TX.                                                     
*   Not published to avoid disclosing individual operations.                    
                                                                                
                                                                                
               Milled Rice Stocks:  By Length of Grain in All Positions,        
           California, Other States, and United States, March 1, 1996-97        
------------------------------------------------------------------------------  
          :                     Whole Kernels (Head Rice)                       
          :-------------------------------------------------------------------  
  State   :      Long       :    Medium     :     Short     :      Total        
          :-------------------------------------------------------------------  
          :  1996  :  1997  : 1996  : 1997  : 1996  : 1997  :  1996  :  1997    
------------------------------------------------------------------------------  
          :                             1,000 Cwt                               
          :                                                                     
CA        :     24      32     660     859      24      79      708      970    
          :                                                                     
Oth Sts 1/:  2,234   2,590     210     220       2       6    2,446    2,816    
          :                                                                     
US        :  2,258   2,622     870   1,079      26      85    3,154    3,786    
          :                                                                     
          :-------------------------------------------------------------------  
          :                          Broken Kernels                             
          :-------------------------------------------------------------------  
          : Second Heads    :  Screenings 2/:    Brewers    :      Total        
          :-------------------------------------------------------------------  
          :  1996  :  1997  : 1996  : 1997  : 1996  : 1997  :  1996  :  1997    
          :-------------------------------------------------------------------  
          :                             1,000 Cwt                               
          :                                                                     
CA        :    160     278                      16      32      176      310    
          :                                                                     
Oth Sts 1/:    246     345       6      20     117     150      369      515    
          :                                                                     
US        :    406     623       6      20     133     182      545      825    
          :                                                                     
------------------------------------------------------------------------------  
1/  AR, LA, MS, MO, and TX.                                                     
2/  Sceenings included with second heads in CA.                                 
                                                                                
                                                                                
  Rice Stocks:  By Position, by State, and United States, December 1, 1995-96   
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------   
          :  On Farms   :  In Mills   :  In Whses  :            :               
          :     or      :     and     :    not     :  In Ports  :    Total      
  State   :    Farm     :  Attached   :  Attached  :    or in   :     All       
          :    Whses    :   Whses     :  to Mills  :   Transit  :  Positions    
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------   
          :                           December 1, 1996                          
          :------------------------------------------------------------------   
          :                       Rough Rice - 1,000 cwt                        
          :                                                                     
  AR      :    17,500         7,529       26,393           61        51,483     
  CA      :         *             *       30,073            0        35,031     
  LA      :     4,000         1,816        5,234           13        11,063     
  MS      :         *             *            *            *         7,979     
  MO      :         *             *            *            *         2,761     
  TX      :     2,341         1,194        6,490          727        10,752     
  Unall*  :     8,878         2,689        4,131            0                   
          :                                                                     
  US      :    32,719        13,228       72,321          801       119,069     
          :                                                                     
          :                       Milled Rice - 1,000 cwt                       
          :                                                                     
  AR      :                   1,238          103           28         1,369     
  CA      :                   1,522            0            0         1,522     
  LA      :                       *            *            *             *     
  MS      :                       *            *            *             *     
  MO      :                       *            *            *             *     
  TX      :                     828          177           42         1,047     
  Unall*  :                     468            0        1,245         1,713     
          :                                                                     
  US      :                   4,056          280        1,315         5,651     
          :------------------------------------------------------------------   
          :                           December 1, 1995                          
          :------------------------------------------------------------------   
1995      :                       Rough Rice - 1,000 cwt                        
          :                                                                     
  AR      :    13,800         7,086       28,388           46        49,320     
  CA      :     2,800         2,107       29,072            0        33,979     
  LA      :     6,500         1,530        6,089            0        14,119     
  MS      :         *             *            *            *         8,316     
  MO      :         *             *            *            *         3,432     
  TX      :     3,001         1,086        7,241          837        12,165     
  Unall*  :     6,835           752        4,161            0                   
          :                                                                     
  US      :    32,936        12,561       74,951          883       121,331     
          :                                                                     
          :                       Milled Rice - 1,000 cwt                       
          :                                                                     
  AR      :                   1,371           92           46         1,509     
  CA      :                   1,181            0            0         1,181     
  LA      :                       *            *            *             *     
  MS      :                       *            *            *             *     
  MO      :                       *            *            *             *     
  TX      :                   1,219          239           13         1,471     
  Unall*  :                     597            0          951         1,548     
          :                                                                     
  US      :                   4,368          331        1,010         5,709     
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------   
*  Included in unallocated to avoid disclosing individual operations.           
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
          Rough Rice Stocks:   By Length of Grain in All Positions,             
       California, Other States, and United States, December 1, 1995-96         
------------------------------------------------------------------------------  
          :      Long       :    Medium     :     Short     :      Total        
  State   :-------------------------------------------------------------------  
          :  1995  :  1996  : 1995  : 1996  : 1995  : 1996  :  1995  :  1996    
------------------------------------------------------------------------------  
          :                             1,000 Cwt                               
          :                                                                     
CA        :    542       *   32,308  33,350   1,129       *   33,979   35,031   
          :                                                                     
Oth Sts 1/: 75,714       *   11,633  15,665       5       *   87,352   84,038   
          :                                                                     
U S       : 76,256  68,687   43,941  49,015   1,134   1,367  121,331  119,069   
------------------------------------------------------------------------------  
1/ AR, LA, MS, MO, and TX.                                                      
*  Not published to avoid disclosing individual operations.                     
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
           Milled Rice Stocks:  By Length of Grain in All Positions,            
       California, Other States, and United States, December 1, 1995-96         
------------------------------------------------------------------------------  
          :                     Whole Kernels (Head Rice)                       
          :-------------------------------------------------------------------  
  State   :      Long       :    Medium     :     Short     :      Total        
          :-------------------------------------------------------------------  
          :  1995  :  1996  :  1995 :  1996 :  1995 :  1996 :  1995  :  1996    
------------------------------------------------------------------------------  
          :                             1,000 Cwt                               
          :                                                                     
CA        :     36       6     857   1,154      32      56      925    1,216    
          :                                                                     
Oth Sts 1/:  3,473   3,352     327     294       7       0    3,807    3,646    
          :                                                                     
U S       :  3,509   3,358   1,184   1,448      39      56    4,732    4,862    
          :                                                                     
          :-------------------------------------------------------------------  
          :                          Broken Kernels                             
          :-------------------------------------------------------------------  
          : Second Heads    :  Screenings 2/:    Brewers    :      Total        
          :-------------------------------------------------------------------  
          :  1995  :  1996  :  1995 :  1996 :  1995 :  1996 :  1995  :  1996    
          :-------------------------------------------------------------------  
          :                             1,000 Cwt                               
          :                                                                     
CA        :    235     276                      21      30      256      306    
          :                                                                     
Oth Sts 1/:    391     277      14      49     316     157      721      483    
          :                                                                     
U S       :    626     553      14      49     337     187      977      789    
          :                                                                     
------------------------------------------------------------------------------  
1/  AR, LA, MS, MO, and TX.                                                     
2/  Screenings included with second heads in CA.                                
                                                                                
        Reliability of March 1, 1997, Rice Stocks Estimates                     
                                                                                
                                                                                
Survey Procedures:  The rice stocks estimates in this report are based on       
surveys conducted during the first 2 weeks of March.  Separate surveys were     
conducted to obtain the on-farm and off-farm estimates.  The on-farm stocks     
survey is a probability survey based on a sampling procedure that ensures that  
all operations storing rice in the U.S. have a chance to be selected.  Data can 
then be statistically adjusted to provide an estimate of rice on all farms.  The
off-farm stocks estimate is based on an enumeration of all known commercial rice
storage facilities.  An effort is made to obtain reports from all facilities.   
Estimates are made for missing facilities to assure complete coverage.          
                                                                                
Estimation Procedures:  On-farm and off-farm survey data are reviewed at the    
State and national levels for reasonableness, consistency with historical       
estimates, and current crop size.  After estimates are made for on-farm and     
off-farm rice stocks, the total of these two is evaluated using the balance     
sheet approach.  This method utilizes other sources of data to check the        
reasonableness of the stocks estimates.  Estimates of production, exports, and  
millings are reviewed to make sure beginning stocks, production and utilization,
and ending stocks are within reasonable balance and present the best possible   
estimate of stocks.                                                             
                                                                                
Revision Policy:  On-farm and off-farm stocks are subject to revision in the    
report following the initial publication and again in the December 1,           
"Rice Stocks" report published in January each year.  Revisions can be made when
late reports are received, errors are detected in reporting and calculating, and
when production estimates are revised.  Estimates will also be reviewed after   
data for the 5-year Census of Agriculture are available.  No revisions will be  
made after that date.                                                           
                                                                                
Reliability:  Reliability of the on-farm and off-farm rice stocks estimates must
be treated separately because the survey design for the two surveys are         
drastically different.  The on-farm stocks estimates are subject to sampling    
variability because all operations holding on-farm stocks are not included in   
the sample.                                                                     
                                                                                
Survey estimates are also subject to non sampling errors such as omission,      
duplication, imputation for missing data, and mistakes in reporting, recording, 
and processing the data.  Off-farm, as well as on-farm stocks, are subject to   
these types or errors.  These errors cannot be measured directly, but they are  
minimized through rigid quality controls in the data collection process and a   
careful review of all reported data for consistency and reasonableness.         
                                                                                
                                                                                
The next "Rice Stocks" report will be released at 8:30 a.m. ET on               
August 29, 1997.                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
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