Rice                                                               
Stocks
     
National
Agricultural
Statistics
Service

USDA
Washington, D.C.



Released March 31, 1999, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service
(NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, U.S. Department of Agriculture.
For information on "Rice Stocks" call Herman Ellison 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, 1999 totaled 80.7 million
hundredweight (cwt), down 8 percent from the total on March 1, 1998.  Stocks
held on farms totaled 22.3 million cwt and off-farm stocks totaled 58.4 million
cwt.  Long grain varieties accounted for 72 percent of the total rough rice,
medium grain 26 percent, and short grain varieties 2 percent.

Milled rice stocks in all positions totaled 4.34 million cwt, down 26 percent
from a year ago.  Milled rice stocks were comprised of 3.54 million cwt of whole
kernel rice and 807,000 cwt of second heads, screenings, and brewers rice.


Gr Lg 11-3 (3-98)

                 Rice Stocks:  By Position, United States, 1998-99
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
          :  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
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
          :                              1999
          :------------------------------------------------------------------
          :                       Rough Rice - 1,000 cwt
          :
  Mar 1   :    22,290         9,745       47,822          806        80,663
  Aug 1   :                                                               
  Oct 1 2/:                                                               
  Dec 1   :                                                               
          :
          :                       Milled Rice - 1,000 cwt
  Mar 1   :                   3,700          172          472         4,344
  Aug 1   :                                                               
  Oct 1 2/:                                                               
  Dec 1   :                                                               
          :
          :                     Rough Rice - Metric Tons
  Mar 1   : 1,011,060       442,030    2,169,170       36,560     3,658,820
  Aug 1   :         
  Oct 1 2/:         
  Dec 1   :         
          :
          :                     Milled Rice - Metric Tons
  Mar 1   :                 167,830        7,800       21,410       197,040
  Aug 1   :         
  Oct 1 2/:         
  Dec 1   :         
          :------------------------------------------------------------------
          :                               1998
          :------------------------------------------------------------------    

          :                       Rough Rice - 1,000 cwt
          :
  Mar 1   :    21,205        11,736       54,449          661        88,051
  Aug 1   :     1,136         6,401       13,287          167        20,991
  Oct 1 2/:                     402        4,345                      4,747
  Dec 1 3/:    35,584        10,631       74,532          231       120,978
          :
          :                       Milled Rice - 1,000 cwt
          :
  Mar 1   :                   4,453          344        1,082         5,879
  Aug 1   :                   3,598          329          868         4,795
  Oct 1 2/:                     662                                     662
  Dec 1 3/:                   3,861          128        1,427         5,416
          :
          :                     Rough Rice - Metric Tons
          :
  Mar 1   :   961,840       532,340    2,469,770       29,980     3,993,930
  Aug 1   :    51,530       290,340      602,690        7,570       952,130
  Oct 1 2/:                  18,230      197,090                    215,320
  Dec 1 3/: 1,614,060       482,210    3,380,710       10,480     5,487,460
          :
          :                     Milled Rice - Metric Tons
          : 
  Mar 1   :                 201,980       15,600       49,080       266,660
  Aug 1   :                 163,200       14,920       39,370       217,490
  Oct 1 2/:                  30,030                                  30,030
  Dec 1 3/:                 175,130        5,810       64,730       245,670
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/ October includes small amount stored on farms.
2/ CA only.
3/ Revised


    Rice Stocks:  By Position, State, and United States, March 1, 1998-99
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
          :  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, 1999
          :------------------------------------------------------------------
          :                      Rough Rice - 1,000 Cwt
          :
  AR      :    12,500         5,812       21,983           45        40,340
  CA      :       990           697       13,909            0        15,596
  LA      :     2,400         1,428        4,931          149         8,908
  MS      :         *             *            *            0         6,280
  MO      :         *             *            *            0         3,331
  TX      :     1,700         1,069        2,827          612         6,208
  Unall*  :     4,700           739        4,172            0
          :
  US      :    22,290         9,745       47,822          806        80,663
          :                                                       
          :                       Milled Rice - 1,000 Cwt
          :
  AR      :                   1,528            *            *         1,933
  CA      :                   1,028            0            0         1,028
  LA      :                       *            *            *             *
  MS      :                       *            *            *             *
  MO      :                       *            *            *             *
  TX      :                     618           13           12           643
  Unall*  :                     526          159          460           740
          :
  US      :                   3,700          172          472         4,344
          :------------------------------------------------------------------    
                                                  
          :                           March 1, 1998
          :------------------------------------------------------------------
          :                       Rough Rice - 1,000 Cwt
          :      
  AR      :    11,500         6,494       21,802           15        39,811
  CA      :     2,115         1,467       22,203            0        25,785
  LA      :     1,800         1,506        3,212           43         6,561
  MS      :         *             *            *            0         6,293
  MO      :         *             *            *            0         2,031
  TX      :     1,500         1,483        3,984          603         7,570
  Unall*  :     4,290           786        3,248            0
          :
  US      :    21,205        11,736       54,449          661        88,051
          :                                                       
          :                       Milled Rice - 1,000 Cwt
          :
  AR      :                   1,523          149          190         1,862
  CA      :                   1,073            0            0         1,073
  LA      :                       *            *            *             *
  MS      :                       *            *            *             *
  MO      :                       *            *            *             *
  TX      :                   1,356          194           91         1,641
  Unall*  :                     501            1          801         1,303
          :
  US      :                   4,453          344        1,082         5,879
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
*  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, 1998-99
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
          :      Long       :    Medium     :     Short     :      Total
  State   :------------------------------------------------------------------
          :  1998  :  1999  : 1998  : 1999  : 1998  : 1999  :  1998  :  1999
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
          :                             1,000 Cwt
          :
CA        :      *       *  24,382  13,872       *       *   25,785   15,596
          :                                                 
Oth Sts 1/:      *       *   9,214   7,457       *       *   62,266   65,067
          :                                                 
US        : 53,329  58,049  33,596  21,329   1,126   1,285   88,051   80,663
          :
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 * Not published to avoid disclosing indivdual reports in CA.
                                                



               Milled Rice Stocks:  By Length of Grain in All Positions,
           California, Other States, and United States, March 1, 1998-99
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
          :                     Whole Kernels (Head Rice)
          :------------------------------------------------------------------
  State   :      Long       :    Medium     :     Short     :      Total
          :------------------------------------------------------------------
          :  1998  :  1999  : 1998  : 1999  : 1998  : 1999  :  1998  :  1999
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
          :                             1,000 Cwt
          :
CA        :     36      16     725     879      29      31      790      926
          :                                                 
Oth Sts 1/:  3,835   2,345     355     235       6      31    4,196    2,611
          :                                                 
US        :  3,871   2,361   1,080   1,114      35      62    4,986    3,537
          :                                                 
          :------------------------------------------------------------------
          :                          Broken Kernels
          :------------------------------------------------------------------
          : Second Heads    :  Screenings 2/:    Brewers    :      Total
          :------------------------------------------------------------------
          :  1998  :  1999  : 1998  : 1999  : 1998  : 1999  :  1998  :  1999
          :------------------------------------------------------------------
          :                             1,000 Cwt
          :
CA        :    256      88                      27      14      283      102
          :                                                 
Oth Sts 1/:    455     524      27      92     128      89      610      705
          :                                                 
US        :    711     612      27      92     155     103      893      807
          :                                                 
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  AR, LA, MS, MO and TX.
2/ Screenings included with second heads in CA.


    Rice Stocks:  By Position, State, and United States, December 1, 1997-98
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
         :  On Farms  :    In Mill  :  In Whses   :              :
         :     or     :       and   :    Not      :   In Ports   :   Total
 State   :    Farm    :    Attache  :  Attached   :     or in    :    All
         :    Whses   :     Whses   :  To Mills   :   Transit    : Positions
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
         :                          December 1, 1998
         :-------------------------------------------------------------------
         :                      Rough Rice - 1,000 Cwt
         :         
  AR     :   18,600         5,564        32,722             44       56,930
  CA 1/  :        *             *        24,208              0       27,337
  LA     :    4,500         2,249         8,552            179       15,480
  MS 1/  :        *             *             *              0        8,774
  MO     :        *             *             *              0        4,428
  TX     :    2,377         1,088         4,556              8        8,029
  Unall* :   10,107         1,730         4,494              0            
         :                                                       
  US     :   35,584        10,631        74,532            231      120,978
         :
         :                      Milled Rice - 1,000 Cwt
         :
  AR     :                  1,618            78            313        2,009
  CA     :                    997             0              0          997
  LA     :                      *             0              *            *
  MS     :                      *             0              *            *
  MO     :                      *             0              *            *
  TX     :                    807            50            274        1,131
  Unall* :                    439             0            840        1,279
         :                                                       
  US     :                  3,861           128          1,427        5,416
         :-------------------------------------------------------------------    
                                                
         :                           December 1, 1997
         :-------------------------------------------------------------------
         :                      Rough Rice - 1,000 Cwt 
         : 
  AR     :   17,800         7,658        29,952             10       55,420
  CA     :        *             *        29,498              0       34,664
  LA     :    4,000         1,862         6,909              4       12,775
  MS     :        *             *             *              0        8,637
  MO     :        *             *             *              0        2,949
  TX     :    1,830         1,388         5,628          1,052        9,898
  Unall* :    9,840         2,597         4,315              0            
         :                                                       
  US     :   33,470        13,505        76,302          1,066      124,343
         :
         :                      Milled Rice - 1,000 Cwt
  AR     :                  1,470            92            108        1,670
  CA     :                  1,356             0              0        1,356
  LA     :                      *             0              *            *
  MS     :                      *             0              *            *
  MO     :                      *             0              *            *
  TX     :                    818             9              0          827
  Unall* :                    500             0          1,329        1,829
         :                                                       
  US     :                  4,144           101          1,437        5,682
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/ Revised.
*  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, 1997-98 
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
          :      Long       :    Medium     :     Short     :      Total
  State   :------------------------------------------------------------------
          :  1997  :  1998  : 1997  : 1998  : 1997  : 1998  :  1997  :  1998
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
          :                             1,000 Cwt
          :
CA 1/     :      *       *  32,779  24,778       *       *   34,664   27,337
          :                                                
Oth Sts 1/:      *       *  11,698   9,996       *       *   89,679   93,641
        2/:                                                
US        : 78,329  84,346  44,477  34,774   1,537   1,858  124,343  120,978
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/ 1998 Revised.
2/ AR, LA, MS, MO, and TX.  
* Not published to avoid disclosing individual reports in CA.




               Milled Rice Stocks:  By Length of Grain in All Positions,
           California, Other States, and United States, December 1, 1997-98
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
          :                     Whole Kernels (Head Rice)
          :------------------------------------------------------------------
  State   :      Long       :    Medium     :     Short     :      Total
          :------------------------------------------------------------------
          :  1997  :  1998  : 1997  : 1998  : 1997  : 1998  :  1997  :  1998
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
          :                             1,000 Cwt
          :
CA        :     17      22     981     806      46      25    1,044      853
          :                                                
Oth Sts 1/:  3,426   2,958     267     807       0       5    3,693    3,770
          :                                                
US        :  3,443   2,980   1,248   1,613      46      30    4,737    4,623
          :
          :------------------------------------------------------------------
          :                          Broken Kernels
          :------------------------------------------------------------------
          : Second Heads    :  Screenings 2/:    Brewers    :      Total
          :------------------------------------------------------------------
          :  1997  :  1998  : 1997  : 1998  : 1997  : 1998  :  1997  :  1998
          :------------------------------------------------------------------
          :                             1,000 Cwt
          :
CA        :    275     121                      37      23      312      144
          :                                                
Oth Sts 1/:    367     541      27      29     239      79      633      649
          :                                                
US        :    642     662      27      29     276     102      945      793
          :
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  AR, LA, MS, MO, and TX.
2/  Screenings included with second heads in CA.



              Reliability of March 1, 1999, 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 are combined and 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
27, 1999.


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