Rice : an alternative crop for southeast Missouri
Authors:   , Pullen David Monroe 
Published: October 2024

"The United States produces two percent of the world rice crop, but accounts for one-third of the rice trade in the world. Most rice is consumed within the border of the producing countries but the United States exports two- thirds of its crop. Its primary competition in the rice trade market comes from the Peoples Republic of China and Thailand, which together accounts for two-fifths of the world rice trade. The present production structure of the rice industry in the United States is composed of six states. These are, in order of importance, Arkansas, Louisiana, Texas, California, Mississippi, and Missouri. In 1976 acres produced were: Arkansas, 850,000; Louisiana, 570,000; Texas, 510,000; California, 421,000; Mississippi, 145,000; and Missouri, 14,000. The major rice areas are shown in Figure 1. Slight declines in rice production occurred in 1976 and 1977 as indicated by Table 1. However, rice had shown a constant growth through the 1960's and early 1970's. The largest increase was shown by Arkansas. In 1973 Arkansas became the number one producer in the United States. The major portion of this increased production occurred in the Northeast part of Arkansas. In January 1976, Mr. L. Clyde Carter, President of Riceland Foods, indicated that Northeast Arkansas had the land, water, climate, and a potential that other rice areas do not have. Expansion is inevitable for the area. Whether it is this year or later, expansion will occur because rice can be grown more economically in Northeast Arkansas. The factors that make Northeast Arkansas the future rice bowl are also present in Southeast Missouri. Southeast Missouri has a large amount of loam to heavy clay soil. It has a retentive subsoil and a pH reaction of 4.5 to 7.5. The reaction is two to three feet deep and the soil is easily flooded. Southeast Missouri has shown the same steady growth pattern that has occurred in Northeast Arkansas. The largest expansion in Southeast Missouri occurred in 1974 when the acreage tripled from 5,000 acres to 15,000 acres. For many years rice was produced by allotment from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). However, the doorway to rapid expansion was opened in 1973 when the government restrictions on rice marketing quotas were lifted. There was an immediate expansion from 2.2 million acres in 1973 to a record 2.8 million in 1975. An increase in acreage to 4.4 million is probable in the near future. This increase is likely to occur in the Mississippi River Delta because of the ideal land type and water availability. In February 1976, former President Ford signed the House Bill H.R. 8529 which suspended marketing quotas for 1976 and 1977. This meant that anyone who wished could raise rice. The national allotment will be determined each year by the Secretary of Agriculture. It is established only for the purpose of benefits under the program. To preserve an allotment at least 90 percent of the allotted acreage must be planted to rice or regarded as planted to rice. House Bill H.R. 8529 also established a target price of $8 per cwt. and a base loan rate of $6 per cwt. The signing of House Bill H.R. 8529 allows expansion of rice acreage in the Missouri Delta based on the economics of rice as compared to the other major crops of Southeast Missouri. How rice competes primarily with corn, milo, cotton, and soybeans will determine the expansion of rice production in the area. There are approximately 559,000 acres suited for rice production in Southeast Missouri. However, the approximate acreage that could be grown annually after taking into account limitations imposed by available water for irrigation and/or agronomic factors associated with rotations is 279,000. The purpose of this study is to consider rice as an alternative crop for Southeast Missouri. To grow rice productively it must be irrigated. So rice will be compared to irrigated cotton, corn, milo, and soybeans as well as non-irrigated cotton, corn, milo, and soybeans to determine its competitive position for the 279,000 potential rice acreage of Southeast Missouri. The specific objectives will be to determine rice's competitive position under the following situations: 1. Labor and water restrictions. 2. Water restrictions only. 3. Varied labor costs. 4. Varied land amounts. 5. Varied returns to rice."--Introduction.