The long-time trend toward more rice acres and growers appears certain. Changes in rice acres in 2001 will be closely related to the market price of rice at and just prior to planting time. Marketing is the farmers' most serious challenge in order to maintain viable farm operations and a healthy rice industry. High production and reserves and variable but generally low prices appear to be the rule for 2001. Increasing production of specialty varieties requires grower discipline to limit the number of planted acres.
Red rice remains the primary agronomic threat to economic rice production in Missouri.
Missouri has experienced several successive years of very low disease incidence. The 2001 Missouri Rice Producers Conference will be held Wednesday, February 7 in Dexter. A Rice School for beginning growers is tentatively planned for late February. The annual Rice Farm Field Day at the Missouri Rice Research and Demonstration Farm by Glennonville will be in mid August. Missouri rice acreage, 1970-2000.