Smaller U.S. Rice Harvest

WASHINGTON - Aug 11/06 - SNS -- Rice production in the United States is forecast at 197 million cwt (100 pound units), down 12% from last year and down 15% from 2004, according to the USDA's latest crop production estimates.

Area for harvest is expected to total 2.90 million acres, unchanged from June but down 14% from last year. Rice plantings, at 2.91 million acres, are also unchanged from the June estimate. The decline in acreage from last year is attributed to higher fuel, fertilizer, and irrigation costs.

The U.S. yield is forecast at 6,813 pounds per acre, up 177 pounds from last year. A record high yield of 6,900 pounds per acre is expected in Missouri.

As of July 30, heading of the crop in Arkansas and California was 7 and 8 percentage points behind their respective 5-year averages. In the other rice producing States, crop development was at or ahead of normal. Crop condition was rated 58% good to excellent across the rice producing States, down from 62% the previous year.

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