U.S. Rice Plantings Rise 1%

WASHINGTON - Jun 30/09 - SNS -- Area planted to rice in 2009 is estimated at 3.02 million acres, up 1% from 2008, according to the USDA's preliminary seeded estimates for the year.

Area for harvest is estimated at 3.00 million acres, also up 1% from 2008. Planted acreage increased from 2008 in Arkansas, California, and Mississippi, while Louisiana, Missouri, and Texas all show a decline from 2008. Growers in Arkansas, the largest rice-producing State, planted 1.43 million acres, up 2% from last year.

California acreage increased 8% from last year mainly due to historically high prices for medium grain varieties. Louisiana growers planted 50,000 acres less than they did in 2008 mainly because of salt water intrusion in areas hardest hit by last year's hurricanes.

Long grain planted acreage, representing 75% of the total, is down 5% from last year. Medium grain planted acreage, representing 24% of the total, increased 26% from 2008. Area planted to short grain varieties is down 10,000 acres from 2008 and represents 1% of the total.

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