Texas' rice belt facing decrease in production, price

By MONETTE TAYLOR | South Central Texas Edition

Texas rice production may be down about 10 percent below last year's harvest because of heavy rains in May and June. USDA projects the average farm price to be $6.75 to $7.23 per cwt., down from $7.48 per cwt. last season. Here, a field of rice shows indication the region's rice will still be very good, despite excess early-season moisture. -- Staff photo by Taylor

Sept. 30, 2004 - If you've wondered why there's been so much publicity concerning rice lately, it's because September was National Rice Month across the nation. In 1991, the U.S. Congress voted to recognize the rice industry and its contribution to citizens across the states.

In Texas, most of the rice is grown in what is called the "rice belt," and that area stretches from Orange County down to the Gulf coast and on to Victoria and Calhoun counties.

It is reported Texas rice provides about $1 billion to the state's economy. This figure includes the birding and duck hunting industries that come as a result of the rice crops. Reports from Texas A&M University (TAMU) cite there are around 15,000 rice farmers in the United States, and most produce about 7,000 pounds of rice per acre.

Dr. Ted Wilson, director of the TAMU System Agricultural Research and Extension Center in Beaumont, reports researching rice, and providing varieties of rice that can withstand the sometimes unpredictable Texas weather, insects and disease, is of utmost importance to the research lab. Recently, the Beaumont Center has been more focused on genetics and the molecular and biochemical aspects of the various varieties of rice, rather than developing new varieties, according to a recent newsletter.

Wilson said two-thirds of U.S. consumers eat rice at least once a week. Because of the low costs, versatility, and nutritional value, rice lends itself to all cultures for various rice dishes.

At the Texana Seed Company in Garwood, Randy Waligura said the Texas rice production looks like it will be about 10 percent below last year, because of the heavy rains in May and June. While the quality of the rice is still very good, the yield was affected by the abundant moisture.

In Eagle Lake, Steve K. Balas, Texas chairman of the Texas Rice Producers legislative group, agreed; and pointed out the rains came just as much of the rice was blooming, and after about four weeks of rain, it definitely affected the rice crops in the area.

While the Texas harvest of rice is over 95 percent completed, Waligura said he believes Arkansas is still harvesting their crops.

Wilson noted the United States is expected to harvest more than 3 million acres of rice for 2004, with 90 percent of rice being consumed in the nation coming from U.S. soil.

Reports from Texas suggest that producers planted 216,810 acres of rice in 2004, up from 178,028 in 2003.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reported that the average farm price for the 2004-2005 season is projected to be between $6.75 to $7.25 per cwt, down from $7.48 per cwt in the 2003-2004 season.

Balas stated he doesn't, unfortunately, see the prices leveling off anytime soon.

When questioned about the number of rice farmers who are choosing to quit farming, Balas said there is usually someone ready to "step in" and take over the rice farming, at least in the area around Eagle Lake.

Balas talked about the changes in farming in the past several generations. A couple of generations ago, around 80 percent of the population were involved, in some way, in agriculture. Each generation since then, the numbers continue to decrease.

With rice prices set in Thailand, Balas said governmental intervention has allowed tariffs for developing, or Third World, countries to reek havoc on U.S. rice producers and the market prices. As he mentioned, when the United States is charged more for a tariff than the rice sells for, it hardly pays to try to export the rice. He said although the United States still has the cheapest food in the world, about 90 percent of the people still believe that rice "comes from the grocery store," just as many children believe milk does.

As far as Texas rice crops, RiceTec out of Alvin reports the two varieties of rice that are most requested from them are Clearfield XL8, XP710 and XP712. These varieties are hybrids with excellent disease ratings, according to RiceTec.

(The 35th Annual Texas Rice Festival is under way in Winnie-Stowell Park from Sept. 29-Oct. 3. Contact 409-296-4404 or www.texasricefestival.org for more information.)