USDA: US 2022 rice planted area falls 7.5% on year to 2.3 mil acres

The US Department of Agriculture estimated total US 2022 rice planted area at 2.3 acres, or 948,178 hectares, in its June 30 Acreage report, down 7.5% year on year. Long grain is estimated to account for 1.9 million acres, or 770,926 hectares, down 3.3% year on year, with Arkansas comprising 55% of the total crop and Louisiana comprising 20%. Medium grain planting is estimated to have declined 21% year on year to 417,000 acres, or 168,754 hectares. California is anticipated to represent 62%, with Arkansas comprising 24%. The total planted area in the largest rice producing state — Arkansas — is estimated to have dropped 5% year on year to 1.2 million acres, or 465,793 hectares. However, the planted area in the state appeared slightly higher to some, with multiple sources placing the figure closer to 1.1 million acres, or 445,154 hectares, and others saying this figure was also high. Louisiana was the only state to see improved plantings, with the total area up 4.8% year on year at ...