Rice Farms Double As Bird Habitats

By Don Molino

Voice of Louisiana Agriculture Radio Network

Christian Richard is a rice farmer in Vermillion Parish. He says rice farming not only provides Louisiana with a rich economic foundation, but also provides one of the largest habitats for migrating birds every year in fallow rice fields.

“From the southwest Louisiana coastal marshes and prairies, to the central and northeast Louisiana delta, valuable rice fields support an average five million ducks and geese in any given winter. During peak migration events, those numbers can be as much as twice that.

“In Louisiana, also called the Chenier Plain, both ‘in production’ and fallow rice fields provide 40% of the food needed by these migrating waterfowl every winter. Therefore rice is critical to waterfowl in the region.

“An average of 300,000 acres of rice and rice fallow habitats hold water each winter, effectively making a landscape hospitable for waterfowl.”

(This report a service of the Louisiana Rice Promotion Board)