By Steve Linscombe and Kane Webb,
USA Rice
Ag Fax
Texas rice harvest is well underway west of Houston and just getting started on the east side of the state. This is typical as the west zone tends to plant earlier than the east. The consensus among growers in the area is that yields are average at best to below average.
Another common comment from growers is that fields are taking longer than normal to mature due to excessive levels of rainfall and overcast skies earlier in the season that tended to slow down the crop.