On Friday June 28th the USDA released its annual Acreage report. The report estimates planted acreage of principal crops based on producer surveys conducted in the first two weeks of June. Nationally, principal acres planted were estimated at 315.177 million acres, up 1.866 million acres compared to the March Prospective Plantings report and 4.424 million acres lower than last year (Table 1). Southern states accounted for 22.8% of principal crop acreage.
Southern states account for 75% of rice production nationally, with Arkansas the largest producer. Rice acres planted were unchanged in Texas and Mississippi, declined 30,000 acres in Arkansas and increased 30,000 acres in Louisiana.