Now or never

ENGLAND, AR -- USA Rice Federation Chairman Dow Brantley already updated yields and reallocated base acres for his Lonoke County, Arkansas farm, but he knows not everyone has done the same.  He warns time is running out.

"USDA extended that deadline to March 31, and I doubt they'll extend it again," he said. "Rice growers need to get into their local Farm Service Agency (FSA) office, fill out the paperwork, and also make their ARC or PLC decision.  I did it, it's done, and now I can get back to farming."

FSA officials point out that they are there to help growers understand all their choices as the deadlines approach.

"Delaying decisions will make things more difficult for growers and the Farm Service Agency as we approach the March 31 deadline," said Craig McCain, state executive director of the Louisiana FSA.  "If growers are unsure of what to do, I encourage them to ask questions.  County Offices are there to direct growers to available resources so they may become more comfortable with the decisions they need to make."

McCain said sign-ups across the state are going well and that rice growers are coming in and making their elections, but he doesn't want people to wait any longer than necessary. Neither does Brantley.

"You just need to make the best choice you can with the information you have," he said. "These programs are there to help, and while the process can be intimidating, and you're going to have to live with the decisions you make today for the duration of this Farm Bill, just letting the deadline lapse is definitely not the right answer.  Growers need to exercise their choices."

Brantley added that in addition to getting help from local FSA offices, there are several decision aid tools available online, and one he found personally helpful was Texas A&M's developed by Dr. Joe Outlaw and his team.

Contact:  Michael Klein (703) 236-1458 

WASHINGTON, DC -- The changes made to the U.S. 2014/15 rice supply and use balances this month are confined to forecast exports, ending stocks, and prices.  The 2014/15 all rice export projection is raised 1 million cwt to 104 million.  Long-grain exports are forecast at 72 million, up 1 million from last month based on larger expected exports to markets in the Western Hemisphere.  The combined medium- and short-grain export projection is unchanged at 32 million.  All rice ending stocks are projected at 40.9 million cwt, down 1 million from a month ago-all in long-grain rice.  Long-grain rice ending stocks are projected at 27.1 million cwt, the largest since 2010/11.  Medium- and short-grain ending stocks are unchanged at 11.5 million.

The 2014/15 long-grain season-average rice price range is projected at $12.20 to $12.80 per cwt, up 30 cents on each end of the range.   The all combined medium- and short-grain season-average price range is forecast at $18.10 to $18.90 per cwt, up 20 cents per cwt on each end of the range.   The California medium- and short-grain rice price is increased 30 cents per cwt to $19.80 to $20.80 per cwt.  The Other States medium- and short-grain rice price is unchanged at $14.80 to $15.40 per cwt.

Global 2014/15 rice ending stocks are lowered 0.6 million tons primarily due to increase in consumption.  Total supplies for 2014/15 are lowered 37,000 tons as the increase in production is insufficient to offset the decrease in beginning stocks.  Global production is increased 300,000 tons based primarily on increases for India (+500,000) and Sri Lanka (+150,000), partially offset by a reduction for Thailand(-350,000).  The increase in India is based on an expected larger Rabi crop.  Sri Lanka rice production is raised because of an expected increase in plantings and yield for the Maha crop.  Thailand 2014/15 rice crop is lowered 350,000 tons to 19.15 million due to a reduction in dry-season plantings resulting from an on-going drought and a reduction in irrigation water availability concentrated in the Central Region.  Thailand 2014/15 crop would be the smallest since 2006/07.  The reduction in 2014/15 global beginning stocks is due primarily to reductions for Burma and Malaysia. Global rice consumption (includes residual) is 500,000 tons with the largest increases for China and India.   Global rice exports are raised 400,000 tons due mostly to increases for Burma, India, and the United States.  Global imports are raised for China, Saudi Arabia, and Venezuela.

Read the full report here. 

Around the Country

Farm Bill Update: Medium Grain Rice and Peanuts Delta Farm Press

A number of questions have been asked about medium grain rice ARC/PLC program participation. The presentation at the following link provides some perspective on this issue: Medium Grain Rice - a simple comparison of expected PLC (SCO Not Included) and ARC-CO payments

Feds to California Farmers: 'No Water for You This Year' Western Farm Press

Water contractors north of the Delta will not have irrigation water as the agency determines quantities to hold back for senior water rights holders and wildlife refuges in the Central Valley. For northern California rice growers this signals less available water and forced fallowing of rice land, which doubles as habitat for migratory birds and other wildlife along the Pacific Flyway.

How a California Rice Farmer Uses the Market to Protect Wildlife and Boost Profits

Environmental Defense Fund

The Central Valley Habitat Exchange compensates landowners for good management practices and helps them diversify income beyond just farming as one of the best ways for agriculture to accommodate native species.

Payments to Producers to Rise Under New Farm Bill Programs Agri-Pulse

The new farm programs for grain and oilseed growers will pay them up to $7 billion annually over the next few years, surpassing what they would have received through the old system of direct payments, according to new forecasts released Monday.

Around the World

Four Years After Fukushima Nuclear Accident, Local Farmers Struggle for Viability

Wall Street Journal

Almost all the contamination came from radioactive iodine and cesium. The former decays quickly and disappears in a few months, leaving radioactive cesium as the principal problem today. Cleaning it up usually involves removing soil on the surface and adding chemicals to the remaining soil that block cesium from being absorbed by crops.

Rice Shipments from Vietnam Increase Bangkok Post

Rice exports from Vietnam, the world's third-largest shipper, will probably rebound this year as lower prices boost demand, while competition with Thailand keeps the gain to single digits, according to the government.