Rice fluff: economist says supplies aplenty for U.S. consumers

Southwest Farm Press ^ | Apr 25, 2008 | Kathleen Phillips

[EBH]

Reports about shortages of rice in the United States probably apply only to several imported varieties, and definitely not to the domestic supply of the popular grain.

“Are we running out of rice? The answer is no,” said Dr. Mark Welch, Texas AgriLife Extension Service agricultural economist.

This week’s news that two large box retailers in the United States were limiting customer purchases of rice was shocking in a nation where food shortages are rare.

Retailers Sam’s Club and Costco reportedly limited bulk sales of some varieties of rice – all of which are imported from other countries – in some stores across the nation, according to the Associated Press.

But the reason behind the limits and the facts about rice supply aren’t in sync, according to Dr. Mark Welch, Texas AgriLife Extension Service agricultural economist.

“Rice markets have been roiled by reports of trade restrictions by large rice exporting countries India, Vietnam, and Brazil and reports of rice rationing in the U.S. by major food retailers Sam’s Club and Costco,” Welch said.

Rice supplies are at relatively low levels, but the surge of panic buying and rapidly escalating prices is not supported by supply and demand fundamentals, he noted.

“Rice is an important staple in the diets of over half of the world’s population. Any price increase on persons with limited economic resources is a hardship,” Welch said. “The recent surge in prices has severe consequences for those who struggle daily for adequate nutrition.”

Welch said per capita consumption of rice has not increased in the last several years. Demand for corn and soybeans is increasing largely due to biofuels and feed use, but wheat and rice demand are basically unchanged.

Welch pointed out these facts about the rice supply:

– People in the U.S. eat about 4 pounds of rice a month. That’s a total of about 10 million hundredweights a month in the nation.

– The U.S. has about 104 million hundredweights in supply right now - a 10-month supply.

– And the new U.S. crop will be harvested beginning in September, only about five months from now, and should replenish supplies.

[hiredhand]

Just prior to the sub prime collapse last July, those in the Ivory Towers were telling us that everything was just PEACHY!

Now, they're on the verge of announcing that we're in a recession.

Currently it would seem that something strange is going on with portions of the food supply, and they're issuing the standard line again... -

Pay NO attention to the man behind the curtain! I AM OZ!

[bjs1779]

Well you make up what ya want and insult someone else......no time for such or the likes of you. Sorry you feel that way.

I didn't insult you. Here is what you said. You could of explained it from the get go.

"Doom on the trash pandering such."

The question is who is it you are insulting?

[Squantos]

Oh I am just trying to be popular here..........:o)

[bjs1779]

Oh I am just trying to be popular here..........:o)

Here you are hoarding food, and everbody is wrong about any shortages. Is that correct?

[hiredhand]

Good on you! But I gave up trying months ago. There are too many fickle people around here....too many people straining to be offended and then wanting to spar about it...like a bunch of little banty roosters. :-)

[bjs1779]

Then I am sure you can refute post # 21.

[Squantos]

Yeah if I was trying to be popular I’d give away money and free cars and take the time to deal with those that twist things around.

Stay safe !

[hiredhand]

Wow...you got accused of hoarding! BWAH! That's funny! Stocking a pantry and canning is hoarding? Hell...you and I and people like us are thought of as strange because we don't live out of MacDonald's or go to the grocery store once a week! JIT (Just In Time) inventory management is gonna make some hungry, unhappy people!

Hunt, raise livestock, grow food, can, store....stay fed! :-)

[hiredhand]

Ah yeah...consider the source. USDA.... looking out for us they are! ...with the likes of NAIS! DOOM on them!....bunch of liars, self serving beauracrats!

You believe everything our goobermint tells us eh? Believe em if you want.

[bjs1779]

Yeah if I was trying to be popular I’d give away money and free cars and take the time to deal with those that twist things around.

Now you know that negaitve news is almost a taboo here. Yet you hoard food at the same time. I ain't gona say what that makes you look like.

[hiredhand]

Money & free cars! WHOO-HOO! Let me know! :-)

I won't hold my breath though! :-)

Hey...I'd settle for some used rucks (nudge, nudge, wink, wink)... :-) You TOLD me to remind you! Actually, SoapGirl here was asking.

[bjs1779]

You believe everything our goobermint tells us eh? Believe em if you want.

Excellent question. Do you believe the government infaltion reports then? Tell us which line you believe in.

[hiredhand]

I just told Sweetie that you got accused of hoarding food and she rolled her eyes and said to tell you...

"You were hoarding food before it was called hoarding food!" She said to tell the guy that you're LDS and to get off your back!. :-)

She's got an answer for everything!

[hiredhand]

Wow...you’re just a walking stats board aren’t you now? :-)

[Squantos]

look here skippy.........if you want to be a disruptor and not read the entire thread or have a comprehension problem then so be it . We didn’t start keeping a full pantry yesterday due this so called rice shortage. We have done such for a long time. Your words ....hoarding etc all BS just like your spin on my posts.

My last to your crap so pace yerself if ya want too continue or it’s gonna be a long night for YOU posting too yourself ......now go find a ladder an crawl off my ass and bother someone who likes ya !

[Squantos]

Well contrary to what this poster thinks I am not LDS and had no reason too lie too her. Sad that folks think such here.......

Tell Sweetie I said hello and was thinking of ya’ll rototilling the garden this afternoon. Real dry here last two months so ground was hard......but we got started this AM !!

[bjs1779]

"You were hoarding food before it was called hoarding food!" She said to tell the guy that you're LDS and to get off your back!. :-)

Actually, the modern term for hoarding goes back to FDR when he accused the "subjects" of this country of hoarding gold. I really have no problem with people who want to keep a good stock of anything.

[spectre]

I think it's Riceland Rice from Arkansas :)

[bjs1779]

Wow...you’re just a walking stats board aren’t you now? :-)

I thought it might be useful, yes. I see opinion overshadows that.

[hiredhand]

Hey...I can't remember if I told you this, but Sweetie went to the local mill where we show up every couple of months for wheat berries (cause we mill our own flour), and they wouldn't sell her the usual "load". They would only sell her about half of what she wanted. It made us just a bit nervous to say the least. They didn't have a good reason as to why the shortage....and this is in "NowheresVille" here in NC....it's a little small place. They simply told her that there was a wheat shortage.

Something is going on...people are anticipating it, and we're seeing the beginnings of it. Those who are NOT preparing are accusing those (such as you and I) of hoarding, and being "survivalists".... to these I say "WHATEVER!"

The bottom line is that (as with you) we've been canning and storing and putting up food for a long time. Our grandparents did it, and our parents did it...and to be honest with you, if I don't have six months MINIMUM of canned goods put up, I feel "insufficient"!

I think we piss people off with this attitude. Too many people subscribe to the "instant gratification theory" and couldn't afford to put up six months worth of food until they paid off a couple of credit cards. Even IF they managed to put the food up, they would be the types that couldn't stay out of the canned peaches! You know the type. :-)

Oh well...the bottom line is that we're not doing anything different than we've ever done. We're probably keeping just a tad more food and ammo. But that's about it.