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.

[Squantos]

Thanks .....I didn’t know who was the major grower or if any one company had such a corner on that market........ thanks !

Stay safe !

[hiredhand]

I told her! Ewww! Rototilling! I’m GRATEFUL that Jake here has taken a liking to the rototiller! He seems to get along with it better than I do! :-)

[hiredhand]

opinion...yup. That pretty much sums it up for you and me. We both have opinions, but of course you're intimating that yours is based on fact and is therefore correct whereas mine is not. Well visualize this...a 44 year old skinny bearded white guy who is looking you in the eye who says, "I don't believe you". :-) Don't take it personally...even though I know you will. I'm still trying to figure out what pissed you off so badly. You must have been in a bad mood when Squantos posted what he did.

Yeah...by today's standards, we're overstocked, overarmed, and waiting for the end of the world. So what? If you don't agree with us, then that's O.K. You have a right to be mad! So be mad...quote your stats and feel vilified as we continue on with our narrow minded ways. :-) You're not going to change us, and we're certainly not trying to change you.

[Squantos]

I like it cept when tilling new ground. We are expanding our garden this year so dealing with some hard stuff. Tiller is old troybilt that is 25 year old I believe.......:o)

Still good working condition....!!

Does Jake travel ?;o)

[hiredhand]

Jake doesn’t drive YET... but I’ll tell him what you said! :-)

[Squantos]

LMAO !!!

Great posts BTW..........Stay safe ~!

[hiredhand]

Jake said he'll till your dirt if you'll come get him and give him some GUNS and ammo...and bandaids and beans! He's SUCH a redneck! :-)

Just for that, I might bring him there and MAKE him till while you and I sit and watch and nurse a couple of cold ones! :-)

[bjs1779]

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.

Then why are you so upset that other people would keep a "full pantry" on news of a food shortage? And then belittle the shortage?

You don't make much sense for a person who has ties to the Great Depression and is still protecting yourself from those days.

[hiredhand]

Sheesh...I posted this to MYSELF the first time! :-)

Jake said he'll till your dirt if you'll come get him and give him some GUNS and ammo...and bandaids and beans! He's SUCH a redneck! :-) Just for that, I might bring him there and MAKE him till while you and I sit and watch and nurse a couple of cold ones! :-)

[bjs1779]

opinion...yup. That pretty much sums it up for you and me.

No, I am sorry. That pretty much sums it up for you. Post some facts and get back to us.

[hiredhand]

Hey...now about opinions...remember what they taught us from active duty days? ...about assholes?...and how everybody has one...and most stink? :-)

[Squantos]

LMAO !!

He’d be sorry he said that....

[Dust in the Wind]

"Yeah...by today's standards, we're overstocked, overarmed, and waiting for the end of the world. So what? If you don't agree with us, then that's O.K. You have a right to be mad! So be mad...quote your stats and feel vilified as we continue on with our narrow minded ways. :-) You're not going to change us, and we're certainly not trying to change you."

And it puts fear and trepidation in the hearts of those who would try to reduce our stockpiles for their own use. Oh and you are not so narrow minded as you are focused; got your crosshairs on target as it were...

[hiredhand]

Yeah...he’s a good young man! He’d do it too! He’s a good roofing helper too! :-)

[hiredhand]

Well that's what I was thinking! We have a saying here that food is the FOURTH most important thing on the planet. Generally, the order is -

1. The Lord God.
2. Water
3. Shelter/Clothing
4. FOOD

On top of this, I don't have a great deal of hope for the future of this nation, and storing some food and living OUT of population centers seems a wise and prudent thing to do. So far, it's served us well. :-)

[spectre]

Arkansas rice production exceeded 207 million Bushels in 2007, nearly 48 percent of the entire US crop.

We have enough rice to sustain people in the US. Still the prices are going up? I'm guessing we're seeing the increase in rice prices because marketing it involves going thru various greedy food brokers who will certainly sell our rice to overseas markets for large profits. It's always about the money.

This might create a shortage here if tons of money can be made selling our rice overseas where they are clearly running out.

I try to keep a supply of food on hand in case of emergency..Better safe than sorry..be well.

sw

[BuffaloJack]

> But Minute Rice will do just fine.
Minute rice is just nasty. If I ever bought home a sack of Minute Rice my wife would boot me out of the house and pich he sack after me.

[Squantos]

Good points ...I was thinking the prices were going up across the board due fuel costs but the shortages in China are plausable as well. Crazy times......

Stay safe , thanks again for the info !

[DeaconBenjamin]

Nevertheless, store-brand and Riceland Rice (located here in Arkansas) has doubled in price since the start of the year. Plenty of supply, but not getting any cheaper.

[fella]

SAM’s Club was limiting sales yesterday too just 4 bags per customer........Why that's only 4 twenty pound bags of rice a day. It's. It's Famine, we're all going to starve.