Rice Variety Trials (2023)

Challenges

• Since 2015, average yields and prices for rice produced in Mississippi have grown each year.
• Rice production requires specialized equipment and land preparation; the resulting costs are higher than most of the other commonly grown row crops in the state.
• Since 2002, the Census of Agriculture reports that the number of farms producing rice in Mississippi declined by 59.2% and harvested acreage declined by 62%.

Extension Response

To help producers make informed variety selection decisions, Mississippi State University Extension Service faculty and professional staff provide research-based information regarding variety performance.

• Variety selection is extremely important for rice producers, particularly given the number of varieties available in any given year. Without broad, independent variety testing information, Mississippi producers would have little basis to effectively evaluate seed.
• Extension Service faculty and professional staff provide research-based information through a variety of methods designed to reach producers.
• In 2023, 15 varieties were evaluated in large plot demonstrations throughout Mississippi’s rice production region.
• The program allows growers, crop consultants, and other professionals to observe the performance of various varieties, their milling results, and other characteristics.
• Companies are granted the discretion to enter their best adapted varieties and genetic traits; this helps to create an elite group for evaluation.

Economic Impacts

• Data from the 2022 large plot trials (for crops planted in 2023) showed that the tested varieties improved yields by 30 bushels per acre.
• A 90% adoption rate of the recommended varieties could result in a revenue increase of $23.2 million for Mississippi producers.
• This revenue increase could result in 221 jobs earning $8.7 million, generate $11.4 million in value-added, and support $44.1 million in additional total output.
• This program could generate local taxes of $8,516, state taxes of $185,520, and federal taxes of $19 million.
• These estimated tax increases are based solely on increased output by producers with no increase in tax rates or change in the current tax structure.

M2480-22 (10-25)

Will Eubank, PhD, Assistant Professor, Delta Research and Extension Center