Production Potential and Costs of Japonica Rice in U. S. A.

本研究的重点是美国粳稻的生产潜力。美国的粳稻主要产自加利福尼亚州。然而，加州已经连续六年遭受干旱，这导致了比以往任何时候都更多的水稻分流，并改变了决策策略。另一方面，南方的水稻生产州不存在缺水问题，特别是在阿肯色州，那里的水稻产量比其他任何州都大得多。1991年，随着加州水稻种植面积的减少，阿肯色州的水稻产量大幅增加，其中很大一部分是种植加州流行的中粒水稻。关于水稻品种，长期以来人们认为南部各州不适合种植。然而，根据我们的研究，在加利福尼亚州开发的一些品种可能会在阿肯色州得到很好的采用。研究中还发现，个别州的水稻试验站往往存在领土行为，即相互竞争，倾向于避免接受其他州培育的品种。因此，当人们调查新品种的生产潜力时，有必要记住这一点。我们与阿肯色州的一家水稻生产商达成了一项协议，该生产商在过去几年里一直在部分生产粳稻，相互提供数据和其他与生产有关的信息。这一安排应该为我们提供真实的数据，以便进一步研究，特别是评估南方地区的水稻生产潜力。由于严格的环境保护要求和水资源短缺，加州扩大水稻生产在经济上相当困难。从总体上看，南部各州的水稻和粳稻增产潜力更大。

This research was focused on production potential of japonica rice in the United States. Japonica rice in the U. S. is mainly produced in California. However, California has been suffering from six consecutive year drought, which has caused more rice diversion than ever before and change in decision making strategies. On the other hand, water shortage problems do not exist in the southern rice producing states, especially in Arkansas where rice production is much greater than any other states. Upon reduction in rice acreage in California in 1991, rice production in Arkansas increased considerably, and a large portion of the increase was planted to medium grain, the type of rice popular in California.Regarding japonica rice varieties, it had been long believed that the southern states were not suitable. According to our research, however, some varieties developed in California may be well adopted in Arkansas. It was also found during the research that rice experiment stations in individual states often have territorial behavior or "regionalism" in which they rival against one another and tend to avoid to accept varieties developed in other states. Therefore, it is necessary to keep this in mind when one investigates potential of production of a new variety.We came to an agreement with an Arkansas rice producer, who has been partially producing japonica rice during the last few years, to provide each other with data and other production related information. This arrangement should equip us with real data for further research to evaluate potential of japonica rice production in the South, in particular. Because of strict environment protection requirements and water shortages, it is economically quite difficult to expand rice production in California. It appears that the southern states have greater potential of increase in rice production in general and japonica rice.