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

本研究的重点是粳稻在美国的生产潜力。美国的粳稻主要产自加利福尼亚。然而，加州已经连续6年遭受干旱，这导致了比以往更多的水稻转移和决策策略的变化。另一方面，缺水问题不存在于南方的水稻生产州，特别是在阿肯色州，那里的水稻产量比其他任何州都要大得多。1991年加州水稻种植面积减少后，阿肯色州的水稻产量大幅增加，其中很大一部分是种植中粒水稻，这是加州流行的一种水稻。关于粳稻品种，长期以来人们一直认为南方各州不适合种植。然而，根据我们的研究，在加州开发的一些品种在阿肯色州可能会被很好地采用。在研究中还发现，个别州的水稻实验站往往有领土行为或“区域主义”，它们相互竞争，往往避免接受其他州开发的品种。因此，在研究新品种的生产潜力时，有必要牢记这一点。我们与阿肯色州的一家大米生产商达成协议，他在过去几年一直在部分生产粳稻，我们向对方提供数据和其他与生产相关的信息。这一安排将为我们提供真实的数据，以便进一步研究评估特别是在南方的粳稻生产潜力。由于严格的环保要求和水资源短缺，在加州扩大水稻生产在经济上相当困难。看来，南方各州在普通水稻和粳稻的产量上有更大的增长潜力。

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.