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

这项研究的重点是在美国的粳稻生产潜力。日本粳稻在美国S.主要产于加州。然而，加州已经连续六年遭受干旱，这导致了比以往更多的水稻转移和决策战略的变化。另一方面，在南部的稻米生产州，特别是在稻米产量比其他任何州都大得多的阿肯色州，并不存在缺水问题。1991年，加州的水稻种植面积减少后，阿肯色州的水稻产量大幅增加，其中大部分是种植在加州流行的中粒水稻。然而，根据我们的研究，在加州开发的一些品种可能在阿肯色州得到很好的采用。研究中还发现，各州的水稻试验站往往有领土行为或“地方主义”，彼此竞争，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，有必要记住这一点。我们与阿肯色州的一家稻米生产商达成协议，他们在过去几年中一直在部分生产粳稻，互相提供数据和其他生产相关信息。这一安排应使我们掌握真实的数据，以便进一步研究，特别是评估南方粳稻生产的潜力。加州由于环保要求严格和水资源短缺，扩大水稻生产在经济上相当困难。看来，南部各州有更大的潜力，增加水稻产量一般和粳稻。

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.