High Yield Putting rice checkoff dollars to work Arkansas continues to rank first in the nation in the production of rice with almost 1.5 million acres planted in 2020 producing a crop valued at over $1 billion. Farmers in Arkansas grow almost 50 percent of all rice produced in the United States.
by industry organizations and appointed by the Governor.
Successful efforts have been mounted on numerous fronts thanks to farmers, merchants, and millers who invest in the continued development of the rice industry by contributing to The state’s rice community has the checkoff program. Arkansas a long history of supporting checkoff dollars are collected research and promotion efforts. through an assessment of 1.35 With the establishment of the cents per bushel of rice paid by Arkansas Rice Research and the grower and an assessment Promotion Board in 1985, there of 1.35 cents per bushel paid have been many advancements by the first purchaser. Annual to improve the profitability collections vary with production, of growing rice in Arkansas but average between $4.5 million through programs aimed at and $6 million. Approximately research, extension, and market one-half of the dollars collected development. The Board consists goes to support research, usually of nine rice producers nominated at the University of Arkansas, and half goes towards promotion and market development through a partnership with USA Rice, the national trade organization for the industry. Measuring checkoff success Although Arkansas is the top rice producing state in the nation, it has the second lowest checkoff investment in the country. Our checkoff dollars have achieved multiple victories even though today’s checkoff is worth just 41 percent of what it was in 1985. There are many tangible results from the wise use of checkoff dollars. Farmers and consumers ARKANSAS GROWN 60