Midsouth Rice Production and Trade Update for 2024/25 

Midsouth Production Expenses and Profitability

The global rice market is poised for significant shifts in the 2024/25 marketing year, driven mostly by relative profitability, policy changes, and evolving global trade dynamics. Domestic rice production expectations, specifically in Arkansas, look to increase slightly, marking three consecutive years of increased rice acres and production. Shifting off the traditional crop rotation may signal rice’s operating margins are a more attractive investment to farmers (and their lenders) again in 2025. Based on enterprise budgets published by the University of Arkansas, operating expenses for rice look to improve year-over-year (Table 1). Nitrogen inputs show the only increase in per-acre expenditures, with a 4% increase from 2024, while seed and diesel expenses have significantly declined. It’s worth noting that a possible 2025 seed shortage could hinder the expansion of rice acres; if this comes to fruition, seed expenses will likely increase relative to 2024, severely impacting profitability (Haigwood, 2025).  

Table 1. 2023 – 25 Selected Rice Operating Expenses

Per-acre operating costs in Arkansas amount to roughly ~$992/acre, based on 2025 operating expense forecasts. Table 1 highlights the profitability of mid-south rice production using Arkansas County, Arkansas. Using the 2023 Arkansas state average yield and price of 186 bu/acre and $6.13/bu, a mid-south rice farmer under an 80/20 crop share agreement can expect to breakeven at 203 bu/acre (assuming $6.13/bu) or at $6.67/bu (assuming 186 bu/acre). Table 1 below highlights per-acre profit above operating expenses (~$992/acre) under a range of prices and yields.  

Figure 1. Rice Net Operating Returns, Arkansas County, Arkansas, 2025, 80-20 Crop Share

Quick Trade Update

The Mexico rice market will be worth watching as we move into the 2024/25 marketing year. The USDA-FAS forecasts Mexico to import nearly 860,000 metric tons of paddy/rough rice (a 1% increase YoY). The U.S. is poised to remain the primary source of these imports due to its proximity and relationship with Mexico. However, Brazil (and other countries such as Argentina and Thailand) are expected to increase their market share of Mexican paddy rice imports from lower prices and tariff exemptions through the extended Presidential Anti-inflation decree, which exempts tariffs on countries without a free trade agreement (FTA) for rough rice through 2025 (USDA-FAS, 2025). However, long-grain milled rice is not included in the tariff exemption, and as such, the import tariff returns to 20% for countries besides the United States, which is exempt due to the USMCA trade agreement. This helps the U.S. maintain competitiveness and retain market share for milled rice exports to Mexico (USDA-ERS, 2025).  Still, domestic U.S. rice supply has outpaced total use (including exports), with a 10.7% increase in ending stocks, according to the January 2025 WASDE Report. Current ending stocks, coupled with the expectation for increased rice acres and global trade uncertainty, could continue to put downward pressure on rice prices and hinder U.S. export competitiveness into this marketing year.  

References

University of Arkansas, Division of Agriculture. (2025). Crop Enterprise Budgets for Arkansas. Retrieved January 2025, from, https://www.uaex.uada.edu/farm-ranch/economics-marketing/farm-planning/budgets/crop-budgets.aspx

United States Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service. (2025). Rice Outlook: January 2025. Retrieved January 2025, from, https://downloads.usda.library.cornell.edu/usda-esmis/files/dn39x152w/3f464060c/t722k493j/RCS-25A.pdf

United States Department of Agriculture, Foreign Agricultural Service. (2025). Grain and Feed Update: Mexico, January 2025. Retrieved February 2025, from, https://apps.fas.usda.gov/newgainapi/api/Report/DownloadReportByFileName?fileName=Grain%20and%20Feed%20Update_Mexico%20City_Mexico_MX2025-0003.pdf

United States Department of Agriculture. (2025). World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates, January 10, 2025. Retrieved January 2025, from, https://www.usda.gov/oce/commodity/wasde/wasde0125.pdf

Haigwood, W.S. (2025). Rice Seed Availability Tightens Even More for 2025. Retrieved February 3, 2025, from, https://www.farmprogress.com/rice/rice-seed-availability-tightens-for-2025

Loy, Ryan. “Midsouth Rice Production and Trade Update for 2024/25.” Southern Ag Today 5(7.3). February 12, 2025. Permalink