Who Knew?
Arkansa is the biggest rice producer in the USA, planting 1,466,600 in 2003, who knew, right.
Anyway, to get into the campground you need to pass under some conveyers that are use to take the rice from the grain bins to the barges.
The port here handles rice of course, corn and beans also, per the sign. They also off load gravel and other rocks, I guess there are no quarries nearby. All I know the place is busy with semis coming in and out all day long.
Some info found on the WEB about rice production.
Rice
Arkansas ranks first among rice-producing states, accounting for more than 40 percent of U.S. rice production — primarily long and medium grain varieties. Rice production is concentrated in the eastern half of the state, stretching from the Louisiana to the Missouri borders. Arkansas rice is known for its versatility, and can be used in a wide variety of cuisines. It is enjoyed in the U.S. and throughout the world.
History
In the 1800s, growers in the prairie lands of Arkansas were in need of a dependable, profitable crop, and rice became a contender almost by accident, when W. H. Fuller ventured southwest to Louisiana in August of 1896 on a hunting trip. It was there he first saw rice growing, which ultimately led to the development of a leading agricultural industry for the state. Fuller, along with his brother-in-law John Morris and John’s wife Emma, are generally credited with founding the Arkansas rice industry. By 1910, rice production, research and milling were established in the state.
Of all the rice producing states, Arkansas continues to be the largest in terms of acres of rice planted as well as production. In 2003, Arkansas had 1,466,600 acres planted with rice. California and Louisiana, the two states runner up to Arkansas in these categories, had only 509,000 and 455,000 acres of rice under cultivation in the same year, respectively. The five largest rice-producing counties in the state of Arkansas were Poinsett (134,944 harvested acreage), Arkansas (117,675 harvested acreage), Cross (106,254 harvested acreage), Jackson (101,762 harvested acreage), and Lawrence (99,480 harvested acreage) in the year 2003, which represented nearly 36% of the state’s total land acreage under rice production.[7]
The End
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Welcome to my spot on the web. My wife and I are retired and live and travel full-time in our motorhome.
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1 Comment
Wow…. Thanks for the rice education…. To be truthful never really gave it much thought just figured it was one of the other things that we received from another country. Your stories not only inspire but also educate…. Thanks for the info. Safe travels and stay warm.
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