2016 total Arkansas rice harvested acres was 1,521,000 or 18 percent greater than 2015’s 1,286,000 harvested acres. The 2016 yield was 7,150-pounds or 159 bushels per acre. Arkansas all rice production or total rice production was 109-million cwt. the 4^th largest on record. The previous 15-year average was 98.4-million cwt.

2016 Arkansas long rice harvested acres was 1,390,000, 17 percent above 2015’s 1,045,000 harvested acres. The previous five-year average was 1,068,000 acres.

The 2016 Arkansas long grain rice production is estimated at 99.4-million cwt. the 3^rd largest on record.

The top four Arkansas long grain rice counties by harvested acreage are Poinsett County with 98,595; Jackson County 96,746; Cross County 91,957; and Lawrence County with 89,206 harvested acres.

2016 Arkansas medium grain rice harvested acres was 130,000. The previous 14-year average was 163,000 acres.

The 2016 Arkansas medium grain rice production is estimated at 9.3-million cwt.

The top 3 Arkansas medium grain rice counties by harvested acreage are Poinsett County with 22,739; Jackson County 16,699; and Lawrence County, 15,764 harvested acres.

World rice harvested acres are the largest on record at 162.3 million hectares.

World rice yield has been at 4.4 metric tons per hectare for the current 5 production seasons.

World rice milled production at 483.8 million metric tons is the highest on record.

World rice total use at 478.8 million metric tons is the highest on record.

World rice production has exceeded consumption in the current 10 marketing periods.

World rice trade at 41 million metric tons is the 3^rd highest on record, which in part reflects anemic global growth. That said global reflation is providing a bullish trade bias for 2017.

World rice ending stocks at 121.7 million metric tons is the highest since 2001/02 marketing period.

2016 long grain rice harvested acres are estimated at 2,412,000 acres, 31 percent above 2015. The five-year average is 1,904,800 acres, the 10-year average is 2,120,300 acres and the 15-year average is 2,268,467 acres.

2016 long grain rice production is estimated at 176.1 million cwt., 32 percent above last year. The five- year average is 138 million cwt and 10-year average 147 million cwt.

2016/17 long grain rice total supply is estimated at 219 million cwt, 2nd largest on record, 22% above last year. The five-year average was 182 million cwt and 10 year average 189 million cwt.

2016/17 long grain rice total exports are estimated at 79 million cwt, 6^th largest on record. The five-year average 70 million cwt and the 10-year average 72 million cwt.

2016/17 long grain rice total use is estimated at 182 million cwt., 2^nd largest on record. The five-year average 159 million cwt and 10 year average 166 million cwt.

2016/17 long grain rice ending stocks are estimated at 37.2 million cwt the largest since 1985. The five-year average 22.3 million cwt and 10 year average 23.8 million cwt     

Chronic global slow growth

Low to negative interest rates

Building debt

Bearish bonds, utilities, etc.

Increasingly bullish many hard assets like stocks, commodities, land, etc.

Bonds appear to have topped with low yields at least for the next couple of years

Equities are the direct beneficiary of the bonds topping followed by commodities, land, fine arts, etc. new highs.