PALM BEACH COUNTY, FL – When we talk about U.S. rice production, the state of Florida does not normally come to mind. However, the state annually produces 20,000 to 25,000 acres of rice. Most of this production is in the Everglades Agricultural Area, which is south of Lake Okeechobee and west of West Palm Beach.
More than 80 percent of this production is grown by Florida Crystals Corporation, which primarily grows, processes, and markets sugar. Each year, Florida Crystals produces about 135,00 acres of sugarcane. In addition, the company annually produces about 20,000 acres of rice. The rice is grown in the fallow year prior to planting a new sugarcane crop. Of these totals, the production normally includes about 5,000 acres each of organic sugar and rice. The company also has their own rice mill – Sem-Chi – which processes and markets all the rice produced in the region.
Daniel Cavazos oversees rice production as well as organic sugar production for Florida Crystals. Daniel is a recent graduate of the Rice Leadership Development program and was the first Florida participant in the program. Most of this production is drill seeded; however, Daniel has recently incorporated water-seeding into his production system, having learned about the technology during his tenure in the leadership program.
The predominant varieties grown are Diamond and Jewel, both long grains developed at the University of Arkansas Rice Research and Extension Center near Stuttgart. Daniel also grows some Ozark (Arkansas) as well as Cheniere and Avant. Cheniere is an older variety developed by the LSU AgCenter at the H. Rouse Caffey Rice Research Station in Crowley, while Avant was recently released from that station. In addition, he is planting for the first time DG245L, which is a brand-new release from Nutrien rice breeding efforts.
This year, Cavazos began planting in February and has all his organic production planted, primarily Diamond and Jewel. He stated, “This has been the best rice planting start I have experienced, with ideal growing conditions and no real issues up to this point.”
Cavazos said he expects to have 1,500 acres of water seeded rice this season. Because of the long growing season in the region, most of this rice also will be ratoon (second) cropped. A ratoon crop is second growth from the original plant after harvest. Ratoon rice crops normally take 75-90 days to reach harvest maturity after the first crop harvest.
This production is aided by Daniel working closely with research and extension scientists at University of Florida’s Everglades Research and Education Center near Belle Glade.