WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S. — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) said rough rice stocks in all positions as of March 2014, were about 89 million cwt, down 15% from the same date a year ago. Long grain varieties were 63% for total rough rice while medium grain accounted for 34% and short grain varieties accounted for 3%, the USDA said in its latest Rice Stocks report.

Milled rice stocks in all positions totaled 5.84 million cwt, down 12% from a year ago, the USDA said. Milled rice stocks included about 4 million cwt of whole kernel rice and 1,830,000 cwt of second heads, screenings and brewers rice. 

The USDA said rough rice off farms on March 1 totaled 73,959,000 cwt, down 14% from the same time a year ago. Rough rice on farms as of March 1, 2014, were 14,995,000 cwt, down 19% from 18,430,000 cwt a year ago.

Milled rice in all positions as of March 1, 2014, totaled 5,844,000 cwt, down 12% from the same time a year ago, the USDA said.

Total March 1, 2014, all positions of rough rice in top-producing Arkansas was 42,106,000 cwt, down 27% from the same period a year ago, the USDA said.