Overview
George Begley Jr first grew rice near Dudley, MO in Stoddard County in 1910. Missouri rice production began in earnest in the 1960’s. By the 1980’s rice production increased to 80,000 to 100,000 acres. Currently, Missouri rice acres center at 160,000 to 200,000+ acres depending on weather and market influences. Missouri rice production is completely located in southeastern Missouri, with the Arkansas boarding counties of Butler, Dunklin and Pemiscot having the greatest acreages. The total 2015 value of Missouri rice production is $185,000,000.