ALL ABOUT RICE

ALL ABOUT RICE

1. In Australia...

   • Australian rice growers are the most efficient and productive in the world and grow rice varieties ideal for the Australian climate
     • Australian's rice is exported to more than 60 different countries
       • The Australian rice industry was the first Australian agricultural industry to initiate biodiversity enhancement and greenhouse gas reduction strategies
         • The Australian rice industry was the first industry to initiate a project to return water to the environment through the Living Murray initiative
           • Australia's grains have adapted to our climate, being able to thrive in harsh temperatures with minimal water
             • Because, water is needed to grow grain, Australia’s rice production each year relates directly to the amount of water available to irrigators,
               • Australian rice mills use the most advanced equipment and are some of the largest and most efficient in the world.

2. Growing rice and the production process

   • Before planting rice, rice growers must ensure their farm meets the strict environmental guidelines for rice production
     • Most farms use laser-guided land levelling techniques to prepare the ground for production. Farmers will then have precise control over the flow of water on and off the paddock
       • Experienced agricultural pilots use satellite guidance technology to broadcast seed accurately over the fields.
         • Rice seeds are planted in September. Through September until February, the rice plant grows a main stem and a number of tillers. Each rice plant will produce four or five tillers. Every tiller grows a flowering head or panicle. The panicle produces the rice grains.
         • Farmers then use large, conventional grain harvesters to mechanically harvest rice in Autumn.
           • Once harvested, a truck transports it to one of the industry’s paddy storage facilities, where segregation occurs according to variety.
             • Then they are trucked to one of the 3 industry mills to be milled.
   • Milling rice
     • 1. Removal of hard protective husk. Once removed, it is sold as brown rice.
       • 2. Removal of germ and brown layers. Removing the germ and bran layers from the grain exposes a white starch centre, making it white rice.
         • Rice husks, rice stubble, rice bran, broken rice and rice straw are used as common ingredients in horticultural, livestock, industrial, household, building and food products.

3. Other infromation

   • Rice farms are homes for many types of plants and animals. The rice farmers protect the biodiversity of the region and maintain the ecosystems for the benefit of nature and also to their farms.
     • Some of these include:
       • Birds, mammals, reptiles, insects and other types of plants
       • As well as the Southern Bell frog whch is endangered.
     • The rice industry has strict regulations in place to ensure the production of high quality rice that has minimal impact on the environment.
       • The production of food and fibre is dependent on water and rice growers know better than most the real value of water. Without it, Australian rice growers can’t plant a crop, make a living or continue to grow the rice which feeds up to 20 million people around the world everyday.

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