Rice and the Environment

The rice industry is deeply committed to environmental stewardship through the Conservation Stewardship Program.

California rice is home to hundreds of wildlife species and is the only crop that replicates the once-abundant wetlands of the Sacramento Valley. California's rice fields support this healthy environment by providing habitat, food and breeding ground for 235 species of wildlife. An estimated 10 to 12 million waterfowl use the Central Valley's wetland habitats each year, including 60 percent of the total number of waterfowl in the Pacific Flyway. Ducks, geese and shorebirds by the millions rest and feed in California’s ricelands during their annual migrations.

Visit the California Rice Commission to learn more about the Conservation Stewardship Program.