[Crops 101] How to Sow and Harvest Long Grain Rice

Welcome to your next “Crops 101” lesson of the Farming Simulator Academy! In this tutorial, focusing on long grain rice (not the other type simply called 'rice'. This is a different type of rice with its own tutorial). We show you how to plant and harvest this awesome plant. Let’s go!

Long grain rice or rice?

Rice is not necessarily rice. There are two different types of rice: Long grain rice and rice. They need different water levels, harvesting machines, and seeds, of course.

In this tutorial, we will focus on long grain rice. If you want to learn about the other type of rice - check the separate tutorial.

Go to Rice

What you need for long grain rice

Long grain rice is not sown in water. You can’t grow it on a basic field but in a rice paddy - a field deepened for water retention. Let’s take a look at everything you need to plant and harvest long grain rice.

You need an open space to build a rice paddy. Use the building menu of the shop. We tell you later how to set it up properly.
You need a tractor to attach the following tools and operate them.
You need a cultivator to prepare the ground for your next harvest.
You need a seeder to plant the long grain rice.
You need a fertilizer spreader, fertilizer, and lime to improve your harvest.
You need a harvester and a fitting header to harvest your plants. You can use the same header that is used for grains.
And you need a trailer to transport and sell the harvested long grain rice.

Equipment Selection (recommendation)

We chose the following equipment. In the ‘Packs’ section of the shop, you find everything you need. Feel free to make your own choices for machines and tools as our recommendations are just that - a recommendation!

Tractor: Challenger MT635
Cultivator: John Deere 980
Seeder: UNIA FENIX 3000/4
Fertilizer Spreader: Bredal K105
Harvester: Massey Ferguson 8570
Harvester Header: Massey Ferguson 8570 Header
Trailer: Farmtech EDK 650

Let’s go to work!

Got everything you need? Then let’s start on your assignment and cultivate some long grain rice! Note that you can only grow this crop in April and harvested in September if seasonal growth is enabled.

Step 1: Placing rice fields

Open the build mode, open the second menu item and select the cultivation segment. Here you find olive and grape vines as well as your rice paddy. Choose the rice paddy.

Start placing the first corner of the field with the assigned button.
You can create any shape of rice paddy you want.
Be aware, that your water pump will be on the first side you create.
When you are done with your with creating your paddy, press the respective button to end the creative mode.

Tip! If you are done with long grain rice and want to use the field for another crop, just enter the demolition mode while you are in building mode. Sell the water pump.

Tip! After selling the rice paddy, the height difference will stay. Use the ground sculpting mode to level the soil.

Step 2: Applying lime (not for new rice fields)

When you just placed your field, you don’t need to apply lime. After every third harvest, your field needs lime. Otherwise, your yield will be reduced. Place the fertilizer spreader next to your lime and press the designated button to refill.

Once you are done, head down to your rice paddy and place yourself on one corner of the field. When you are ready, start your machine and apply lime to your field.

Step 3: Planting long grain rice

With long grain rice, you don’t need any water to sow your plant. Just fill your seeder and start sowing one row after another until the whole paddy is covered. Keep in mind, with seasonal growth activated, you need to plant rice in April.

Step 4: Fertilizing

After you are done sowing, hook up your fertilizer spreader to your tractor and start spreading the fertilizer onto your rice paddy. Unlike other crops, long grain rice only needs to be fertilized once.

Step 5: Managing the water level

Long grain rice is a bit different from other crops. You need to maintain different levels of water at several growth steps. Just interact with the water pump. You can pump water onto and off the field. Don’t worry, the pump will only allow you the necessary step. You can’t do anything wrong.

Just check your water pump daily to maintain the right water level of your rice paddy. If you don’t keep the right water level, you will lose some of your rice saplings.

Step 6: Harvesting long grain rice

Once the plant is ready to harvest (in September), just head over to your harvester and hop in! Drive to one corner of your paddy and start harvesting one row after another until you are done.

To unload the harvester when the tank is full, drive it up next to your trailer. Unfold the pipe and press the button to start overloading, and all the harvested long grain rice will be unloaded into your trailer until it’s full.

Step 7: Selling long grain rice

Now, look at the prices screen in the menu to see where you can get the best prices for your harvest. You can also choose to process the rice. You can sell those products for an even higher price. Depending on, if you want to sell or process, unload in the respective designated area.

Step 8: Preparing for the next harvest

To cultivate another batch of long grain rice, just cultivate your rice paddy. Another placement from the building menu is not necessary.

Well done!