U.S. rice industry producers face pressure from consumers, suppliers, and
the government to reduce the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with
rice (Oryza sativa L.) production. Arkansas rice
cultivar-specific net GHG emissions information allows models of paddy rice
emissions. Baseline levels of profit, yield variance, and GHG emissions are
established using extension data. Varietal selection is then optimized to
maximize profits and minimize GHG emissions, both constrained and
unconstrained by baseline yield variance. Carbon abatement functions are
estimated to examine the effects of hypothetical carbon prices on varietal
selection.