Rice is grown in three distinct geographical regions in the US: the Gulf Coast and Mississippi Valley in the south, and the Sacramento Valley in California. Systems are highly mechanized and energy intensive. In the south, production systems are characterized by drill seeding, crop rotations and long-grain varieties. In California, rice is produced primarily in water seeded, rice-only rotations using medium-grain varieties. Approximately half of US rice is exported so maintenance of quality is a primary concern. Between 1990 and 2006 the total area under production has remained constant, averaging 1.26 million ha. During this period, yields have remained constant in California, averaging 8.8 t/ha (among the highest in the world) while in the south yields have increased from 6.0 to 7.5 t/ha. Stagnant growth in California rice yields is the result of poor weather, adoption of rice straw disposal practices following legislation banning rice straw burning and the evolution of herbicide resistant weeds. New herbicides, along with increased restriction on how they are used, have dramatically changed how weeds and water are managed. In the south, increasing yields can be attributed to new varieties, including hybrids which were first commercialized in 2003. In 2007, the rice area in the south was reduced due to increased maize production (for biofuel) and contamination from genetically engineered (GE) rice (resulting in the loss of two high-yielding varieties). There is limited research on GE rice in the US, but commercial use of it will be delayed until there is consumer acceptance. Increasingly important issues are related to water use, water quality and air quality. During the presentation we will discuss how the US rice industry is addressing these new challenges in terms of developing alternative production practices and ensuring a strong research-extension continuum; from this we will draw lessons for developing countries.