Texas and Louisiana grows most of the rice for the world. Since I live close to Winnie where they grow the stuff, (and I see it every damn day) I can tell you first hand there is no shortage here, nor is there shortage of fertilizer here or Louisiana for that matter. If there was a shortage of rice, it was during the hurricanes of 2005, but I don't recall that the hurricanes affected it.

There has been nothing but ideal conditions to grow the rice, and nothing has hampered it yet. Except the cost to transport it.

Looks to me like someone in the media has created an artificial shortage effectively scaring everyone.