What occurs if a farmer harvests rice too late?

When rice is harvested too late, the grains tend to be drier and can become more susceptible to cracking. This is primarily due to the extended exposure to sun and wind, which can lead to moisture loss in the grains. As moisture diminishes, the grains can lose their optimal texture and can crack more easily when subjected to pressure or during processing.

The other options do not accurately reflect the agronomic realities of late harvesting. For example, while some may assume that the sweetness of the grains might increase with delayed harvesting, this is typically not the case for rice, which focuses more on starch content than sugar levels. Similarly, the quality of the rice does not improve with late harvesting; instead, the integrity and usability of the rice can diminish. Lastly, while rice plants do have a regenerative capability, they do not regrow in the same season after being harvested.

Thus, the appropriate understanding centers on the physiological effects of late harvesting on the grains themselves, confirming that the grains are indeed drier and more likely to crack.