Rice Stewardship Partnership for Climate-Smart Commodities

Rice Partnerships for Climate-Smart
Through the Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities funding, the USA Rice – Ducks Unlimited Rice Stewardship Partnership will be able to offer over $63 million in additional financial assistance to U.S. rice producers. This competitive process will offer rice producers a suite of over 30 practices to choose from to fit the needs and capabilities of their operation. 
Specific state details and signup information can be found below.  Click on a state name below to quickly jump to that state's section:

Application & Eligibility Requirements

Eligibility

Producer Eligibility

In order to be eligible for an incentive payment as a part of the Partnerships for Climate Smart Commodities, a producer must:

  • Establish Farm Records with the Farm Service Agency (FSA) (have farm, tract, and field numbers in place);
    • Producers must use the same name as is included in the relevant FSA Business File for that Farm ID.
  • Complete a CCC-902 and AD 2047 (Customer Data Worksheet to facilitate the collection of customer data for Business Partner Record);
  • Certify highly erodible land conservation (HEL) and wetland conservation (WC) compliance via Form AD 1026, Highly Erodible Land Conservation (HELC) and Wetland Conservation (WC) Certification;
  • Certify that they are not a foreign person or entity;
  • And demonstrate that the applicant will have control of the land for the term of the contract. 

Producers are not bound by the payment limitations and the adjusted gross income (AGI) limitations that are in place for other USDA programs.

Application Process

Producer Application

Applicant is required to submit the following documents at the same time as a completed application form. Any applications submitted with missing documents will be considered incomplete and ineligible. 

  • Copy of FSA maps of offered acres with farm, tract, and field listed. 
  • Copy of FSA Producer Farm Data Report (PFDR)
  • Copy of FSA Subsidiary Print (current year) as proof of HEL and WC compliance.
    • If funded, applicant will be required to submit a current FSA Subsidiary Print for each crop year a payment is received.  
  • Copy of FSA 578 Forms for offered acres from past 6 years
USA Rice Contacts

USA Rice Contacts

Josh Hankins
(501) 398-6678
jhankins@usarice.com
Little Rock, AR

Emily Woodall
(571) 213-3006
ewoodall@usarice.com
Little Rock, AR

California

Rice producers have an opportunity to receive financial assistance for implementing practices that reduce greenhouse gas emissions. All producers in eligible counties may apply for this signup. If a producer is classified as Historically Underserved under NRCS definitions, please be sure to check the appropriate box on the application as they will be eligible for a separate funding pool competing only against other Historically Underserved applicants.

California Signup

California rice producers can apply for this opportunity until Thursday, August 15, 2024.  Applications can be completed online, or by sending the completed forms below to their California Partnership staff member (see Staff Contacts below):

  1. Application Form (see Resources below)
  2. FSA documents (see Application Process tab above)
Climate-Smart informational flyer for California rice farmers

California Contacts

Regina Stafford
(916) 279-2867
rstafford@ducks.org
Rancho Cordova, CA

Craig Garner
(707) 301-3667
cgarner@ducks.org 
Rancho Cordova, CA

Mississippi

Rice producers have an opportunity to receive financial assistance for implementing practices that reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Mississippi Signup

Producers that are classified as Historically Underserved can apply for a special signup until Friday, August 30, 2024. Applications can be completed online, or by sending the completed forms below to Scott Manley (see Staff Contacts below):

  1. Application Form (see Resources below)
  2. FSA documents (see Application Process tab above)
Mississippi Historically Underserved Flyer

Mississippi Contacts

Scott Manley
(601) 672-0023
smanley@ducks.org
Ridgeland, MS
 
Parker Frew
(662) 931-0561
parker@deltawildlife.org
Stoneville, MS

Ron Selby
(662) 719-0192
ron@deltawildlife.org
Stoneville, MS

Ethan Adkins
(601) 499-6254
eadkins@ducks.org
Ridgeland, MS

Missouri

Rice producers have an opportunity to receive financial assistance for implementing practices that reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Missouri Signup

Producers that are classified as Historically Underserved can apply for a special signup until Friday, August 30, 2024. Applications can be completed online, or by sending the completed forms below to Scott Manley (see Staff Contacts below):

  1. Application Form (see Resources below)
  2. FSA documents (see Application Process tab above)
Missouri Historically Underserved Flyer

Missouri Contacts

Scott Manley
(601) 672-0023
smanley@ducks.org
Ridgeland, MS

David Wissehr
(573) 579-9847
dlwissehr@gmail.com
Advance, MO

Tony Jaco
(573) 587-3055
TonyJaco2021Ducks@hotmail.com
Jackson, MO

Arkansas

Rice producers have an opportunity to receive financial assistance for implementing practices that reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Arkansas Signup

Producers that are classified as Historically Underserved can apply for a special signup until Friday, August 30, 2024. Applications can be completed online, or by sending the completed forms below to Scott Manley (see Staff Contacts below):

  1. Application Form (see Resources below)
  2. FSA documents (see Application Process tab above)
Arkansas Historically Underserved Flyer

Arkansas Contacts

Scott Manley
(601) 672-0023
smanley@ducks.org
Ridgeland, MS

Cindy Neal

(501)940-3811
cneal@ducks.org
Austin, AR

Dr. Merle Anders
(870)456-8527
ricecarbon@centurylink.net
Casscoe, AR

Jessica Allen
(870) 222-7770
jallen@ducks.org
McGehee, AR

Misty Adams
(870)930-8318
madams@ducks.org
Manilla, AR

Jon Milligan
(870) 530-6047
jmilligan@ducks.org
Jonesboro, AR

Patrick Dill
(870) 316-9939
pdill@ducks.org
Jonesboro, AR

Texas

Rice producers have an opportunity to receive financial assistance for implementing practices that reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Texas Signup

Producers that are classified as Historically Underserved can apply for a special signup until Friday, August 30, 2024. Applications can be completed online, or by sending the completed forms below to Scott Manley (see Staff Contacts below):

  1. Application Form (see Resources below)
  2. FSA documents (see Application Process tab above)
Texas Historically Underserved Flyer

Texas Contacts

Scott Manley
(601) 672-0023
smanley@ducks.org
Ridgeland, MS

Dennis Neuman
(512) 373-5736
dneuman@ducks.org
LaGrange, TX

Raul Villarreal
(713)816-0784
rvillarreal@ducks.org
Hempstead, TX

Steve Rockwood
(772)532-5172
srockwood@ducks.org
Austin, TX

Louisiana

Rice producers have an opportunity to receive financial assistance for implementing practices that reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Louisiana Signup

Producers that are classified as Historically Underserved can apply for a special signup until Friday, August 30, 2024. Applications can be completed online, or by sending the completed forms below to Scott Manley (see Staff Contacts below):

  1. Application Form (see Resources below)
  2. FSA documents (see Application Process tab above)
Louisiana Historically Underserved Flyer

Louisiana Contacts

Scott Manley
(601) 672-0023
smanley@ducks.org
Ridgeland, MS

Kyle Soileau
(337) 322-4565
ksoileau@ducks.org
Lafayette, LA

Keith Latiolais
(337) 692 –6859
klatiolais@ducks.org
Opelousas, LA

Richard Hardee
(337) 581-1197
rhardee@ducks.org
Gueydan, LA