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Earlier this month, the 2016 International Rice Leadership Class traveled to Europe to get an overview of the market for U.S. rice in the UK and to learn about the Spanish rice market. The class met with a diverse group of industry representatives including importers, exporters, and millers, and U.S. government officials working in London and Madrid. Full story

Last week, the 2015/17 Rice Leadership Development Class completed Session Three of the program, a comprehensive tour of California's Central Valley rice country. The week-long program consisted of farm and mill visits, observation of water systems here, and meetings with representatives of the California Rice Commission, California Rice Research Station, and Glenn-Colusa Irrigation District, as well as a close look at rice harvest. Full story

The deadline to apply for the 2017 Rice Leadership Development Program is October 1, less than a month away. Rice producers or industry-related professionals between the ages of 25 and 45 are eligible to apply. Full story

The 2016/18 Rice Leadership Development Program class began their week of training in Chicago at the Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT), where they met with Fred Seamon, Senior Director, Commodity Research & Product Development. Seamon provided an overview on using the CBOT as a tool to reduce risk. Full story

The Rice Foundation is accepting applications for the 2017 Rice Leadership Development Program. Full story

The Rice Leadership Development Program's Class of 2014-16 graduated from the prestigious program during a special ceremony at the USA Rice Federation's 2016 Government Affairs Conference this week. Full story

Mark Isbell of North Little Rock, Arkansas, was named 2016 Rice Farmer of the Year at the Cotton & Rice Conference here. Isbell is part of a multi-generation rice farm in central Arkansas focused on zero-grade farming and rice behind rice rotation. He earned both a BA and an MA from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, where he teaches part time. Full story