The rice industry prides itself on its commitment to the conservation of natural resources and the institution of practices that provide habitat to wetland dependent wildlife and waterfowl. Working lands programs are good for the environment and for rice farmers. The voluntary-incentive based conservation model used by the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) has worked well. 

Rice farmers have been able to significantly improve their environmental footprint through practices implemented through the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP). This program has provided rice farmers funds to better manage water resources through irrigation efficiency, water quality, and erosion control. For more information on our work through this program click here.

Recent News

  • Prevented Planting Update Good for Rice

    Nov 23, 2016

    Yesterday, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Risk Management Agency (RMA) announced changes to the agency’s prevented planting rules. Full story
  • Jeff-Durand, headshot NRCS Hits ‘Go’ On Revamped Conservation Stewardship Program

    Nov 14, 2016

    The USDA’s largest conservation program, the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) has been “under construction” since the 2014 Farm Bill was signed into law nearly three years ago until the new version was released earlier today. Full story
  • Twitter-USDA Logo-180420 WASDE Report Released

    Nov 09, 2016

    The 2016/17 U.S. rice crop is reduced 1.2 million cwt to 234.8 million on lower yields. Ending stocks are lowered by the same amount. The average yield forecast is reduced 39 pounds per acre to 7,493. Arkansas and Missouri were the only states to have reductions. Full story