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

  • USDA Grants $332 Million for Conservation Easements

    Apr 26, 2016

    Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced this week that the U.S. Department of Agriculture will provide $332 million in financial and technical assistance through the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP). The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) accepts ACEP applications on a rolling basis, but to receive funding in fiscal year 2015 you must submit by May 15, 2015. Full story
  • USDA Logo WASDE Report Released

    Apr 12, 2016

    U.S. 2015/16 rice supplies are lowered 500,000 cwt on lower long-grain imports. Long-grain ending stocks are lowered 500,000 cwt to 22.5 million. All rice ending stocks are now 43.4 million cwt. The all rice and long-grain season-average prices are each lowered $0.30 per cwt at the midpoint to $12.30 to $12.70 and $10.80 to $11.20, respectively. Medium- and short-grain prices are also down with the California price lowered $0.50 per cwt at the midpoint and the Other States price lowered $0.20 per cwt at the midpoint. Full story
  • GA.w-Jason-Weller-&-Jeff-Durand-160512 New Conservation Stewardship Program Finalized

    Mar 10, 2016

    Earlier today, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) published its final Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) rule in the Federal Register. Full story