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

  • Blake Gerard, headshot Skyrocketing Support for RCPP in Missouri

    Nov 30, 2015

    The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) project, Sustaining the Future of Rice, recently received further affirmation of its popularity among growers when the November 20 EQIP application deadline for Louisiana and Missouri saw more than 260 applications submitted across 63,800 acres for Missouri alone! Full story
  • NASS logo USDA to Collect Final 2015 Crop Production and Crop Stocks Data

    Nov 23, 2015

    As the 2015 growing season comes to an end, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will contact producers nationwide on the December Agricultural Survey to gather final year-end crop production numbers and the amount of grain and oilseed they store on their farms. At the same time, NASS will survey grain facility operators to determine year-end off-farm grain and oilseed stocks. Full story
  • IP-USA-Rice-Travels-with-USDA-to-Africa,-CROPPED-151120 USA Rice Travels with USDA on Trade Mission to Africa

    Nov 18, 2015

    The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is conducting a week-long Agribusiness Trade Mission to Sub-Saharan Africa here, setting up meetings with local entities interested in establishing trade relations with U.S. companies. The U.S. delegation, led by USDA Deputy Secretary Krysta Harden and including USA Rice and Arkansas Secretary of Agriculture Wes Ward, is the largest ever to visit West Africa. Full story