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 Seeks Input from Growers about 2015 Crops USDA Seeks Input From Growers About 2015 Crops

    May 12, 2015

    BATON ROUGE, LA – During the first several weeks of June, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will conduct two major mid-year surveys, the June Agricultural Survey and the June Area Survey. The agency will survey farmers across the country to determine crop acreage and grain stocks on farms in 2015. Full story
  • USDA Announces 235M for RCPP USDA Announces $235 Million in Funding for RCPP

    May 07, 2015

    WASHINGTON, DC -- Earlier this week, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced an investment of $235 million in funding to be applied towards the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP). The RCPP, created by the 2014 Farm Bill, is a conservation initiative administered by the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) that enables local leaders across the country to implement programs that will preserve natural resources in their region. Full story
  • Budget Conference Report Reveals No Farm Bill Cuts

    Apr 30, 2015

    WASHINGTON, D.C.-The House and Senate Agriculture Chairmen received welcome, but not entirely unexpected news when they reviewed the 2016 budget conference report. The report stated that neither the House nor the Senate Agriculture Committees are required to trim money from the Farm Bill. Full story