USA Rice Daily

Oct 12, 2016

U.S. and global rice prices continue the drop into dangerous territory along with an array of other commodity staples within the global diet. Weak market prices are no stranger to rice farmers or nearly any crop farmer, for that matter. But there’s hope on the horizon. University of Arkansas Distinguished Professor and L.C. Carter Endowed Chair Dr. Eric Wailes made some promising projections during a recent speech at the Arkansas Rice Expo, based on a number of market factors. Full story

Oct 12, 2016

Oct 11, 2016

USA Rice recently produced a series of videos for social media with seasonal themes featuring festive recipes to celebrate Mexican holidays. The first video features Chiles en Nogada, a traditional dish of chiles stuffed with meat and dried fruits topped with a walnut sauce usually served for Mexican Independence Day each September because its ingredients are seasonal. Full story

Oct 11, 2016

Dora Lou Hoskyn, of Stuttgart, Arkansas, passed away on Saturday, October 8. She was born in July 1943, in Brewer, Arkansas, and is survived by her husband, Thomas Charles (Tommy), children, Angie and Dusty, six grandchildren, and three great grandchildren. Full story

Oct 07, 2016

Oct 06, 2016

Last week, USA Rice participated in the 20th Annual Americas Food and Beverage Show and Conference here - Florida’s most important international food and beverage show - that boasted 500 exhibitors and attracted 10,000 attendees and buyers from more than 63 countries. Buyers, suppliers, and industry experts came together at this high-energy event, focusing on the commercial exchange between the Americas and the Caribbean. Full story

Oct 05, 2016

Viet Nam, one of the largest producers and exporters of rice in the world, and one that comes under frequent suspicion of violating World Trade Organization (WTO) obligations, is under new scrutiny for violating U.S. food safety regulations. Between January and August of this year, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) rejected 95 shipping containers of jasmine rice and rice products from Viet Nam citing illegal pesticide residue in all but one of the cases. Full story

Oct 04, 2016

USA Rice is participating in “Taste of America 2016” (TOA), a food event here conducted by the U.S Embassy’s Agricultural Trade Office (ATO) that highlights American food culture. This is the sixth such event this year where participating restaurants introduce special menus using U.S. food ingredients. Full story

Oct 03, 2016

During the month of September, rice growers and millers posted their best rice images on various social media channels with the hashtag #ThinkRice as part of a special National Rice Month contest hosted by USA Rice. After reviewing the many captivating videos and pictures submitted by members across rice country, USA Rice has selected Michael Bosworth as the contest winner. Full story

Oct 03, 2016

The International Rice Festival named Donald A. Leonards the 2016 Farmer of the Year. Leonards, a fourth generation farmer, was born and raised on a rice farm just north of Crowley and will be recognized during this year’s festival here, October 20-23. Full story

Sep 30, 2016

This week both chambers of Congress worked out a deal and passed a continuing resolution that will fund the federal government through December 9 and avoid a government shutdown on October 1. President Obama supported the continuing resolution negotiated by Congress and signed it into law. Full story

Sep 29, 2016

In honor of National Rice Month, the Arkansas rice industry donated 117,000 pounds of rice to the Arkansas Food Bank today. The donation will provide more than 1 million servings to help feed hungry families across the state. Full story

Sep 29, 2016

WASHINGTON, DC – This month, rice industry champions, Representatives Ralph Abraham (R-LA) and Rick Crawford (R-AR), and Senator John Boozman (R-AR) gave one-minute speeches on the floor of the House in recognition of National Rice Month. Full story

Sep 28, 2016

Despite suffering major damage during the recent floods, the Louisiana rice industry came together yesterday to provide much needed rice to feed citizens who were also impacted by the deluge. Full story

Sep 28, 2016

Yesterday, Representative Rick Crawford (R-AR), who represents the nation’s largest rice-growing Congressional District, introduced a bill that would give farmers the option of taking disaster preparedness into their own hands. Full story

Sep 27, 2016

USA Rice is proud to announce a new chairman to USA Rice’s Food Aid subcommittee, Bobby Hanks. Hanks is president of Louisiana Rice Mill which he helped co-found in 1999. Full story

Sep 27, 2016

Elected last week, Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry Commissioner Mike Strain, D.V.M., will serve as the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) 2016-2017 President. Full story

Sep 26, 2016

Two agriculture policy specialists from Japan’s Ibaraki University, Drs. Kunio Nishikawa and Katsutoshi Ohnaka, visted USA Rice’s office last week to review farm policy developments in Japan and the United States. They were joined by Mr. Takeshi Nakamura of JA-ZENCHU, the central Union of Agricultural Cooperatives and Japan’s largest farm cooperative. Full story

Sep 26, 2016

USA Rice is pleased to welcome Bree Pettigo as the new Government Affairs/PAC Manager. Full story

Sep 23, 2016

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