• Foreign Agricultural Service Logo USA Rice Gets Greater FAS Funding for 2016 International Promotion Programs

    Oct 29, 2015

    USA Rice received notification this week of the budget awarded by FAS for Fiscal Year 2016. Under the Market Access Program (MAP) USA Rice received an allocation of $2,485,000, a 1.2 percent increase from FY2015. Under the Foreign Market Development (FMD) the USA Rice budget will be $1,877,000, a 6.1 percent increase from the prior year. In total, USA Rice received a budget allocation of $4,362,000, an increase of $136,000 or 3.2 percent more than in 2015. Full story
  • Hitchcock's-The-Birds-151027 Rice States Must Begin Section 18 Emergency Exemption Requests for AV-1011

    Oct 29, 2015

    Departments of agriculture in states with rice producers affected by bird consumption of rice seed need to begin applying for Section 18 Emergency Exemption Requests for AV-1011 (anthraquinone) bird repellent as soon as possible in order to have approvals from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in a timely fashion. Section 18 of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) authorizes EPA to allow an unregistered use of a pesticide for a limited time if EPA determines that an emergency condition exists. Full story
  • IP-USA-Rice-at-Miami-Trade-Show-151028 USA Rice at Miami Trade Show

    Oct 28, 2015

    This week, USA Rice exhibited here at the 19th Americas Food and Beverage Show and Conference, the largest Americas focused food and beverage trade show in the Western Hemisphere. More than 500 exhibitors hailed from the U.S. and Latin America as well as Korea, Thailand, Turkey, and the show’s country of honor, Algeria. Full story
  • Sean-Doherty- sitting in office chair reading Whole Grain #USARiceOutlook Contest: Week Three

    Oct 28, 2015

    Sean Doherty, a rice farmer from Dunnigan, California, is this week’s finalist in the #USARiceOutlook social media contest. A weekly winner will be announced every Wednesday until November 4, and will be in the running for the grand prize of a free registration to the USA Rice Outlook Conference in New Orleans December 9-11. Full story
  • Target with Arrows Crop Insurers Targeted in Budget Deal

    Oct 27, 2015

    Tomorrow, Congress is expected to take up a two-year budget bill in an effort to avert a government shutdown and raise the debt ceiling. The deal would increase federal spending by $80 billion over two years and raise the federal borrowing limit through 2017. However, $3 billion in cuts to the federal crop insurance program were included as an offset. Full story
  • GA-Buddy-Allen-&-Family-151027 Mississippi Rice Farmer Named White House ‘Champion of Change’

    Oct 27, 2015

    Yesterday, Buddy Allen, a rice farmer from Tunica, Mississippi, was lauded as a ‘Champion of Change in Sustainable Agriculture’ at a ceremony at the White House. Allen was one of twelve champions across all of agriculture recognized for taking steps to improve the sustainability of their operations, and educating others to do the same. Full story
  • Headshot of Vicky-Boyd, editor of Rice-Farming Magazine USA Rice Congratulates New Rice Farming Editor Vicky Boyd

    Oct 26, 2015

    One Grower Publishing has announced the hiring of Vicky Boyd as editor of Rice Farming and Soybean South publications. She also will be the managing editor of Cotton Farming magazine. Boyd is based in Modesto, California. Full story
  • IP-Rice-Chef-of-the-Year,-Mexico-151023 Rice Chef of the Year – Mexico City

    Oct 23, 2015

    This week, USA Rice hosted the 15th “Rice Chef of the Year” rice cooking contest at the Colegio Superior de Gastronomia, the first culinary institution in Latin America, with the participation of 21 professional chefs representing restaurants, hotels, banquet halls, and culinary institutions. The winners received generous prizes from the sponsors: La Vasconia, Bon Chef, Vinos Torres, Chocolates Lindt, Herdez, Simplot, and Editorial Mango. Full story
  • DP-Stop--Shop-Circular,-Sept-2015-151022 Giant and Stop & Shop SRDs Get Social

    Oct 23, 2015

    USA Rice’s partnership with supermarket dietitians (SRDs) continues to pay off in big ways. SRDs in Giant and Stop & Shop supermarkets throughout the East Coast and New England celebrated National Rice Month by promoting U.S.-grown rice to their customers using social media-based communications. Full story
  • IP-USA-Rice-Hosts-Fortified-Rice-Wkshp-151022 USA Rice Hosts Workshop on Fortified Rice

    Oct 22, 2015

    Yesterday, USA Rice hosted a fortified rice workshop here for more than 30 private voluntary organizations (PVOs), government agencies, USA Rice members, and other interested parties. Both the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) provided information on micronutrient fortification and the promising future for fortified rice in U.S. government feeding programs. Fortified rice provides eight essential micronutrients that can help growing, hungry children become healthier. Full story
  • Thai-Rice-Field with shelter, mountains in background International Rice Leadership Class Headed to Thailand

    Oct 22, 2015

    The Rice Leadership Development Program recently selected the 2015 International Rice Leadership class, and they will be heading to Thailand next week as part of their continuing education. Full story
  • GA-EQIP-Sign-up-Deadline,-MO-rice-field-151022 One Month Left for EQIP Sign-up in Louisiana and Missouri

    Oct 22, 2015

    Rice farmers in Louisiana and Missouri have less than one month to submit applications for the USDA’s Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) administered by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). This EQIP sign-up period, specifically designated for farmers who regularly grow rice, is part of the USA Rice and Ducks Unlimited Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) project. Applications should be submitted to local NRCS field offices no later than November 20, 2015. Full story
  • ITP-WMP Subcmte-151021 World Market Price Subcommittee: PLC Payment Timelines and Trade

    Oct 21, 2015

    This morning, the World Market Price Subcommittee (WMP) met here with representatives from the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), the Farm Service Agency (FSA), the Economic Research Service (ERS), and the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) to discuss a variety of issues in the global rice trade affecting the U.S. rice industry. Full story
  • Paul-Johnson-kneeling on ground during tour of JohnPac facility #USARiceOutlook Contest: Week Two

    Oct 21, 2015

    Paul Johnson, a rice farmer from Welsh, Louisiana, is this week’s finalist in the #USARiceOutlook social media contest. A weekly winner will be announced every Wednesday until November 4, and will be in the running for the grand prize of a free registration to USA Rice’s Outlook Conference in New Orleans December 9-11. Full story
  • IP-Trade Show in Puerto Vallarta-151015 U.S. Rice Takes Center Stage at Food Service Show in Mexico

    Oct 20, 2015

    Earlier this month, USA Rice was a sponsor of Vallarta-Nayarit Gastronomica, a premier trade show here that attracts gastronomic personalities from all over Mexico as well as top international chefs. These food service professionals gather to participate in live cooking shows and specialized workshops, and to propose culinary innovations for their peers at culinary institutions throughout Mexico. Full story
  • Iraq Update: Chaos Still Reigns

    Oct 19, 2015

    Amid reports of corruption centered around rice tenders conducted by the Iraqi Minister of Trade (MoT), USA Rice has learned a court order was issued over the weekend to arrest the Iraqi Trade Minister and his brother to be investigated for corruption. It remains unclear how this latest shake up will affect the pending or future tenders. A new tender that was to be announced today has been postponed and, according to the Director General of the Grain Board of Iraq, a new tender will be issued either later this week or next regardless of this new situation. Full story
  • Chef de Riz 2015 award winners hold ribbons and plaques Chef de Riz Named at International Rice Festival

    Oct 19, 2015

    Competition was fierce at the 79th annual International Rice Festival’s Rice and Creole Cookery Contest sponsored by USA Rice last Friday. Hometown standout Jill Villejoin won the title of Chef de Riz (cooker of rice) based not only on her cooking expertise but also her rice knowledge, including the nutritional value, cooking qualities, and types and varieties. Full story
  • IP-Iraq Chaos, Stan Laurel Scratching Head-151016 U.S. Rice Sale Lost Amongst Chaos at Iraqi Ministry of Trade

    Oct 16, 2015

    Yesterday USA Rice learned that Iraq’s Ministry of Trade (MoT) cancelled the sale of 30,000 MT of U.S. rice that was awarded under the last tender. This move was anticipated because the U.S.-origin award was made to an Indian company with no previous record of exporting U.S. rice and at a bid price well below offers of U.S. rice from a U.S. firm and a U.K. firm. The MoT retained the award of 50,000 MT of Indian-origin rice bid by a second Indian company. Full story
  • DP-HEB - My Health Wellness Magazine-151016 H-E-B Dietitians Report National Rice Month Promotion Success

    Oct 16, 2015

    Supermarket dietitians (SRD) at H-E-B stores celebrated National Rice Month during September with an integrated promotion campaign that included the store magazine, text messages to consumers, and recipe demonstrations. Full story
  • IP-Anuga 2015, Hartwig & JPSchepens-151015 Anuga 2015: Understanding Challenges Facing U.S. Rice in Europe

    Oct 15, 2015

    Participating in Anuga 2015, the world’s largest food show wrapping up here, brings many questions to mind. “Is the gluten free trend continuing to grow in Europe and will this create opportunities for U.S. rice?” “Why are we now adding aloe to drinks, is this a thing?” and “What will it take for U.S. grown long grain rice to return to the European market?” Full story

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