• LA-Donner-Peltier-Distillers 3 bottles of rice spirits Louisiana Distillers Take a Shot with Rice-Based Liquor

    Apr 16, 2015

    Born and raised in Louisiana, Tom Donner and Henry Peltier witnessed firsthand the prominence of sugar cane and rice in their community and were inspired to find an innovative way to support these industries. The lack of a locally-run distillery motivated Donner and Peltier to experiment with using sugar cane and rice to make liquor. Sugar cane is traditionally the main ingredient used to make rum; however, rice proved to be more of a challenge. Over the course of three months, Donner and Peltier utilized their backgrounds in chemistry to investigate the best way to incorporate rice into their products. Full story
  • New Trade Promotion Authority Bill Could Jump Start Trade Negotiations

    Apr 16, 2015

    Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) legislation was finally introduced in Congress today with a bill from Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch (R-UT), Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-OR) and House Ways & Means Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R-WI) making an appearance following lengthy negotiations between the leaders. Full story
  • RCPP Meeting Sets the Stage for Sustainability Talks

    Apr 15, 2015

    Earlier this week, USA Rice and Duck Unlimited hosted meetings for contributing partners in the Sustaining the Future of Rice Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP). The roundtable meeting was designed to foster discussion amongst USA Rice member companies and end users on how to improve and coordinate common goals and initiatives related to sustainability and conservation. Full story
  • Market Watch: South Korea -- A Changing Market?

    Apr 14, 2015

    This country of 50 million is a small, but high-value market for the U.S. rice industry. The U.S. exports have averaged more than 104,000 MT of rice to Korea annually over the past 6 years -- representing about 25 percent of the roughly 410,000 MT imported by volume, or 26 percent of imports by value. However, a shift may be coming. While Korea continues to purchase U.S. rice, officials are attempting to manage rice supplies that exceed domestic demand. Full story
  • USA Rice Joins 24 Farm and Ag Organizations for 2015 Commodity Summit

    Apr 13, 2015

    USA Rice President & CEO Betsy Ward joined other agricultural CEOs from across the country at a summit last week to discuss how groups can work together to manage common regulatory threats, including developing common strategies. Participants agreed an inventory of the various issues and the coalitions addressing them would be a beneficial first step. Full story
  • USA Rice and Ducks Unlimited Thank NRCS in USA Today Ad

    Apr 10, 2015

    The USA Rice Federation and Ducks Unlimited partnered on a print ad in the current USA Today special edition newspaper, "U.S. Department of Agriculture: America's Farming Landscape." Full story
  • U.S. Rice Promotes New 'American Rice' Logo at Trade Show in Mexico

    Apr 09, 2015

    Last month, the USA Rice Federation participated in the annual Expo ANTAD trade show, the preeminent trade summit for the retail industry in Mexico. Organized by the National Retailer Association in Mexico (ANTAD), the show is an internationally recognized platform where retailers, manufacturers, and distributors come together to strengthen and encourage trade relations. Full story
  • USA Rice Briefs Press on Trade Distorting Practices

    Apr 08, 2015

    According to a new study, several key advanced developing countries have ramped up subsidies to their producers of rice, corn, and wheat, dramatically changing the global trading environment as a result. Full story
  • USA Rice Uses Government Programs to Amplify Message, Expand Export Markets

    Apr 07, 2015

    Today the Federal Register announced that the Commodity Credit Corporation is inviting proposals for the FY2016 Market Access (MAP), Foreign Market Development (FMD), and Emerging Market Programs. These cost-share programs help expand commercial export markets for American products and typically contribute a significant portion of the USA Rice Federation's international promotion budget. Full story
  • USA Rice Unveils the Fresh Look of Think Rice

    Apr 03, 2015

    This week, USA Rice took the first step in launching its new consumer marketing campaign, Think Rice, by updating its social media handles and profile icons on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest. Think Rice is the new face of domestic promotion programs and USA Rice consumer marketing initiatives. Full story
  • U.S. Rice Takes Center Stage in ShopRite's Gluten-Free Newsletter

    Apr 02, 2015

    For March National Nutrition Month, USA Rice partnered with the registered dietitians at ShopRite to tell shoppers about the gluten-free and nutritional benefits of U.S.-grown rice. ShopRite, a chain of more than 250 stores in Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania, distributes its monthly Gluten-Free newsletter to more than 30,000 shoppers, and U.S.-grown rice took center stage in the March edition. Full story
  • Innovative Car Manufacturer Rumored to be Introducing Rice-Powered Car

    Apr 01, 2015

    Stocks of electric car maker Tesla were sent surging last week, driving up the company's market capitalization by four percent, when reclusive billionaire CEO Elon Musk tweeted that the company would unveil a new product at the end of April. Wild speculation about the new invention ensued, and USA Rice Daily has uncovered tweets from a Special Projects Manager, Ryce Husk, that hint at the investing being a rice-powered car capable of travelling up to 50 miles per half cup serving. Full story
  • Overall 2015 Rice Acreage Anticipated to Decrease Slightly

    Apr 01, 2015

    Area planted for rice in 2015 is expected to total 2.92 million acres, 24,000 less than 2014, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Agricultural Statistics Service's Prospective Plantings report released yesterday. Planted acreage is forecast lower for Arkansas and California, higher for Louisiana, Mississippi and Missouri, and essentially the same as last year for Texas. Mississippi rice farmers may realize the largest percentage increase in planted acres this year, up 10 percent from 2014. Full story
  • Rice Leadership Class Finishes Session One: The Gulf Coast

    Mar 31, 2015

    NEW ORLEANS, LA -- After visiting rice facilities in Texas earlier this week, the 2015/17 Rice Leadership Class concluded the first session of the two-year program last Friday in Louisiana. Full story
  • SA Rice Wants to Hear from 2014 Outlook Attendees as 2015 Planning Gets Underway

    Mar 26, 2015

    ARLINGTON, VA -- The USA Rice Federation is seeking feedback from participants in the 2014 USA Rice Outlook Conference on their experience at this year's trade show. Members who attended can go here to complete the online survey. Full story
  • House Agriculture Subcommittee Addresses Actively Engaged, Crop Insurance

    Mar 26, 2015

    WASHINGTON, DC -- The House Agriculture Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities and Risk Management met today to discuss current issues in farm bill implementation. The hearing was well-timed, on the heels of the USA Rice Federation supplying information to the committee about rice priorities and concerns. Full story
  • USA Rice Participates in COOL Hearing

    Mar 25, 2015

    WASHINGTON, DC -- This morning, the House Agriculture Committee's Subcommittee on Livestock and Foreign Agriculture held a hearing on meat labeling requirements, in which the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) rule took center stage. The World Trade Organization (WTO) will soon issue a ruling on whether the current version of the COOL regulation is consistent with WTO rules. Full story
  • One Week to Go on Farm Bill Deadlines, Vilsack Not Considering Extension, May Ultimately Be Needed

    Mar 25, 2015

    ARLINGTON, VA -- The various March 31st deadlines for Farm Bill decisions may not be extended again according to Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, but that may leave some growers out in the cold. Full story
  • Grain Industry Provides Comments on 2015 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Report

    Mar 24, 2015

    BETHESDA, MD -- Today, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) held a public meeting to receive oral comments on the Scientific Report of the 2015 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee, which was released last month. The nutritional value of grain foods and important grains terminology were emphasized in a testimony delivered on behalf of the grain industry by Professor Glenn Gaesser, PhD, of Arizona State University. Full story
  • USDA Proposes It Takes 500 Hours to be "Actively Engaged"

    Mar 24, 2015

    WASHINGTON, DC -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced a proposed rule to limit farm payments to non-farmers. The proposed rule limits farm payments to individuals who may be designated as farm managers but are not actively engaged in farm management. Full story

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