• USA Rice Promos Hit During Peak Sales Season in Ghana

    Jan 12, 2015

    The USA Rice Federation conducted promotions in twenty major open air markets here during the holiday season, which is the peak sales period for rice in Ghana. Open air markets are where the majority of Ghanaians go to purchase rice, and USA Rice focused promotional activities in the country's two largest cities, Accra, the national capital, and Kumasi, capital of the Ashanti Region. Full story
  • Food Blogger Event Reaches Thousands of Consumers in Turkey

    Jan 09, 2015

    Last month, the USA Rice Federation invited 25 key food bloggers and health specialists to a New Year cooking event here featuring celebrity chef, Fikret Ozdemir. During the half day event, attendees worked alongside Chef Ozdemir, cooking healthy and delicious dishes featuring U.S. rice and wild rice. Full story
  • USA Rice and Cuba - Getting Closer

    Jan 08, 2015

    The USA Rice Federation has joined with more than 25 prominent U.S. food and agriculture associations and companies to form a coalition that seeks to advance trade relations between the United States and Cuba. The U.S. Agriculture Coalition for Cuba (USACC) formally launched at an event here today that was attended by Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, a bipartisan group of Members of Congress, and Missouri Governor Jay Nixon. Full story
  • Louisiana Rice Farmers Announce Plans for State Meeting

    Jan 07, 2015

    The Louisiana Rice Council (LARC) and the Louisiana Rice Growers Association (LARGA), Louisiana's two largest grower organizations, have scheduled their annual joint membership meeting for Tuesday, February 10. The meeting will be held at a new location, the Grande Marais Center here, and will open with a trade show and reception at 4 p.m. followed by the program at 5:45 p.m. Dinner will be served. Full story
  • Opening of 114th Congress Presents New Opportunities, Challenges

    Jan 06, 2015

    Eighty-four new members of Congress, 56 Republicans and 18 Democrats, were sworn in today at the official opening of the 114th Congress. Along with new members, there also will be new faces in key committee chairmanships important to the rice industry. Mike Conaway (R-TX) will become Chairman of the House Agriculture Committee. In the Senate, Pat Roberts (R-KS) will take the reins of the Agriculture Committee, while Thad Cochran (R-MS) will chair the Appropriations Committee. Full story
  • U.S. Objects to Korea's New Rice Import Scheme

    Jan 06, 2015

    The United States joined four other members of the World Trade Organization (WTO) late last month in objecting to Korea's new rice tariffication scheme. The action did not prevent Korea from imposing the new tariff-based rice import system on January 1, but the new system has not been approved by the WTO, and Korea will very likely enter into negotiations with the five countries in order to lift the objections. The USA Rice Federation supports this action by the U.S. because Korea's new import regime is a significant step backwards on market access for U.S. rice. Full story
  • Ag Trends on Social Media

    Jan 05, 2015

    Even though the USA Rice Daily went on hiatus during the holidays, agricultural news certainly did not, and we used social media as a gauge for what was hot, and what was not. Ag stories that gained the most social media traction during December ranged from favorite rice side dishes to serve during the holidays like Maple Ginger Rice Pudding to important agricultural industry news updates. Full story
  • U.S. Wild Rice Retail Demonstrations Drive Sales in Turkey

    Jan 05, 2015

    The USA Rice Federation teamed up here with the recently launched U.S. wild rice brand "Dimyat" for a week-long promotion and celebration of U.S. grown-rice. Two of Turkey's major retail chains, Carrefour and Macrocenter, participated in the events with discounted prices for U.S. wild rice, live cooking demonstrations, and the distribution of information leaflets and recipes as well as branded consumer bags, which were co-sponsored by the brand and the retailers. Full story
  • New Yield Data Available

    Dec 23, 2014

    WASHINGTON, DC -- Yesterday, Farm Service Agency (FSA) Administrator Val Dolcini announced that Risk Management Agency (RMA) certified yield data has been made available for producers at FSA county offices. Producers are encouraged to contact their local FSA offices to see what data they have on file from RMA. Full story
  • GBI Program in Ghana Concludes with Cooking Competition

    Dec 22, 2014

    ACCRA, GHANA -- The USA Rice Federation conducted a cook-off competition with the USA Poultry and Egg Export Council, and the American Peanut Council last week. The competition attracted more than 300 foodservice caterers, the media, and a host of high profile dignitaries including the Deputy Chief of Mission, U.S. Embassy-Accra, Ms. C. Pat Alsup and the Deputy Minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Hon. Dzifa Gomashie, who lauded the U.S. food groups for the initiative, and said it helped sharpen the skills of traditional caterers who are an important part of the hospitality industry. Full story
  • Rice and Ducks Media Camp

    Dec 22, 2014

    GILLETT, AR -- The USA Rice Federation, Arkansas Rice Federation, Ducks Unlimited (DU), and Yamaha teamed up to put together a media camp focused on the relationship between working rice lands and wintering waterfowl last week. Writers from Inter-media Outdoors, Agri-Pulse, American Hunter Magazine, Delta Farm Press, ATV Rider, and the Outdoor Channel enjoyed two morning hunts in rice fields near Stuttgart, Arkansas. They were hosted at Buckshot Lodge and guided on their hunts by area rice growers. Full story
  • Chef Erkan Bektas Wins USA Rice Cooking Competition in Istanbul

    Dec 19, 2014

    ISTANBUL, TURKEY -- Chef Erkan Bektas of the Marriott Hotel in Istanbul was named the winner of the USA Rice Federation's wild rice recipe competition. Five competitors from around the country entered more than 80 recipes in the wild rice mix category. Full story
  • Yunnan Province Department of Agriculture Visits USA Rice

    Dec 18, 2014

    ARLINGTON, VA -- A team of policy and program directors from the China Yunnan Province Department of Agriculture met with USA Rice Federation staff on Tuesday to get a better sense of the U.S. industry. Of particular interest to the Chinese team was U.S. rice production and the safety net for farmers provided in whole or in part by the U.S. government. Full story
  • Tax Extender Bill Impacts Farming Communities

    Dec 18, 2014

    WASHINGTON, DC -- On Tuesday, the Senate passed H.R. 5771, the Tax Increase Prevention Act of 2014. The $42 billion tax package applies tax breaks to the 2014 tax year, retroactively and until December 31, 2014. Included in the legislation was an extension for Section 179, which according to Senator John Hoeven (R-ND) is "one of the most important provisions in the act" and provides a "depreciation and expensing provision for small businesses," including farms. Section 179, which has been reinstated to the original limit of $500,000, allows small business owners to immediately depreciate 100 percent of a capital purchase, avoiding the hassle of depreciation over time and simultaneously lowering taxable income. Full story
  • Obama Calls for New Cuba Policy: U.S. Rice Industry Gains are Possible

    Dec 17, 2014

    WASHINGTON, DC -- President Obama announced today that he is updating the U.S. Cuba policy, including reestablishing diplomatic relations between the countries after more than 50 years, and promoting travel and commercial opportunities between the two countries. Full story
  • University of Arkansas Research Team Receives Excellence Award

    Dec 16, 2014

    FAYETTEVILLE, AR -- In recognition of the importance of their work for the long-term economic and environmental sustainability of the rice industry, a team of scientists at the University of Arkansas has been selected to receive the school's Division of Agriculture John White Team Award. Full story
  • Troublesome WOTUS Rule Struck Down in Omnibus Appropriations Bill

    Dec 15, 2014

    WASHINGTON, DC -- The $1.1 trillion fiscal 2015 spending bill that funds most of the federal government for the remainder of FY 2015 passed the Senate over the weekend. The bill includes a series of policy riders important to agriculture. Full story
  • In Memory: Debbie Warshaw

    Dec 15, 2014

    USA Rice extends deepest condolences to the family and friends of Deborah Marie Warshaw, 55, of Lake Charles, Louisiana, who passed away on December 12. Throughout her three-year battle with cancer, Debbie inspired many with her faith, strength, and courage. Survivors include her husband, James (Jamie) Warshaw, CEO of Farmers Rice Milling Company and a past chairman of the USA Rice Millers' Association and the USA Rice Federation, three children and one grandchild. Full story
  • USA Rice Outlook Conference Wrap-up

    Dec 12, 2014

    LITTLE ROCK, AR - The 2014 USA Rice Outlook Conference successfully wrapped up here on Tuesday. The USA Rice Federation reports attendance of 840, the second highest total on record, and the largest trade show in USA Rice Outlook Conference history with more than 70 booths featuring rice-related equipment, technology, products and services. Full story
  • USA Rice's The Whole Grain Newspaper Launched

    Dec 11, 2014

    LITTLE ROCK, AR -- The USA Rice Federation debuted a new publication at the 2014 Outlook Conference here this week to take the place of the organization's traditional annual report. The Whole Grain is a full-color 16 page tabloid-style newspaper that will be published quarterly and distributed widely to the U.S. rice industry. Full story

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