• Authentic American Rice Logo Debuts in Mexico

    Feb 09, 2015

    MEXICO CITY, MEXICO -- The USA Rice Federation officially unveiled the first ever American rice origin seal for an overseas market at a trade and press breakfast event here last Thursday. The purpose of the logo is to allow the Mexican consumer to easily identify the high quality, consistency, and safety of American-origin rice, heretofore difficult for the public. Full story
  • USA Rice Attends Cuba Interest Meeting with Arkansas Legislators

    Feb 06, 2015

    LITTLE ROCK, AR -- USA Rice Federation President & CEO Betsy Ward attended a joint meeting of the Arkansas House and Senate Agriculture Committees here yesterday to discuss the potential impact the Cuban market will have on Arkansas agriculture. Full story
  • USA Rice Makes Annual Report to Arkansas Rice Research and Promotion Board

    Feb 06, 2015

    LITTLE ROCK, AR -- USA Rice Federation President & CEO Betsy Ward, together with Vice President of Communications, Marketing, & Domestic Promotion Michael Klein presented the annual USA Rice Council report to the Arkansas Rice Research and Promotion Board (ARRPB) here yesterday. Full story
  • USA Rice Welcomes New Members

    Feb 05, 2015

    ARLINGTON, VA -- The USA Rice Federation is proud to announce two new members. The USA Rice Millers' Association welcomes Thiele Technologies, headquartered in Minneapolis, MN, as an Associate Member. "The addition of Thiele Technologies adds value to the USA Rice Millers' Association," said RMA Chairman Chris Crutchfield. "We look forward to their involvement in and contribution to the industry." Full story
  • USA Rice Joins 70 Agricultural Groups Urging Passage of TPA

    Feb 05, 2015

    WASHINGTON, DC -- In a letter to all members of Congress today, the USA Rice Federation and dozens of other agriculture groups made the case for congressional approval of trade promotion authority or TPA. TPA defines trade objectives and priorities for trade negotiations as well as puts consultation and notification requirements on the administration. Full story
  • LA Rice Meetings: Get the Latest on Cuba, Iraq, China, Mexico, and Much More

    Feb 05, 2015

    JENNINGS, LA -- Louisiana rice industry stakeholders will receive the latest information on opportunities and challenges in major markets at one of three meetings scheduled next week. Full story
  • 2014 Farm Bill Decision Aid Demos in Arkansas This Week

    Feb 02, 2015

    LITTLE ROCK -- Farmers are racing to beat the clock and learn as much as they can about the 2014 Farm Bill in order to make critical decisions to meet upcoming deadlines. Full story
  • USA Rice Promotes New Retail Brand in Japan

    Jan 30, 2015

    Last fall, the Nishimoto Trading Company introduced its own brand of U.S. medium grain rice to the Japanese market. Called "Sunshine," the brand is available both online and at Nishimoto stores and also at the Kaldi Coffee Farm grocery store chain. Full story
  • Latest Iraq Rice Tender All Goes to Thailand

    Jan 30, 2015

    The USA Rice Federation has learned that despite mounting pressure from the United States, the latest Iraqi rice tender, 80,000 metric tons, has been completely awarded to Thailand. Full story
  • Deadline Approaches for Farm Bill Sign Ups

    Jan 29, 2015

    The 2014 Farm Bill program sign up is well underway across the country, and with deadlines fast approaching, the USA Rice Federation wants to remind producers and landowners of the timeline they face. Full story
  • Jimmy Hoppe Selected for 2015 LA Agriculture Hall of Distinction

    Jan 29, 2015

    Louisiana Farm Bureau Agri-News Network announced the 2015 inductees to the Louisiana Agriculture Hall of Distinction today, including Jimmy Hoppe, a rice farmer from Iowa, Louisiana. The Louisiana Agriculture Hall of Distinction honors those who have made extraordinary contributions to the state's agriculture community and Jimmy Hoppe definitely fits the bill. Full story
  • Ag Interests Frustrated by West Coast Port Slowdowns

    Jan 28, 2015

    he USA Rice Federation, along with more than 90 groups representing food, agriculture, and trade, released an open letter expressing "deep disappointment" that unresolved contract negotiations between the Pacific Maritime Association and the International Longshore and Warehouse Union are causing shipping slowdowns at West Coast ports. The letter asks that the two parties "resolve their differences as quickly as possible" and also urges "the federal government to consider all available remedies to bring this dispute to a rapid end." Full story
  • Missouri's Smith Questions USTR Froman on Rice Trade

    Jan 28, 2015

    Congressman Jason Smith (R-MO), for whom rice is an important issue, took the opportunity to ask a pointed rice question of U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman, who was testifying before the House Ways and Means Committee yesterday on expanding export markets for American-made goods and services, trade agreements currently under negotiation, and Trade Promotion Authority. Full story
  • USA Rice Inspires Young Minds to 'Think Rice'

    Jan 27, 2015

    This week, teachers at more than 2,800 elementary schools in rice producing counties across the six states will receive the new Think Rice educational lesson plan. Developed with the award-winning curriculum experts at Young Minds Inspired (YMI), this education kit is all about U.S.-grown rice and meets national standards for 3rd - 6th grade students in social studies, science, and nutrition. Full story
  • California Rice Commission, Rice Farmers Hold Annual Grower Meetings

    Jan 26, 2015

    More than 200 growers attended the California Rice Commission's (CRC) annual grower meetings last week. USA Rice Federation Vice President of Government Affairs Ben Mosely attended the meetings and met with growers and industry representatives from around the region to discuss California specific initiatives and issues. Full story
  • USA Rice Provides Updates for Texas Producers

    Jan 23, 2015

    Texas A&M AgriLife Extension hosted the annual Western Rice Belt Production Conference here on Wednesday. The USA Rice Federation is a sponsor of the conference and this year USA Rice staff Amy Doane, Director, Membership & Marketing, and Evan Spencer, Manager, Economic and Policy Analysis, attended informational sessions and spoke to producers about current issues affecting the U.S. rice industry. Full story
  • USA Rice Promotes Cochran Bipartisan Letter on Iraqis Rice Purchases

    Jan 23, 2015

    This week, the USA Rice Federation encouraged Members of Congress to sign on to a letter written by Mississippi Senator Thad Cochran to Secretary of State John Kerry asking him to help America's rice farmers improve existing trade relations with the Iraqi Grain Board (IGB). Full story
  • Rice Leadership Class Graduates Next Month

    Jan 22, 2015

    The 2013-2015 Rice Leadership Development Class will hold the fourth and final session of their two year program next month in Washington D.C. The Session will be held at the same time as the USA Rice Federation Government Affairs Conference and will allow the class members to observe the leadership of the U.S. rice industry conducting their business meetings, as well as participating in lobbing efforts on the Hill. Full story
  • Getting to Know the 114th Congress

    Jan 21, 2015

    The 114th Congress was sworn in earlier this month with 64 brand new Members, and significant changes on committees, including Republican chairmen in the Senate and new chairmen on many House Committees. The task at hand now is to educate the new Members and their staff about the U.S. rice industry and the industry's priorities. Full story
  • LSU Rice Specialist Dr. Dustin Harrell Receives Award

    Jan 20, 2015

    Dr. Dustin Harrell, LSU AgCenter rice specialist, received the Rice Researcher of the Year award last week at the National Conservation Systems Cotton and Rice Conference here. Harrell's agronomy research focuses on fertility, and he also has identified the significance of zinc deficiency, shown that seeding rates for drill-seeded rice can be reduced, and demonstrated how nitrogen use efficiency can be improved. Full story

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