• 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
  • Cuba: First Steps Toward Market Access

    Jan 16, 2015

    Following President Obama's announcement last month that the U.S. would begin to re-engage in trade, travel, and diplomatic relations with Cuba, U.S. policy changes that alter previous travel and trade regulations were announced by the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) yesterday and published today in the Federal Register. These changes go into effect immediately. Full story
  • Changes to Cuba Policy Effective Immediately

    Jan 15, 2015

    The promise of more open trade, travel, and business between Cuba and the United States got that much closer today when the Obama Administration announced new regulations on export policy that take effect tomorrow. The regulatory amendments are part of a process of normalization of relations between the two countries. Full story
  • USA Rice and Big Y: Live Well, Eat Smart

    Jan 15, 2015

    The USA Rice Federation is participating in the Living Well Eating Smart (LWES) program at Big Y, a supermarket chain of more than 60 stores in Massachusetts and Connecticut. Beginning today through March 25, shoppers will be introduced to the many uses and nutritional benefits of U.S.-grown rice through a print and online newsletter, social media, and in-store signage and displays. Full story
  • Major Grant Awarded to Rice Industry, DU for Habitat Conservation Efforts

    Jan 14, 2015

    Today Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack announced approved grants from the first round of proposals to the new Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP). The USA Rice Federation, Ducks Unlimited, Inc. (DU), and more than 40 collaborating partners are pleased that the "Rice Stewardship Partnership - Sustaining the Future of Rice" project was selected for support. Full story
  • California Rice Commission Secures State-Specific RCPP Funding

    Jan 14, 2015

    In a separate conservation proposal, the California Rice Commission (CRC) received an RCPP grant of $7 million. This program will support many of the same practices offered by the highly successful Waterbird Habitat Enhancement Program and efforts to develop a viable nesting cover crop system for idled ricelands. Full story
  • Louisiana Rice Receives RCPP Funding

    Jan 14, 2015

    The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) announced four new conservation projects today, two of which will directly benefit the state's rice producers. Full story
  • DP.w-RDs-Nutrition-Forecast-Bodes-Well-for-Rice,-FNCE-tower-SMALL-150113 Registered Dietitians' Nutrition Forecast Bodes Well for U.S. Rice

    Jan 13, 2015

    A survey of more than 500 registered dietitians (RD) reveals the food trends that will dictate consumer choices in 2015, many of which are good news for rice. The "What's Trending in Nutrition" survey, conducted by Pollock Communications and Today's Dietitian, show top trends include: a continuing interest in gluten-free eating; a desire for non-GMO, locally sourced, eco-friendly foods; and an increased awareness of "clean eating" diets. Full story
  • USA Rice Welcomes New Government Affairs/PAC Manager

    Jan 12, 2015

    Our New Year's resolution was to reinforce the Government Affairs staff and the USA Rice Federation is pleased to fulfill that goal with the hiring of Julie Vieburg as the new Manager of Government Affairs/PAC. Full story
  • 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

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