• 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
  • Mexico Re-imposing Import Duty on Asian Milled Rice

    Dec 11, 2014

    MEXICO CITY, MEXICO -- Yesterday, the Government of Mexico (GOM) announced a re-imposition of a 20 percent duty on Asian rice to begin on vessels arriving after January 10, 2015. Full story
  • 2015 Leadership Development Program Class Announced

    Dec 09, 2014

    LITTLE ROCK, AR -- Members of the 2015 Rice Leadership Development Program class were announced yesterday during the annual Rice Awards Luncheon at the 2014 USA Rice Outlook Conference. The class is comprised of five rice producers and two industry-related professionals selected by a committee of agribusiness leaders. Full story
  • USA Rice Outlook Conference -- Day Two

    Dec 09, 2014

    LITTLE ROCK, AR -- Today's general session opened with a briefing by USA Rice Federation Vice President of Marketing and Communications Michael Klein on consumer group research conducted earlier this year and how USA Rice is putting that research to work by translating what people told us into effective messaging. Full story
  • 2014 Rice Award Winners Recognized at Annual Awards Luncheon

    Dec 08, 2014

    LITTLE ROCK, AR- - Winners of the 2014 Rice Awards were announced today at a luncheon in their honor. Awards are presented in the categories of farmer, industry and lifetime achievement. This year's winners are Fred Zaunbrecher, farmer of the year, Kent McKenzie, rice industry award winner and Marvin Baden, rice lifetime achievement award winner. Full story
  • Arkansas Welcomes 2014 USA Rice Outlook Conference

    Dec 08, 2014

    LITTLE ROCK, AR -- The 2014 USA Rice Outlook Conference opened last night, bringing together rice producers from all six major rice-growing states and others from the U.S. industry for an educational program and trade show. The annual conference is the largest rice convention held in the United States Full story
  • USA Rice Congratulates Winners of "Healthy Brown Rice on the Menu Contest"

    Dec 05, 2014

    ARLINGTON, VA -- The USA Rice Federation has announced the winners of its annual "Healthy Brown Rice on the Menu Contest" for K-12 school menu planners. Participants in the contest were asked to prepare a healthy, flavorful brown rice dish from three recipe categories-rice bowl, breakfast, and lunch. Full story
  • USA Rice Family Grows

    Dec 05, 2014

    ARLINGTON, VA -- The USA Rice Federation has confirmed that Sarah Moran, manager of international promotion, and her husband, John, have welcomed a future rice consumer into the world. Full story
  • Little Rock Restaurant Promotion

    Dec 04, 2014

    ARLINGTON, VA -- Fifteen restaurants that serve U.S.-grown rice will participate in the USA Rice Federation restaurant promotion conducted in conjunction with the 2014 USA Rice Outlook Conference in Little Rock. Restaurants included on the list will welcome industry members by displaying the "Proudly Supporting America's Rice Farmers" emblem and featuring rice dishes on their menus. Full story

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