2022 USA Rice Outlook Conference Registration Now Open

By Michael Klein

USA Rice

The 2022 USA Rice Outlook Conference is less than three months away and the scheduled programming is shaping up to be one of the most beneficial events of the year for the rice industry. This year’s conference is December 7-9 in Austin, Texas, and if rice is any part of your business, you should plan to attend for the sessions, trade show, and networking.

General sessions will cover connecting with today’s food consumer, family business dynamics, politics, and global rice trends. Educational breakouts will send attendees home with actionable, useful information to improve the bottom line.

International strategic marketing consultant Steve Lerch spent nine years at Google developing a unique perspective on the topics of innovation, strategy, and digital marketing, and he’ll share his thoughts on connecting with today’s consumer, whose behavior is changing as rapidly as technology allows.

“Whether you’re the CEO of a global rice company or a family farmer with a Facebook page, you can connect with customers if you are open minded, paying attention, and know where to look,” Lerch said. “I’ll offer keys to success in Austin.”

Barbara Dartt with The Family Business Consulting Group will take a deep dive into navigating the challenges of family businesses – how do you stay profitable and keep the peace when your holiday dinner table can so easily slip into a Board of Directors meeting?

“Family businesses outperform publicly held businesses because they have a long-term view and can often move more quickly. So, when they’re good, it’s very good. The challenge is, when it’s bad, the conflict and poor performance hurt your career, your family relationships, and your financial security. It’s really bad,” Dartt said. “I will share the predictable challenges inherent when family and business are combined, allowing you to build the relationships and structure to enjoy both the family dinner table and the family meeting room.”

USDA Chief Economist Dr. Seth Meyer will join us to explain what he sees on the horizon for agriculture and rice specifically; and ProFarmer’s Jim Wiesemeyer will unpack the mid-term elections to explain their impact on farm policy and the looming Farm Bill.

Some of the education sessions planned include analysis of input costs, supply chain issues, on-farm energy use, CRISPR gene-editing technology, U.S. rice quality, organic rice production, and the new $80 million USDA Climate-Smart Grant USA Rice received with partners the National Black Growers Council and Ducks Unlimited, and more.

As usual, state reps will be providing research and outlook reports, and this year the six mainstays will be joined by a representative from Florida’s roughly 25,000 annual acres.

The Annual Awards Luncheon will celebrate excellence with the announcement of the 2022 Rice Farmer of the Year, Industry Award, and Lifetime Achievement Award. USA Rice will also hand out a Conservation Award, a Sustainability Award, and a PAC Award; The Rice Foundation will present the 2023/25 Rice Leadership Development Program Class; and the Grand Prize Winner of the National Rice Month Video Scholarship Contest will be unveiled.

“The team is putting hours and hours of programming on offer for us, and I know they’ve invited some special guests who we’re excited to see,” said Blake Gerard, Missouri rice farmer and chair of the USA Rice Communications Committee. “We’re going to learn a lot, network, and have a fantastic experience in Texas!”

Go here to register today. Early Bird Registration ends November 11 and the USA Rice hotel rate is guaranteed until November 14.