Louisiana Annual Rice Meetings Return to Crowley

By Kane Webb

USA Rice

After more than a decade of meeting up the road in Jennings, the Louisiana Rice Council (LARC) and the Louisiana Rice Growers Association (LARGA) returned here to the International Rice Festival Building to hold their annual business meetings, talk about the coming year, and hear industry reports.

The event began with a well-attended trade show where growers were able to check in on some of the latest technology from small water meters to new farm equipment from John Deere, Case IH, and others. Ducks Unlimited had a booth and several representatives on hand to talk about conservation programs and the outstanding partnership between rice and ducks. Meanwhile, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) had several representatives and booths in the hall to share information about conservation programs, crop insurance, statistics, and more.

Louisiana Rice Council (LARC) President Eric Unkel began the joint meeting by providing an overview of promotion and research funding in the state and asked members of the Louisiana Rice Promotion Board and the Louisiana Rice Research Board in attendance to be recognized. He also welcomed several special guests, including representatives from U.S. Senators Cassidy’s and Kennedy’s offices and Congressman Mike Johnson’s staff, as well as several local elected officials including State Senator Mark Abraham and staff from Louisiana Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin’s office.

Alan Lawson, president of the Louisiana Rice Growers Association (LARGA), then called his meeting to order, and after having their financials approved, the group elected St. Martinville rice farmer Jeff Durand as LARGA At-Large Member.

USA Rice President & CEO Betsy Ward provided a Washington, DC update, beginning by discussing the excellent working relationships her national trade association has with many local rice organizations, from LARC and LARGA to the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry, Farm Bureau, the research and promotion boards, the LSU AgCenter, and even the International Rice Festival.

She shared her view that the Louisiana Congressional delegation are strong advocates for the industry in Washington whether it is calling attention to the struggles of the rice economy, the unfair trade practices of countries like India that exacerbate the situation, or to promote and assist with U.S. exports to important markets such as Iraq and Haiti.

Ward highlighted three major policy wins that were delivered to the rice industry in 2022. First, the USDA announcement in September of an extra $50 million purchase of milled rice for domestic food aid programs, that same week an announcement of $200 million for rice programs under the Biden Administration’s Climate-Smart Commodity program, and finally the inclusion of a major ad hoc assistance program for U.S. rice farmers in Congress’ end of year Omnibus Spending Package that was signed by President Biden in December.

The final speaker of the evening was Dr. Steve Linscombe, director of The Rice Foundation. Linscombe explained the important work the Foundation supports and how it differs from research undertaken at the LSU AgCenter and at other land grant universities around the country. He also discussed the Rice Leadership Development Program he oversees for the industry.

“When I tell people that the program is a commitment of four one-week sessions over two years, many say to me, ‘oh, I can’t leave the farm for that long.’ And after they’ve completed the program they tell me, ‘that was the best decision for my career I’ve ever made,’” said Linscombe, himself a graduate of the program.

Linscombe thanked program sponsors American Commodity Company, John Deere, and RiceTec, and encouraged eligible growers and industry representatives in the audience to apply for the program later this year.

The evening concluded when 85th International Rice Festival Queen Sadie Zaunbrecher conducted several drawings for door prizes, including a trip for two to the 2023 USA Rice Outlook Conference, courtesy of Progressive Tractor & Implement, scheduled for Indian Wells, California, this December.