Will optimistic U.S. rice prices keep acreage up in key states like Arkansas, California, and Louisiana in 2024, or will a positive move in soybean returns encourage Delta and Midsouth growers to rotate to beans next year?
After two consecutive years of lower rice acreage, Arkansas farmers planted more than 1.4 million acres of rice in 2023.
Read MoreAs American consumers continue to embrace the local food movement some industries are capitalizing on USA-grown. The rice industry is one of those.
Of all the rice consumed in the United States, 80% is grown here.
Read MoreDespite phenomenal rice production in 2023, rice milling yields were especially disappointing. Experts point to a host of environmental factors, including a dry fall harvest with high humidity that contributed to lower milling quality.
Summer brought about prolonged periods of extreme heat and high nighttime temperatures. This was the case throughout the Rice Belt – from the Coastal Bend of Texas, over to south Louisiana, and upwards through Arkansas.
Read MoreLouisiana rice specialist Dr. Ronnie Levy is the 2023 Rice Industry Award winner. He is knowledgeable, personable, and deeply committed to the U.S. rice industry through his work at the Louisiana State University H. Rouse Caffey Rice Research Station. He travels the state assisting rice farmers, rice consultants, and Extension agents on the best management practices that are vital to producing viable, profitable, and sustainable rice crops year after year. His genuine passion for the industry makes him an invaluable asset to not only the Rice Station but to the rice industry in general.
Read MoreThis report also includes Marketing Year price projections for corn, cotton, rice and soybeans.
Read MoreBecoming a mainstay of the USA Rice Outlook conference, the fourth U.S. Rice Quality Symposium was held here last week. USDA Foreign Agricultural Service Administrator Daniel Whitley welcomed the group and spoke about the close ties between the U.S. and Central American countries.
The session featured six breeders from the public universities and the private sector showcasing 26 U.S. rice varieties currently either in development or in production.
Read MoreThe U.S. rice industry bolsters its longstanding commitment to conservation and sustainability each year by recognizing industry leaders to showcase their stewardship efforts in preserving wildlife habitat and efficient use of natural resources.
At the Annual Rice Awards Luncheon for the 2023 USA Rice Outlook Conference last Thursday, California rice grower and chair of the USA Rice Conservation Committee Leo LaGrande presented the 2023 Distinguished Conservation Achievement Award to Paul Bonderson, founder of Brocade Communications Systems, and a past chair and past president of Ducks Unlimited.
Riceland Foods announced Friday (Dec. 8) a leadership reorganization under which the board of directors has appointed Kevin McGilton as Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately.
He replaces Jason Brancel as CEO. Brancel was named to the position in 2022.
Read MoreMembers of the 2024/26 Rice Leadership Development Program class were announced yesterday during the annual Rice Awards Luncheon at the 2023 USA Rice Outlook Conference. The class is comprised of seven rice industry professionals selected by a committee of agribusiness leaders.
“This is an excellent group that displays exceptional leadership potential,” said Rice Foundation Director Dr. Steve Linscombe. “They also represent a mix of southern and west coast individuals which always makes for good class dynamics.”
Read MoreThe 2023 USA Rice Outlook Conference, the largest rice conference in the United States, kicked off last night with a grand opening reception welcoming colleagues to talk shop, get some work done, and have some well-earned fun.
Read MoreThe Yellow Rails & Rice birding event that we wrote about in last week’s issue of Delta Farm Press is helping to close the chasm chiseled into our once-agrarian society. Visitors to those Louisiana rice fields are entranced by riding in combines, talking IRL (in real life!) to family farmers, and discovering the vast populations of wildlife that wander the fields.
Read MoreDecisions on variety selection are some of the earliest and most critical you will make. This information will help you decide which rice varieties are best suited to your particular growing conditions.
Read MoreThe primary function of the Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation is to ensure farmers can continue to feed a growing world. One of the ways it does that is by helping move agricultural products through the Louisiana Farm Bureau Marketing Association. In this episode, Karl Wiggers sits down with grain marketing specialists Greg Fox and Grayson Close to talk about the company and how they help farmers across Louisiana sell their crops at the best price at the best time.
Read MoreThe USA Rice Outlook Conference begins this week, and USA Rice has once again launched a comprehensive meeting app sponsored by BASF to help attendees manage their event experience.
“We have more than 25 sessions and 35 speakers packed onto four stages with something for everyone,” said USA Rice President & CEO Peter Bachmann. “The app will help attendees look at all their options, read about sessions and presenters, build a personalized schedule, connect with fellow attendees and speakers, and access presentation materials.”
Read MoreAs growers approach the end of the south Louisiana ratoon crop to wrap up their 2023 season, their focus begins to shift towards industry meetings and the holidays.
Last week, USA Rice RMA Chair Meryl Kennedy and Louisiana Farm Bureau Vice President Richard Fontenot, representing the rice industry, joined Louisiana Commissioner of Agriculture Dr. Mike Strain and Nestor Navarro, founder of Navarro International Group, LLC, at a round table listening discussion here with Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Alexis Taylor.
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