It’s difficult for Southern rice farmers to consider changing horses in midstream, especially when their favorite horse has been producing high yields and winning applause from most all bettors until now.
But there comes a time when you may need to step back and look at whether the race for higher grain yields is the best objective or if producing more rice that some of your traditional customers no longer want is working.
Read MoreThe rice delphacid is no longer merely a Texas problem. This tiny planthopper, common in Texas ratoon rice, showed up this year in the main Texas rice crop. Infestations also occurred in Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi, with some rice fields at a complete loss.
Read MoreLast Thursday, USA Rice joined the American Farm Bureau Federation, along with more than 50 other national agricultural organizations, in highlighting the economic crisis in rural America and urging lawmakers to provide urgent relief to farmers as they work to secure financing to grow their next crop. On Friday, Senators John Boozman (R-AR) and John Hoeven (R-ND) released a framework that, if enacted, would provide targeted relief and backstop the Farmer Bridge Assistance (FBA) Program and help get farmers to the fall when the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) improvements come into effect.
Read MoreLast week, a delegation from USA Rice traveled here to meet with the Brazilian rice industry association (ABIARROZ) to discuss cooperation on shared concerns around the deterioration in global rice prices largely due to India’s policies and practices leading to oversupply.
Read MoreRice growers were the biggest beneficiaries when the US Department of Agriculture unveiled details of its $12 billion farmer aid package last week. Payments for rice are set at $132.89 per acre, more than quadruple the amount allocated for soybeans and triple the rate for corn. The only other crop with a payout over $100 an acre is cotton.
Read MoreLast month, USA Rice invited four millers from Côte d’Ivoire to learn more about the U.S. rice industry.
Read MoreThe upcoming rice season will most likely have its challenges, but the approach to managing what’s thrown down can ultimately determine the endgame.
Read MoreLieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser, local tourism leaders, and Louisiana entertainers are in Southern California making final preparations for Monday’s Rose Parade through the streets of Pasadena.
The group is putting final touches on Louisiana’s “Explore Louisiana” float, which will feature the state’s agriculture and tourism. One hundred volunteers from Louisiana will place over 100,000 roses on the float.
Read MoreConversations on U.S. rice quality versus South American consumer preference have been a major topic in recent years. It was also addressed during the 2025 USA Rice Outlook conference, where Horizon Ag shared results from a quality evaluation conducted earlier this fall.
Read MoreRice is a staple food across much of the globe, and different regions have varied preferences in cooking characteristics, taste and texture. In the Latin American rice market, customers favor high-quality, loosely cooked rice, and countries in this region are known for high rice consumption per capita.
Read MoreAt the White House earlier this month, President Donald Trump joined a roundtable of America’s farmers to announce $12 billion in bailouts. But when Meryl Kennedy, the 37-year-old CEO of her family’s Louisiana rice mill, spoke up to tell him that “the tariffs are working but we need to double down,” he was surprised: “You want more?” Trump asked.
Read MoreAt a White House roundtable with farmers, a rice producer’s candid message stole the spotlight. Meet Meryl Kennedy, the rice producer who had a powerful message for President Trump last week.
Read MoreThe 6th U.S. Rice Quality Symposium, a key part of the annual USA Rice Outlook Conference, was held here last week helping to ensure U.S. rice stays competitive by focusing on quality, innovation, and meeting specific market demands. This year’s event featured 20 rice varieties—many of which demonstrated the cooking characteristics preferred by the Latin American market.
Read MoreFarmers and industry leaders gathered in New Orleans Dec. 7 to 9 for the 2025 USA Rice Outlook Conference. Morale was considerably high, despite the current state of the ag economy, as participants engaged in sessions to learn industry updates and emerging trends in rice production, with record-breaking attendance.
Read MoreCurrently, rice is planted in the spring and harvested in the fall, leaving the fields empty in winter. But what if this non-productive period could be utilized to add a second, lucrative crop?
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