For the U.S. rice industry, traditional trade mechanisms have proven ineffective. Now, the industry prepares to charge ahead with an aggressive solution. The hopes are that a Section 301 investigation will result in tariffs.
Yes, you read that right. Tariffs.
Read MoreChina is increasing agricultural support for Cuba through rice aid and technical projects, adding a food-security tie in the region. Retired USDA economist Fred Gale reports Chinese rice shipments to Cuba rose sharply during the first four months of 2026
Read MoreUSA Rice will conduct the inaugural Aromatic Rice Quality Symposium this summer, in conjunction with the organization’s annual July Business Meetings in Dallas. The symposium will be on Wednesday morning, July 8, in the National Ballroom I at the Thompson Hotel downtown.
Read MoreThe LSU AgCenter H. Rouse Caffey Rice Research Station will hold its annual field day June 24. The event will highlight variety development, pest management strategies and other research aimed at helping farmers successfully produce one of Louisiana’s most valuable crops.
Read Morehe RICE Awards recognize individuals who embrace the values of Resilience, Innovation, Contribution and Excellence (RICE) in their work throughout the rice industry. If you know someone who exemplifies these characteristics, help us honor their incredible achievements by nominating them for a 2026 RICE Award.
Read MoreIn a groundbreaking study emerging from the University of Arkansas, scientists have uncovered a startling natural defense mechanism in rice plants: they trap and kill caterpillars using tiny, spike-like hairs called trichomes located on rice spikelets.
Read MoreMany farmers across the Midsouth are shifting acres toward soybean production in 2026 and choosing to plant less corn and rice, which are more expensive to grow. Although the war in Iran has largely contributed to this move, some farmers made the decision well in advance in the face of already high input costs.
Read MoreGlobal rice production is set to decline for the first time in a decade, tightening supplies of one of the world’s major food staples.
Read MoreRice fields do more than feed people—they help fuel one of nature's greatest journeys. Along major migratory flyways, flooded fields act as surrogate wetlands, offering critical resting and feeding grounds for shorebirds and waterfowl. In Louisiana, rice farmer Joseph Arcaneaux manages his fields in ways that benefit birds without disrupting his operation.
Read MoreThe Rice Delphacid (RD) is an invasive planthopper that feeds on rice and other grasses. It was first recorded in Texas in 2015 and has since become a recurring rice pest in Texas rice belt. In Louisiana, RD was detected in July 2025 (first record in >70 years), with initial finds in Tensas Parish and later detections on ratoon rice across the state. This factsheet summarizes key identification and biology, typical damage symptoms, and guidance for scouting.
Read MoreArkansas’ rice crop this year is set to be the smallest in nearly 50 years. Drought, higher input costs, and lower commodity prices are among the factors that are driving down this year.
There’s one pest, however, that has plagued rice farmers since the 1880s — the rice stink bug. The insect reportedly causes up to $20 million worth of damage to rice crops in Arkansas each year, according to AgInnovation. In heavily infested fields, yields can drop by up to 10%.
Read MoreWhen a system works, there is little reason to change and many reasons to stick with success; any change in that system is often small things to improve efficiency.
Mississippi’s rice industry is not following that pattern.
Read MoreLouisiana is a top U.S. rice producer and exporter, with over 60% of its roughly 400,000-acre annual crop shipped internationally, valued at approximately $360 million.
One of those producers, Supreme Rice in Crowley, is the state’s largest rice milling operation. Supreme processes over 1 billion pounds of rice annually, and ships worldwide to more than 50 countries.
Read MoreLast week, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Farm, Food, and National Security Act (H.R. 7567), which reauthorizes the remaining farm bill provisions that were not included in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1) last year. Congress made critical investments in the farm safety net in previous legislation, but H.R. 7567 spans all 12 titles of the farm bill and remains essential to supporting the rice industry and rural communities.
Read MoreGlobal rice supplies are expected to tighten this year as farmers across Asia reduce planting due to rising input costs and worsening weather conditions, raising concerns for food security and U.S. producers alike.
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