Leroy Isbell

The Arkansas and U.S. rice industries are saddened by the passing of Leroy Isbell, 90, of Humnoke, AR, on May 6, 2014.  A dedicated and progressive rice farmer, Mr. Isbell pioneered new farming practices, including zero-grade and rice behind rice rotations, as well as other innovations that brought him international acclaim and a place in the Arkansas Agriculture Hall of Fame.  In 1996, father and son Leroy and Chris Isbell were honored as the Rice Farmers of the Year by Rice Farming magazine.  At the time of his passing, Mr. Isbell's 65^th rice crop was planted.  His son, grandson and great grandsons - who learned from the best - will see it through to harvest. 

Visitation will be from 6 to 9 p.m. on Friday, May 9, at Wilson-Robison Funeral Home in England, AR.  Memorial services will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 10, at Macedonia Baptist Church in Humnoke, AR. 

On behalf of the USA Rice Federation, we extend heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Leroy Isbell.

Darci Vetter

WASHINGTON, DC -- This morning, the Senate Finance Committee heard testimony from USDA's Darci Vetter, who is President Obama's nominee to become the new United States Trade Representative (USTR) Chief Agriculture Negotiator.  Vetter, who grew up on a farm in Nebraska that did business with Japan, said her experiences there showed her first-hand the value of agriculture trade.

She also said Congress and the executive branch must maintain a close relationship as the President's trade agenda moves forward, and she remains committed to preserving open and reliable overseas markets for "grown in America" agriculture products.

Noting her years of work at both the Senate Finance Committee and at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Vetter said USTR must be committed to leveling the playing field for agriculture goods and must enforce existing trade rules.  She told Senators in attendance that, in her view, the World Trade Organization dispute settlement mechanism must be utilized to eliminate sanitary and phytosanitary restrictions that curb access to various countries around the world.

During questioning, Chairman Ron Wyden (D-OR) mentioned that many agriculture industries are concerned about Japan's lack of ambition when it comes to agriculture goods within the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations.   He asked about Ms. Vetter's strategy to create meaningful new access for agriculture goods in Japan.

Ms. Vetter replied, "the negotiations with Japan are in a sensitive stage, but they have pledged that no product will be excluded from the negotiations.   The negotiations team at USTR is committed to ambitious market access in the TPP negotiations, including the five sensitive agriculture products -- rice, wheat/barley, dairy products, sugar, and beef/pork."

USA Rice has joined many other U.S. agricultural groups in supporting the nomination of Ms. Vetter as the next Chief Agriculture Negotiator.

Contact:  Lauren Echols, (703) 236-1440

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