They're eligible

LITTLE ROCK, AR -A tax exemption projected to save Arkansas farmers millions in annual utility costs took effect yesterday. Act 1401 of the 2013 legislative session created a state and local sales tax exemption on utilities used by a grain drying and storage facility. Utilities include electricity, liquefied petroleum gas, and natural gas.

"This is a good example of the government recognizing and seizing an opportunity to help make Arkansas rice farmers more competitive," said Steve Orlicek, a Stuttgart rice farmer. "This exemption makes sense from a business perspective and will help offset increases in input costs."

According to Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration fiscal projections, the tax exemption will save Arkansas farmers $3.89 million in 2015 and $4.01 million by 2016.

In order to receive the tax exemption, the utility must be separately metered and only used for on-farm grain storage or drying. Utilities used in irrigation do not apply. Farmers who want to claim this tax exemption must receive approval from the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration (DFA) by filling out a form.  

Arkansas is the nation's number one rice-producing state, accounting for almost 50 percent of the U.S. rice production. Rice is the state's second highest value commodity, top agricultural export, and contributes more than $6 billion to the state's economy annually. 

The Arkansas DFA form can be found at www.arkansasricefarmers.org/taxexemption.

Contact: Katherine Vasilos, (501) 282-9518

And we're wild about her project!

The grand prize is a $4,000 scholarship and a trip to the 2014 USA Rice Outlook Conference in Little Rock, Arkansas for the scholarship presentation.  The second-place winner will receive $3,000 and third-place, $1,500.

Rising high school seniors from rice-growing counties in Arkansas, California, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, and Texas can qualify to enter by conducting a promotion campaign in their local communities during September with U.S.-grown rice as the central theme. Entries are due October 13.

September is National Rice Month -- a time for America to salute its rice farmers and everyone involved in the U.S. rice industry.  NRM was initiated by an act of Congress in 1991 and is conducted by the USA Rice Federation.  For more information and an entry form, visit the scholarship web page.

Contact: Amy Doane, (703) 236-1454

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Act 1401 of the 2013 legislative session created a state and local sales tax exemption on utilities used by a grain drying and storage facility. Utilities include electricity, liquefied petroleum gas.

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