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USA Rice Federation is the global advocate of all segments of the U.S. rice industry with a mission to promote and protect the interests of producers, millers, merchants and allied businesses.
Thursday, July 17, 2014

USA Rice Attends USAEDC Attach Conference

USAEDC logo ARLINGTON, VA -- This week, the U.S. Agricultural Export Development Council (USAEDC) held its 34th annual attach� seminar which included consultations with over 70 U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Foreign Service officers from more than 40 countries.  These one-on-one consultations enable the USA Rice Federation and USDA Foreign Service officers to share information on trade policy and marketing issues in various countries.

 

USDA Deputy Secretary Krysta Harden, as the keynote speaker, discussed the USDA's views and outlook about agricultural trade.  Harden praised the hard work of USDA personnel and the success of the cooperator programs, saying, "we are making a difference.  For the past five years, we have had breaking records for agricultural exports...and it is due to the hard work you all do."   

 

She talked about the great quality, consistency, and image that U.S. products have overseas, and encouraged public-private partnerships, such as the relationship between USDA and the cooperator groups, to continue for the benefit of U.S. agricultural exports.

 

The seminar also included discussions on evolving economies in Africa, agricultural updates on trade negotiations, and the marketing potential in China. 

 

USA Rice's Regional Director Hartwig Schmidt attended the conference and said: "This conference allows the government and the cooperators to share information in an efficient manner, and the networking opportunities are an invaluable component of the event."

 

USA Rice also plans to attend USAEDC's annual workshop in November in Baltimore.

 

Contact: Sarah Moran, (703) 236-1457

USA Rice Merchants' Association Elects Officers, Board Members    

 
New officers (from left):  
Ryan Carwell, Dick Ottis,  
and Park Eldridge. 

DALLAS, TX -- Dick Ottis with Rice Belt Warehouse in El Campo, TX, has been elected chairman of the USA Rice Merchants' Association, which represents rough and seed rice merchandisers during meetings here.  The board of directors also elected Ryan Carwell, Poinsett Rice and Grain, Jonesboro, AR, to serve as vice chairman, and Park Eldridge, Lehman Elevator, Gillett, AR, to serve as secretary/treasurer.

 

The Merchant membership recently elected a seven-member board of directors to a three-year term which runs August 1, 2014, to July 31, 2017.  In addition to Ottis, Carwell, and Eldridge, the board members for the new term are:  Bill Dunklin, Crop Marketing Services, McGehee, AR; Brian King, Ritter Grain Services, Marked Tree, AR; Marley Oldham, Kennedy Rice Dryers, Mer Rouge, LA; and Louis Weeks, Delta Seed & Services, Arcola, MS.  Mark Kimmelshue, Associated Rice Marketing Cooperative, Richvale, CA, was elected first alternate, and Marty Pace, Minturn Grain, Hoxie, AR, was elected second alternate. 

 

The USA Rice Merchants' Association is a member of the USA Rice Federation, which is the global advocate for all segments of the U.S. rice industry.

 

Contact:  Trish Alderson, (703) 236-1472

Weekly Rice Sales, Exports Reported   

WASHINGTON, DC -- Net rice sales of 45,900 MT for 2013/2014 were down 41 percent from the previous week and 10 percent from the prior four-week average, according to today's Export Sales Highlights report.  Increases were reported for Colombia (20,900 MT), Honduras (14,000 MT, including 11,400 MT switched from unknown destinations), Mexico (13,000 MT), Haiti (4,400 MT), and El Salvador (2,000 MT).  Decreases were reported for unknown destinations (13,200 MT).  Net sales of 200 MT for 2014/2015 were reported for Mexico. 

Exports of 67,000 MT were up 91 percent from the previous week and 69 percent from the prior four-week average.  The primary destinations were Colombia (14,900 MT), Honduras (13,700 MT), Japan (12,100 MT), Cote D'Ivoire (10,300 MT), and Haiti (4,400 MT).

This summary is based on reports from exporters from the period July 4-10.
CME Group/Closing Rough Rice Futures   
CME Group (Preliminary):  Closing Rough Rice Futures for July 17


Month
Price
Net Change
September 2014
$13.280
+ $0.290
November 2014
$13.490
+ $0.280
January 2015
$13.680
 + $0.290
March 2015
$13.845
+ $0.290
May 2015
$13.985
+ $0.290
July 2015
$14.165
+ $0.290
September 2015
$14.100
+ $0.225


In the News 

Around Washington

Roberts, Heitkamp Back Bill to Help Farmers in Futures Market Agri-Pulse

The bill - dubbed the Risk Hedging Protection Act of 2014 - would give futures customers an additional day to provide payments to brokers to meet their margin call.

 

 

Around the Country

Jim Lingo - Improving Rice Production Delta Farm Press

For Forest, La., farmer, rice production is about finding ways to do it better, whether it's implementing on-farm trials to determine maximum economic profits or a willingness to learn from others, whether it's LSU's Extension Service or other members of the farming operation.

 

The Importance of a Good Farm or Business Website Farm Futures

Excuses that your farm is too small, it's too hard, it's too expensive, it's a lot of work, I don't sell anything online, should be left in 1998. If you're a farm or a business, you need a website.

 

 

Around the World

South Korea to Scrap Rice Import Caps From Start of Next Year Reuters

South Korea will on Friday announce plans to scrap caps on rice imports from the start of 2015, instead managing shipments into the country using a system of steep tariffs. The shift has long been expected as a 20-year-old agreement on rice import quotas with the World Trade Organization expires at the end of 2014, with the nation under pressure to take bigger steps to open its markets for the staple grain.

 

Typhoon Damage to Agriculture Hits $53.3M Philstar.com

Typhoon Rammasun also destroyed $11.76 million worth of rice planted and $8.98 million worth of corn planted. Rice and corn are the country's two major crops.

 

 

Health and Nutrition

Health Officials: Food Label Changes Not Enough Associated Press

Public health would like to see labels on the front of packages and a clearer statement of which ingredients are good and which should be avoided.

 

UN Strengthens Regulations on Lead in Infant Formula and Arsenic in Rice Reuters

For the first time, Codex has adopted a maximum level for arsenic in rice of 0.2 mg/kg.

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USA Rice Federation is the global advocate for all segments of the U.S. rice industry with a mission to promote and protect the interests of producers, millers, merchants and allied businesses.
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Editor: Michael Klein,
(703) 236-1458,
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This report is time-sensitive, based on information available at press time. Content is derived from facts and sources believed to be reliable. Reprinting and/or distribution may be done with permission of the USA Rice Federation

Copyright � 2014. Please direct comments or questions to the editor or contact name listed for each story.