Khapra Beetle larvae

BALTIMORE, MD -- Yesterday, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) at the port of Baltimore discovered a Khapra Beetle larvae infestation in a shipment of rice from Pakistan.  Even though the collected specimens were dead, an Emergency Action Notice was issued to the importer requiring that the 43,000 pound shipment of rice be re-exported or destroyed (the importer chose to re-export the shipment).  The Khapra Beetle remains the only insect in which CBP enacts regulatory action even while in a dead state. 

For the past several years, Pakistan has increased rice production and sought new export markets, some of which are traditional U.S. markets such as Mexico.  In 2010-2012, Pakistan exported negligible amounts of rice to Mexico; however, in the first six months of 2013, Pakistan rice comprised over 23 percent of Mexico's milled rice imports.  In June 2013, Mexico found evidence of the Khapra Beetle in 3,000 MT of Pakistan rice and subsequently removed Pakistan from their list of eligible importers.  The ban continues to remain in place for Mexico; Central America also does not permit Pakistan rice imports.  

"The Khapra Beetle is considered one of the 100 worst invasive species in the world. It can tolerate numerous insecticides and survive for long periods without food," says Jim Guinn, USA Rice vice president of international promotion.  "We applaud CBP for their diligent work in catching contaminated shipments before they can cause harm to our agricultural industry."

Contact:  Sarah Moran (703) 236-1457

MEMPHIS, TN -- U.S. rice industry sustainability experts met with staff of Field to Market this week for a day-long work session on the Fieldprint Calculator for rice.  The group addressed various issues and worked on calibrating the calculator for use in pilot programs by rice producers.  The group also set a course for future work on individual metrics for greenhouse gasses, biodiversity, and water quality. 

The meeting was hosted at the Ducks Unlimited world headquarters, and attendees included Rod Snyder, president of Field to Market; Jennifer James, chairman of the USA Rice Sustainability Task Force, rice producers and researchers, and staff from the USA Rice Federation.

"Over the past twenty years, American rice farmers have increased yields while at the same time decreasing land use, energy use, and water use," said James.  "As an industry, we are a sustainability success story.  I believe the Fieldprint Calculator will help us quantify our ongoing efforts to seek out and implement effective methods of conservation and sustainability."

Field to Market is a diverse alliance of companies and advocacy groups working to identify opportunities for continuous improvements in productivity, environmental quality, and human well-being across the ag landscape.  Members range from McDonald's to the Environmental Defense Fund, and include several key rice end users.

Contact:  Steve Hensley (703) 236-1445

Medvedev:  "Da rice."

ARLINGTON, VA -- The Russian government announced yesterday that it is banning the import of a range of agricultural products from the U.S., the European Union, Norway, Canada, and Australia. Russian Prime Minister Dmitri Medvedev stated that the limitations would begin today and last for 12 months.  Rice and wild rice were not included on Russia's broad list that included meat, fish, nuts, fruit, vegetables, and milk products.

"We are relieved that rice is not on Russia's list," said Bob Cummings, USA Rice Federation COO.  "We are seeking confirmation from the U.S. government that this is indeed the case, and we will monitor the situation for any changes." 

U.S. rice exports, including wild rice, totaled 7,355 MT in 2013, valued at $8.9 million.  For the first six months of this year, sales are down 4 percent. Rice exports to Russia have been increasing steadily in the last five years, jumping 500 percent between 2009 and 2013.  The majority of rice exports to Russia is medium-grain milled rice.

Contact:  Kristin Dayton (703) 236-1464

Around Washington

Ag Partnerships Grow Under New Conservation title Delta Farm Press

Article features John Owen talking about The Regional Conservation Partnership Program as an expanded approach to putting conservation efforts on land that will bring in new partners and leverage federal dollars with those from the private sector.

Around the Country

American Rice Growers $5.5 Million Expansion The Vindicator

The expansion project includes a new rice dryer and 12 new receiving tanks (for green rice). Each one of the green rice tanks will hold 9,600 hundred weights each, the equivalent of twenty 18-wheeler loads.

The CA Department of Water Resources, which manages water in the state's rivers, says it expects to deliver only 5 percent of the almost 4 million acre-feet requested this year by public water agencies. The federal Bureau of Reclamation, citing critically dry reservoirs, announced that senior rights holders would still get 65 percent to 75 percent of the water they requested.

Destructive Insect Found in Rice Shipment at Port Washington Post

U.S. Customs and Border Protection said Wednesday that the 43,000 pound shipment of rice at the port of Baltimore coming from Pakistan was infested with Khapra beetle larvae. Authorities say only dead larvae were found.

Welcome to Trivia Tuesdays Uncle Ben's USA

Weekly Facebook quiz asks: Brown rice in the U.S. is what percentage whole grain?

Wildlife Refuges Phasing Out GMO Crops, Pesticides Omaha.com

A July 17 letter from James W. Kurth, chief of the national refuge system, makes no specific mention of any concerns that the pesticides or the crops pose risks to wildlife or pollinators, such as bees and butterflies. It just says they don't fit refuge objectives, such as promoting natural ecosystems.

Trade and Tariffs

Russia Hits Back at Sanctions with Food Ban Financial Times

Imports of meat, fish, seafood, vegetables, fruit, milk, dairy products from the US, the EU, Australia, Canada and Norway were all banned for a year. A wide range of processed foods were also added to the blacklist of prohibited goods.