On the cutting edge

BIGGS, CA -- Yesterday, at the 44th Annual California Rice Experiment Station Field Day, producers, industry representatives, and rice stake holders gathered to hear an update from rice researchers on progress with variety development, pests and disease resistance, and management practices.

Sean Doherty, chairman of the California Cooperative Rice Research Foundation, was positive about the year's research despite the drought conditions throughout California rice country.  "2014 has certainly proved to be a year of uncertainty for the California rice industry [and] I am pleased to report that we have been able to continue our breeding and research activities without any reduction," Doherty said.  He also serves as vice chairman of the USA Rice Council.  

The field day activities included updates from researchers, a tour of the main station variety development plots, and a tour of the weed control research plots.

In addition to attending the field day and meetings with industry members, USA Rice President and CEO Betsy Ward, VP Government Affairs Reece Langley, and Manager, Economic and Policy Analysis Evan Spencer participated in a Farm Bill education meeting with over 130 rice producers and industry members.

Langley presented an overview of the 2014 Farm Bill provisions for rice, and Dr. Joe Outlaw, co-director of the Texas A&M Agricultural and Food Policy Center, reviewed the Farm Bill decision aid tool, designed to help shed light on producer's options for the new farm policy options.

Contact:  Evan Spencer (703) 236-1476

From left: Martha Pineda,   Julio Maldonado, Marvin Lehrer,   Gaby Carbajal, and Joe Lopez.

MEXICO CITY, MEXICO -- Yesterday, USA Rice Federation contractors in Mexico greeted newly arrived Agricultural Trade Office (ATO) staff from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and provided a briefing on promotion activities for U.S. rice in the Mexico market.

Attending the meeting were ATO Director Joe Lopez, ATO Deputy Director Julio Maldonado, ATO Marketing Specialist Martha Pineda, and USA Rice contractors Gaby Carbajal and Marvin Lehrer.  In addition to the briefing on promotion activities, the new packaging logo to help consumers identify U.S. origin rice and rice products was presented. Called the "American Seal," the logo is currently going through the registration process in Mexico but is expected to be approved in the next few months.

"I really like this logo as it is simple and to the point," said Lopez. "We wish USA Rice great success with it and with their campaigns in Mexico.  We look forward to working together to raise consumption of U.S. rice in this market."

Contact:  Marvin Lehrer (210) 663-0360

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