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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.  
Wednesday, September 10, 2014
House Passes Bill Rejecting EPA's Waters of the U.S. Proposed Rule   
Kid playing in a puddle
Hey kid, got a permit for that?

WASHINGTON, DC -- In a 262-152 vote with 35 Democrats voting 'yes', the House of Representatives passed The Waters of the U.S. Regulatory Overreach Protection Act of 2014, sending a clear signal to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that the body does not support the Waters of the U.S. rule as drafted.

 

The Overreach Protection Act, which Representative Steve Southerland (R-FL) introduced in July, does not require the EPA to draft a new rule, but it would require the agency to consult with states and local authorities to develop recommendations for the scope of Clean Water Act jurisdiction, and determine whether those goals could be reached under the existing statutory framework.

 

EPA's proposed rule, which seeks to better define the waters covered by the nearly 40-year old Clean Water Act, has been under fire since it was released in April.  Though EPA has said the rule will do little more than clarify the existing statute, groups including agriculture have expressed concerns it will be used instead to regulate even the smallest ditches and puddles.   

 

The proposed rule states that rice fields are exempt, however, there is no mention made of exempting the network of ditches and canals that carry the water to and from the fields.  Also, the proposal appears to regulate any water in a floodplain.

 

The USA Rice Federation is drafting comments on the original rule and supporting the Overreach legislation in order to reduce the regulatory impacts to the industry.

 

The White House has already promised to veto the Overreach legislation should it pass the Senate.

 

Contact:  Steve Hensley (703) 236-1445

National Rice Month Promotional Item of the Week!   
 
He doesn't just 
cook up statistics 

Cook in style with our Reach for Rice full length apron in royal blue.  This 100% cotton apron has an adjustable neck strap, waist ties and three waist-level pockets.  

 

Reach for Rice in the kitchen this September and all year long with this festive apron.

 

Order these and other promotional items at the USA Rice Online Store.

 

Contact:  Katie Maher (703) 236-1453

CCC Announces Prevailing World Market Prices 
WASHINGTON, DC -- The Department of Agriculture's Commodity Credit Corporation today announced the following prevailing world market prices of milled and rough rice, adjusted for U.S. milling yields and location, and the resulting marketing loan-gain (MLG) and loan deficiency payment (LDP) rates applicable to the 2014 crop, which became effective today at 7:00 a.m., Eastern Time (ET).  Prices are unchanged from the previous announcement. 

 
World Price
MLG/LDP Rate
 
Milled Value ($/cwt)
Rough ($/cwt)
Rough ($/cwt)
Long-Grain
18.60
11.80
0.00
Medium-/Short-Grain
18.02
12.13
0.00
Brokens
11.22
----
----

This week's prevailing world market prices and MLG/LDP rates are based on the following U.S. milling yields and the corresponding loan rates:

 
U.S. Milling Yields
Whole/Broken
(lbs/cwt)
Loan Rate
($/cwt)
Long-Grain
55.83/12.59
6.50
Medium-/Short-Grain
62.39/7.92
6.50
 
The next program announcement is scheduled for September 17. 
CME Group/Closing Rough Rice Futures   
CME Group (Preliminary):  Closing Rough Rice Futures for September 10


Month
Price
Net Change
September 2014
$12.220
- $0.030
November 2014
$12.330
- $0.025
January 2015
$12.520
- $0.040
March 2015
$12.720
- $0.050
May 2015
$12.890
- $0.045
July 2015
$13.070
- $0.045
September 2015
$12.770
- $0.045


In the News  

Around Washington

Conservation Service Expands Role on Farmed Wetlands Farm Futures

If you are farming land that NRCS considers to have been wetlands at any time before December 1985, and you improve your tiling and drainage system, NRCS will want to be involved in such a decision.

 

House Votes to Block EPA Water Rules ABC News

The House approved the bill, 262-152. Thirty-five Democrats joined 227 Republicans to support the bill. The measure is not expected to advance in the Democratic-controlled Senate.

 

 

Around the Country

California Rice Farmer: Drought May Make Us 'Quit' CBS

To try and make money, some California rice producers have turned to selling their water sources, rather than planting a crop this year. While some farmers could afford to leave their land unplanted, others have opted to just sell water rights.

 

Carolina Couple Make Their Mark in Conservation Free Times

Rice & Ducks by Virginia Beach is an illustrated history that traces the rise and fall of the rice-growing lands from the Pee Dee River to the Savannah River. Proceeds from the sale of the book will go toward waterfowl conservation efforts.

 

Hopes for a Strong El Niño Fade in California New York Times

One bright spot in the long-range outlook is that with the odds favoring at least a weak El Niño, the opposite weather phenomenon, known as La Niña, is less likely. La Niña occurs when Pacific water is colder than normal, and the result for California could be very dry weather.

 

 

Trade and Tariffs

Rice Exporters See Unfair Overseas Competition Agri-Pulse Newsletter

Two separate perspectives saying much the same are coming soon to federal trade officials, warning that U.S. rice exporters face a near-crisis level of unfair and ever-stiffening competition from the Far East.

 

 

Science and Technology

Can Big Ag Put the Cloud in the Crops Before Someone Else Does? Wall Street Journal

Like any other industry, farming is in the process of being reshaped by the application of computing power, and all the biggest players are scrambling to build up their own software services before someone else comes along and eats their world.

 

 

Health and Nutrition

Everything's Nice Like Gumbo on Rice; But It's Also Good for Other Stuff 

Alabama Living

Recipe for Oriental Rice Pilaf from the good folks at the USA Rice Council, a group charged with promoting domestic rice and to that end, they provide on their website a ton of tasty and easy recipes for rice.

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Mission Statement
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.
About Us
Editor: Michael Klein,
(703) 236-1458,
mklein@usarice.com

Fax (703) 236-2301

2101 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 610
Arlington, VA 22201

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.