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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.
Monday, September 22, 2014

USA Rice Attends North Carolina Rice Festival   

 
A first time for everything 

BELVILLE, NC -- A small town in Brunswick County North Carolina embraced its agricultural roots this weekend by hosting its first ever rice festival.  Although North Carolina no longer produces rice, local civic leaders feel the rich history of the crop in this part of the state is worth celebrating - and hundreds of area residents agreed.

 

Deborah Willenborg, USA Rice Federation's communications manager, attended the event, distributing informational handouts, recipe cards, and giveaways such as hats, pens, and bumper stickers from a USA Rice booth.

 

Willenborg was also asked to serve as a judge during the festival's rice recipe contest. "Rice production in this area may have waned but the culinary talent certainly hasn't," she said. "The recipes were creative and delicious, with U.S.-grown rice at the center.  People were thrilled to learn how much rice we still produce in the U.S., and I think they went away from the festival thinking about rice more than they did before."

 

More than 60 rice plantations once dotted the waterways of the Cape Fear and Brunswick Rivers and by 1860, Brunswick County produced 7.6 million pounds of the 8 million pounds of rice harvested in the state.

 

Contact:  Michael Klein (703) 236-1458

Application Deadline for Rice Leadership Program Nears  

STUTTGART, AR -- The deadline for submitting applications for the Rice Leadership Development program is October 4.  Rice producers and other industry-related professionals are encouraged to apply for the next class, which will be announced in December at the USA Rice Outlook Conference in Little Rock, AR. 

 

The Rice Leadership Development Program gives young men and women a comprehensive understanding of the U.S. rice industry, with an emphasis on personal development and communication skills training.  During a two-year period, class members attend four one-week sessions that are designed to strengthen their leadership skills.

 

The class is comprised of five rice producers and two industry-related professionals chosen by a committee of agribusiness leaders evaluating their applications, reviewing letters of recommendation, and conducting personal interviews with the finalists.  Candidates must be 25-45 at the time of application and derive their primary livelihood from some aspect of the rice industry.

 

The program is sponsored by John Deere Company, RiceTec, Inc., and American Commodity Company through The Rice Foundation and managed by the USA Rice Federation.

 

For more information on the program or an application form, visit http://www.usarice.com

 

Contact:  Chuck Wilson (870) 673-7541

Crop Progress:   2014 Crop 46 Percent Harvested  

WASHINGTON, DC -- Forty-six percent of the nation's 2014 rice acreage has been harvested, according to today's U.S. Department of Agriculture's Crop Progress Report.  Seventy-four percent of this year's crop is rated good to excellent.

Rice Harvested, Selected States 
Week Ending
State
Sept 21, 2013  
Sept 14, 2014  
Sept 21, 2014  
2009-2013 average
Percent
Arkansas
41
 30
44
54
California
11
 5
7
10
Louisiana
95
87
93
94
Mississippi 
27
 31
48
58
Missouri
16
13
26
38
Texas
99
90
96
97
Six States
44
36
46
53
CME Group/Closing Rough Rice Futures   
CME Group (Preliminary):  Closing Rough Rice Futures for September 22


Month
Price
Net Change
November 2014$12.550
- $0.150
January 2015$12.740
- $0.150
March 2015$12.915
- $0.150
May 2015$13.110
- $0.140
July 2015$13.290
- $0.140
September 2015$12.875
- $0.140
November 2015$12.875
- $0.140

In the News

Around Washington

FDA Proposes Revisions to Draft Food Safety Rules Agri-Pulse

The updated proposed rules, involving produce safety, preventive controls for human and animal food and the foreign verification program, are being published in the Federal Register and interested parties have until Dec. 14 to submit comments before final rules are issued in 2015.

 

Presidential Proclamation - National Farm Safety and Health Week, 2014 Insurancenewsnet.com

September 21 through September 27, 2014, is National Farm Safety and Health Week and President Obama is calling upon the agencies, organizations, businesses, and extension services that serve America's agricultural workers to strengthen their commitment to promoting farm safety and health programs.

 

 

Around the Country

Bayer Outlines Next Phase of Investments Agri-Pulse

Bayer CropScience plans to invest close to $900 million in the U.S. in the 2013-2016 period because of the long-term growth opportunities in a region it considers a vital part of its global growth plan.

 

In the early 1700's and 1800's rice was the main crop in North Carolina; they exported more than 300 tons of rice.

 

 

Around the World

Tsunami-Stricken Town Harvest Rice for First Time in 4 Years Asahi Shimbun

The loss of the fields, as well as equipment, after the earthquake and tsunami was almost the final blow to local farming businesses, which were already facing an aging population of about 400 farmers and a lack of successors.

 

 

Trade and Tariffs

Japan, U.S. Plan Agenda for Ministerial TPP Talks Japan Times

Working-level officials of Japan and the United States held a teleconference Saturday to narrow down trade topics for a bilateral ministerial meeting next week on the Trans-Pacific Partnership pact.

 

 

Science and Technology

Meet a Scientist: David Gealy Stuttgart Daily Leader

Gealy's work focuses on trying to understand how much unwanted outcrossing occurs between herbicide-resistant rice (i.e. commercial Clearfield types) and the weed red rice and how best to minimize it.

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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,
[email protected]

Fax (703) 236-2301

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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.