U.S. rice...a star!

ACCRA, GHANA -- The USA Rice Federation is featuring seven large format billboards in three major cities in Ghana, aimed at increasing awareness and stimulating demand for all U.S. rice brands on the Ghanaian market.

This billboard campaign strategically builds on other efforts underway in this important market, including in-store promotions and foodservice seminars in the cities of Accra, Kumasi, and Takoradi, where the current billboards have gone up.

"U.S.-origin rice faces stiff competition here from Asian origins based almost entirely on price," said Eszter Somogyi, USA Rice's marketing program director in the region.  "This year the local economy has taken a nose-dive and inflation triggered an upward spiral in the prices of imported commodities, even though consumers prefer U.S. rice - they've had a difficult time affording it."

However, the market is changing and the consumer campaign has shown great promise with the first purchase of 14,000 mt of U.S.-grown rice earlier this month.

"We're planning more promotions so we will be well-positioned for the upcoming Christmas holiday season, which is traditionally the highest rice consumption period in Ghana," said Somogyi. 

Contact:  Michael Klein (703) 236-1458

MEXICO CITY, MEXICO -- For the past week, rumors have been swirling around the trade that the Mexican rice industry is urging the government here to re-establish tariffs on Asian origin rice to combat low-price, low quality milled rice that is turning up in the market.

If accurate, this would bode well for the U.S. rice industry which has suffered a fall in market share in Mexico for the past several years to the inferior, but competitively-priced rice.  Discussions continue within the government of Mexico, particularly between the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Economy, and no formal announcement has been made. 

Until 2008, Mexico had a 15 percent tariff rate levied against milled rice imports, which the U.S. avoided per the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).  As world food prices increased dramatically in 2007-2008, several countries reduced or eliminated import tariffs to provide some relief to their populations.  Mexico eliminated rice tariffs.

USA Rice is monitoring the Diario Official (similar to the Federal Register in the U.S.) for an announcement, is in regular communication with the millers, Mexican Rice Council, FAS/Mexico, and an association of wholesalers/importers, and will report on any new developments.

Contact:  Sarah Moran (703) 236-1457

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. 

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

Contact:  Chuck Wilson (870) 673-7541

Around Washington

Farm Bill Decision Aid Goes Live as USDA Announces Farm Bill Rules  

Delta Farm Press

More information will become available in the decision aid within the next two or three weeks as the Farm Service Agency and the Risk Management Agency provide more details on the new insurance programs.

Around the Country

California Harvest Much Smaller than Normal Across Crops Sacramento Bee

Economists at UC Davis say agriculture, which has been a $44 billion-a-year business in California, will suffer revenue losses and higher water costs - a financial hit totaling $2.2 billion this year.

Brown signed seven bills, including a measure that creates a state Office of Farm to Fork to promote food access and increase agricultural products available to schools and under-served communities.

Riceland Foods: Weather Could Provide 'Solid Milling Yields' for Stuttgart, State Farmers

Stuttgart Daily Leader

The 2014 Arkansas long grain planted acreage is up 32 percent from 2013. Medium grain, although acreage is up 79 percent, is supported by the drought situation in the Sacramento Valley. This has reduced California plantings by 24 percent from 2013.

Thousands Gather in Sacramento for Second Annual Farm-to-Fork Festival  

Sacramento Bee

The celebration is the city's effort to brand itself as a farm-to-fork mecca, an effort also underway in other cities in the U.S.

Trade and Tariffs

Despite Bold Japan Trade Pledges, U.S. Still Wonders: 'Where's the Beef?'  

Wall Street Journal

Mid-week, Prime Minister Abe's chief negotiator walked out of a Washington session with his American counterpart, after U.S. officials accused Tokyo of moving too timidly on opening up Japan's agriculture market, leaving the agreement's fate as uncertain as ever.