Laura Dogu

MEXICO CITY, MEXICO -- The USA Rice Federation participated in the USDA's Agricultural Trade Office (ATO) Mexico Marketing Roundtable held here last week where marketing and promotion ideas were exchanged between U.S. agricultural cooperators. Presiding over the event were special guests, the Honorable Laura Dogu, Chargé d'affaires, U.S. Embassy, Mexico City; newly arrived ATO Director Joe Lopez; and Deputy ATO Julio Maldonado. 

"We thank USA Rice for their participation, presentation of their program, and spirit of cooperation and coordination," said Lopez.  "We look forward to attending their activities and, together, promoting and increasing U.S. rice sales to Mexico."

USA Rice provided a general overview of consumer and foodservice promotional activities (see ("Building on Successful 2013 Program, USA Rice Reaches Out to Mexican Consumers," USA Rice Daily, March 11, 2014 and "USA Rice Forms Promotions Advisory Council in Mexico," July 24, 2014), the new American seal (see "Mexico Market Under Attack - Part Two: Enhancing Rice's Profile," USA Rice Daily, May 21, 2014), restaurant and chef promotions (see "U.S. Grown Rice Fuels 'Wednesday Paella' Promotion in Top Export Market," USA Rice Daily, June 12, 2014 and "USA Rice Writes the Book on Rice for Cooking Schools in Mexico," August 23, 2014), in-store promotions with Sam's Club and other popular grocery stores, (see "In-store Demonstrations Drive Rice Sales in Mexico," USA Rice Daily, February 10, 2014) and various trade shows throughout Mexico (see "USA Rice at Mexico's Exphotel Trade Show to Increase Demand," USA Rice Daily, June 27, 2014). FAS staff was invited to observe and participate in future activities.

Valued at $18 billion, Mexico is the second largest export market for all U.S. agricultural products, and still the top destination for U.S. rice.

Contact:  Marvin Lehrer (210) 663-0360

"And...they're off!"

JENNINGS and LAKE CHARLES, LA -- On Saturday, September 20, nearly 200 runners gathered at Founders Park in Jennings, LA to compete in the 24^th Annual Louisiana 5-K Rice Run.  The popular race is conducted annually during National Rice Month (NRM) under the direction of the Hathaway High School Future Farmers of America and highlights the importance of rice in a healthy diet and the rice industry's economic contributions to the state and nation.

Trophies were awarded to the first place male and female winners and twenty lucky finishers received a microwaveable rice cooker.  Rice nutritional information and NRM promotional items were also distributed by the Louisiana Rice Promotion Board, a sponsor of the event.

Last Wednesday, the 17^th Annual Calcasieu-Cameron Rice Growers Association (Cal/Cam RGA) and Port of Lake Charles National Rice Month Celebration was held in Lake Charles. 

Cook-off contestants

Seventeen students participated in a cooking contest.  Winners included Victoria Pinal of Sam Houston High School, first place; Daniel Hammond of W.W. Lewis Middle School, second place; Brittany Easton of Starks High School, third place; and Aubrey Sweeny of R.D. Molo Middle school, heart-healthy winner.

Adam Habetz, president of the Cal/Cam RGA thanked Farmers Rice Mill of Lake Charles for providing electric rice cookers for each of the contestants, and the Louisiana Rice Growers Association and Hoppe Farms for each providing one-pound bags of Louisiana-grown rice for the competitors.

Contact:  Randy Jemison (337) 738-7009

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

EPA Chief Slams Critics for Misinformation The Hill

Conservatives and their allies in agriculture, construction and other industries have charged that the rule would amount to a massive land grab by the federal government, forcing property owners to apply for permits for projects like digging ditches or building fences.

Around the Country

Crew Makes 1,126 Pound Bowl of Hawaii Rice Dish CBS-46

Volunteers at Sunday's Fifth Annual Rice Festival assembled a bowl of loco moco consisting of 600 pounds of hot white rice, a 200-pound hamburger patty, 300 scrambled eggs and 200 pounds of brown gravy.

Around the World

Colombia Rice Growers Saved From Ruin After Being Told Not to Plant Their Crop  

The Guardian

The advice came from Fedearroz, the main organization for rice growers in the country, and helped 170 farmers in Córdoba avoid economic losses of an estimated $3.6m.

How Much of the World's Greenhouse Gas Emissions Come From Agriculture?

Wall Street Journal

The United Nations' estimates greenhouse-gas emissions from agriculture are around 50% of global emissions. This total takes a broader look at food production to include emissions from land-use change and deforestation, as well as the processing, packaging, transport and sale of agricultural products.

S. Korea Notifies WTO of Plan to Liberalize Rice Market via Tarrification  

Yonhap News Agency

The move comes as a special agreement with the WTO that allowed the country to delay its rice market liberalization over the past 20 years expires at the end of this year.

Trade and Tariffs

2015 is Crucial to Atlantic Trade Pact, German Envoy Says Bloomberg

Germany's Ambassador to the U.S. Peter Wittig said, "A deal is a "once-in-a-lifetime chance" to set a new standard for international trade and commerce.

EU Trade Nominee Open to Dropping Investor Rights in U.S. Pact Reuters

Sweden's Cecilia Malmstrom told the European Parliament she did not rule out removing contentious investment protection provisions from the pact if Europeans believed they would allow U.S. firms to circumvent EU rules and standards.