Currently, U.S. rough rice is denied full entry into Colombia due to the discovery of rice false smut (tilletia horrida) in a 2009 shipment.  U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and their counterpart in Colombia, the Colombian Agricultural Institute (ICA), are in discussions to mitigate the restrictions on U.S. rough rice and rice seed. 

 

Fumigation with methyl bromide would still be required of all paddy rice cargoes at export, however, the agencies are working toward an interim mitigation that would reduce to 50 percent the number of cargoes of U.S. paddy rice requiring mandatory monitoring of fumigation by Colombian officials.

 

A tilletia horrida survey is being conducted to determine the extent of the disease's presence in Colombia, but ICA has agreed to resume rice seed import permits, subject to tilletia horrida testing. 

 

Colombia was the United States' ninth largest export market in 2013, at 107,000 MT valued at $74 million. 

 

Contact:  Sarah Moran (703) 236-145

ARLINGTON, VA -- Farm bill education, trade, and other timely topics are on the program lineup for the 2014 USA Rice Outlook Conference, which will take place December 7-9 at the Statehouse Convention Center in Little Rock, Arkansas.

 

In addition to returning conference favorites Jim Wiesemeyer, Informa Economics, and Nathan Childs, USDA, this year's program will cover farm bill related topics, including a panel discussion, a learning session on the farm bill decision tool with Dr. Joe Outlaw, Texas A&M University, and a panel on conservation opportunities - sessions every grower will want to hear, as well as the state-by-state rice production and research outlooks.

 

Vernon Crowder, senior vice president and senior analyst for Rabobank's Food & Agribusiness Research and Advisory group, will discuss longer term trends and issues facing the U.S. rice industry, including market volatility, productivity, water scarcity, and more.

 

The program also will feature a special presentation on the Central American market for U.S. rice with representatives from the Federation of the Central American Rice Industry (FECARROZ).

 

Milo Hamilton, president and founder of Firstgrain and author of When Rice Shakes the World - The Importance of the First Grain to World Economic and Political Stability will also speak. 

 

Watch the USA Rice Daily for more news on the conference program.

 

Capacity crowd at the 2013 Outlook Conference in St. Louis

 

Important Conference Registration and Hotel Reminders

 

Register by November 10 for the lowest registration rate.  The USA Rice Outlook Conference rate of $129 at the Little Rock Marriott is offered until November 5 or until the room block fills.  Reserve your room at (877) 759-6290 oreserve your room online.

 

Reserve Your Exhibit Space, Preferred Sponsorship Now

 

Exhibit space for the USA Rice Outlook Conference is filling fast.  To reserve booth space - or for information on sponsorship opportunities - contact Jeanette Davis, (703) 236-1447.

WASHINGTON, DC -- Net rice sales of 14,900 MT for 2014/2015 were down 88 percent from the previous week 77 percent from the prior four-week average, according to today's Export Sales Highlights report.  Increases were reported for Guatemala (7,500 MT, including 7,000 MT switched from unknown destinations), Honduras (6,000 MT), Mexico (3,300 MT), Canada (1,500 MT), and Saudi Arabia (900 MT).  Decreases were reported for unknown destinations (7,000 MT).

Exports of 30,600 MT were down 30 percent from the previous week and 21 percent from the prior four-week average.  The primary destinations were Haiti (11,000 MT), Guatemala (7,500 MT), Mexico (3,600 MT), South Korea (3,200 MT), and Canada (2,000 MT).

This summary is based on reports from exporters from the period October 2-9.