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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, December 8, 2014

Arkansas Welcomes 2014 USA Rice Outlook Conference           

 
Opening ceremony in Little Rock
(Steve Orlicek and Dow Brantley, second and third from left)
LITTLE ROCK, AR -- The 2014 USA Rice Outlook Conference opened last night, bringing together rice producers from all six major rice-growing states and others from the U.S. industry for an educational program and trade show.  The annual conference is the largest rice convention held in the United States.

 

Among those participating in the ribbon cutting ceremony that opened the conference were Arkansas rice farmer and USA Rice Federation Chairman Dow Brantley and Chairman of the Arkansas Rice Council Steve Orlicek.

 

"Arkansas is honored to host this year's conference," said Brantley.  "The support we've gotten from sponsors and exhibitors is overwhelming and we're excited to provide a venue for them to share their expertise and innovations."

 

 
CEO Betsy Ward greets Governor-elect Hutchinson 

The conference educational program kicked off this morning with a host state welcome from Governor-Elect Asa Hutchinson who lauded rice farmers for their sustainability efforts, emphasizing the impressive gains rice farmers have made over the past twenty years in conservation of resources such as land, water, and energy.

 

"The governor-elect is clearly plugged in on rice issues and we look forward to working with his administration in the future," said USA Rice President and CEO Betsy Ward.

 

Today's program included conference regulars and favorites Jim Wiesemeyer on politics and Nathan Childs on crop outlook, as well as a learning session on the Farm Bill and crop insurance options.

 

The afternoon program featured a panel discussion on conservation opportunities available to growers led by former Natural Resource Conservation Service Chief Dave White, an interactive session on the Texas A&M Farm Bill decision tool led by Dr. Joe Outlaw, and presentations by state research officials on developments and the outlook for each state.

 

The USA Rice Outlook Conference is an educational service of the USA Rice Federation.

 

ContactDeborah Willenborg (703) 236-1444

2014 Rice Award Winners Recognized at Annual Awards Luncheon             

 
Horizon Ag's Tim
Walker (r) congratulates
Fred Zaunbrecher

LITTLE ROCK, AR- - Winners of the 2014 Rice Awards were announced today at a luncheon in their honor.  Awards are presented in the categories of farmer, industry and lifetime achievement.  This year's winners are Fred Zaunbrecher, farmer of the year, Kent McKenzie, rice industry award winner and Marvin Baden, rice lifetime achievement award winner.

 

Fred Zaunbrecher is a fifth generation rice farmer from Duson, Louisiana who started helping out on the family farm when he was only nine years old.  Together with his three brothers, Zaunbrecher operates GF&P Zaunbrecher Farms where they grow 2,000 acres of rice.  The Zaunbrechers are known for their interest in innovation, utilization of new technology, and collaboration with research scientists at the LSU AgCenter. Zaunbrecher is a graduate of the Rice Leadership Development Class, and currently serves as chairman of the USA Rice Council.

 

 
Rice Farming Editor Carroll Smith and  
Kent McKenzie 

Kent McKenzie, Ph.D., is a native Californian who has worked in rice research in Arkansas, Louisiana, and California.  McKenzie became the director the California Cooperative Rice Research Foundation (CCRRF) in 2000.  Through his research at CCRRF, he has developed several rice varieties like the premium medium grain M-402 that are still in production today. McKenzie is a member of several committees and research task forces for USA Rice.

 

Marvin "Butch" Baden is a well deserving recipient of the Rice Lifetime Achievement award having worked in the rice industry for 56 years.  Starting out as an office clerk, Baden eventually worked his way into a career in rice sales.  His particular expertise is in the area of export sales and over the course of his career, he has logged over eight million miles traveling the world selling rice.  Baden was elected as a director on the inaugural USA Rice Board of Directors and recently received the Rice Millers' Association Distinguished Service Award.

 

 
Dow Brantley (l) and Marvin Barden 

The Rice Awards are sponsored by Rice Farming magazine, Horizon Ag, and the USA Rice Federation.

 

ContactDeborah Willenborg (703) 236-1444

CME Group/Closing Rough Rice Futures   
CME Group (Preliminary):  Closing Rough Rice Futures for December 8


Month
Price
Net Change
January 2015$12.045
- $0.020
March 2015$12.295
-$0.030
May 2015$12.545
- $0.030
July 2015$12.745
- $0.030
September 2015$12.020
- $0.030
November 2015$11.920
- $0.030
January 2016$11.920
- $0.030

In the News

Around Washington

Conaway Names New GOP Members of House Ag Committee Agri-Pulse

The new Republican members of the committee include: Jackie Walorski of Indiana, Ralph Abraham of Louisiana, Rick Allen of Georgia, Mike Bost of Illinois, Tom Emmer of Minnesota, John Moolenaar of Minnesota, Dan Newhouse of Washington and David Rouzer of North Carolina.

 

Crop Insurance Could be Target for Cuts Brownfield Ag News

One scenario has politicians who seek further cuts in the food stamp program agreeing to make cuts in crop insurance as well. 

 

 

Science and Technology

Dr. Argelia Lorence, Arkansas State University, Recognized for Rice Research KASU-FM

Dr. Lorence co-leads the Plant Imaging Consortium and leads research for the development of more resilient varieties of crops, such as rice.  

 

 

Trade and Tariffs

TPP Talks Get Back Underway in Washington Japan Times

The six-day working-level meeting started Sunday. This round follows a summit held Nov. 10 in Beijing, where U.S. President Barack Obama, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and the 10 other leaders instructed officials and ministers to make concluding the free-trade deal "a top priority."

 

Iran Stops Rice Imports Wall Street Journal

The halt to Iranian buying is likely to lead a large surplus of the recently-harvested grain and already pressuring prices downward, throwing into uncertainty a growing new segment of the rice market.

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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.
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Editor: Michael Klein,
(703) 236-1458,
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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.