The Klein Report

LITTLE ROCK, AR -- Today's general session opened with a briefing by USA Rice Federation Vice President of Marketing and Communications Michael Klein on consumer group research conducted earlier this year and how USA Rice is putting that research to work by translating what people told us into effective messaging.

Mario Solorzano, president of the Central American Rice Federation (FECARROZ), and a guest panel of FECARROZ representatives talked about the U.S. rice market in Central America.  FECARROZ members include El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica.  They reminded the audience of the importance of the Central American market for U.S. rice exports and their collective concern about the quality of U.S. rice being shipped into their region due to poor quality and discrepancies in product analysis.

Central American Rice Federation Panel

USA Rice COO Bob Cummings followed with a discussion on the outlook for trade issues and implications for the U.S. rice industry.  U.S. government support for rice has reduced significantly over the last ten years while the level of global government support, particularly in China, India, Thailand, and Viet Nam, has increased sometimes as much as 100 percent.  Cummings also noted that the International Trade Commission (ITC) is conducting a study of factors influencing the global competitiveness of U.S. rice, and announced that the 2014 Colombia TRQ will contribute $8 million to rice research to be shared between the six rice-producing states. 

Darci Vetter

United States Trade Representative Chief Agriculture Negotiator Darci L. Vetter was introduced and briefed attendees on the Obama administration's current work on TPP, T-TIP, and fast track authority.  Vetter also thanked the USA Rice Federation for their continued cooperation and advice as the U.S. government works to increase market access for U.S. rice.

Contact: 

LITTLE ROCK, AR -- Members of the 2015 Rice Leadership Development Program class were announced yesterday during the annual Rice Awards Luncheon at the 2014 USA Rice Outlook Conference.  The class is comprised of five rice producers and two industry-related professionals selected by a committee of agribusiness leaders.

"The rice industry enjoys strong leadership, and has a bright future.  This program plays a critical role thanks to the intensive training and the high caliber participants," said Rice Foundation Chairman Todd Burich.

The new rice-producer class members are Nicole Creason, Jonesboro, AR; Hudgens Jeter, Stuttgart, AR; Paul Johnson, Welsh, LA; Nat McKnight, Cleveland, MS; and Greg Van Dyke, Pleasant Grove, CA.  The new industry-related class members are Dustin Harrell of the LSU AgCenter, and Collin Holzhauer with Southern Rice & Cotton.

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 training.  During a two-year period, class members attend four one-week sessions that are designed to strengthen their leadership skills.

John Deere Company, RiceTec, Inc., and American Commodity Company are sponsors of the Rice Leadership Development Program through a grant to The Rice Foundation, and the USA Rice Federation manages the program.

Contact:  Chuck Wilson (870) 673-7541

From left: Chris Crutchfield (American Commodity Co.), Todd Burich (The Rice Foundation), Greg Van Dyke, Dustin Harrell, Paul Johnson, Hudgens Jeter, Collin Holzhauer, Nat McKnight, Nicole Creason, and Chuck Wilson (USA Rice).

Announcement:            8 December 2014

Tender:                           12 December 2014

Offer details:                 51,000 mt

Shipping period:       (Medium grain) From 10 March 2015 to 20 April 2015

                                    (Long grain) From 1 April 2015 to 10 May 2015

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