"It is the USA Rice Federation's privilege to announce George Dunklin as the recipient of this award," LaGrande said.  "George has been farming rice for 34 years, is a past Commissioner of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, has been active in Ducks Unlimited for 31 years, and has recently been elected to become the organization's 42^nd president."

 

"Farmers are, by definition, conservationists," said LaGrande.  "As we continue to see farm policy evolve, we realize conservation and coalition-building is front and center.   And USA Rice's partnership with Ducks Unlimited is a perfect example of this new model emphasizing agriculture's role in preservation of natural resources."

 

The historic stewardship partnership between USA Rice and Ducks Unlimited was formed in 2013 so the groups could work collaboratively to conserve critical natural and economic resources.  Earlier this year, the partnership submitted their first national Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) proposal outlining the planning, design, and installation of conservation practices on working rice lands.  RCPP approval is scheduled to be announced by year's end.

 

Contact:  Deborah Willenborg (703) 236-1444

 

For the fifth year, Dow AgroSciences sponsored the Scholarship Program in recognition of National Rice Month.  The scholarship required high school seniors to actively promote the use of U.S.-grown rice within their local communities.  Scholarships were awarded based on creativity and overall educational content.

 

Schafer's promotion educated children from his community about the intricacies of rice farming and the origin of their food.  As part of his promotion, he invited children to his family farm to give them a behind-the-scenes look into the various stages of rice farming. Schafer said, "It's not just something that you get from a grocery store.  There's a lot behind it and they need to understand the importance of where it comes from."

 

"Our partnership with Dow AgroSciences for this scholarship reaps immediate rewards, both for the young people who participate and for the communities who benefit from their positive contributions," says Amy Doane, USA Rice's director of membership and marketing.

 

Contact:  Colleen Klemczewski (703) 236-1446

SIKESTON, MO -- Mark your calendar for the 2014 Delta States Irrigation Conference & Tradeshow held next week, December 17-18 at the Miner Convention Center here.  The Delta States Irrigation Consortium is a group of universities and agencies dedicated to improving irrigation practices and enhancing profitability for irrigators in the MidSouth.  For more information and to register for the conference, go to the website.

WASHINGTON, DC -- U.S. 2014/15 rice supplies at 273.9 million cwt are unchanged from a month ago.  All rice domestic and residual use for 2014/15 is unchanged at 131 million cwt. U.S. long-grain exports are increased 1 million cwt to 69 million, bringing all rice exports to 103 million.  Combined medium- and short-grain exports are unchanged at 34 million cwt.  The increase in exports is due mostly to an expected increase to markets in the Middle East and South America.  The all rice milled export forecast is raised 1 million cwt to 68 million, and rough rice exports are unchanged at 35 million.  All rice ending stocks are lowered 1 million cwt to 39.9 million with long-grain stocks reduced to 27 million, and combined medium- and short-grain stocks unchanged at 10.6 million.

 

The 2014/15 long-grain rice season-average farm price range is projected at $12.00 to $13.00 per cwt, down 20 cents per cwt on each end from last month.  The combined medium- and short-grain farm price range is projected at $18.50 to $19.50 per cwt, down 50 cents per cwt on each end.  The all rice season-average farm price is forecast at $14.00 to $15.00 per cwt, down 20 cents per cwt on each end.  The drop in the price outlook is due mostly to an unexpected substantial drop in October prices reported by the National Agricultural Statistics Service in Agricultural Prices published on November 26 and price expectations for the remainder of the marketing year.

 

Global 2014/15 rice supply and use are changed little from a month ago.  Global rice production is projected at 475.2 million tons, up 200,000 from last month due primarily to increased forecasts for China and South Korea, partially offset by a reduction for Indonesia. China's rice production is forecast at a record 144.5 million tons, up 500,000 tons from last month, and up more than 1 percent from last year.  The revision is based on production estimates recently released by China's National Bureau of Statistics.  Indonesia's 2014/15 rice crop is forecast at 36.5 million tons, down 500,000 from last month, but up slightly from 2013/14.  The Philippine 2014/15 rice crop is forecast at 12.2 million tons, unchanged from last month, but up nearly 3 percent from last year.  Typhoon Hagupit struck the Philippines on December 6 and tracked through some rice growing areas, but missed the larger producing regions.  Initial reports from the government of the Philippines indicated that the storm had little impact on the overall rice crop.  However, USDA will continue to assess the damage and offer a more complete supply and use analysis in next month's supply and demand report. Global rice consumption for 2014/15 is forecast at a record 482.9 million tons, down slightly from last month.  Global trade is raised 400,000 tons based largely on increased imports by Indonesia; with exports raised for Burma, China, Thailand, and the United States.  World 2014/15 ending stocks are raised 600,000 tons, largely due to increases for China and Vietnam, partially offset by reductions for Burma, Indonesia, Thailand, and the United States. Stocks are also raised for Sri Lanka and South Korea.

 

Read the complete report here.