Debbie Warshaw

USA Rice extends deepest condolences to the family and friends of Deborah Marie Warshaw, 55, of Lake Charles, Louisiana, who passed away on December 12.  Throughout her three-year battle with cancer, Debbie inspired many with her faith, strength, and courage.  Survivors include her husband, James (Jamie) Warshaw, CEO of Farmers Rice Milling Company and a past chairman of the USA Rice Millers' Association and the USA Rice Federation, three children and one grandchild. 

"Our heartfelt sympathy is with the Warshaw family," said USA Rice Federation President and CEO Betsy Ward.  "Debbie was a joy to know and she will be greatly missed by the USA Rice family.  Her grace and courageous spirit touched us all." 

Visitation will be at from 4-8 p.m. on Monday, December 15, Johnson Funeral Home, 4321 Lake Street, Lake Charles, LA, with a Scripture service and rosary at 7 p.m.   Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, December 16, at Our Lady Queen of Heaven Catholic Church, 3939 Lake Street, Lake Charles, LA.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Our Lady Queen of Heaven Catholic Church, 617 W. Claude Street, Lake Charles, LA 70605, or to Debbie's favorite school, Our Lady Queen of Heaven Catholic School, 3908 Creole Street, Lake Charles, LA 70605.  An online guestbook  is available for messages to the family. 

WASHINGTON, DC -- The $1.1 trillion fiscal 2015 spending bill that funds most of the federal government for the remainder of FY 2015 passed the Senate over the weekend.  The bill includes a series of policy riders important to agriculture.

Under the legislation, both the Market Access Program (MAP) and the Foreign Market Development program (FMD) will receive full authorized funding of $200 million and $34.5 million respectively for FY 2015.

Another directive included in H.R. 83, the so-called 'Crominbus' bill, kills an interpretive rule detailing agricultural exemptions to Clean Water Act permitting requirements.  The interpretive rule was issued in conjunction with a proposed rule defining what areas are regulated as "waters of the United States," or WOTUS, and has created confusion in the oversight agencies as to what practices they can regulate with and without permits. 

"This legislation is positive on a couple fronts for the U.S. rice industry," said Ben Mosely, the USA Rice Federation vice president of government affairs.  "Uninterrupted funding for international market promotion keeps our promotion programs overseas running smoothly and consistently.  And the WOTUS rule, which some of our producers refer to as 'significantly nebulous,' had the potential to create more problems than it promised to solve."

H.R. 83 now goes to President Obama to be signed into law. 

Contact:  Steve Hensley (703) 236-1445

Around Washington

Senate Clears Spending Measure, Tax Extenders on Tap Agri-Pulse

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Around the Country

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The proposed Compliance Offset Protocol Rice Cultivation Projects would allow rice farmers in the Sacramento Valley to generate greenhouse gas offsets that can then be sold in the state's carbon trading market. Rice would represent the first crop-based agricultural offset protocol, paving the way for additional agriculture-based protocols to be developed.

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Trade and Tariffs

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Health and Nutrition

Tip of the Day: Chill Out with Whole Grains USDA MyPlate

Try freezing leftover cooked brown rice, bulgur, or barley to heat later as a quick side dish.