Around Washington

WASDE Report to Incorporate Changes to Rice Table USDA

USDA is forecasting two new additional rice prices that are part of the program parameters introduced in the 2014 Farm Bill for the Agricultural Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs.  The two new prices will be located directly under the "Average Farm Price" line and will include: "California," and "Other States."

Educational Seminars Highlight 2015 Mid-South Farm & Gin Show Delta Farm Press

A special rice seminar, What the U.S. Rice Farmer Needs to Know to Prosper, is set for Saturday at 1:30 p.m. in the mezzanine level meeting room. Milo Hamilton, Co-founder and senior ag economist of First Grain, Inc., is the featured speaker.

Around the World

Thai Junta to Cut Rice Crop to Combat Glut as Stockpiles Sold Bloomberg

Over the next two years, about 700,000 rai (112,000 hectares) are targeted to be switched from rice to sugar cane, and a further 1.1 million rai will be switched to mixed farming. The government also plans to eliminate rice planting during the dry season.

Science and Technology

NASA Launches Earth-Observing Satellite on Third Try Los Angeles Times

Once fully deployed, the 2,000-pound craft will aim two microwave-emitting instruments at the Earth's surface and collect data that will enable NASA to determine the moisture content of the top two inches of soil planetwide and to calculate water depth to about three feet

Health and Nutrition

Many GMO-Free Labels, Little Clarity Over Rules New York Times

While interest groups and advocates wage war in state legislatures, on ballots and in Congress over what should be disclosed on product labels, products certified as containing no genetically modified organisms are proliferating on grocery shelves without any nationwide mandatory regulations