Conference participants will also hear from Senator Jerry Moran (R-KS), the new chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee for Agriculture, Rural Development, and Food and Drug Administration; House Agriculture Committee Chairman Mike Conaway (R-TX) and Ranking Member Collin Peterson (D-MN).

 

Mike Taylor, Deputy Commissioner for Foods at the Food and Drug Administration, and Phil Karsting, Administrator at the Foreign Agriculture Service will also speak during the event.

 

The annual conference is an opportunity for USA Rice members to meet with Members of Congress and government agencies to share rice industry priorities.

 

"The 114thCongress was sworn in earlier this year with 64 brand new Members and significant changes on committees," USA Rice Vice President of Government Affairs Ben Mosely explained.  "We will use this Government Affairs Conference to make a major advocacy push and educate these decision makers on the areas that are important to U.S. rice."

 

The latest Rice Leadership Development Class will be honored during the event, and conservation partners USA Rice and Ducks Unlimited will co-sponsor a Congressional lunch on Tuesday, February 24.

 

Contact:  Julie Vieburg (703) 236-1467

WASHINGTON, DC -- Net rice sales of 98,200 MT for 2014/2015 were down 22 from the previous week, but up 24 percent from the prior four-week average, according to today's Export Sales Highlights report.  Increases were reported for Japan (37,700 MT), Colombia (31,500 MT), Mexico (21,500 MT), Honduras (5,800 MT), and Taiwan (5,300 MT).  Decreases were reported for Saudi Arabia (6,300 MT). 

Exports of 16,800 MT were down 37 percent from the previous week and 78 percent from the prior four-week average.  The primary destinations were Mexico (9,600 MT), Canada (2,600 MT), Saudi Arabia (1,500 MT), South Korea (1,300 MT), and Yemen (900 MT).

This summary is based on reports from exporters from the period February 6-12.