ARLINGTON, VA -- Earlier this week, in a move that was only mildly surprising, the Iraqi

Not U.S. so not the best

Grain Board canceled their current tender request without explanation or fanfare.

"The only thing we can predict with any accuracy in this market is the total unpredictability of this market," said Betsy Ward, president & CEO of USA Rice.

Ward said that although the U.S. bids are very competitive, and despite regular contact between the government of Iraq, the U.S. government, and USA Rice, she thinks it could be a long time before U.S. rice is sold with any consistency in this country unless something changes dramatically.

"Frankly, we're disheartened by the lack of progress we're able to make with the Iraqi Grain Board," she added. "We know our quality and logistics are better, and our prices are lower than South American origins, so one can only speculate as to why they aren't buying U.S. rice."

Ward will raise these concerns in what promises to be a frank meeting in Washington tomorrow with the U.S. Ambassador to Iraq, Stuart Jones.

"We're going to share with the Ambassador what we're experiencing here, and we look forward to hearing his take on events and market realities in-country and maybe get a clearer picture of what we can expect in the near term," Ward added.

Contact:  Michael Klein (703) 236-1458

WASHINGTON, DC -- Earlier this week, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced an

Bird sanctuary

investment of $235 million in funding to be applied towards the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP). The RCPP, created by the 2014 Farm Bill, is a conservation initiative administered by the USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) that enables local leaders across the country to implement programs that will preserve natural resources in their region.

The first round of projects funded through the RCPP was announced earlier this year. USDA awarded $394 million to the first round of RCPP participants in all 50 states that helped fund 115 projects.

The rice industry will benefit significantly from the first round of RCPP funding. RCPP grants were awarded to California and Louisiana in addition to a $10 million national grant to USA Rice and Ducks Unlimited.

"These funds are specifically set aside for rice producers and will be used to help them install NRCS approved conservation practices. The initial Rice RCPP was the first of its kind and that got attention at NRCS," said USA Rice's Vice President of Government Affairs Ben Mosely.  

Mosely added, "We're in the process of implementing the first award and hope to have growers signing up late summer or early fall, and we're already working on a new proposal for this second phase of the RCPP. We plan to build on that platform of the rice industry's commitment to on-farm management practices that address water quantity, water quality and wildlife habitat."

USDA plans to invest $1.2 billion in conservation projects through 2018. The deadline to submit an RCPP proposal is July 8, 2015.

Contact:  Colleen Klemczewski (703) 236-1446

Around the Country

5 Steps to Meet Conservation Compliance NRCS USDA

Reminder: Farmers seeking federal crop insurance premium subsidies for the 2016 reinsurance year must comply by June 1 by filing form AD-1026. The 2014 Farm Bill relinked crop insurance premium subsidies with conservation compliance.

Arkansas Crop Planting Makes Quick Progress Delta Farm Press

Many growers were now faced with the irony of having waited out long weeks of heavy rains only to struggle with a narrow window of time before farmland - particularly that earmarked for rice - becomes too dry to plant or create levees.

Weighing In on the Farm Bill Safety Net: Part III Delta Farm Press

As farmers know all too well, the new farm bill is being implemented in a time of falling crop prices, and all members of the agricultural industry, including ag lenders, are feeling the effect of a downturn or flattening of land values.

Tariffs and Trade

Government Subsidies Distort Rice Exports Overseas Delta Farm Press

Exports continue to be important for the U.S. rice industry and for producers. That's why the USA Rice Federation has asked the U.S. International Trade Commission to begin an investigation of subsidy programs operated in rice-exporting countries, including the United States.

Mr. Xi and Others, Tear Down These Walls The Hill

Brazil, Thailand and India, plus China and Turkey, have all exceeded their permissible World Trade Organization (WTO) support limits, while four of the five are also illegally subsidizing their exports of wheat, sugar, corn, rice and wheat flour. China's and India's rice policies alone are distorting global markets and whipsawing U.S. rice producers.