Buddy Allen (second from left) representing the rice industry.

WASHINGTON, DC -- This morning the House Committee on Agriculture's Subcommittee on Conservation and Forestry held a public hearing on the implementation of conservation programs in the 2014 Farm Bill. Mississippi's Buddy Allen, a member of USA Rice Federation's Conservation Committee, served as one of the six witnesses offering testimony.

As a rice farmer and chairman of his local soil and water conservation district in Tunica, Allen was able to offer a unique perspective on the implementation of the farm bill's conservation programs. Allen praised the Committee's recognition of voluntary ag working lands conservation.

"Working land programs not only address resource concerns, they increase productivity yielding sustainability by making cropland more diverse and efficient," he said. "The consolidation and streamlining of the conservation title will make these programs more efficient and easier to use for farmers and ranchers."

Allen also discussed the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP), "Rice producers have put years of work into finding new ways to reduce erosion and water usage, and to address a number of other critical conservation priorities. Because of the unique methods for farming rice compared to other commodity crops, sensitivity of water quantity/quality and soil stability are particularly essential to maintain operations. That being said, the RCPP is a natural fit for our industry to further augment our already impressive conservation platform."  

Allen and the other witnesses thanked the Members of the subcommittee for their support of the 2014 Farm Bill's conservation title and praised the work that NRCS is doing to implement the programs.  

Contact:  Peter Bachmann (703) 236-1475

Aloha and welcome

WAILEA, HAWAII -- The 116^th USA Rice Millers' Association (RMA) Convention got underway yesterday with a traditional welcome and blessing by Kainoa Horcajo, a Hawaiian Cultural Ambassador.

The general session and trade show highlighted markets, trade, and new products and technologies. "With so much happening right now on international trade, this year's convention content is right on target when it comes to relevancy for our business," said RMA Chairman Chris Crutchfield. "The educational program covers a variety of topics including the world economy and its impact on agriculture, telling ag's story in the digital age, and the current realities of the rice trade in China. Of special interest will be the presentation by the U.S. International Trade Commission on their recently concluded study on factors and policies affecting the global competitiveness of the U.S. rice industry."

Speakers yesterday included William Juting Li, the director of imports for Shenzhen Dragon Ocean Hing Cereals & Oil Supply Ltd, who gave an overview of the China market. Li talked about the potential for U.S. rice in China, and how factors like regional and socio-economic differences there come into play in consumer preference for certain rice types. He said Chinese shoppers buy rice in a variety of ways -- in bulk at grocery stores and in smaller packages when purchasing premium varieties -- and because rice is such an integral part of Chinese culture, they'll also buy rice at places like gas stations where product kiosks are located right next to the gas pumps. Li also said there is strong concern in China about food safety and Chinese consumers are looking for "clean" rice they can trust making imported rice more popular.

Pay at the pump for food and fuel

Half a world away, U.S. rice has reemerged on mainstream UK retail shelves for the first time since 2006. Hartwig Schmidt, USA Rice's regional director for Africa, Europe, and the Middle East, reported on this major victory for the rice industry, saying the reappearance of U.S. rice in UK retail stores comes after years of campaigning and promotional efforts by USA Rice to assure suppliers that U.S.-grown rice is a high quality, competitive crop free of GMO traits.

Finally, conference attendees got a glimpse into the future of food from Mike Lee, founder and CEO of Studio Industries. Lee's Brooklyn-based food design and innovation company's goal is to help and empower the food world to design better products and experiences. His team wants to "raise the bar for innovation today by thinking more ambitiously about the food products of tomorrow" and he encouraged the rice industry to "take a cue from the tech and automotive industries where big thinking energizes innovation" to find "solutions that are better for people, the planet, and profit."

Founded in 1899, RMA is one of the oldest agribusiness trade organizations in America. RMA membership, which includes farmer-owned cooperatives and privately-owned mills, represents virtually all of U.S. rice milling capacity, with mill members in Arkansas, California, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, and Texas. RMA associate members include exporters, shippers and other businesses allied with the rice trade.

Contact:  Deborah Willenborg (703) 236-1444