USA Rice Daily
Up-to-the-Minute News on Issues and Activities
Monday, August 31, 2015
USA Rice Participates in FECARROZ Meeting
FECARROZ 
From left: Ernesto Baron (USA Rice), Jacobo Paz Bodden (Minister of Agriculture - Honduras), Sady Andonie and Jose Velez (INDECASA-- largest rice mill in Honduras) 
ROATAN, HONDURAS--
The Central American Rice Federation (FECARROZ) invited USA Rice here earlier this month to present at their board of directors meeting.  USA Rice provided an update on the current U.S. crop and also discussed USA Rice's proposal to develop a FECARROZ standard in order to minimize variability in the quality of rice that is exported.  Several variety developments from both the public and private sectors were discussed during the presentation; these varieties specifically address the requests and needs of the Central American consumer.  The progress in varietal development was well received as several attendees still had concerns about chalk and amylose content in U.S. rice.
 
"These types of meetings go a long way in strengthening rice industry relations between our countries," says Ernesto Baron, USA Rice's representative for the region.  "We continue to look for opportunities for USA Rice and its members to engage with our international consumers." 
 
Michel Hawit
Michel Hawit
During the meeting, a new FECARROZ Director was elected for a two-year term.  Michel Hawit, president of Baprosa (rice mill) in Honduras, replaced outgoing Director Mario Solórzano, a rice miller from Guatemala. 
 
"I would like to thank Mario Solórzano for an excellent job leading this organization and congratulate Michel Hawit on his election as the new president of FECARROZ.  We are looking forward to our two organizations continuing to work together," said Betsy Ward, president and CEO of USA Rice.
 
USA Rice also spoke about our region's promotional activities aimed at increasing U.S. rice consumption.  Currently, USA Rice conducts promotional activities in Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador.  Activities are primarily aimed at the retail level and encouraging rice usage amongst consumers.  FECARROZ expressed interest in working together on several marketing campaigns, to increase the usage of rice in the region.
 
Central America, as a region, is our third largest export market this year at over 260,000 MT through June.

Contact: Sarah Moran (703) 236-1457

Crop Progress:   2015 Crop 97 Percent Headed   

WASHINGTON, DC -- Ninety-seven percent of the nation's 2015 rice acreage is headed, according to today's U.S. Department of Agriculture's Crop Progress Report.

Rice Headed, Selected States 
Week Ending
State
 August 30, 2014  
August 23, 2015 
August 30, 2015
2010-2014 average
Percent
Arkansas
97
97   
99
97  
California
94
85   
90 
81
Louisiana
100 
99
100
100
Mississippi
98
97
98
97
Missouri
92
84
90  
92  
Texas
100
100
100 
99
Six States
97  
94
97
95
CME Group/Closing Rough Rice Futures   
CME Group (Preliminary):  Closing Rough Rice Futures for August 31

Month
Price
Net Change
September 2015
$11.880
+ $0.290
November 2015
$12.160
+ $0.275
January 2016
$12.450
+ $0.270
March 2016
$12.700
+ $0.260
May 2016
$12.940
+ $0.255
July 2016
$13.130
+ $0.405
September 2016
$12.155
+ $0.420

In the News
Around the Country
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Farmers should expect to see an unusually dense wave of insect and pest populations in crops across the state.
 
Around the World
While the word "drought" is on the lips of Americans as a result of historic dry conditions in California, America's most populous state is far from being alone. Drought-like conditions are plaguing other parts of the world as well. Thailand is enduring one of its worst drought in years and is beginning to impact its rice production, a vital staple and economic driver of the country.
 
Tariffs and Trade
A sweet deal for American sugar farmers is compounding delays in a proposed trade agreement affecting 40 percent of the world's economy.

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