USA Rice Hosts Workshop on Fortified Rice
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From left: John Miller and Dr. Yi Wu (Wright Company), Jamie Warshaw (FRMCo),
and Jim Guinn (USA Rice)
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WASHINGTON, DC -- Yesterday, USA Rice hosted a fortified rice workshop here for more than 30 private voluntary organizations (PVOs), government agencies, USA Rice members, and other interested parties. Both the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) provided information on micronutrient fortification and the promising future for fortified rice in U.S. government feeding programs. Fortified rice provides eight essential micronutrients that can help growing, hungry children become healthier.
Because fortified rice can fill a much needed gap in the U.S. government's effort to tackle "hidden hunger" and addresses nutrient deficiencies in the diets of children, USAID has said that every future request will be for fortified rice.
Farmer's Rice Milling Company (FRMCo) won the first tender for over 4,000 MT of fortified rice and participated in yesterday's meeting. Jamie Warshaw, CEO of FRMCo and chairman of the USA Rice Food Aid Subcommittee, said, "Rice is the most consumed commodity in the world and the potential to address the effects of hidden hunger is tremendous."
"There was strong support from USDA, USAID, and also the participating PVOs on the future of fortified rice in helping feed the world's hungry," said Riceland's Kevin McGilton, who participated in the event. "We are excited to see this new development increase the programming of rice in food aid."
Food aid exports account for 3-5 percent of U.S. rice exports - a small but important sector that is expected to grow in the coming years.
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International Rice Leadership Class Headed to Thailand
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STUTTGART, AR -- The Rice Leadership Development Program recently selected the 2015 International Rice Leadership class, and they will be heading to Thailand next week as part of their continuing education.
Class members are: Chad Duckworth from Jonesboro, AR; Rance Daniels from Hornersville, MO; Park Eldridge from Gillett, AR; Timothy Gertson from Lissie, TX; and Robb Dedman from Rison, AR.
"In selecting the class, we put a lot of emphasis on how the Leadership Development alumni have put their leadership training to use in serving the rice industry since graduating," said Rice Foundation Chairman Todd Burich. "The number and quality of applicants this year was great and shows the graduates' engagement and commitment to the industry. This is a solid class who will no doubt learn a lot from seeing one of our toughest competitors up close and personal."
The class is scheduled to visit the U.S. Embassy to meet with Bobby Richey, Agricultural Counselor for Thailand to get an overview of the Thai rice market before visiting the Prachinburi Rice Research Center to view the In-Situ Conservation site for wild rice and deep water rice ecosystem. The class also will visit rice farms, a parboiled rice mill, a rice noodle factory, supermarkets, and a seed production company among other stops.
The Rice Leadership Development Program is sponsored by John Deere Company, RiceTec, Inc., and American Commodity Company through The Rice Foundation and is managed by USA Rice.
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One Month Left for EQIP Sign-up in Louisiana and Missouri
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WASHINGTON, DC -- Rice farmers in Louisiana and Missouri have less than one month to submit applications for the USDA's Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) administered by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). This EQIP sign-up period, specifically designated for farmers who regularly grow rice, is part of the USA Rice and Ducks Unlimited Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) project. Applications should be submitted to local NRCS field offices no later than November 20, 2015.
Special EQIP funding is available in the following Missouri counties: Bollinger, Butler, Dunklin, Mississippi, New Madrid, Pemiscot, Ripley, Scott, and Stoddard.
In Louisiana, funding is available in the following parishes: Acadia, Allen, Avoyelles, Beauregard, Calcasieu, Cameron, Catahoula, Concordia, East Carroll, Evangeline, Jefferson Davis, Lafayette, Madison, Morehouse, Rapides, Richland, St. Landry, St. Martin, Vermilion, and West Carroll.
"The main goal is to provide winter wetland habitat, while also considering groundwater demand from aquifers in rice production areas to ensure sustainability of that water source for future rice production," said DU Director of Conservation Innovation Scott Manley.
USA Rice President & CEO Betsy Ward added, "EQIP sign-ups in Arkansas and Mississippi ended last week and we were pleased to hear the number of applications was through the roof. We will be announcing the applications that will receive funding in the next few months."
The EQIP sign-up period in California and Texas will be announced later this year.
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Weekly Rice Sales, Exports Reported
| WASHINGTON, DC -- Net rice sales of 66,900 MT for 2015/2016 were up 20 percent from the previous week and 29 percent from the prior four-week average, according to today's Export Sales Highlights report. Increases were reported for Japan (25,200 MT), Mexico (24,600 MT), unknown destinations (8,500 MT), the Dominican Republic (4,400 MT), and Canada (2,000 MT).
Exports of 60,700 MT, down 16 percent from the previous week and 18 percent from the prior four-week average, were reported to Japan (24,000 MT), Mexico (23,600 MT), South Korea (6,700 MT), Canada (3,000 MT), and Jordan (1,000 MT).
This summary is based on reports from exporters from the period October 9-15, 2015.
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| CME Group/Closing Rough Rice Futures | CME Group (Prelim): Closing Rough Rice Futures for October 22
| November 2015 | $12.135 |
- $0.125
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January 2016
| $12.420 |
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March 2016
| $12.700 |
- $0.120
| | May 2016 | $12.950 |
- $0.115
| | July 2016 | $13.135 |
- $0.110
| | September 2016 | $12.430 |
- $0.105
| November 2016
| $12.430
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- $0.105
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In the News
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Around the Country
Officials are close to completing a $2.5 million project that will block an entrance wayward salmon use to get into the Colusa Basin Drain, a system of ditches and channels that carry runoff from more than 1 million acres, much of it rice fields in Glenn, Colusa and Yolo counties.
Tariffs and Trade
Among governing parties at least, support for the expansive American model of free trade-rather than China's narrower variant-remains intact. It is thus ironic that the one country where passage looks precarious is the U.S.
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| Mission Statement | | USA Rice is the global advocate for all segments of the U.S. rice industry with a mission to promote and protect the interests of producers, millers, merchants and allied businesses. |
| About Us | Editor: Michael Klein
(703) 236-1458
mklein@usarice.com
Fax (703) 236-2301
2101 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 610
Arlington, VA 22201
This report is time-sensitive, based on information available at press time. Content is derived from facts and sources believed to be reliable. Reprinting and/or distribution may be done with permission of USA Rice.
Copyright © 2015. Please direct comments or questions to the editor or contact name listed for each story. |
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