USA Rice Daily Up-to-the-Minute News on Issues and Activities USA Rice will be closed Wednesday, November 11, in observance of Veterans Day. USA Rice Daily will resume publication on Thursday, November 12, 2015.  Tuesday November 10, 2015 U.S.-Grown Rice Earns New "Likes"     What's not to like?  ARLINGTON, VA -- Eight major grocery chains with more than 1,200 store locations in 23 states have used USA Rice messages and recipes to promote U.S.-grown rice to their customers this fall. Overall, promotion activities by these stores earned USA Rice an additional 3.9 million impressions among consumers during September and October.   "We were beyond thrilled to get such a positive response to our program this fall," said Katie Maher, director, domestic promotion programs. "These numbers are especially impressive because USA Rice did not pay for any of the partnership activities. Each month we see growth in this program and expand to new stores and audiences."   USA Rice recipe cards were distributed through Big Y, Giant Eagle, Meijer's, and Skogen's Festival Foods to more than 1 million shoppers during September as a National Rice Month (NRM) promotion. As an extra effort, Meijer, Giant Eagle, Jewel Osco, Raley's, and Big Y stores used Twitter and Facebook to link consumers to recipes and reached a combined 1.8 million viewers through social media.   Redner's featured rice in the September/October issue of their HealthCents newsletter. A full-page article titled "Reach for Rice" told readers how to select the best type of rice for their dish and passed along nutrition facts on each type along with a USA Rice recipe. The newsletter reaches more than 30,000 shoppers in-store and online.   Dietitian blogs were also a popular tool with supermarkets. Jewel Osco posted information and graphics from USA Rice's Healthy Rice Bowls materials to more than 150,000 readers. "Tasty and Healthy Options with Whole Grains" was the title of the blog post from Lowes Foods' dietitian in October. The post featured USA Rice's consumer infographic 10 Reasons to Eat Rice Grown in the USA. Raley's Season Blog blog promoted the infographic and shared two recipes perfect for California shoppers looking for locally grown products. Contact: Deborah Willenborg (703) 236-1444 WASDE Report Released      WASHINGTON, D.C.--U.S. all rice production in 2015/16 is forecast at 190.8 million cwt, up 3.0 million from last month, with the increase entirely due to a higher yield. The average all rice yield is forecast at 7,423 pounds per acre, up 116 pounds from last month. Yields are raised for all states except for Texas and Arkansas. Yields are lowered for Texas and unchanged for Arkansas. The California all rice yield is raised 600 pounds per acre to 8,600 pounds. Long-grain and combined mediumand short-grain rice production are both raised from last month, with long-grain production projected at 132.4 million cwt and combined medium- and short-grain production at 58.4 million. The all rice import forecast is unchanged at 25.5 million cwt. All rice domestic and residual use is raised 2.0 million cwt to 127.0 million cwt, 1.0 million each in long-grain and medium- and shortgrain rice. All rice exports are raised 1.0 million cwt to 98.0 million cwt with the increase in longgrain. Long-grain exports are projected at 65.0 million, and medium- and short-grain exports at 33.0 million. All rice ending stocks are projected at 39.8 million cwt, unchanged from last month with long-grain stocks at 21.8 million, and medium- and short-grain at 16.1 million. The 2015/16 long-grain season-average farm price range is projected at $11.50 to $12.50 per cwt, down $1.30 per cwt on both ends from last month. The medium- and short-grain farm price range is projected at $17.60 to $18.60 per cwt, up 30 cents per cwt on each end of the range. The California medium- and short-grain rice price at a midpoint of $21.50 per cwt is up $0.50 per cwt from last month. The Other States medium- and short-grain rice price at a midpoint of $13.00 WASDE-547-3 per cwt is lowered $1.00 per cwt. The all rice season-average farm price is forecast at $13.30 to $14.30 per cwt, down $0.90 per cwt on each end of the range. Lower-than-expected prices published by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) for August and September, along with price expectations the remainder of the marketing year, support the downward adjustment in rice prices from a month ago. Global 2015/16 ending stocks are raised 2.7 million tons or 3 percent due mostly to an increase in beginning stocks and a decrease in consumption. Beginning stocks for 2015/16 are raised 1.9 million tons due mostly to downward adjustments in 2014/15 consumption for China and India, that consequently raised 2014/15 ending stocks. Consumption changes in recent years for China and India are based on reports received from the Agricultural Counselor's offices in each country. In China, consumption is lowered for both 2014/15 and 2015/16 due to higher prices, inconsistent quality of state rice reserves, and changing consumption patterns. In India, consumption is lowered and ending stocks are raised to better reflect government of India reports on the stocks situation. Global production for 2015/16 is lowered 0.5 million tons to 473.5 million, primarily due to smaller crops forecast for Bangladesh, Cambodia, and the Philippines, partially offset by increases for Sri Lanka, South Korea, and the United States. World consumption is projected at 486.2 million tons, down 1.3 million from last month, but still a record. Consumption is lowered for Cambodia, China, India, and Vietnam. Trade for 2015/16 is lowered slightly due mostly to smaller exports by Cambodia, and smaller imports by Sri Lanka and Vietnam. Global ending stocks are forecast at 91.0 million tons, up 2.7 million from last month, but a decrease of 12.7 million tons from the preceding year, and the lowest stocks since 2007/08. The 2015/16 stocks-to-use ratio at 18.7 percent is the lowest since 2006/07. Read the full report here. CME Group/Closing Rough Rice Futures    CME Group (Prelim):  Closing Rough Rice Futures for November 10 Month Price Net Change November 2015 $11.635 - $0.160 January 2016 $11.880 - $0.175 March 2016 $12.150 - $0.170 May 2016 $12.445 - $0.130 July 2016 $12.725 - $0.085  September 2016 $12.530 + $0.210 November 2016 $12.530  + $0.210 In the News Around the Country Future of Hybrid Rice in the U.S. and World Webinar November 12 AG Professional A webinar that will provide an overview of the current and future role of hybrid rice technology in global food production will be presented by the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture's Food and Agribusiness.   Producers Hold Annual Meeting Stuttgart Daily Leader Gov. Asa Hutchinson spoke about the importance of rice in Arkansas and in the world market and spoke about his trip to Cuba at the Producers Rice Mill, Inc. 72nd annual membership meeting on Thursday at the Grand Prairie Center in Stuttgart.   State Water Plan Heading to Legislature Arkansas Online A plan to avoid water shortages in Arkansas will head to state lawmakers for final approval. Because farming accounts for about 80 percent of Arkansas' water use, the plan calls for farmers to find ways to conserve. Its recommendations have faced opposition from several farming groups.   Tariffs and Trade Easing Trade Restrictions World Grain With establishment of a more normal trading relationship, the U.S. rice industry might be able to regain a large share of Cuba's import market, but only if U.S. suppliers are able to provide competitive terms of credit.   Global Economic Slowdown Likely if Trade Stalls, OECD Warns The Star A slowdown in international trade could be a harbinger of a new recession for the world's leading economies, a leading global policy organization warned Monday.   Vilsack Leading Lawmakers on Cuba Visit Agri-Pulse Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack is leading a group of Democratic lawmakers to Cuba this week.  Upcoming Events  Events Calendar   Recent Issues November 9 November 6 November 5 November 4 November 3 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 the USA Rice. Copyright © 2015. Please direct comments or questions to the editor or contact name listed for each story.