Rice Outlook: 5-28-08
According to Gene Johnson, LSU AgCenter economist, the market has leveled out a bit and some sense of sanity has been restored. Current quotes reflect around $950 to $975 per metric ton (mt) bagged FOB for No. 2 to 4 percent long grain milled rice or $925 to $950 basis bulk. Price discovery on rough rice is a bit more difficult as cash vendors and buyers are miles apart. Bids on barges reflect around $475 to $485 per mt FOB NOLA with limited offers at around $40 to $50 per mt higher and no trading during the third week in May.

In its May supply/demand report, USDA made the first projections for the 2008/09 rice crop. Acreage and rice production are estimated essentially the same as last year – 2.77 million acres and production at 197 million hundredweight (cwt). Average farm prices are projected substantially higher at $18.50 to $19.50 per cwt ($29.97 to $31.59 per barrel).

AR updates Rice DD50 Program
According to Arkansas Extension rice specialist Chuck Wilson, the DD50 program has been updated for 2008 and is now available at http://dd50.uaex.edu. If you choose not to use the Internet, enrollment cards can be submitted to your county Extension agent, and they will send you a report as has been done since the program originated.

To enroll, the field size, variety and emergence date are needed. Farmers are encouraged to enroll all fields, or at least all acres, even if several fields have the same variety and emergence date. The information generated from this program is useful to farmers and also provides an estimate of harvest dates and variety distribution by county that the mills can use to “gear up” as the harvest season begins.

Engine lubricant offers ‘green’ treatment for farm equipment
Green Lubrication Solutions (GLS) is the exclusive western U.S. distributor of a unique line of lubrication and engine enhancement products (MotorSilk and LubriSilk) that provide significant cost savings and an easy-to-implement option for those looking to “go green” and use less oil.

The biodegradable, non-toxic products offered by Green Lubrication Solutions treat farm vehicles, equipment and related machinery with a patented lubrication technology invented at the U.S. Department of Energy labs (originally formulated as an extreme conditions lubricant suitable for the rigors of the NASA space program), which significantly increases energy efficiency in engines, reduces emissions, saves gas and lubrication oil use and can even be used to obtain carbon credits.

Visit www.greenpowersolutions.com.

USA Rice Foodservice Program wins IACP award
USA Rice Federation’s foodservice program was named the winner of The International Association of Culinary Professionals (IACP) “Award of Excellence” for best corporate marketing campaign. USA Rice launched its comprehensive foodservice program featuring the new Web site, www.MenuRice.com, to modernize the image of rice and increase awareness and usage of U.S. rice in foodservice.

USA Rice joins a prestigious list of previous winners of the award that includes Cuisinart, Kitchen Aid, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, Wegmans Food Markets and other food industry leaders.