MOLLY BUCKLER / KATY, TEXAS
With an estimated 15–20 percent reduction in long-grain acres this season, rice producers are facing a challenging and uncertain landscape. From shifting markets to rising input costs, the pressure to adapt and find new opportunities has never been greater. In an environment like this, producers can’t afford to leave any stone unturned. As we head into the new year, here’s how the US Rice Producers Association is working on behalf of U.S. rice producers:
Facilitating the conversation.
USRPA serves as a conduit for solutions, facilitating collaboration across the rice industry to address challenges and advance long-term opportunities for producers. This week in Texas, during our winter Texas Rice Council meeting, we brought together Texas rice producers, millers, seed developers, and legislative staff to discuss the state of the Texas rice industry, particularly opportunities to expand Texas’s presence in the U.S. aromatic market through a larger jasmine rice crop. While meaningful change doesn’t happen overnight, we can help ensure the right people are at the table to move the industry forward.
Advocating in Washington, D.C.
USRPA board members and staff will head to Washington, D.C., in early February for our annual producer fly-in. While USRPA maintains a daily presence in D.C., no one can tell a rice producer’s story better than a rice producer. There are plenty of thank-yous to share regarding the Farmer Bridge Assistance Program, but there are also important long-term conversations ahead. Our producers will be advocating for lasting solutions, expanded market access, and a fair playing field with global competitors.
Focusing on domestic promotion.
Anyone who works in the rice industry has likely heard the response, “We grow rice here?” when asked about their line of work. It’s time to change that perception. The US Rice Producers Association is committed to strengthening domestic promotion and awareness of U.S.-grown rice. We continue to look for practical ways to improve and innovate domestic consumption of U.S.-grown rice, ensuring stronger demand for producers.
The challenges facing U.S. rice producers are real, but so are the opportunities that come from working together. USRPA remains committed to advancing a stronger, more resilient future for our industry. That work continues when producers, partners, and stakeholders come together, and we hope you’ll join us February 5–6 in Jonesboro for the 29th Annual Cotton & Rice Conference, where conversations turn into connections and ideas into action. ∆
MOLLY BUCKLER / US RICE PRODUCERS
Texas Rice Council board members, mill and industry representatives, and legislative staffers.