USA Rice's Asiha Grigsby (left) and NBGC President PJ Haynie who farms rice in eastern Arkansas
Dec 23, 2022
MEMPHIS, TN – At the National Black Growers Council (NBGC) annual meeting held here last week, their mission, “to improve the efficiency, productivity and sustainability of Black row crop farmers,” was the principal mandate of the conference. With this in mind, USA Rice staff joined farmers and ag professionals to discuss policy and build camaraderie in the Black farming community.
The meeting showcased a myriad of experts from the public and private sectors who presented valuable information on enhancing profitability, crop protection, safety, and mental health among others.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack, addressed attendees via Zoom. Secretary Vilsack took questions from the audience and reiterated his agency’s commitment to providing equal opportunities for underserved minority farmers, saying, “The Biden-Harris Administration is deeply committed to upholding civil rights, advancing equity, and doing right by agricultural producers, especially those who USDA’s programs have not fully served.”
Josh Hankins, USA Rice director of Grower Relations & Rice Stewardship Partnership, was a featured presenter, and together with Karen Waldrop, chief conservation officer for Ducks Unlimited, shared details of the $80 million grant recently awarded to the three partners for their joint climate-smart proposal.
“USA Rice is excited to partner with the NBGC and Ducks Unlimited on this historic endeavor funded by the USDA,” said Hankins. “We recognize the importance of diversity in agriculture and will work with our grant partners to ensure that historically underserved farmers benefit from these programs. The official rollout of USA Rice Climate-Smart programs are tentatively scheduled for spring of 2023.”
Closing remarks were given by Dr. Hazell Reed, executive director of the NBGC. He recognized Christi Bland, a fourth-generation rice farmer from Mississippi, and PJ Haynie, chair of the NBGC and a rice farmer from eastern Arkansas, for their acceptance into the USA Rice Leadership Development program.