Bush Commends Rice Millers for Hurricane Relief Donations

ASHEVILLE, NC, June 23, 2006 — President George W. Bush, in a June 5 letter to the Rice Millers’ Association (RMA), praised the rice industry’s contribution to disaster relief in the wake of last year’s devastating hurricanes. RMA Chairman Mike LaGrande read the letter Monday during the opening session of the 107th RMA annual convention here.

“Our nation continues to be inspired by the many acts of compassion and generosity we have witnessed since the devastating hurricanes of 2005, and I appreciate your participation in the extraordinary outpouring of support,” the president said. “By coordinating with America’s rice farmers to donate more than 500,000 pounds of rice, you helped deliver comfort, care, and hope to those in need and made a difference in the lives of countless people.”

“We depend on our farmers, millers, and traders to provide a healthy, safe and abundant food supply for our citizens,” Bush said. “This convention is an opportunity to take pride in your organization and your many contributions to our agriculture industry, our economy, and our way of life.”

Rice tends to be the most important of all crops produced in the concentrated regions where most rice production occurs, and it “supports an extensive network of specialized input suppliers, credit and banking services, and a large, capital intensive milling industry that employees thousands,” notes Informa Economics’ May 2005 report on the U.S. rice industry

The six rice-growing states include: California, Louisiana, Mississippi, Arkansas, Texas and Missouri.

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A high-resolution photo and caption is available at: http://www.usariceimagelibrary.com/details.php?gid=&sgid=&pid=89

Contact: David Coia, (703) 236-1444, dcoia@usarice.com

USA Rice Federation is the national advocate for all segments of the rice industry, conducting activities to influence government programs, developing and initiating programs to increase worldwide demand for U.S. rice, and providing other services to increase profitability for all industry segments.