The rice industry prides itself on its commitment to the conservation of natural resources and the institution of practices that provide habitat to wetland dependent wildlife and waterfowl. Working lands programs are good for the environment and for rice farmers. The voluntary-incentive based conservation model used by the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) has worked well. 

Rice farmers have been able to significantly improve their environmental footprint through practices implemented through the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP). This program has provided rice farmers funds to better manage water resources through irrigation efficiency, water quality, and erosion control. For more information on our work through this program click here.

Recent News

  • WASDE Report Released

    Jun 11, 2019

    The outlook for 2019/20 U.S. rice this month is for lower supplies, reduced domestic use and exports, and lower ending stocks. Projected U.S. all rice production is lowered 20.1 million cwt or 9 percent to 198.1 million with all of the decrease in long grain, primarily on a reduction in planted area. Full story
  • Two men dressed in casual shirts and pants stand next to desk in wood paneled office, checking details on a pad of paper Arkansas Rice Farmers Mike & Ryan Sullivan: An Open Book on Conservation Management

    Jun 04, 2019

    On Florenden Farms, innovation is a father-son business. Mike Sullivan lives and works alongside his son Ryan, a fifth generation farmer on their 13,000 acre rice farm, employ water management techniques areas to foster greater irrigated water use efficiency and conserve water. Full story
  • Water gushes from pump onto green rice field, blue sky & puffy white clouds Sign-Ups for Conservation Stewardship Program Projects Now Open

    May 31, 2019

    Three Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) sign-ups are now open to rice producers in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, and Texas. The deadline to apply for all three projects is June 28, 2019. Full story