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

  • Cartoon of Bill sitting on Capitol Hill from Schoolhouse Rock 2018 Farm Bill Released

    Apr 13, 2018

    House Agriculture Committee Chairman Mike Conaway (R-TX) introduced his draft of the 2018 Farm Bill, formally known as H.R. 2, The Agriculture & Nutrition Act of 2018, yesterday after months of negotiations. The bill’s nutrition and food stamp provisions are controversial, and have actually divided the Committee along partisan lines, but the other titles reflect the good work that Chairman Conaway and Ranking Member Collin Peterson (D-MN) have done to craft a strong bill that supports farmers who are facing trade uncertainty and who have weathered consecutive years of down prices. Full story
  • USDA Logo WASDE Report Released

    Apr 10, 2018

    U.S. 2017/18 rice ending stocks are raised 4.1 million cwt to 33.3 million, mostly on decreased exports. These ending stock levels still remain below the 5-year average. The 4-million-cwt decrease in exports is divided evenly between long-grain and medium- and short-grain. Rough and milled rice exports are also lowered by 3 and 1 million cwt, respectively. Full story
  • USDA Logo USDA Implements up to $2.36 Billion to Help Agricultural Producers Recover after 2017 Hurricanes and Wildfires

    Apr 06, 2018

    The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will make disaster payments of up to $2.36 billion, as provided by Congress, to help America’s farmers and ranchers recover from hurricanes and wildfires. The funds are available as part of the new 2017 Wildfires and Hurricanes Indemnity Program (2017 WHIP). Sign-up for the new program, authorized by the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018, will begin no later than July 16. Full story