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

  • Two men standing near a white pick-up truck with the NRCS logo on the door, one holds a piece of paper and the other is pointing to it CSP Sign-Up Deadlines This Friday

    Feb 27, 2018

    The deadline to apply for two Conservation Stewardship Programs (CSP) is this Friday, March 2. Producers should note that they will have to choose which program to apply for, and that they can only apply for one. Full story
  • Overhead shot of tractor pulling grain cart in harvested field USDA Projects Increase in U.S. Rice Production

    Feb 23, 2018

    The U.S. Department of Agriculture released its first projections for major crops for the 2018/19 crop years today, and according to the report, total rice production is forecast at 217.8 million hundred-weight (cwt), up sharply from 178.2 million cwt a year earlier, based on a 17-percent increase in planted acreage to 2.88 million acres. Higher expected returns for rice at planting compared with alternative crops, primarily corn and soybeans, is responsible for the projected increase in rice area. Full story
  • Official portrait of Rep John Faso (R-NY) New Bill Focuses Attention on Organic Food

    Feb 08, 2018

    Representative John Faso (R-NY) has introduced a bill that addresses fraudulent organic agricultural imports and proposes to increase funding to the National Organic Program (NOP) for oversight and technology upgrades. USA Rice has continually raised the issue of fraudulent organic rice imports with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) because they are harmful to domestic organic rice producers. Full story