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

  • President Trump-on stage after speech at AFBA-Nashville-2018 with raised fist Amid Talk of Trade and Next Farm Bill, Trump Attends Farm Bureau Conference to Give Ag a Boost

    Jan 09, 2018

    During the recent American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) Convention here, President Zippy Duvall convened a special meeting for a select group of nationally recognized commodity and farm organizations to facilitate dialogue around the wide array of farm bill priorities and to identify common ground among the diverse group. USA Rice was among the exclusive list of participants, along with executives from every major commodity organization, presidents of state farm bureau chapters, and Senator Jerry Moran (R-KS), as well as staff from Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue’s office. Full story
  • Geese feeding in-Louisiana rice-field Rice Stewardship Grows Working Lands Conservation in Louisiana and Texas

    Jan 08, 2018

    Two new Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) proposals submitted by the Rice Stewardship Partnership have been approved by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) awarding nearly $6 million for conservation of water and habitat in ricelands in Texas and Louisiana. Full story
  • USDA Logo WASDE Report Released

    Dec 12, 2017

    Total 2017/18 U.S. rice supplies are increased marginally this month to 248.9 million cwt as higher projected imports (primarily Thai fragrant rice) offset slightly lower production. In the November Crop Production report, NASS reduced the 2017/18 U.S. crop size by 200,000 cwt to 178.4 million on lower forecast yield. This is 20 percent less than last year and would be the lowest U.S. rice production since 1996/97. Full story