Dec 02, 2015
NEW ORLEANS, LA – The largest annual meeting of the U.S. rice industry, the USA Rice Outlook Conference, is set to take over the New Orleans Sheraton here next week. Conference registration is closing in on breaking the all-time attendance record set in 2000.
As always, the conference features a rice-specific trade show with new expanded exhibit hours and networking opportunities. The recipients of the Rice Farmer of the Year, Rice Industry Award, and Rice Lifetime Achievement Award honors will be announced at the annual Rice Awards Luncheon, which also will feature presentations of the USA Rice Distinguished Conservation Achievement Award and the 2015 National Rice Month Scholarship grand prize. Members of the Rice Leadership Development Program’s new class will be announced as well.
Other conference highlights include a keynote session with married political strategists Mary Matalin and James Carville, a conversation with Congressman Ralph Abraham (R-LA), and an exciting session on the Future of Food.
Rice state outlook and research reports, and detailed political, economic, and weather analysis are also on the program.
“The USA Rice Outlook Conference is an important educational forum for the industry, and this year we have a particularly exciting program lined up,” said USA Rice President & CEO Betsy Ward. “We look forward to seeing farmers from all rice-growing states and representatives from throughout the industry in the Big Easy.”