JONESBORO, AR - Arkansas State University held the 22
nd annual Agribusiness Conference here earlier this week with the support of USA Rice and several industry members. USA Rice COO Bob Cummings joined other speakers in presenting information important to agriculture in Arkansas and the Mid-South. "It was an honor to return to the Agribusiness Conference and discuss the key trade challenges and opportunities facing the rice industry today," said Cummings. "The conference presentations on succession and estate planning, environmental law and regulation, ag. financing, and commodity reviews were first rate."
Cummings discussed USA Rice's ongoing efforts to develop new demand and market access for U.S. rice in international markets, with a current focus on China, Colombia, Iraq, and Mexico. He also reviewed the pros and cons for rice of the recently concluded Trans Pacific Partnership trade agreement as well as the importance of the ongoing negotiations with the European Union in the Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership.
The conference is organized by Dr. Bert Greenwalt of the College of Agriculture and Technology, and is supported by a broad cross section of Arkansas agriculture. "USA Rice has been a proud sponsor of this conference for seventeen years, which brings together expertise important to agriculture and related businesses in Arkansas," said Chuck Wilson of USA Rice.