Congressman Visits Rice Festival & Talks with Local Rice Farmers

WINNIE, TX -- Last Saturday, at the Texas Rice Festival here, a group of local rice farmers hosted a meeting with Congressman Brian Babin (R-TX) on current issues affecting them and other farmers in Texas’ 36th Congressional District.  Among those issues ranking highest in priority were the farm bill and trade given the farm bill’s expiration at the end of last month and uncertainty surrounding the trade and market situation for U.S.-grown rice.

The group emphasized the hurt farmers and the rice industry are facing with continued price declines and the damage to markets due to retaliatory tariffs.  Specifically, the group discussed the need for the completion of a farm bill this year that provides a safety net during times of depressed prices, in addition to other programs that the rice industry uses to be more sustainable, maintain and create new markets, provide humanitarian aid to those in need both home and abroad, and mitigate risk on the farm.

Also discussed was the U.S. rice industry’s need for increased international market access, particularly urging the quick completion of the new United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement to preserve the Mexican and Canadian markets, the number one and number six largest export markets for U.S.-grown rice, respectively.  In addition, the group discussed the importance of continuing to open up the European and Japanese markets and holding China accountable for disregarding its World Trade Organization obligations for U.S. rice by barring exports for over a decade.

“I love visiting with our rice folks. Rice is a critical part of our economy in Southeast Texas, and I work hard to fight for their interests in Washington. I am hopeful the farm bill conferees will soon come to a compromise on the farm bill so we can ensure our rice farmers have the certainty that comes with a multiyear bill,” said Congressman Babin. “It is so important we get a bill that protects farmers and strengthens our farm economy and also includes common-sense work requirements that incentivize Americans to contribute to our economy. In addition to the farm bill, we must continue advocating for trade policies which protect our interests at home while promoting fair play on the global stage.”

Those present at the meeting were rice farmers Charlie Reneau, Will Reneau, Steven Devillier, Neal Stoesser, Rodney Dishman, Bill Dishman, local county Extension agent Tyler Fitzgerald, and Congressman Babin’s district director, Kelly Waterman.

“We really appreciate the time that Congressman Babin took to visit with us while he was at the festival,” said Charlie Reneau, Texas rice farmer and member of the USA Rice Farmers Board of Directors.  “He was very receptive to our concerns and heard us out on our issues, assuring us that he would relay this information to [House Agriculture Committee] Chairman Conaway.”