AB's Jess Newman on stage
Mar 16, 2019
WASHINGTON, DC -- USA Rice and Anheuser-Busch are partnering for the third year in a row to invest in America’s rice growers, with America’s leading beer company announcing it will donate $150,000 to USA Rice to support the organization’s Rice Stewardship Partnership. The Rice Stewardship Partnership (RSP) is a public – private partnership between USA Rice, Ducks Unlimited, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and supply chain partners that provides growers with technical and financial support to transition to more efficient irrigation, nutrient, and energy practices while creating wildlife habitat on working ricelands.
“Anheuser-Busch’s investment in the Rice Stewardship Partnership will support U.S. rice farmers and their growing operations, as well as allow them to test new technology to improve their operations and meet sustainability goals,” said Betsy Ward, president and CEO of USA Rice. “Investments like these are what sustain U.S. rice farmers and provide the opportunities to test new agriculture practices.”
As the largest end user of rice in the U.S., Anheuser-Busch sources all of its rice from U.S. farmers, totaling more than $120 million of rice last year alone.
“We’re proud to stand with USA Rice and invest in a program that will help growers continue to adopt efficient practices and technology,” said Jess Newman, Anheuser-Busch’s director of U.S. agronomy. “Supporting both the environment and our growers’ livelihoods is a clear win for our 2025 sustainability goals and, most importantly, for the growers who make our beers possible.”
Anheuser-Busch’s investment in the RSP will help fund strategies to protect working ricelands, including conservation planning, irrigation efficiencies, nutrient management, and education of decision-makers on water, agriculture, and wildlife habitats. The RSP also helps improve air quality, conserve energy, and support rice growers’ bottom line by testing new irrigation strategies.
U.S. Congressman Rick Crawford (R-AR), who represents the largest rice producing district in the country, said, “In Arkansas, the rice industry is a major economic driver, employing over 15,000 Arkansans. The important Rice Stewardship Partnership will reinforce the identity of rice as a row crop with various benefits enjoyed by people across the world. We appreciate any investment in the rice industry and family-owned farms, which play a key role in the viability of rural American communities.”