Winning combo: rice, and beer, and Clydesdales, and sustainability
Sep 02, 2021
JONESBORO, AR — Yesterday, the Anheuser-Busch Foundation announced a donation of $100,000 to USA Rice to support the organization’s Rice Stewardship Partnership, a public-private venture between USA Rice, Ducks Unlimited, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), 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.
This marks the fourth year in a row that the country’s leading brewer and its charitable foundation have supported this initiative.
“Anheuser-Busch’s continued investment in the Rice Stewardship Partnership will provide opportunities to support U.S. rice farmers, as well as allow them to test new technology to improve their operations and meet sustainability goals,” said USA Rice President & CEO Betsy Ward. “Investments like these are what sustain U.S. rice farmers and provide the opportunities to test new agriculture practices and we are very grateful for our strong partnership with Anheuser-Busch.”
Announcement of the donation took place at the Anheuser-Busch rice mill here. USA Rice’s Josh Hankins was among the speakers at the event and accepted the $100,000 check on behalf of the Rice Stewardship Partnership. “Where we are standing today, surrounded by the largest rice producing counties in the nation’s largest rice producing state, this region is dependent on a sustainably grown rice crop for our natural resources and our economic viability,” said Hankins. “We are grateful for our strong partnership with Anheuser-Busch and their consistent commitment to the Rice Stewardship’s efforts which will help keep our working ricelands productive, filling plates and mugs around the world.”
U.S. Senator John Boozman (R-AR) also was in attendance along with the famous Budweiser Clydesdales. “Arkansas is proud of our role as the nation’s leading rice producer,” he said. “This investment will support continued research and development of innovative techniques and practices to improve production, conservation, and sustainability measures. Mutually beneficial partnerships like this that promote solutions for farmers, businesses, and outdoor enthusiasts help us meet the changing needs of the industry and evolving challenges to creating a safe and abundant crop.”
As the largest end user of rice in the country, Anheuser-Busch sources all of its rice from American farmers, totaling more than $120 million of rice and nearly 20 million bushels last year alone. Rice helps provide the clean, crisp taste that has been a Budweiser trademark since its creation in 1876, and remains a prized ingredient in Budweiser, Bud Light, and Michelob Ultra, among others.
“American farmers are the backbone of our industry, and we’re committed to helping them continue to develop their efficient practices and technologies,” said Kimberly Rogowski, Anheuser-Busch's director of agronomy. “Rice plays a critical role in the high quality and great taste of some of our most popular beers, and we’re proud to stand with USA Rice to help the industry thrive.”
Anheuser-Busch owns 13 agricultural facilities across the country, including a rice facility in Jonesboro, Arkansas, that mills more than 2.6 million pounds of rice per day. Over the last decade, the brewer has spent more than $5.5 billion purchasing rice, corn, barley, and hops from American farmers.
The Rice Stewardship Partnership was formed in 2013 when USA Rice and Ducks Unlimited joined forces to magnify conservation impacts vital to the future of rice production and wetland habitat, and it has grown significantly with new partners and supporters, such as Anheuser-Busch.
Rice Stewardship funders include the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, Walmart Foundation, the Mosaic Company Foundation, Nestlé Purina PetCare, Chevron U.S.A., Freeport-McMoRan Foundation, Irene W. and C.B. Pennington Foundation, RiceTec, Entergy, Anheuser-Busch InBev, BASF, American Rice, Inc. – Riviana Foods, Inc., Joe W. and Dorothy Dorsett Brown Foundation, Delta Plastics, Riceland Foods, Corteva Agriscience, Cargill, Wells Fargo, Farmers Rice Milling Company, Horizon Ag, Turner’s Creek & Bombay Hook Farms, MacDon Industries, Dow AgroSciences, Farm Credit Associations of Arkansas, and Ducks Unlimited.