Arkansas owns #1
Feb 09, 2022
JONESBORO, AR – The Arkansas Rice Research and Promotion Board (ARRPB) met here yesterday to hear activity reports and funding requests from USA Rice and The Rice Foundation.
USA Rice President & CEO Betsy Ward reminded the ARRPB of all the Arkansans who serve in leadership roles throughout USA Rice boards and committees, thanked them for their volunteer work, and talked about the new challenges USA Rice is working on on behalf of the industry including rising input costs, unfair trade practices overseas, a looming Farm Bill, and a Biden Administration with a keen focus on climate and not on trade.
Asiha Grigsby, USA Rice director of international trade for the western hemisphere, reported on increased funding the industry received from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agriculture Service (USDA-FAS) and then provided a quick analysis of the top 10 export markets for U.S. rice, and USA Rice activities in several of those markets, including Iraq, Mexico, Haiti, Canada, Colombia, and Central America.
Board members engaged Grigsby on the recent Quality Symposium held at the 2021 USA Rice Outlook Conference, with Dr. Steve Linscombe weighing in on quality challenges facing the U.S. industry and the feedback received from buyers who participated in the event.
Michael Klein, USA Rice vice president of communications and domestic promotion, shared results from USA Rice foodservice and consumer campaigns, talked about the first year of a new multi-year consumer research program, nutrition outreach, and a recently concluded program in Puerto Rico to combat cheap Chinese imports there.
Klein also talked about future proposed activities including more in-depth consumer research, a new potential foodservice outreach program, and the 2022 USA Rice Outlook Conference in Austin, Texas.
The board voted unanimously to fund both the USA Rice Council and The Rice Foundation.
“We always look forward to presenting our programs to the board and hearing their priorities,” said Ward. “We are grateful for their tremendous support and look forward to delivering them superior results again in the coming year.”
"USA Rice President & CEO Betsy Ward reminded the ARRPB of all the Arkansans who serve in leadership roles throughout USA Rice boards and committees, thanked them for their volunteer work, and talked about the new challenges USA Rice is working on on behalf of the industry including rising input costs, unfair trade practices overseas, a looming Farm Bill, and a Biden Administration with a keen focus on climate and not on trade.
Asiha Grigsby, USA Rice director of international trade for the western hemisphere, reported on increased funding the industry received from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agriculture Service (USDA-FAS) and then provided a quick analysis of the top 10 export markets for U.S. rice, and USA Rice activities in several of those markets, including Iraq, Mexico, Haiti, Canada, Colombia, and Central America.
Board members engaged Grigsby on the recent Quality Symposium held at the 2021 USA Rice Outlook Conference, with Dr. Steve Linscombe weighing in on quality challenges facing the U.S. industry and the feedback received from buyers who participated in the event.
Michael Klein, USA Rice vice president of communications and domestic promotion, shared results from USA Rice foodservice and consumer campaigns, talked about the first year of a new multi-year consumer research program, nutrition outreach, and a recently concluded program in Puerto Rico to combat cheap Chinese imports there.
Klein also talked about future proposed activities including more in-depth consumer research, a new potential foodservice outreach program, and the 2022 USA Rice Outlook Conference in Austin, Texas.
The board voted unanimously to fund both the USA Rice Council and The Rice Foundation.
“We always look forward to presenting our programs to the board and hearing their priorities,” said Ward. “We are grateful for their tremendous support and look forward to delivering them superior results again in the coming year.”