Mr. Satterfield Goes to Washington: USA Rice Lays Groundwork for 2023 Farm Bill Efforts

WASHINGTON, DC -- Mississippi rice farmer and USA Rice Chair Kirk Satterfield spent last week here walking the halls of Congress to talk rice farmer assistance and 2023 Farm Bill preparations.

Satterfield visited with legislators and staff from his home state, as well as House and Senate Agriculture Committees to reiterate U.S. rice industry plans for tackling the 2023 Farm Bill and laying out the USA Rice timeline for policy development and advocacy.

“The rice industry has been on a bit of an island this year, paying outrageously high input costs and facing relatively flat prices in the marketplace, and it is imperative our farmers get the assistance they need to keep their heads above water and stay encouraged to plant rice again next year,” said Satterfield.  “There’s great concern about our farmers in California who have been sidelined by a three-year drought, leading to worry about long-term impacts to the farming and processing infrastructure out there.  And, as always these days, we’re dealing with a depressed world market price for rice because India’s got their finger on the scales.”

Satterfield also met with USA Rice staff at the organization’s office in Arlington, to discuss current programming and what’s on tap at the upcoming USA Rice Outlook Conference in Austin, Texas, next month.

“I was happy to express my appreciation to the folks working hard on our behalf in Washington, both at USA Rice and on Capitol Hill,” said Satterfield.  “With their help, I am hopeful we can turn things around for the many communities that rely on rice production throughout the United States.”