Rice Stewardship Partnership Looks to the Future, Building on Ten Years of Accomplishments

LITTLE ROCK, AR – The USA Rice-Ducks Unlimited Rice Stewardship Partnership (RSP) turned 10 this year and to celebrate, more than 100 partners gathered here for a three-day summit.  Supply chain contributors, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) leadership from all six rice growing states, state agencies, rice producers, and friends came together to recognize accomplishments, but more importantly, to collaborate on the continuation of the RSP mission since its inception, to conserve three of the nation’s most important natural resources: working ricelands, water, and wildlife.

The summit agenda included reports on the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP), Inflation Reduction Act funds, status of the new farm bill negotiations, and conservation tax credits.  The National Black Growers Council (NBGC) along with 11 supply chain partners provided updates on their progress, and attendees had the chance to tour Brantley Farms, the Marion Berry Pumping Station, Delta Plastics, and Cypress Creek Saké Mill.

Over the last decade, RSP has built a rice field team of 25+ professionals from USA Rice, Ducks Unlimited, and Delta Wildlife who possess great expertise and experience with on-farm conservation.  Rice-targeted conservation programs have surpassed 1000+ unique and individual rice farms covering more than 800,000 acres.  Twenty-five supply chain financial sponsors have contributed more than $10 million to leverage conservation impact and USDA investments in conservation.  Eleven RCPP awards have been delivered, two of which received renewals, all totaling more than $110 million in financial assistance to rice producers.

The RSP enters its second decade with the announcement that the $80 million Partnership for Climate-Smart Commodities project agreement was signed last week.  Now that the ink has dried, partners will be able to move forward on project deployment providing an additional $63 million of financial assistance to rice producers across all six rice-growing states.  The RSP is once again in a lead position to navigate this brand new conservation program, helping bring innovation and opportunity to the farm.

“What a great opportunity to gather all of our rice conservation leaders in one place,” said Louisiana rice farmer Jeff Durand who co-chairs the RSP.  “Since our partnership was officially formalized 10 years ago, we have maintained that our two organizations, Ducks Unlimited and USA Rice, are stronger working together, and that is at the core of every opportunity we pursue.  Looking back, we have much to celebrate, and looking forward, we have much more to accomplish.  We thank the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, our supply chain financial sponsors, and many other in-kind supporters, for the solid foundation upon which we stand.  Let us continue the momentum, the economic and environmental impact, through tomorrow and beyond.”