USA Rice's Jamison Cruce shares an update on advocacy efforts as the new administration takes over
Jan 16, 2025
EL CAMPO, TX – Yesterday, El Campo, Texas, was the place to be for the Western Rice Belt Production Conference, inside the warm and dry El Campo Civic Center. Rainy weather didn’t hinder growers and sponsors alike from across south Texas from gathering and gearing up for the upcoming planting season. Also in attendance were USA Rice staffers Jamison Cruce, vice president of government affairs; Kane Webb, director of field services; and Dr. Steve Linscombe, director of both The Rice Foundation and the Rice Leadership Development Program.
Ralph Novosad, chair of the planning committee welcomed everyone and turned the program over to Corrie Bowen to guide the group through the agenda of presentations. Multiple topics of interest were discussed, beginning with Paul Goetze’s presentation on kernel smut research, current events in rice production from Dr. Sam Rustom, and new herbicide technology in rice with Dr. Connor Webster.
As important as the ongoing research, the group also received an update from Kelly Payne, vice president of water operations for the Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA), on water availability and pricing, an increasingly critical aspect of production for many south Texas growers. Other presentations covered Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) conservation programs, unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) pesticide applications, and the Texas A&M Rice Water Smart Project.
During the luncheon, winners of the Rice Poster Contest were recognized, chosen from more than 90 submissions from area students. Tommy Turner gave the Texas Rice Council Report and USA Rice’s Cruce addressed the group and answered questions on the recent American Relief Act provisions, the work being done in Washington, DC, by USA Rice as focus shifts to the new administration, and getting a meaningful Farm Bill passed with the new Congress.
"As member of the planning committee, I was very pleased with the attendance and the producers' attention given to the speakers,” said Daniel Berglund, a rice farmer from Wharton, Texas. “It was also a very good opportunity for producers to visit and share some of their thoughts and concerns going into the 2025 crop year."
Dr. Natalie Graff with Texas A&M's Agricultural and Food Policy Center echoed many of the points made by Cruce in her Farm Policy update, and shared charts highlighting the areas where essential improvements for the rice industry need to be directed for a more secure future for rice growers.
The event was a great success – well attended, well sponsored, and well fed, Texas style!