MID-SOUTH, USA – Yesterday proved to be a busy day for rice growers from southeast Texas to central and northeast Louisiana.
In what was likely a first time, and probably on nobody’s Bingo card, the SETX Rice Symposium had to be rescheduled due to an unprecedented snow event across the Gulf Coast region in late January. Dr. Mithila Jugulam, director of the Rice Research Station in Beaumont, welcomed growers and industry representatives to the Winnie Stovall Community Center yesterday afternoon. Dr. Jugulam, along with several other speakers, including Dr. Young Ki Jo, Dr. Sam Ruston, and Dr. Lina Bernaola, presented on various research and current topics of interest for the southeast Texas region. Staff from Ducks Unlimited and USA Rice were on hand to visit and share information with attendees on the latest programs and plans for 2025.
Meanwhile, in Mer Rouge, Louisiana, Kennedy Rice Mill held their annual grower meeting to discuss the upcoming planting season. To get things started, Kennedy Rice’s Marley Oldham welcomed the packed house and shared information on the 2024 harvest and quality status for the region. Dr. Tim Walker with Horizon Ag and Dr. Adam Famoso, rice breeder from the LSU Rice Research Station in Crowley, discussed rice varieties, availability, and outlook on the planting season for growers in the northeast Louisiana region. Other presenters included Jason Krutz with Chicot Irrigation, Win Coleman of Indigo Ag, and USA Rice Vice President of Domestic Promotion Cameron Jacobs.
Jacobs shared some good news about consumer habits and trends from recent USA Rice consumption research. The positive opinion U.S. consumers have about U.S. rice, especially younger generations who are moving into the “household purchasing” demographic over the next few years, is a reminder that U.S.-grown rice is a strong player when it comes to meal planning for young families.
Kennedy Rice Mill CEO Meryl Kennedy Farr also addressed the group, sharing her concerns for the upcoming year, acknowledging that the current situation facing the rice industry, as well as all of U.S. agriculture, is going to be tough, but working together, we will get through this as an industry.
“Looking around the room, there is an abundance of wisdom that has been gathered over the many years of farming from you all. We’re relying on that wisdom,” Kennedy Farr noted. “Communicating and sharing it collectively will be key for us in making good decisions that will help us navigate these tough times, just as we have done in the past.”
Later that evening, the Central LA Rice Growers Association, (CenLARGA) met in Bunkie, Louisiana, for their annual meeting, where an overflow crowd of rice growers and industry representatives packed the meeting space. President Seth Brown lead the business meeting for CenLARGA, and the group then spent time discussing current topics from the USA Rice update. Rice grower Richard Fontenot, who is current president of the Louisiana Farm Bureau (LAFB) and LAFB staffer Andy Brown contributed to the discussion on the latest developments in the fast-changing landscape of policy and Farm Bill priorities for the rice industry. Kyle Soileau with Ducks Unlimited also provided an update on current programs available from his organization before the meeting ended, and the mealtime fellowship commenced. A special thanks to Jon Streete with Farmers Crop Insurance for sponsoring the meal.
"It was great to be part of the annual Kennedy growers meeting and discuss child and teen consumption trends," Jacobs said. "With so many different industry stakeholders in one room, it was a great opportunity to give them a glimpse into who are end users and the positive trends we are seeing for generation alpha when it comes rice consumption. A big thank you to Meryl, Marley, and everyone at Kennedy Rice for allowing me the opportunity to present."