ARLINGTON, VA – The Missouri Rice Research and Merchandising Council (Missouri Rice Council) has voted to rejoin the USA Rice Federation, restoring Missouri’s place alongside Arkansas, California, Louisiana, and Mississippi in the national trade association that advocates for all segments of the U.S. rice industry. With this vote, Missouri producers will once again have access to USA Rice’s domestic and international market development programs, legislative advocacy, and industry research initiatives.
“A united industry is a stronger industry,” said Keith Glover, chair of USA Rice and president and CEO of Producers Rice Mill. “At a time when we face real headwinds in export markets and are working to meaningfully improve the farm safety net, having Missouri’s industry fully engaged is exactly the kind of unity we need.”
“Our mission is to ensure the health and vitality of a unified U.S. rice industry, and that mission is better served with every state at the table,” said USA Rice President & CEO Peter Bachmann. “Missouri brings dedicated producers, a proven research and merchandising infrastructure, and deep commitment to this industry. We look forward to putting the full resources of USA Rice to work for Missouri rice.”
The Missouri Rice Council’s return also strengthens the USA Rice Council’s promotion programs, that span the United States and more than 20 countries and include multi-million dollar USDA Foreign Agricultural Service grants.
“With Missouri back at the table, we have more voices, more resources, and more momentum,” said Carter Murrell, chair of the USA Rice Council, who farms rice in Washington County, Mississippi. “Both boards have had great success, and together we’ll build on those accomplishments.”
“Bringing Missouri back into the fold will help us achieve policies that keep American rice farming viable for the next generation,” said Fred Zaunbrecher, chair of the USA Rice Farmers Board and a Louisiana rice and crawfish farmer. “I couldn’t be more pleased to have Missouri rice farmers standing with us.”
The effort to unify the groups was led in Missouri by Rance Daniels, a third-generation Bootheel rice farmer who chairs the Missouri Rice Council and serves as vice chair of the USA Rice Farmers Board.
“Rejoining USA Rice puts Missouri producers where we belong – working side-by-side with colleagues up and down the supply chain to grow markets, protect our farm safety net, and tell the story of what we do here in the Bootheel,” said Daniels. “Missouri is rice country, and now we have the full weight of the national federation behind us as we prove it.”
Mollie Buckler, a Bootheel native who has staffed the Missouri Rice Council for the last five years and most recently served as president and CEO of US Rice Producers Association, will join Missouri in the move. “The Missouri Rice Council’s decision to rejoin the USA Rice Federation means Missouri producers will have an even louder megaphone,” said Buckler. “I’ve been proud to work alongside Missouri rice growers for years, and I know this will open new doors for them, give them a louder voice in Washington, stronger reach in export markets, and a better future for the families farming this land.”
USA Rice’s leaders will spend the summer reconstituting committees and boards to ensure Missouri is represented at every level of the Federation.