NEW ORLEANS, LA – Last week, the Louisiana Farm Bureau (LAFB) held its
104th Annual Convention here, featuring a host of speakers and panels focused on the challenges and opportunities facing producers in Louisiana.
Delegates also convened for official business and LAFB elections, including that of Richard Fontenot, a fourth-generation rice farmer from Ville Platte, who was reelected to serve his third term as president, and, of course, to share in the celebration of the newest LAFB Queen, Jean Treas from Tangipahoa Parish.
USA Rice Director of Field Services Kane Webb and Vice President of Government Affairs Jake Westlin attended several of the meetings, including the Rice Conference. During the Rice Conference, hosted by Allen McLain from Abbeville, chair of the Rice Advisory Committee, Westlin provided a federal policy update covering the latest on USA Rice’s advocacy efforts including economic assistance, farm bill 2.0, and implementation of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA).
“USA Rice is acutely aware of the economic challenges the domestic rice industry has been facing not only this year, but what has been building over the last four years,” said Westlin. “We continue working with lawmakers on providing an additional layer of economic assistance to ensure rice farmers can realize the critical investment made to the farm safety net under OBBBA.”
The Rice Advisory Committee also featured several speakers, including Jessica Steverson, director of strategic initiatives at Louisiana Economic Development, who discussed their work in strengthening Louisiana’s business environment and supporting the state's rice industry. From Arkansas, Jeremy and Whitney Jones of Isbell Farms discussed the farm's history, Arkansas saké, and the value-added innovations they are exploring on the family farm.
Rounding out the slate of Rice Conference speakers was Dr. Mike Strain, commissioner of the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry, who talked about the importance of opening markets for both Louisiana and U.S.-grown rice and the industry's efforts to curb rice delphacid in the state.