Vol. 13, Issue 43

November 4, 2016

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IN THIS ISSUE

  • IFG GRAIN TERMINAL AT PORT OF LAKE CHARLES IS INTEGRAL PART OF REGION’S RICE MARKET
  • FORECAST OF CONGRESSIONAL AGRICULTURE COMMITTEE LEADERSHIP
  • CONGRATULATIONS MARCELA GARCIA!
  • MISSOURI RICE FARMERS VISIT SOUTHERN BOONE PRIMARY SCHOOL IN ASHLAND, MISSOURI

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css=".vc_custom_1477705217949{border-radius: 3px !important;}"][vc_column][special_heading title="IFG Grain Terminal at Port of Lake Charles is Integral Part of Region’s Rice Market" subtitle="" separator="no" font_size="30px" font_weight="700" text_transform="none" heading_margin_bottom="0"][vc_column_text css=".vc_custom_1478292167578{border-top-width: 3px !important;border-right-width: 1px !important;border-bottom-width: 1px !important;border-left-width: 1px !important;padding-top: 10px !important;padding-right: 10px !important;padding-bottom: 10px !important;padding-left: 10px !important;border-left-color: #81d742 !important;border-left-style: solid !important;border-right-color: #81d742 !important;border-right-style: solid !important;border-top-color: #81d742 !important;border-top-style: solid !important;border-bottom-color: #81d742 !important;border-bottom-style: solid !important;}"]On the eve of the U.S. election, the rice industry has closed out the week with all of the despondency but none of the fanfare associated with the presidential race.  Very little significant news has impacted the market since the last report and the overall market tone is generally negative.  Domestic cash prices are holding steady at the lower margin against which producers have chosen not to sell.  This scenario has been the case for several weeks now as the entirety of the 2016 crop is wrapping up for the year.  The tremendous stockpiles that have been discussed ad nauseam in the trade remains a crippling problem from a pricing standpoint.  Quality concerns have only amplified the problem and will make the difficult task of deciding what to do with the overage even harder.  From a pricing scenario, the perfect storm seems to have brewed on the horizon with growers being unable to generate long term profitability at the current levels but also being unable to sit out a season for financial reasons.  On the buying side, the spread between U.S. and Asian pricing has not significantly narrowed to the point at which more rice can flow from the U.S.  This case can be seen through the weekly, albeit minor, adjustments to the Asian prices as compared to the U.S. market.  Export sales have continued at a lower volume this week as compared to that of the weeks prior even as vessel loadings surge to keep pace with previous transactions.  The Port of Lake Charles has been a key factor in continuing to generate exports at a time when exports are at a premium.  This facility has been a boon to Southwest Louisiana and Texas since its inception and is quickly becoming an integral part of the marketing equation in that region.  The futures market ended the week on a sour note again with net losses in all contracts ranging from 2.4%-2.75% across the board.  Much of the market is trading against fundamentals but there remains a component that is responding to the grain complex as well.  With the election looming next week coupled with the government reports in the same cycle, next week is likely to be volatile to say the least.  Looking forward to government reports, no news is good news as the World Market Price from USDA has remained since the last report.  If the current atmosphere remains, it can reasonably be expected to slide again next week following the general trend in the market and also the pending World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimate (WASDE) report that is to be released next Wednesday.  It is dangerous to speculate as to what the report will show, but reasonable expectations include adjustments to the export and yield estimates with resulting shifts in the carryout stocks.  Also in government reports, the 2016 final PLC payment was released on Monday at  $2.90/cwt.  This payment will definitely help many growers bridge the gap between crop years and ease the burden at a critical time.  As farmers take advantage of the lull between crops and field prep, they are faced with the difficult decision surrounding what actions to take next year.  Meanwhile, the aggregated trade is focusing on the seemingly impossible task of coping with the burgeoning stocks.  Fortunately, the industry has long ago adopted the mantra - “the difficult we do immediately, the impossible just takes a little longer...”.

 

2016-11-04_rmu[/vc_column_text][special_heading title="Forecast of Congressional Agriculture Committee Leadership" subtitle="" separator="no" font_size="30px" font_weight="700" text_transform="none" heading_margin_bottom="0"][vc_column_text css=".vc_custom_1478292254680{border-top-width: 3px !important;border-right-width: 1px !important;border-bottom-width: 1px !important;border-left-width: 1px !important;padding-top: 5px !important;padding-right: 10px !important;padding-bottom: 10px !important;padding-left: 10px !important;border-left-color: #81d742 !important;border-left-style: solid !important;border-right-color: #81d742 !important;border-right-style: solid !important;border-top-color: #81d742 !important;border-top-style: solid !important;border-bottom-color: #81d742 !important;border-bottom-style: solid !important;}"]The 2016 campaign season will wrap up next week on Tuesday, November 8. While the race for the White House dominates most news coverage, the race for the Senate will have a significant impact on the shape of U.S. farm policy over the next two years and beyond. The party which controls the Senate after the election will hold the gavel for the Senate Agriculture Committee as it writes the next farm bill.

Most agree that the Republicans will maintain the majority in the House of Representatives, and Representatives Mike Conaway (R-TX) and Collin Peterson (D-MN) will hold their leadership positions on the agriculture committee.

The scenarios are more complex in the Senate. If the Republicans maintain the majority, Senator Pat Roberts (R-KS) will most likely maintain his Chairmanship on the Senate Agriculture Committee, and Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) would remain as Ranking Member. If the Democrats win the majority, a potential shift may occur. Senate Republican rules enforce a six-year term limit for the positions of chair and ranking member of committees. Under this scenario, Senator Thad Cochran (R-MS), the current Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, would be term-limited from serving as ranking member, and would be eligible to retake the ranking member position on the Senate Agriculture Committee, as he did in the 113th Congress. Sen. Stabenow would likely retake the gavel as chair of the committee.

Committee leadership positions for the 115th Congress will be confirmed after the election. Below is a brief history of Senate Agriculture Committee Chairs and Ranking Members.

 

Congress Years Chair Ranking Member
114th 2015-2016 Pat Roberts (R-KS) Debbie Stabenow (D-MI)
113th 2013-2014 Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) Thad Cochran (R-KS)
112th 2011-2012 Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) Pat Roberts (R-KS)
111th 2009-2010 Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) Saxby Chambliss (R-GA)
110th 2007-2008 Tom Harkin (D-IA) Saxby Chambliss (R-GA
109th 2005-2006 Saxby Chambliss (R-GA) Tom Harkin (D-IA)
108th 2003-2004 Thad Cochran (R-MS) Tom Harkin (D-IA)

[/vc_column_text][special_heading title="Congratulations Marcela Garcia!" subtitle="" separator="no" font_size="30px" font_weight="700" text_transform="none" heading_margin_bottom="0"][vc_column_text css=".vc_custom_1478292431940{margin-bottom: 15px !important;border-top-width: 3px !important;border-right-width: 1px !important;border-bottom-width: 1px !important;border-left-width: 1px !important;padding-top: 5px !important;padding-right: 10px !important;padding-bottom: 10px !important;padding-left: 10px !important;border-left-color: #81d742 !important;border-left-style: solid !important;border-right-color: #81d742 !important;border-right-style: solid !important;border-top-color: #81d742 !important;border-top-style: solid !important;border-bottom-color: #81d742 !important;border-bottom-style: solid !important;}"]mg-vp-pic

 

Marcela Garcia, currently Vice-President of the US Rice Producers Association, has been given the additional duties of Chief Operating Officer. As COO, Marcela will be responsible for the day-to-day activities of the Association, working closely with Dwight Roberts, President and CEO, in carrying out the mission of USRPA and the direction set by the producer Board of Directors. According to Roberts, “We promoted Marcela VP in January because of the excellent job she is doing for the organization and all U.S. rice farmers.”

In addition to developing and implementing USRPA’s international promotions program, Marcela has been in charge of the annual Rice Marketing & Technology Convention, which brings the Western Hemisphere’s rice industry together and promotes trade and networking.

Marcela joined USRPA in May 2009 after graduating from the University of Houston with a bachelor’s degree in marketing. Fully bilingual, she remains involved in her family’s cattle business in Mexico. Roberts explained that, “Marcela has traveled extensively in the region and has become a respected ambassador of U.S. rice to the buyers and millers who comprise our largest and most important markets. Her imagination, patience, and strength have greatly contributed to our efforts, and she epitomizes our philosophy of doing more with less.”

Roberts continued, “Her management abilities and aggressive attention to detail have made our operation run very smoothly. She has been involved with the annual convention since the beginning, and I could not have done it without her. We understand that Marcela is at the center of our programs and efforts to increase sales of U.S. rice, and it is time to formally give her the the recognition that the title of COO carries with it.” Congratulations Ms. Garcia.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=".vc_custom_1478292988426{margin-top: 20px !important;margin-right: 10px !important;margin-bottom: 20px !important;margin-left: 10px !important;border-top-width: 2px !important;border-right-width: 2px !important;border-bottom-width: 2px !important;border-left-width: 2px !important;padding-top: 25px !important;padding-right: 25px !important;padding-bottom: 25px !important;padding-left: 25px !important;background-color: #ffffff !important;border-left-color: #aa3027 !important;border-left-style: double !important;border-right-color: #aa3027 !important;border-right-style: double !important;border-top-color: #aa3027 !important;border-top-style: double !important;border-bottom-color: #aa3027 !important;border-bottom-style: double !important;}"]The latest Texas Rice Crop Survey reports (updated through Friday, November 4, 2016) are available through the Beaumont Center web site at http://beaumont.tamu.edu/CropSurvey/

The crop survey provides detailed data on rice acreage across the Texas rice belt, including information on varieties and crop development.[/vc_column_text][special_heading title="Missouri Rice Farmers Visit Southern Boone Primary School in Ashland, Missouri " subtitle="" separator="no" font_size="30px" font_weight="700" text_transform="none" heading_margin_bottom="15"][vc_column_text css=".vc_custom_1478292455844{margin-bottom: 15px !important;border-top-width: 3px !important;border-right-width: 1px !important;border-bottom-width: 1px !important;border-left-width: 1px !important;padding-top: 5px !important;padding-right: 10px !important;padding-bottom: 10px !important;padding-left: 10px !important;border-left-color: #81d742 !important;border-left-style: solid !important;border-right-color: #81d742 !important;border-right-style: solid !important;border-top-color: #81d742 !important;border-top-style: solid !important;border-bottom-color: #81d742 !important;border-bottom-style: solid !important;}"]October was Farm to School Month and schools across the country were celebrating by eating locally grown food in the cafeteria.

Southern Boone Primary school hosted a Farm to School event October 12 and local farmers brought in their products for breakfast and lunch.   Students were served a “Missouri Meal” for breakfast and for lunch.  Items such as meatloaf made from Show-Me Farms ground beef,  a beef producer located near Columbia, Missouri.  Students also enjoyed eggs for breakfast and for lunch on chef salads, from Stanton Bros. egg farm located in Centralia, Missouri, sweet rice from the bootheel for breckfast and Missouri Apples were served for students.   The cafeteria staff in Southern Boone under the guidance of Cassie Denning, Director of Nutrition Services put a great deal of planning into this great meal and celebration of farmers and their products!

rice-producers-learning-2-webGreg Yielding, with the Missouri Rice Council and US Rice Producers Association, said the council partners with Opaa! Food Management to do educational programs in schools and incorporate rice into the school lunch and breakfast program.  Students are allowed to enjoy both brown and enriched rice for meals.  Yielding said, "We were skeptical that kids weren't going to eat brown rice. It's not something they're used to. But since they've been having it in the schools, it’s a great opportunity to expose students to new flavors and textures as well as educating them about product grown within the state of Missouri.

Opaa! Food Management is a Nutrition provider for students in five states  that purchases food from local farmers for cafeteria meals, when seasonally and locally available.  Sheila Frost, VP of Child Nutrition and Outreach at Opaa!, said there are many benefits to eating locally grown food.  “It is important for Opaa! to partner with local producers especially things from their own community.   Students understanding the importance of locally grown food is very important to Opaa!” according to Frost.

Students are better nourished when they learn to eat a variety of fruits and vegetables and providing these from local sources help encourage them to try new flavors and recipes….it’s a win win for everyone.

Dustin Stanton who with his brother is co-owner of Stanton Brothers Eggs, said he enjoys being a local producer which allows him to meet his customers in person and answer any questions and students love being able to hear directly from the farmer how eggs come to the cafeteria for their meals.   Dustin and his brother provide eggs to fifty different outlets in mid-Missouri including MU and Columbia College.

Opaa! hosted a series of events throughout the month to highlight the different vendors it uses.

Linda Jones, Director of Nutrition Outreach, for students to understanding the importance of locally grown products such as rice, beef, eggs, along with fruits and vegetables from learning gardens and local farm producers we have to make the effort to provide these items in the cafeteria as often as possible.  Nutritionally it is the right thing to do!   Opaa! salutes farmers across the nation for helping to feed our most treasured resource…..our children![/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image="1171" alignment="center" style="vc_box_shadow_3d" onclick="custom_link" img_link_target="_blank" link="http://www.ricemtconvention.com"][vc_single_image image="1172" alignment="center" style="vc_box_shadow_3d" onclick="custom_link" img_link_target="_blank" link="http://nctd.net/"][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css=".vc_custom_1477697799885{border-top-width: 1px !important;border-right-width: 1px !important;border-bottom-width: 1px !important;border-left-width: 1px !important;padding-top: 10px !important;padding-right: 10px !important;padding-bottom: 10px !important;padding-left: 10px !important;border-left-color: #565656 !important;border-left-style: double !important;border-right-color: #565656 !important;border-right-style: double !important;border-top-color: #565656 !important;border-top-style: double !important;border-bottom-color: #565656 !important;border-bottom-style: double !important;border-radius: 3px !important;}"][vc_column][vc_column_text css=".vc_custom_1478293043243{margin-bottom: 30px !important;border-radius: 3px !important;}"]fao

FAO Rice Price Update

Brief commentary of the month:

  • The FAO All Rice Price Index (2002-04=100) shed another 3.9 points (2 percent) in October 2016 to arrive at an average of 186 points. Export prices faltered in all the major rice market segments last month, amid harvest pressure and lingering thin demand. The most pronounced reduction concerned Higher Quality Indica rice, with its Index down 3 percent month-on-month. Falls were in the order of 2 percent for both Japonica and Aromatica prices, while tight availabilities of brokens limited losses in the Lower Quality Indica segment to 1 percent.
  • Looking at the various origins, quotations in Thailand were under the most downward pressure in October.  Benchmark Thai 100%B slid by a further 6 percent to USD 375 per tonne, weighed by a slow pace of sales, a depreciating Baht and new crop arrivals. Despite some concerns over the quality of freshly harvested Indica rice, quotations in the United States also lost ground, mirroring a lack of substantive sales other than to regular outlets. Export prices also continued to recede in Pakistan and in the major South American suppliers. Instead, expectations of sales to the Philippines provided limited support to quotations in Viet Nam, with subdued buying interest also capping gains in India, where a thinning of supplies and ongoing government purchases had underpinned some price advances.
  • According the FAO All Rice Price Index, international prices in the first ten months of 2016 were 9 percent lower than their corresponding level in 2015, mostly mirroring weaker Aromatic and Japonica prices. Indica prices have proved somewhat more resilient, primarily reflecting firmer Thai and Pakistani quotations, especially for fully broken supplies.

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[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css=".vc_custom_1477697377878{border-top-width: 1px !important;border-right-width: 1px !important;border-bottom-width: 1px !important;border-left-width: 1px !important;border-left-color: #1629a3 !important;border-left-style: solid !important;border-right-color: #1629a3 !important;border-right-style: solid !important;border-top-color: #1629a3 !important;border-top-style: solid !important;border-bottom-color: #1629a3 !important;border-bottom-style: solid !important;border-radius: 3px !important;}"][vc_column][vc_single_image image="1166" alignment="center" css=".vc_custom_1478292913956{margin-top: 25px !important;}"][cta heading="Food and Agriculture Regulatory and Policy Roundup" subtitle="Congress News / USDA Reports & News / White House News and More..." button1_title="November 4, 2016" button1_subtitle="Read Newsletter Here" button1_url="http://campaign.r20.constantcontact.com/render?m=1110153107260&ca=1da00b0e-4b1b-43f2-9951-bae3cf839320" button1_color="accent"][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=".vc_custom_1478292665711{border-top-width: 1px !important;border-right-width: 1px !important;border-bottom-width: 1px !important;border-left-width: 1px !important;padding-top: 10px !important;padding-right: 10px !important;padding-bottom: 10px !important;padding-left: 10px !important;border-left-color: #81d742 !important;border-left-style: solid !important;border-right-color: #81d742 !important;border-right-style: solid !important;border-top-color: #81d742 !important;border-top-style: solid !important;border-bottom-color: #81d742 !important;border-bottom-style: solid !important;}"]USDA Reports Next Week

Crop Progress (NASS)                                        Monday, November 11, 4:00 pm

WASDE (WAOB)                                                  Wednesday, November 9, 12:00 pm

Grains: World Markets and Trade (FAS)             Wednesday, November 9, 12:15 pm

Weekly Export Sales (FAS)                                 Thursday, November 3, 8:30 am

All USDA reports are available by visiting

http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/?navid=AGENCY_REPORTS=RT.

[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=".vc_custom_1478290390622{border-top-width: 1px !important;border-right-width: 1px !important;border-bottom-width: 1px !important;border-left-width: 1px !important;padding-top: 10px !important;padding-right: 10px !important;padding-bottom: 10px !important;padding-left: 10px !important;border-left-color: #81d742 !important;border-left-style: solid !important;border-right-color: #81d742 !important;border-right-style: solid !important;border-top-color: #81d742 !important;border-top-style: solid !important;border-bottom-color: #81d742 !important;border-bottom-style: solid !important;}"]Calendar

November 15, 2016        Crop Decision Aid Workshop

December 7-9, 2017        FECARROZ Board Meeting, Houston, TX

January 18, 2017            Texas Rice Council Annual Mtg & Western Rice Belt Conf., El Campo

Jan. 30-Feb. 1, 2017        20th Annual NCS Cotton & Rice Conference, Baton Rouge, LA

For economic analysis on agricultural efficiency, efficacy, and equity issues: www.ers.usda.gov

Texas Rice from A&M AgriLife Research Ctr. at Beaumont: http://beaumont.tamu.edu/eLibrary/eLibrary_default.htm

AgFax - Editor: Owen Taylor: www.agfax.com[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]logo-01

2825 Wilcrest Dr., Ste. 218
Houston, TX 77042
Phone: (713) 974-7423
Fax: 713-974-7696
https://usriceproducers.com/
http://www.riceromp.com

www.facebook.com/usrpa[/vc_column_text][vc_separator color="green" border_width="3"][vc_column_text]USRPA does not discriminate in its programs on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, or marital/family status. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of information (such as Braille, large print, sign language interpreter) should contact USRPA at 713-974-7423.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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