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RMTC 2025: Exhibitor Spotlight

House Clears Budget Resolution, Unlocking the Reconciliation Process 

Last week, the House of Representatives passed the Senate-amended budget framework, pushing the reconciliation process forward, getting the chamber closer to the goal of “one big, beautiful bill.” The resolution passed 216-214, with Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) and Rep. Victoria Spartz (R-IN) being the only two Republicans to join House Democrats in voting against the framework.

The passage of this resolution paves the way forward for the reconciliation process that Republicans hope to use to push the President’s legislative priorities through initiatives like extending the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Though the budget framework now exists, the House and Senate have vastly different instructions on getting there, despite House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) and Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) being roughly aligned on a spending cut target of $1.5 trillion. The House Agriculture Committee specifically has been instructed to cut $230 billion over ten years, while the Senate Agriculture Committee has only been directed to cut at least $1 billion within the same fiscal period.

After the two-week recess, the House is expected to begin the Committee markup process ahead of the Senate during the next work period, although it’s worth noting reconciliation will have a challenging time moving forward until mutual Committee toplines can be met.

USDA Cancels the Funding for Partnership for Climate Smart Commodities

On Monday, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced its plans to cancel the Partnership for Climate Smart Commodities (PCSC), a $3 billion Biden-era initiative. This program was created to promote climate-friendly agricultural practices by incentivizing farmers to implement carbon-reducing techniques and expand climate-smart commodity markets.

While this program will no longer exist moving forward, USDA has announced a new initiative called the Advancing Markets for Producers (AMP) program. This program plans to support farmers by reprioritizing advancements and innovations within the agriculture industry while ensuring that funding for these programs goes directly to farmers. AMP will prioritize direct producer benefits, requiring that:

• At least 65% of federal funds go directly to farmers and ranchers.
• Grantees must have enrolled at least one producer by December 31, 2024.
• Grantees must have made a payment to at least one producer by the same date.

USDA noted in their announcement that PCSC grantees are encouraged to reapply for the AMP program under the revised criteria. Additionally, USDA will honor all eligible contracted expenses before April 13, 2025.

USDA Announces New Presidential Appointments

On Monday, the USDA announced the most recent slate of presidential appointments across the entire Department. Please refer to the following list of new names and appointments:

• Bailey Archey was appointed to serve as Policy Advisor in the Marketing and Regulatory Programs. She most recently worked for Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS) as a Legislative Assistant covering her agriculture portfolio.
• Kelsey Barnes was appointed to be a Senior Advisor to the Secretary for Rural Development, Biofuels (RDB), and Research, Education, and Economics. She most recently serves as the Director of Government Affairs at the Farm Journal Foundation and was previously Chief of Staff to the Rural Business Cooperative Service at USDA.
• Bill Beam was appointed to be administrator for the Farm Service Agency (FSA) Production and Conservation. He formerly served as Deputy Administrator of Farm Programs for FSA in the first Trump Administration.
• Aubrey Bettencourt was appointed to be Chief of the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS). She most recently served as Global Director of Government Relations and External Affairs for Netafim, an Orbia Company. 
• Jordan Bonfitto was appointed Chief of Staff for Market and Regulatory Programs. He most recently served as Director of Governmental Affairs at the National Thoroughbred Racing Association.
• Seth W. Christensen was appointed as the Director of Communications of the USDA. He most recently served as Assistant Agency Director and the Chief of Media, Communications, and Preparedness at the Texas Division of Emergency.
• Trey Forsyth was appointed as Chief of Staff for Food Safety. He formerly served as a Professional Staff Member for the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry under Chairman John Boozman (R-AR).
• Dr. Jaye L. Hamby was appointed Director of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture. Hamby previously led and directed proprietary research efforts. 
• Natalie Ihrman was appointed Press Secretary. She previously worked for Sen. James Lankford (R-OK) and Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN).
• Dr. Alveda King was appointed Senior Advisor on Faith and Community Outreach. She is a guardian of The King Family Legacy, Chair of the AFPI Center for the American Dream, founder of Alveda King Ministries, and co-founder of She Leads Georgia and Speak for Life.
• Courtney Knupp was appointed to be Senior Advisor to the Deputy Secretary and Senior Policy Advisor to the Secretary for Trade and Food Safety. She most recently served as the Vice President of International Market Development at the National Pork Board.
• Maggie Linden was appointed Senior Advisor for Marketing and Regulatory Programs. She previously worked in government relations for clients in the agriculture and food industry.
• David Matthews was appointed Director of State Operations for Rural Development. He previously served in the Food and Nutrition Service, the Farm Service Agency, and as a representative of the White House.
• James Miller was appointed Administrator for the Food and Nutrition Service. Miller has extensive senior leadership experience in financial and operational management across the healthcare, nonprofit, and government sectors.
• Brian Mizoguchi was appointed Deputy General Counsel. He previously served in the Office of General Counsel at USDA as both an Associate and Assistant General Counsel.
• Ricki Schroder was appointed Chief of Staff for Research, Education, and Economics. He previously served as Professional Staff for the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Agriculture under Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-PA).
• Alison Slagell was appointed Senior Policy Advisor to the Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs, Farm Production and Conservation, and Immigration. She previously served as Deputy Chief of Staff for Rep. Frank Lucas (R-OK).
• Tucker Stewart was appointed Deputy Assistant Secretary for Congressional Relations. He most recently served as General Counsel and the Senior Agricultural Policy Advisor for Sen. Roger Marshall (R-KS).
• Pat Swanson was appointed Administrator for the Risk Management Agency within Farm Production and Conservation. She most recently served as director for the American Soybean Association and completed her term on the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation Board.
• T.W. Shannon was appointed Senior Advisor to the Secretary for Rural Prosperity. He served as the Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives from 2013 to 2014.
• Carlee Tousman was appointed Director of Special Projects. She previously served as Director of Events at Teneo and as Deputy Communications Director for the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee.
• Alec Varsamis was appointed Deputy Director of Communications. He previously served in the first Trump Administration as Press Secretary at the USDA.
• Audra Weeks was appointed Director of External and Intergovernmental Affairs. She served in the first Trump Administration as Deputy Press Secretary.

The updated crop progress report shows Arkansas at 24% planted and 7% emerged. Louisiana is at 82/65, Mississippi at 25/7, Missouri at 6/0, and Texas at 70/51. Overall, we are ahead in both plantings and emergence when we look at the 5-year average, but we are slightly behind last year’s pace. Rice producers are the eternal optimists, because as planting is fully underway, bids are light and prices are below break-even. It will take significant market changes to reverse the trajectory the market is on at the moment. In Asia and India, prices continue to plummet as the competition for exports is in extreme measures, with supply being so plentiful. Thailand is still at $395 pmt, Vietnam at $400 pmt, and India at $385 pmt. This is putting extreme pressure on the entire rice exporting complex, where the strong harvest in the Mercosur is seeing light demand and high yields. Prices on the ground here in the U.S. haven’t moved much in the past month, and if they have, it’s been in the wrong direction. Prices in Texas have been holding at $12.50-$13 for over a month, as has Louisiana at $13. But Mississippi, Arkansas, and Missouri have all dipped in the last week, now reported at $11.75-$12.00. There doesn’t appear to be any direct factor to boost these numbers in the short term, outside of tariffs slowing exports on Thai Jasmine (36% tariff) and Indian Basmati (26% tariff), thereby boosting domestic demand. We will close this week with a brief update on the medium grain market, where prices remain in the doldrums. The wet winter was leaving open the possibility for reduced acreage from not being able to get into the field for the planting window in California, but warm, dry weather has prevailed, and the expectation as of this writing is for a full crop. Medium grain is not immune to the below break-even price of long grain, and this year’s poor milling yields, above average carry out, and the looks of a full plant don’t bode well for significant price increases. Currently, the cash market for medium grain in California is called at $10/cwt over loan ($16.50 net). These prices will trigger ARC/PLC payments in California for the first time in years.

Ambassador Casey Mace and Agriculture Counselor Timothy Harrison visiting USRPA's booth. This week US Rice Producers Association showcased various U.S. rice products in Singapore, increasing U.S. rice visibility and generating leads in this critical Southeast Asian market. The booth featured a live tasting of three recipes specifically prepared to cater to Asian cuisine. All recipes were well-received, with positive feedback from industry professionals and consumers alike. This trip also provided a valuable opportunity to network with industry partners and gather competitor insights.  USRPA’s promotional programs in Southeast Asia cover Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, the Philippines, and Thailand. Beginning in 2024, USRPA has worked together with local agencies to actively promote and expand the U.S. rice market overseas, reinforcing its position as a reliable supplier in the global market. Follow-up actions are underway to convert leads into long-term partners and customers, and we will continue to generate interest and a positive image of U.S. rice in this robust and sophisticated market. "Our presence in Singapore this week was a tremendous success. The enthusiastic response to our U.S. rice recipes and the strong interest from both consumers and industry professionals reaffirm the growing demand for high-quality U.S. rice in Southeast Asia," Grace Wang, US Rice Producers Association's Chief Financial Officer, said. "We're committed to building on this momentum by deepening relationships, supporting our partners, and reinforcing the U.S. rice industry's reputation as a trusted and innovative supplier in the region."

U SRPA staff and local representative visited Singapore rice importer Tong Seng. Tastings made with U.S. rice were well received.

Trump Announces 90-day Tariff Pause, Excluding Duties on Chinese Goods

On Wednesday, President Trump announced his plans to temporarily halt the country-specific reciprocal tariffs for 90 days, except the tariffs applied to China. Following the announcement, the White House clarified that all countries’ reciprocal tariffs will be brought down to the 10% baseline rate, except for tariffs on China, which currently sit at a rate of 145%, as of the time of this writing.

In retaliation, China has also continued to raise their tariffs on U.S. products to 84% from the previous 34%. This comes after last week’s grand announcement of the widespread global reciprocal tariffs, which seemed to trigger large swings and turmoil in the stock and bond markets. President Trump and Department of the Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who is expected to help take a lead in trade negotiations, relayed that more than 75 countries have come to the negotiating table and are willing to secure lower duties. The tariffs placed on Mexico and Canada have remained unchanged from their previous settings, which means United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) -compliant goods will continue to see a 0% tariff, non-USMCA compliant goods will see a 25% tariff, and non-USMCA compliant energy and potash will see a 10% tariff.

As more trading partners come to the table during this time, the Trump Administration’s trade goals of eliminating trade barriers, both on tariffs and regulations, and reversing the U.S. trade deficit seem to remain at the center of negotiations.

USTR Ambassador Greer Testifies Before Senate Finance and House Ways and Means Committees

This week, U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Ambassador Jamieson Greer made his rounds on Capitol Hill, where he testified on behalf of the Trump Administration’s trade policy agenda before both the Senate Committee on Finance and the House Committee on Ways and Means. Both sets of hearings seemed to feature bipartisan concern regarding the potential adverse effects that President Trump’s reciprocal tariffs may have on the U.S. economy and American businesses and consumers. Republicans highlighted how the Trump Administration’s reciprocal tariffs would create new trade agreements that reduce trade barriers and lower the trade deficits but were wary of potential unintended consequences. Further, Republicans said tariffs would promote protectionist ideals such as domestic manufacturing and job creation.

Democrats criticized President Trump’s tariff policy for alienating the U.S. from longtime allies and a negative impact on American families. Additionally, Democrats raised concerns about President Trump’s use of executive power while implementing his trade agenda. Ambassador Greer defended the Administration’s recent trade actions and said that while there would be no exemptions for U.S. companies, negotiations are underway, and many countries have already expressed willingness to work with the U.S. on the countries’ tariff rates and non-tariff barriers.

Other topics of discussion across chambers included the United States- Canada- Mexico Agreement (USMCA), U.S.- China relations, agricultural trade and exports, U.S.-produced steel and aluminum, domestic pharmaceutical manufacturing, digital trading markets, and the de minimis exemption. You can watch the full Senate Finance hearing here and the full House Ways and Means hearing here.

Senate Ag holds USDA Nomination Hearings On Tuesday, the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry held a nomination hearing for the Honorable Stephen Vaden, of Tennessee, to be the next Deputy Secretary of Agriculture and Mr. Tyler Clarkson, of Virginia, to be General Counsel of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Generally, Republicans and Democrats agreed on the importance of strong leadership at USDA to address the challenges facing rural America. Republicans focused on the nominations of Judge Stephen Vaden and Tyler Clarkson, emphasizing their roles in supporting the USDA's mission and addressing economic struggles in agriculture. Democrats repeatedly criticized the Trump Administration’s blanket tariff policy, the recent funding freezes at USDA, and the necessity for USDA leadership to uphold the rule of law and support rural communities.

Other topics of discussion throughout the nomination included foreign market development and various barriers to trade, the importance of reauthorizing a new five-year farm bill, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) work requirements, and rural development. While no date has officially been set to confirm either nominee, it is likely the Agriculture Committee and the full Senate will vote and consider their nominations during the next work period in May after the two-week Easter/Passover recess. You can watch the full nomination hearing here.

USDA WASDE Report Lowers U.S. Rice Exports

While the activity in Washington is unprecedented and the pull to analyze the tariffs on a broad scale has a magnetic force to it, our focus here will be to remain steadily focused on the rice market. As each day passes, a “steady-as-she-goes” approach seems to be paying off because, as of this writing, President Trump has cancelled or relaxed tariffs on all countries except China for 90 days. April’s FAO Rice Price Update shows that the Rice Price Index declined by another 1.7% in March to an average of only 104.1 points. This is 24.6% lower than this time last year and hit another three-year low. As we’ve continued to report, price quotations have dropped from all major exporting regions; i.e., the low prices we are seeing in the United States are not an isolated incident — it’s worldwide. The WASDE report released yesterday has the futures market trading lower as the USDA cut exports 2 million cwt, but raised residual use by 3 million, while cutting carryover by 1 million cwt to 34.3 million cwt. World stocks (not including China) actually increased by 1.73 MMT up to 79.74 MMT. This is being blamed more on slow demand from the Philippines and Indonesia than any significant production increase. A recent GAIN report on the Philippines, often the world’s largest importer, is projecting that this year they import less than last year. While that could happen, it is a common refrain for the Philippines to boast about an increase in domestic production and not needing to rely so heavily on imports, only to come to market later in the year with a severe need for large quantities of rice. The expected production numbers this year are 11.6 million acres, right in line with 2023 and up less than 1% from last year. Imports this year are at 5,200 MMT, down from 5,300 MMT last year but up from 4,500 MMT from 2023. The overall consumption of rice is expected to increase by .6% this year, up to 17.30 MMT. Vietnam has been the largest supplier by far, accounting for 75% of the 4.5 MMT of imports last year. In the broader global market, Asia is hurting, while the Mercosur is steady in harvest. Prices continue to bring pain, where Thailand is quoted at $395 pmt, Vietnam at $400 pmt, and India at $380 pmt. Prices in the Western Hemisphere are certainly higher but still below break-even levels. Harvest in the Mercosur is continuing well, with strong numbers and what can currently be described as light demand. The result is a continued softening of prices, with paddy prices hovering around $310/ton FOB, if not lower. The hope is that demand picks up significantly. This year’s first Crop Progress Report shows Louisiana at 69% planted, Texas at 60%, Arkansas at 15%, Mississippi at 14%, Missouri at 2%, and California at 0%, where tractors are just beginning to turn over dirt for initial field work. Recent flooding in southeast Missouri and northeast Arkansas has had a limited impact while water levels continue to recede. Rice is 52% emerged in Louisiana and 35% in Texas. Prices on the ground haven’t moved much as everyone is waiting with bated breath to see what will come of the tariffs.

On Friday, March 28, 2025, CORPCOM celebrated its 30th anniversary with a special event attended by its members, leaders of rice producer associations, and public officials. The highlight of the evening was a recognition presented by the Municipality of Samborondón, honoring CORPCOM’s contributions to the Ecuadorian rice industry. During the ceremony, Dr. Silvia Tutiven Ortega, Vice Mayor of Samborondón, presented a special award to Juan Pablo Zúñiga, president of CORPCOM, in acknowledgment of the organization's legacy and its impact on the professional advancement of Ecuador’s rice industry. This recognition underscores CORPCOM’s role in providing technical information, training, and strategic support for the state, producers, and businesses investing in the sector. In his remarks, Juan Pablo Zúñiga stated, "CORPCOM has played a vital role as the second link in the rice value chain, serving as a source of technical information for the state, producers, and businesses interested in investing in the sector. Additionally, we have been committed to providing training for producers and industry professionals, aiming to enhance the quality and productivity of rice." The 30th-anniversary celebration not only honored CORPCOM’s achievements but also reinforced its mission to support the continued growth and modernization of the sector. Here’s to the next chapter of excellence in Ecuador’s rice industry. "We thank Juan Pablo Zuñiga and CORPCOM for the kind invitation. We regret that we could not make it, but we recognize and celebrate CORPCOM’s incredible achievements over the past 30 years," said Marcela Garcia, USRPA President & CEO.