Happy Anniversary to the US Rice Producers Association!

Rice Farmers Ready for 2021!

Today, December 18, 2020, marks the 23rd anniversary of the founding of the US Rice Producers Association. Today it’s impossible to not think of Mr. Jack Wendt, a Texas rice farmer and former President of the US Rice Council that was based in Houston, Texas, and a man who traveled the world promoting U.S. grown rice. He also made his share of trips to Washington, D.C. to remind Capitol Hill of the contribution made by rice farmers to our national food security in his genuine effort to feed the world.

While Jack grew more than 60 rice crops, he was an original member of the USRPA board of directors. Respected and known by everyone in the U.S. rice industry, Mr. Wendt played an instrumental role in the development of those original by-laws dated December 18, 1997. The same principals installed by Jack in 1997 ring true today- an organization comprised of producers, elected by producers, and representing rice producers in all rice-producing states.

The new rice association was told at the time the effort would never materialize, considered a group of “rebel farmers” who will not last. Someone forgot to tell folks like Mr. Wendt, Raymond Franz, Hal Koop, Sonny Martin, Penn Owen and Rex Morgan apparently. These gentlemen stood by their principals and always spoke as if 1,000 rice farmers were listening over their shoulders. Just like Ray Stoesser!

Over the years change became inevitable and while the USRPA developed unique relationships with the most important markets and the buyers for long-grain rice, it is satisfying to know that these men had so much to do with our current day leadership in the US rice industry.

Comments written last month by the leadership of the USA Rice Federation apparently confirm what these men knew all along.

“All of those issues are long gone and most of the people involved are not around anymore.”

“The leadership on the USA Rice board & committees has changed and the attitude and philosophy has changed.”

“That might have been the case 20 years ago and now is far from the truth.”

Looking back over the past 23 years, this has to be the biggest accomplishment of the USRPA- raising awareness and creating change for the better.

Congratulations to all of you who have been involved in this process and continue to represent rice farmers. 2021 will bring new challenges but like has been the case for the past 23 years, they will be met. After all 2020 has taught us that farmers are officially “essential.”

To accommodate the global travel restriction and adapt to rapidly developing cloud technology, USRPA held its first public virtual event via Zoom in China on Wednesday 10 am -12 pm, August 26th, 2020 (US Central time is Tuesday, August 25, 9-11pm). 

The educational seminar on US rice was the first of a series virtual events that benefit both international rice buyers as well as US companies that are particularly interested in expanding their global markets.     The seminar attracted dozens attendees in China which primarily consist of rice importers, food processors and Chinese rice industry leaders. This 2 hour event began with a presentation on the latest US rice market and different topics presented by renowned industry speakers followed by a Q&A session. USDA FAS has also accepted the invitation was one of the guest speakers.  

China is open to US rice thanks to the efforts of USRPA, the first rice organization to venture into this market. After the successful completion of trade mission in China in 2019, USRPA continues to monitor the market, communicate to trade contacts and plans to conduct promotional programs.

As the 2025 Stoesser Scholarship recipient and a Florida resident, the Rice Market & Technology Convention provided a wonderful opportunity for Kayla Braggs to meet the Stoesser family in person and connect with members of the U.S. rice industry. "Attending the Rice Marketing and Technology Convention this past month was nothing short of amazing," Braggs said of her RMTC experience. "As a first-time attendee, I had no idea what to expect, and it was nothing short of surprises around every corner. From the production exhibition to the informational speaker sessions, the week provided a great mix of industry updates, with reconnecting with old and new friends. One of the high points was meeting the Stoesser Family. They were all so welcoming, and it made me even prouder to have been a scholarship recipient in memory of someone so instrumental in the US Rice Producers Association."Left to right: Meredith Stoesser, Kayla Braggs, & Neal Stoesser.

Kayla is currently a second-year PhD student at the University of Florida studying Agriculture Communications. Her research focuses on producer-centered policy education and finding ways that practitioners and other stakeholders can work together to make better communication tools for agriculture policy. After graduation, she plans to move to Washington, D.C., to dive into the ag policy in policy communications/stakeholder engagement at a trade association or corporate company.  "I also enjoyed getting a glimpse at how many countries U.S. rice impacts," she said. "Even with only six major producing states, it is without question the industry’s impact is exponential. If I was to give advice to someone interested in attending the conference for the first time, be prepared to come with open ears and be prepared to leave with an even greater appreciation for the growers, processors, millers, and marketers that propel the rice industry forward." On behalf of the U.S. Rice Producers Association and the Stoesser family, we extend our heartfelt thanks to Kayla for her kind words and for sharing her experience at the Rice Marketing and Technology Convention. It was a pleasure to have her join us, and we are incredibly proud to count her among the recipients of the Stoesser Memorial Scholarship. Her passion for agricultural communication and her commitment to advancing the industry’s future through research and policy are truly inspiring. We look forward to seeing the impact she will make in the years to come.

This week’s USDA Trade Mission to Peru marked a successful step forward in strengthening agricultural trade between the United States and Latin America. Led by Daniel Whitley, Administrator of the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service, the mission brought together U.S. agribusinesses, trade associations, and government officials to foster partnerships, explore market opportunities, and promote high-quality American products, including U.S. rice. “Participating in this trade mission was an excellent opportunity to connect directly with key buyers and industry partners in Peru,” said Iris Figueroa, Western Hemisphere Marketing Manager and mission participant. “There is clear interest and enthusiasm for U.S. products, and we’re excited about the potential for continued growth in this market.” The strong engagement and collaborative spirit throughout the mission underscored Peru’s importance as a strategic and growing market for U.S. agriculture.I ris Figueroa and Daniel Whitley, Administrator of the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service.

B2B meetings are a critical element of trade missions like this one, as they provide a direct platform for exporters and buyers to connect, discuss needs, and negotiate potential deals. These face-to-face interactions build trust, clarify expectations, and help tailor products and services to specific market demands. For U.S. rice producers, such meetings are invaluable in expanding their reach, understanding local market dynamics, and establishing long-lasting relationships that drive sustainable growth.

Left to right: Luis Enrique Manayay Llaguento from Grupo Valle Norte, Iris Figueroa and Jose Luis Jimenez, wholesale sales executive at Mercado San Anita. While in Peru, we had the valuable opportunity to meet with a representative from APEMA, Asociación Peruana de Molineros de Arroz, and visit Mercado San Anita, one of Lima’s largest and most vibrant traditional markets. Overall, the trip to Peru was an invaluable and we extend our sincere thanks to the USDA for making this important mission possible.

USRPA cosponsors agriculture industry event in DC: On Wednesday, Congress hosted its annual bipartisan Congressional Baseball Game for Charity at Nat’s Park in Washington, DC. USRPA, alongside a handful of other agricultural trade associations, sponsored a pre-game event that garnered lots of participation and engagement from the Hill and other working professionals within the DC agriculture policy bubble. USRPA’s own, Mollie Buckler, represented producers and the organization at the event, along with USRPA’s lobbying arm Cornerstone Government Affairs.

Senate Ag Committee releases reconciliation bill text: On Wednesday, the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry released legislative text to contribute towards the Senate’s broader budget reconciliation package. At the beginning of the reconciliation process, Senate Ag was instructed to cut at least $1 billion from within the Committee’s jurisdiction, which was vastly different than the House Agriculture Committee’s instruction of $230 billion. Chairman John Boozman (R-AR) and the Committee market the bill as reining in runaway spending in the nutrition title while promoting fiscal responsibility and investing in rural America and America’s farm families. In the Senate’s version, the bill has a net savings total closer to $140 billion, whereas the House’s version meets their instruction of $230 billion in net savings. From the perspective of USRPA, the bill increases reference prices for Title I commodities, including long and medium grain rice, reforms payment limits, and bolsters funding for trade promotion programs. You can find the Senate Agriculture Committee’s complete legislative text here and a section-by-section summary here. House Appropriation delays Ag-FDA FY26 markup: On Wednesday, the full House Appropriations Committee convened to markup the Fiscal Year 2026 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Bill. This bill provides a discretionary spending total of $25.523 billion, $1.163 billion (4.2%) below the FY25 enacted level. Members engaged in hotly partisan debates regarding funding levels for rural infrastructure, the Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), and the foreign influence on farming in the U.S. Republicans supported efforts for the federal government to assume more fiscally responsibility while simultaneously supporting rural communities access to broadband, water infrastructure, and affordable housing. Democrats criticized the spending cuts, arguing that the proposed cuts to rural infrastructure will harm farmers, vulnerable communities, and subside development. The Committee initially started the markup on Wednesday morning, recessed for the Congressional Baseball Game later in the afternoon, and then returned in the evening after the game to resume the rest of the markup. Despite all this, the Committee was unable to finish up the markup, with the FY26 Defense bill that was scheduled to markup before the full Committee on Thursday, the following day. While the Committee managed to get through a bulk of the amendments, a handful remain, and a continuation date has yet to be confirmed. You can find a copy of the bill text here and the report language here. Senate confirms Stephen Vaden as Deputy Secretary of Agriculture: On Tuesday, the Senate confirmed Stephen Vaden to be the next Deputy Secretary of Agriculture along a 51-44 party vote. He will now head down to the U.S. Department of Agriculture where he will serve as Secretary Brooke Rollins’ number two in command. This vote comes two months after his nomination hearing before the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. Before this new role, he served as a judge on the U.S. Court of International Trade and was at the USDA during President Trump’s first term as a general counsel. The Senate has yet to schedule confirmation votes for several other USDA nominees in the queue, such as Luke Linberg, Tyler Clarkson, and Dudley Hoskins.,

The rice market continues to move along without major disruptions in either direction. While we haven’t described prices as “strong” in quite some time, we wouldn’t call them weak either. For now, the market remains steady, though with both upside and downside potential. However, with a large crop on the horizon and low global prices, any upward movement appears unlikely. According to the FAO Rice Price Update, prices have been hovering near the bottom for a while. The All Rice Price Index averaged 106.3 points in May, up 1.4% from April, but still 22.6% below levels seen this time last year. The slight bump is attributed mainly to aromatic and Basmati rice, rather than conventional long grain.This month’s WASDE included a special update on Thailand, a country that once led global exports but has been overtaken by India in recent years. Thailand’s rice exports are projected to fall to a multi-year low of 7.0 million tons in 2025 due to plummeting demand from Indonesia, tighter exportable supplies, and increased competition from cheaper exporters. Despite a higher production forecast, beginning stocks are at their lowest since 2005, largely due to elevated exports during India’s 2024 export ban. With India back in the market, Thai rice — especially white rice — has become less competitive, further burdened by a stronger baht. As a result, key markets like the Philippines and Malaysia have shifted toward more affordable options, causing steep declines in Thai milled rice shipments. Still, there are bright spots: exports to Iraq and China are up, parboiled shipments to South Africa remain steady, and fragrant rice exports, especially to the U.S., continue to grow. Per this month’s WASDE, global rice production has been revised upward on the back of a large Indian crop, driven by government subsidies and favorable weather. Global stocks and consumption forecasts are also higher, again largely due to India’s strong performance. As mentioned, the U.S. long grain market hasn’t been described as strong in over a year, back when prices reached $800/MT. Today, $650/MT is a more common quote. See the attached price chart from FAS for recent trends. The weekly USDA Export Sales report shows net sales of 48,400 MT this week, down 17% from the previous week and 2% from the prior 4-week average. Exports of 49,900 MT were down 27% from the previous week and 3% from the prior 4-week average.  Crop Progress is looking solid, with 23% of the crop registering in the Excellent category, 54% in Good, 20% in Fair, 3% in Poor, and 0% in Very Poor. Overall, a good place to be this time of year. We can only hope that heat units and weather events are advantageous to crop and milling qualities as we move through the summer.

House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture advances FY26 bill to Full Committee:  On Thursday, the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies convened to markup the Fiscal Year 2026 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Bill. This markup comes after President Trump released additional guidance regarding the Administration’s ‘skinny’ FY26 budget request. The bill provides a discretionary spending total of $25.523 billion for programs under the subcommittee's jurisdiction, $1.163 billion (4.2%) below the FY25 enacted level. Republicans expressed support for the bill, claiming that it prioritizes protecting the food and drug supply, supporting farmers, ranchers, and rural communities, expanding broadband access, investing in critical agricultural research, and ensuring access to nutrition programs for low-income individuals and families. Democrats argued that the proposed cuts to rural development, nutrition assistance, and international aid undermine support to vulnerable communities. The Subcommittee favorably reported the bill to the Full Committee on a party-line vote of 9-7. The bill is scheduled for Full Committee consideration next Wednesday, June 11. You can watch the full Subcommittee markup here. President Trump shares additional FY26 budget request and agency resources:  Last Friday, President Donald Trump released a 1,224-page appendix with more details and agency instructions regarding the Administration’s initial fiscal year (FY) 2026 ‘skinny’ budget request that was released in the beginning of May. In addition to the White House’s published materials, several individual agencies also posted their own “budget in brief” resources. In the released budget, Trump seeks non-defense funding cuts of more than 22% in the upcoming fiscal year alongside a flat military budget. From the lens of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Administration is requesting $23 billion for USDA, which amounts to a $7 billion cut from the current year’s budget. While the appendix provides additional details surrounding targeted cuts across the federal government, the White House still owes Congress several other pieces of its budget. Despite this, the Director of the White House Office of Management, Russ Vought, has indicated that a completed proposal is not expected to be released until Congress manages to pass the GOP-led reconciliation package. You can find a copy of the appendix to Trump’s May budget request here and copy of the USDA’s FY26 budget summary here.

This week’s rice market update comes with a side of drama — because what’s global trade without a little political spice? While tariffs tiptoe their way back into headlines, the real showstopper is the very public breakup between Donald Trump and Elon Musk. Once the poster boys of free-market bravado and social media swagger, their bromance has officially soured. What does this mean for rice? Maybe nothing... maybe everything. When the world’s loudest voices clash, markets twitch — especially when tech, trade, and policy start to tangle. Buckle up, because it’s going to be a weird growing season. So with planting and emergence largely behind us, we turn our sights more directly to crop condition across the rice-producing states. The good news is that we are 75% in the Good to Excellent condition this year, compared to 77% last year. It is still too early to make any prognostications, but not having any significant weather events early on is always a plus. That being said, weather has caused an obvious reduction in the concentrated area of long grain in northeast Arkansas, with an estimated 250,000 acres going to preventive planting. Keep your eye on the weather throughout the northern rice delta as the forecast calls for wet, stormy conditions. Prices on the ground here in the U.S. for any scant amounts of old crop are being reported with Texas at $12.50-$13. Louisiana is showing $13/cwt, while Mississippi, Arkansas, and Missouri are reporting in at $11.25-$12/cwt. Many of the mills are entering a summer slowdown, while others are busy milling the Iraq business so desperately needed to keep liquidity present. Check out June's FAO Rice Update here. In Asia, prices are still dismal, but at least steady. Thailand and Vietnam are both competing in the $400 pmt +/- $5, while India is sub-$400 at $390 pmt this week. Business is relatively steady in the Far East, with many destinations ordering at ease because of the low prices with no threat of an increase on the horizon. The weekly USDA Export Sales report shows net sales of 58,100 MT this week, down 31% from the previous week, but up 17% from the prior 4-week average. Increases primarily for South Korea (22,200 MT), unknown destinations (17,500 MT), Saudi Arabia (9,000 MT), Haiti (8,000 MT), and Japan (1,000 MT) were offset by reductions for Guatemala (1,200 MT). Exports of 68,500 MT were up a whopping 407% from the previous week and up 52% from the prior 4-week average.

RMTC 2025 brought together more than 30 countries and over 250 companies for an impactful and energizing week in Miami. From start to finish, the event was filled with strategic dialogue, technical insight, and industry-shaping announcements that will resonate far beyond the convention floor. Attendees experienced expert-led sessions, cutting-edge technology demonstrations, and unparalleled networking opportunities. The exhibition floor buzzed with activity, highlighting the latest in rice milling, grading, packaging, and sustainability solutions. “The energy, collaboration, and vision present at RMTC 2025 reflect the strength and resilience of our industry. Together, we are shaping a stronger future for rice,” Marcela Garcia, President & CEO of US Rice Producers Association, said. THANK YOU to all our incredible sponsors, exhibitors, speakers, and attendees. Your support and participation made RMTC 2025 a true success. “This year’s RMTC demonstrated the power of partnership and innovation in driving the global rice sector forward. We are proud to provide a platform where meaningful progress begins,” Iris Figueroa, Western Hemisphere Marketing Manager for US Rice Producers Association, said. We look forward to welcoming you to RMTC 2026. Stay tuned for details coming soon!

RMTC Photo Gallery

We were proud to feature this video at this year's RMTC, amplifying the U.S. rice producers' voice for industry members from around the world. Hear why USRPA is the best partner to the U.S. rice producer, directly from producers themselves: