In This Issue:
- Market Update: U.S. Rice Imports at All-Time High, 33% of Domestic Consumption
- Washington, D.C. Update
- 2025 USRPA Ray Stoesser Memorial Scholars Announced
- USRPA Mourns the Passing of John LaRose, Sr.
- Southeast Texas Rice Symposium To Be Held in Winnie, TX on 1/23
- USRPA Represents at the Western Rice Belt Production Conference
- RMTC 2025 Sponsor Highlight: Indumak
- Video from Rice Country
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U.S. Rice Imports at All-Time High, 33% of Domestic Consumption | |
The rice market marches along here in the Western Hemisphere. On the ground we
have seen a softening in price during the new year, perhaps initial signs of pressure from India creeping into our markets. The real story though, will be what tariffs are announced upon the new Administration taking control of the country and economy next week. Rice is heavily dependent upon exports, and with tariffs being the word of the day, U.S. rice may be caught in the crossfire of geopolitical positioning.
Through most of December, prices in Texas were $15.50-$16.10, but have dropped
down to $15.35/cwt in the new year. The story is the same for Louisiana, where prices were in the $15.50/cwt range, now being reported in the $14.50-$14.80/cwt range. Mississippi, Arkansas, and Missouri are all experiencing the same downward pressure, with prices dropping in the new year from $$14.50-$14.75, down to $13.00-$13.50/cwt. The announcement and timing of $70/acre emergency funding from Congress couldn’t come at a better time.
The WASDE Report came out last week, and the outlook for U.S. rice calls for higher supplies, larger domestic use (thankfully!), unchanged exports, and smaller ending stocks. Domestic and residual use increased by 6 million cwt up to 165 million. The final number for US rice production totaled 222 million cwt, up 2% from the previous year. Projected ending stocks are lowered by 3.2 million cwt to 43.5 million. That’s still 9% higher than last year. A disturbing development for rice farmers is that U.S. imports now represent 33% of the domestic consumption, an all-time high according to the recent USDA-ERS Rice Market Outlook report while U.S. 2024/25 total rice imports are projected at a record 46.5 million hundredweight.
The global outlook per the WASDE calls for smaller supplies, smaller consumption,
lighter trade, and lower ending stocks. While global supply decreases are
marginal, at least we’re not gaining. Contrary to the USDA, our take is that world trade will increase simply on account of India being back in the market, therefore precipitating a drop in prices and more demand.
In Asia, prices haven’t been this low since February of 2023. Surprisingly enough, India isn’t the low-price leader, instead, it’s Vietnam. Right now we are seeing Asian prices crater, with Vietnam at $425pmt, Indian prices at $450pmt, and Thai prices at $465pmt. Thai 100%B is holding a higher price, but only at $480pmt currently.
In South America, the action will be coming out of Uruguay as they are the only country with a significant exportable supply. The poor milling quality coming out of the U.S. is depressing paddy prices FOB NOLA, where we reported prices last week as low as $370 pmt if not lower this week. The export market in the Delta is unusually quiet. With harvest still underway in the Mercosur that is indicating a softer market by the week we know that competition will be fierce in the Western Hemisphere in the coming months.
The weekly USDA Export Sales report shows net sales of 23,100 MT this week, up noticeably from the previous week, but down 61% from the prior 4-week average. Exports of 58,300 MT were up significantly from the previous week and up 18% from the prior 4-week average. The destinations were primarily Mexico (26,100 MT), Japan (15,900 MT), Haiti (10,800 MT), Canada (2,400 MT, including 1,200 MT - late), and South Korea (2,400 MT).
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President-Elect Trump Aannounces Nominations for USDA Undersecretaries
On Thursday, President-elect Donald Trump made four announcements for various undersecretary positions at USDA. In a series of posts on the social media platform Truth Social, he announced nominations for the following roles and individuals:
- Luke Lindberg was named to be Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agriculture Affairs. In the first Trump Administration, he served as chief of staff and chief strategy officer at the Export-Import Bank and is currently the president and chief executive officer of South Dakota Trade.
- Dudley Hoskins was named to be Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs. In the first Trump Administration, he served as chief of staff for marketing and regulatory programs and as senior advisor to the Secretary and currently serves as counsel on the Senate Agriculture Committee.
- Richard Fordyce was named to be Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation. In the first Trump Administration, he served as Administrator of the Farm Service Agency and has also served as Director of Agriculture for the State of Missouri.
- Michael Boren was named to be Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment. He is a businessman who has founded six different companies and has served on the board of the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation.
The President-elect has already announced he will nominate Brooke Rollins and Stephen Vaden to serve as the Secretary and Deputy Secretary, respectively. The Senate Agriculture Committee announced this week it will hold a nomination hearing for Rollins on Thursday, January 23. A live stream and recording of the hearing will be available here.
House Democrats Announce Agriculture Committee Roster
On Wednesday, House Democrats released their finalized committee rosters for the 119th Congress. Joining the Agriculture Committee will be Reps. Shri Thanedar (D-MI), Adam Gray (D-CA), Kristen McDonald Rivet (D-MI), Shomari Figures (D-AL), Eugene Vindman (D-VA), Josh Riley (D-NY), John Mannion (D-NY), and April McClain Delaney (D-MD). Departing the Committee will be Reps. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-WA), Jasmine Crockett (D-TX), Greg Casar (D-TX), Chellie Pingree (D-ME), Salud Carbajal (D-CA), Darren Soto (D-FL), and Sanford Bishop (D-GA). Three additional vacancies were created when former Reps. Abigail Spanberger (D-VA), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), and Yadira Caraveo (D-CO) departed from the House of Representatives at the end of the 119th Congress.
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Savannah Hanson
Liberty, TX
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Mackenzie Hill
Bernie, MO
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USRPA Ray Stoesser Memorial Scholars Announced |
The US Rice Producers Association Ray Stoesser Memorial Scholarship Committee is pleased to announce its 2025 scholarship recipients. Kayla Braggs, a first-year Ph.D. student at the University of Florida, will receive a $5,000 scholarship from the Stoesser family to continue her education.
Braggs, originally from Atlanta, GA, is currently a 1st-year PhD student at the University of Florida studying Agricultural Communications, also holds a B.S. in Food Science and Agribusiness Minor from Florida A&M University, and a M.S. in Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics from Michigan State University. Her research focuses on producer-centered policy education efforts for small and medium scale farmers while also looking at how federal agricultural policy plays a role in agribusiness production decisions. In addition to her academic endeavors, she has been an active member of Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences (MANRRS) since her freshman year at FAMU. Kayla served as the chapter historian and is the past fundraising chair. Nationally, she served as the Region II Undergraduate Student Vice President, National Undergraduate Student President, Past National Undergraduate Student President, Region V Graduate Vice President and current National Graduate Student President for this academic year. She is the daughter of Kira Harris-Braggs & Hassiba Braggs.
In addition to the monetary award, Braggs will serve as a student ambassador for US Rice Producers Association in 2025. She will be invited to participate in various USRPA activities, included but not limited to Field Days, legislative activities, conferences, and more.
With a strong applicant pool, USRPA, the Stoesser family, and the Turner family of El Campo, TX sponsored additional scholarships. Emily Glaze, a freshman at Texas Tech University, will receive a $2500 scholarship. Savannah Hanson, a high school senior at Liberty High School in Liberty Texas, and Mackenzie Hill, a sophomore at Southeast Missouri State University, will each receive a $1000 scholarship.
Glaze, daughter of Josh and Laura Glaze, is originally from El Campo, Texas. She’s currently pursuing a dual degree in Agriculture Economics and Business at Texas Tech University. In addition to her years of involvement with 4-H and FFA, Glaze is now an active member of the Collegiate Cattlemen’s Association and Collegiate Farm Bureau. She is a fourth-generation rice farmer and has a deep passion for all things ag-related.
Hanson, daughter of Brady and Richelle Hanson, is a senior at Liberty High School in Liberty, TX and plans to attend Texas A&M University this fall to study Agribusiness. She has held multiple leadership roles in ag-related organizations, including 4-H, FFA, International Junior Brangus Breeders Association.
Hill, daughter of Jason and Ashley Hill, is studying Agribusiness with an emphasis in Plant and Soil Science at Southeast Missouri State University. Originally from Bernie, MO, she is treasurer of Collegiate Farm Bureau, an Executive Team member of Collegiate Cattleman’s Association, a member of the Agriculture Leadership Alliance Club and the Agriculture Honor Society.
Applicants of the Ray Stoesser Memorial Scholarship must be high school seniors or current college students who are interested in or are currently pursuing a career in an agriculture-related field. For more information, visit http://usriceproducers.com/scholarship.
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USRPA Mourns the Passing of John LaRose Sr. | John LaRose Sr. with former USRPA President & CEO Dwight Roberts at a past NCS Cotton & Rice Conference. USRPA has partnered with MAFG on the conference for over two decades. |
John LaRose Sr., Founder of LaRose Studio, MidAmerica Farmer Grower, National Conservation Tillage Conferences and AgWiki.com, passed away on Sunday at his home in Perryville, MO. LaRose was a long time friend to US Rice Producers Association and he will be greatly missed.
Visitation will be from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm on Friday, January 17, 2025 at Ford & Young Funeral Home in Perryville and will continue from 8:00 am to 9:30 am on Saturday, January 18, 2025 at the funeral home.
Funeral Mass will be at 10:00 am Saturday, January 18, 2025 at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church in Perryville with Rev. Fred Wandera C.M. officiating.
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Southeast Texas Rice Symposium To Be Held in Winnie, TX on January 23 |
The annual Southeast Texas Rice Symposium will take place on Thursday, January 23, 2025, at the Winnie-Stowell Community Building in Winnie, TX, from 8:30 AM to 1:00 PM. This year’s event will feature a tradeshow and a series of informative presentations covering topics such as 2024 Rice Field Notes, Kernel Smut, Rice Delphacid, and Rice Quality. The symposium will conclude with a complimentary lunch for all attendees.
There is no fee to attend, but RSVPs are encouraged. For more information or to RSVP, please call 409-835-8461. Attendees will also have the opportunity to earn 2 Continuing Education Units (CEUs), including 1 IPM and 1 General. Don’t miss this opportunity to network and stay informed about the latest developments in rice production!
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USRPA Represents at the Western Rice Belt Production Conference |
The 2025 Western Rice Belt Production Conference took place on January 15 at the El Campo Civic Center in El Campo, Texas. This annual event brought together rice producers, industry professionals, and researchers to discuss the latest developments and challenges in rice production.
The conference served as a platform for knowledge exchange, networking, and strategic discussions, aiming to equip attendees with the tools and information necessary to navigate the evolving landscape of rice production.
| Tommy Turner presenting Texas Rice Council report. |
Key presentations included:
- Kernel Smut Research: Paul Goetze shared findings on managing and mitigating kernel smut in rice crops.
- Current Events in Rice Production: Dr. Sam Rustom provided insights into recent trends and issues affecting rice farming.
- New Herbicide Technology in Rice: Dr. Connor Webster introduced advancements in herbicide applications tailored for rice cultivation.
- Irrigation Water Update: Kelly Payne, Vice President of Water Operations for the Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA), discussed water availability and pricing, emphasizing its critical role for South Texas growers.
- Pesticide Application Using UAV Drones: Dan Martin explored the use of unmanned aerial vehicles for efficient pesticide application.
- Conservation Programs Update: Representatives from the USDA-NRCS provided updates on conservation initiatives relevant to rice producers.
During lunch, the winners of the rice poster competition were announced the winners of the Rice Poster Contest were announced, showcasing the creativity of area students.
The afternoon session resumed with an insightful Texas Rice Council Report presented by Tommy Turner. He highlighted the impressive range of projects undertaken by the Texas Rice Council in collaboration with U.S. Rice Producers over the past year. Turner emphasized the ongoing initiatives aimed at promoting U.S. rice on a global scale, showcasing the industry's commitment to innovation, market expansion, and sustainable growth. Additionally, Jamison Cruce from USA Rice addressed recent legislative developments impacting the rice industry, Jake Mowrer on the Rice Water Smart Project, and Natalie Graff concluded the event with an overview of the Farm Bill.
"The Western Rice Belt Production Conference consistently draws a strong attendance, reflecting its importance to the rice-growing community. This event provides Texas farmers with valuable insights into the latest research, technologies, and market trends, equipping them with the tools needed to enhance productivity and sustainability. It's a cornerstone for collaboration and progress in our region's rice industry," Tommy Turner, president of the Texas Rice Council.
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USRPA staff members present at event.
Left to right: Grace Wang, Marcela Garcia, Trey Barker, Iris Figueroa and Dwight Roberts.
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RMTC 2025 - Sponsor Highlight | |
Check out this Instagram reel shared by @twinlakesfarm2 in Arkansas.
Send us your Rice Country and harvest time photos or videos on Facebook, Instagram, or via email!
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Food & Agriculture
Regulatory & Policy Roundup
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Grain: World Markets
& Trade
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World Agricultural Production | | |
January 27 - 28, 2025
28th Annual National Conservation Systems Cotton & Rice Conference
Memphis, TN
More Information
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February 20, 2025
Missouri Rice Research & Merchandising Council Annual Meeting
Poplar Bluff, MO
More Information
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May 28 - 30, 2025
Rice Market & Technology Convention
Miami, Florida
More Information
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USRPA does not discriminate in its programs on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, or marital/family status. Persons who require alternative means for communication of information (such as Braille, large print, sign language interpreter or translation) should contact USRPA at 713-974-7423. |
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