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In This Issue:
- Market Update: Final 2026 Long Grain Planted Acres Major Market Issue
- Washington, D.C. Update
- SLRF Loads Another Vessel
- USRPA Joins USDA Trade Mission to Indonesia
- USRPA Joins FECARROZ Leadership to Celebrate Historic Milestone
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USRPA in Jutiapa: Nutrition, Education, & Trade
- RMTC Exhibitor Highlights: AGI, Frigortec & Hunan Chenzhou Grain & Oil Machinery Co., Ltd.
- Photo from Rice Country
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| Final 2026 Long Grain Planted Acres Major Market Issue | | |
The cold has ravaged much of Arkansas rice country, where the focus has been on industry meetings amid ongoing market uncertainty. While the plight of the U.S. rice industry has been well documented in this report and every other news article as of late, there are a few high points we can discuss. The first is that we are still awaiting confirmed results of what was the largest Colombian TRQ, optimistically projected at 140,000 metric tons. Second, there appears to be an increased consumer interest in our domestically growing fragrant jasmine varieties. It has long been the case that domestic sales are being eaten away by Thai Jasmine imports, and the supply chain has finally caught up to answer consumer demand. And lastly, a significant reduction in acres should result in a stabilized price for the coming year, though it is still too soon to know. We expect to be able to summarize planting intentions by state in the next few weeks.
Prices in Asia held steady this week, this Thailand registering just below $400 pmt, Vietnam at $365 pmt, just barely above India at $360 pmt. It would appear that the skid has slowed, and all hope that perhaps we are scraping along the bottom. Prices in the West haven’t moved much either, with U.S. long grain milled still reporting at $575 pmt, and all other origins in South America reporting below $450 pmt.
The weekly USDA Export Sales report shows net sales of 21,600 MT this week, down 64% from the previous week and 56% from the prior 4-week average. Increases primarily for Haiti (13,500 MT), Guam (10,300 MT, including 11,000 MT switched from unknown destinations and decreases of 700 MT), Israel (3,000 MT), Mexico (1,500 MT, including decreases of 300 MT), and Albania (1,500 MT), were offset by reductions for unknown destinations (11,000 MT). Exports of 43,900 MT were down 47% from the previous week and 23% from the prior 4-week average. The destinations were primarily to Japan (13,700 MT), Guam (10,300 MT), Mexico (9,100 MT), Honduras (5,300 MT), and Taiwan (2,400 MT).
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Congress quickly finds way out of partial shutdown
On Tuesday, February 3, Congress approved a spending package that fully funded five out of the six remaining FY26 appropriations bills including Labor-Health and Human Services (LHHS), Transportation-Housing-Urban Development-Education (THUD), Defense, Financial Services-General Government, and National Security-Department of State. The Homeland Security spending measure was separated from the other appropriations and temporarily funded by means of a short-term continuing resolution (CR) that expires on February 13, 2026. The House of Representatives managed to eventually pass the package with the CR by 217-214 vote before sending to the President’s desk for final approval, ending the second government shutdown in the span of four months. Now, Congress has a little less than two weeks for Republicans and Democrats to find common ground to fund the remaining fiscal year for Homeland or revert to kicking the can further down the road with another stopgap measure. As Congress finds a way to sort out the current dispute with the FY26 Homeland Security bill while simultaneously preparing for the FY27 appropriations season, it is worth pointing out that Congress has managed to pass 11 out of its 12 appropriations bills for FY26.
EPA announces new ‘Right to Repair’ guidance
On Monday, February 2, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced new guidance related to advancing producers and equipment owners’ rights to repair their own farm and other nonroad diesel equipment. EPA affirmed and clarified that the Clean Air Act (CAA) should support, not restrict, American’s ability to make repairs on their own repairs and that manufacturers can no longer use the CAA to justify limiting access to repair tools or software. It is worth noting that EPA’s guidance does not change the law, weaken emission standards, or reduce compliance obligations. You can read EPA’s released guidance here.
Klobuchar to jump in Minnesota governor race, leaving room for new Senate Ag Dem leadership
Towards the end of last week, Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) officially announced her intent to run for governor of Minnesota after much speculation of her candidacy. She aims to succeed current Democratic Governor Tim Walz, who has already publicized that he will not seek re-election. Minnesota election laws do not prohibit a candidate from running for governor while already holding an elected office. Therefore, Sen. Klobuchar will not have to give up her seat in the Senate while running, which is not up for reelection until 2030. Notably, if Sen. Klobuchar were to win the gubernational election, Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) is likely to be the front runner for the top Democratic spot on the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. This is largely because the three other Senators ahead of him in seniority, including Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL), Sen. Tina Smith (D-MN), and Sen. Michael Bennet (D-CO), have announced their upcoming retirements from the Senate. Sen. Booker has already expressed interest and excitement in taking on the role within the Committee. During his time on the Committee, he has focused on increasing access to healthy foods, improving child nutrition, and preventing large scale agricultural concentration. He is a vegan and a strong supporter of animal welfare. He has been outspoken on many techniques used by the Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) to combat feral hogs, particularly aerial gunning. Sen. Booker has spoken against agricultural commodity checkoff programs, concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFO), and meat packing plants.
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SLRF Loads Another Vessel
The South Louisiana Rail Facility loaded 22,000 tons of high-quality rice for Honduras this week. This shipment significantly reduced the group’s remaining inventory, leaving only a few barge and rail shipments outstanding.
Discussions regarding 2026 new-crop sales are now underway, with customers seeking high-quality rice from the membership.
| | USRPA joins USDA Trade Mission to Indonesia with Other Agriculture Groups | |
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This week, US Rice Producers Association participated in the USDA's first Agribusiness Trade Mission of the year. The trade mission to Indonesia highlighted the growing opportunities for U.S. agricultural products in Indonesia while strengthening relationships with key local partners. Led by USDA Undersecretary for Trade and Foreign Affairs Luke Lindberg, the mission focused on promoting high-quality U.S. agricultural products in the Indonesian market and fostering partnerships with local industry members and government officials.
The week-long mission kicked off with Rasa Amerika, a promotional event hosted by the U.S. Embassy in Indonesia. Rasa Amerika is a food festival held at a major shopping mall in Jakarta, featuring samplings made with U.S. ingredients. Among the many U.S. food products showcased, two rice recipes were demonstrated to highlight the quality and versatility of U.S. rice. Rice gelato proved especially popular, receiving enthusiastic and positive feedback from participants.
In addition to official trade mission activities, USRPA held several trade meetings with local industry members to better understand market needs while emphasizing its market support and long-term commitment to Indonesia as an emerging market. Despite ongoing challenges in the market, USRPA Chief Financial Officer and Director of Eastern Hemisphere Promotions Grace Wang was impressed by the strong and positive response from both consumers and trade members. “With a reciprocal trade deal close to completion between the U.S. and Indonesia, this trip not only offered valuable insights into the local market structure but also provided an important opportunity to build connections with local industry members and expand market access for U.S. rice,” she said.
| | USRPA Joins FECARROZ Leadership to Celebrate Historic Milestone | |
| Iris Figueroa joined by FECARROZ leadership. | | |
This week, while visiting programs in Guatemala, USRPA’s COO and Director of Western Hemisphere Promotions, Iris Figueroa, had the opportunity to join FECARROZ at its board meeting. The timing could not have been more meaningful, as the meeting coincided with the recent announcement of the signing of the U.S.–El Salvador Agreement on Reciprocal Trade. Being present in person allowed for a moment of shared recognition and celebration of the collaborative efforts that helped make this agreement possible.
“This is an incredibly important moment, not just for trade, but for the long-standing relationships we’ve built based on trust, collaboration, and mutual respect,” said Iris Figueroa. “For the entire USRPA team, seeing these efforts come together into a tangible outcome reinforces why this work matters so much and highlights the value of working collectively toward shared goals.”
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During the meeting, FECARROZ board members expressed their sincere appreciation to USRPA for its advocacy, engagement, and continued support throughout the process. They acknowledged the critical role USRPA has played in advancing dialogue and helping achieve this significant milestone.
The meeting also served as a productive forum to discuss next steps, align on priorities, and plan future commitments across the region, reaffirming a shared dedication to strengthening partnerships and expanding opportunities with partner countries moving forward.
| | USRPA in Jutiapa: Nutrition, Education, & Trade | |
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This week, USRPA’s Chief Operating Officer and Director of Western Hemisphere Promotions, Iris Figueroa, traveled to Guatemala to participate in one of our School Meal Programs at Escuela Oficial Urbana Mixta in El Progreso, Jutiapa, a southeastern region of the country. The visit highlighted the impact of collaborative efforts to improve nutrition and education at the community level.
Through our partnership with ARROZGUA, USRPA continues to support programs that not only provide nutritious meals to children but also educate mothers on healthy eating habits and the importance of balanced nutrition for their families. These initiatives allow U.S. rice to play a meaningful role in school feeding programs across the region, supporting both food security and long-term well-being.“Being able to promote U.S. rice while also making a real difference in the lives of children and families is incredibly meaningful,” said Iris Figueroa. “These programs show how trade, education, and nutrition can come together to create lasting, positive change in our communities.”
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The visit also provided an important opportunity to meet with rice millers from the Jutiapa region, enabling meaningful conversations on market conditions, industry challenges, and opportunities for continued collaboration. These meetings reinforced USRPA’s commitment to strengthening relationships across the entire rice value chain, from producers and processors to families and schools, while promoting the role of U.S. rice in regional markets. | |
| Iris Figueroa and millers from Jutiapa. | | Visiting the mill operated by Henry Gonzalez Sr., and his son, Henry Gonzalez, Jr. | Father and son showing their U.S. rice proudly sealed with the U.S. flag. | | RMTC Exhibitor Highlight: Frigortec | |
| RMTC Exhibitor Highlight: Hunan Chenzhou Grain & Oil Machinery Co., Ltd. | |
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USRPA Chairman Eric Hover presents at the 29th Annual NCS Cotton & Rice Conference in Jonesboro. More to come in next week's edition of the Rice Advocate.
As always, you can send us your rice country photos by email, or via Facebook or Instagram!
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FAO Rice Price
Update
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Food & Agriculture
Regulatory & Policy Roundup
| | | World Agricultural Production | | | Grain: World Markets and Trade | | | | | | Inter-Rice World Rice Market Report | | |
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February 11, 2026
Arkansas State University Agribusiness Conference
Jonesboro, AR
More Information
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February 19, 2026
Missouri Rice Council Annual Meeting
Gobler, MO
More Information
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February 24, 2026
University of Missouri Extension Rice Meeting
Dexter, MO
More Information
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May 26 - 28, 2026
Rice Market & Technology Convention
Cartagena, Colombia
More Information
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June 6, 2026
LSU AgCenter South Farm Rice Field Day
Crowley, LA
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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