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In This Issue:
- USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins Meets with Texas Rice Producers
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Market Update: U.S. Rice Prices Climb as Global Production Outlook Tightens
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Washington Update
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RMTC: Past Exhibitors and Sponsors - Time to Secure Your Spot; Speaker Request Form
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| USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins Meets with Texas Rice Producers | |
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U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins visited with Texas rice producers, providing an important opportunity to discuss the challenges facing the industry, the importance of supporting American producers, and the role of USDA programs in strengthening domestic production and expanding international markets.
The US Rice Producers Association appreciates Secretary Rollins taking the time to hear directly from producers and discuss the future of the U.S. rice industry.
Stay tuned for more highlights and details from the visit in next week’s Rice Advocate!
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| U.S. Rice Prices Climb as Global Production Outlook Tightens | |
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The WASDE report was published last week, and for the coming 2026/27 crop cycle, global rice production is forecast to be down compared to the prior month, reflecting reductions in the Philippines, Pakistan, and Russia. This is largely a result of El Niño, and prices are responding.
Since the September WASDE, global export quotes increased for Western Hemisphere exporters and decreased for major Asian exporters aside from India. U.S. quotes jumped $51 to $639/ton based on tighter supplies and strong early sales to foreign markets. Uruguayan quotes rose $39 to $591/ton on large sales and a strengthening Uruguayan peso. Thai quotes dropped $24 to $466/ton on weak sales to major markets. Vietnamese quotes decreased by $8 to $415/ton, reflecting weaker demand, particularly from the Philippines, its leading export market. Indian quotes continue to increase, rising $10 to $384/ton, reflecting limited availability.
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The price bump in U.S. rice depicted in the chart above is certainly exciting on the surface, but less so when one considers the cost of fuel, fertilizers, and inputs. As most of the long grain harvest has been completed, yields have been underwhelming, and the same goes for quality. This will result in a premium for rice with consistent quality that exceeds a 55lb head rice, and will continue to bifurcate demand based on milling yield.
On the West Coast in CA, harvest is on the downhill side, where yields are reported down from last year, but falling within the average of the past five years. The late planting and resulting late harvest are keeping this from being a bumper crop, but so far good weather has been a blessing this harvest season. There have been no cash prices yet, but milled business remains consistent with last year.
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Trump’s diesel deal with Russia leads to bipartisan criticism: On October 9, President Donald Trump announced he had made a deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin to temporarily waive sanctions on Russian diesel fuel until April 2027. According to President Trump’s announcement, the diesel fuel supply will enter global markets immediately to help relieve high prices. The Treasury Department has issued a general license allowing for the “sale, delivery, offloading, or importation” of Russian diesel through April 7, 2027.
On October 13, a group of Senators sent a letter to the White House, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio that stated concerns that Russian fuel supply will have a negligible impact on energy costs and damage national security interests. The letter was signed by Sens. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Thom Tillis (R-AL), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Susan Collins (R-ME), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Alan Stuart Armstrong (R-OK), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-OR), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Jack Reed (D-RI), Christopher Coons (D-DE), Mitch McConnell (R-KY), and John Cornyn (R-TX). A smaller group of Senators on the Foreign Relations Committee stated the deal is not legal due to a law passed in 2022 banning Russian energy imports. There was an additional call to the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, which was meant to deplete Russian resources. Sen. Jerry Moran (R-KS), a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, said the move could damage U.S. credibility and leverage.
White House issues Emergency Tax Relief on Diesel Fuel EO: On October 5, President Donald Trump issued an Executive Order (EO), Emergency Tax Relief on Diesel Fuel, to provide temporary diesel fuel tax relief to farmers and truckers by reducing near-term fuel costs and easing cash-flow pressures. The order directs U.S. Treasury Department Secretary Scott Bessent to defer certain diesel fuel tax payment obligations and to provide penalty relief to the extent legally possible starting October 5 through December 31, 2026. If authorized, deferred amounts would not be subject to penalties, interest, or additional tax charges during the relief period. The exemption saves eligible consumers approximately 24.4 cents per gallon (before any other state-level adjustments), which is equivalent to the current federal diesel excise tax. The order also directs the U.S. Department of Agriculture to work with cooperatives, distributors, and agricultural organizations to help ensure an adequate supply of dyed diesel fuel in high-demand farming areas. In addition, the EO instructs the Treasury Department to explore options, including legislation, for tax forgiveness to eliminate the obligation to repay deferred amounts and encourages states to adopt complementary policies supporting the order's objectives.
Following the issuance of the EO, Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins released a statement of support, stating that the EO will help alleviate short-term pressures and enable American farmers to deliver their harvests in a time of increasing energy costs. See her statement here.
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| Rice Market & Technology Convention | | The Ray Stoesser Memorial Scholarship | | Applications are now open for the Ray Stoesser Memorial Scholarship. The $5,000 scholarship supports U.S. high school seniors, college students, and graduate students pursuing careers in agriculture. Applications are due December 4, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. CT. | | From the fields to the harvest and everything in between, we want to see what rice country looks like to you! Share your favorite rice country photos or videos and help us celebrate the people, places, and stories that make our industry special. | Picture from Rice Country | | |
This is the second crop at the Hoffpauirs in Texas!
Send us your rice country photos by email, or via Facebook or Instagram!
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| Thank You Industry Members | |
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January 20, 2027: Western Rice Belt Conference, El Campo, TX
More details to come
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February 10, 2027: Arkansas State University Agribusiness Conference, Jonesboro, AR
More details in January
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February 18 & 19, 2027: 30th Annual Cotton & Rice Conference, Jonesboro, AR
More Information
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February 23 -26, 2027: 41st Rice Technical Working Group (RTWG) Meeting, Galveston, TX
More Information
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March 1 - 5, 2027: 9th International Temperate Rice Conference, Uruguay
More Information
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June 8 - 10, 2027: Rice Market & Technology Convention, Sheraton Puerto Rico Resort & Casino, San Juan, PR
More details to come
| | Industry Resources & Updates | | Connect Internationally with USRPA | | | |  | | | Mexico, Central America, and South America: | | |
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