The Rice Stuff

We're doing a multi-episode deep dive into climate change. For this episode we're joined by meteorologist, journalist, and author Bob Henson who will explain the science of climate change. We'll talk about climate versus weather, how weather patterns are changing, the Texas cold wave, hurricanes, strategies of mitigation and adaptation, how climate change is impacting supply chains, and more. Bob'...

Research is vitally important to the rice industry – so much so farmers, millers, & merchants pay for it themselves. Dr. Steve Linscombe, who knows rice research better than anyone, sits down with some of the most respected names in rice research: Drs. Dustin Harrell, Kent McKenzie, and Bob Scott, to talk about the impact research has had on the U.S. rice industry. California rice farmer Kim G...

USA Rice's Deborah Willenborg launches the 2021 National Rice Month scholarship contest that distributes more than $10,000 to high school seniors; Kelly Toups, head of nutrition for Oldways, shares new findings about consumers, whole grains, diets, and what it all means for rice; and we check in with Jay Vroom, Senior Advisor to the Farm Journal Foundation about the Voice of the Farmer Garden in W...

Ever since Ben Franklin remarked that "in this world, nothing is certain except death and taxes," the government has been tinkering with the tax code and taxpayers have been trying to survive. A new study found proposed changes to the U.S. tax code could have a devastating impact on U.S. farms. The author, Dr. Bart Fischer, formerly chief economist for the House Ag Committee and now co-director of...

The top destination for U.S. milled rice is Haiti, where an assassinated president and civil unrest have led to some of the worst violence in decades, including the theft of hundreds of thousands of dollars of rice and other commodities. USA Rice's consultant, Christine Coupet Jacques, joins the podcast from Haiti to discuss. Sarah Moran is also back to weigh in and discuss another reliable market...

Soil health is a critical part of a successful farm – whether you are talking crop health or farm economics, the dirt beneath your feet holds the key. Arkansas rice farmer Adam Chappell joins Lydia Holmes to talk about how a pigweed problem led him to become a cover crop convert. He shares his thoughts on, and vast experience with, organic matter, precision planting, cereal rye, revenue per acre,...

Arkansas Secretary of Agriculture Wes Ward and Louisiana Commissioner of Agriculture and Forestry Dr. Mike Strain join the podcast to talk about infrastructure, counterterrorism, the Farm Bill, WOTUS, climate change, Dicamba, the problem with uncertainty in agriculture, what keeps them up at night, and more. They also talked about the movies that best represent their respective states, and Michael...

Water efficiency is vital for farmers' bottom lines, the planet, and the rice industry's social license to operate. While not available to all growers, row rice offers many advantages. Dr. Steve Linscombe welcomes Dr. Jason Bond of Mississippi State University and Louisiana farmer Jason Waller to share some of their expertise on furrow irrigation and AWD that are a part of row rice systems. Someho...

Anheuser-Busch is the #1 user of sustainably grown U.S. rice. They use rice in Budweiser, Bud Light, Michelob Ultra, and even in new Bud Light Seltzers. Hellbender Brewing Co. brewmaster Ben Evans joins the podcast to talk about brewing craft beer with rice, including the Louisiana purple rice beer he made last year. USA Rice's Cameron Jacobs also stops by and the gang discuss future projects, Lou...

The European Union has announced a complete ban on propiconazole to go into effect in September 2021. Michael and Lesley examine the decision to arbitrarily remove this tool from the farmer's toolbox. USA Rice's International Trade Vice President Peter Bachmann discusses the motivations; then University of Arkansas' Dr. Jarrod Hardke, California Rice Commission's Roberta Firoved, & USA Rice's...

Farmers and people in rural communities operate under tremendous stress that may feel unbearable. Michael & Lesley talk with experts about stress, anxiety, depression, and preventing suicide. Psychiatrist and neuroscientist Dr. Shimi Kang; the Stigma Free Society's Andrea Paquette; Dr. Archie Mason of Agri-Health Network; and Arkansas rice farmer Mike Sullivan share their expertise & exper...

Thirty-two years ago, the rice industry invested in itself by creating the Rice Leadership Development Program for young farmers and industry trailblazers. Michael and Lesley visit with program alumni Dr. Steve Linscombe, who now runs the whole program, California rice farmer Kim Gallagher, Louisiana rice farmer and merchant Scott Franklin, and Missouri rice farmer and equipment dealer Paul T. Com...

Peek behind the curtain at the rice industry's national trade association as President & CEO Betsy Ward and Director of Strategic Initiatives Katie Maher join Michael and Lesley to talk about what went into developing the new Think Rice website, what makes USA Rice different from other agriculture trade associations, and some of the rice industry's unique assets. We'll talk free trade, sustain...

Restaurants love rice: versatile, inexpensive, and with a long shelf life, it is a wonderful canvas for chefs. Foodservice guru Kevin Gross and Chef Carl Schwartz join Michael and Lesley to talk about working with chefs to promote commodities like rice through recipe development, the new Rice to the Rescue program, and more. And Cameron Jacobs is back to talk rice and restaurants, and they all sha...

The rice industry has one of the most impressive environmental stories to tell of any commodity. Not content to rest on its laurels, the industry created new sustainability goals to be achieved by 2030 and make the U.S. rice story that much more extraordinary. One of the scientists who helped establish those goals and existing benchmarks, Dr. Dustin Harrell, joins Steve and Lydia from his office a...

A common misperception amongst Americans is that we import most of our rice from Asia. In fact, we grow more than 80% of the rice we eat and actually export rice TO Asia. USA Rice vice president of international Sarah Moran and director of Asia promotions Jim Guinn join the podcast to explain how they succeed in selling U.S. rice to Asia – a demonstrably discerning rice market. Michael and Lesley...

Rice in the United States is GMO-free and yet there are thousands of varieties and dozens of traits growers and millers want to capitalize on or avoid. How is it done? Science, of course! Join two of the most preeminent rice breeders in the world as they talk shop and give civilians a peek behind the scientific curtain. Our own Dr. Steve Linscombe, who spent three decades as a rice breeder at the...

In this episode we'll meet Molly Ellis, a high school senior from McKinney, Texas who beat out 106 other students to win the Grand Prize in the 2020 National Rice Month Scholarship contest with her video about how rice impacted the town of Katy, Texas; spend time with contest sponsor Chris Crutchfield of ACC Rice; and sit down with the 2020 USA Rice Sustainability Award Winner Dr. Michele Reba of...

In a special episode, Rice Farming Magazine Editor Vicky Boyd joins the podcast to help recognize the 2020 Rice Award winners. Meet the Rice Farmer of the Year from California where he's brought in more than 50 crops; the Rice Industry Award winner joins us from Louisiana where he is advocating for rice on the local and national level, and the Lifetime Achievement Award honoree joins us from Texas...

Every year, farmers put their net worth in the ground, believing they will have a crop to harvest at the end of the season. They can improve their odds with good crop protection practices. Host Steve Linscombe is joined by Arkansas rice farmer Sidney Robnett, LSU weed scientist Dr. Eric Webster, and Texas A&M etymologist Dr. Mo Way to unpack the complex and vital crop protection game. Michael...

Rice is the most widely manipulated commodity around the world and U.S. rice is export dependent. It's the job of Peter Bachmann of USA Rice to secure access to markets for the U.S. industry and take trade cheats to task. Peter talks China, Mexico, Vietnam, India, Nigeria, Korea, Taiwan, the Philippines, WTO, and more in this deep dive into Rice Trade Policy. Michael and Lesley also talk about bia...

USA Rice's Eszter Somogyi joins the show today all the way from Hamburg, Germany to talk about the U.S. rice promotions she oversees from Accra to Zarqa and spots in between. She'll cover the varied customs of her customers, their rice preferences, and the one thing that unites them all whether they are in the UK, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, or someplace else. Michael and Lesley also talk about past tra...

Achieving sustainability goals is a group effort. The U.S. rice industry is fortunate to have a lot of great partners helping make their collective vision a reality. Representatives from Riceland Foods, Anheuser-Busch, and Indigo Ag join the podcast today to talk with Lydia about how they are working with rice industry leaders to make the world a better place. Join Adam Shea, Bill Jones, and Cody...

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way we live, shop, and eat. It's also changed the way USA Rice promotes the rice industry. Director of Domestic Promotion Cameron Jacobs joins the podcast to talk about the great pandemic promotion pivot and the role U.S.-grown rice can play as the battered restaurant industry stages a comeback. Michael and Lesley also ask listeners to let them know about loca...

Rice fields are unique amongst row crops in that they sustain so much wildlife. From birds to invertebrates and now even fish – hundreds of species of critters call these working fields home. U.S. rice farmers know this and actually count on it, so they do everything they can to support it. Hosts Lydia Holmes and Dr. Steve Linscombe are joined by California rice farmer Leo LaGrande and Ducks Unlim...