Rice Roots to Capitol Hill: Representing Arkansas Farmers at the USA Rice Fly-In
I had the opportunity to represent Arkansas Rice Farmers in Washington DC at the USA Rice Farmer fly in. This has been an annual event for the industry for as long as I can remember. My first trip was in February 1997 when I was a member of the USA Rice Leadership Class. The current Leadership Class graduated from the 2-year program during the business meetings in DC. They will now join hundreds of alumni in serving the US rice industry!
The main topic of discussion was, of course, The Farm Bill.
The US rice industry has a Farm Bill Task Force comprised of farmers from the six major rice producing states - Arkansas, California, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri and Texas.
First meetings were with the Task Force and had updates on the viewpoints of the House and Senate Ag Committees on the farm bill. For next few days, all in attendance divided up and visited over 50 Congressional offices, many USDA officials, and others that work on policy and regulations that can affect the rice industry. The various rice PACs (Political Action Committees) held several events.
“The number one message from the rice industry is the need for an increase in the reference price”
The number one message from the rice industry is the need for an increase in the reference price. To put that need into perspective - the current prices were set in 2012! When you think of how much our economy (and the world) has changed since 2012, it is a necessary change.
“From my own point of view on our rice farm in northeast Arkansas there is nothing more important to be changed in the Farm Bill than a reference price increase. In fact, without it why do we need anything else that is in the farm bill?”
From my own point of view on our rice farm in northeast Arkansas, there is nothing more important to be changed in the Farm Bill than a reference price increase. In fact, without it, why do farmers need anything else that is in the farm bill? During a small group discussion of several farmers about the reference price, there was one question that came up that I have thought about quite a bit since…. The question was: "If the reference price stays the same, what is the value of a base acre?" My initial answer is that base acres have no value without a reference price increase. (Base acres are historical units which represent a farm’s crop planting history and are used for program calculations)
For all the farmers out there, I am curious what your answer would be to that question. It certainly makes you think… It also makes me more determined to keep advocating that our reference price must be increased. For more information about the entire Farm Bill and why there is such a divide in Congress read the article at Southern Ag Today “Why is the Farm Bill debate stuck in Neutral?”
