The rice producers groups who withdrew for the USA Rice Federation last summer have voted to form a new umbrella organization for their states - the U S Rice Producers Association. Leaders of the rice groups from Mississippi, Missouri, and Texas say the new organization will focus entirely on rice producer interest, including market development programs for paddy and milled rice, governmental affairs, and trade policy. The new organization will be based in Houston, Texas.
Plans call for a limited staff with representation in Washington.
U S Rice Producers will put the interest and aims for the U.S. rice producers first. It will be absolutely critical that we get optimum returns from every dollar. One of the biggest concerns, they said, was the lack of producer representation in the USA Rice Federation board of directors. Another concerned diversion of producer funds to projects not specifically related to grower interests. Another problem that surfaced after the three states voted to withdraw concerned the rice Tariff Rate Quota issue.