The Rice Stuff

What's changed the most in rice farming over the past 50 years? Four life-long farmers from Arkansas, Texas, Louisiana, and California discuss the game-changing innovations that have revolutionized everything from planting and harvesting to nitrogen use, marketing, and tractor tech. From GPS-guided combines to the rise of semi-dwarf rice varieties, hear how technology and research powered dramatic yield boosts.

With special guests:

Michael Rue, California rice farmer, Jackie Loewer, Louisiana rice farmer, Marvin Hare, Arkansas rice farmer, and L.G. Raun, Texas rice farmer

Hosted by:

Dr. Steve Linscombe and Lesley Dixon

Cameron Jacobs, USA Rice's vice president of domestic promotion, makes his 2025 debut on The Rice Stuff to discuss rice's role in U.S. nutrition policy, the process of updating the government's dietary guidelines every five years, and how USA Rice advocates for rice to be recognized and recommended as an important part of a balanced and healthy diet. And what does "healthy" mean, by the way? What exactly IS a grain? Tune in to find out.

With special guest:

Cameron Jacobs, USA Rice VP of Domestic Promotion

Hosted by:

Michael Klein and Lesley Dixon

Before Members of Congress could leave Washington at the end of 2024, there was a lot of business to attend to that directly impacted the rice industry (and the entire country). USA Rice's Jamison Cruce recounts the "mad dash" to the end that resulted in economic assistance for farmers, disaster aid, a Continuing Resolution, and another Farm Bill extension. That, plus how hard is yoga and how bad are Texas allergies?

With special guest:

Jamison Cruce, VP Government Affairs, USA Rice

Hosted by:

Michael Klein and Lesley Dixon

A highlight of the USA Rice Outlook Conference is meeting the many award winners who are celebrated throughout the event. In this episode, Michael and Lesley chat about the 2024 USA Rice Outlook Conference and in particular, Lesley's interview with the National Rice Month Video Scholarship winner, Helen Lan. Meet a rising young star so you can say, "I've known about Helen for years!"

Check out Helen's video and all the winners on the USA Rice YouTube Page.

With special guest:

Helen Lan, NRM Scholarship Grand Prize Winner

Hosted by:

Lesley Dixon and Michael Klein

Lesley finally made it to International Rice Festival, and she recaps her whirlwind experience at one of Louisiana's biggest and longest-running celebrations of agriculture. Hearing her interviews with participants, organizers, and competition winners is the next best thing to attending the fest yourself--but really, you should attend the fest yourself.

With special guests:

Robbie Trahan, Falcon Rice Mill & Festival Sponsor, Josh Spell, Festival President, Alex Theall, Chef de Riz, Troy Fruge, Farmer of the Year, Alana Abshire, 87th Rice Festival Queen, Isabella Hardy, 86th Rice Festival Queen

Hosted by:

Lesley Dixon and Michael Klein

Michael and Lesley explore brand creation, marketing, and loyalty with two USA Rice members who are blazing a path for their rice. Pam West of Texas Rice Milling, whose new Honestly Texas Rice brand is winning hearts and minds in Texas joins Sam Schneider whose Inland Cape Rice is celebrating two years in markets all over the midwest and elsewhere. From how to name brands to reaching consumers and telling your story, Sam and Pam don't hold back, sharing their experiences. Plus, Michael and Lesley talk nutrition supplements, video equipment, and the age old question, "Is Pepsi okay?"

With special guests:

Pam West, Business Manager, Honestly Texas Rice, Texas Rice Milling, Brookshire Drying Company and Sam Schneider, Owner, Inland Cape Rice Company

Hosted by:

Lesley Dixon and Michael Klein

In this episode of The Rice Stuff, hosts Michael and Lesley revisit a 2022 discussion on the importance of university extension programs to the rice industry. Dr. Steve Linscombe sits down with his colleagues Dr. Jarrod Hardke, Dr. Ronnie Levy, and Dr. Bruce Linquist to talk about the contributions of researchers in improving various aspects of rice farming.

With special guests:

Dr. Jarrod Hardke, University of Arkansas, Dr. Ronny Levy, LSU AgCenter, and Dr. Bruce Linquist

Hosted by:

Dr. Steve Linscombe, Lesley Dixon, and Michael Klein, USA Rice

In this landmark 100th episode of the podcast, hosts Lesley and Michael reflect on their podcasting journey, the many guests they've talked with, and gloat a little over all the world class TV shows that never made it to 100 episodes. Arkansas rice farmer and The Rice Stuff Instigator Jennifer James stops by to share her thoughts, and then the talk turns to the USA Rice Outlook Conference with a preview of some of the exciting programming that will fill the four stages for more than 20 hours! Registration prices go up on October 18, so sign up today at www.usarice.com/outlook.

With special guest:

Jennifer James, Arkansas Rice Farmer

Hosted by:

Michael Klein and Lesley Dixon

Time to talk trade. Michael and Lesley are joined by USA Rice's new(ish) Director of Trade Policy Karah Janevicius to talk global markets and trade policy. From India and the ITC to the tariffs and the WTO, Karah breaks down the complex issues that are so important to the rice industry. Plus, she shares her origin story and the gang talks about Nutella, Fluff, Mexican water, and for some reason, Australian grubs.

With special guest:

Karah Janevicius, Director of Trade Policy, USA Rice

Hosted by:

Michael Klein and Lesley Dixon

Lesley shares details of her recent trip to the 2024 California Rice Field Day at the Rice Experiment Station in Biggs, including exploring different rice varieties and her surprise at the current research being done into Alternate Wetting and Drying - a practice associated mostly with the mid-South. She and Michael discuss her interviews with researcher Telha Rehman and farmer Matt Dedmond, and then talk about their colleague Karah Janevicius who also attended field day and met with representatives from the International Trade Commission while there. All that, plus barnyard grass and In-N-Out Burger.

With special guests:

Dr. Telha Rehman, University of California - Davis and Matt Dedmond, California Rice Farmer

Hosted by:

Lesley Dixon and Michael Klein