Part 3 of our Climate Change series looks at climate policy. In this episode we’re joined by Steve Dyokas, Senior Advisor in the State Department’s Office of Global Change, to talk about the global AIM for Climate initiative. We talk about climate-smart commodities with Robert Bonnie, USDA Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation. And Arkansas rice farmer Mark Isbell offers a grower perspective on what he thinks makes good climate ag policy.

With special guests:

Steven Dyokas, Senior Advisor, U.S. Department of State, Office of Global Change, Robert Bonnie, Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and Mark Isbell, Arkansas rice farmer

Hosted by: Michael Klein and Lesley Dixon

The United States and Mexico have a very special trade relationship – especially when it comes to U.S.-grown rice. In this episode, USA Rice Director of International Promotion Asiha Grigsby comes in to talk about the top export market for our rice, including consumer perceptions and what her team is doing to influence them, obstacles and opportunities, and more. And somehow Michael and Lesley bring it around to large Japanese mascots.

Hosted by:

Michael Klein and Lesley Dixon

War in Europe, continuing supply chain and logistics challenges, climate change, economic pressures, an absentee trade agenda from the Biden Administration, and more are making it difficult to be optimistic about anything—let alone rice—an export-dependent crop. USA Rice’s Sarah Moran and Peter Bachmann, who tag-team international issues for the industry, join Michael and Lesley to share their outlook on trouble spots and opportunities.

To help Ukraine, consider these charities, rated A- or higher in efficacy by CharityWatch.org: Catholic Relief Services Doctors Without Borders USA Mercy Corp Samaritan’s Purse Team Rubicon

Hosted by:

Michael Klein and Lesley Dixon

People who need to control their blood sugar often give up rice. But thanks to a new variety with a low glycemic index, that may no longer be necessary. It’s also high in protein & delicious. Developed at the LSU AgCenter and grown in southern Illinois and southwestern Louisiana, the rice is marketed under the names Cahokia and Parish. The rice growers, Blake Gerard & Michael Fruge, join us, along with LSU’s Dr. Herry Utomo and nutritionist and registered dietitian Mandy Armentor to explain the science.

Hosted by:

Steve Linscombe and Michael Klein

India has become the largest exporter of rice in the world and by their own admission, they are not playing by the rules of fair trade. In this episode, USA Rice Chair and CEO of Supreme Rice Mill Bobby Hanks, USA Rice VP of International Trade Peter Bachmann, and ag trade expert Ben Conner of DTB AgriTrade explain India’s market-distorting schemes, what it means for the U.S. industry and other international competitors, and what they think the U.S. government should do about it.

Hosted by:

Michael Klein and Lesley Dixon

Ag extension offices and the specialists housed in them are among the most valuable assets any farmer can have. Tracing their roots back to clubs formed shortly after the American Revolution, today they use cutting-edge technology to help farmers with crops, sustainability, and profitability. Dr. Steve Linscombe welcomes three current extension specialists, Dr. Jarrod Hardke from Arkansas, Dr. Ronnie Levy from Louisiana, and California’s Dr. Bruce Linquist to explain what they do for the rice industry.

Hosted by:

Steve Linscombe, Michael Klein, and Lesley Dixon

Rice imports into the U.S. have been rising for years, driven primarily by jasmine from Thailand and basmati from India. Both premium varieties are grown in the U.S., but have the imports captured consumers’ imaginations? CoBank Lead Economist Tanner Ehmke and First Grain’s Milo Hamilton stop by to discuss their recent report, “Fragrant Rice: Opportunity or Threat for the U.S. Rice Industry?” Michael and Lesley ask them to unpack their findings and discuss the nature of optimism and pessimism.

Hosted by:

Michael Klein and Lesley Dixon

As if rice doesn’t have enough problems, this export-dependent crop is dealing with unprecedented shipping and logistical woes. From ocean freighters gaming a system they created, to truck weights and limited working hours in port, it’s a wonder the industry is surviving. Peter Friedmann, Executive Director of the Agriculture Transportation Coalition and Chris Crutchfield, President & CEO of American Commodity Company and newly appointed member of the National Shipper’s Advisory Committee, break it all down.

Hosted by:

Michael Klein and Lesley Dixon

We celebrate excellence with Josefine Sedler, the Grand Prize Winner of the National Rice Month Video Scholarship Contest, sponsored by American Commodity Company. We talk with the winners of the Rice Awards presented at the 2021 USA Rice Outlook Conference by Rice Farming Magazine, Horizon Ag, and USA Rice: Rice Farmer of the Year, Nicole Montna Van Vleck; Rice Industry Award winner Dr. Qiming Shao; and Rice Lifetime Achievement Award honoree Dr. Kent McKenzie.

See Josefine’s video

Hosted by:

Michael Klein and Lesley Dixon

School nutrition programs rely on U.S.-grown rice for a lot of reasons – versatility, shelf stability, wholesomeness, and perhaps most important, student acceptance! Chef Brenda Wattles, RDN, programs as much rice as she can for the largest school district in Idaho where she consults and helps develop 25,000 nutritious meals every day. Chef Brenda joins Michael and Lesley and Cameron Jacobs to talk recipes, nutrition, and supply chain challenges facing the people responsible for feeding our kids.

Hosted by:

Michael Klein and Lesley Dixon