Missouri Rice Council

Earlier this week, a group of ag students from the University of Guelph in Ontario made their annual stop at Wheeler Farms as part of their U.S. agriculture tour. The program has visited rice country and the Wheelers for more than two decades. Some of the students' parents even visited as college students.🌾

Today we recognized National Rice Month with “Harvesting Hope,” an event with our partners at Southeast Missouri Food Bank, who are also kicking off Hunger Action Month in September.

Thanks to generous rice donations from Heritage Rice, Inland Cape Rice, Martin Rice, and Riceland Foods, the Food Bank will be able to serve more than 10,000 meals with rice to our neighbors in their 16-county service area. Thank you to Governor Kehoe and MO Department of Agriculture Director Chris Chinn for joining us and presenting a proclamation declaring Rice Month in MO.

This week, rice buyers from three Central American countries visited Missouri, meeting farmers, touring mills, and connecting with industry partners across the region. Thanks to USA Rice for planning the visit and making sure Missouri rice country was part of the itinerary. 🌾

Sedalia is a long way from rice country, but Missouri Rice was represented at the Missouri State Fair this week! Staffer Mollie Buckler attended Governor Mike Kehoe's Ham Breakfast and Senator Josh Hawley's Ag Luncheon Hosted with Missouri Farm Bureau, and connected with other ag partners from around the state.

2026 Missouri Rice Field Day is in the books! Thanks to everyone who joined us, and a special thank you to our speakers and sponsors for making this event possible.

See you TOMORROW for 2026 Missouri Rice Field Day! A huge thank you to our luncheon sponsor, Bernard Crop Insurance, for their support of this year's event.

Thank you to this year's 2026 Missouri Rice Field Day Research Level Sponsors, Baker Implement Company and Greenway Equipment!

Thanks to Congressman Smith and his team for taking the time to visit with rice farmers at Missouri Rice Council Chairman Rance Daniels' farm earlier this week.

Great Farmers Town Hall! I enjoyed joining members of the Missouri Rice Council for a Farmers Town Hall and fielding questions about the challenges and concerns they’re facing in today’s agriculture economy.

When you think of the Bootheel, rice farmers are one of the first groups that come to mind, which is why I fought so hard to include provisions that support them in the Working Families Tax Cuts. From the first increase in rice reference prices in nearly 20 years to making the small business deduction and 100 percent bonus depreciation permanent, these policies give family farms more certainty, which they need to reinvest, grow, and succeed.

While we know today’s agriculture economy remains challenging, we must continue advancing policy solutions that create sustainable, long-term markets, strengthen demand for American-grown commodities, reduce input costs, and help improve commodity prices so producers have the certainty they need to plan for the future. I will not stop fighting to ensure Missouri’s rice farmers have the resources they need, a level playing field in global trade, and the opportunity to compete and win.

With just four weeks to go, we're excited to announce our keynote speaker for the Missouri Rice Council 2026 Annual Meeting is Missouri Department of Agriculture Director Chris Chinn! Join us at the Elk Chute Lodge on February 19.

We're proud to celebrate Missouri Rice Council member Zack Tanner, who was recently recognized as the Rice Farmer of the Year at the 2025 Rice Outlook Conference in New Orleans. Join us in congratulating him on this well-deserved honor!