#113 The Science and Secrets of Rice Seed Production

#113 The Science and Secrets of Rice Seed Production

Author: USA Rice May 13, 2025 Duration: 57:38

Retired rice breeder extraordinaire Steve Linscombe talks with Randy Ouzts from Nutrien, Tim Walker of HorizonAg, and Brian Ottis of RiceTec about the challenges of seed production, breeding methods, hybrid vs. pure line development, determining seeding rates, and how weather and technology shape the seed supply. Discover the cutting-edge practices and decisions that fuel the rice industry from the ground up.

https://www.horizonseed.com
https://nutrienagsolutions.com
https://ricetec.com

With special guests:

Brian Ottis, Director of U.S. Marketing and Product Management, RiceTec, Tim Walker, CEO, Horizon Ag, and Randy Ouzts, U.S. Rice Manager, Nutrien Ag Solutions


Hosted by:

Steve Linscombe and Michael Klein


Digging into the complex and surprisingly fascinating world of a single grain, The Rice Stuff is a conversation about more than just agriculture. Hosts Michael and Lesley serve as guides, pulling back the curtain on the entire journey of U.S.-grown rice, from the soil in the fields to its place on global tables. They achieve this by stepping aside to let the real experts speak: the farmers making daily decisions under the sun, the scientists in labs developing resilient varieties, the millers ensuring quality, and the marketers navigating international trade. Each episode of this podcast feels like a field visit or a behind-the-scenes meeting, uncovering narratives that intersect science, business, and environmental stewardship. You’ll hear about tangible conservation efforts that protect water and land, the economic strategies that connect American farms to overseas markets, and the technological innovations quietly transforming a traditional industry. It’s a detailed portrait of a staple food, revealing the dedication and ingenuity embedded in every bag. While those within the agriculture sector will find deep, relevant insights, the stories are told with a clarity that welcomes anyone curious about where their food comes from and the intricate systems that produce it. Tune in for genuine conversations that go beyond the surface, offering a new appreciation for the people and processes behind U.S. rice.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

The Rice Stuff
Podcast Episodes
#133 The 2026 National Restaurant Association Show [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:09
Join hosts Michael Klein and Morgan Crafton as they recount their trip to the 2026 National Restaurant Association Show in Chicago. They share interviews with Pei Wu of Mochi Foods who is using all California Rice, the p…
#132 Making the Market: The Story of Rice Futures [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:26
The rough rice futures contract is a little understood device intended to provide price discovery and risk management. From humble beginnings in New Orleans, the rough rice contract grew into a vitally important tool tha…
#131 Promoting U.S. Jasmine Rice [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:41
USA Rice's Cameron Jacobs joins Michael Klein to talk about last year's U.S. jasmine rice promotion campaign. They discuss the reasoning behind the outreach, target development, creative creation, tactics, methodology, a…
#130 The 45th Natural Products Expo West [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:32
Michael went to Anaheim, California for one of the largest and most influential food shows in the country. He stalked the aisles finding new products and old friends, caught up with several USA Rice members who were ther…
#129 Understanding Rice Grain Quality [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:46
Steve Linscombe has assembled rice breeding experts to talk about U.S. grain quality and what they are doing to improve it. From fissuring and milling yields to farm gate value and consumer preferences, join us for this…
#128 The 2026 Farm Policy Fly-in & Nathan Childs [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:23
Michael Klein reports from a packed USA Rice Farm Policy Fly-In in D.C., where growers discussed rising input costs, trade pressures, emergency assistance, world rice stocks, planting intentions, and more. USA Rice membe…
#127 Brazil, Uruguay, and Argentina with Rice Leadership Alumni [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:58
Join Steve Linscombe and the members of 2025 Rice Leadership Development Alumni Program's trip to South America as they share the insights they gained on this valuable trip. Louisiana's Christian Richard and Eric Unkel,…
#126 Live from Outlook 2025: Rice Innovation in Food and Drink [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:59
The 2025 USA Rice Outlook Conference was a record-setting success. One widely-attended session on the FMC Stage was "Brewing and Beyond." Michael Klein was joined by food scientist Dr. Scott Lafontaine, Exceedient Foods'…
#125 Charting Global Rice Strategy With Get Back Here Dog [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:30
Crafting a global marketing strategy for U.S.-grown rice is a heavy lift. Hosts Michael Klein and first-time co-host Cameron Jacobs dive into international marketing with Corey Hayes and Liz Deets, co-founders of Get Bac…
#124 Rice Reigns at the 88th International Rice Festival [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:04:08
Michael Klein was back in Crowley, Louisiana for the 88th International Rice Festival and has returned with interviews with the Chef De Riz, the Rice Farmer of the Year, the 87th and 88th International Rice Festival Quee…