#117 A Big Beautiful Episode

#117 A Big Beautiful Episode

Author: USA Rice July 22, 2025 Duration: 31:41

Michael welcomes USA Rice's Jake Westlin back to explain why agriculture is excited about H.R. 1, aka Budget Reconciliation aka The Big Beautiful Bill. From more realistic reference prices and increased support for trade promotion to farm financials and conservation programs, Jake explains it all. He even gets Michael to (kind of) understand crop insurance and base acres.

With special guest:

Jake Westlin, Vice President of Government Affairs, USA Rice

Hosted by:

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: 130

The Rice Stuff
Podcast Episodes
#109 E-commerce Evolution and the Future of Retail [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:48
How has the digital revolution changed the way we shop? Hosts Michael Klein and Lesley Dixon explore shifts in consumer behavior, from online grocery orders to AI-powered shopping assistants. E-commerce marketing expert…
#108 AI on the Menu: Reshaping the Food Industry With Andreas Duess [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:06:25
How is AI transforming the food industry? Hosts Michael Klein and Lesley Dixon talk with Andreas Duess, CEO of 6 Seeds Consulting, about AI-driven data, virtual consumer panels, and predicting food trends. From the impac…
#107 A Rice Retrospective [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:01
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 planti…
#106 New Year, New Dietary Guidelines [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:55
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 f…
#105 A Flurry of End of Year Activity in Congress [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:24
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…
#104 2024 National Rice Month Scholarship Video Contest Winner [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:43
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 particu…
#103 The 87th International Rice Festival [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:12:32
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, orga…
#102 So You Want to Start a Rice Brand? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:50
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…
#101 Rice Research Redux [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:00
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…
#100 Turning 100! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:13
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…