#129 Understanding Rice Grain Quality

#129 Understanding Rice Grain Quality

Author: USA Rice March 10, 2026 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 important discussion.

With special guests:
Dr. Maria Montiel, Rice Breeder, HorizonAg, Dr. Tim Walker, CEO, HorizonAg, and Dr. Adam Famoso, Professor, LSU AgCenter

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: 130

The Rice Stuff
Podcast Episodes
#99 Trading Tales: From USTR to USA Rice [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:01
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…
#98 California Rice Rendezvous: A Journey into Field Day 2024 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:59
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 int…
#97 A Rice Cooking Class with Chef Hari Cameron [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:37
Cooking classes, popular for many years, have seen a renaissance of late, likely a result of the pandemic lockdowns making people realize a) how much they enjoy cooking, and b) how much they don't know about cooking. USA…
#96 On the Road with Asiha Grigsby [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:20
USA Rice's Asiha Grigsby is just back from three weeks on the road for the industry, home for a few days, and then off again to talk U.S.-grown rice. We were able to snag a few minutes between trips with Rice's Western H…
#95 Leadership Lessons [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:23
The U.S. rice industry keeps leadership fresh with regular rotations. At the 2024 USA Rice summer business meetings, Chair and Mississippi rice farmer Kirk Satterfield passed the gavel to Arkansas miller Keith Glover. An…
#94 The 2024 Summer Fancy Food Show [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:01:40
Summer means field days and food shows. Lesley talks briefly about the Eagle Lake, TX Field Day, while Michael brought back interviews and samples from the Specialty Food Association's 68th Annual Fancy Food Show that fe…
#92 Rice: It's Not Just for Dinner [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:04:41
Michael and Lesley explore some non-table uses of rice from pet food to panko and from snacks to sake. They are joined by Rick Rhody and Rodrigo Batista from Farmers' Rice Cooperative and Exceedient Foods; farmer and mar…
#91 Being a MyPlate National Strategic Partner [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:40
USDA's MyPlate program is a vital public health program designed to help Americans eat healthy, balanced diets. Strategic Partners, like USA Rice, amplify important nutrition messages. USDA's Dr. Caree Cartwright and Yet…
#90 Rice Roots in South Carolina [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:52
In this episode, hosts Michael Klein, Lesley Dixon, and Dr. Steve Linscombe delve into rice farming in South Carolina, from the 1700s to today. They cover rice's role in shaping the character of the American South, the u…