#50 Ducks in Texas and Trends on the Internet

#50 Ducks in Texas and Trends on the Internet

Author: USA Rice July 26, 2022 Duration: 45:59

Deep in the dog days of summer, Michael and Lesley have done some rice travel, taking along their trusty field recorders. First, Lesley attended the Eagle Lake, TX field day where she caught up with Kirby Brown and other Ducks Unlimited experts to talk drought, water management, and wildlife. And in windy CA, Michael sat down with former Google exec Steve Lerch to talk about trends and how influencer culture is unseating ad culture.

With special guests:

Kirby Brown, Dennis Neuman, Raul Villarreal, and Stephen Rockwood from Ducks Unlimited, and Steve Lerch, StoryArc Consulting


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
#61 Inside the Minds of Rice Consumers [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:21
Brands and industries around the world spend millions of dollars to understand what makes consumers tick. On this episode, Michael and Lesley talk to USA Rice's Cameron Jacobs about the latest consumer research he has th…
#60 Farming Organic Rice [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:31
At the 2022 USA Rice Outlook Conference, Dr. Steve Linscombe moderated a panel on organic rice farming with three experienced growers from different parts of the country. They then sat down and recorded a conversation ab…
#59 2022 USA Rice Outlook Conference Highlights [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:36
The 2022 USA Rice Outlook Conference was held in Austin, Texas from December 6-9. Michael and Lesley took their field recorders along and caught up with presenters, award winners, and others to talk about the exciting ev…
#58 Climate Change - Part Four of Five - Consumers [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:38
Our Climate Change series continues with a look at where consumers fit in to the discussion. Michael and Lesley are joined by Jordan Marlatt from intelligence decision company Morning Consult and scientist and writer Ste…
#57 The 85th International Rice Festival [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:15
Each October, tens of thousands of people descend on Crowley, Louisiana to celebrate rice. There's music, a carnival, a cooking contest, multiple parades, rice threshing demonstrations, and of course, the competition for…
#56 Latin America, Haiti, and the United Kingdom [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:44
About 50 percent of rice grown in the U.S. is exported to 120 countries around the globe. The vast majority goes to consumers in the western hemisphere, so very appropriate that Asiha Grigsby, who oversees rice promotion…
#55 Senators and Statistics [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:59
U.S. Senator John Boozman, Ranking Member of the Senate Agriculture Committee and major U.S. rice supporter, joins the podcast to talk about challenges facing rice farmers, the looming Farm Bill, bipartisanship, educatin…
#54 The Problem With Feral Hogs [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:49
Feral hogs are an invasive species that cause millions of dollars in damage to agriculture every year. Wildlife experts William Futch of USDA/APHIS and Glen Gentry of the LSU AgCenter join our own Steve Linscombe and Ark…
#53 National Rice Month 2022 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:19
September is National Rice Month and Whole Grains Month, and this episode is jam packed. Louisiana's Robbie Trahan, Mississippi's Laura Jane Giaccaglia, and Arkansas' Becky Barnes Campbell and Kelly Robbins share how our…
#52 Leadership in the Rice Industry [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:08
Michael went on location to interview PJ Haynie (@PJHaynieIII), farmer and owner of the new Arkansas River Rice Mill in Pine Bluff, AR, and talked about representation, equity, and community in agriculture. Meanwhile, Dr…