#55 Senators and Statistics

#55 Senators and Statistics

Author: USA Rice October 11, 2022 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, educating people with no farm experience, and what percentage of Americans have never seen a cow. But first, Michael and Lesley sit down with three USDA NASS officials to talk about the statistical survey work they do and why it is so important for farmers to participate.

With special guests:

U.S. Senator John Boozman, Arkansas, Michael Klamm, Deputy Regional Director of NASS's Delta Region – Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi, Lance Honig, Chief of NASS's Crops Branch and Tony Dorn, Chief of NASS's Environmental, Economics and Demographics Branch

Hosted by:

Michael Klein and Lesley Dixon


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
#19 The Rice Leadership Development Program [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:13
Thirty-two years ago, the rice industry invested in itself by creating the Rice Leadership Development Program for young farmers and industry trailblazers. Michael and Lesley visit with program alumni Dr. Steve Linscombe…
#18 Behind the Scenes at USA Rice [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:08
Peek behind the curtain at the rice industry's national trade association as President & CEO Betsy Ward and Director of Strategic Initiatives Katie Maher join Michael and Lesley to talk about what went into developing th…
#16 Restaurants, Recipes, Rice, and Relationships [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:09
Restaurants love rice: versatile, inexpensive, and with a long shelf life, it is a wonderful canvas for chefs. Foodservice guru Kevin Gross and Chef Carl Schwartz join Michael and Lesley to talk about working with chefs…
#15 U.S. Rice Industry 2030 Sustainability Goals [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:04
The rice industry has one of the most impressive environmental stories to tell of any commodity. Not content to rest on its laurels, the industry created new sustainability goals to be achieved by 2030 and make the U.S.…
#14 U.S. Rice in Asia [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:17
A common misperception amongst Americans is that we import most of our rice from Asia. In fact, we grow more than 80% of the rice we eat and actually export rice TO Asia. USA Rice vice president of international Sarah Mo…
#13 The Art and Science of Rice Breeding [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:11
Rice in the United States is GMO-free and yet there are thousands of varieties and dozens of traits growers and millers want to capitalize on or avoid. How is it done? Science, of course! Join two of the most preeminent…
#12 NRM Scholarship and Sustainability Award Winners [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:22
In this episode we'll meet Molly Ellis, a high school senior from McKinney, Texas who beat out 106 other students to win the Grand Prize in the 2020 National Rice Month Scholarship contest with her video about how rice i…
#11 2020 Rice Awards [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:05:34
In a special episode, Rice Farming Magazine Editor Vicky Boyd joins the podcast to help recognize the 2020 Rice Award winners. Meet the Rice Farmer of the Year from California where he's brought in more than 50 crops; th…
#10 Crop Protection & Children's Books [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:52
Every year, farmers put their net worth in the ground, believing they will have a crop to harvest at the end of the season. They can improve their odds with good crop protection practices. Host Steve Linscombe is joined…
#9 Leveling the Playing Field for U.S. Rice: Trade Policy [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:01
Rice is the most widely manipulated commodity around the world and U.S. rice is export dependent. It's the job of Peter Bachmann of USA Rice to secure access to markets for the U.S. industry and take trade cheats to task…