Arkansas Rice Growers Association: State Senate Bill to Give Farmers a Choice

LITTLE ROCK, Ark., Feb. 22, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Arkansas Rice Growers Association voiced strong support to SB 430 introduced Tuesday in the Arkansas Senate. The proposed legislation will bring transparency and offer farmers a much needed choice.

The bill gives each farmer the right to allocate his or her rice promotion and market development funds to either the US Rice Producers Association (an organization solely run by farmers) or the USA Rice Federation (an umbrella organization that represents mills, merchants, and farmers and allied businesses). "It's each individual farmer's money, they're certainly smart enough to decide which group they want representing them and working for them," said Win Coleman from Cord in Independence County.

Currently producers pay 2.7 cents per bushel assessment into the rice check-off program for research, promotion and market development. Riceland Foods, the largest purchaser of rice in Arkansas, has verified in court documents that the rice buying industry lowers the price they pay farmers for rough rice to cover their portion of the rice check-off assessment. "We are trapped in a system that we cannot escape from; no refund, no referendum, no choice. Farmers are well equipped to best determine how to spend their marketing dollars," said Kenneth Graves, President of the Arkansas Rice Growers Association and a rice farmer from St. Charles in Arkansas County.

The 50% of the assessment that is used for rice research in the state would not be affected by the bill.

"Times are tough for everyone right now, and farmers need to be comfortable that their hard earned money is working for them in the best and most efficient way possible," said Jason Smith a rice farmer in Desha County.

Arkansas Rice Growers Association Director Greg Yielding encouraged all Arkansas rice farmers to contact the Arkansas Senate at 501-682-2902 and tell them to vote for CHOICE and support SB 430.

For additional information visit arkansasricegrowers.com.

SOURCE Arkansas Rice Growers Association