Rice Leaders Press Boozman on Import Surge
Riceland and Producers Rice Mill leaders met Senator John Boozman to address rising rice imports and weak farm economics.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Agriculture
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Should the U.S. government take stronger action to limit imported rice?
Leaders from Riceland Foods and Producers Rice Mill met Senator John Boozman on Tuesday to discuss rising imports, weak farm economics, and escalating production costs. Producers Rice Mill CEO Keith Glover asked for action to stem the influx of imported rice into the U.S.
Why it matters
Rapid growth of heavily subsidized imported rice in the domestic market creates an uneven playing field for U.S. rice producers. Rice farmers face rising input costs, milling yield impacts, and threats from imported rice, making federal support a central concern for the industry.
Arkansas rice acres planted are at their lowest level since the 1970s, while Riceland is owned by 5,500 family farmer members and Producers Rice Mill counts over 2,000 farm members across four states and 13 locations. The source does not quantify how much imported rice is entering the market or how it compares with domestic output.
The players
Riceland Foods
Riceland Foods is a rice cooperative founded in 1921 and owned by 5,500 family farmer members.
Producers Rice Mill
Producers Rice Mill is a farmer-owned rice cooperative founded in 1943 with 13 locations across four states.
John Boozman
John Boozman is the U.S. Senator from Arkansas who met with the rice cooperative leaders.
Keith Glover
Keith Glover is the CEO of Producers Rice Mill who asked for action to stem imported rice.
The details
The meeting lasted more than two hours and was the second joint engagement this year between the cooperatives and Arkansas' congressional delegation, following an August discussion with Congressman Rick Crawford. Cooperative leaders outlined key challenges facing the rice industry, and both cooperatives pledged to keep working with federal policymakers.
Timeline
August 2026: Discussion with Congressman Rick Crawford
Tuesday, November 3, 2026: Riceland and Producers meeting with Senator Boozman
2026: Farm Bill 2.0 and economic assistance targeted for passage this year
Market Landscape
The Trump Administration launched a Section 301 investigation into rice, and the cooperatives' appeal to Senator Boozman extends that trade pressure. The push reflects rice producers' broader effort to counter heavily subsidized imports in the domestic market.
Arkansas rice producers face rising input costs and competition from imports, which could shape farm incomes and the prices they receive. Improved farm safety net benefits may help offset these pressures as federal assistance moves forward.
The takeaway
Rice producers depend on federal policy to counter imports and rising costs, so tracking farm safety net and trade actions is key for Arkansas growers and rural economies.
What happens next
Farm Bill 2.0 and economic assistance are targeted for passage later in 2026, and rice producers in Arkansas are expected to begin receiving improved farm safety net benefits soon.
Further reading
Explore more on Agriculture in Arkansas farm policy and trade.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Stuttgart Daily Leader.
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Should the U.S. government take stronger action to limit imported rice?
