Jasmine-type aromatic rice line released

ARoma 22 is the third jasmine-type aromatic rice from the Arkansas Rice Breeding Program.

By John Lovett

Anew jasmine-type aromatic rice called ARoma 22 has been released by the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station amid rising U.S. demand for aromatic rice.

ARoma 22 offers increased aromatics and color consistency over its predecessor and includes qualities looked for by consumers of imported Asian aromatic rice, sensory tests show.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service, a sharp increase in imported rice over the past few years from Asia has been driven by jasmine-type rice from Thailand.

“Considering the high competition from Asian and South American suppliers and the stagnant export prospects for U.S. long-grain rice, aromatic rice represents an opportunity for U.S. farmers to expand production and lower the dependency on aromatic rice imports,” said Alvaro Durand-Morat, assistant professor of agricultural economics and agribusiness for the experiment station, the research arm of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.

The experiment station’s Rice Breeding Program added the aromatic breeding program in 2010 to fill a growing niche market. The Division of Agriculture’s Foundation Seed Program has seen aromatic rice orders double over the past few years. In 2020, the program sold 1,249 bags of seed. For the 2023 growing season, growers have pre-ordered 2,565 bags. A bag contains 50 pounds of rice seed.

Some background

ARoma 22 was developed by emeritus professor Karen Moldenhauer and Debra Ahrent Wisdom of the Arkansas Rice Breeding Program based at the Division’s Rice Research and Extension Center in Stuttgart.

“The goal is to meet the consumer and grower demands of developing high-quality, high-yielding aromatic rice lines,” Wisdom said. “The growers who have produced aromatic rice would like to have more seed to grow as they are finding more markets available.”

Wisdom has been an assistant breeder specializing in jasmine-type aromatic rice since 2010. She is also the accounts manager for the Foundation Seed Program, which sells the rice and soybean seed developed and released by the Division of Agriculture.

Wisdom noted that the consumers who have tried ARoma 22 are “very happy with the flavor and quality of the rice.”

Sensory tests conducted in February at the experiment station’s Sensory Science Center found ARoma 22 to compare favorably to other jasmine-type varieties.

After consulting with the Arkansas Rice Research and Promotion Board, the variety was submitted for restricted public release, where purchasers of foundation seed sign a non-exclusive, non-royalty bearing license agreement before purchasing seed.

Numbers talk

ARoma 22 averaged 167 bushels per acre with high milling yields in five Arkansas Rice Variety Advancement Trials. ARoma 22 reaches 50 percent heading at 88 days with “excellent” straw strength, according to data collected from the Arkansas Uniform Rice Regional Nursery and reported in 2020 research trials. It is moderately susceptible to blast, sheath blight, bacterial panicle blight and is susceptible to false smut.

Arkansas continues to be ranked first in the nation in rice production. More than 1.4 million acres are harvested annually in over 40 counties, according to the 2021 Arkansas Agriculture Profile (https://bit.ly/2021ArkAgProfile). Commodity production and value in 2020 for Arkansas rice was nearly $1.3 billion.

A total of 16 rice varieties have been developed by the Rice Breeding Team and released to Arkansas rice growers during the past 10 years. Three of those have been aromatic lines to meet a growing niche market, Wisdom said.

U OF A SYSTEM DIVISION OF AG ARoma 22, the jasmine-type rice known in performance trials as 19AR231, has been adapted to grow in Arkansas’ environment.

On the Mississippi River near New Orleans, the 2022 class observed rice export operations with Russell Marine. From left, Derek Sohnrey, Peter Rystrom, Connor Popeck, Josh Brunet (RM), Larry Vanderbrook (RM), John McGraw, Adam McCalister, Steve Linscombe, Daniel Cavazos, Corey Conner and Julie Richard.

Rice Leadership Development Program

Accolades abound for leadership program conducted by The Rice Foundation.

By Cassidy Nemec Assistant Editor

When Dr. Steve Linscombe was accepted into the Rice Leadership Development program in 1996, he likely didn’t think he would end up heading the program decades later. That is what the Leadership Program does. It selects rice industry individuals who have applied to the program and develops them into impactful leaders by way of exposing them to people and places they might have never witnessed before.

Selection process and trip sessions

“Normally during July, I’ll put out an application with a call to the program, and we have a selection committee that first goes through and looks at the written applications,” Linscombe said. “Seven people are selected — typically five farmers and two industry people.” After being interviewed and announced at the annual Rice Outlook Conference in December, these selected individuals begin their program the following March. “When I’m encouraging people to apply to the program, I often hear people say, ‘I just can’t be away from the farm to participate,’ and I hear that a lot from people who have finally broken down and applied for the program … I’ve never heard anyone say that it was a mistake; everybody that has been through the program says, ‘This is one of the best things I’ve done.’”

In essence, the Rice Leadership Development Program involves four, one-week program sessions covering rice production, milling, marketing and other agricultural topics related to the rice

Steve Linscombe

Legislative contact meetings in Washington, D.C., are one of the Rice Leadership Development Program highlights. From left, Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Austin Davis (2022 Class), Kirk Satterfield (2011 Class), Mississippi rice producer Gibb Steele and Marvin Cochran (2004 Class).

industry. These sessions span Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi, Missouri and California rice regions, as well as a tour at the John Deere Factory in Illinois. The program caps off in Washington, D.C., with legislative contact meetings and the current class’ graduation.

With Linscombe leading the program now, he plans and coordinates all trip sessions and has a great deal of experience in the rice industry to aide in answering any questions that may come up in the duration of the program.

In addition to the regular Rice Leadership Development Program, an international component was added in 2009 for alumni to apply to go on that additional session. “It is important for folks who are hopefully going to be future leaders in the industry to have some exposure above and beyond rice in the United States,” Linscombe said.

“It’s very rewarding to see someone go through this program and see people become more active in leadership roles within the U.S. rice community,” he said.

“This program gives them the skills they need to prosper — not only in leadership positions, but in their careers.”

More than a sponsor

Sponsors for the Rice Leadership Development Program are American Commodity Company, John Deere and RiceTec.

During the 2019 international session in Italy rice country, program participants visited the National Rice Institute of Italy. From left, David Martin, Jonathan Hobbs, Kirk Satterfield, Massimo Biloni (private rice breeder), Jim Whitaker, Sunny Bottoms and several researchers at the Institute.

The Rice Leadership Development Program is funded by grants from John Deere Company, RiceTec and American Commodity Company to The Rice Foundation. The USA Rice Federation develops and manages the program on behalf of The Rice Foundation.

The Rice Leadership Development Program gives future leaders a comprehensive understanding of the rice industry, with an emphasis on personal development and communication skills. The class attends four one-week sessions over a two-year period that encompasses studies of all aspects of the rice industry through firsthand observations. They also attend seminars and workshops designed to strengthen leadership skills.

A special committee of rice industry and agribusiness leaders evaluate applications, letters of recommendation, as well as conduct personal interviews to determine the five rice producers and two individuals from rice-industry related professions who will make up the Rice Leadership Development Class.

Eligibility requirements

• Derive their primary livelihood as rice producers or from a rice industry related profession or firm, including rice mills, rice product marketers, sales officials, dryers, Extension services, research facilities, etc. Participants from the industry related category must serve the rice industry in their primary job responsibility. • Demonstrate leadership potential. • Be 25 to 45 years of age at time of application. • Obtain employer approval prior to applying; if self-employed, must agree to devote time away from their business as required. • Agree to attend all scheduled sessions, with exception of illness of participant or immediate family. • Agree to complete all reports and evaluations as required.

All applicants chosen as finalists must be available for personal interviews. Interviews will be conducted by the Rice Leadership Selection Committee in conjunction with the USA Rice Outlook Conference.

International leadership session

A one-week international session has been added for graduates of the program who have, since graduation, applied their leadership skills to industry service. A committee of rice industry and agribusiness leaders will evaluate applications and select alumni to participate in the session. The number of participants will be determined annually based on projected expenses to travel to the selected location.

The 2021 class — pictured on the Mississippi River in March 2021 — surveyed rice export operations with Russell Marine. From left, Garrett Williams, Jonathan Hobbs (RM), Mallory Everett, Steve Linscombe, Christine Wylie, Adam Shea, Eliott Maschmann, Kerri Cambre (RM) and Kane Webb (USA Rice).

Chris Crutchfield, president and CEO/partner of American Commodity Co., LLC, said that they saw the program as being part of something with the same values as their company’s core belief set. He recounted how natural it seemed to sponsor when the leadership program was looking for another sponsor.

“We are just extremely honored and proud to be a part of what we believe is a fantastic program that’s invaluable to the industry.”

Ray Gherardini, marketing manager for John Deere, said their relationship with the Rice Leadership Program is strong.

“The leadership program is a great opportunity to help develop future leaders in the rice industry,” he said before adding that they look at “creating advocates for the rice industry.”

Brian Ottis, director of supply chain management for RiceTec, said he quickly realized the value of having a relationship with the program after having also gone through it himself.

“The impact we can have on lawmakers, and the impact we can have to influence policy to protect our industry is very eye-opening,” he said. “We’re a small, tight-knit industry, so we need as many people as possible to be well versed in all the facets of the industry, so we’ve got lots of great representatives out there.”

Perspectives from the past and present

Past and present members alike expressed great reverence toward the Rice Leadership Development Program.

Charley Mathews, a California rice farmer and former chair for both USA Rice and The Rice Foundation, was a member of Class VI of the Rice Leadership Development Program.

During March, the 2022 class visited the drier facility on Timothy Gertson’s farm near Lissie, Texas. From left, Derek Sohnrey (2021 class), Connor Popeck, Daniel Cavazos, Julie Richard, John McGraw, Corey Conner, Adam McCalister and Peter Rystrom.

He spoke on the importance of knowing the industry in each of the di erent rice-growing areas, noting the application of that coming into play when discussing policy decisions for di erent regions. Mathews recounted the John Deere tour and all the “van time” as some of his favorite aspects of the program. “It’s great hanging out with people from all these di erent places… I really enjoyed it.” He noted that while leadership of the program has changed from Chuck Wilson to Dr. Linscombe, the culture of the original program remains. Kirk Satter eld, a Mississippi rice farmer, current USA Rice Farmers chairman and 2011 graduate of the Rice Leadership Development Program, said that the four, one-week sessions were intensive and worthwhile for development within the rice industry. He credited Tim Walker, GM of Horizon Ag, for encouraging him to apply and talked about the many relationships he made through the program. “I can’t say enough about the relationships I formed. I made not just acquaintances, but also some really good friends in people I may not have ever met otherwise.”

“It opened a lot of doors and taught me a lot of things I would have never looked at.”

Satter eld also participated in the most recent international trip o ered to Rice Leadership alumni when a group went to the rice

country of Italy in Oct. 2019. “We had a fantastic trip to Italy… it was such a fascinating experience; that’s the kind of exposure and opportunity you get.” Connor Popeck, Louisiana rice farmer and current class member, further emphasized the exposure received through the leadership program. He said his future goals include increasing his acreage and becoming a seed rice producer. He suggested this program can help him get there by gaining a multitude of perspectives and contacts from other individuals in a variety of regions. Charley “ e amount of information I learned, even in just the rst sesMathews sion, is surreal.” He talked about reaching out to other rice producers in other states and bringing up the Rice Leadership Program prior to applying. “ ree of them said it was the best thing they’d ever done for their business… it seemed like everyone whose opinion I respected had done it.” Popeck also commented his interest in learning more about rice Kirk Satterfield and its di erent segments in milling and retail. “My eyes have already been opened to the industry.” He ended by reiterating his excitement for the remainder of the program, how great it is to have resources and the bene t he’s already noticed. “I’m just thoroughly impressed… it’s more than I ever dreamed it would be.”

More information pertaining to the Rice Leadership Development Program and e Rice Foundation can be found at www.usarice. com/foundation.

The 2019 Class watched lettuce harvest near Salinas, California, on Costa Farms. From left, Kent Wiley with Sun Foods, Matthew Morris, Jason Bond, Bobby Golden, Michael Durand, Mike Costa, Austin Davis and Justin Nix.