G'day USA!
At the end of May 2024, following a highly competitive selection process to secure a spot, 20 growers, researchers and industry representatives embarked on the Paddy Rice Tour to the USA. The group enlisted Jeromy Nolan, a travel consultant, to shepherd them through the central USA rice industry.
The first stop was El Campo in the Texas rice belt. Arriving at the roadside Texan accommodation was reminiscent of a movie scene. Everyone had an early night after dinner and a glass or two of ranch water.
On the first day of sightseeing, the group was fortunate to have Dr. Steve Linscombe from USA Rice and two of his colleagues join them on the bus. The first stop was the Rice Wheat Belt storage and milling plant, followed by the Wintermann Rice Research Center, the Colorado County Mill, and an educational visit to the Gertson Family Farm. Tim Gertson, a fifth generation farmer, hosted a wonderful night of Texas-style BBQ.
Day two began with a quintessential South Texas thunderstorm, causing travel delays. Undeterred, the group pressed on to RiceTec headquarters in Alvin, then to the Riviana Rice Mill in Freeport. Local grower Daniel Berglund welcomed them to his farm in Wharton. The next day they ventured on to Memphis, Tennessee.
Downtime in Memphis allowed the group to immerse themselves in the home of blues music. They toured the city and even caught a local baseball game—an unforgettable experience.
Their journey continued to De Witt, Arkansas, the largest rice-growing region in the USA. There, they met Keith Freeland, Vice President of the Arkansas Ricegrowers Association, the Arkansas equivalent of the RGA.
A visit to the Dale Bumpers National Rice Research Center and the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture provided the group with a deeper understanding of the US rice system, including the economics behind farming enterprises. A highlight was meeting Andrew Jackson, an outstanding local agronomist who shared his extensive knowledge.
After visiting Riceland, the group enjoyed a delightful evening at the local community hall with local rice growers. Kenneth Graves, Chairman of the Arkansas Ricegrowers Association, and his wife Diane, both long-time contributors to the rice industry, hosted the gathering.
The group then arrived in New Orleans, an incredibly interesting city with much to see and do. Over the next two days, the group attended the International Temperate Rice Conference, an opportunity to hear from outstanding researchers, including our own PhD students representing the Australian rice industry. Australia's Russell Ford was awarded the Excellence in Science Award for his exceptional contribution to rice research over many years. Despite being relatively small compared to the USA and other countries, the Australian rice industry excels in many fields, even with limited resources. Our rice breeding program and research are on track, and we look forward to building further relationships with American research centres.
This tour, which brought together Australian rice growers, agronomists, researchers, and breeders to learn from the international scene, will significantly benefit our industry for years to come.