Department of Agriculture
Supporting Arkansas farmers and ranchers while ensuring safe food, fiber, and forest products for the citizens of Arkansas, the nation, and across the globe
Arkansas Rice Research and Promotion Board
Overview
The Arkansas Rice Research and Promotion Board was created to plan and conduct a program of research, extension, market development, and advertising designed to promote the rice industry in Arkansas. The board consists of nine Arkansas rice producers appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate. Four members must be designated representatives of the Arkansas rice merchant and milling industry. Members serve two-year terms.
Board activities are funded through an assessment of 1.35 cents per bushel paid by the buyer at the first point of sale on rice grown within the state or at the point the rice enters into the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) loan program. Producers also pay an assessment of 1.35 cents per bushel of rice grown. The assessments paid by buyers must be used for market development and promotion. The assessments paid by producers must be used for rice extension and research.
Learn more about the Arkansas Rice Research and Promotion Board here.
Board Members
| Name | Location | Term |
|---|---|---|
| Jay Coker | Stuttgart | 2024 |
| Paul Schwarz | Jonesboro | 2024 |
| Carl Phillips | Walnut Ridge | 2024 |
| Becton Bell | Wilson | 2024 |
| Jim Whitaker | McGehee | 2025 |
| Jeff Rutledge | Newport | 2025 |
| David Gairhan | Jonesboro | 2025 |
| Charles Williams | Crawfordsville | 2025 |
| Scott Matthews | Weiner | 2025 |
Administrator: Cynthia Edwards
2024-2025 Projects
New Projects
| Entity | Project Title | Awarded Amount |
| Arkansas State University | Developing an Arkansas Rice and Meat Bratwurst | $13,980 |
| University of Arkansas | Incorporating Genetic Tolerance to Reduced Irrigation into the Arkansas Rice Breeding Program | $50,000 |
| University of Arkansas | Revising the Prevalence and Stability of Host Resistance of Rice Blast Races in Arkansas | $97,156 |
| University of Arkansas | Integrating Host Resistance and Fungicides to Control Cercospora in Rice | $48,000 |
| University of Arkansas | Developing Blast-Resistant, Water-Smart Rice Varieties Through Genomic Prediction and Marker-Assisted Selection | $78,000 |
| University of Arkansas | Improving Grain Chalkiness and Grain Yield Traits of Elite Rice Through Targeted Mutagenesis | $39,000 |
| University of Arkansas | Validation of In-Season Tissue Sampling for Rice Nutrient Management | $55,664 |
Project Continuations
| Entity | Project Title | Awarded Amount |
| University of Arkansas | Nitrogen Management Tools for Arkansas Rice Producers | $115,000 |
| University of Arkansas | Rice Insect Management | $135,000 |
| University of Arkansas | A Team Approach to Improved Weed Management in Rice | $255,000 |
| University of Arkansas | Nitrogen Recommendations for New Rice Cultivars | $64,000 |
| University of Arkansas | DD50 Thermal Unit Thresholds and Seeding Date Effects for New Rice Cultivars | $65,000 |
| University of Arkansas | Agronomic Production Practices for Rice | $103,000 |
| University of Arkansas | Economic Analysis of Arkansas Rice Farms | $55,000 |
| University of Arkansas | Rice Breeding and Pathology Tech Support | $160,000 |
| University of Arkansas | Breeding and Development of Improved Long-Grain and Aromatic Rice Varieties | $310,000 |
| University of Arkansas | Arkansas Rice Variety Advancement Trials | $102,000 |
| University of Arkansas | Arkansas Rice Performance Trials | $96,000 |
| University of Arkansas | Breeding Hybrid Rice Varieties for Arkansas and Southern U.S. | $195,000 |
| University of Arkansas | Development of Superior Medium-Grain and Long-Grain Rice Varieties in Arkansas and the Mid-South | $315,000 |
| University of Arkansas | Quality Analysis for Rice Breeding and Genetics | $118,202 |
| University of Arkansas | Puerto Rico Winter Nursery | $73,500 |
| University of Arkansas | Monitoring and Management of Fungicide Resistance of Sheath Blight in Arkansas | $35,500 |
| University of Arkansas | Rice Research Verification Program | $116,639 |
| University of Arkansas | Study of Cultivar Attributes and Their Measurements to Improve Rice Milling and Functional Characteristics | $61,000 |
| University of Arkansas | Analysis of Farm Policy Programs and Competitiveness of Arkansas and U.S. Rice | $20,000 |
| University of Arkansas | Rice Enterprise Budgets and Production Economic Analysis | $7,500 |
| University of Arkansas | Climate Smart 300 Bushel Row Rice on 12 Inches of Automated Irrigation | $85,000 |
| University of Arkansas | Rice Fertilization - Developing Novel Methods to Assess Nutrient Availability to Arkansas Rice | $58,000 |
