The Arkansas Rice Research and Promotion Board approved $2,860,000 in funding for five promotion projects at its Feb. 5, 2026, meeting, directing resources toward market growth for the state’s rice industry.
The board received 11 proposals requesting a combined $2,986,044 before selecting the five recipients. The request for proposals ran from Dec. 5, 2025, through Jan. 9, 2026.
USA Rice received the largest allocation at $2,800,000 — contingent upon assessment collections — to support domestic and international marketing, education and promotion efforts. The Rice Foundation received $35,000 for industry-wide research and education initiatives.
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture received two grants: $10,000 for its Rice Discovery Program, which integrates rice and agriculture education into K–12 classrooms, and $5,000 for the Arkansas Future Ag Leaders Tour, a leadership program for high school students. The Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance received $10,000 to promote Arkansas-grown rice through cooking demonstrations and outreach at food pantries.
“Arkansas is the largest rice-producing state in the United States,” said board Chair Jim Whitaker. “By investing in promotion today, the board increases market access and demand for Arkansas rice both domestically and internationally in the future.”
The board will meet Feb. 25–26 to discuss research project funding.
