Bill Huffman
Director - Government Relations

The Friday Report

August 27, 2010

Major East Coast newspapers continue to criticize Senator Blanche Lincoln and the Obama Administration for their effort to administratively divert funding at USDA for a $1.5 billion disaster program to benefit rice and cotton producers in Arkansas, Mississippi and Louisiana. Articles were printed in the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times alleging the effort is an attempt to help Mrs. Lincoln’s reelection effort in Arkansas.

As we’ve reported before, Senator Lincoln tried for several months to move legislation in the U.S. Senate to provide $1.5 billion in disaster assistance primarily to southern farmers who may have been affected during last fall’s harvest from heavy rain and some flooding.  Republican’s and several Democrats opposed the effort and Senator Lincoln pulled her amendment in late July after receiving assurances from the Obama Administration that it, the Administration, would find a way to divert funding at USDA to pay for the program.

The Administration’s effort to divert funding for the disaster program brought an outcry from conservation groups as well as many members of Congress who question whether there really was a disaster significant enough to warrant a $1.5 billion expenditure.

We expect to hear more about the controversy soon if the Obama Administration keeps its promise to Senator Lincoln to provide the funding by the end of August.  Stay tuned!

James Erdman Honored at Rice Field Day

Long time member and former Farmers’ Rice Cooperative Director James Erdman was honored Wednesday with the California Rice Industry Award at the annual Field Day at the Rice Experiment Station at Biggs. Jim Erdman is a long-time supporter having served 30-years on the Board of Directors of the California Cooperative Rice Research Foundation. He is a graduate of UC-Davis and has been one of the key growers involved over many years in promoting and support of the grower funded rice research program in California.

The Board of Directors and management of Farmers’ Rice congratulate Jim Erdman for receiving this prestigious award and thank him for his many years of service in support of rice research.