Lincoln Hosts Agriculture and Business Roundtable

11/25/09 03:59 PM Filed in: Meetings | Legislative
Gary Sebree speaks during the event
Gary Sebree speaks during the event.
LITTLE ROCK, AR -- Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) hosted an agriculture and business roundtable yesterday that included Arkansas Rice Federation Chairman Gary Sebree, who discussed the key challenges facing the Arkansas rice industry. Sebree, who serves as chairman of the Arkansas Rice Producers' Group, congratulated Lincoln on her recent appointment as chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee.

"Weather has certainly been our largest challenge here at home in 2009," Sebree told Lincoln. "The Arkansas Rice Federation and the USA Rice Federation have reviewed the disaster legislation you recently introduced with Sens. Thad Cochran (R-MS) and Roger Wicker (R-MS), and we support your efforts. Timeliness is the key and the delivery mechanism you propose would provide assistance when farmers need it."

"As for challenges abroad, we face constant hurdles on the trade front. On behalf of the Arkansas Rice Council, the Arkansas Rice Federation, and the USA Rice Federation, we appreciate your continued leadership in working to expand trade markets for U.S. products and further, your work to hold foreign countries accountable for the agreements that are already on the books," Sebree told Lincoln. "Rice is always a sensitive commodity in trade negotiations and we appreciate your willingness to hold our trading partners and our own government accountable."

Contact: Reece Langley, (703) 236-1471