From the Regional Manager: Summer 2026

NEA & SEMO: Jack Morris

Hello from Northeast Arkansas and Southeast Missouri. We have been working to get your facilities in shape for the upcoming harvest.

Continuously working on maintenance projects, keeping the plants clean, and getting equipment ready to go. Above all, we have been focused on shipping out of the facilities that will be open this fall, all while keeping costs at a minimum. As I am writing this, Corning and Poplar Bluff still have a small amount of old crop on hand, but should be empty prior to receiving our first load of new crop.

As you know, planted rice acres are down dramatically this year. For that reason, 2 plants in our district, Knobel and Dudley, will not be receiving green rice this season. The Corning and Poplar Bluff facilities will be ready to go and can give you the level of service that you all have come to expect from our team.

We know things continue to be tough for all of you. We hope this summer has treated you well, and we hope the weather this fall is mild and perfect for harvesting. Let’s all work together to make this a very safe and efficient harvest. And as always, please reach out if you have any questions or need anything at all.

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Wheatley: Philip Gahr

Harvest 2026 is here, and the Wheatley team has been working hard to prepare for another busy season. Over the past several weeks, employees have been shipping old-crop grain, maintaining equipment, cleaning the facility, and getting everything ready for harvest.

Rice receipts are currently about 36% below last year's signed volume, requiring us to remain flexible as harvest progresses. While rice production is down in our area, we're encouraged by the outlook for soybeans. Harvest is expected to begin around August 20, with Wheatley projected to receive more than 3 million bushels of yellow soybeans this season.

We're also looking forward to completing construction of our new sample house by the end of August. As we transition into the new facility, our team remains focused on safety, efficiency, and delivering the dependable service our members expect.

Thank you for your continued trust and support. We look forward to working alongside our members throughout Harvest 2026 and making the most of the opportunities this season brings.

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Jonesboro: Jon Murray

At the Jonesboro Grain Drier, we are currently shipping out the last of the 2025 rice crop and preparing for the 2026 Green rice crop.

Flat storage buildings are full of carryover of the 2025 crop from several of Riceland's facilities to help ensure we all have the space we will need for harvest. We plan to receive the green rice crop with minimal breakdowns due to the ongoing efforts of the grain drier crew.

Maintenance and servicing of the equipment is our utmost priority as we prepare for the delivery of the 2026 crop. In the upcoming months, we hope for a safe and smooth fall for all of the farmers and Riceland employees.

As always, please feel free to contact Matt or myself with any questions or concerns.

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North Central Arkansas: Rob Wilson

Greetings from the North Central! By the time you are reading this, you could be in a couple of different places. You might find yourself in the very thick of your harvest operations, checking the websites to see which line is the shortest, trying to keep your combines rolling, or you may be one of the lucky ones who got started early, and when you are reading this, you’re washing up all of your equipment. No matter which side of that fence you are on, it’s that time of year.

At the time of this writing, every team member, at every facility inside your district, is busying themselves getting the receiving facilities ready to receive your upcoming crop. We understand that we have made a lot of changes to the way we will receive your crop this year, but we are confident that the end result will be one that everyone can be satisfied with. We also hope that everyone understands that every decision we have made is to maximize savings for you, the member, all while keeping world-class service in mind. It’s a tough job, balancing both, but we feel confident that we have done so. We hope we continue to be a co-op that you, the farmer-member, can be proud of.

No doubt, by the time you’re reading this, you’ll have a lot of things you need from either myself, any one of the great managers you have out here, or any one of the great bookkeepers you have out here in your district. So never hesitate to reach out to us. We are here to do whatever it takes to get the job done for you. We appreciate you and everything you do. Thank you!

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South Arkansas: Jesse Tosh

Harvest 2026 is among us, and we have been working tirelessly to prepare for what lies ahead. The past several months have been filled with planning, adjustments, and hard work to ensure we are ready for another successful harvest season. With the low amount of rice green receipts this year, changes have become necessary. As conditions shift, we must be prepared to switch gears and adapt to meet the needs of our members and the industry. While change can bring challenges, it also creates opportunities for growth, improvement, and new ways to serve you better.

With every harvest, there are always challenges that must be faced. From changing market conditions to weather uncertainties and logistical demands, no season is ever exactly the same. However, our commitment remains unchanged. We will continue to work hard, stay flexible, and provide the dependable service and support you have come to expect.

We appreciate your continued trust and partnership as we move through this harvest season together. Your support is what drives us to keep improving and pushing forward, no matter the obstacles.

While rice receipts have been lower than expected this season, the outlook for soybeans is extremely encouraging and points toward what could be a record-breaking year. With the volume we are expecting, the Stuttgart Terminal is setting its sights on achieving two major milestones:

- Breaking the daily bushels dumped record

- Breaking the annual bushels dumped record

We look forward to a safe, productive, and successful Harvest 2026 and wish everyone a season filled with prosperity and success.