The CEO Connection: Spring 2026

I hope your planting season went well, and you caught the rain you needed. The big question out there is just how many rice acres will get planted. For Arkansas, USDA’s first estimate was 1 million acres. One in-state industry professional estimates it could be as low as 750,000 acres. If that low number is realized, the industry will be reverting to a crop from the 1970’s. Wow!    

There has been plenty of negative ink on rice lately; let’s look at some positives. First, the Trump Administration has launched a Section 301 investigation on several rice-exporting countries that are flooding our domestic rice market. This could lead to limiting the amount of rice that comes into the country, which would be an immediate shot of demand for your rice!  

News reports indicate leadership in Cuba are in talks with U.S. officials about policy changes in the country. There are some big ifs here, but if this turned out favorably, Cuba has the potential to once again become the largest export destination for long grain rice. Man, you talk about a big shot of demand for the industry! Stay tuned…

Asian rice prices have started to inch higher over the last several weeks. Many exporters in that part of the world are starting to consider the possibility of a strong El Niño weather pattern, which typically brings dry weather to Southeast Asia, resulting in lower field yields. It’s just in the beginning stages (prices moving higher), but if there is a major weather event and export restrictions come into play, world rice prices could be supported.  

From Dumas to Dudley, Washington, D.C. to Little Rock, your Riceland Team is working for you! Read on for some great updates from the Team!

Go Big Blue!

Kevin McGilton
President & CEO