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Louisiana Rice Farmers Restructure Research and Promotion Programs

Louisiana Rice Farmers Restructure Research and Promotion Programs
Source: Louisiana Department of Agriculture & Forestry, Mike Strain DVM, Commissioner
Baton Rouge, La. (October 22, 2013) – Rice farmers in Louisiana are restructuring the way they fund research and promotion programs following a ruling from the state Supreme Court. The ruling states that the method used by the state legislature to create the check off programs, a means to collect money from all rice farmers to promote the industry, is unconstitutional. From this point forward, the money will be collected on a voluntary basis.
“The majority of Louisiana rice farmers support the check off programs. The court’s decision was not about the programs themselves, but rather the legislative tool used to create them,” explained Agriculture and Forestry Commissioner Mike Strain, D.V.M. “The court acknowledges the goal was to promote the growth and development of the rice industry in Louisiana, stating there is no question that the legislature clearly expressed the policy behind the rice statutes. However, the court found the legislature improperly delegated its authority to private citizens to conduct the referendum on assessments. These statutes and programs have been in place for approximately 35 years.”
The Louisiana check off program also funds agriculture rice research programs at LSU and elsewhere.
“These funds have been invaluable in providing farmers better ways to grow their crop and then maintain and expand markets for U.S. rice,” said Steve Linscombe, director of the Louisiana State University AgCenter Rice Research Station in Crowley, La. “I hope the industry is able to quickly fix the programs so our important work can go uninterrupted.”