Representing the Views of the Arkansas Rice Farmer

Home Newsletter Calendar Membership Press Releases About Us Market Reports Links SB 349 Facts ABOUT ARGA MISSION STATEMENT The mission of the association is to promote market development goals and government affairs goals for the benefit of Arkansas rice growers. ABOUT THE ARKANSAS RICE GROWERS ASSOCIATION The Arkansas Rice Growers Association is an Organization OF Rice Growers, FOR Rice Growers, RUN by Rice Growers. Our goals are: To provide equal opportunity for ALL Arkansas Rice Growers. To promote market development and market maintenance for domestic sales and export of rough, brown and milled rice as a united voice and advocate for the Arkansas Rice farmer. To bring foreign delegations to Arkansas for the purpose of promoting trade. To educate and inform about Arkansas grown RICE---its virtues, dependability, availability, quality and quantity. To provide a voice for Rice farmers at the government level on legislative matters that directly affect them. Provide accountability within the industry. SERVING OUR ARKANSAS RICE GROWERS The Arkansas Rice growers’ Association is the collective voice of rice growers’ in Arkansas. The ARGA represents independent voluntary members by leading growers on issues affecting the viability of their business and communities. Despite the success of the rice industry into one of the most successful rural industries in Arkansas, today's rice growers more than ever need an Association that solely represents the interests of the rice farmer and can face the risks and challenges that a farmer takes to make a living. ROLE OF ARGA To develop and implement policy for the rice industry that is in growers' best interests. To represent the interests of rice growers to Federal, State and Local Government and their various agencies, other interest groups, and to the community generally. To service the specific needs of individual members. HISTORY OF RICE Rice is one of man's most important foods. It is the main source of nutrition for more than three-quarters of the world population. The word for rice is a synonym for ‘food’ or ‘agriculture’ in some countries. Archeological evidence suggests rice has been feeding humankind for more than 5,000 years. In 1904 William H. Fuller, a farmer near Ulm, plants a 70 acre farm of rice. He starts what will be a new agriculture boon to the state, the first commercial crop of rice was grown. Arkansas, the largest rice-producing state in the nation, harvested 240 million bushels of the 511 million bushels produced nationwide in 2004. Rice continues to grow in popularity with U.S. consumers, with annual per capita consumption of more than 27 pounds. Faces of ARGA Greg Yielding Executive Director North Little Rock Kenneth Graves President St. Charles Harvey Howington Vice President Lepanto Pat Henderson Secretary/Treasurer England Randy Marr   Hickory Ridge John Dozier   Moro Jim Jim Butler   Harrisburg Dwight Ellis   Walnut Ridge John Alter   Dewitt ARGA CONTACT INFORMATION Arkansas Rice Growers Association P.O. Box 95226 North Little Rock, AR72190 gyielding@hotmail.com www.arkansasricegrowers.com

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