ARLINGTON, VA – When it comes to the business of growing, harvesting, and milling rice, the work is never done—and that’s why it’s important to occasionally stop and reflect on achievements before moving on to the next challenge. On
Episode 89 of
The Rice Stuff podcast, cohosts Lesley Dixon, Michael Klein, and Dr. Steve Linscombe take a moment to appreciate some sustainability wins for the rice industry.
From Riceland Foods, Adam Shea and Austin Brown join the show to give an update on the progress of Riceland’s Ingrain Good and Carbon Ready programs, which track data on tillage method, irrigation, and nutrient management to support climate smart practices.
Carbon Ready, which was launched in 2022, has distributed more than $4 million to its farmers enrolled in the program, and reports more than 138,000 tons of CO2 emissions reductions, 24.1 billion gallons of water savings, and 69,000 acres of waterfowl habitat.
“The foundation for this program was built around bringing value back to our farmer members—it was built with a farmer-focused mentality,” said Brown. “So we knew that we had to create a program that was really a win for the farmer, number one, but also for our Riceland customers. The majority of the success we’ve seen with this program can be credited back to the trust we’ve been able to develop as a cooperative.”
Also joining the episode is sixth-generation Louisiana rice and crawfish farmer Fred Zaunbrecher, covering the sustainability methods he’s successfully implemented in his operation, including the transition from diesel fuel, water usage and sourcing, and the advantages (and potential limitations) of converting on-farm systems to electric.
New episodes of
The Rice Stuff are published on the second and fourth Tuesday of every month and can be found on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and online at
www.thericestuffpodcast.com.