Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter

19 November, 2014

Volume 4 Issue: XI

th

Vol 4, Issue XI

Todays News Headlines

Australia and China: Free and Friendly Trade

Thailand Tallies Billions in Rice Program Losses
Govt cooperates with traders to boost Hom Mali market in
Hong Kong
Pakistan government to provide subsidy to Basmati rice
growers
Guyana declares rice surplus, searches for new markets
New markets on agenda of World Rice Conference
Congress promises free TV sets and rice in Jharkhand poll
manifesto
State move to boost paddy power
Lamb shanks reveal a softer, subtler side
Producers Rice Mill's Sebree Retires After 43 Years of
Service
Louisiana Ag Commissioner Expresses Concern Over Iraqi
Rice Tender
Conaway Named Next House Ag Committee Chair
Japan Announces 7th Ordinary Import Tender in FY 2014
AARQ Association for the Administration of Rice Quotas,
Inc.
CCC Announces Prevailing World Market Prices
CME Group/Closing Rough Rice Futures

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News Detail.
Australia and China: Free and
Friendly Trade
Australia and China have announced a
comprehensive free trade agreement.
By Helen Clark
November 19, 2014

After ten years of negotiations, Australia

and China have agreed to a Free Trade
Agreement (FTA). Announced Monday and
signed by Australian Trade Minister Andrew
Robb and Chinese Commerce Minister Gao
Hucheng, it leavened a G20 that many
(perhaps most notably the LA Times, in
an article that got wide play in Australia)
said had left Australia in a poor, or at least
weak, light.
This is the third major FTA between
Australia and a major Asian economy this
year, the other two being Japan and Korea.
The Coalition is, of course, proud of its
efforts. In fact, even before the FTA had
gone ahead government ministers were
announcing a separate billion dollar live
cattle deal with China.

Education Minister Christopher Pyne told

Channel Nine at the time, This is the kind
of thing that happens when you have a
government thats focused on economic
outcomes So we have a Free Trade
Agreement with Japan, Free Trade
Agreement with South Korea, working on
one with China.Great friendship between
two nations planning on making each other
even richer was the exuberant tone of most
politicians discussing the deal which may
be worth up to AUD18 billion ($15.6
billion) over the next few years for Australia
and all previous skepticism regarding
China and its investment into Australia
suddenly forgotten by Coalition politicians

explaining it to the media (which they had to

as details will not fully be released until next
year, after it is formally signed).Obviously,
the government deserves a pat on the back.
And why not, as most have pointed out that
Australia should do very well out of the
deal. Briefly: Tariffs on beef will be gone in
the next nine years and tariffs on dairy
phased out over four to 11 years. Tariffs on
Australian wine will disappear over four
years (it is currently 14 to 30 percent). China
imported some AUD9 billion worth of
Australian agricultural goods last year.
The resources sector will benefit, with the
removal of tariffs on all energy products and
on pharmaceuticals over four years. The
services sector is also expected to do well:
tourism, education and elderly care services
from Australia can now more easily be set
up in China. Ultimately 95 percent of
Australian exports to China will be tariff
free within the next decade or so.The
evergreen promise of Chinas growing
middle class will, it is hoped, benefit food
and wine markets, whilst a reported
relaxation of the One Child laws may be
useful for the dairy sector, powdered
formula especially.
It is dearly hoped Australia may be able to
better compete with New Zealands dairy
exports to China, which grew tenfold in the
six years following the 2008 FTA it signed
with China. The deal may benefit Australian
consumers also, with cheaper goods.Are
there downsides? There has been no
agreement on a deal for certain agricultural
products such as Australian rice, wheat,
sugar, cotton and oilseed.
China is now allowed to send its skilled
labor to Australia to work on major

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projects (the definition of major has
apparently been downgraded from AUD2
billion to a more minor AUD150 million),
which has prompted some inevitable angst.
Trade Minister Andrew Robb has reassured
critics it would not be at the expense of
Australian jobs, though critics have pointed
to Chinas history of sending its workers to
Africa and Asia to work on projects (though
comparing Australias labor market and
laws to those of Papua New Guinea, Africa
or Laos is not entirely useful).
Senator Penny Wong, the Opposition trade
spokeswoman, has been broadly positive
about the agreement and indeed anything
that frees up trade, but has criticized the
opacity: a full copy will not be ready for
parliamentary review until possibly next
year. Wong is also critical of Australias
continued piecemeal limiting of foreign
investment in Australia, Its inconceivable
that we can scale up our agricultural
industries without foreign investment. Why
is it in our interest to make it more difficult
for investors to invest here? she told the
national broadcaster ABC radio.
Chinese investment increased by a very
large 41.2 percent last year but is, overall,
very low at some 1.3 percent of the total
stock of foreign investment in Australia, or
just AUD31.9 billion. The government will
screen Chinese investments in agribusiness
over AUD53 million and will screen all
state-owned enterprise investment. Chinese
SOE investment in Australia has been a
concern for some time given allegations of
corruption and their opaque nature. Private
Chinese business will not face such hurdles.
Property purchases will, according to
Australian news, not be under any especial
review or scrutiny despite ongoing and very
public concerns over Chinese purchases of
much Australian property that have, some

critics allege, verged on xenophobic in their

worries of rich Chinese forcing up the
market.
The wide ranging FTA, the most
comprehensive China has signed with any
developed nation according to Mr. Robb, is
not a static thing but will apparently evolve
and improve over time. The FTA is, without
question, going to benefit many in both
nations.
However it might be worth remembering
a Foreign Affairs article from just over a
year ago by Professor Hugh White at the
Australian National University in Canberra.
A regular contributor to the Lowy
Interpreter, White pointed out the broad gap
between Australias views of China
strategically and economically and the
balance it needs to find between its
commitments to a U.S. alliance (with the
relatively recent base opening in Darwin,
which deeply upset Beijing) and its reliance
on trade with China, already its biggest
trading partner, In fact, most everyone in
Australia wants both relationships to
flourish, so that the United States can keep
Australians safe while China makes them
rich.
After all, as we reported last week,
Australias strategic concerns regarding
China are so strong that it decided against
joining the new Asia Infrastructure
Investment Bank only the other week. In this
context possibly President Xi Jinpings
comments on the FTA were apposite, As
the Chinese saying goes it takes 10 years to
sharpen a sword, so we are very glad to see

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that after nearly 10 years of negotiation our
two sides have announced this substantive
conclusion
to
the
bilateral
FTA
negotiation.Helen Clark was based in
Hanoi for six years as a reporter and
magazine editor. She has written for two
dozen
publications
including The
Diplomat (as
Bridget
OFlaherty), Time, The Economist, the Asia
Times Online and the Australian Associated
Press.

2011 national polls.The plan promised

farmers a fixed, above-market price for their
rice crop. Authorities hoped it would give
them greater control over Thailands rice
export, and lead them to consolidate the
countrys position as the worlds biggest rice
exporter.But regional rice producing
countries such as India, Vietnam and
Myanmar, increased their harvests and sold
more exports on the open market, better
meeting demand than they had in years past.
Losses, unsold rice

Thailand Tallies Billions in

Rice Program Losses
A farmer works in his rice field in
Nakhonsawan
province.
The
Thai
government has offered 2 million tonnes of
rice and 200,000 tons of rubber to China, the
commerce minister said on Friday, as the
government attempts to sell off stockpiles
that are hanging over global markets and
pushing down prices, Nov. 14, 2014.
Ron Corben
November 19, 2014 7:57 AM

BANGKOK
Thailands former Prime Minister Yingluck
Shinawatra remains under legal scrutiny for
failing to stop massive losses and corruption
in the countrys controversial rice price
support scheme. The Thai Finance Ministry
estimates that the country has spent more than
$21 billion to support rice price programs by
various governments over the past decade.
The government-backed rice price support
scheme launched by Yingluck and her Pheu
Thai Party proved an election winner at the

That meant the Thai rice went unsold and

payments to farmers were delayed. The
government began stockpiling the unsold
rice, which authorities now estimate at 19
million metric tons.Viroj na Ranong, an
economist with the independent think-tank
Thailand Development Research Institute
(TDRI) said the losses estimated by the
Finance Ministry could rise as the military
government sets about attempting to clear
the enormous rice stockpile.
"In fact, the bad thing was not only the Pheu
Thai Government was incompetent to sell its
rice, my expectation is that most of the rice
will sit there for a long time and well before
the military would be able to do something
with it," Viroj na Ranong said.The Thai
Ministry of Finance estimates the losses
from the rice scheme under Yinglucks
government total more than $16 billion. All
told, the Ministry said, similar programs
dating back to 2004 led to total losses in
excess of $21 billion.
Corruption cited as one reason for failure
Critics of the rice program say it also lost
enormous funds through corruption.
Members of Yinglucks party insist the
programs
main
beneficiaries
were
Thailands rice farmers.But the opposition
Democrat Party published detailed reports

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on the rice scheme, based on information
supplies by bureaucrats and officials in
government ministries and state-owned
banks.Warong Dechgitvigrom, a member of
the Democrat Party, said the corruption
required the involvement of rice millers,
government-owned banks as well as official
surveyors sent to assess rice quality.
Overseas sales on a government-togovernment (or G to G) basis were also
questionable."The surveyor is also corrupt.
This is why bad quality rice, yellow rice, or
rice from Cambodia or Myanmar, are sent to
the stockpile [warehouse]. And finally when
the government sell the rice they are also
corrupt - G to G - its fake," stated Warong.
"It's not the real thing."
Former leader face charges
Yingluck, who chaired a committee
overseeing the rice program, faces charges of
negligence and is due to appear before the
National Assembly on November 28. If
impeached, she would be barred from politics
for five years.Economist Viroj said the
National
Anti-Corruption
Commission
(NACC) moves to target former leader
Yingluck appears "political" based on weak
charges of her position as chair of the national
rice program she should be held
accountable.But Warong Dechgitvigrom, a
member of the Democrat Party, said the legal
moves against Yingluck could succeed, in part
because many rice farmers grew angry by
delayed payments.
"I believe the impeachment will be successful
and the criminal high [Supreme] Court finally
I believe also a success. Both ways," he said.
"The poor also agree with the Court - the
politician must take responsibility for the
corruption and about the impeachment and the
criminal [acts]."Private rice exporters remain
confident Thailand will recover its position as
the world's largest rice exporter in the coming
year.Rice industry executives predict Thailand
will ship around 10 to 12 million metric tons

of rice in 2014, in line with India's 10 million

tons.

Govt cooperates with traders to

boost Hom Mali market in Hong
Kong
Petchanet Pratruangkrai
The Nation November 19, 2014 1:00 am
The Commerce Ministry has joined forces
with Thai rice exporters and 40 Hong Kong
importers to regain market share for Thai
Hom Mali rice (jasmine rice) in Hong Kong,
a major market.
After a meeting involving ministry officials,
Thai rice traders, and 40 Hong Kong
importers in Bangkok, Deputy Commerce
Minister Apiradi Tantraporn said Thailand
and Hong Kong had agreed to continue their
trade and increase orders for Hom Mali rice.
They said the price of Thai jasmine rice had
become more competitive."The traders
agreed that Thailand still has a chance to
regain market share for Hom Mali rice as the
price is now more competitive and Hong
Kong buyers have high faith in the quality of
Thai rice," Apiradi said.
To regain market share for Thai rice, Hong
Kong importers have suggested that the Thai
government boost confidence in Hom Mali
rice by having the certification logo in the
Chinese language as well. Currently, the
logo is only in English.Hong Kong rice
traders have also encouraged Thai rice
traders to join an international food
exhibition in that city next year.Apiradi said
the government would continue to boost
consumption of Thai rice by reaching out to
end consumers, and would try to support
hotels and restaurants that have a huge stock
of Thai rice to serve their diners.Since 2008,
when Thailand monopolised 91 per cent of
the Hong Kong market for imported fragrant
rice, its share has plummeted to about 40 per

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cent because of high prices."Thai Hom Mali
rice should regain its piece of the pie soon,
thanks to close cooperation among the Thai
government, Thai exporters and Hong Kong
rice traders," she said.
According to the Customs Department,
shipment of Thai Hom Mali rice to Hong
Kong dropped 4.56 per cent during the first
nine months of the year to 101,777 tonnes,
from 106,642 tonnes last year.Apiradi said
Thailand should be able to ship the fourth lot
of rice under its 1-million-tonne contract
with mainland China next month. This
shipment will include some Hom Mali rice
from the 2014-15 main crop.Witt
Maneenetr, the trade attache at the Thai
Trade Office in Hong Kong, said Thailand's
share of the jasmine-rice market in that city
was expected to increase by 2 per cent next
year.Hong Kong traders visited Thai rice
fields for the first time in a decade so that
they could have more confidence in Thai
rice farming and production.
A source from the Thai Rice Exporters
Association said it planned to encourage
Hong Kong traders to deal with more Thai
rice by setting up a fund and providing a
premium fee to traders with the highest
volume.The idea will be discussed again
before deciding whether to implement it.

Pakistan
government
to
provide subsidy to Basmati rice
growers
By Press Trust of India @indiacom | November 19,
2014 7:57 PM
Tags: Basmati rice, Nawaz Shaif, Pakistan

Islamabad, Nov 19 : In a relief to

Basmati rice- growers in Pakistan,
Prime Minister Nawaz Shariftoday
said the government will provide

subsidy to farmers following sliding global

prices.
He was chairing a meeting regarding
procurement of Basmati rice at the Prime
Ministers House here. According to a
government statement, Sharif expressed
concern over the sliding Basmati rice price
due to international factors.(He) directed
the Ministries of Finance and Food Security
to submit a proposal for providing support to
the grower by providing suitable subsidy, it
said. Sharif asked the Ministry of Food
Security to consult provincial governments
and develop a system so that direct benefit
of the subsidy goes to the peasants and not
the middleman.
The Prime Minister directed the ministries to
come up with a plan within six weeks
through which cost of agricultural inputs can
be brought down to make farmers
comfortable in the local market and
competitive in the international market. He
also directed them to submit a proposal
regarding provision of solar panels and soft
loans for installation of tube-wells for
agriculture sector.
Pakistan and India are major Basmati
exporters.
Modified Date: November 19, 2014 7:57
PM

Guyana declares rice surplus,

searches for new markets
Published November 19, 2014
Associated Press
GEORGETOWN,
GUYANA

The South
American country of Guyana is reporting a
record rice harvest and is seeking new
markets for its surplus.The general manager
of the Rice Development Board says farmers
have produced nearly 627,000 metric tons
(691,000 tons) of rice this year. Jagnarine
Singh said Wednesday the amount is nearly
100,000 metric tons (110,200 tons) more

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compared with last year.He said the increase
is a result of farmers improving their yields
per acre.Singh said officials are seeking to
tap further into the U.S. and European
Union markets, where buyers already have
asked for samples.Venezuela, Nicaragua and
Panama are among the top current buyers.

New markets on agenda of

World Rice Conference
Wed, 19 November 2014

May Kunmakara
The second Cambodia Rice Festival was
held yesterday in Phnom Penh aiming to
promote the Kingdoms rice sector to
international buyers.The rice festival was
held on the eve of the sixth World Rice
Conference, which started today at the
Sofitel hotel.
Up to 600 local and foreign sellers, buyers,
millers, exporters and farmers from up to 40
countries including rice-producing nations
such as Thailand, India, Vietnam, the
Philippines and Myanmar are expected to
attend the two-day event.Todays rice
forum will play a very important role in
helping local and international participants
to clearly understand the profiles and quality
of Cambodias rice sector, said Sok
Puthyvuth, president of Cambodia Rice
Federation (CRF) at yesterdays the
opening.But in order to promote our
exports we first need to iron out some
challenges such as quality seeds, technique,
logistics, financing, warehousing and
markets.
Opening up new export markets to meet the
governments rice export goal of one million
tonnes per year was critical to the industrys
success, Commerce Minister Sun Chanthol
said yesterday.We have been trying to seek
more markets for our milled rice, Chanthol
said, citing the Chinese governments July

pledge to import 100,000 tonnes of

Cambodian rice per year.I will [also] travel
to Kuwait and other countries next week to
open the new markets in the Middle East.
We will also seek more markets besides the
EU, such as Africa, Chanthol went on to
say.
Cambodia exported 269,000 tonnes of
milled rice to 57 countries during the first
nine months of this year, up just 1.2 per cent
compared to the same period last year.About
80 per cent of the Kingdoms rice is sent to
European nations under the EUs Everything
But Arms duty-free arrangement.Of course,
we do thank the EU for giving us more
ability to export more and more, Chanthol
said.
But, we need to expand our markets even
more we cannot put all our eggs in one
basket. We need to seek markets other than
Europe in order to promote our exports and
lift our milled-rice prices and subsequently
the living standards of our farmers.The
Worlds Best Rice awards, of which
Cambodia is the reigning winner, will be
decided as part of the World Rice
Conference on Thursday.
Contact author: May Kunmakara

Congress promises free

TV sets and rice in
Jharkhand poll manifesto
PTI | Nov 19, 2014, 05.14 PM IST
RANCHI: The Congress on Wednesday
promised to provide 35kg rice free of cost to
people not in the Income Tax category and
free TV sets to BPL families if it came to
power in Jharkhand ahead of the five-phase
polls beginning on November 25. "People
who are not in the IT category will be given
35kg rice every month and TV sets to BPL
families to make them aware of happenings

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around the world," Congress leader and
former Union minister Subodh Kant Sahai
said at a press conference after releasing the
party's poll manifesto.
AICC leader BK Hariprasad, Jharkhand
finance minister Rajendra Prasad Singh,
PCC president Sukhdeo Bhagat, former MP
Furkan Ansari and several other leaders
were present on the occasion. With an aim
to bring political stability in the state, the
manifesto promises to initiate steps to
increase the present Jharkhand assembly
strength from 81 to 140 seats and setting up
of a legislative council to accommodate
educationists and intellectuals. To deal with
the Maoist problem in Jharkhand, the
Congress said if voted to power, it would
initiate dialogue with the left wing
extremists, besides taking strong steps in
dealing with the problem.
The manifesto also focuses on rehabilitation
in a time-bound manner of those residing in
the Jharia coal belt where underground fire
has been raging for several decades,
threatening the residents. Promising to shift
the headquarters of Steel Authority of India
Limited, Coal India Limited and Damodar
Valley Corporation to Jharkhand, the
manifesto vowed to impart skill training to
one crore youth to make them fit for
employment. It also promised to give Rs
50,000 as seed money after setting up selfhelp groups comprising 50 women in every
village.

State move to boost paddy power

TNN | Nov 19, 2014, 09.55AM
IST
BHUBANESWAR: Even though Odisha is
among the top paddy producing states in India,
the state has failed to capitalize on the
investment potential in the rice sector. "The

focus is more on non-mineral sectors like

food processing. Rice millers must come
forward with advance technology and
modern warehousing to produce quality
rice," said chief secretary Gokul Chandra
Pati, adding, the state government is
providing up to 30% subsidy to investors in
the agriculture sector.
He was speaking at a workshop on
investment opportunities in rice sector
jointly organized by the department of
MSME, National Mission for Food
Processing and International Finance
Corporation here on Tuesday.Sources said
Odisha produces over 7.58 million tonne
(MT) of rice a year while in 2013 the state
contributed 7.5% of the total rice produced
in the country.
Although productivity in Odisha has
increased from 1.45 MT a hectare in 200405 to around two MT a hectare in 2013, still
the state lags behind other major riceproducing states.Over 40% of the total
paddy produced in Odisha is exported to
neighbouring states due to lack of
processing units and mills. By promoting
private milling, it could be processed in the
state and cater to the state's private market,"
said representative of All Odisha Rice
Millers' Association S K Agrawal. There are
about 1,250 rice mills in the state.After
milling, Odisha produces about 12 lakh
metric tonne of husk which has the potential
to generate close to 200 MW power.
Similarly, the market for rice bran oil is
growing at 20% to 25% a year."Industries
are falling sick because they are not taking
benefit of government schemes and other
financial institutes. Though we tried to
create awareness among entrepreneurs about
subsidy and other schemes, the response is
not very encouraging," said MSME
secretary Panchanan Dash.He said the state
government is providing 25% of the project

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cost subject to a limit of Rs 2 crore and
subsidy up to 33% of project cost subject to
limit of Rs 3 crore for units promoted by
women, SC&ST entrepreneurs and units in
Kalahandi, Balangir, and Koraput.

Lamb shanks reveal a softer,

subtler side
Long braising of lamb shanks reveals
a softer, subtler side

festive food served for holidays makes me

hungry.
My friend Andy Baraghani, a talented local
chef, has taught me that Persian cuisine,
though it uses lots of spices, is never
overspiced, and the use of hot pepper is rare.
Fresh, light and healthy is an accurate
description. A meal always has an
accompaniment of green herbs of all sorts
basil, parsley, dill, cilantro, tarragon, garden
cress, mint, fenugreek sprigs and chives,
along with scallions and radishes.
He tells me that his father, who prefers to
have his main meal of the day in the
afternoon, has just tea and a platter of herbs
in the evening.Rice, a basmati type, is also a
permanent presence, whether served on the
side or as part of a dish. On any given day, it
may be plain buttered rice, but it is often
stained yellow with a drizzle of saffron
water.

Rare-grilled lamb chops or a roasted leg of

lamb can be delightful and are easy to cook
if youre in a hurry. But with a little
planning, youll find its the shank of the
lamb that deserves the most praise. Careful,
slow simmering will coax lamb shanks to a
flavorful succulence far superior to other
cuts.Long braising shows off the lovely
silky, almost-sticky texture that is their
trademark.Lamb shanks are versatile, too,
easily adaptable to recipes from many
different cuisines.
Employing a heady Persian spice mixture,
for instance, makes a lamb shank braise that
is complex and nuanced. The flavors are
balanced, with subtle hints of orange, lime,
saffron, cinnamon and dried rosebuds.Im
lucky to count some Iranian-Americans
among my circle of friends and
acquaintances. very one of them is a
passionate cook, and when they talk about
Persian food, they seem to glow with
excitement. Listening to them reminisce
about food from their childhoods and the

Or it is embellished with the traditional crisp

buttery bottom called tahdig. For the
method, you can consult my recipe for
Persian jeweled rice, made with dried
fruits.Sweet spiced aromas waft through my
kitchen as my lamb shanks simmer in the
oven. Im nibbling pistachios and sipping
cool water flavored with a few drops of
rosewater.
Theres
a
basket
of
pomegranates, oranges and limes on the
table. Ill sit here for a while, anticipating a
fine dinner with a Persian accent.
Persian-Spiced Lamb Shanks
4 meaty lamb shanks (ask for the hind
shanks), about 4a to 5 pounds
Salt
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon grated nutmeg
1 teaspoon ground cardamom
1 teaspoon ground rosebuds, optional
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 teaspoon turmeric
Vegetable oil

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f teaspoon crumbled saffron
Juice of 2 limes, about 4 tablespoons
3 teaspoons rosewater, available from
Middle Eastern grocery shops
1 large onion, roughly chopped
a teaspoon ground dried lime, or the zest of 1
fresh lime
Zest of 1 orange, plus 1 tablespoon more for
garnish
A few thyme sprigs
2 fresh bay leaves
6 cups hot chicken broth or water
2 tablespoons roughly chopped parsley, for
garnish
2 tablespoons roughly chopped mint or dill,
for garnish Trim any excess fat from lamb
shanks and season generously with salt.
Mix together the cinnamon, nutmeg,
cardamom, rosebuds (if using), black pepper
and turmeric. Sprinkle evenly over shanks
and rub into meat. Let sit at room
temperature at least an hour, or wrap and
refrigerate overnight, then bring to room
temperature.Place a Dutch oven or deep,
heavy pot over medium-high heat and add
oil to a depth of inch.
When oil is hot, add two lamb shanks and
fry until nicely browned on all sides, about 5
minutes. Remove and set aside, then brown
the two remaining shanks.Meanwhile, put
saffron in a small bowl with lime juice, 2
teaspoons rosewater and cup warm water.
Let steep for 10 minutes. Heat oven to 350
degrees.
Carefully remove all but 2 tablespoons oil
from Dutch oven. Add chopped onion and
cook over medium heat until softened and
lightly colored, 8 to 10 minutes. Season
onion with salt, then add lime zest, orange
zest, thyme sprigs and bay leaves. Stir in
saffron mixture. Lay in the lamb shanks and
add the broth. Bring to a boil, then turn off
heat and cover pot.Transfer pot to oven and
bake for about 1 hours, covered, until meat
is tender when probed and beginning to fall

from the bone. Remove lamb shanks to a

deep serving dish and keep warm. Strain
braising juices through a fine-mesh sieve
into a bowl, pressing with a wooden spoon to
obtain all the liquid (discard thyme, bay leaves
and onions).
Skim fat, then taste and add salt if necessary.
Add 1 more teaspoon rosewater, if desired.
Reheat strained juices and pour over lamb
shanks. Combine parsley, mint and reserved
orange zest and sprinkle over top.Use a large
spoon to break the tender shank meat into
large chunks. Serve in low, wide soup plates,
giving each portion a spoonful of the juices.
Accompany with steamed basmati rice, lavash
flatbread or a loaf of crusty French bread.
Note: Some brands of rosewater are more
strongly perfumed than others. Use sparingly
at first, then add more to taste.
Makes 4 to 6 servings.

Producers Rice Mill's Sebree

Retires After 43 Years of
Service
Board Vice Chairman Jerry
Hoskyn (l) presents a plaque
to Gary Sebree.

STUTTGART, AR -Producers Rice Mill honored Gary Sebree at

the company's 71st Annual Membership
Meeting on November 6. Sebree, who
retired from the board of directors after 43
years of service, was recognized for his
leadership in a video tribute played before

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400 members and guests.
State
Representative David Hillman read a letter
from Governor Beebe and presented Sebree
with a citation from the Arkansas House of
Representatives. The USA Rice Federation
extends congratulations to Gary Sebree. A
dedicated industry leader, Sebree is a past
chairman of the USA Rice Federation, USA
Rice Producers' Group and the Rice Foundation,
and has served on a number of USA Rice
committees.

Louisiana Ag Commissioner
Expresses Concern Over Iraqi
Rice Tender

Strain keeping the pressure on

BATON ROUGE, LA -- Mike Strain,
Louisiana's Commissioner of Agriculture
and Forestry, added his voice to the chorus
of lawmakers pressing for answers from the
government of Iraq on a recent rice tender
awarded to Brazil and Uruguay at prices at
least $23 per metric ton higher than the U.S.
bid.In a letter to Secretary of State John
Kerry, Strain said: "Buying higher priced
rice from other countries in the absence of
technical or quality issues is not only hurtful
to our farmers and industry, but also hinders
the long term relationship between the U.S.
and Iraq..."
"No doubt Commissioner Strain is hearing
from the rice farmers in his state about this
situation," said Betsy Ward, president and
CEO of the USA Rice Federation.
"Representatives from the Iraqi Grain Board

visited Delta rice country last spring and, at

that time, expressed confidence in the U.S.
crop and said Iraqi consumers always asked
for American origin rice. Like the rest of us,
Commissioner Strain wants to understand
what's happening here, and we appreciate
him weighing in."Iraq's latest rice tender, for
at least 30,000 metric tons, closed this
weekend with bids from the U.S. Results are
anticipated later this week.
Contact: Randy Jemison (337) 738-7009

Conaway Named Next House

Ag Committee Chair
Conaway (l) friend to US rice
WASHINGTON,
DC
-Yesterday,
Representative Mike Conaway (R-TX) was
tapped as the 50th chairman of the House
Agriculture Committee.
In a statement
following the
announcement
,
Conaway
emphasized
the need to
work across
party
lines
saying, "I look
forward
to
building on the bipartisan work of the
chairmen who have led this committee for
the past two centuries."Conaway hopes to
begin the term with an update from
Secretary
Vilsack
on
Farm
Bill
implementation.
"USA Rice has a strong history with
Representative Conaway," said Ben Mosely,
vice president of Government Affairs for the
USA Rice Federation. "We are committed
to working with the new Chairman and his
staff, as well as other members of the
committee to represent the rice industry in
Washington."

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Contact: Lydia Holmes (703) 236-1440

Japan Announces 7th Ordinary Import Tender in FY 2014

Announcement:
Tender:
Offer details:
Country
Specified or
Global
Thailand
Global Tender

18 November 2014
21 November 2014
40,247 mt
Non-glutinous
milled rice
(medium grain)

24,000
24,000

Non-glutinous
milled rice
(long grain)

Glutinous
milled rice
(long grain)

TOTAL

3,247

3,247
37,000
40,247

13,000
13,000

3,247

Shipping period: Global Tender Medium Grain: From 10 January 2015 to 10 February 2015
Global Tender Long Grain: From 1 January 2015 to 10 February 2015
Glutinous milled rice (Thailand) is shipped by container

AARQ Association for the Administration of Rice Quotas, Inc.

NOTICE OF OPEN TENDER
Independent bids are invited for rights to ship U.S.-origin milled rice to the European Union
under a tariff-rate quota (TRQ) granted by the EU to the United States.
Bids must be submitted on November 20, 2014 for the January 2015 TRQ Tranche, in which
the following quantity is available:
Volume (metric tons)
EU Duty
Semi-Milled or Milled Rice
(HTS item 1006.30)

9,681

zero

TRQ Certificates will be awarded to the highest bidder(s). Any person or entity incorporated or
domiciled in the United States is eligible to bid. The minimum bid quantity is 18 metric tons.
Performance security (the lesser of $50,000 or the total value of the bid) must be submitted with
each bid. Potential bidders may obtain the required bid forms and bid instructions from:
AARQ Administrator
Economic Consulting Services, LLC
2001 L Street, NW, Suite 1000
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Washington, D.C. 20036
Tel: (202) 466-1150
Fax: (202) 785-3330
Note: Potential bidders should consult regulations in the Official Journal of the European
Union to determine the applicable tariff rate on semi-milled/milled rice. AARQ disclaims any
responsibility for advising potential bidders on applicable tariff rates. Potential bidders should
also consult EC regulations relating to testing for unauthorized GMOs.

CCC Announces Prevailing World Market Prices

WASHINGTON, DC -- The Department of Agriculture's Commodity Credit Corporation
today announced the following prevailing world market prices of milled and rough rice, adjusted
for U.S. milling yields and location, and the resulting marketing loan-gain (MLG) and loan
deficiency payment (LDP) rates applicable to the 2014 crop, which became effective today at
7:00 a.m., Eastern Time (ET). Rough rice prices decreased $0.14 per cwt for long grain and
$0.15 per cwt for medium/short grain.
MLG/LDP
Rate

World Price

Milled
Value
($/cwt)

Rough Rough
($/cwt) ($/cwt)

Long-Grain

17.34

11.00

0.00

Medium-/ShortGrain

16.77

11.29

0.00

Brokens

10.46

----

----

This week's prevailing world market prices and MLG/LDP rates are based on the following U.S. milling yields and
the corresponding loan rates:
U.S. Milling Yields
Loan Rate
Whole/Broken
($/cwt)
(lbs/cwt)
Long-Grain

55.83/12.59

Medium-/Short-Grain 62.39/7.92

6.50
6.50

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The next program announcement is scheduled for November 26.

CME Group/Closing Rough Rice Futures

CME Group (Prelim): Closing Rough Rice Futures for November 19

Month

Price

Net Change

January 2015

$12.405

+ $0.405

March 2015

$12.675

+ $0.405

May 2015

$12.925

+ $0.405

July 2015

$13.130

+ $0.405

September 2015

$12.495

+ $0.405

November 2015

$12.395

+ $0.405

January 2016

$12.395

+ $0.405

Could Arsenic Levels in Rice Be Dangerous for Your Kids?

Study finds significant amount of arsenic in rice products that could have an impact on the health
of people who consume it.
01:52 | 11/19/2014

Watch Online Clip by following clip:

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/video/arsenic-levels-rice-dangerous-kids27019890?utm_source=USA+Rice+Daily%2C+November+19%2C+2014&utm_campaign=Friday%2C+
December+13%2C+2013&utm_medium=email

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