Host Michael Klein sits down with USA Rice Chair and Producers Rice Mill CEO Keith Glover to discuss trade, tariffs, export trends, market disruption, sustainability, and more. From reciprocal tariff policies to freight rail performance, Glover covers the challenges and opportunities confronting the U.S. rice industry. With special guest: Keith Glover, President & CEO Producers Rice Mill, Chair USA Rice Hosted by: Michael Klein
Aug 26, 2025•35 min•Ep. 119
Aisha Grigsby takes Michael on a tour of the rice export markets she manages for USA Rice. It's a deep dive into dynamic marketing strategies in Mexico, Central America, South America, Haiti, and Canada. She talks about VR games, chef influencers, consumer preferences, data insights and more. With special guest: Asiha Grigsby, USA Rice Hosted by: Michael Klein
Aug 12, 2025•49 min•Ep. 118
Michael welcomes USA Rice's Jake Westlin back to explain why agriculture is excited about H.R. 1, aka Budget Reconciliation aka The Big Beautiful Bill. From more realistic reference prices and increased support for trade promotion to farm financials and conservation programs, Jake explains it all. He even gets Michael to (kind of) understand crop insurance and base acres. With special guest: Jake Westlin, Vice President of Government Affairs, USA Rice Hosted by: Michael Klein...
Jul 22, 2025•32 min•Ep. 117
Michael Klein and Sarah Moran talk about their recent trip to rice field days in Louisiana. This episode features interviews with Drs. Ronnie Levy and Adam Famoso from the LSU AgCenter; Dr. Tim Walker from Horizon Ag; and Dr. Brian Ottis from RiceTec. Plus, a special winged guest and Sarah went to the Waffle House! With special guests: Dr. Adam Famoso, LSU AgCenter, Dr. Ronnie Levy, LSU AgCenter, Dr. Tim Walker, Horizon Ag, and Dr. Brian Ottis, RiceTec Hosted by: Michael Klein and Sarah Moran...
Jul 08, 2025•38 min•Ep. 116
Michael Klein invites Shelby Young to ride shotgun and talk a bit about the 125th RMA Convention and their wild return trip. Then, meet new USA Rice VP Jake Westlin as he shares insights from the Senate, wheat world, and his first impressions of rice country. Don't miss this lively behind-the-scenes episode! With special guest: Jake Westlin, VP Government Affairs, USA Rice Hosted by: Michael Klein and Shelby Young
Jun 24, 2025•28 min•Ep. 115
Michael is just back from eating his way across the 2025 National Restaurant Show in Chicago where he visited with members and investigated foodservice trends. Past show attendee Katie Maher stops by the studio to grill Michael about the show, and they listen to an interview from the show floor with Blaine Stewart of Heritage Rice Company. With special guest: Blaine Stewart, Heritage Rice Company Hosted by: Michael Klein and Katie Maher
May 27, 2025•22 min•Ep. 114
Retired rice breeder extraordinaire Steve Linscombe talks with Randy Ouzts from Nutrien, Tim Walker of HorizonAg, and Brian Ottis of RiceTec about the challenges of seed production, breeding methods, hybrid vs. pure line development, determining seeding rates, and how weather and technology shape the seed supply. Discover the cutting-edge practices and decisions that fuel the rice industry from the ground up. https://www.horizonseed.com https://nutrienagsolutions.com https://ricetec.com With spe...
May 13, 2025•58 min•Ep. 113
Dr. Angelia Seyfferth, Professor of Biogeochemistry and Plant-Soil Interactions, shares her journey from humble beginnings to having a lab with her name on it at one of the most prestigious research universities in the country. She talks about her innovative study of arsenic uptake in rice, the trouble of salt water intrusion, and growing rice where it isn't typically found. Michael asks her about the challenges and rewards of academia, mentorship, gender representation in STEM, and more. https:...
Apr 22, 2025•36 min•Ep. 112
What, how, and why does the Federal Reserve do what it does? Hosts Michael Klein and Deborah Willenborg dive into a lively, humorous, and insightful conversation with Matuschka Lindo Briggs of the Little Rock branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis to get to the bottom of it all. From the Fed's ag advisory council to the Beige Book, and from consumer confidence to what's going on in Kansas City, this episode makes the decisions behind monetary policy relatable and even fun. With special ...
Apr 08, 2025•43 min•Ep. 111
The check off program is at times controversial, but do growers who pay into the program (and even those who don't) receive a good value for what they contribute? In this episode, Michael talks with Dr. Lanier Nalley, professor of ag economics at the University of Arkansas about his research into the ROI of the Arkansas check-off. Growers see orders of magnitude of return for every dollar - returns that are the stuff of legend. With special guest: Dr. Lawton Lanier Nalley, Professor & Direct...
Mar 25, 2025•35 min•Ep. 110
How has the digital revolution changed the way we shop? Hosts Michael Klein and Lesley Dixon explore shifts in consumer behavior, from online grocery orders to AI-powered shopping assistants. E-commerce marketing expert Eric Martindale joins to discuss the future of retail, how brands can thrive in this space, and why digital shelf space is the new battleground. Plus, listener mail proves people are tuning in! Don’t miss this deep dive into the evolving world of e-commerce. www.elitecommercegrou...
Mar 11, 2025•42 min•Ep. 109
How is AI transforming the food industry? Hosts Michael Klein and Lesley Dixon talk with Andreas Duess, CEO of 6 Seeds Consulting, about AI-driven data, virtual consumer panels, and predicting food trends. From the impact of Ozempic on grocery shopping to the viral rise of air fryers, this conversation reveals how AI can be a powerful business tool—when used correctly. Tune in to explore the future of food, marketing, and consumer insights! https://6seedsconsulting.com https://www.linkedin.com/i...
Feb 25, 2025•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 108
What’s changed the most in rice farming over the past 50 years? Four life-long farmers from Arkansas, Texas, Louisiana, and California discuss the game-changing innovations that have revolutionized everything from planting and harvesting to nitrogen use, marketing, and tractor tech. From GPS-guided combines to the rise of semi-dwarf rice varieties, hear how technology and research powered dramatic yield boosts. With special guests: Michael Rue, California rice farmer, Jackie Loewer, Louisiana ri...
Feb 11, 2025•50 min•Ep. 107
Cameron Jacobs, USA Rice's vice president of domestic promotion, makes his 2025 debut on The Rice Stuff to discuss rice's role in U.S. nutrition policy, the process of updating the government's dietary guidelines every five years, and how USA Rice advocates for rice to be recognized and recommended as an important part of a balanced and healthy diet. And what does "healthy" mean, by the way? What exactly IS a grain? Tune in to find out. With special guest: Cameron Jacobs, USA Rice VP of Domestic...
Jan 28, 2025•26 min•Ep. 106
Before Members of Congress could leave Washington at the end of 2024, there was a lot of business to attend to that directly impacted the rice industry (and the entire country). USA Rice's Jamison Cruce recounts the "mad dash" to the end that resulted in economic assistance for farmers, disaster aid, a Continuing Resolution, and another Farm Bill extension. That, plus how hard is yoga and how bad are Texas allergies? With special guest: Jamison Cruce, VP Government Affairs, USA Rice Hosted by: M...
Jan 14, 2025•43 min•Ep. 105
A highlight of the USA Rice Outlook Conference is meeting the many award winners who are celebrated throughout the event. In this episode, Michael and Lesley chat about the 2024 USA Rice Outlook Conference and in particular, Lesley's interview with the National Rice Month Video Scholarship winner, Helen Lan. Meet a rising young star so you can say, "I've known about Helen for years!" Check out Helen's video and all the winners on the USA Rice YouTube Page. With special guest: Helen Lan, NRM Scho...
Dec 24, 2024•34 min•Ep. 104
Lesley finally made it to International Rice Festival, and she recaps her whirlwind experience at one of Louisiana's biggest and longest-running celebrations of agriculture. Hearing her interviews with participants, organizers, and competition winners is the next best thing to attending the fest yourself--but really, you should attend the fest yourself. With special guests: Robbie Trahan, Falcon Rice Mill & Festival Sponsor, Josh Spell, Festival President, Alex Theall, Chef de Riz, Troy Frug...
Nov 26, 2024•1 hr 13 min•Ep. 103
Michael and Lesley explore brand creation, marketing, and loyalty with two USA Rice members who are blazing a path for their rice. Pam West of Texas Rice Milling, whose new Honestly Texas Rice brand is winning hearts and minds in Texas joins Sam Schneider whose Inland Cape Rice is celebrating two years in markets all over the midwest and elsewhere. From how to name brands to reaching consumers and telling your story, Sam and Pam don't hold back, sharing their experiences. Plus, Michael and Lesle...
Nov 12, 2024•59 min•Ep. 102
In this episode of The Rice Stuff, hosts Michael and Lesley revisit a 2022 discussion on the importance of university extension programs to the rice industry. Dr. Steve Linscombe sits down with his colleagues Dr. Jarrod Hardke, Dr. Ronnie Levy, and Dr. Bruce Linquist to talk about the contributions of researchers in improving various aspects of rice farming. With special guests: Dr. Jarrod Hardke, University of Arkansas, Dr. Ronny Levy, LSU AgCenter, and Dr. Bruce Linquist Hosted by: Dr. Steve L...
Oct 22, 2024•45 min•Ep. 101
In this landmark 100th episode of the podcast, hosts Lesley and Michael reflect on their podcasting journey, the many guests they've talked with, and gloat a little over all the world class TV shows that never made it to 100 episodes. Arkansas rice farmer and The Rice Stuff Instigator Jennifer James stops by to share her thoughts, and then the talk turns to the USA Rice Outlook Conference with a preview of some of the exciting programming that will fill the four stages for more than 20 hours! Re...
Oct 08, 2024•36 min•Ep. 100
Time to talk trade. Michael and Lesley are joined by USA Rice's new(ish) Director of Trade Policy Karah Janevicius to talk global markets and trade policy. From India and the ITC to the tariffs and the WTO, Karah breaks down the complex issues that are so important to the rice industry. Plus, she shares her origin story and the gang talks about Nutella, Fluff, Mexican water, and for some reason, Australian grubs. With special guest: Karah Janevicius, Director of Trade Policy, USA Rice Hosted by:...
Sep 24, 2024•36 min•Ep. 99
Lesley shares details of her recent trip to the 2024 California Rice Field Day at the Rice Experiment Station in Biggs, including exploring different rice varieties and her surprise at the current research being done into Alternate Wetting and Drying - a practice associated mostly with the mid-South. She and Michael discuss her interviews with researcher Telha Rehman and farmer Matt Dedmond, and then talk about their colleague Karah Janevicius who also attended field day and met with representat...
Sep 10, 2024•34 min•Ep. 98
Cooking classes, popular for many years, have seen a renaissance of late, likely a result of the pandemic lockdowns making people realize a) how much they enjoy cooking, and b) how much they don’t know about cooking. USA Rice’s celebrated celebrity chef and consultant Hari Cameron, fresh off his appearance on “Beat Bobby Flay,” hosted a Rice Cooking Class at his demonstration kitchen in Rehoboth Beach, DE. He sat down with Michael after the class to talk about it all. That plus Michael and Lesle...
Aug 27, 2024•43 min•Ep. 97
USA Rice's Asiha Grigsby is just back from three weeks on the road for the industry, home for a few days, and then off again to talk U.S.-grown rice. We were able to snag a few minutes between trips with Rice's Western Hemisphere Road Warrior to hear about her work promoting U.S. rice and how she fosters vital relationships with importers. With special guest: Ashia "Rice Lord" Grigsby, Senior Director of International Promotion, USA Rice Hosted by: Michael Klein and Lesley Dixon...
Aug 13, 2024•32 min•Ep. 96
The U.S. rice industry keeps leadership fresh with regular rotations. At the 2024 USA Rice summer business meetings, Chair and Mississippi rice farmer Kirk Satterfield passed the gavel to Arkansas miller Keith Glover. And on the milling side of the house, Louisiana's Meryl Kennedy passed the Rice Millers' Association leadership to California's Rick Rhody. We did exit interviews with Meryl and Kirk as they put their two-year terms behind them. With special guests: Meryl Kennedy Farr, Kennedy Rice...
Jul 23, 2024•38 min•Ep. 95
Summer means field days and food shows. Lesley talks briefly about the Eagle Lake, TX Field Day, while Michael brought back interviews and samples from the Specialty Food Association’s 68th Annual Fancy Food Show that featured lots of U.S.-grown rice. He talked rice with people from Fancypants Baking Company, Olivia’s Croutons, Hillside Lane Farms, the Dutch Waffle Company, and some innovators whose products only fault is that they weren’t using U.S.-grown rice. Michael also shares information f...
Jul 09, 2024•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 94
Dr. Steve Linscombe reports on the 2024 International Temperate Rice Conference he organized that brought researchers from around the world to New Orleans. Then Michael and Lesley talk with Jamison Cruce about the status of the 2024 Farm Bill, and round out the show with an exit interview of USA Rice intern Caroline Hardy, heading back to LSU to finish law school. Plus Michael unveils the new pod studio complete with a sound board that is going to be trouble and Lesley invites the ire of Louisia...
Jun 25, 2024•58 min•Ep. 93
Michael and Lesley explore some non-table uses of rice from pet food to panko and from snacks to sake. They are joined by Rick Rhody and Rodrigo Batista from Farmers' Rice Cooperative and Exceedient Foods; farmer and marketing expert Ali Cox of Noble West; and Dallas Anthony and Robert Smith from Stabil Nutrition. They talk about the bright future for rice, the dark secret of what's in the trunk of Michael's car, Lesley's upcycling, robotic dogs, and Olympic rowing. That's right. www.stabilnutri...
Jun 11, 2024•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 92
USDA's MyPlate program is a vital public health program designed to help Americans eat healthy, balanced diets. Strategic Partners, like USA Rice, amplify important nutrition messages. USDA's Dr. Caree Cartwright and Yetunde Akingbemi join Michael, Lesley, and Cameron to talk new nutrition education. Also, does anyone remember Time for Timer? With special guests: Dr. Caree Cotwright, Director of Nutrition Security & Health Equity, USDA-Food & Nutrition Service and Yetunde Akingbemi, Regi...
May 28, 2024•36 min•Ep. 91
In this episode, hosts Michael Klein, Lesley Dixon, and Dr. Steve Linscombe delve into rice farming in South Carolina, from the 1700s to today. They cover rice's role in shaping the character of the American South, the unique requirements of farming rice in an east coast tidal region, and the recent resurgence of Carolina Gold. Guests from White House Farms, Clemson University, and the University of South Carolina provide insights into both historical and modern-day farming techniques in the Low...
May 14, 2024•55 min•Ep. 90
