Winrock expands support for U.S. rice producers through market-focused conservation farming program funded by USDA
LITTLE ROCK, ARK. — Winrock International is advancing a new phase of a U.S. Department of Agriculture-funded project designed to help American rice farmers strengthen profitability, competitiveness and long-term sustainability through market driven conservation practices.
Funded through USDA’s Advancing Markets for Producers initiative — which supports multiple projects nationwide — Winrock is implementing an AMP project in partnership with Riceland Foods, an Arkansas‑based, farmer‑owned cooperative and the world’s largest rice miller and marketer. Building on earlier work, the amended project places renewed emphasis on direct producer support, voluntary incentives and market access — ensuring U.S. rice farmers are well positioned to meet evolving market demands while maintaining stewardship of working lands.
Winrock’s AMP project focuses on practical solutions that reward farmers for conservation-oriented management while supporting resilient rural economies across the U.S. rice belt. It supports rice producers primarily in Arkansas and Missouri, pairing financial incentives with education, planning tools and targeted market development to help farms remain productive and globally competitive.
“This project is about helping American farmers stay profitable in a rapidly changing agricultural economy,” said Maqsoda Maqsodi, Winrock’s president and CEO. “By aligning conservation with market opportunity, Winrock’s AMP project supports producers — particularly in Arkansas, the nation’s leading rice-producing state — as they continue to feed the country and compete in global markets.”
AMP prioritizes farmer-first, incentive-based approaches that encourage adoption of conservation agriculture without mandates. The Winrock initiative supports improved on-farm efficiency, financial decision making and technology utilization, helping producers reduce input costs, manage risk and respond to growing demand for sustainably produced U.S. rice.
“The opportunities this project brings to our farmer‑members couldn’t come at a more critical time,” said Kevin McGilton, Riceland’s president and CEO. “As a farmer‑owned cooperative, we are continually looking for innovative ways to return value to the families we serve. AMP equips our farmers with the support they need to adopt and maintain sustainable growing practices amid challenging conditions for the agricultural economy. This project strengthens the farm-to-table story our growers live every single day.”
A central component of Winrock’s AMP project is the launch of a premium market model in collaboration with Riceland. The model is designed to reward conservation minded producers through market-based incentives while expanding access to high value domestic and international markets. It includes small farmer grants and technical assistance focused on financial optimization, crop planning and equipment investments.
“Farmers want solutions that work for their operations and in the marketplace,” said Lucy Jodlowska, Winrock’s senior director of U.S. Programs. “Winrock’s AMP project is designed to meet producers where they are — by supporting informed decision making, strengthening market connections and ensuring that U.S. rice farming remains competitive and sustainable.”
The project will disburse a minimum of $13.9 million directly to producers, benefiting at least 125 rice farmers through grants, premiums and other direct support. In addition, it will develop and launch a multiyear marketing campaign to promote sustainably produced, U.S.-grown rice and highlight the value American farmers bring to domestic and global food systems.
Integrated objectives include:
- Establishing a farmer-first, premium-market model with Riceland Foods that rewards conservation-minded producers.
- Expanding access to high-value markets for U.S.-grown rice through targeted marketing and promotion.
- Improving farm efficiency and profitability through grants and technical support for financial planning, technology, and equipment related to the implementation of conservation practices.
- Supporting voluntary adoption of conservation practices through education and planning services that align stewardship with business performance.
By investing in producer knowledge, financial resilience and market access, the project is helping to ensure U.S. rice farming remains innovative and economically sustainable, supporting producers to continue their responsible stewardship of American farmlands.
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Advancing Markets for Producers (AMP)
The Advancing Markets for Producers project, funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and implemented by Winrock International, is a U.S.-based initiative that seeks to strengthen the competitiveness profitability of American rice farmers by piloting a premium program and delivering small farmer grants geared towards conservation farm management. Implemented in partnership with Riceland Foods, a farmer-owned cooperative based in Stuttgart, Arkansas, AMP delivers practical, market-driven solutions that reward […]