A joint meeting of the Arkansas Rice Council and the Arkansas Rice Producers’ Group will be held on Friday, Jan. 30, in Brinkley, Ark. The meeting will be held at the Brinkley Convention Center from 10 a.m. until noon. Lunch will be served.

Featured program speakers include USA Rice Federation president and CEO Betsy Ward, who will present the USA Rice annual financial report and provide information on other activities, and Jim Guinn, vice president of international promotion, who will discuss USA Rice Federation international programs.

Ben Noble, director, Arkansas Rice Federation and principal, Troutman Sanders Strategies, will provide an update on the latest farm bill regulations and discuss how the new Obama administration may affect the rice industry.

“This annual meeting gives us the opportunity to share timely information on important issues and I encourage all rice farmers and others in the state’s rice industry to attend,” said Robert Petter, Arkansas Rice Council president.