Applications for the ’s Leadership Development Program are due by Oct. 6.

Rice producers and others in industry-related occupations are encouraged to apply for the next class, which will be announced in December at the USA Rice Outlook Conference in Orlando, Fla.

The Rice Leadership Development Program provides a comprehensive understanding of the rice industry, with an emphasis on personal development and communication skills.

During the two-year program, participants attend four one-week sessions designed to strengthen leadership skills through studies of all aspects of the rice industry.

The program is sponsored by John Deere Company and Syngenta America through a grant to the Rice Foundation and is managed by the USA Rice Federation.

For more information and an application or recommendation form, see the USA Rice Web site’s “Leadership Program Information” page (http://www.usarice.com/industry/communication/leadership.html) for more information.