Texas Border Business
Texas ag commissioner Sid Miller expects Texas rice producers to benefit
AUSTIN — Today, Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller expressed support for a new deal that will allow the U.S. to export rice to China for the first time in history.
“We here in Texas are looking forward to exporting rice to China,” Commissioner Miller said. “The Texas rice industry has been around since the 1880s and now produces about 140,000 acres annually. Rice production and processing contribute more than $140 million to the Texas economy each year and helps keep our wetlands intact while providing a vital habitat for wildlife.”
China is the world’s largest producer and consumer of rice, and since 2013, it has become the largest rice importer. The USDA expects China to import 5.3 million tons of milled rice in the next year.
As Commissioner-elect, Commissioner Miller hosted a delegation of Chinese officials in Austin to grow agriculture trade opportunities between Texas and the Gansu province of China. Once in office, Commissioner Miller took an extended 11-day trip to China to visit Beijing, Shanghai, Hangzhou and Lanzhou to further build relationships and tap into this expanding market.
“There are positive changes happening in Washington for Texas production agriculture,” Commissioner Miller said. “From beef to dairy and now rice, this new administration is helping open markets to U.S. agricultural products and that’s great news for our farmers and ranchers.”
