WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced plans to purchase $472.5 million in American-grown and raised commodities, including $21 million in U.S.-grown long grain rice for distribution through domestic nutrition programs. USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) continuously purchases agricultural commodities under Section 32 of the Agriculture Act of 1935 to assist producers and strengthen communities in need, which are funded by customs receipts transferred to the department.

This significant rice purchase follows efforts by national organizations like USA Rice and Feeding America, as well as the Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance, Arkansas Rice, Feeding Missouri, Food Bank of Northeast Arkansas, and Missouri Rice Council, all of which urged USDA to make this commitment.

“On behalf of the U.S. rice industry, we applaud Secretary Brooke Rollins, Under Secretary Dudley Hoskins and Administrator Erin Morris for making this significant Section 32 rice purchase,” said Peter Bachmann, USA Rice President & CEO. “This commitment will provide support for the domestic rice market, while providing a nutritious, versatile, shelf-stable staple to Americans participating in federal nutrition assistance programs. We thank our federal partners for exercising their Section 32 authority and look forward to working with them to implement this purchase commitment.”

In fiscal year 2026 (FY26), USDA used its Section 32 authority to purchase around $730 million in food from American farmers for distribution through domestic nutrition programs such as The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP). USDA rice purchases in FY22 and FY23 were well received and widely distributed to households served by TEFAP.

“Thank you to USDA and Secretary Rollins for the volume and variety of products that will make their way from American farmers to neighbors. Strong farmers mean a stronger food system,” said Rebeckah Freeman Adcock, chief government relations officer at Feeding America. “This purchase gives rice growers an important outlet for their crop while providing the Feeding America network with nutritious food to distribute to neighbors facing hunger nationwide. Feeding America is proud to work alongside American farmers and we look forward to continuing to work with USDA to support future timely purchases like this that benefit American farmers.”

In September, the U.S. rice industry celebrated National Rice Month, during which rice leaders collectively helped donate over 300,000 pounds of rice to food banks across the mid-south. This timely Section 32 commitment will amplify these local contributions from rice farmers and industry members, while strengthening our domestic agricultural market.

Published Date: October 30, 2026