By Susan Reidy

WASHINGTON, DC, US — The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) plans to purchase $472.5 million in US-grown and raised commodities, including $21 million in long grain rice for distribution through domestic nutrition programs.

This significant rice purchase follows efforts by national organizations such as 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 the USDA to make this commitment.

“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,” said Peter Bachmann, president and chief executive officer of USA Rice. “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, the USDA used its Section 32 authority to purchase about $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 fiscal 2022 and fiscal 2023 were well received and widely distributed to households served by TEFAP.

“Thank you to USDA and Secretary (Brooke) Rollins for the volume and variety of products that will make their way from American farmers to neighbors,” said Rebeckah Freeman Adcock, chief government relations officer at Feeding America. “Strong farmers mean a stronger food system. 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 US 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 the domestic agricultural market.

Published Date: October 31, 2026