US farmers kind of angry with Iraq

[YMix]

Iraq Stops U.S. Rice Buys; Farmers Angry

(DAYTON, Texas) — The talk of the day among Ray Stoesser and other rice farmers is Iraq's decision not to buy U.S. rice, a stinging move that adds to a stressful year punctuated by everything from drought to unusual heat.

Stoesser and other farmers know Iraqis struggled during the U.S. invasion and subsequent occupation. They know most countries — and people — buy based on price.

But at the moment, with production costs rising, export markets shrinking and rice prices dropping, it's difficult to be rational and suppress emotions so intimately intertwined with their land and livelihood.

"That's just not right," the 63-year-old Stoesser fumed. "If we've got some rice to sell, they ought to pay a premium for it just because this is the country that freed them."

Iraq imports most of its rice, about 1 million metric tons per year, making it a significant player in the global market. In the past decade, about 10 percent to 15 percent of that total came from the United States. But Iraq hasn't bought any U.S. rice since late 2010.

"You would think with all that we've done over there, there would be a way to get them to do business with us," said Ronald Gertson, who grows rice in Lissie, Texas.

Iraq has been buying instead from Asia and South America, and it recently lowered its quality standards so it would be able to buy rice from India, something that was impossible under the Iraqi Grain Board's old rules, said Andy Aaronson, chairman of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rice Interagency Commodity Estimate Committee. It also recently bought rice from Uruguay, which grows a variety similar to the American one but sold for less.

"Iraq seems to be buying on price, and the lowest offered price is coming now from India," Aaronson said.

In Iraq, officials said the decision to forego American rice largely came down to a matter of taste. A Trade Ministry official said Iraq has decided to import only long-grain basmati rice from India due to its wide acceptance nationwide and cheap price.

"We have no problem with the U.S. rice specifically, which was widely acceptable by Iraqis, but we are seeing a demand for the Indian rice rather than others, which is also bought in good prices," he added.

The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he wasn't authorized to make a statement on government policies. He would not comment on U.S. farmers' anger or their argument that Iraq should buy U.S. rice because thousands of Americans died in the war there.

Iraq had accounted for about 2 percent to 5 percent of U.S. sales each year. It stopped buying American rice during the Gulf War in the early 1990s and in 2003, when the most recent war started, Aaronson said. Every other year, though, during the war, insurgency and U.S. occupation, the Iraqi Grain Board bought American rice.

Iraq's abandonment of U.S. rice comes as Haiti, once an exclusively American market, and Central America, another major buyer, also seek cheaper options elsewhere.

The lost sales sting because the U.S., unlike China and other major rice-growing nations, exports nearly half of its crop. With less demand from overseas, prices have dropped while production costs, including for fuel, have risen. The combination is squeezing farmers, Aaronson said. Rice acres in the United States decreased last year and will likely drop again as farmers switch to crops that will make them more money.

About half of the 3 million acres of rice typically planted in the U.S. each year are in Arkansas. The remainder comes from Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri and California.

When Iraq sought bids on rice a few months ago, word on the street was the U.S. would have a piece of the action, said Mike Wagner, who grew up on a rice farm in Sumner, Miss. When that didn't happen, Wagner and other rice farmers say they were shocked.

"We invested so much in that country, and we feel like it's something of a slap in the face," said Wagner, who's considering planting more soybeans or a new crop on his 4,000-acre Mississippi Delta farm.

John Alter, 64, also is considering alternatives. Usually, about one-third of his 1,500-acre farm in DeWitt, Ark., is devoted to rice. This year, it would be risky to dedicate too much land to the crop, he said. The loss of imports is disappointing, Alter said, noting the price difference between U.S. rice and Uruguayan grain was small.

"We spent billions and billions, if not trillions over there, and lots of people died," Alter said. "There should be some reciprocation ... Last time I checked, there wasn't any Uruguayan soldiers that lost their lives in Iraq."

Associated Press Writer Sinan Salaheddin contributed from Baghdad.

I find their lack of faith in the free market disturbing. Also, it's nice to see that 500,000+ dead Iraqis later, US farmers think of reciprocation in such terms.

[Miss_Faucie_Fishtits]

You might be disappointed, but you have no right to be angry. Actually, nothing was invested in 'that country' and the sooner the American public gets that, the better off we will be.......

[AzariLoveIran]

.

Rice is not Rice .. Only Rice from India, Bangladesh, generally that space, would make the sort of dishes that Middle East eats

American Rice wrong sort of rice for Middle Eastern kind if dishes .. Middle Eastern people would not eat American Rice, not even the poor

so, no hurt feelin

.

[Azrael]

What a bunch of crybabies. And idiots. Perhaps they'd sell more rice if they didn't kill so many of their customers.

[monster_gardener]

Iraq Stops U.S. Rice Buys; Farmers Angry

(DAYTON, Texas) — The talk of the day among Ray Stoesser and other rice farmers is Iraq's decision not to buy U.S. rice, a stinging move that adds to a stressful year punctuated by everything from drought to unusual heat.

Stoesser and other farmers know Iraqis struggled during the U.S. invasion and subsequent occupation. They know most countries — and people — buy based on price.

But at the moment, with production costs rising, export markets shrinking and rice prices dropping, it's difficult to be rational and suppress emotions so intimately intertwined with their land and livelihood.

"That's just not right," the 63-year-old Stoesser fumed. "If we've got some rice to sell, they ought to pay a premium for it just because this is the country that freed them."

Iraq imports most of its rice, about 1 million metric tons per year, making it a significant player in the global market. In the past decade, about 10 percent to 15 percent of that total came from the United States. But Iraq hasn't bought any U.S. rice since late 2010.

"You would think with all that we've done over there, there would be a way to get them to do business with us," said Ronald Gertson, who grows rice in Lissie, Texas.

Iraq has been buying instead from Asia and South America, and it recently lowered its quality standards so it would be able to buy rice from India, something that was impossible under the Iraqi Grain Board's old rules, said Andy Aaronson, chairman of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rice Interagency Commodity Estimate Committee. It also recently bought rice from Uruguay, which grows a variety similar to the American one but sold for less.

"Iraq seems to be buying on price, and the lowest offered price is coming now from India," Aaronson said.

In Iraq, officials said the decision to forego American rice largely came down to a matter of taste. A Trade Ministry official said Iraq has decided to import only long-grain basmati rice from India due to its wide acceptance nationwide and cheap price.

"We have no problem with the U.S. rice specifically, which was widely acceptable by Iraqis, but we are seeing a demand for the Indian rice rather than others, which is also bought in good prices," he added.

The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he wasn't authorized to make a statement on government policies. He would not comment on U.S. farmers' anger or their argument that Iraq should buy U.S. rice because thousands of Americans died in the war there.

Iraq had accounted for about 2 percent to 5 percent of U.S. sales each year. It stopped buying American rice during the Gulf War in the early 1990s and in 2003, when the most recent war started, Aaronson said. Every other year, though, during the war, insurgency and U.S. occupation, the Iraqi Grain Board bought American rice.

Iraq's abandonment of U.S. rice comes as Haiti, once an exclusively American market, and Central America, another major buyer, also seek cheaper options elsewhere.

The lost sales sting because the U.S., unlike China and other major rice-growing nations, exports nearly half of its crop. With less demand from overseas, prices have dropped while production costs, including for fuel, have risen. The combination is squeezing farmers, Aaronson said. Rice acres in the United States decreased last year and will likely drop again as farmers switch to crops that will make them more money.

About half of the 3 million acres of rice typically planted in the U.S. each year are in Arkansas. The remainder comes from Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri and California.

When Iraq sought bids on rice a few months ago, word on the street was the U.S. would have a piece of the action, said Mike Wagner, who grew up on a rice farm in Sumner, Miss. When that didn't happen, Wagner and other rice farmers say they were shocked.

"We invested so much in that country, and we feel like it's something of a slap in the face," said Wagner, who's considering planting more soybeans or a new crop on his 4,000-acre Mississippi Delta farm.

John Alter, 64, also is considering alternatives. Usually, about one-third of his 1,500-acre farm in DeWitt, Ark., is devoted to rice. This year, it would be risky to dedicate too much land to the crop, he said. The loss of imports is disappointing, Alter said, noting the price difference between U.S. rice and Uruguayan grain was small.

"We spent billions and billions, if not trillions over there, and lots of people died," Alter said. "There should be some reciprocation ... Last time I checked, there wasn't any Uruguayan soldiers that lost their lives in Iraq."

Associated Press Writer Sinan Salaheddin contributed from Baghdad.

I find their lack of faith in the free market disturbing. Also, it's nice to see that 500,000+ dead Iraqis later, US farmers think of reciprocation in such terms.

For the farmers.........

Thank You Very Much for Your Post, Ymix.

These Boyz should be growing for the Onion



Wish we/US/Uz could legally grow industrial and medicinal hemp..........

Might not get so stressed out.........

[monster_gardener]

.

Rice is not Rice .. Only Rice from India, Bangladesh, generally that space, would make the sort of dishes that Middle East eats

American Rice wrong sort of rice for Middle Eastern kind if dishes .. Middle Eastern people would not eat American Rice, not even the poor

so, no hurt feelin

.

Thank you Very Much for your post, Azari.

You may be/probably are right........

Know that Japanese are very particular about their rice.........

AIUI they tend to like it sticky and sweet.........

But as the article says, it may just be price......... when you are poor and hungry.............

[Miss_Faucie_Fishtits]

Merkins like a long-grained white rice that is over-milled and cooks out fluffy and does not stick together. Not everybody shares that predilection. Protip for whiners - if you are gonna grow product for an export market, it might be a fat good deal to find out what that market prefers. Jus' sayan........

[AzariLoveIran]

.

.

Rice is not Rice .. Only Rice from India, Bangladesh, generally that space, would make the sort of dishes that Middle East eats

American Rice wrong sort of rice for Middle Eastern kind if dishes .. Middle Eastern people would not eat American Rice, not even the poor

so, no hurt feelin

.

Thank you Very Much for your post, Azari.

You may be/probably are right ........

.

Not probably, but surely I`m right

I do believe that Iranians cook rice better than anyone else in the world, that Iranian women are the most beautiful in the world, and that the roses smell sweeter.

.

Know that Japanese are very particular about their rice.........

AIUI they tend to like it sticky and sweet .........

.

I always wondered how one can eat that Japanese rice

no wonder that thing called Sushi must be dipped in soya sauce ..

.
But as the article says, it may just be price ......... when you are poor and hungry ............
.

the kind of dish ME people prepare, Uncle Ben's Rice unsuitable

and

FYI

Indian (or Bangladeshi) Basmati rice is 2 to 3 times price of American rice

.

[monster_gardener]

Merkins like a long-grained white rice that is over-milled and cooks out fluffy and does not stick together. Not everybody shares that predilection. Protip for whiners - if you are gonna grow product for an export market, it might be a fat good deal to find out what that market prefers. Jus' sayan........

Thank you VERY MUCH for your post, Miss_Faucie_Fishtits/LzzrdGrrl.

Appreciate the Rice Chart. Thanks again.

Merkins like

Hieronymus? ........... Mercy, it's hard to Forget that film when one is over the Hump

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Can_Hieron ... ppiness%3F

Have to be careful not to "wig" out

Warning: might be NSFW

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merkin

Though for the Men Down Under in Oz it's only a hard hat head band

More recently the removable sheepskin headband found on the inside of safety hardhats are referred to as merkins by many in the mining industry of Western Australia.

And for the Yuros/Euros in YurUp and on the Web, it means US/Uz........

In Europe, the term has also been in common usage as a jocular term for an American since the 1960s, as it sounds like the half-swallowed pronunciation of "American" by some Americans, particularly Presidents Lyndon B. Johnson and George W. Bush. The OED reports that the term has become common internet slang for Americans or American English.[12]

I'm more used to "Merican" or "Merry Can"* or similar...

My fellow Red Neck buddy Earl Pitts pronounces his US/uz citzenship as "UhMeriKun"

Maybe Uz is a fairly good one for Red Neck Boyz & Grrlz & Trollans............

Especially when so many of Uz need a Job & patience.........

Lots of Uz have the Patience of Joab .........

but not always his force & cunning........


In any case Don't want the Yuros to be smirkin' too much.......

*of beer ...........

[monster_gardener]

.

.

Rice is not Rice .. Only Rice from India, Bangladesh, generally that space, would make the sort of dishes that Middle East eats

American Rice wrong sort of rice for Middle Eastern kind if dishes .. Middle Eastern people would not eat American Rice, not even the poor

so, no hurt feelin

.

Thank you Very Much for your post, Azari.

You may be/probably are right ........

.

Not probably, but surely I`m right

I do believe that Iranians cook rice better than anyone else in the world, that Iranian women are the most beautiful in the world, and that the roses smell sweeter.

.

Know that Japanese are very particular about their rice.........

AIUI they tend to like it sticky and sweet .........

.

I always wondered how one can eat that Japanese rice

no wonder that thing called Sushi must be dipped in soya sauce ..

.
But as the article says, it may just be price ......... when you are poor and hungry ............
.

the kind of dish ME people prepare, Uncle Ben's Rice unsuitable

and

FYI

Indian (or Bangladeshi) Basmati rice is 2 to 3 times price of American rice

.

Thank you Very Much for your post, Azari.

Fair enough, Azari.

Was quoting the article about price.
You know more about the rice

Can be good to know to how to eat the cheap stuff...........

LzzrdGrrl's article says that white rice is cheap, cooks easy AND keeps indefinitely............... Good for a bomb shelter............

Thanks for the link to the article about Iran.......

So sad.............

You really know how to look on the bright side of life , Azari

JrdEMERq8MA

and that the roses smell sweeter.

Roses petals are edible, though I don't care for the taste. Rose hips, the fruit, are high in vitamin C though IIRC, they may be laxative. Can be made into jelly.
Be sure to avoid roses that are sprayed with nasty chemicals........... I use a dilute solution of Dawn dishwashing soap ........... Washes off.........

Stay safe, Azari......

Stay in Canada......... or better yet........ someplace in the Southern Hemisphere.....

In SA......... Maybe not Argentina.........

A FerFerFal may be developing again, high inflation.......
Ask planctom & DOU Bezerk**...........



What type of Rice do Goths & Vampire prefer.........

Anne Rice.........

As they Wolf * it down in front of their Mummy...........

Anne Rice is quite the Sleeping Beauty...........

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anne_Rice

*http://www.annerice.com/

**About Ferfal

http://ferfal.blogspot.com/

[Azrael]

Merkins like a long-grained white rice that is over-milled and cooks out fluffy and does not stick together.

Would this be Merkins from Rice Not Lice?

Not everybody shares that predilection. Protip for whiners - if you are gonna grow product for an export market, it might be a fat good deal to find out what that market prefers. Jus' sayan........

Or you could bomb the crap out of the country and force the survivors to buy what you're selling. It worked for the British Empire.

Just joking.

[Azrael]

Merkin close to settling with NY for $400 million: source

Good news: you're close to settling suit

Bad news: your name is Merkin

[monster_gardener]

Merkin close to settling with NY for $400 million: source

Good news: you're close to settling suit

Bad news: your name is Merkin

Thank you Very Much for your post, Azrael.

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Financier J. Ezra Merkin, accused of secretly steering $2.4 billion in client funds to Ponzi schemer Bernard Madoff, is close to settling a lawsuit brought by the New York attorney general for about $400 million, according to a person close to the matter.

Merkin, a former chairman of the finance company GMAC LLC, betrayed investors by reaping $470 million in client fees while "recklessly" sending their funds to Madoff to oversee, the lawsuit contends.

470 million in client fees less 400 million settled is still about 70 million in profit...... even if you pay some lawyers a million or two...

Suspect Merkin
May be smirkin'

And the investors,
Are about to wig out
With rage........

[Azrael]

Merkin close to settling with NY for $400 million: source

Good news: you're close to settling suit

Bad news: your name is Merkin

Thank you Very Much for your post, Azrael.

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Financier J. Ezra Merkin, accused of secretly steering $2.4 billion in client funds to Ponzi schemer Bernard Madoff, is close to settling a lawsuit brought by the New York attorney general for about $400 million, according to a person close to the matter.

Merkin, a former chairman of the finance company GMAC LLC, betrayed investors by reaping $470 million in client fees while "recklessly" sending their funds to Madoff to oversee, the lawsuit contends.

470 million in client fees less 400 million settled is still about 70 million in profit...... even if you pay some lawyers a million or two...

Suspect Merkin
May be smirkin'

Same here. As I said: from Merkin's perspective, good news/bad news.

And the investors,
Are about to wig out

With rage........

Yes, I would imagine their passions are inflamed, and not in a nice way.

And unlike the rice farmers, they really did get screwed.

[Hans Bulvai]

.


American Rice wrong sort of rice for Middle Eastern kind if dishes .. Middle Eastern people would not eat American Rice, not even the poor

.

A true statement.

[Heracleum Persicum]

.

.

Rice is not Rice .. Only Rice from India, Bangladesh, generally that space, would make the sort of dishes that Middle East eats

American Rice wrong sort of rice for Middle Eastern kind if dishes .. Middle Eastern people would not eat American Rice, not even the poor

so, no hurt feelin

.

Thank you Very Much for your post, Azari.

You may be/probably are right ........

.

Not probably, but surely I`m right

I do believe that Iranians cook rice better than anyone else in the world, that Iranian women are the most beautiful in the world, and that the roses smell sweeter.

.

Know that Japanese are very particular about their rice.........

AIUI they tend to like it sticky and sweet .........

.

I always wondered how one can eat that Japanese rice

no wonder that thing called Sushi must be dipped in soya sauce ..

.
But as the article says, it may just be price ......... when you are poor and hungry ............
.

the kind of dish ME people prepare, Uncle Ben's Rice unsuitable

and

FYI

Indian (or Bangladeshi) Basmati rice is 2 to 3 times price of American rice

.

Thank you Very Much for your post, Azari.

Fair enough, Azari.

Was quoting the article about price.
You know more about the rice

Can be good to know to how to eat the cheap stuff...........

LzzrdGrrl's article says that white rice is cheap, cooks easy AND keeps indefinitely............... Good for a bomb shelter............

Thanks for the link to the article about Iran.......

So sad.............

You really know how to look on the bright side of life , Azari

JrdEMERq8MA

and that the roses smell sweeter.

Roses petals are edible, though I don't care for the taste. Rose hips, the fruit, are high in vitamin C though IIRC, they may be laxative. Can be made into jelly.
Be sure to avoid roses that are sprayed with nasty chemicals........... I use a dilute solution of Dawn dishwashing soap ........... Washes off.........

Stay safe, Azari......

Stay in Canada......... or better yet........ someplace in the Southern Hemisphere.....

In SA......... Maybe not Argentina.........

A FerFerFal may be developing again, high inflation.......
Ask planctom & DOU Bezerk**...........



What type of Rice do Goths & Vampire prefer.........

Anne Rice.........

As they Wolf * it down in front of their Mummy...........

Anne Rice is quite the Sleeping Beauty...........

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anne_Rice

*http://www.annerice.com/

**About Ferfal

http://ferfal.blogspot.com/

https://www.vox.com/the-goods/22301088/ ... ice-cooker


" The best $59 I ever spent : A rice cooker that connected me to my roots "

.

[noddy]

Basmati rice is the best rice, no doubting that.

not sure about buying a rice cooker to feel more masculine, ill leave that one to the experts.

[crashtech66]

Seems part of what we've been sold as the American Dream: buy consumer goods to feel better about oneself.

[Simple Minded]

Basmati rice is the best rice, no doubting that.

not sure about buying a rice cooker to feel more masculine, ill leave that one to the experts.

Who wouldn't pay Thousands of $ for a Rice Cooker that made them feel like their ancestors were responsible for the creation of the Cradle of Civilizations.... even if the last dozen generations couldn't do the preventive maintenance to keep it going?

Only a VERY Deep South Redneck, that's who!