Rice Milling Yields and ‘Make America Healthy Again’ Top Discussions at 2025 NERREC Field Day

By Sarah Cato

From the broad scope of national agricultural law, to the more narrow perspective of Arkansas rice conditions, the Northeast Rice Research and Extension Center Field Day covered all bases for corn, rice and soybean producers in Arkansas.

Almost 300 producers, consultants and agricultural professionals gathered at NERREC last Thursday to hear updates from University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture specialists.

"We were absolutely thrilled by the excellent turnout for our second annual field day!” said Tim Burcham, director of NERREC. “The field tours and seminar series highlighted the outstanding commitment and innovation of our researchers and staff. It’s truly an honor to play a part in work that supports the profitability and sustainability of our producers. We’re grateful for the opportunity to serve and strengthen the livelihoods of our farming communities.”

The field day ran two concurrent field tours with stops discussing pest management, irrigation, breeding updates and more. Indoors, speakers in the field day’s first Seminar Series covered policy updates, the “Make America Healthy Again”report, and the use of Arkansas rice in the brewing industry.

Make America Healthy Again

This past February, the Trump administration created the Make America Healthy Again Commission, chaired by U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. In May, the MAHA Commission released its first report outlining its priorities, some of which could directly affect the agriculture sector.

“The MAHA report released in May did identify some key priorities that could affect American agriculture if legislation or regulation is put behind it,” said Emily Stone, staff attorney for the National Agricultural Law Center. “Specifically, initiatives focused on maintining soil health and reassessing the use of pesticides could affect producers where the commission’s concern over certain additives and dyes could more directly affect food manufacturers.”

Although no legistlation has been passed on the federal level related to MAHA, some states have taken a page from the commission’s book and proposed, passed or even enacted legislation related to ideas put forth in the May 2025 report.