Texas rice farmer and industry CEO say '1 big beautiful bill' helped preserve plantings

Dennis Delaughter, a Texas rice farmer and market analyst, said the "1 big beautiful bill has literally saved the rice industry," and credited an increase in the "reference price" with allowing acres to be planted this season.

Delaughter told the recorded statement that his work with many producers gives him a "firsthand look" at the bill's effects and that it has opened a conversation with policymakers: "it feels like we actually have somebody that's willing to listen to us and hear us out on needs and concerns that we have." He added that, in his view, "many farmers would never have planted this year had it not been for the 1 big beautiful bill."

Speaking in the same recording, the speaker who identified themself as the CEO of the US Rice Producers Association said the organization sees a need for continued market support. "As the CEO of US Rice Producers Association, I know just how important it is for our farmers to have the support of our administration in being able to have markets to sell their rice," the CEO said, adding, "I'm confident that the Trump administration will stand alongside our farmers in making sure they have the strongest markets available to sell their product."

The speakers cited the increase in the "reference price" as a key policy change that allowed planting to continue, but the transcript does not provide further numerical details on the reference-price change or specify the formal bill name beyond the phrase used in the statement. The recording includes no formal motions, votes, or next steps recorded in the transcript.

The remarks in the transcript reflect producers' positive assessment of the bill's short-term effects on planting and market access; the statements are advocacy and first-person accounts rather than independent verification of broader market outcomes.