CROWLEY — The Louisiana Rice Council (LARC) and Louisiana Rice Growers Association (LARGA) will hold their joint annual membership meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 25, at the International Rice Festival Building.

The keynote speaker will be Jack Scoville, a market analyst with Price Futures Group.

LARC President Clarence Berken and LARGA President Christian Richard will provide updates on their organization’s activities. USA Rice Federation President and CEO Betsy Ward will report on the Federation’s program activities and results, and VP Government Affairs Reece Langley will discuss the 112th Congress, the 2012 farm bill outlook, a recently completed rice industry economic study, and other key legislative/regulatory issues affecting the rice industry.

“This meeting provides an annual report to rice farmers on programs funded by the Louisiana rice promotion checkoff as well as timely information on other important issues,” said Richard, a rice farmer from Vermilion Parish. “I encourage all rice industry stakeholders to attend.”

The meeting will be held at the International Rice Festival Building, 717 West Mill Street, Crowley. The event will begin with a coffee and cookies reception at 5 p.m., followed by the business session, dinner and the keynote address. The program should conclude at 8 p.m.

Last year’s event was also held at the International Rice Festival Building and featured economist Jim Weisemeyer as keynote speaker. Other speakers included Louisiana Commissioner of Agriculture Mike Strain and District 42 State Representative Jack Montoucet.