From the District Manager: Winter

North Central Arkansas

Greetings from the North Central Region! We have made it through the holiday season, and while some of you are busy getting equipment cleaned up and ready for planting, others are getting your grain bins empty. Just like some of you, that’s exactly what we’re busy doing on a larger scale.

Each of your north central plant managers is busy trying to keep your grain in the best condition possible so that when the mill needs it, they can get it shipped and hopefully work towards getting their facility empty and ready for the next crop. While you prepare your equipment for the next planting season and, ultimately, the next harvest, we stay busy safely moving your crop to the mills.

In the last few months, we have had some management changes in North Central, some familiar faces in the district, and some new ones. We put a lot of thought into these changes, and we feel confident that you will be pleased with the results. We have a lot of faith in our new team members, and we know they’re going to work hard to gain your trust and confidence moving forward.

I know we’re all praying for a safe and dry planting season so you can get in and out of the field as quickly and safely as possible. If any of us can help you with anything, never hesitate to contact us.

ROB WILSON
District Manager, North Central Arkansas

South Arkansas

Commitment to a mission carries us through harvest. Our cooperative’s mission of helping farmers feed the world is the driving force we are all passionately committed to in this division. Harvest 2024 is officially behind us, and much has been achieved. Thank you to the hard-working Riceland team members of the South Region and to the farmers who continue to trust us with their business.

We are updating our goals going into 2025, along with new systems to help achieve those goals. Doing so will ensure the continued growth and success as one big team. The best way to predict the future is to create it so we remain laser-focused on team development.

High-performing teamwork is essential for the organizational goals of Riceland to be met and for the cooperative mission to continue. Human capital is our greatest asset, and investing in the development of the men and women of this significant cooperative will be the foundation for us to sustain another 100 years.

Please meet the newest leader in the southern region, Will Ruthven. Will has joined the Riceland team as the manager trainee at Drier 4 in Stuttgart. He graduated from Arkansas State University in 2013 and is ambitious about his future with us. Will lives in DeWitt, AR, with his wife, Linda, and their daughter, Elliott. I’m excited for I am excited about Will’s future at Riceland and can’t wait to see his impact on this team and the members we serve.

NICK KELLEY
District Manager, South Arkansas

NEA & SEMO

With the start of 2025 in our immediate rear view, we like to look back at this past harvest. The 2024 rice harvest was not one without challenges. The NEA/SEMO area of the Riceland territory received a staggering 24 million bushels of green rice and 2.3 million bushels of soybeans in less than 60 days while combatting hurricanes, low river levels, and one of the largest old crop carry-ins we’ve ever seen. This past harvest is definitely one that we won’t forget any time soon.

We’ve already begun necessary facility repairs to ensure that this next harvest will be even better than the one before. At Riceland, we’re always striving to improve our service to our farmers so that each harvest can be more successful than the last.

Your local District Membership Meetings will be held in February. We’ll review this past harvest in-depth and inform our members about it and the changes on the horizon.

We hope to see you there!

DANIEL BRYANT
District Manager, NEA & SEMO

I-40 Corridor

With the rush of harvest behind us, the winter months have blessed us with some much-needed time to spend with family and friends throughout the holidays. With that being said, the work never stops at the grain elevator.

The crews in the I-40 Corridor have been working daily to ship, cool, and condition your grain for long-term storage while maintaining the most accurate inventory possible. This helps your elevators ship quality products to your rice and soybean mills throughout the year, adding value to your farm operation.

Safety and sanitation are also two of our highest priorities throughout the winter months. A clean and safe elevator directly affects the high grain quality we strive to maintain.

The management team in the I-40 Corridor has been busy projecting what the future holds for our elevators for the 2025 crop and future crop years. The current volatility of the agricultural economy is a squeeze that’s being felt by all ag-related businesses throughout the Delta. Our team is focused like never before on improving efficiencies and cost savings for you at your elevators. We will continue to control everything we have control over to help add as much value to the farmers’ pocket as possible.

From all of us in the I-40 Corridor, thank you for all that you do! We’re all praying for a safe and successful 2025 growing season for all our members throughout the state!

DREW WIDENER
District Manager, I-40 Corridor

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