Talent announces grant to market Missouri rice to Puerto Rico

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has awarded a $32,000 grant to the University of Missouri to market Missouri rice, according to U.S. Senator Jim Talent, R-Mo.

The money will be used to identify marketing, transportation an pricing strategies for rice produced by Mid-South Missouri growers.

"I am very pleased that our producers will be receiving these funds to market Missouri rice," said Talent, who is Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee, subcommittee chairman. "Missouri producers are leaders in agriculture exports and this grant will help enhance their efforcs to market products abroad. I am confident this partnership between the University of Missouri and our producers will create a larger market for our rice in Puerto Rico."

The Federal-State Marketing Improvement Program is designed to provide matching funds to state agencies to enhance current marketing and research stategies for food and agriculture products.