The Surprising Role of Oil & Gas in Sustaining Louisiana’s Rice Industry

FROM THE WIRES...

Grow Louisiana Coalition spotlights the partnership driving conservation, supporting Louisiana farmers and sustaining a rice industry worth nearly $327 million annually.

NEW ORLEANS, La. – (July 29, 2025) – In a newly released video, the Grow Louisiana Coalition (GLAC) highlights how Chevron’s longstanding partnership with Ducks Unlimited through the Rice Stewardship Program (RSP) is helping keep Louisiana rice farmers—and a way of life—thriving. By supporting farmers with smarter, more sustainable practices, the program strengthens Louisiana’s rice economy, protects vital waterfowl habitats and preserves traditions passed down for generations.

In the video, Vermilion Parish rice farmer Trevor Hair shares how the Rice Stewardship Program has helped him make his operations more efficient, cost-effective and environmentally responsible through best practices like precision irrigation and pump automation.

“I’ve been farming full-time for about 15 years now. It’s been in our family for approximately 120 years, and I’ll be the fifth generation,” said Trevor Hair. “We want to keep farming going here in South Louisiana for the younger people coming along. This program helps provide the economic incentive to keep rice farming alive.”

Chevron’s initial $175,000 investment in 2013 helped launch the Rice Stewardship Program and fuel its expansion across all six rice-growing states: Louisiana, Arkansas, California, Mississippi, Missouri and Texas. To date, Chevron has invested over half a million dollars, and the program has impacted more than 800,000 acres across 1,000 farms, including in 11 Louisiana parishes: Beauregard, Allen, Evangeline, St. Landry, St. Martin, Lafayette, Acadia, Jefferson Davis, Calcasieu, Cameron and Vermilion.

“This partnership is a win for farmers, wildlife and Louisiana’s economy,” said Leah Brown, Public Affairs Manager for Chevron in the Gulf of America. “By supporting land and water conservation, we’re helping to preserve Louisiana’s agricultural legacy and way of life.”

Through this initiative, Ducks Unlimited supports rice producers in adopting more efficient irrigation methods, like switching from diesel to electric pumps, installing water-conserving pipe drops and precision leveling fields, to improve yields and reduce costs. These practices also help purify water, recharge aquifers and create stronger habitats for migratory birds, which rely on rice fields for 40% of the food they consume while flying over North America.

“What’s good for rice is good for ducks,” said Kyle Soileau, Rice Stewardship Program Coordinator for Ducks Unlimited. “We want to keep rice on the landscape. I’m a foodie and here in Louisiana, we need rice for our gumbo, étouffée, boudin and our way of life.”

For Louisianians, this is an example of how two iconic Louisiana industries, agriculture and energy, can drive progress by joining forces.

“Rice farming has been part of Louisiana’s story for hundreds of years—just like the oil and gas industry,” Hair added. “They go hand in hand. The economic development provided by energy companies like Chevron helps support a lot of what we do down here in South Louisiana.”

Watch the full video at growlouisianacoalition.com

To learn more or get involved with the Rice Stewardship Program, visit ag.ducks.org/rice-stewardship-program.

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ABOUT GROW LOUISIANA COALITION

With more than 110,000 supporters, the mission of the Grow Louisiana Coalition is to raise awareness of and to rally support behind the state’s energy industry in order to create a viable future for its citizens. More information is available at www.GrowLouisianaCoalition.com.