From The Editor

Growing up, our parents would scold us if we were picking at the food on our plate during dinner. “You better clean your plate. Think of the poor starving kids in China.” Back then, I just thought it was one...

If you don’t tell the story of the rice industry, somebody else will, and you may not like what they say. That was the take-home message from two growers and a media expert who shared their experiences using social...

What’s in a name? Everything, if you’re the Washington, D.C.-based USA Rice. The organization has complained to the Food and Drug Administration that vegetable-based products that use “rice” in their name ­— such as Cauli Rice, Green Giant Riced Cauliflower,...

Much like the late comedian, Rodney Dangerfield, gluten gets no respect. The naturally occurring protein found in wheat, barley and rye has been vilified and, at the very least, totally misunderstood. I have to look no further than a computer...

Chuck Wilson, who manages the Rice Leadership Development Program and is director of The Rice Foundation, is like a proud father when one of his leadership graduates shines. In fact, he refers to the producers and allied industry members...

The Cajun French have an expression, “Laissez les bons temps rouler,” which means “let the good times roll.” And nowhere do the good times roll more than during Mardi Gras, regardless of where the parades and parties are held. Historically a Louisiana celebration,...

As I drove home last summer after photographing sweet rice harvest in Northern California, I was itching so badly I could hardly sit still. But my discomfort also brought back a story a Des Arc, Ark., producer told me...

For nearly eight hours recently, I listened to impassioned pleas from farmers, fishermen, politicians, environmentalists and the public about the California Water Resources Control Board’s proposal to nearly double the amount of free-flowing water in Stanislaus River tributaries. Unimpaired flows...

Fall is my favorite time of year, with the waning of hot weather, the crisp mornings and four-plus months of football to look forward to. Not only do sports bring families closer together in many ways, but they also provide at least a few...

Not too long ago, I was talking to a retired University of California Cooperative Extension farm adviser about Farm Bureau farm centers. Back in the days before paved roads and the Internet, these local meeting halls served as an outreach...

The growth of big data within agriculture has created some big privacy concerns. But a collaborative effort among several universities, agri-businesses and ag groups hopes to develop an independent national online repository to help allay some of those fears. The...

In the National Football League, statisticians, spotters and officials use flip cards to keep track of players, their numbers, their positions and starting line-ups. But it’s common for different players to start the game than were originally noted. Some changes are...

If you’re not involved in routine grocery shopping and preparing the evening meal most nights, you may not realize the role that recipes and recipe development plays in promoting a commodity. And it doesn’t matter the crop, either. Recipes have...

In this day and age when the Kardashians can pass for entertainment and a reality TV star can run for president, it’s no surprise that the current El Niño has been dubbed “Godzilla” because of its potential star power. Although...

Until about 10 years ago when Rice Farming Magazine was sold to One Grower Publishing, I was at home as editor of the publication. Veteran agricultural journalist Carroll Smith stepped in as editor and has kept the magazine on...