• By Vicky Boyd, Editor • Panda, a chocolate Labrador that calls the University of Arkansas’ Pine Tree Research Station home, has become somewhat of an unwitting social media celebrity. Although she doesn’t have her own Twitter account like Pedro, the #catsupervisor at the university’s Lonoke Extension Center, Panda is frequently featured in Pine Tree’s tweets. (To view the postings, ... Read More »
My mom and grandmother on her side grew up in Minnesota, where they ate bland foods, like white fish, turnips and rutabagas, and rarely used seasonings other than salt. Nanny, my grandmother on my dad’s side, grew up in the South and could make a pot of greens with just about any plant and a bit of fatback pork. I ... Read More »
• By Vicky Boyd, Editor • Rice breeders at the California Rice Experiment Station are on a roll, having released nine improved varieties in the past 10 years. And their success appears to be continuing as they have two lines — 12Y2175 and 14Y1006 — being considered for potential release in the next few years, said Virgilio “Butz” Andaya, director ... Read More »
• By Vicky Boyd, Editor • To describe Pedro as a social animal is an understatement. After all, the gray and white tabby has his own Twitter account, posting as @CatUAEX (LonokeUAEXCat) and using the hashtag #catsupervisor. He also has his own avatar – a graphic representation similar to a cartoon caricature – and is trying to prefect the selfie. ... Read More »
Infestations point out need for Provisia system to clean up fields. • By Vicky Boyd, Editor • 2019 could very well be dubbed the “year of weedy rice” — at least in Southwest Louisiana. Even growers who have been diligent about rogueing Clearfield rice fields or rotating to soybeans have seen more weedy rice than usual. The jury is still ... Read More »
• By Vicky Boyd, Editor • The Louisiana State University AgCenter breeding program continues on a roll with the potential release of a new Clearfield long-grain variety as well as a conventional long-grain in time for the 2020 season. If that comes to fruition, they would be grown for seed next season and be available commercially in 2021. Also in ... Read More »
The 2019 rice planting season seems like it’s running in slow motion. Nationwide, slightly more than half of the anticipated acres had been planted as of May 12, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Crop Progress report. That compares to 81 percent at the same time in 2018. Bobby Golden, Mississippi State University Extension rice agronomist, says growers in ... Read More »
Whether at industry group annual meetings or during Web-based seminars, the message remains the same: Agriculture has to do a better job telling its story to try to connect with consumers, who are generations removed from their agrarian roots. Many of these same consumers are clueless about the source of their food, other than they purchased it at Kroger, HEB ... Read More »
Every time I’ve flown through an airport in the U.S. Rice Belt lately, my carry-on bags have been pulled aside and searched as I went through airport security. No, I wasn’t packing a weapon, carrying explosives or even toting liquids in larger than 3.4-ounce bottles. Scofflaw that I am, I was bringing bags of rice through the airport. Each time, ... Read More »
Bill Murray played Carl the greenskeeper in the immortal classic film, “Caddyshack.” Throughout the movie, the wily gopher challenged Carl, who was tasked with getting rid of the rodent because it was digging up the golf course. In one of the more memorable parts, Carl played with figurines made of plastic explosive as he mused, “In order to conquer him, ... Read More »
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