This year’s Arkansas Rice Expo, Aug. 4, in Stuttgart, has something for just about everyone.
New tools for soil fertility, new weed control technologies and live cooking demonstrations are just a few of the topics on the agenda.
Doors at the Grand Prairie Center open at 8 a.m., and the Expo runs through lunch. There is no charge for admission or the catfish lunch catered by Yoder Ruritan.
Buses will run from the Grand Prairie Center to the Rice Research and Extension for grower tours.
This year’s tours include:
• Stop 1 – Foundation Seed Facility – Don’t miss a tour of this state-of-the-art facility in its first year online. Tours to be given by facility director Glenn Bathke.
• Stop 2 – Rice Variety Observation Bay – Karen Moldenhauer, rice breeder for the U of A System Division of Agriculture will offer a breeding program overview. And Jarrod Hardke, Extension rice agronomist, will give an update on the season and agronomics.
• Stop 3 – Weed Control and Soil Fertility – Bob Scott, Extension weed scientist, will discuss new herbicide technologies. And Trent Roberts, extension soil scientist, will introduce new tools, including the Greenseeker, and recommendations for soil fertility.
The seventh annual Expo also features presentations on home fruit varieties and fruit growing by Janet Carson, Extension horticulture specialist, and White County Extension agent Sherri Sanders.
Keith Cleek, Extension area program association, and Leigh Ann Bullington, Woodruff County Extension staff chair, will return with their popular live cooking demonstrations. This year, they plan to show how to take rice beyond savory and create dishes for the sweet tooth.
The popular Rice Expo Cooking Contest also has returned, with the deadline for submissions June 16.
Stay up to date on all Rice Expo activities by visiting https://www.uaex.edu/rice-expo.