By Carroll Smith Editor For many farmers, securing a production loan for the upcoming year is a critical part of the process to make sure the growing season runs smoothly and the bills get paid. The Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation recently...

By John Cartwright With the discovery of overwintering blast next door in Louisiana, Arkansas rice growers should scout their fields early in the season to nip any potential infections in the bud, said Yeshi Wamishe, Extension plant pathologist for the...

Rice farming’s rewards and challenges in today’s environment By Carroll Smith When Trey Daniel, Brandon Rodgers and Jason Smith entered Arkansas State University (ASU), the three young men joined a fraternity and enjoyed the camaraderie and support of being among a...

California IPM Information The third edition of Integrated Pest Management for Rice is now available. The publication’s informative color photographs of pests and their damage, line drawings, tables and figures are valuable aids in the diagnosis and treatment of common...

DR. M.O. “MO” WAY TEXAS Rice Research Entomologist [email protected] In rice fields, many insects are aquatic and obtain oxygen by absorbing this dissolved gas directly from the water through their integument, by surfacing and taking a bubble of air with them underwater or...

ROBB DEDMANPRO AG CONSULTING, INC. RISON, ARK. In 1990, I worked as a rice scout for Dr. Nathan Slaton, who, at the time, was a county agent with the Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service. After graduating from college, I went to work...

JOE MENCER RICE PRODUCER LAKE VILLAGE, ARK. U.S. rice used to be known as the best quality rice in the world. Today, we are losing that reputation. If we are going to keep this industry alive, we’ve got to address the quality...

Resolving budget matters may be favorable for new Farm Bill. BY LINDA RAUN CHAIRMAN, USA RICE PRODUCERS’ GROUP USA RICE FEDERATION All eyes are on sequestration – automatic across-the-board spending cuts scheduled to kick-in March 1, and the expiration of the Continuing Resolution that...

One idea is to ship single varieties of rice as approved by the buyer. BY DWIGHT ROBERTS PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER USRPA In 2012, 15 percent of all rice exports were destined to Central America. Consisting mostly of rough rice for processing in...

BY CARROLL SMITH EDITOR The origin of the phrase “thinking outside the box” is typically attributed to the Nine Dots Puzzle, pictured below. Three rows of three dots are inside a box. The challenge is to connect the dots with...

Healthier plants result in higher yield potential, milling quality Healthier rice plants cope much better with stresses such as diseases and inclement weather, resulting in higher yield potential and milling quality. And more rice producers are improving their plant health...

Sixth generation California rice farmer thinks outside the box BY CARROLL SMITH EDITOR Many years ago, John Browning was one of the first people to raise rice in the heart of the Sacramento Valley. Today, his great grandson, Fritz Durst, is...

For more than 60 years, folks throughout the South have made the trip to Memphis, Tenn., to take part in the Mid-South Farm and Gin Show. In less than a week, they will once again pack up the family...

Will Rice Prices Increase? Rice prices are likely to improve with the expectation that China will buy American rice and the Brazilian crop will be off this year, a rice marketing consultant said on Jan. 31 at the National Conservation...

LANCE RAMTHUN CROP SOLUTIONS, LLC JONESBORO, ARK. (CONSULTS IN CRAIGHEAD, LAWRENCE, POINSETT AND MISSISSIPPI COUNTIES) When my dad began consulting in rice in 1980, we moved to Hoxie, Ark., which is a rice and soybean farming community. Rice and the consulting occupation was...