• By Bruce Linquist • Rain in May, especially in the amounts we have seen this year, are far from ideal for rice growers. It makes establishing seedling, nitrogen management and weed control extra challenging. Rain in May is not new. In 1995, 1996, 1998 and 2005, average May rainfall in the Sacramento Valley was 2.3 inches and average statewide ... Read More »
• By Luis Espino • Over the winter, I gave a few presentations that touched on armyworms. In the presentations, I usually had pictures of adult armyworms. Several comments I got after the presentations made me realize that armyworm adult moths sometimes are confused with other moths or butterflies that are seen in abundance at certain times of the year. ... Read More »
• By Luis Espino • The first set of traps were set up on April 19, and more traps are being set up as fields get ready for planting. So far, seven sites have been set up. As you know, there are two species of armyworms that are found in rice, the true armyworm and the western yellowstriped armyworm. Surprisingly, ... Read More »
• By Ching Lee • After a late start, California rice planting is finally ramping up in the Sacramento Valley. Late spring rains kept fields wet and farmers from working their ground, shortening this year’s planting season, with some acres expected to be left fallow because farmers won’t have enough time to plant them. Colusa County grower Kurt Richter, who ... Read More »
• By Luis Espino, UC Rice Farming Systems Adviser, Butte and Glenn counties • The California armyworm monitoring season has started. The first traps were set April 19, and two more sites were set up on April 30. More traps will be set up in the following weeks as growers finish their ground work and get ready for planting. Interestingly, ... Read More »
New ground sprayer design allows for wider boom, less rutting and improved efficiency • By Vicky Boyd, Editor • Randy Chrisman had an “aha” moment during the 2016-17 winter when he came up with the idea for a rubber-tracked sprayer with a wide boom that would be more efficient than traditional steel-wheeled rigs. A Williams, California, rice producer who also ... Read More »
California rice producer and Farmers Brewing founder grows ingredients, brews craft beer on his farm • By Vicky Boyd, Editor • Bill Weller’s dream of becoming a vertically integrated rice producer and commercial craft brewer are finally coming to fruition after lengthy permitting and weather delays. “I always wanted to do this, but we’ve been busy growing the farm over the ... Read More »
The University of California is seeking producers’ and farm managers’ help as they conduct a survey of weedy rice infestation and rice production practices in the state that may affect the weed’s persistence and infestation levels. As you know, weedy rice is a pest problem that can potentially cause significant losses to the state’s rice industry. UC Rice Farm Advisers Luis ... Read More »
This season, University of California Cooperative Extension rice farm advisers were contacted by several growers and pest control advisers to inspect plants suspected to be weedy rice. When the identification was difficult, farm advisers grew them in the greenhouse to determine if they were weedy or not. Of these, only five turned out to be weedy. The infestations in these fields ... Read More »
California Gov. Jerry Brown has signed Assembly Bill 2348, also known as the “California Winter Rice Habitat Incentive Program.” Carried by Assemblymember Cecilia Aguiar-Curry (D-Winters), the legislation authorizes the California Department of Fish and Wildlife to contract with private landowners or lessees to flood rice ground for at least 70 days between Oct. 15 and March 15, according to the ... Read More »
Rice Farming A One Grower Publication