The University of California Cooperative Extension will host a free weedy rice workshop, from 10 a.m.-noon, Aug. 1, at the Colusa Casino Chairman’s Room in Colusa. Weedy rice, an all-inclusive term for red rice and undesirable outcrossings, was confirmed in about six California rice fields in 2003. By 2016, it had exploded and had been found in about 60 fields ... Read More »
• By Bob Johnson • A team of researchers is waiting to learn how many of the small chinook salmon that were raised on the healthiest of food in Mike Dewit’s rice field in the Yolo Bypass, fitted with microtransmitters, and released into the Sacramento River in late April survive the arduous journey to San Francisco Bay and the ocean ... Read More »
The Environmental Protection Agency has approved a Section 18 emergency exemption for Intrepid 2F Insecticide for use in Butte, Colusa, Glenn, Merced, Sacramento, San Joaquin, Sutter, Yolo and Yuba counties, California. You need to make certain Intrepid 2F Insecticide is on your rice pesticide (restricted materials) permit at the county agricultural commissioner’s office. The various pesticide database companies will receive ... Read More »
• 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 »
Rice Farming A One Grower Publication