Tag Archives: Conservation

The Natural Resources Conservation Service in Louisiana announced the 1st signup period for applications for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program and Regional Conservation Partnership Program in fiscal year 2020 ends on March 6. Financial assistance through these programs is available to help farmers and landowners plan and implement conservation practices to improve water quality, build healthier soil, improve grazing and ... Read More »

The California Rice Commission and its project partners have received a $1.5 million Conservation Innovation Grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service. The project is in in partnership with NRCS, Ducks Unlimited, the California Ricelands Waterbird Foundation, Point Blue Conservation Science and FlowWest. It is designed to: • Provide funding to enhance approximately 10,000 acres through ... Read More »

Rominger Brothers Farms of Winters, California, received the 2019 California Leopold Conservation Award during a ceremony at the California Farm Bureau’s recent annual meeting in Monterey. Sand County Foundation created the Leopold award to inspire American landowners by recognizing exceptional farmers, ranchers and foresters. Named in honor of renowned conservationist Aldo Leopold, it is given in 20 states. The award ... Read More »

Mix rice farmers, stewardship practices and partnership programs for a successful conservation gumbo. • By Amy Robertson Fuselier • What makes the best gumbo? Some say the Cajun trinity of ingredients —onions, bell pepper and celery. Many argue the roux is the basic building block for creating the ultimate gumbo. But everyone agrees that the best gumbo is one that ... Read More »

Field to Market: The Alliance for Sustainable Agriculture recently honored recipients of the 2019 Sustainability Leadership Awards on the eve of the fifth annual Sustainable Agriculture Summit. The awards are given to farmers, organizations and individuals who have demonstrated outstanding leadership through efforts to advance continuous improvement in the sustainability of U.S. commodity crop production. For the first time, the ... 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 »

• By Emily Woodall • Three Conservation Stewardship Program  sign-ups are now open to rice producers in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri and Texas. The deadline to apply for all three projects is June 28. Eligible counties and parishes are listed below. Through the Mid-South Graduated Water Stewardship signup, producers in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Missouri can address water quality, water ... Read More »

Bruce and Rick Rominger, partners in Rominger Farms of Winters, California, were honored recently by the National Association of Conservation Districts for their conservation practices as producers. The brothers, who have a diverse operation that includes rice, received the Hugh Hammond Bennett Award for Conservation Excellence Farmer award at the association’s recent annual meeting in San Antonio, Texas. Named after ... Read More »

Louisiana brothers embrace the 4R’s to nurture soil and improve production • By Vicky Boyd Editor • Even before the term “sustainable” was popular, the Durands had adopted production practices that conserved and enhanced the natural resources on their rice and crawfish operation in St. Martin Parish, southeast of Lafayette, Louisiana. Over the years, the Durands have received multiple awards for ... Read More »

After more than two years of work, discussing and debating policies and ironing out the kinks, the 2018 Farm Bill has finally been passed and signed into law, and it’s due largely in part to the perseverance and hard work of USA Rice members. You told us what you needed from the Farm Bill, and we took it to Capitol ... Read More »