Seed Treatments

While some crop protection companies are reducing their presence in the agricultural industry because of cyclic downturns, Valent U.S.A. is investing in its future with expansion and new construction projects. By Vicky Boyd Editor The Walnut Creek, Calif.-based firm is nearing...

The EPA recently registered a non-lethal bird-repellent seed treatment for rice. The news traveled swiftly among producers, who have seen firsthand the damage birds can cause to newly seeded rice fields. By Vicky Boyd The Environmental Protection Agency has granted a...

Two New Clearfield Varieties Released LSU AgCenter has announced the release of two new Clearfield rice varieties, an improved Jazzman and a medium grain, according to Steve Linscombe, rice breeder and director of the Rice Research Station. Both will be...

Variety/Hybrid 2014 Roster It goes without saying that variety/hybrid selection is one of the most important decisions that a rice farmer has to make during the winter planning time. Following are quite a few offerings for 2014. Consider your farm...

Careful planning and an experienced staff are keys to success BY CARROLL SMITH EDITOR Sam and Jim Whitaker grew up farming with their mother and father, then took over the operation when their father retired. All total, this past year marked the...

Humanitarian rice research is making a difference Rice is one of the globe’s most important food staples. About half of the world’s seven billion people eat rice every day. Unfortunately, about 50 million acres of rice is grown in flood-prone...

DR. JOHN SAICHUK LOUISIANA [email protected] One of the most frequently asked questions this fall has been, “What are we going to plant next year?” It is also one of the most uncommon questions I have been asked over the years in this...

Impressive lineup offered for upcoming growing season It goes without saying that variety/hybrid selection is one of the most important decisions that a rice farmer has to make during the winter planning time. Following are quite a few offerings for...

Dr. John Saichuk Louisiana [email protected] Last year I wrote an article on water management on March 29. Following is most of the first paragraph of that article. I had no idea at the time of how much of it would be accurate...

Father and son team raise seed rice for local growers By Carroll Smith Editor In the California rice industry, 1912 is particularly significant because it marks the state’s first commercial rice production in Butte County. In 1914, the Butte County Rice Growers...

California rice breeder pursues his passion By Carroll Smith Editor In 1972, while studying plant genetics at the University of California, Davis, new graduate student Ken Foster became intrigued with wild rice but never thought that it would become a part of...