This is an exciting time to grow rice in the United States. Advances in technology and innovative practices have revolutionized the industry and made us one of the most sustainable crops in the world. Over the past 30 years, we’ve seen significant decreases in energy use and greenhouse gas emissions, groundbreaking efforts to support conservation and reduction of water use ... Read More »
It’s hard to believe it’s almost spring, and we’re charging forward into another crop year. No doubt as you have been preparing for planting season, you’ve been reflecting on the successes and challenges of previous seasons and applying those practical lessons on your farm. Sustainability goals help offer new solutions every year, saving farmers money, time and resources, and resonating ... Read More »
• By Kane Webb • “Our Past,” a daily column that appears in the Lake Charles American Press, pulls memorable stories from local news printed on the same day from 10, 25, 50 and 75 years ago. Recently, the southwest Louisiana rice industry was mentioned for two stories covered on the same day in 2009, 10 years ago: announcement of ... 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 »
At the edge of Chris Isbell’s rice field, three miles south of Bayou Meto, the famous duck-hunting wetland, Ben Runkle tight-rope walks the narrowest of bridges, a one-by-12 plank spanning two cinderblock towers. He’s proud of the bridge, designed and built it himself, so he and his students can reach the meteorological tower on the other side of the field’s ... Read More »
• By Mark Isbell • Field to Market, the Alliance for Sustainable Agriculture, recently convened in Chicago for its summer plenary and to announce the 2019 Farmer Spotlights, an award recognizing innovative farmers engaging in continuous improvement and using Field to Market’s Field Print Calculator. Each month Field to Market highlights one of the Farmer Spotlights with a press release ... Read More »
The 45th annual Eagle Lake Rice Field Day is scheduled for 4 p.m., June 25, at the David R. Wintermann Rice Research Station on Farm-to-Market Road 102 just north of Eagle Lake. The field day will offer an opportunity for producers to tour the research station, making stops along the way to hear about insect management, weed management, plant nutrient ... Read More »
Whether at industry group annual meetings or during Web-based seminars, the message remains the same: Agriculture has to do a better job telling its story to try to connect with consumers, who are generations removed from their agrarian roots. Many of these same consumers are clueless about the source of their food, other than they purchased it at Kroger, HEB ... Read More »
By now, it cannot be doubted that the U.S. rice industry leads the way when it comes to sustainability in agriculture. Whether it’s providing essential wildlife habitat, conserving water and soil, or technical innovations that use less energy and decrease emissions, rice farmers and millers have made enormous strides in the past 30 years and continue to dedicate themselves to ... Read More »
To say you’re sustainable is one thing. But to put numbers to that statement — and numbers that show substantial improvement in using resources more efficiently — is quite another. USA Rice recently released the executive summary of its “2018 U.S. Rice Industry Sustainability Report” that cataloged the industry’s improvements during the past 36 years. We’re not talking small gains, ... Read More »
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