Matt Huston Wilbur-Ellis Company Woodland, Calif. I grew up on a pear ranch in Placerville. During the summer months, while attending UC Davis, I worked for a company in Yuba City consulting on tree crops. After college, I landed a job at John Taylor Fertilizers in Sacramento. There were very few orchards in the area, so I quickly learned ... Read More »
Dr. Jarrod Hardke Arkansas Rice Research Entomologist, University of Arkansas, Cooperative Extension Service jhardke@uaex.edu Later planting increases disease risk A wet spring leading to delayed planting results in plenty of issues in rice. Beyond the concerns of potential yield reductions and a late harvest, later planting typically increases the chances of running into increased disease problems. Late planting increases the ... Read More »
Passion, preparedness and perseverance pay off John Durand’s father was one of nine children raised in the agriculture industry. He farmed for a short time but left to start a construction company – the only sibling to break from the family business. However, Durand chose the path of generations before him. As a kid, he spent time each summer on ... Read More »
Hunter Perry Field Scientist, Dow AgroSciences Greenville, Miss. I grew up in Greenville, Miss., in the early to mid-90s when all major chemical companies had field stations in the local area. Working on two stations during the summers was a natural attraction to someone like me who loved being outdoors. At the conclusion of my Ph.D., I was presented ... Read More »
Drew Dirks AgriSource Maxwell, Calif. I grew up the son of a rice farmer in the Sacramento Valley and, at a young age, developed a love for spending time in the field. From planting to harvest, there were always new challenges to be addressed. While attending Chico State University, I had an opportunity to work on researching new ways to ... Read More »
Dr. M.O. “MO” Way Texas Rice Research Entomologist moway@aesrg.tamu.edu Control 6-legged pests When I discuss topics other than insects, I get a little nervous, but, finally, this month, I get to talk about six-legged critters! For starters, let me emphasize the importance of scouting and explicitly following pesticide label instructions. If you do not hire a crop consultant, you must ... Read More »
Josh Cartwright Bear River Supply, Inc. Rio Oso, Calif. My hands-on experience with rice began with a summer job at Bear River Supply – a part of Butte County Rice Growers Association (BUCRA) – while I was attending junior college. Later, I was fortunate enough to be hired full-time after graduating from Chico State. Working with the PCAs at Bear ... Read More »
Richard Costello Boeuf Delta Ag Services Northeast Louisiana While in college, I interned with Jack McDaniel, an independent consultant at the time, and enjoyed it even though the hours were long. I also did two internships with a crop protection company on a research farm and liked the research end of the industry. As I continued my education, I met ... Read More »
Make weed control decisions now By Carroll Smith Editor Strategic herbicide choices and application timing early in the season not only provides better control of target weeds while they are small but also maximizes yield potential and quality when harvest season rolls around. Early season weed competition contributes to yield loss in the first three to four weeks after crop ... Read More »
Dr. M.O. “MO” Way Texas Rice Research Entomologist moway@aesrg.tamu.edu Serious Weed Pests Weeds typically are the most serious and consistent pests of rice production. Failure to control weeds in rice leads to significant and often devastating yield losses. Last year, I observed firsthand the total loss of rice production in organic fields infested with hemp sesbania and rough jointvetch. These ... Read More »
Rice Farming A One Grower Publication