Radio hosts Jack Armstrong and Joe Getty discuss their thoughts on California rice.
Thursday, June 28, 2012
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
New Blogger Kelby Sheppard- Leveling rice fields to gain efficiency
This family farmer in Butte County explains the basics and benefits of field leveling to keep the farm at peak efficiency.
Kelby farms rice with his father John, brother Josh and sister Jonna in Butte County. He's very proud to be a fourth generation rice farmer. In addition to farming rice, Kelby owns and operates Sheppard Land Leveling and enjoys leveling fields, building pads, ponds and enhancing habitat. When not on the farm he serves as one of the Board of Directors for the Butte County Farm Bureau. He and his wife Jolene along with their two daughters Gracie and Carlee enjoy boating, going to the cabin and vacationing near the ocean.
Kelby farms rice with his father John, brother Josh and sister Jonna in Butte County. He's very proud to be a fourth generation rice farmer. In addition to farming rice, Kelby owns and operates Sheppard Land Leveling and enjoys leveling fields, building pads, ponds and enhancing habitat. When not on the farm he serves as one of the Board of Directors for the Butte County Farm Bureau. He and his wife Jolene along with their two daughters Gracie and Carlee enjoy boating, going to the cabin and vacationing near the ocean.
Friday, June 22, 2012
New Video: Rice at one month
Family farmer Peter Rystrom of Butte County describes how the rice crop is looking one month after planting.
After completing his college education, Peter Rystrom is happily back at work as a fourth-generation farmer in Butte County. Working alongside his father Steve, grandfather Don, uncle Gary and several cousins, this family has a century-long tradition of rice farming in the Sacramento Valley.
After graduating from UC Davis with an International Relations and Spanish double major, he worked with Community Enterprise Solutions in Guatemala and lead tours across the United States for Trek America.
Peter enjoys the change in seasons on the farm and the freedom of being outside all day.
When he’s not on the farm, he enjoys backpacking trips into the mountains as well as world travel. Other passions include being involved in the lives of others through church small groups and friendships, both at home and abroad.
After completing his college education, Peter Rystrom is happily back at work as a fourth-generation farmer in Butte County. Working alongside his father Steve, grandfather Don, uncle Gary and several cousins, this family has a century-long tradition of rice farming in the Sacramento Valley.After graduating from UC Davis with an International Relations and Spanish double major, he worked with Community Enterprise Solutions in Guatemala and lead tours across the United States for Trek America.
Peter enjoys the change in seasons on the farm and the freedom of being outside all day.
When he’s not on the farm, he enjoys backpacking trips into the mountains as well as world travel. Other passions include being involved in the lives of others through church small groups and friendships, both at home and abroad.
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
New Punch Haskell Blog- Fields of Green
When I survey the rice fields on our family farm, I have a sense of satisfaction that the season is well underway.
After the triple-digit heat of the weekend, it’s nice to see warm but not scorching temperatures. Highs around 90 are ideal for growing rice.
Due to delays from the cool spring, rice field maturity is quite variable throughout the Sacramento Valley. I was fortunate to plant my fields in early May, but other rice fields are in a much earlier state of maturity.
On my farm, the rice plants will soon be in the tillering process. That means when the plants are about 40 to 45 days of age, they send extra shoots out. These will eventually become heads, which in the fall will bear the rice kernels.
It’s exciting to see all of the green fields here on the west side of the valley and nurture our new crop towards what we hope will be an abundant harvest in the fall.
Punch Haskell grows rice in Colusa County and is part of a family farming operation that began approximately 60 years ago.
After the triple-digit heat of the weekend, it’s nice to see warm but not scorching temperatures. Highs around 90 are ideal for growing rice.
Due to delays from the cool spring, rice field maturity is quite variable throughout the Sacramento Valley. I was fortunate to plant my fields in early May, but other rice fields are in a much earlier state of maturity.
On my farm, the rice plants will soon be in the tillering process. That means when the plants are about 40 to 45 days of age, they send extra shoots out. These will eventually become heads, which in the fall will bear the rice kernels.
It’s exciting to see all of the green fields here on the west side of the valley and nurture our new crop towards what we hope will be an abundant harvest in the fall.
Punch Haskell grows rice in Colusa County and is part of a family farming operation that began approximately 60 years ago.
Monday, June 18, 2012
Sean Doherty Blog- Relics of Days Gone By
In July of last year I composed a blog on how water used to flow through the Sacramento Valley. I wanted to add to that subject a little bit.
Floodwater made for quite a challenge to the residents of the valley at the turn of the last century. This region would remain covered for a large part of the year, creating a transportation nightmare for anyone with business or family in low-lying towns, such as Grimes or Colusa in my area.
Elevated causeways used to be much more prevalent years ago than just I-80 and I-5. To reach cut off low-lying towns, miles of concrete causeways were constructed and portions of them still stand today.
This first picture is from Pass Road northeast of the small town of Meridian, on the west side of the Sutter Buttes. It marks a great beginning or a scenic end to a short drive through our valley landmark.
The next picture is of the old Hahn Road causeway northeast of the town of Arbuckle on the road to Grimes. They are standing the test of time, albeit more colorfully than intended, thanks to artistic high school seniors.
Sean Doherty is a 3rd generation rice farmer living out his dream, being a rice farmer in Dunnigan.
He farms in Yolo, Colusa, and Sutter Counties with his wife Melissa, and three kids, Hannah, Gus, and Mary. He enjoys being in the fields, watching the seasons, and sharing it with his family.
Floodwater made for quite a challenge to the residents of the valley at the turn of the last century. This region would remain covered for a large part of the year, creating a transportation nightmare for anyone with business or family in low-lying towns, such as Grimes or Colusa in my area.
Elevated causeways used to be much more prevalent years ago than just I-80 and I-5. To reach cut off low-lying towns, miles of concrete causeways were constructed and portions of them still stand today.
This first picture is from Pass Road northeast of the small town of Meridian, on the west side of the Sutter Buttes. It marks a great beginning or a scenic end to a short drive through our valley landmark.
The next picture is of the old Hahn Road causeway northeast of the town of Arbuckle on the road to Grimes. They are standing the test of time, albeit more colorfully than intended, thanks to artistic high school seniors.
Sean Doherty is a 3rd generation rice farmer living out his dream, being a rice farmer in Dunnigan.He farms in Yolo, Colusa, and Sutter Counties with his wife Melissa, and three kids, Hannah, Gus, and Mary. He enjoys being in the fields, watching the seasons, and sharing it with his family.
Friday, June 15, 2012
New CRC Blog- Living Proof of Conservation Work
By Paul Buttner
Working with our conservation partners and the Natural Resources Conservation Service we have recently rolled out a new program to help rice farmers to enhance their fields for wildlife—especially nesting waterbirds.
I was out the other day during a “hard day at the office” and had a great experience photographing one of the great beneficiaries of our new program—the American Avocet. In my opinion, this is one of the most beautiful shorebirds. This one was a particularly irritated mom or (coming from a single father as I am) dad making a lot of noise as I was snapping the pictures. I’m told by my birding expert friends that this is classic behavior they exhibit to try to scare or lure predators away from nests and/or their chicks in the area. In this case it was cute baby chicks they were concerned about that I also has the pleasure of seeing.
Here is my version of an “angry bird.”
I promise that this flustered Avocet went right back to the business of parenting right after I left the scene.
Up the road on that same day, Jim Morris, a co-worker of mine, was taking some extraordinary photographs of a different American Avocet nest with the mother or father in the background. Note the berm between the two flooded rice checks. This is a specially modified berm--done as part of our new program--to be flatter and wider specifically to accommodate more nesting by Avocets and other nesting birds.
The proof is in the pudding, as they say. And, here’s the living proof right here. Family rice farmers are utilizing conservation funding and changing the landscape in the Sacramento Valley to benefit waterbirds.
Paul Buttner is Environmental Affairs Manager for the California Rice Commission.
Working with our conservation partners and the Natural Resources Conservation Service we have recently rolled out a new program to help rice farmers to enhance their fields for wildlife—especially nesting waterbirds.
I was out the other day during a “hard day at the office” and had a great experience photographing one of the great beneficiaries of our new program—the American Avocet. In my opinion, this is one of the most beautiful shorebirds. This one was a particularly irritated mom or (coming from a single father as I am) dad making a lot of noise as I was snapping the pictures. I’m told by my birding expert friends that this is classic behavior they exhibit to try to scare or lure predators away from nests and/or their chicks in the area. In this case it was cute baby chicks they were concerned about that I also has the pleasure of seeing.
Here is my version of an “angry bird.”
I promise that this flustered Avocet went right back to the business of parenting right after I left the scene.
Up the road on that same day, Jim Morris, a co-worker of mine, was taking some extraordinary photographs of a different American Avocet nest with the mother or father in the background. Note the berm between the two flooded rice checks. This is a specially modified berm--done as part of our new program--to be flatter and wider specifically to accommodate more nesting by Avocets and other nesting birds.
The proof is in the pudding, as they say. And, here’s the living proof right here. Family rice farmers are utilizing conservation funding and changing the landscape in the Sacramento Valley to benefit waterbirds.
Paul Buttner is Environmental Affairs Manager for the California Rice Commission.
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
Armstrong & Getty discuss California rice and water efficiency.
Radio hosts Jack Armstrong & Joe Getty discuss how California rice is much more water efficient to grow than many people realize.
Monday, June 11, 2012
Wildlife Artist in California Rice Country
Naturalist, Educator and Artist John Muir Laws describes his visit to Sacramento Valley Rice Country, to start an art project highlighting wildlife in rice fields.
Farmer Brian McKenzie updates the current status of their family rice crop
Family farmer Brian McKenzie of Pleasant Grove updates the progress of this year's crop, about one month after the field was planted.
Brian McKenzie proudly represents the fourth generation of rice farmers in his family. Following his graduation in 2005 from The University of Nevada Reno where he earned bachelors degrees in Economics and Marketing, Brian returned to the family farm in South Sutter County to farm full-time alongside his father, Chris. Brian and his wife, Ashley, grow several varieties of conventional and organic rice. Brian enjoys the challenges that farming brings and takes pride in producing food for the world.
Brian McKenzie proudly represents the fourth generation of rice farmers in his family. Following his graduation in 2005 from The University of Nevada Reno where he earned bachelors degrees in Economics and Marketing, Brian returned to the family farm in South Sutter County to farm full-time alongside his father, Chris. Brian and his wife, Ashley, grow several varieties of conventional and organic rice. Brian enjoys the challenges that farming brings and takes pride in producing food for the world.
Thursday, June 7, 2012
New Video- Wildlife and Rice Farming pair well
Family rice farmer Sandy Denn describes some of the seasonal wildlife she enjoys on her farm in Glenn County.
Sandy Denn and her husband Wally own and operate Snow Goose Farms near Willows in Glenn County. She holds a law degree and has served on numerous boards and committees dealing with water in the North State. Sandy and Wally have six grown children. Her passions include hunting and fishing, and she used to fly a hot air balloon and a stunt plane for relaxation.
Sandy Denn and her husband Wally own and operate Snow Goose Farms near Willows in Glenn County. She holds a law degree and has served on numerous boards and committees dealing with water in the North State. Sandy and Wally have six grown children. Her passions include hunting and fishing, and she used to fly a hot air balloon and a stunt plane for relaxation.
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
New photo album- Planting and new rice fields
Photographer Brian Baer captures the unique beauty of rice planting season in the Sacramento Valley, which is home to more than 95 percent of California rice production.Click here to view album
Monday, June 4, 2012
Wildlife up close and personal
By Jim Morris
Spend much time in the Sacramento Valley and you’ll become aware of a healthy population of sleek, strong and swift raptors. Rice fields, for example, are home to fourteen different raptor species.
Desiring a closer look at these elusive birds, our family ventured to the foothills east of Marysville to West Coast Falconry, one of only three falconry centers in the U.S. that are registered by the Fish & Wildlife Service. It’s a little off the beaten path but is a paradise for raptor lovers.
Falconry is the art of utilizing game birds to hunt for prey. Its first known use was recorded by symbols on clay tablets 10,000 years ago in Sumatran culture. Five thousand years ago, Genghis Khan used falcons to gather food to help feed his troops.
The star of our trip was a Harris Hawk, described by National Geographic as “wolves of the air,” due to their hunting style and dedication to extended family. Weighing just 1½ pounds, Don Diego compensated for his lack of weight through senses that would make a super hero jealous.
Diego can spot small game from a mile and a half away, see mouse trails via infrared and ultraviolet light and when he finds his intended lunch, he can grab it with his talons – packing gripping pressure of 300 pounds per square inch. All told, Diego can take down prey weighing up to five pounds – pheasants more than three times his size!
After receiving expert instruction, our family donned thick leather gloves, had morsels of raw meat placed on them and then summoned Diego. It was marvelous to see how effortlessly he glided, swooped in and landed on each junior falconer to gobble up his treat.
I highly recommend this entertaining natural history lesson. Unless you’re a vole, coming nose to beak with a hawk is a joy worth crowing about.
Jim Morris is Communications Manager for the California Rice Commission. Jim has worked in communications for more than 20 years. When he’s not on the job, he enjoys his family, faith, football, outrageous monster stories and running marathons.
Spend much time in the Sacramento Valley and you’ll become aware of a healthy population of sleek, strong and swift raptors. Rice fields, for example, are home to fourteen different raptor species.
Desiring a closer look at these elusive birds, our family ventured to the foothills east of Marysville to West Coast Falconry, one of only three falconry centers in the U.S. that are registered by the Fish & Wildlife Service. It’s a little off the beaten path but is a paradise for raptor lovers.
Falconry is the art of utilizing game birds to hunt for prey. Its first known use was recorded by symbols on clay tablets 10,000 years ago in Sumatran culture. Five thousand years ago, Genghis Khan used falcons to gather food to help feed his troops.
The star of our trip was a Harris Hawk, described by National Geographic as “wolves of the air,” due to their hunting style and dedication to extended family. Weighing just 1½ pounds, Don Diego compensated for his lack of weight through senses that would make a super hero jealous.
Diego can spot small game from a mile and a half away, see mouse trails via infrared and ultraviolet light and when he finds his intended lunch, he can grab it with his talons – packing gripping pressure of 300 pounds per square inch. All told, Diego can take down prey weighing up to five pounds – pheasants more than three times his size!
After receiving expert instruction, our family donned thick leather gloves, had morsels of raw meat placed on them and then summoned Diego. It was marvelous to see how effortlessly he glided, swooped in and landed on each junior falconer to gobble up his treat.
I highly recommend this entertaining natural history lesson. Unless you’re a vole, coming nose to beak with a hawk is a joy worth crowing about.
Jim Morris is Communications Manager for the California Rice Commission. Jim has worked in communications for more than 20 years. When he’s not on the job, he enjoys his family, faith, football, outrageous monster stories and running marathons.
Sunday, June 3, 2012
New Video- Planting the 2012 Rice Crop
Watch as a fast moving airplane
precisely drops seeds into a rice field in the Sacramento Valley.
precisely drops seeds into a rice field in the Sacramento Valley.
Friday, June 1, 2012
New Video- Planting season draws to a close
Family farmer Sandy Denn of Willows provides an update on the final stages of planting of the 2012 rice crop.
Sandy Denn and her husband Wally own and operate Snow Goose Farms near Willows in Glenn County. She holds a law degree and has served on numerous boards and committees dealing with water in the North State. Sandy and Wally have six grown children. Her passions include hunting and fishing, and she used to fly a hot air balloon and a stunt plane for relaxation.
Sandy Denn and her husband Wally own and operate Snow Goose Farms near Willows in Glenn County. She holds a law degree and has served on numerous boards and committees dealing with water in the North State. Sandy and Wally have six grown children. Her passions include hunting and fishing, and she used to fly a hot air balloon and a stunt plane for relaxation.
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