June 2013 California Rice Newsletter Now Available Click Here to Download
Thursday, May 30, 2013
Tuesday, May 28, 2013
New video- The origin of the term Bankout Wagon
Rice grower Dennis Lindberg of Butte County describes how the term Bankout Wagon came to be. Bankout Wagons are used to haul newly harvested grain from rice fields to trailers.
Dennis Lindberg has grown rice in Butte County for more than 70 consecutive years. He’s a well-known author and metal artist, taking scrap metal and creating beautiful animal sculptures. His civic work and love of community is evidenced by his being honored as “Outstanding Citizen of the 20th Century” by Lundberg Family Farms. He and his wife Charlotte have two children – Gary and Sherry. Gary farms with his father in the historic community of Richvale, which recently celebrated its centennial.
Dennis Lindberg has grown rice in Butte County for more than 70 consecutive years. He’s a well-known author and metal artist, taking scrap metal and creating beautiful animal sculptures. His civic work and love of community is evidenced by his being honored as “Outstanding Citizen of the 20th Century” by Lundberg Family Farms. He and his wife Charlotte have two children – Gary and Sherry. Gary farms with his father in the historic community of Richvale, which recently celebrated its centennial.Monday, May 20, 2013
New CRC Blog- Strong partners in Conservation
By Paul Buttner
As the Manager of Environmental Affairs for the California Rice Commission (CRC), I was humbled to stand with our President & CEO Tim Johnson to accept the 2013 Partner of the Year Award from the Central Valley Joint Venture (CVJV) on behalf of the rice growers of California.
The CVJV (www.cvjv.org) is a collaborative group of highly respected conservation organizations committed to enhancing habitat values for birds and other wildlife species in the Central Valley. The current CVJV Vice Chairman, John Carlon of River Partners, and Coordinator, Bob Shaffer, presented us with the distinguished award.
I was truly honored with this recognition from the CVJV. In his presentation, Bob Shaffer talked about their long history with rice growers all the way back to the industry’s phase-down of rice straw burning and replacement of that practice with winter flooding. Much of this collaborative work pre-dates my tenure at CRC, which began in 2001. Since then so much has been accomplished to help increase habitat values in rice, a subject matter I have grown extremely passionate about.
We are now three years into a new program called the Waterbird Habitat Enhancement Program (WHEP) that supports the implementation of innovative new approaches to habitat enhancement in ricelands. It is now implemented on nearly 25 percent of rice acres (about 115,000 acres) thanks to the dedication and assistance of the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and ongoing technical assistance from organizations like Audubon California, PRBO Conservation Science and the Nature Conservancy. Each of these three partners helps make up the broader membership of the CVJV. The CVJV has been solidly behind rice every step of the way towards greater habitat enhancement and I’m very pleased to have the CVJV’s support and recognition for the CRC’s ongoing commitment to habitat enhancement on its working ricelands.
The ongoing coordinating force of the CVJV certainly helps move the ball forward on wildlife conservation projects and awareness of the importance of this great Central Valley for millions of birds that reply upon it. We are honored to be considered one of its valued partners in these efforts.
As the Manager of Environmental Affairs for the California Rice Commission (CRC), I was humbled to stand with our President & CEO Tim Johnson to accept the 2013 Partner of the Year Award from the Central Valley Joint Venture (CVJV) on behalf of the rice growers of California.
The CVJV (www.cvjv.org) is a collaborative group of highly respected conservation organizations committed to enhancing habitat values for birds and other wildlife species in the Central Valley. The current CVJV Vice Chairman, John Carlon of River Partners, and Coordinator, Bob Shaffer, presented us with the distinguished award.
I was truly honored with this recognition from the CVJV. In his presentation, Bob Shaffer talked about their long history with rice growers all the way back to the industry’s phase-down of rice straw burning and replacement of that practice with winter flooding. Much of this collaborative work pre-dates my tenure at CRC, which began in 2001. Since then so much has been accomplished to help increase habitat values in rice, a subject matter I have grown extremely passionate about.
We are now three years into a new program called the Waterbird Habitat Enhancement Program (WHEP) that supports the implementation of innovative new approaches to habitat enhancement in ricelands. It is now implemented on nearly 25 percent of rice acres (about 115,000 acres) thanks to the dedication and assistance of the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and ongoing technical assistance from organizations like Audubon California, PRBO Conservation Science and the Nature Conservancy. Each of these three partners helps make up the broader membership of the CVJV. The CVJV has been solidly behind rice every step of the way towards greater habitat enhancement and I’m very pleased to have the CVJV’s support and recognition for the CRC’s ongoing commitment to habitat enhancement on its working ricelands.
The ongoing coordinating force of the CVJV certainly helps move the ball forward on wildlife conservation projects and awareness of the importance of this great Central Valley for millions of birds that reply upon it. We are honored to be considered one of its valued partners in these efforts.
Paul Buttner is Manager of Environmental Affairs for the California Rice Commission.
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
New CRC Blog- Why the Farm Bill is important
By Tim Johnson
Every five years the leaders of our country have a discussion on farm policy. In large part the debate is healthy, though, sometimes to make a point, arguments get off track. In the upcoming weeks and months you will hear both good arguments and ones that stray a bit far afield.
One of the most basic questions is why a farm bill is necessary in such a well–fed nation. The reality is that our nation is the place of both expanding belt lines and one where many struggle daily to put food on the table – especially high quality fruits, vegetables and grains. The farm bill steps in here in a big way, providing support through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance program or SNAP.
In 2012, the program provided support for 46 million Americans according to the USDA. SNAP is the largest program area in the farm bill with nutrition programs (including a number of school food programs) accounting for 78 percent of all spending in the same year.
The reality is that these programs have been expanding. But then so has need in this lengthy recession. When there is need, we are proud to be a generous people.
The second question in the farm bill debate involves farm spending. Farm programs were designed to keep farmers on the land when times got tough. We call it a safety net. Over the years that safety net has taken many different forms, the most recent of which were dictated by international trade agreements such as the WTO, which required farmers to be eligible for payments even if they didn’t grow a crop. This was never a farmer’s idea.
In the upcoming farm bill, there will be many reforms in how farmers are supported. Many of the changes are driven by honest questions about how to support farmers when they need it but not send them a check every year simply because they grow a commodity.
This time around the safety net for farmers will be programs that only kick in when prices drop below the cost of production - the idea being to keep the farmer on the farm during the tough times. There are also incentives for farmers to buy crop insurance for greater protection. This approach to a safety net makes sense.
So, when you start hearing about ‘food stamp this’ and ‘rich farmer that,’ keep these facts in mind and you will be able to keep it all in the appropriate perspective.
Incidentally, payments to farmers only account for a little over six percent of total farm bill spending.
Every five years the leaders of our country have a discussion on farm policy. In large part the debate is healthy, though, sometimes to make a point, arguments get off track. In the upcoming weeks and months you will hear both good arguments and ones that stray a bit far afield.
One of the most basic questions is why a farm bill is necessary in such a well–fed nation. The reality is that our nation is the place of both expanding belt lines and one where many struggle daily to put food on the table – especially high quality fruits, vegetables and grains. The farm bill steps in here in a big way, providing support through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance program or SNAP.
In 2012, the program provided support for 46 million Americans according to the USDA. SNAP is the largest program area in the farm bill with nutrition programs (including a number of school food programs) accounting for 78 percent of all spending in the same year.
The reality is that these programs have been expanding. But then so has need in this lengthy recession. When there is need, we are proud to be a generous people.
The second question in the farm bill debate involves farm spending. Farm programs were designed to keep farmers on the land when times got tough. We call it a safety net. Over the years that safety net has taken many different forms, the most recent of which were dictated by international trade agreements such as the WTO, which required farmers to be eligible for payments even if they didn’t grow a crop. This was never a farmer’s idea.
In the upcoming farm bill, there will be many reforms in how farmers are supported. Many of the changes are driven by honest questions about how to support farmers when they need it but not send them a check every year simply because they grow a commodity.
This time around the safety net for farmers will be programs that only kick in when prices drop below the cost of production - the idea being to keep the farmer on the farm during the tough times. There are also incentives for farmers to buy crop insurance for greater protection. This approach to a safety net makes sense.
So, when you start hearing about ‘food stamp this’ and ‘rich farmer that,’ keep these facts in mind and you will be able to keep it all in the appropriate perspective.
Incidentally, payments to farmers only account for a little over six percent of total farm bill spending.
Tim Johnson, CRC President & CEO
Saturday, May 11, 2013
New Blog- Rice planting finale
Grower Peter Rystrom discusses progress on the 2013 rice planting, including participation in a special wildlife program.
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.
Wednesday, May 8, 2013
New CRC Blog- Sowing future prosperity
By Jim Morris
Drive through the Sacramento Valley these days and you very likely will see and hear airplanes seeding more than a half million acres of rice. I was able to witness an entirely different seeding method at the Rice Experiment Station in Biggs, which has provided growers with important research and varieties for a century.
The Experiment Station works with so many varieties in a relatively compact space that aerial seeding is out of the question. The closest thing that mimics the aerial seeding process is seeding by hand. With 40,000 different breeding lines this is no easy feat!
For more than 30 years, extra help in the form of skilled workers of Sikh descent have worked with researchers at the station to plant millions of seeds. The entire process takes a little more than a week and is fascinating to watch.
One of the starting steps is illustrated here by Baldish Deol, as seeds are soaked and carefully loaded into vials.
These seeds are planted one vial at a time in their specific part of the field- 60,000 rows in all!
Each vial has about 100 seeds, which represents one head of rice.
In addition there are 1,500 large plots, also planted with extreme care and by hand.
This work happens during an intense five-day period and is done with little outside attention but is part of the foundation of research that has helped this industry maintain its status as a reliable producer of premium quality rice.
Spring seeding is just one way the Rice Experiment Station maintains its role as an invaluable part of California rice production. It’s a job where patience is a virtue, as it takes about a decade for a new rice variety to go from its first planting to commercial use.
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 marathon
Drive through the Sacramento Valley these days and you very likely will see and hear airplanes seeding more than a half million acres of rice. I was able to witness an entirely different seeding method at the Rice Experiment Station in Biggs, which has provided growers with important research and varieties for a century.
The Experiment Station works with so many varieties in a relatively compact space that aerial seeding is out of the question. The closest thing that mimics the aerial seeding process is seeding by hand. With 40,000 different breeding lines this is no easy feat!
For more than 30 years, extra help in the form of skilled workers of Sikh descent have worked with researchers at the station to plant millions of seeds. The entire process takes a little more than a week and is fascinating to watch.
One of the starting steps is illustrated here by Baldish Deol, as seeds are soaked and carefully loaded into vials.
Each vial has about 100 seeds, which represents one head of rice.
In addition there are 1,500 large plots, also planted with extreme care and by hand.
This work happens during an intense five-day period and is done with little outside attention but is part of the foundation of research that has helped this industry maintain its status as a reliable producer of premium quality rice.
Spring seeding is just one way the Rice Experiment Station maintains its role as an invaluable part of California rice production. It’s a job where patience is a virtue, as it takes about a decade for a new rice variety to go from its first planting to commercial use.
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 marathon
Monday, May 6, 2013
New Rice Grower Blog- Curveballs
Curveballs. They're great in baseball but nerve wracking in rice farming! I had a big one thrown at me the other day. This spring had been pleasant enough apart from all the north wind. The ground dried out early and our "leisurely" pace is a pleasant respite from the frenetic pace of the last two years, at least until the other day.
Here is my rice roller in action- happily applying both base and starter fertilizers in one final pass across the fields before flood up and seeding.
The quadtrac seen above is an older tractor that is well suited to for this purpose, or was well suited rather. Within hours of this photo being taken a piston in its engine seized. What do I do now? I did not have another tractor to take its place so on the phone I went. Do I rent a replacement for two weeks while I fix this old tractor? Should I fix the quadtrac? Will I get the money invested in an old tractor back? Do I buy a new one? Not in this market! What's available in the used tractor market that will work? What does the banker think?
To answer all those questions and get back to rolling in the field took almost three days. Answering the questions and negotiating a deal for a used replacement tractor took a day and a half. Transferring all the GPS equipment and software was another day and a bit but we are up and going finally. Curveball managed!
Here is a photo of the old quadtrac with oil on the hood from the blown engine after being towed out of the field and its replacement getting started in the background.
Keep plowing ahead.
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.
Read more about Sean in Rice Farming magazine
Here is my rice roller in action- happily applying both base and starter fertilizers in one final pass across the fields before flood up and seeding.
The quadtrac seen above is an older tractor that is well suited to for this purpose, or was well suited rather. Within hours of this photo being taken a piston in its engine seized. What do I do now? I did not have another tractor to take its place so on the phone I went. Do I rent a replacement for two weeks while I fix this old tractor? Should I fix the quadtrac? Will I get the money invested in an old tractor back? Do I buy a new one? Not in this market! What's available in the used tractor market that will work? What does the banker think?
To answer all those questions and get back to rolling in the field took almost three days. Answering the questions and negotiating a deal for a used replacement tractor took a day and a half. Transferring all the GPS equipment and software was another day and a bit but we are up and going finally. Curveball managed!
Here is a photo of the old quadtrac with oil on the hood from the blown engine after being towed out of the field and its replacement getting started in the background.
Keep plowing ahead.
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.
Thursday, May 2, 2013
New video- State Official tours a Sacramento Valley rice field
Chair of the California Air Resources Board Mary Nichols provides comments after touring a Sacramento Valley rice farm.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)