California rice shipment bound for Japan- View photos of the Ken Jyo being loaded at the Port of West Sacramento, bound for Japan with 12,300 metric tons of California rice.
Monday, July 25, 2011
New photos and video- CA rice shipment to Japan
California rice shipment bound for Japan- View photos of the Ken Jyo being loaded at the Port of West Sacramento, bound for Japan with 12,300 metric tons of California rice.
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Video post from Tom Butler: Technology helps California rice farmers
Family farmer Tom Butler of Sutter County explains how the iPad is helping his operation.
More about Tom: Tom Butler farms rice with his father, Steve, in Sutter and Yolo Counties. Tom is the fourth generation of his family to farm.
When he’s not on the job, the University of Nebraska graduate enjoys swimming, water polo, hunting and spending time with his family.
More about Tom: Tom Butler farms rice with his father, Steve, in Sutter and Yolo Counties. Tom is the fourth generation of his family to farm.When he’s not on the job, the University of Nebraska graduate enjoys swimming, water polo, hunting and spending time with his family.
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Blog post by Punch Haskell- Waiting for the heat
It seems like the more you stay in farming, the more unusual circumstances you can face.
Take this rice growing season. For the second straight year, we are faced with cool weather. Who would have thought mid-July temperatures would struggle to reach 90 degrees?
Despite the lack of traditional heat, our fields look very good as they near the halfway point of the growing season. This is panicle initiation time, where much of the energy in the plant goes to making the seeds. I think we’ll see heading, where the first heads of grain develop on top of the plant, in a few weeks.
The unusual weather patterns have made weed control a challenge, but we have waited them out so we could be efficient in dealing with them.
The forecast for warming with temperatures well into the 90s next week would be very helpful to kick start the growing process.
Punch Haskell grows rice in Colusa County and is part of a family farming operation that began approximately 60 years ago.
Take this rice growing season. For the second straight year, we are faced with cool weather. Who would have thought mid-July temperatures would struggle to reach 90 degrees?
Despite the lack of traditional heat, our fields look very good as they near the halfway point of the growing season. This is panicle initiation time, where much of the energy in the plant goes to making the seeds. I think we’ll see heading, where the first heads of grain develop on top of the plant, in a few weeks.
The unusual weather patterns have made weed control a challenge, but we have waited them out so we could be efficient in dealing with them.
The forecast for warming with temperatures well into the 90s next week would be very helpful to kick start the growing process.
Punch Haskell grows rice in Colusa County and is part of a family farming operation that began approximately 60 years ago.
Friday, July 15, 2011
Video post from Tom Butler: Mid-point of rice season
Family farmer Tom Butler of Sutter County describes how the rice crop is doing midway through the season.
More about Tom: Tom Butler farms rice with his father, Steve, in Sutter and Yolo Counties. Tom is the fourth generation of his family to farm.
When he’s not on the job, the University of Nebraska graduate enjoys swimming, water polo, hunting and spending time with his family.
More about Tom: Tom Butler farms rice with his father, Steve, in Sutter and Yolo Counties. Tom is the fourth generation of his family to farm.When he’s not on the job, the University of Nebraska graduate enjoys swimming, water polo, hunting and spending time with his family.
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Video: State Fair Farm features rice and 100 other crops
California State Fair Farm Manager Teresa McEntire provides insight about this year's 3 1/2 acre farm, including two stages of rice plants.
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Guest video: Roots of Change President Michael Dimock comments about California Rice
Michael Dimock, President of Roots of Change (rootsofchange.org) comments on the valuable contributions California rice farmers make to the state's environment.
Roots of Change works to develop and support a collaborative network of leaders and institutions in California with interest in establishing a sustainable food system in our state by the year 2030.
Roots of Change works to develop and support a collaborative network of leaders and institutions in California with interest in establishing a sustainable food system in our state by the year 2030.
Monday, July 11, 2011
Guest video: Acclaimed Publisher comments on the Sac Valley’s unique beauty
Publisher and founder of Heydey Books in Berkeley, Malcolm Margolin, provides comments during his tour of the Sacramento Valley, including a visit to a Butte County rice farm.
Friday, July 8, 2011
Video post from family farmer Dennis Lindberg: A Pepsi and a Smile
Rice farmer Dennis Lindberg of Richvale, Butte County, shows off his latest and greatest art creation made from scrap metal - Pepsi, in honor of a dearly departed family pet.
Dennis Lindberg has grown rice in Butte County for nearly 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 nearly 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.Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Blog post by Sean Doherty: Valley History and RD 108
I have another topic that I have had rolling around in my head for a while now, that I want to get out. It ties together water, habitat and the natural cycle of the valley. This topic started with an “aha moment” after seeing the map that has been posted with this blog. It is a map of the Colusa Basin Lake that covered some of the area I currently farm, and currently referred to as Reclamation District 108. It is based on land surveys completed from 1850 -1870 detailing the boundaries of the lake at different times of the year.My understanding of the map came from many people who have been farming in the RD 108 area a far longer time than I have. What would happen before all the dams were built is that the whole Colusa Basin Lake would flood in the spring from the spring rains and snowmelt flowing unimpeded from the vast Sacramento River Watershed. The lake, more like a marsh because the area is so flat and shallow, would be at its largest in May and would recede from there. Driven back by the heat and draining back into the river the lake would eventually dry up in September and October until it was replenished the following spring. It was much the same way throughout the Sacramento Valley, not just in RD 108. That’s how it was.
Fast forward 150 years and the lake no longer floods in the springtime because of the levees along the river and our bypass flood control system, and because we now have Shasta Dam and Oroville Dam to hold back most of the water to deliver to farms and cities when it is needed instead of all at once. Relieving us from the dangers of flooding, and of a yearly late fall drought when the rivers would slow to a trickle or dry up entirely.
My point is this: rice farming in the valley does seem to follow the natural cycle of the valley, historically. We plant the fields in April and May when the lakes/marshes would be at their greatest extent. Throughout the summer we raise the rice, and when the lakes/marshes would eventually recede or dry up in September and October, we drain our fields and harvest our crop. As the winter rains come, the cycle begins again. It isn’t like it was in the 1860s, but it’s not far off either. That’s all I’m saying.
What do you, the readers, think?
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.
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Video post from family farmer Brian McKenzie : How farmers keep California organic rice fields free of weeds
Family farmer Brian McKenzie in Sutter County explains how he manages weed issues in his organic short grain rice fields.
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.
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