UC Rice Blog

Stem rot is a common disease of rice that can cause blanking and lodging. When the disease is severe, the presence and effects of the disease on yield can be obvious. However, at lower levels, the symptoms and effects of the disease may fly under the radar.

Every year, the University of California Cooperative Extension, in cooperation with the Rice Experiment Station (RES), conducts rice variety trials in several locations of the Sacramento Valley (fig. 1).

In California, most acreage is devoted to high quality medium grain varieties. In 2023, over 94% of the acreage was grown to medium grains.

Background White water fire (Bergia capensis) was found in September of 2023, by the Butte County Agricultural Commissioner's office in a rice field in Butte County. The weed was identified by the California Department of Food and Agriculture.

California rice growers will have a new herbicide available this year: Cliffhanger, manufactured by Gowan Co. The active ingredient is benzobicyclon, which is the same as one of the two active ingredients in the currently registered herbicide, Butte.