Extension entomologist Larry Godfrey, UC Davis Department of Entomology and Nematology, has addressed California Rice Day for 25 years. (UC Davis Photo by John Stumbos)

Godfrey, who has addressed Rice Field Day for 25 years, will discuss how the California rice industry's use of insecticides is threatened by two major factors: the development of insecticide resistance and regulatory actions. 

Materials registered for California rice, Godfrey said, include pyrethroids (Mustang^®, Warrior^®),neonicotinoid (Belay^®), insect growth regulator (Dimilin^®), and carbamate (Sevin^®). One additional product is in the registration pipeline, a ryanodine receptor modulators (Coragen^®). 

“However, as shown in the 2015 season when armyworms reached unprecedented levels--the highest of the last 25 years-- the insecticide choices were limited and all options had some deficiencies in terms of efficacy on armyworms,” Godfrey said. “Fortunately, the California Rice Commission was able to get an emergency exemption (Section 18) for Intrepid^® to help with this situation. All these registered insecticides need to be managed carefully so they are available and effective in future years and for future generations.”

Joanna Bloese, a student in the Godfrey lab, will present a poster, "Evaluating the Effects of Chemical and Cultural Management Practices on the Population Dynamics of Tadpole Shrimp (Triops longicaudatus) in California Rice." (Research by J. B. Bloese, L. Espino, K. Goding, L. D. Godfrey). Ongoing research is focused on developing pest management methods in rice to reduce the need for insecticide use while still producing a profitable crop.  Kevin Goding, staff research associate, also will be participating in Rice Field Day.

The purpose of the Rice Field Day, sponsored by the California Cooperative Rice Research Foundation (CCRRF) and the University of California, is to give rice growers and others an opportunity to observe and discuss research in progress at the Rice Experiment Station (RES).

The program will begin at 8:30 a.m. with a general session that serves as the annual membership meeting. Posters and demonstrations will be displayed during registration until after lunch. Field tours of research will emphasize progress on rice variety improvement, and disease, insect pest, and weed control. The program will conclude at noon with a lunch that includes rice. 

More information is available on the CRRF website at http://www.crrf.org/