- Author: Luis Espino
Harvest is starting to pick up again, and the UC Rice Project is starting to harvest the statewide variety trials. The trials are conducted in collboration with the breeders at the Rice Experiment Station (RES). RES breeders evaluate and select varieties that not only produce good yields, but also good grain quality. The varieties are tested for several years at several locations, and promising varieties are later tested in larger areas before being released for seed production. This year we have trials in nine locations, besides the trials conducted at the Rice Experiment Station in Biggs.
Short, medium and long grain varieties are included in the trials. Throughout the season, the breeders evaluate their growth and development. In some cases the differences in growth, size and potential are easily seen in the field.
Ray Wennig, Staff Research Associate with the Department of Plant Sciences, UC Davis, is one of the main forces behind the trials. He is involved in the planning, planting, evaluating and harvesting of the trials. He drives the UC small research combine to harvest the trials. In this way, we can determine the yield in a very precise manner, and much faster than if we harvested manually!
Inside the cabin, Ray measures the grain's weight and moisture content.
Results of the 2011 trials will be available early next year. They will be included in the first issue of the 2012 Rice Briefs newsletter and posted in the Colusa County Rice Program website (http://cecolusa.ucdavis.edu/rice/).
- Author: Luis Espino
On October 12, the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) released its rice crop production estimate. California's estimate was adjusted down from the September estimate; from 8,400 lbs to 8,300 lbs/a. The good growing conditions we had during 2011 certainly justify the good yield prediction; hopefully the weather will cooperate during what's left of harvest. The last storm we had put a lot of rice in the ground.
Below is the data concerning rice from NASS's report.
Rice area harvested and yield: 2010 and forecasted October 1, 2011
State | Area harvested | Yield | ||
2010 | 2011 | 2010 | 2011 | |
1,000 acres | lbs | |||
Arkansas | 1,785 | 1,155 | 6,480 | 6,800 |
California | 553 | 588 | 8,020 | 8,300 |
Louisiana | 535 | 420 | 6,100 | 6,400 |
Mississippi | 303 | 153 | 6,850 | 7,100 |
Missouri | 251 | 128 | 6,480 | 7,200 |
Texas | 188 | 180 | 7,160 | 7,000 |
Production is forecast at 187 million cwt, down 2 percent from September and 23 percent below last year. Area for harvest is expected to total 2.62 million acres, unchanged from September but 27 percent lower than 2010. The average United States yield is forecast at 7,123 pounds per acre, down 150 pounds from last month but up 398 pounds from last year.
Record-high yields are expected in Missouri and Louisiana. If realized, production in Arkansas, the largest rice-producing State, will be the lowest since 1996.
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- Author: Luis Espino
A new weed has been identified in California rice. Its name is winged primrose willow (WPW), and it is a weed in rice fields in the southern US. So far this weed has been identified only in fields near Richvale. The Butte County Ag Commissioner is working to make sure this weed doesn't spread to other areas. The UC Davis Rice Weed Science Project and UCCE is collecting information about its biology, possible impact and management.
Don't confuse WPW with other waterprimroses, similar weeds that are usually seen around rice fields and ditches and are prostrate. WPW habit is erect, the yellow flowers have 4 petals, and the stem has wings or membranes that run longitudinally. Unlike other waterprimroses, WPW can grow within flooded rice fields, which makes it more problematic.
Here's what WPW looks like in the field
Flowers have 4 petals
Cross section of stem, showing "wings"
Fruit
This is NOT WPW, this is the waterprimrose that we usually see around field borders, notice the prostrate habit
This is NOT WPW, common waterprimrose flower has 5 petals
If you suspect you have WPW in your field, call any of the UCCE Rice Advisors or your Ag Commissioner.
Photos by J. Eckert and L. Espino.
- Author: Luis Espino
Almost two weeks ago the California Rice Experiment Station (RES) had its annual field day. It was a great opportunity to see fist-hand the research going on at the station. The tour included a look at how RES breeders select rice varieties that promise good yield and quality and research couducted by RES and University of California scientists in the areas of insect, disease and weed management.
The field day is also a great opportunity to visit with growers and others working in the rice industry. If you missed it, plan on attending next year. The date is usually announced on the RES webpage (http://www.plantsciences.ucdavis.edu/ricestation/) and in UCCE rice newsletters.
Jim Erdman presenting the California Rice Industry Award
Peter Panton, recipient of the California Rice Industry Award
Larry Godfrey, UC Davis, presenting his insect research
Virgilio Andaya, RES breeder, giving an update on short grain varieties
Jeff Oster, RES plant pathologist, updating the tour about blast, stem rot and other diseases
Kent McKenzie, RES director, talking about the medium grain breeding program and other projects
Albert Fischer, UC Davis, giving his weed presentation
Tour trucks had a canopy this year!
- Author: Luis Espino
I visited a field a few weeks ago in the Woodland area. Older leaves showed discolored tips and margins, and necrotic spots. Leaf tips eventually turned brown and die.
The grower was worried it might have been blast, because of some of the lesions were elliptical and resembled blast lesions.
A leaf tissue analysis showed that boron levels were very high. Most likely the symptoms were caused by boron toxicity. Boron toxicity can be caused by use of water with high boron concentration or by excessive boron levels in the soil.
The UC manual "Rice Nutrient Management in California" mentions that boron toxicity in California is rare and usually occurs due to use of irrigation water with high contents of boron. To reduce the level of boron in the soil solution, use irrigation water with low boron content to leach boron form the root zone.