IN THE CALIFORNIA varietal improvement program: the main objectives are the development of non-lodging, short-, medium- and long-grain varieties, which emerge well through the cold water of the sowing season, which have a high yield and meet the required milling and cooking characteristics. Joseph R. Thysell, Research Agronomist, CRD, ARS, heads the USDA rice-breeding project at the Rice Experiment Station, Biggs, as reported separately in this issue. The breeding program was intensified and expanded in 1961 with the appointment of a rice breeder by the California Rice Research Foundation. This is a report on phases of the rice breeding project for which the Foundation has principal responsibility.