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TOP Contents - Tailored for YOU Latest News Headlines…
Gene which prevents fungal disease in rice discovered The Pokkali movement: Bonding to save a dying rice variety Modernizing rice production via agri apps Gov. Ahmed Hails FG’s Ban On Rice Importation Milling facility boosts rice production in Cotabato town New JAMA Study: Arsenic Contaminated Rice Causes Genetic Damage Change in rice purchase mode Upcoming Agri Events Rice festival slated today CRRI launches new unit to make rice farming profitable Rice crop rebounds to near record
NEWS DETAILS: Gene which prevents fungal disease in rice discovered Jinka Nagaraju, TNN | Sep 23, 2013, 04.51 AM IST-
HYDERABAD: In a major breakthrough, city-based Directorate of Rice Research (DRR), an arm of Indian Council of Agricultural Research , Has Discovered That is a gene resistant to rice blast. The researches said the new variety Will Be released as seed in the next Kharif season . Rice blast is a plant-pathogenic fungus That affects rice in more than 90 countries across the globe and destroys rice crop All which is enough to feed about 60 million people worldwide , Informed experts. Over the years, the fungus HAS Both Developed resistance to chemical and genetic treatment in some varieties of rice. After working on the project since 2005, the new gene is inserted into Being now a variety of rice Will Be All which blast-resistant, Maganti Seshu Madhav DRC scientist has said. "The worldwide 'great blast-resistant gene hunt' Began around 10 years back. Surveyed We MOST of the landraces (naturally Formed plant varieties) Collected from India as well as the varieties from different countries. We even searched All which wild species are distantly related to rice. Finally our hunt ended with the discovery of the resistant gene in Vietnamese
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variety called Expired 'tetep' "Seshu Madhav Told YOU. Madhav, Who Discovered the gene, cloned it and Transferred (P-54) to popular varieties to save 'em from the deadly fungus. Scientists say the rice blast fungus, called Expired aussi 'Magnaporthe grisea' causes a huge yield loss in the country. In Andhra Pradesh , all the areas, Including north coastal zone area Godavari, Krishna area and the Telangana areas are prone to blast disease Causing an average loss of 40%. Once the varieties are released into the market before Kharif 2014, It Would Eliminate use of fungicides to control the disease. Stating That some fungicides do control the disease partially, Seshu Madhav said When the fungicides are used intensively and regularly, the fungus resistance Develops Rapidly and finally destroys the crop. After winning national many awards and the Ohio state university's best international research scholar award for His research on the blast resistance genes, Madhav said the Pi-54 gene Will address the concern of millions of farmers. "Another strategy Would Develop to be a broad spectrum non-race Specific resistance using latest molecular biology approaches, "he added. India's first blast resistance gene (P-54) along with two more genes, Pi1 and Pi2, Are Being Studied Extensively. Improved varieties, are now Undergoing tests Effective Throughout India and the successful tests in Andhra Pradesh, the new varieties with blast-resistance gene Will Be released to farmers in Kharif mostly next year, "he added. Another major breakthrough for DRC has-been the discovery of multiple genes, responsible for the aroma in various landraces. Determining After Major Genes That Control the aroma, Seshu Madhav, in association with Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, is working to Understand metabolic profile of the chemical compound causes That aroma in rice. This Would help in Transferring the gene to local varieties, making Sona Masuri, Samba Masuri, Jaya Nelloore Sannalu, Culture Warangal, Kurnool Sona Among others retain an aroma like Basmati rice. "This is bound to boost the market worldwide," he added.
The Pokkali movement: Bonding to save a dying rice variety K. P. M. BASHEER Students transplanting rice in the Pokkali paddy field (file photo) KOCHI, SEPT. 21: A unique rice variety. A unique farming practice. And, a unique way of financing farming.A small band of activists and organic-farming enthusiasts have banded together to revive a dying farming practice in the coastal rice fields at Ezhupunna in Kerala‘s Alappuzha district.The rice variety: Pokkali, a saline-and-flood resistant tall-stalk variety. The farming practice: alternate rice-andprawn culture. The form of financing: ‗Pokkali
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bonds.‘The Pokkali Samrakshana Samara Samiti (Pokkali conservation agitation committee), which has leased 140 acres of marsh-like Pokkali fields that have been fallow for a quarter century, has found a new way to finance its effort: by floating informal ‗Pokkali bonds.‘Bonds have been floated at Rs 1,000 each. After the harvest, investment is returned in kind: organically cultivated, highly-nutritious and protein-rich Pokkali rice. ―You have two options: you can either take your money‘s worth of rice or we will return your money, without interest, after six months,‖ said Francis Kalathunkal, a socio-political activist and lecturer, who is the general convenor of the samiti. Already, over 120 people, mostly social activists, have purchased the bonds.―This is a highly labour-intensive farming practice and hence the cost of production is high,‖ Kalathunkal said. Groups of students from colleges, who fancy a day out in a rice field, occasionally help with the tasks. GI-TAGGED RICE Pokkali (pronounced Pokkaalli) rice, which is grown only on a few hundred acres in the coastal areas of central Kerala, was awarded the GI (Geographical Indication) tag in 2008. The large-grain rice has a distinct flavour and commands a higher price than ordinary varieties.Pokkali is an ancient farming practice. One season of rice farming is alternated with another season of prawn culture. The rice variety‘s remarkable tolerance to salinity and floods makes it unique. It is cultivated from June to early November when the salinity level of the water in the fields is low. From midNovember to mid-April, when the salinity is high, prawn farming takes over. The prawn seedlings, which swim in from the sea and the backwaters after the rice harvest, feed on the leftovers of the harvested crop. The rice crop, which gets no other fertiliser or manure, draws nutrients from the prawns‘ excrement and other remnants. ―Rice farming and prawn farming are mutually complementary,‖ said Kalathunkal. ―The cultivation method is totally dependent on nature,‖ pointed out V. Sreekumar, agronomy professor at Kerala Agricultural University‘s Rice Research Station at Vyttila, Kochi. ―The south-west monsoon and the tidal action in the Arabian Sea are the critical factors.‖ The high salinity of the water-logged fields caused by the up-tide is washed off by the monsoon rains. Four decades ago, there were 26,000 hectares of Pokkali fields. Now, hardly 5,000 are left, of which only 500 is cultivated. Pokkali‘s productivity is very low — 1 to 2 tonnes per hectare. New high-yielding varieties of rice and high cost of production have contributed to its near-extinct status.The Kerala Government has taken many steps to promote Pokkali, but the area under cultivation continues to shrink. Kalathunkal said he is not sure that the business model in the Ezhupunna fields is sustainable.―We are just trying our best to preserve this unique method of cultivation,‖ he said. basheer.kpm@thehindu.co.in (This article was published on September 21, 2013) Keywords: Pokkali, rice variety, Ezhupunna, Pokkali Samrakshana Samara Samiti, Pokkali bonds, rice farming,
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Modernizing rice production via agri apps By Manila Standard Today | Posted on September 21, 2013 at 7:02pm | 326 views A group of computer science professors from De La Salle University has developed a camera system that will allow rice scientists to easily monitor plant development in screen houses.
Participants of Bigas2 Hack’s Long-Term Challenge were given at least a month to work on their projects with IRRI scientists. Team Ani Mo‘s project, Butil (Filipino word for ―grain‖) was named one of the winning hacks in the recent Bigas2 Hack, a software and hardware development contest organized by the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and wireless services provider Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart).Butil was declared the Best Research Optimization App under the competition‘s long-term challenge. Doing pre-work a month prior to the event, its creators came up with stationary cameras linked to a system that can measure a plant‘s greenness, density and leaf length – eliminating the tedious process of manually measuring said characteristics by IRRI staff. Team Hackalyst from the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) achieved runner-up honors by developing a web-based interface for Oryza 2000, the software IRRI uses to model potential rice yield and growth.Participants presented their projects toward the end of the two-day Bigas2 Hack held at the IRRI headquarters in Los Baños, Laguna.Meanwhile, contenders in the short-term challenge were given less than 24 hours to do their hacks at the event site. Team xTra Rice‘s Rice Calculator bagged the Best Farmer App for this category. The team‘s online tool features a variety seed selector and other calculators that will aid rice farmers determine profitability, moisture loss, and milling quality, among others.The Best Consumer App award went to Team LB Pips‘ Visitors Kiosk project, which allows visitors to virtually tour IRRI‘s Riceworld Museum.
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Team xTra Rice (holding prizes) with (from left to right) Smart community partnerships head Darwin Flores, IRRI deputy director general for communications and partnerships Bruce Tolentino, PhilRice executive director Eufemio Rasco Jr., and (rightmost) Freelancer.com country manager Jorge Azurin Named Best Innovation App under the Bring-Your-Own-Idea Challenge was Weather-on-the-Go by Team GoRated, a web application that sends real-time weather changes and forecasts via SMS. Placing second was HarBest Deal by Team HarBest, a platform that seeks to establish communication and facilitate transactions among farmers, rice traders and IRRI.Aside from gadgets, membership subscriptions and many other prizes, the winners were also invited to further work with IRRI for the implementation of their projects.A total of 12 teams joined Bigas2 Hack, the sequel to the successful BigAs Hackathon staged by IRRI and Smart last year.―The work that these teams did over a month or overnight is a great boost to the work of IRRI and the Philippine government. Their projects are useful not only in the Philippines, but internationally as well. In fact, IRRI has been invited to stage a similar hackathon in India,‖ said Bruce Tolentino, IRRI deputy director general for communications and partnerships.Francis Lai of Team Ani Mo said he found the government and corporate support for Bigas2 Hack overwhelming. ―As a member of the academe, I can say that it is always a challenge to get external support for a project. We are happy that there are events like Bigas2 Hack because we have been pushing for the integration of academic teachings with practical applications,‖ he said.Jim Ayson, Smart senior manager for partner management and developer relations, said holding hackathons help develop Filipino human capital and contribute to nation-building.―The team that won one of our recent hackathons is now in Silicon Valley to pitch to potential investors for their startup. We look forward to helping more local developers get the recognition and support they deserve,‖ he said.Smart, through the Smart Developer Network (SmartDevNet), has been
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organizing tech events that have trained the spotlight on local developers, and have given birth to applications that positively impact our countrymen.
Gov. Ahmed Hails FG’s Ban On Rice Importation Posted by: Channels Television Posted date: September 21, 2013
The Kwara State Governor, Abdulfattah Ahmed has commended the proposed ban on rice importation by the federal government by the year 2015 as effort to encourage the growth of the local rice farmers and millers in the country.The governor stated this at the commissioning of a rice mill at Tsaragi, Edu Local Government area of the state where he noted that the proposed policy can only work through a holistic approach that include tax incentives and effective policing of the nation‘s borders.According to him, structured and carefully planned agro-reforms are key to achieving the desired result in the agricultural sector of the nation‘s economy.The Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Akinwunmi Adeshina represented by the Director- General of the National Council on Agricultural Mechanization, Ike Azogu further announced that federal government has mapped out policies that are designed to achieve agricultural value chain targeted at ensuring adequate production of food from farm to the table.
Milling facility boosts rice production in Cotabato town Sunday 22nd of September 2013 BRGY. GEN. LUNA, Carmen, North Cotabato , Sept. 22 -- Reducing postharvest losses and producing quality rice is now made possible for the farmers here with the provision of rice mill facility.Nasser Ali of the Nagkakaisang Magsasaka ng MalMar Irrigation System (Nagkasama) said their group had long felt the need to acquire a milling facility to eliminate the added cost of transporting their produce to distant areas where rice mills are available, a press report from DA-MRDP said."During harvest season, we could hardly mill our palay within the town as most rice mills are fully occupied," Ali said.He said if they intend to produce rice, they have to transport their palay to Kabacan, an adjacent town even if it would cost them hauling fee of at least P10 per sack.The establishment of irrigations system had been a boon to rice farmers in the area as adequate water supply enabled to regularly plant rice for at least twice a year. Ali said their average yield per hectare is 4.5 metric tons. Every harvest their association could at least produce 6,750 metric tons of palay. While production facilities are in place, farmers can't still fully maximize their potential to earn more owing to the dearth of efficient milling facility."Selling rice instead of palay could indeed increase our income but limited milling
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facilities in our town hampers us from producing rice. Instead, most of us resort to selling our palay to traders which is usually at a low price," Ali said. He also observed that when palay are stored for a longer time, its moisture content diminished and could result to poor quality of rice.Dogged with the desire to fully maximize rice production, Nagkasama sought the assistance of the local agriculture office, which in turned endorsed their proposal to the Department of Agriculture's- Mindanao Rural Development Program (DA-MRDP).The association was able to access P400, 000 from MRDP and additional P100 as counterpart from the provincial government. The Nagkasama on the other hand provided P150,000 equity share. The said amount was used to purchase equipment such as multi-pass milling machine and rice polisher including the building to house the rice mill facility. In May this year, the facility became operational and initial milling produced promising results. Through its multi-pass rice mill, the output and recovery was higher compared to existing rice mills in the town. "We were able to get as high as 80 percent milling recovery with better quality of milled rice," Ali said. While most of the milled rice were stored for household consumption, the association was able to earn at least P10,000.00 but Ali is optimistic that their association's net income will increase considering the efficiency and quality of output from their milling facility."We have also required each member to at least mill one half of their yield per harvest season. The association will also provide incentives such as financing for inputs at a minimal cost," he said.
MRDP program director Lealyn Ramos said post harvest interventions such as provision of milling facility is one of the best ways to attain rice sufficiency."Increasing recovery from milling operations like the case of Nagkasama farmer-beneficiary will certainly boost the country's rice supply," Ramos said.Ali said the rice mill facility they have availed themselves of from MRDP would not only sustain rice production in their area but also help promote peace and development in their community."For so long we had been fighting against human liberation. Given the opportunity to handle livelihood project, it is time for us to focus on economic activities that will liberate us from poverty," he said. (Noel T. Provido/DA-MRDP)
New JAMA Study: Arsenic Contaminated Rice Causes Genetic Damage Researchers in the UK and India published results this week linking arsenic contaminated rice to potentially dangerous genetic changes among consumers.Authors published study results in the September 18, 2013 edition of the Journal of the American Medical Association. Researchers analyzed data collected from more than 400 people in a rural Indian area. Findings showed that individuals who consumed large quantities of arsenic-tinged rice, in the absence of other known arsenic exposure, showed significant cellular
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changes linked to cancer development.Researchers quantified results by measuring amounts of micronuclei — damaged pieces of chromosomes no longer able to participate in cell division — in urine samples of participants. Prior research has shown links between high micronuclei levels and cancer emergence. As we’ve covered before here at EDB, arsenic-y rice represents one of the disturbing ‗downstream‘ effect of modern agricultural methods:Eighty percent of the rice is grown in the US is from the south central area on lands that were previously sprayed with arsenic pesticide to reduce cotton boll weevils. In addition, arsenic laden manure has been used as fertilizer. The arsenic remains in the soil. Due to the nature of how rice is grown in flooded waters, it sucks up the arsenic from the soil… ‘The arsenic issue affects both organic and conventional rice. 80% of all rice grown in the US comes from areas where arsenic is an issue. However, this takes some legwork to know which rice products are safer than others. The good news is, this problem can be solved. Farmers can make agricultural changes such as not flooding their lands as much and changing the breed of rice they grow which is less sensitive to arsenic. Mmmm, Arsenic! (Said No One Ever) If you prefer to season your rice with less toxic substances, there‘s good news and there‘s bad news to report. The bad news is that the jury‘s out on how one might arrange to avoid all rice contaminated with the more toxic inorganic arsenic derived from synthetic agricultural chemistry — other than not eating any rice (or rice starch or rice milk or rice syrup or rice cereal or any foods containing rice derivatives) at all. The good news is that if you avoid rice that‘s been cultivated in traditionally cotton-growing states, you can cut it way way way down! Researchers analyzed 107 samples of rice grown in Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas, Missouri, and Florida, and 27 samples of rice grown in California for a 2007 study of arsenic contamination in rice crops. They found that rice produced in the central and southern US contained arsenic levels almost twice as high as California rice — an average of 4.4 micrograms of arsenic per serving, compared to 2.5micrograms per serving for rice grown in California. In this study organic brown rice grown in California contained the lowest levels of arsenic contamination, about 1.5 micrograms per serving. After buying your organic rice from non-cotton states, soak and rinse it until the water runs clear before cooking. And don‘t forget all the other grains (or grain-like seeds, or whatever)! Rotate rice with couscous, barley, quinoa, millet, and other grains for minimal food-mediated arsenic exposure.Meanwhile agitate for a food system that omits the toxification of lovely staple grains like rice, and leaves your mononuclei levels unperturbed.
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Change in rice purchase mode DC | 22nd Sep 2013 Rajahmundry: The change in rice procurement mode, which in all probability, will come in to existence from this kharif season, is a cause of concern for the rice milling industry, in East Godavari district.It may be mentioned that both the Godavari districts together share cultivation of paddy in about 9.50 lakh acres and provide rice to the tune of 19 lakh MT every year, to Food Corporation of India (FCI), towards procurement.In the existing system millers supply 75 per cent of rice to FCI after purchasing paddy for MSP from farmers and completing the milling process. For the rest of 25 per cent they opt for open market sale and this process was being followed for years. Now according to East Godavari rice millers' new system is being introduced, reversing the earlier process, from this kharif season on wards. Under the new system the FCI will accept 25 per cent as levy and the rest of the 75 per cent will have to be marketed by millers on their own.According to sources, the decision at higher level to this extent was taken to curtail the steep rise in rice prices in the last one year, in open market.East Godavari Rice Industry Association president and former state association president Dwarampudi Bhaskara Reddy, is of the opinion that it will be a daunting task for them to sell the 75 per cent rice after purchases of paddy, for MSP, from farmers. When contacted, the East Godavari FCI senior procurement manager, Mohana Rao, confirmed about this change from this kharif season and said that they will have to receive the orders to this extent in written form from their headquarters, he clarified.East Godavari joint collector and collector for civil supplies, R. Murtyala Raj, told this correspondent that a final decision on the issue is yet to be taken.State civil supplies minister, D. Sridhar Babu, will be visiting New Delhi shortly to discuss the issue with the concerned, the JC disclosed.
Upcoming Agri Events : 1st International Conference on Global Food Security
Date: 29 – 2 October 2013 Location: Noordwijkerhout, Netherlands Website: www.globalfoodsecurityconference.com Event Description: The First International Conference on Global Food Security aims to deliver state-of-the-art analysis, inspiring visions and innovative research methods arising from interdisciplinary research. Join us in this
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exciting opportunity to ensure that the best science is garnered to support the emergence of the Sustainable Development Goals. Achieving global food security whilst reconciling demands on the environment is the greatest challenge faced by mankind. By 2050 we will need to feed 9 billion people. The urgency of the issue has led to huge scientific strides forwards; making it difficult to keep up with the rapidly expanding volume of scientific research. We aim to better understand economic, social, biophysical, technological and institutional drivers of current and future global food security. The conference will address food production and access, and the trade-offs between competing environmental, economic or social objectives and outcomes.
Whatever it takes for protein analysis: Kjeldahl, Dumas, or NIR Date: 17 October 2013 Time: 15:00 BST / 16:00 CET Supported by: BUCHI Processed food, beverage, feed or forage pass different steps in their production cycle requiring different technologies for the determination of nitrogen or protein. Whether you need fast qualification of raw material, or precise protein declaration of processed goods, our Kjeldahl, Dumas and NIR solutions cover it all. There are many factors which influence the determination of the best fitting method. Whereas Kjeldahl is a proven method for all kind of sample matrices, Dumas excels in unattended processing at high throughput, and NIR is matchless in terms of immediate and comprehensive multi-component analysis. BUCHI introduces you to the Master series, which includes the KjelMaster, DuMaster, and NIRMaster instruments for protein analysis.
Protein analysis webinar speakers: William Ickes (Product Specialst, Kjeldahl and Dumas, BUCHI Corporation, USA) Kjeldahl, Dumas, and NIR. Which technology in which situation? As the only provider of Kjeldahl, Dumas and NIR, BUCHI knows what is needed for incoming or outgoing goods inspections, at-line production control, or quality control for declaration purposes. Offering the three most widely used technologies, we can cover all your needs.William Ickes is currently the Product Specialist for Kjeldahl and Dumas at BUCHI Corporation in the USA. He is a graduate of Millersville University and has a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry and Biology. He formerly worked as a Pharmaceutical Raw Materials Chemist at Lancaster Laboratories as well as a Technical Support Specialist and Service Specialist at BUCHI Corporation.
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Rice festival slated today The Philippine Rice Research Institute Negros Station based in Murcia, Negros Occidental, will unveil its latest projects at the Negros Rice Festival 2013 today.Edgar Libetario, officer-in-charge of PhilRice Negros, said the activity will start with a field tour followed by the opening of booths of rice-based food and drinks and different varieties of the staple.Libetario said they will showcase their organic rice seed production and a 10-5 Palayabangan Challenge. They will also conduct a demonstration on production of inbred and hybrid rice varieties. At 10:30 a.m., Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr., Department of Agriculture-6 Agriculture regional Director Larry Nacionales, and PhilRice executive director Eufemio Rasco Jr., will lead the ribbon-cutting rites for the farm-tomarket road from Barangay Felisa in Bacolod to the PhilRice Negros Station in Barangay Cansilayan in Murcia town. It will be followed by the ceremonial seeding of tilapia fingerlings at the PhilRice Negros Lagoon and the turnover over of tractor and combine harvester to beneficiaries from local government units.Marañon, DA Regional Director Nacionales, Bureau of Plant Industry head Dante Fidel, and DA OIC-Undersecretary for Operations Dante Delima are expected to give speeches at the event.*PNA
CRRI launches new unit to make rice farming profitable PTI Sep 22, 2013, 12.25PM IST
Tags:World Bank,NAIP|MSP|Food Security Bill|CRRI|bpd
(As land under rice cultivation…)
CUTTACK: In a bid to accord an entrepreneurial status to rice farming in Odisha, Central Rice Research Institutionhere has come up with an innovative unit to look into the aspects of business, planning and development of rice growers.The unit called Business Planning and Development (BPD) unit was lunched here on Saturday. As agricultural land under rice cultivation is decreasing, farmers are turning away from rice cultivation as it is not profitable. But rice is staple food for over 65 per cent people of our
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country.Lunching the unit, director of New Delhi-based National Agricultural Innovative Project ( NAIP) Dr Rama Rao said the BPD unit will go a long way in attracting rice farmers towards entrepreneurship.Speaking on the occasion, CRRI director Dr T Mohapatra said BPD unit is a World Bank funded project.While rice is the staple food of nearly 65 per cent of country's population, rice farmers end up as losers getting a meager price for their produce."The current Minimum Support Price ( MSP) of rice is only Rs 1320 per quintal which is not encouraging," project inspector Dr G A K Kumar said.If such trends are not arrested, the ambitious food security bill will come as a cropper, opined the speakers on this occasion.BPD also aims to impart training in setting up agri-enterprises and their management. This unit will also look into production, finance, personnel and marketing aspects to evolve successful agri-preneurs."Once unit is registered as a Company, it will provide legal assistances to agri-preneurs," Dr Kumar said.With a view to popularize its inventions of farm techniques, CRRI also organized a brain-storming discussion on this occasion.
Rice crop rebounds to near record Cool June, dry August enhanced quantity, quality Sep. 22, 2013
Louisiana‘s rice crop, a source of farmers‘ concern during a cold spring, rebounded because of favorable summer weather conditions, said Steve Linscombe, director of the LSU AgCenter Research Center in Rayne.―I‘m not sure it‘s a record, but it‘s pretty close,‖ Linscombe said. ―Harvesting conditions were excellent. A number of people I talked to had their best yield ever.‖The outcome for rice planters proved markedly different than some predictions in March and April, when cold and rain forced late plantings across Acadiana. Fears were that this year‘s crop was endangered. But mild weather in late spring, cool summer nights in June and a relatively dry August enabled many rice farmers to show excellent results, Linscombe said. Yields were good, and the quality of the crop was ―extremely high.‖He said the average yield may be about 6,500 pounds per acre, perhaps within a hundred pounds of a record.―The quality was almost as important as the yield,‖ Linscombe said. About 70 percent of Louisiana rice is exported. Grain appearance was good this year, with little evidence of chalk, and growers got the high head rice yields they desire.―High quality is very important for export markets, where consumers are more conscious of quality of grain,‖ Linscombe said. That may open up new export areas for Louisiana rice, he said. Concerns about quality were expressed by speakers at the 104th Annual Field Day at the Rice Station in Rayne in late June. Then, some speakers suggested that Mexico and South American trade partners had expressed
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concern about American rice quality.But Linscombe said those concerns should be allayed by this year‘s crop, about 80 percent of which has been harvested in the state. About 20 percent of the state‘s crop is planted in northern Louisiana and is harvested later.Photo:Kenneth Cormier inspects his rice crop near the Prairie Ronde area of St. Landry Parish. Louisiana's rice crop, a source of farmers' concern during a cold spring, rebounded because of favorable summer weather conditions, said Steve Linscombe, director of the LSU AgCenter Research Center in Rayne. / Daily World file photo
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