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TOP Contents - Tailored for YOU Latest News Headlines…
(LEAD) S. Korea to delay its stance on rice market liberalization until mid-July Broken rice: SBP allows export refinance Rice imports stabilise prices. Session to discuss proposed revisions to Clean Water Act Rice imports under MAV slapped with 35% tariff Rice import restrictions to be eased Rain threat doesn’t dampen Rice Research Station Field Day Wild rice research: The results could affect you Roundup: Philippine rice self-sufficiency program fails Research station helps farmers achieve record yields
News Detail… (LEAD) S. Korea to delay its stance on rice market liberalization until mid-July: sources 2014/06/30 15:29
SEJONG, June 30 (Yonhap) -- South Korea is likely to announce its position on the rice market liberalization issue in "mid-July," a government source said Monday, apparently delaying its final decision that had been expected within this month."We are likely to postpone an official announcement on rice liberalization as we need more time to gather consensus with lawmakers," a government source close to the matter told Yonhap News Agency on condition of anonymity."We cannot wait indefinitely, however, since we have to notify the WTO of our decision by late September. The government is now targeting to announce its position on the rice market liberalization issue in mid-July," the source added.South Korea was allowed to delay its rice market liberalization for 10 years under a 1993 agreement with the World Trade Organization (WTO), in which the country agreed to increase its minimum market access (MMA) import quota by 20,000 tons per year.The agreement, extended once by 10 years in 2004, is set to expire at the end of this year.The government has said it will have its final decision before the end of
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this month. Government policymakers were to discuss the issue Monday afternoon, which raised expectations that the decision was imminent. "The meeting is likely to be aimed mostly at reviewing the government's efforts related to the rice market and its liberalization. It would not be aimed at announcing the government's final decision on the issue," the source said.Another source said that the government will announce its decision on the rice market issue "sooner or later," adding that it could be made "either in the first or second week of next month." During the meeting held later in the day, Finance Minister Hyun Oh-seok said that the government will work hard to draw a "reasonable" conclusion by reviewing previous discussions and collecting opinions from lawmakers. He did not specify when the decision will be announced.The rice market liberalization issue has divided the country sharply, with farmers objecting to the market opening, which they worry could seriously hurt their livelihood by allowing an influx of low-priced foreign rice. The government appears to be leaning toward opening the local rice market, saying that an extension of the waiver could be conditioned on a hiked MMA import quota, which could result in more damage such as causing an oversupply amid less demand for the grain here.According to the agriculture ministry, South Korea spent more than 300 billion won to import about 360,000 tons of rice under its MMA quota in 2012. Its import quota for this year has reached 408,000 tons.The country's overall rice consumption, meanwhile, is expected to reach 4.58 million tons this year, with its per-capita consumption forecast to shrink 1.75 percent on-year. The government is reportedly focusing on how high to set the tariff rates it will impose on rice imports in exchange for opening the market. The tariff rates, which require the approval of other WTO members, could serve as the "last line of defense" for local farmers and the farming industry against foreign rice.Government sources said that it will "take more time" to determine the rates. Some experts expect that the government will seek more than 400 percent tariff rates on rice imports.
kokobj@yna.co.kr
Broken rice: SBP allows export refinance June 28, 2014
The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has allowed export refinance facility for broken rice in order to facilitate exporters. The SBP has amended the Negative List for Export Refinance Scheme (ERS), issued in February 2003 vide Circular No BDP 5, to allow the financing for broken rice. Previously, export refinance was allowed for different packeted varieties of rice including Irri, Basmati, parboiled, white rice, brown rice in retail packets of 1-50 kilograms for the ERS. Moreover, the export of brown rice in bulk or lose is eligible to European countries under EFS Part-I against letter of credit only. For the last few months, rice exporters were making efforts for getting export refinance facility for broken rice to enhance export. Pakistani rice exporters have massive demand for broken rice from China, Ethiopia, Somalia
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and Kenya, however they were unable to compete in the world market due to non-availability of export refinance facility, which provides low-cost financing for export purposes. A leading trader said presently broken rice has a low presence in the overall rice exports, but it is being expected that with export refinance facility its share in the overall exports will increase gradually. The State Bank has issued IH&SMEFD Circular Letter No 06 of 2014 on June 25, 2014 to intimate banks that broken rice has been excluding from negative list of export refinance scheme.
"The serial No 8 regarding All Grains Including Grains Flour of the Negative List issued vide BPD circular no 5 in February 2014 regarding export refinance scheme has been amended with immediate effect," the circular said. As per the circular now rice exporters can avail export refinance facility for export of broken rice like other rice varieties. "State Bank''s this move will support the country''s rice exports and now traders/exporters can avail cheap financing for export of broken rice. Previously, higher financing cost was directly hurting its export," said Javed Ali Ghori, former chairman Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP). Earlier, exporters were facing difficulties in export of broken rice as they were paying higher interest rate on its financing, however with concessional rates, export price of broken rice can compete in the world market, he added.
Rice imports stabilise prices Sunday, 29 June 2014 - 9:23 Rice prices in the market have stabilised with stocks of rice imported from India and Pakistan, coming into the market. However, there is no significant price decline and the wholesale price of local Nadu was over 66 rupees per kg and local samba was over 76 rupees. The wholesale price of imported Ponni Samba was 67 rupees.Traders said that local Nadu rice is not available in the market and the decision to import rice was a timely decision.
Session to discuss proposed revisions to Clean Water Act Farmers, especially rice farmers, are urged to attend a ―listening meeting‖ at the Acadia Parish LSU Extension Center Office in Crowley concerning proposed changes to the federal Clean Water Act.The meeting will be held at 11:30 a.m., Monday, July 9 in the LSU Extension Office, 157 Cherokee Drive, Crowley. The meeting is free and lunch will be provided.Steve Linscombe, director of the LSU AgCenter Rice Research Station, said it‘s significant that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency approached the agricultural industry to convene this meeting to seek public comments on the
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proposed rule changes. ―We need to have a good turnout at this meeting,‖ said Linscombe, who said EPA officials could interpret weak attendance as a sign that farmers don‘t care about the issues. ―At least,‖ he added, ―we‘ve got to make them aware of our concerns.‖The proposed change would give the EPA regulatory power over streams and wetlands. Existing law only gives the agency powers over ―navigable‖ waterways.―The changes are pretty far reaching,‖ Linscombe said. ―The bottom line is this a dramatic expansion of what is considered the waters of the United States. It could affect what you can and can‘t do even to drainage ditches.‖He said the changes are important to all farmers — particularly rice farmers who use a great deal of water. State Commissioner of Agriculture and Forestry Mike Strain joined Linscombe in urging farmers to attend the Crowley meeting.―This is a way for Louisiana agriculture producers to play a role in national policy decisions. I strongly encourage producers to attend,‖ Strain said.In a press release, EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy called the proposed changes important to protect the nation‘s water supply.―We are clarifying protection for the upstream waters that are absolutely vital to downstream communities,‖ said McCarthy, who added the proposed rule preserves existing Clean Water Act exemptions and exclusions for agricultural activities. ―Clean water is essential to every single American, from families who rely on safe places to swim and healthy fish to eat, to farmers who need abundant and reliable sources of water to grow their crops, to hunters and fishermen who depend on healthy waters for recreation and their work and to businesses that need a steady supply of water for operations,‖ McCarthy said.The EPA reports that about 60 percent of steam miles in the United States flow only seasonally or after rain. Those water sources feed into public drinking water systems that serve about 117 million people.Ernest Girouard, coordinator of the Louisiana Master Farmer Program, said EPA representatives want to hear from farmers on the impact of the proposed regulations on their operations.―They‘ve really made it clear they are here to listen,‖ Girouard said. Agricultural organizations have contended that the changes would impose Clean Water Act standards to ditches and low areas of land that occasionally flood.Girouard said the EPA contends that normal agricultural practices would be exempt from the regulations, but more than farmers would be affected by the proposal. ―Even homeowners could be subject to the new regulations,‖ Girouard said.For more information, call the LSU Extension Office at 337-788-7531
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Rice imports under MAV slapped with 35% tariff By Louella D. Desiderio (The Philippine Star) | Updated June 28, 2014 - 12:00am
In a press conference yesterday, Agriculture Undersecretary Segfredo Serrano said the minimum access volume (MAV) of rice which has been increased to 805,200 metric tons (MT) from 350,000 MT previously will have a lower tariff of 35 percent.―The (tariff) for MAV will be at 35 percent and that 35 (percent) will apply to the rest of the world… By 2015, that will also be tariff in ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations),‖ he said.Imports outside of the MAV, meanwhile, will be imposed with a 50 percent tariff.The previous MAV of 350,000 MT for rice imports was subject to a higher tariff of 40 percent, while shipments outside of the MAV were slapped with a 50 percent duty. Under the new MAV, 755,200 MT will be allocated as country specific quotas, while the remaining 50,000 MT can be imported from any World Trade Organization (WTO) member.Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1Countries which had specific rice import allocations were as follows: Australia (15,000 MT), China (50,000 MT), El Salvador (4,000 MT), India (50,000 MT), Pakistan (50,000 MT), Thailand (293,100 MT) and Vietnam (293,100 MT).The previous MAV allocated 163,000 MT as country specific quotas, while 187,000 MT could be sourced from any WTO member.The MAV for rice was raised after the Philippines secured the WTO‘s Council on Trade in Goods‘ (CTG) green light of a request to extend the quantitative restriction (QR) or special treatment on rice until 2017.The WTO-CTG is set to endorse to the WTO General Council its decision on the Philippines‘ petition for formal approval on July 25. The Department of Agriculture asked for a five year extension of the QR which expired in June 2012 to give Filipino farmers time to build their production capability and enable them to cope with increased pressure that comes with the enforcement of free trade within Southeast Asia in 2015.Aside from the increasing the MAV for rice and lowering the tariff for such imports, the Philippines also allowed concessions or importation of other commodities such as butter milk, butter, grated or powdered cheese, French fries and frozen turkey at a lower duty from countries such as Australia, China, El Salvador, India, Pakistan, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia and the United States, in exchange for the QR extension.Following the QR extension on rice, Serrano said the next step is to look at how it can endorse the crafting of a bill that will set a tariff system for rice beyond 2017.
Rice import restrictions to be eased THE PHILIPPINES will reduce import restrictions on rice under a deal where the country will be allowed to maintain barriers aimed at protecting local farmers, an Agriculture official said on Friday.
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With talks at the World Trade Organization (WTO) said to have allowed for continued quantitative restrictions (QR) on rice, Agriculture Undersecretary Segfredo R. Serrano said the country in return had agreed to tweak its minimum access volume (MAV) scheme.The current tariff of 40% on shipments up to 350,000 tons will be cut to 35%, and for a larger volume of 805,200 tons. Purchases beyond that will remain subject to a 50% rate.The Philippines had asked exporting nations to extend the rice QR, which should have expired in 2012 under a commitment to open markets, to 2017.Under the deal, expected to be approved next month by the WTO, the Philippines committed to buy up to 293,100 tons of rice each from Vietnam and Thailand; 50,000 tons each from China, India and Pakistan; 15,000 tons from Australia and 40,000 tons from El Salvador
."Global quota available to other members of the WTO will be 50,000 MT," Mr. Serrano said.In exchange for QR extension waiver, non-rice concessions were also requested by nine countries -- Australia, China, El Salvador, India, Pakistan, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia and the United States.These countries will be allowed to import certain commodities such as butter, milk, grated cheese, french fries, and frozen turkey at a lower applied rate of between 3-5%."These are just token concessions ... During negotiations ... [our position was] that there should be no concession on commodities that we are producing or may affect our local production," Mr. Serrano said.
Rain threat doesn’t dampen Rice Research Station Field Day The skies were threatening all morning, but that didn‘t stop rice industry members from turning out in good numbers for the annual LSU AgCenter Rice Research Station Field Day.While growers, consultants and input suppliers hopefully received the information they were seeking, the exchange is also good for the scientists and station employees, according to Steve Linscombe, rice breeder and station director.―We had an outstanding group of participants here today (June 25), probably one of the largest crowds we‘ve had in recent years,‖ he said. ―The field day is important for us because it give us an opportunity to showcase what we think is the world-class research that occurs here at the Rice Station.Noting the station is celebrating its 105th anniversary this year, Dr. Linscombe said, ―Throughout its existence the station has had some dedicated scientists who have really helped improve the industry here in Louisiana. Hopefully, 100 years from now our followers will be here talking about the improvements that have been made, and we will still have a strong, viable rice industry in the state.‖ The Clearfield System, which is used in other crops and in other countries besides rice and the U.S., came from technology developed at the Rice Research Station. Non-GMO Clearfield varieties are resistant to the Newpath herbicide.During the research presentations, Linscombe and Eric Webster, weed scientist with the LSU AgCenter, and Bob Scott, Extension weed scientist with the University of Arkansas, talked about Provisia, the next generation of herbicide-tolerant rice that is also being developed by BASF.―We‘re fortunate to be working with the new herbicide-resistant system; it will be called Provisia,‖ he noted.
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―It‘s based on a mutation selection that gives these plants resistance to a different type of herbicide. We think that once the Provisia system is commercialized, it will actually prolong the life of the Clearfield System. We think it will be very beneficial to have two different herbicides for use in the industry.‖LSU AgCenter researchers are now working to develop varieties using the BASF mutant gene for release to rice producers at some time in the future.For the second year, F. King Alexander, the president of Louisiana State University, attended the field, calling the facility ―truly one of the best research stations in the world. ‖Dr. Alexander noted Louisiana rice farmers produced record yields in 2013, yields that were achieved with the help of production practices developed by Rice Research Station Scientists. Rice yields were up nearly 500 pounds per acre over previous years.―We believe that last year was the first time a sitting president of LSU attended the Rice Research Station Field Day,‖ said Dr. Bill Richardson, vice president for agriculture for LSU. ―And we know for certain that no president has ever attended two years in a row until this year. So you‘ve set a precedent, and we will expect to see you back here in 2015.‖ To read more about the Rice Research Station and its work, visithttp://www.lsuagcenter.com/en/our_offices/research_stations/Rice/.
Wild rice research: The results could affect you Posted: Saturday, June 28, 2014 6:00 am By Mike Hansel Minnesota Chamber of Commerce Wild rice research: The results could affect you If you live on the Iron Range, a Minnesota Pollution Control Agency‘s upcoming revision to the state water quality standard to protect wild rice could have a big impact on you and your neighbors.The MPCA proposes to enforce the wild rice standard of 10 mg/L in the future in hundreds of new locations, impacting many private and municipal wastewater discharges across northeastern Minnesota.Iron Range employers and municipalities will face devastating costs if the standard is not updated. The only technology that will to meet that standard is membrane treatment (e.g. reverse osmosis). Studies of currently operating systems show that municipalities would need to impose huge water bill increases (a typical increase might be $130 per month per household) to build and operate the required systems.Predicted costs to treat a single discharge from a mine are on the order of $120 million in capital costs, and tens of millions of dollars a year in operation and maintenance costs.Given naturally occurring sources of sulfate, treatment on this scale may still not meet the current standard where the wild rice grows.
The Minnesota Chamber of Commerce and others are working with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) to conduct modern research on the effects of sulfate on wild rice. While sulfate is a nutrient for all plants and is naturally occurring in all waters, the current standard is antiquated, based on field surveys conducted in the 1950s and ‗60s, and were not intended for setting a water quality standard.In 2011, the legislature recognized the problem, appropriating $1.5 million for modern scientific research on the effects of
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sulfate on wild rice and directing the MPCA to use that research to update the standard. The MPCA contracted with the University of Minnesota Duluth and Twin Cities professors to conduct the research.In December 2013, the MPCA released the results of five studies, in addition to multi-year field surveys and an additional study conducted by the Minnesota Chamber and its members.
The research and field studies by the MPCA and the Minnesota Chamber show:1. Sulfate is not toxic to wild rice except at very high concentrations (e.g. 1,600 mg/L to 2,500 mg/L). Both the MPCA and MN Chamber studies agree on this.2. Field surveys reveal that wild rice grows well in natural waters containing much higher sulfate concentrations than 10 mg/L. Healthy wild rice was found in water with sulfate as high as 1,000 mg/L.3. Any negative impacts to wild rice from sulfate are mitigated by the presence of iron in the water and sediment where wild rice grows.Unfortunately the MPCA has developed a hypothesis regarding sulfide impacts to wild rice. The MN Chamber believes that the scientific studies do not support that hypothesis, that the studies are technically flawed and additional research is needed. The MN Chamber believes that the correct sulfate standard should be 1,600 mg/L or higher. What can you do? Stay informed. Thank your legislator for their ongoing engagement. Encourage leaders in your community to get involved. We all want to protect wild rice. Let‘s make sure that the MPCA‘s standards are based on sound modern science. MANILA, Philippines - The country‘s minimum volume of rice imports in exchange for the extension of the special treatment on the staple will be slapped with a lower tariff of 35 percent, an agriculture official said.
Roundup: Philippine rice self-sufficiency program fails (Globalpost/GlobalPost) Advertisement Roundup: Philippine rice self-sufficiency program fails by Alito L. Malinao MANILA, June 27 (Xinhua) -- In December 2011 or just one and a half year after President Benigno Aquino III assumed office in June 2010, Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala bragged that the days of the Philippines as a rice importer were over."From being the top rice importer we will be a rice exporter in a span of four years," Alcala said, adding that the Philippines was on its way to become a rice exporter in 2014 because by then the country could have achieve rice self-
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sufficiency.In November 2011, Aquino himself said he was confident that the Philippines could become a rice exporter during his term.Alcala then said that making the Philippines a rice seller in the world market is part of the Aquino administration's goal of becoming self-sufficient in rice to fill the demand of its 90 million population."After 2013, we will be self-sufficient in rice. By 2014, we should not import anymore. We should start exporting," Alcala said.But after four years, what happened to the Aquino administration's ambitious rice program?
The Philippines has now more than doubled its minimum rice import volume to 805,000 metric tons yearly from 350,000 metric tons, according to country's chief negotiator on the trade of the staple grain.Romeo Recide, who was most recently the director of the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics, said on Thursday that of the new minimum access volume, 755,000 tons will be allocated as country- specific quotas while the remaining 55,000 tons may come from any trading partner.According to Recide, suppliers from Vietnam and Thailand would get the bulk of the new country quotas.On Monday, Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala did not say why there has been a complete turnaround in his earlier projection except in saying that the Philippines has practically secured an extension of the quantitative restrictions or barriers on rice imports until 2017 as all countries with interest in accessing the local market have assented.
Alcala said the World Trade Organization (WTO)'s Council for Trade in Goods will endorse such extension for approval when the WTO general council convenes on July 24-25, adding that this next step was "merely formality" and that the Philippines can now continue observing the controlled entry of imported rice into the domestic market.In 2010, the Philippines imported 2.4 million metric tons of rice from various Asian countries, pushing up the price of the staple in the world market.The DA has drastically cut the country's importation volume while working to hike the rice production volume. In 2011, the National Food Authority's importation requirement was only at 860, 000 MT.
This was further lowered to 500,000 MT for 2012 and 350, 000 MT last year.But based on the government's latest announcement of the doubling of rice imports, it seemed that the country's rice self- sufficiency program has miserably failed.The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), located in the province of Laguna, some 100 km south of Manila, has a study that explains why the Philippines will continue to import rice in the long haul.The IRRI study showed that Asian rice-exporting countries occupy river deltas with lots of land suitable for rice production. These countries are all in mainland Southeast Asia: Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Myanmar. Thailand, in fact, has about four times the quantity of arable land per person as the Philippines.
Located off the eastern edge of the Asian continent, the Philippines also bears the brunt of numerous typhoons, making rice production more difficult and risky. Thailand and the Mekong and Red River deltas are much less affected by such recurring disasters.Consistent rice importers have less arable land per person and more varied landscapes favoring such alternatives as corn, oil palm, or coconut. These countries are all islands such as Indonesia, the Philippines, Japan, Sri
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Lanka and Malaysia, which is part island and part narrow peninsula, the IRRI said.According to the IRRI study, Malaysia is the Asian country most reliant on rice imports, which account for 29 percent of its consumption. Other countries that import rice to meet a significant portion of demand, with percentages averaged for 1996- 2003 are the Philippines, 12 percent; Sri Lanka, 8 percent; Japan, 6 percent; and Indonesia, 5 percent.
"Strikingly, all five have consistently imported rice for at least the past century. The Philippines, for example, has imported rice almost every year since 1869 (except in the latter part of the l970s during the Marcos regime when it was able to export rice) ..., " the IRRI said.Copyright 2014 Xinhua News Agency.Xinhua is China's state-run news agency.All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Research station helps farmers achieve record yields LSU President F. King Alexander speaks at the LSU AgCenter Rice Research Station Field Day on Wednesday, June 25. Alexander said advances at the station enabled rice farmers to harvest record yields last year. (Photo by Bruce Schultz)
An unmanned aerial vehicle, or drone, flies above the crowd at the LSU AgCenter Rice Research Station field day on June 25. Most of the event was held indoors because of the threat of bad weather. (Photo by Bruce Schultz) News
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06/27/14
CROWLEY, La. – The threat of rain kept activities indoors at the LSU AgCenter Rice Research Station‘s 105th annual field day, but that didn‘t dampen enthusiasm for the event Thursday (June 25) with roughly 400 people in attendance. For the second year, LSU President F. King Alexander was at the event.―This is truly one of the best research stations in the world,‖ Alexander said.A record rice yield in Louisiana last year was achieved with the help of research, Alexander said.Steve Linscombe, LSU AgCenter rice breeder and director of the Rice Research Station, said much of the work being conducted at the station is funded by a checkoff program that requires farmers to pay a 5-cent fee dedicated to research for every 100 pounds of rice sold.―Certainly, if we didn‘t have those monies, we wouldn‘t have the size and scope of research that we have,‖ Linscombe said.
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Jackie Loewer, chairman of the Louisiana Rice Research Board, which allocates the checkoff funds, said a lawsuit that led to changes in the checkoff program is still pending in court.―Funding for rice research is in jeopardy,‖ Loewer warned. ―The truth is, if we lose our court case, what you see here in the fields and the poster session may go away.‖The board had to use reserve funds to pay for research last year because the checkoff system was declared unconstitutional, Loewer said. Legislation passed this year and signed by the governor revised the checkoff program to pass legal muster.Loewer presented a check for $634,000 to Bill Richardson, LSU vice president for agriculture, for funding rice research projects.Loewer credited state Rep. Jack Montoucet, of Crowley, for getting the checkoff legislation passed.―The truth is, I didn‘t do this by myself,‖ Montoucet said, explaining that several agricultural groups and other legislators were involved. The new checkoff system includes a refund provision, but Montoucet implored farmers to continue investing in rice research ―at a world-class research facility.‖―Shame on you if you don‘t participate,‖ Montoucet said.Presenters at the field day talked about their work to develop new varieties, help farmers with fertilizers and contend with weeds, diseases and insects, in addition to an outlook on the rice market. Scientists from the University of Arkansas and Mississippi State University also were on the program.Linscombe said a new Clearfield medium-grain variety CL271, released by the LSU AgCenter last year, has potential to replace CL261 with higher yields and good blast resistance.A considerable amount of work has been done on the herbicide-tolerant Provisia system of rice from BASF. ―The beauty of this system is that it will be able to control outcrosses from the Clearfield system,‖ Linscombe said. LSU AgCenter weed scientist Eric Webster said he has been testing the Provisia herbicide to see if it is compatible to use in tank mixes with broadleaf herbicides. He said no adverse effects have been found in tank mixes at the Rice Research Station, but problems have been found on heavy clay soil at the Northeast Research Station near St. Joseph.University of Arkansas weed scientist Bob Scott said herbicide resistance in weeds treated with herbicides used in the Clearfield system has not been the problem anticipated 10 years ago in Arkansas. He said the bigger problem facing Arkansas rice farmers is barnyardgrass that has become resistant to propanil herbicide. Sedges are also starting to show herbicide resistance, Scott said.LSU AgCenter entomologist Mike Stout said monitoring continues on the eastward spread of the Mexican rice borer. He said the insect population in Calcasieu and Cameron parishes has caused damage to some rice crops. LSU AgCenter plant pathologist Clayton Hollier said fungicide timing changes with late planting. ―If we are planting late, we need to treat earlier,‖ he said.Hollier advised an application between panicle initiation and early boot if a crop is planted late.LSU AgCenter plant pathologist Don Groth said varieties eventually lose resistance, but new varieties are showing stronger resistance traits. That means fungicide applications may not always be required, but it also means farmers will have to scout their fields closely instead of assuming fungicides will be needed.LSU AgCenter agronomist Dustin Harrell talked about how farmers can use inhibitors with nitrogen fertilizers. But he said using a urease inhibitor like Agrotain with nitrogen applied to a flooded field provides no benefit. LSU AgCenter hybrid breeder Jim Oard said work continues at the station to develop rice hybrids. ―I believe the potential for future of hybrids in Louisiana is quite good,‖ he said.Yields of four hybrid lines developed by the LSU AgCenter are 10-20 percent higher than inbred varieties, and quality is good, Oard said.LSU AgCenter
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economist Mike Salassi said the 500,000-acre increase in Arkansas to roughly 1.5 million acres of long-grain rice this year will drive prices down. Projections by the U.S. Department of Agriculture call for long-grain prices to fall to $21.50 a barrel or $13.50 a hundredweight, Salassi said, while medium-grain prices could stay at $25 a barrel or $15.40 per hundredweight.Farmers should be preparing to make several decisions related to the new farm bill, Salassi said.Bob Cummings of the USA Rice Federation said an investigation by the U.S. International Trade Commission is studying factors affecting the U.S. rice industry. Governments in countries such as Vietnam and Brazil are giving farmers subsidies that help keep their prices lower than U.S. rice, he said. The Iraqi Grain Board has agreed to buy 30,000 metric tons of American rice, Cummings said, and most of that will be from Louisiana.Rogers Leonard, LSU AgCenter vice chancellor for plant sciences, said the field day recognizes the world-wide importance of the Rice Research Station, and he said Linscombe is ―the glue holding this place together.‖Leonard advised farmers that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will hold a listening session on July 9 at 11:30 a.m. to get comments from farmers on the potential effects of revisions to the Clean Water Act. The session will be held at the Acadia Parish Extension Office on Cherokee Drive in Crowley.The Louisiana Rice Research Board and Louisiana Rice Promotion Board met after the field day.The LRRB re-elected Loewer as chairman, Clarence Berken as vice chairman and Richard Fontenot as secretary. The board also agreed to hear research proposals on Nov. 4. Bruce Schultz
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