Industry
UC names Rice Yield Contest top yielders
Three California rice producers have been named top yielders in their respective production regions in the 2020 University of California Rice Yield Contest. Their names will now be put in a drawing for a chance to win a John Deere Gator, said Bruce Linquist, UC Cooperative Extension rice specialist. The recipient will be named during the UC Cooperative Extension winter rice grower meetings in early 2021. Each regional top yielder also will receive a coveted California Rice Yield Contest winner’s cap. Region 1 (NW): Gary Enos, 111.4 hundredweight (248 bushels per acre) with M-209 medium grain. Region 2 (NE): Eric Sligar, 127.9 cwt (285 bushels) with M-211 medium grain. Region 3 (S): Greg Driver, 123.5 cwt (275 bushels) with M-209. Compare those yields to what Linquist expects as a state average for 2020: 85 cwt per acre from about 513,000 acres. The information derived from the short questionnaire entrants complete sheds light on seeding rates, planting dates, fertility, weed programs and rotations that help maximize yield potential. “We learn a lot from these yield contests,” Linquist said during a recent online California Rice Outlook presentation. “They are very useful for helping us with our programs on how to get the high yields that we all like to see.” The state is divided into three production regions to minimize environmental variations that could affect yield. Region 1: West of Sacramento River and north of Highway 20. Region 2: East of Sacramento River and north of Highway 20. Region 3: South of Highway 20. This year, the Gator was sponsored by BASF, Corteva, FMC, Syngenta, UPL, Valent U.S.A., Valley Truck & Tractor and Wilbur Ellis.
UArk’s Rick Cartwright among 6 inducted into Arkansas Ag Hall of Fame
The Arkansas Agriculture Hall of Fame plans to induct six individuals in 2021 due to their leadership and service to the state’s largest business sector. The newest class represents agriculture education, the seed industry, agri-business, row-crop production, agricultural/political advocacy, timber management, plus agricultural research and outreach. The newest inductees are:
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JANUARY 2021
News Retired Cooperative Extension Service director Rick Cartwright of Fayetteville. Prior to becoming Extension director, Cartwright was a plant pathologist focusing on rice diseases. Long-time ag educator Joe Don Greenwood of Hermitage. The late Russell Roy Reynolds, director Rick of the U.S. Forest Service Crossett Experimen- Cartwright tal Forest for 34 years. Former Arkansas Farm Bureau President Randy Veach of Manila. Mark Waldrip of Moro, founder of Armor Seed Co. Andrew Wargo III of Watson, farm manager for the 15,000acre Baxter Land Co. for more than 50 years. Induction ceremonies for Class XXXIV have not been set. The Arkansas Agriculture Hall of Fame board of directors has decided to forego the traditional timeframe of early March and is working to secure a date for mid-summer. The new selections will bring to 176 the number of honorees in the Arkansas Agriculture Hall of Fame, begun in 1987.
Valent launches new seed treatment
Valent U.S.A. has launched the Zeltera Rice System seed treatment package for the 2021 season. The system builds on the company’s existing NipsIt Suite with the addition of the Indiflin fungicide, the brand name for the active ingredient, inpyrfluxam. An SDHI, it helps control Rhizoctonia solani, said Valent field market development specialist Mallory Everett. That pathogen is responsible for damping off, seedling blight and seed decay. “We’re really excited about it because the Indiflin is from a different FRAC group – it’s an SDHI,” Everett said. “With strobilurin-resistant Rhizoctonia in Louisiana, this works really well because it’s a different mode of action.” SDHIs belong to the Fungicide Resistance Action Committee’s Group 7 whereas strobilurins belong to Group 11. In addition, the Zeltera system includes clothianidin insecticide, and metalalaxyl and metconazole fungicides – which are all part of NipsIt Suite. The Zeltera system, however, contains a higher rate of metalaxyl than NipsIt Suite. The Zeltera system will be available through retailers, who will apply the treatment upon request to rice seed.
USDA-ARS researcher receives 2020 Rice Sustainability Award
Dr. Michele Reba, a research hydrologist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service, is the 2020 recipient of the USA Rice Sustainability Award. She was chosen for her leadership and innovative research around sustainable rice production. Her specialties in civil engineering and hydrology make her unique in the rice research world. But what truly sets Reba apart is her ability to bring together university professors, ARS researchers, crop consultants and farmers to work on some of the most difficult research questions around water use in rice. Her research, nearly all of which is conducted on farm in collaboration with producers, includes irrigation conservation, irriRICEFARMING.COM
