USA Rice Update

By Betsy Ward President and CEO USA Rice

USA Rice continues to support worldwide rice-based food aid

If there’s any wisdom we can glean and eight of those included fortified rice. The from the unprecedented events of the U.S. Agency for International Development past year, it’s how important it is to as well as the U.S. Department of Agriculsupport each other and our communi- ture’s Food for Progress have also increased ties and come together during tough times. the use of rice in their programs. The U.S. rice industry takes that lesson to Last year, 33,720 metric tons of U.S. rice heart, both in our own backyards and beyond was delivered to Burkina Faso and another our borders. 17,000 metric tons to Guinea, West Africa, International food aid was one of our by Food for Progress, and we expect similar greatest cumulative achievements in 2020. success with the completion of that program U.S.-grown milled and fortified rice support- in 2021. Although the pandemic has certainly ed the fight against hunger, food insecurity posed a daunting challenge for international and malnutrition — all growing problems food aid, these crucial agencies make sure U.S. worldwide — at a level not seen for the past rice gets where it’s so desperately needed. 10 years. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to disrupt supply chains, logistics and developing economies, the need for rice in international food aid will only become greater. The number of countries receiving rice through U.S. food aid programs continues to diversify and increase every year, with approximately 120,000 metric tons of U.S.-grown rice distributed to 27 countries. Five of those are first timers. USA Rice has long advocated for more widespread use of COURTESY USA RICE fortified rice in international food aid, and our efforts have paid off. Last year, fortified rice accounted for approximately 44,000 metric A cooking demonstration and free sam- tons —35% of all rice in U.S. food ples showcased how fortified rice is aid, more than ever before. 2021 practically indiscernible from regular looks to be another strong year for milled rice in terms of taste and texture. rice in food aid, and the increased use of fortified rice is a trend that shows no signs of abating. 3 aid programs This achievement would not have been possible without the U.S. rice industry’s partnership with three government food aid programs. McGovern-Dole Food for Education, the USDA’s global school feeding program, was the primary purchaser of fortified rice last year — all nine Food for Education projects awarded in 2020 included U.S. rice, Publicizing rice-based food aid In fall 2020, USA Rice hosted a webinar titled “Fortified Rice in the COVID-19 Era,” bringing together panelists from U.S. food assistance agencies to discuss the benefits of fortified rice in a pandemic-stricken world. In attendance were food aid representatives, government officials and staff from volunteer organizations. A cooking demonstration and free samples showcased how fortified rice is practically indiscernible from regular milled rice in terms of taste and texture. It also remains nutritionally rich despite rinsing or soaking, which is common practice in many countries that receive food aid. “The Rice Stuff” podcast did a deep dive on all three of the major U.S. food aid programs and the challenges they’ve faced during the pandemic. In episode 4, “Food Aid 101,” USA Rice’s food aid consultant Rebecca Bratter explained the ins and outs of how U.S. rice helped address the unprecedented number of current humanitarian crises worldwide. Give it a listen if you want to understand these programs better and get an insider’s perspective. Rice is the universal language, a staple in almost every regional cuisine, and that’s why it’s so important that the U.S. rice industry provides a safe, nutritious and familiar product to countries worldwide that need it now more than ever. I’m proud to see our crop alleviate famine, malnutrition and food insecurity, and feed the world year after year. 

Early Post Emergence Timing Is Essential

Scott Gifford

Gifford Crop Consulting Jonesboro, Arkansas

Because my family farmed, I have been around agriculture my entire life. In 2001, I started Gifford Crop Consulting, and my son, Miles, will join the business fulltime in May after graduating from Arkansas State University. My wife, Rachel, understands our business and is very supportive. My daughter, Meg, helps with the paperwork and pitches in during the busy season to keep all the trucks running smoothly. We are a rice consulting family.

Last year, most of my growers got planted in a timely manner. Those who got caught by rain planted later than is ideal. When you plant rice later than mid-May, you’re going to have more weed pressure. The early planted rice turned out above average, and the later crop was average.

I anticipate baryardgrass being our No. 1 grass problem in 2021, so we will use more residual herbicides than we have in the past. The first residual goes out behind the planter to try to keep the grass from coming up. However, because of the pressure in fields that have been in rice a long time, we will make an early post emergence application of Clincher® SF herbicide tankmixed with a residual, such as Prowl or Command, when the grass — including propanil-resistant grass — is at the 1- to 2-leaf stage.

Clincher SF does a good job on smaller grass when you get it out early on moist ground, and the residual keeps more grass from emerging. The key is to kill the grass that is out there in the field early. If you get behind with barnyardgrass, you are not going to catch up.

Production Practice Considerations

In fields with sedge, we apply Loyant® herbicide pre-flood when rice is at the 3- to 5-leaf stage. No product gives you 100% control, but Loyant was pretty close on the sedges. Where row rice acres continue to rise, we are applying a lot more Loyant for pigweed control. We also use it in levee rice or zero-grade rice. But we are definitely controlling sedges and pigweed in row rice with Loyant where we don’t have water as a control measure.

In our levee rice, we use RebelEX® herbicide — a pre-mix of Clincher SF and Grasp® SC herbicides — pre-flood, especially in fields with sprangletop and barnyardgrass. The Grasp component also picks up some aquatic weeds. To get the best results from RebelEX in water-seeded rice, it’s important to let the rice peg down and get established before making an application. • Bachelor’s degree in general agriculture, Arkansas State

University.

• Consults on rice, cotton, soybeans, wheat, milo and corn.

• Licensed crop consultant. Has consulted for 24 years.

• Member, Arkansas Agricultural Consultants Association;

Ducks Unlimited; ASU Alumni Association; Arkansas

Officials Association; First Baptist Church, Manila.

• Wife, Rachel. Son, Miles, 20. Daughter, Meg, 18.

• Arkansas high school basketball official and NCAA women’s basketball official. Runs MAG Guide Service with son Miles.

Enjoys hunting and fishing.

1. I anticipate baryardgrass being our No. 1 grass problem in 2021, so we will use more residual herbicides than we have in the past.

2. Because of pressure in fields that have been in rice a long time, we will make an early post emergence application of Clincher® SF herbicide tankmixed with a residual, such as Prowl or Command, when grass — including propanil-resistant grass — is at 1- to 2-leaf stage.

3. In fields with sedge, we apply Loyant® herbicide preflood when rice is at the 3- to 5-leaf stage. We are definitely controlling sedges and pigweed in row rice with Loyant.

4. In levee rice, we use RebelEX® herbicide pre-flood, especially in fields with sprangletop and barnyardgrass.

The Grasp® SC component also picks up aquatic weeds.

Sponsored by Scott Gifford (right) and son Miles operate Gifford Crop Consulting.