Chairman's Report - 2006

 

 

 

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Rice Research Board Chairman, Tom McClellan

 

 

Greetings and welcome to the 38th annual report to the California Rice Growers.  In the following pages you will find progress reports on grower-funded research into pest and weed management, varietal development, soil fertility, and other subjects. Progress has been reported in many key areas.

California’s public rice breeding program involves researchers at the Rice Experiment Station and with UC Cooperative Extension. Since 1969, when the program first began, 42 improved public varieties have been developed and released for the rice growers of this state, four of those varieties released in 2006 alone. M-208, an early Calrose with improved whole-head rice, is our second blast-resistant line. It is adapted to the majority of the M-202 growing area. Much effort continues in the development of other blast-resistant Calrose medium grains. Calamylow-201 is a newly released premium-quality short grain that has been introduced for use in chilled or frozen rice products popular in Japan.

L-206 is a new conventional long grain yielding solid grain averages. It is suited to all but the coolest and warmest regions. Calmati-202, is a new Basmati aromatic long grain with improved rice kernels that is expected to compete well against imports. It is not suitable for cold locations and must be harvested at proper moisture levels to preserve milling and cooking qualities. The rice pathology project continues its search for new sources of resistance to blast, stem rot and other fungal diseases.  All of this work is reported in more detail in the Rice Breeding Program section.

Before any new variety is released to growers, it must be evaluated under real-world growing conditions. Testing typically takes place at 16 farm locations, as well as at the Rice Experiment Station. As was the case in 2003 and 2005, the season got off to a late start because of an exceptionally wet spring.  Statewide plantings totaled 523,000 acres and yields averaged 7,660 pounds/acre, an improvement over the previous year. Several advanced lines produced high yields and showed other improvements.  A long-term stand establishment study is documenting how draining rice fields affects nitrogen loss. This work is described in the Variety Trials section.

 Rice variety improvement combines techniques in molecular biology with knowledge of conventional plant breeding methods. Using molecular markers, rice scientists are seeking new ways to tap disease resistance from wild sources, to improve cold tolerance and to enhance grain quality from a waxy line.  Read about it in the Molecular Marker-Assisted Rice Improvement section.

Many rice growers are changing early-season water management to facilitate the use of new herbicides and cultural weed practices. How these changes are affecting soil fertility and fertilizer use is the new focus of this project. On-farm experiments are showing how nitrogen management will need to be modified as weed control practices take on new directions. Read about this work in Soil Fertility and Fertilizer Use.

A large interdisciplinary team of scientists continues its work developing more diverse weed control strategies such as alternative stand establishment to improve long-term sustainability. Herbicide efficacy studies examined different formulations, combinations and application methods of newer compounds such as Granite®, Shark®, Prowl®, and numbered experimentals and older compounds. Researchers are conducting extensive testing of herbicide combinations that will ensure against resistance in continuous flood, pinpoint flood and drill-seeded rice systems. Read about these and other developments in Weed Control in Rice.

Research on control of filamentous algae in California rice fields broadened considerably in 2006. Studies examined copper, zinc, phosphorous, herbicides, and several experimental products.  Of these, careful phosphorous management appears to be the most promising so far. Read about this research in the section Evaluation of Algae Control Methods.

Rice Water Weevil was for many years our only major insect pest, but armyworms have become an increasing concern. In some areas a mid-season insecticide treatment is necessary. Scientists have been studying the biology of the two armyworm species present in California rice fields. Research is focused on improved prediction of armyworm infestations. Read about this work, insecticide testing and related activities in Protection of Rice from Invertebrate Pests.

Tadpole shrimp, a small crustacean that can uproot rice seedlings, is another pest getting increased scrutiny.  Researchers at Fresno State have been experimenting with an alternative to copper sulfate – methyl farnesoate – to disrupt the shrimp’s reproductive capabilities.  Progress has been made in packaging the compound into microscopic structures that can be incorporated into pellets. Read about this project in Control of Tadpole Shrimp.

Any compound introduced into the environment must first undergo rigorous laboratory and field testing to ensure that it will dissipate in the atmosphere, dissolve in water or degrade in the soil into harmless byproducts. The results of research on Etofenprox, a newer pyrethroid insecticide, and clomazone, a popular herbicide – are reported in Environmental Fate of Rice Pesticides.

A continuing project examined how rice moisture at harvest affects head rice yield.  The newer variety M-206 showed higher quality than either M-201 or M-202. Read more about this and related work in Crop Management Effects on Milling Quality and Yield.

Improving consistency and accuracy in rice sample quality appraisals is the goal of another project. After three years of testing, researchers recommend that milling procedures in the United States be standardized using low temperature or controlled milling temperatures in rice sample milling. Read about this work in Improvement of Rice Sample Milling.

 An investigation of methods to control post-harvest insect pests by the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service previously showed infrared technology holds promise. Subsequent work found that it potentially could be used to dry rice as well. Last year’s research showed that tempering, combined with slow cooling, may be the best way to preserve rice quality in this process. Read about this work in Rice Utilization and Product Development.

A Northern California farm advisor continues looking for new ways to manipulate rice straw to make it a more palatable forage supplement for livestock. After several years of studies with maceration technology, research is now shifting to other forms of physically altering straw forage. The project leader is also working with Central Valley dairies to find the best way to mix rice straw into rations. Read about this work in Defining Forage Variability in Rice Straw.

As I begin my term as the new chairman of the California Rice Research Board, I trust you share with me your support for the research we invest in year after year. It is through grower tenacity and scientific ingenuity that we continue to be a pillar of productivity and responsible environmental stewardship in California agriculture. Wishing you all the best in the 2007 growing season.

 

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