What's New at Calrice.org
New Blog- WSJ gets it wrong- not unusual or excessive
06.15.2013
By Tim Johnson, California Rice Commission President & CEO
The recent Wall Street Journal Article A Rice Gets a Price Premium portrays the proposed House farm program for rice completely inaccurately. In fact, the regional differences in the rice reference price are neither unusual nor excessive.
Not unusual
The first claim that is offered is that somehow differences within an individual crop or region are unusual. Not true. Past farm programs have consistently provided different programs for long staple cotton compared to upland cotton. Different classes of wheat have also historically been treated separately as have sunflower seeds used for confectionary uses compared to those grown for oil. Barley is also considered differently. The basis for these differences is straightforward – the value received is higher. Japonica rice is the same. It is premium rice that commands a price higher than long grain indica rice grown in other regions of the U.S.
Not excessive
The second theme is that the fifteen percent premium in the House bill for japonica rice is excessive. This claim is also not based on easily verifiable data. Over the past 30 years japonica rice has held an average of a fifteen percent premium to long grain indica rice. More recently however that premium has been far greater – closer to forty percent above other U.S. rice. The story also implies that the target price is higher that production costs – also not factual. UC Cooperative Extension calculated the cost of production for rice in California in 2012. Their estimates were $19.36 per hundred pounds. This cost is far higher than in other regions and far above the regional $16.00 target price.
An effective safety net
Completely lost in the story is any discussion of a safety net for California rice that is adequate and equivalent. The reality is that California japonica rice costs far more to grow and has commanded a long–term market premium. When market prices are above the target price, our family farmers (brothers farming together, husbands and wives farming together, son and fathers farming together) earn enough to keep the farm going. Only when prices drop significantly below the cost of production will support for the farmer be triggered and only up to the target price. So if rice in California were to drop to say $15, farmers would be eligible for a $1 payment to bring them up to the target price. If instead all rice in the U.S. had one target price at the proposed $14, a California farmer would not eligible for support until they had loss of over $300,000 for an average farm.
Also missing is the acknowledgement of the huge change in farm programs that eliminate the current program of paying growers every year regardless of any loss.
The ultimate reality is that in both the House and Senate Farm Bills, rice farmers are moving to a safety net designed to keep growers on the farm based not on payments every year but based on significant losses below production costs. This change seems fair, as long as all regions receive a proportional level of protection against loss.
Why having rice farms matters
There are several reasons why rice farming matters. Certainly jobs are important. There are 25,000 generated by rice farms in California. In small communities in the Sacramento Valley like Gridley, Colusa and Biggs, the impact is even more significant, with over half of the region’s economic activity generated by rice farming and milling. But probably the most important reason to keep farmers on the land when prices go south is the tremendous benefit to wildlife and keeping our open spaces open. Each fall over 300,000 shorebirds migrate through the valley and stop to feed on the insects that are plentiful in rice paddies. Later in the winter millions of ducks, geese and swans pour into the rice fields to eat the leftover grain. Right now thousands of wading birds are nesting right in the fields, their chicks running along the edge of the growing rice chasing their next meal.
None of this is possible without farmers staying in business. In the final analysis, this is what the farm bill endeavors to do – keep farmers farming when things get tough.
The recent Wall Street Journal Article A Rice Gets a Price Premium portrays the proposed House farm program for rice completely inaccurately. In fact, the regional differences in the rice reference price are neither unusual nor excessive.
Not unusual
The first claim that is offered is that somehow differences within an individual crop or region are unusual. Not true. Past farm programs have consistently provided different programs for long staple cotton compared to upland cotton. Different classes of wheat have also historically been treated separately as have sunflower seeds used for confectionary uses compared to those grown for oil. Barley is also considered differently. The basis for these differences is straightforward – the value received is higher. Japonica rice is the same. It is premium rice that commands a price higher than long grain indica rice grown in other regions of the U.S.
Not excessive
The second theme is that the fifteen percent premium in the House bill for japonica rice is excessive. This claim is also not based on easily verifiable data. Over the past 30 years japonica rice has held an average of a fifteen percent premium to long grain indica rice. More recently however that premium has been far greater – closer to forty percent above other U.S. rice. The story also implies that the target price is higher that production costs – also not factual. UC Cooperative Extension calculated the cost of production for rice in California in 2012. Their estimates were $19.36 per hundred pounds. This cost is far higher than in other regions and far above the regional $16.00 target price.
An effective safety net
Completely lost in the story is any discussion of a safety net for California rice that is adequate and equivalent. The reality is that California japonica rice costs far more to grow and has commanded a long–term market premium. When market prices are above the target price, our family farmers (brothers farming together, husbands and wives farming together, son and fathers farming together) earn enough to keep the farm going. Only when prices drop significantly below the cost of production will support for the farmer be triggered and only up to the target price. So if rice in California were to drop to say $15, farmers would be eligible for a $1 payment to bring them up to the target price. If instead all rice in the U.S. had one target price at the proposed $14, a California farmer would not eligible for support until they had loss of over $300,000 for an average farm.
Also missing is the acknowledgement of the huge change in farm programs that eliminate the current program of paying growers every year regardless of any loss.
The ultimate reality is that in both the House and Senate Farm Bills, rice farmers are moving to a safety net designed to keep growers on the farm based not on payments every year but based on significant losses below production costs. This change seems fair, as long as all regions receive a proportional level of protection against loss.
Why having rice farms matters
There are several reasons why rice farming matters. Certainly jobs are important. There are 25,000 generated by rice farms in California. In small communities in the Sacramento Valley like Gridley, Colusa and Biggs, the impact is even more significant, with over half of the region’s economic activity generated by rice farming and milling. But probably the most important reason to keep farmers on the land when prices go south is the tremendous benefit to wildlife and keeping our open spaces open. Each fall over 300,000 shorebirds migrate through the valley and stop to feed on the insects that are plentiful in rice paddies. Later in the winter millions of ducks, geese and swans pour into the rice fields to eat the leftover grain. Right now thousands of wading birds are nesting right in the fields, their chicks running along the edge of the growing rice chasing their next meal.
None of this is possible without farmers staying in business. In the final analysis, this is what the farm bill endeavors to do – keep farmers farming when things get tough.
Tim Johnson, CRC President & CEO
New Blog- Unusual spring weather provides a challenge
06.14.2013
All of the rice is planted and we are now doing what we can to help ensure a good harvest in the fall.
While we were able to plant earlier than in recent years the spring has still posed some challenges. For one thing, we’ve had many days of strong winds. Secondly the temperatures have really varied from day to day. Rice is a lot like people – the plants prefer a more gradual change in the weather than big differences from day to day.
Right now myself and other growers are monitoring our fields and working to keep weeds at a minimum.
We are now starting the tillering process, where the primary shoot of the rice plant emerges and new ones form around the base. The healthier the plant, the better our chance will be at a more abundant harvest in the fall.
Hopefully the rest of the growing season will include more normal weather. High temperatures around 90 would be ideal.
Punch Haskell grows rice in Colusa County and is part of a family farming operation that began approximately 60 years ago.
While we were able to plant earlier than in recent years the spring has still posed some challenges. For one thing, we’ve had many days of strong winds. Secondly the temperatures have really varied from day to day. Rice is a lot like people – the plants prefer a more gradual change in the weather than big differences from day to day.
Right now myself and other growers are monitoring our fields and working to keep weeds at a minimum.
We are now starting the tillering process, where the primary shoot of the rice plant emerges and new ones form around the base. The healthier the plant, the better our chance will be at a more abundant harvest in the fall.
Hopefully the rest of the growing season will include more normal weather. High temperatures around 90 would be ideal.
Punch Haskell grows rice in Colusa County and is part of a family farming operation that began approximately 60 years ago.
New CRC Blog- Sandwiches, salads and perseverance
06.06.2013
By Jim Morris
In these days of fast food on virtually every corner, one-of-a-kind restaurants are getting harder to find. Fortunately in the Sacramento Valley, there are several wonderful places to eat that are filled with charm and originality. Williams wouldn’t be the same without Granzella’s and Louis Cairo’s. My favorite stop in Colusa is Tommy’s. Yuba City has the Refuge and Cilantro’s.
Where to dine in Richvale? The definitive, in fact the only answer is the Richvale Café. The food is very good but the story behind it is priceless!
This Butte County community with a population of 244 is in the heart and birthplace of California rice country. Originally named Selby Switch, developers changed the name to Richvale to connote rich soils to attract farmers that migrated west from states such as Kansas and Nebraska. The heavy clay soils weren’t suitable for many crops but ended up being ideal for rice. Once rice was planted, Richvale’s future was secured.
The café has also had its ups and downs. Once the site of a grocery store and lunch counter, the facility burned down twice. The unoccupied building became an eyesore to the community with little chance of a new tenant. Community members provided sufficient money to open the café in 1969, with a celebration complete with a ribbon cutting and brass band. Rice grower and local historian Dennis Lindberg played his trumpet in the brass band for the opening ceremonies and remembers it well.
Unfortunately the small town was unable to maintain enough business to keep the café open. Once again the community of Richvale refused to accept the closure. The business operated for a while as a non-profit, which lost out to an IRS challenge. Today the café is managed by the community and receives generous support through fundraisers and contributions to keep in operation.
A real scare happened a few years ago when the café’s well water became contaminated. Once again the community pulled together and funded the very expensive drilling of a new well.
What makes the café so special? The answer is more of a feeling than what words can describe. Perhaps it’s the local rice, honey, barbeque sauce and produce that community members provide for the menu. Maybe it’s the dishes found nowhere else, like the Aviator Special for breakfast (two small breakfast burritos for growers on the go) or the Joe Special, a mouthwatering sandwich named in honor of Joe Josiassen, a rice grower and former Air Force Chef who designed the kitchen. Mr. Josiassen has passed away but this dish is one way the community honors his legacy. It could be the fact that some customers prepay for their meals while others pay their tab at the end of the month. The answer is all of the above and more. A loving community refuses to let this little café go.
Perhaps nowhere else will you find such dedication to a similar cause.
Perseverance saved Richvale farmers a century ago and it’s still paying dividends at the café. Pull your car in from the Midway, have a seat and enjoy small town life. The cuisine may not be French Laundry, but those in Richvale wouldn’t trade it for anything!
A sign that hangs over the grill sums it up pretty well with these words:
“Good food…
Good friends…
Good times!”
Jim Morris is Communications Manager for the California Rice Commission. Jim has worked in communications for more than 20 years. When he’s not on the job, he enjoys his family, faith, football, outrageous monster stories and running marathon
In these days of fast food on virtually every corner, one-of-a-kind restaurants are getting harder to find. Fortunately in the Sacramento Valley, there are several wonderful places to eat that are filled with charm and originality. Williams wouldn’t be the same without Granzella’s and Louis Cairo’s. My favorite stop in Colusa is Tommy’s. Yuba City has the Refuge and Cilantro’s.
Where to dine in Richvale? The definitive, in fact the only answer is the Richvale Café. The food is very good but the story behind it is priceless!
This Butte County community with a population of 244 is in the heart and birthplace of California rice country. Originally named Selby Switch, developers changed the name to Richvale to connote rich soils to attract farmers that migrated west from states such as Kansas and Nebraska. The heavy clay soils weren’t suitable for many crops but ended up being ideal for rice. Once rice was planted, Richvale’s future was secured.
The café has also had its ups and downs. Once the site of a grocery store and lunch counter, the facility burned down twice. The unoccupied building became an eyesore to the community with little chance of a new tenant. Community members provided sufficient money to open the café in 1969, with a celebration complete with a ribbon cutting and brass band. Rice grower and local historian Dennis Lindberg played his trumpet in the brass band for the opening ceremonies and remembers it well.
Unfortunately the small town was unable to maintain enough business to keep the café open. Once again the community of Richvale refused to accept the closure. The business operated for a while as a non-profit, which lost out to an IRS challenge. Today the café is managed by the community and receives generous support through fundraisers and contributions to keep in operation.
A real scare happened a few years ago when the café’s well water became contaminated. Once again the community pulled together and funded the very expensive drilling of a new well.
What makes the café so special? The answer is more of a feeling than what words can describe. Perhaps it’s the local rice, honey, barbeque sauce and produce that community members provide for the menu. Maybe it’s the dishes found nowhere else, like the Aviator Special for breakfast (two small breakfast burritos for growers on the go) or the Joe Special, a mouthwatering sandwich named in honor of Joe Josiassen, a rice grower and former Air Force Chef who designed the kitchen. Mr. Josiassen has passed away but this dish is one way the community honors his legacy. It could be the fact that some customers prepay for their meals while others pay their tab at the end of the month. The answer is all of the above and more. A loving community refuses to let this little café go.
Perhaps nowhere else will you find such dedication to a similar cause.
Perseverance saved Richvale farmers a century ago and it’s still paying dividends at the café. Pull your car in from the Midway, have a seat and enjoy small town life. The cuisine may not be French Laundry, but those in Richvale wouldn’t trade it for anything!
A sign that hangs over the grill sums it up pretty well with these words:
“Good food…
Good friends…
Good times!”
Jim Morris is Communications Manager for the California Rice Commission. Jim has worked in communications for more than 20 years. When he’s not on the job, he enjoys his family, faith, football, outrageous monster stories and running marathon
New CRC Blog- Rice Reigns in Hawaii
06.04.2013
By Jim Morris
Our family just returned from vacation in Maui, where we enjoyed snorkeling alongside of Honu (sea turtles), a variety of field trips and a familiar item from home- California rice.
Walk into a Long’s Drugs and you immediately see stacks of Diamond G and Hinode Rice. Big bags too, not the two-pounders I often see in my local Safeway.
One of our favorite dining places is Kimo’s in Lahaina. I took two runs at the Broke da Mouth lunch plate, which featured a generous portion of Hinode rice.
A short walk along the beach from our condo led us to the Gazebo Restaurant for a half order of fried rice. Featuring Portuguese sausage, egg, veggies and Fukesake brand rice, this behemoth of a dish kept me fed for three glorious meals.
We had a terrific day trip to the island of Lanai. After the ferry ride and some time on the beach I had a powerful hunger. We fixed that problem in grand style with this Teriyaki chicken plate complete with Homai rice at the Blue Ginger Café.
It turns out that rice figures prominently in California-Hawaii trade. Ryan Malm, Manager of Consumer Products for Farmers’ Rice Cooperative was kind enough to provide background. As Ryan explains it, with the Reciprocity Treaty of 1875 we agreed to remove import duties on sugarcane from Hawaii and in turn they gave us Pearl Harbor, as well as duty-free access to their rice market. Until that time Hawaii, along with many of their Japanese immigrants, grew quite a lot of their own rice in abandoned taro fields. The Japanese influence can also be credited with why the local Hawaiians favor Calrose/sticky rice versus other varieties that may have been available at the time.
Ryan describes Hawaii as a unique California rice market. In general, most of the mills in California sell a high percentage of their business to ethnic distributors in private label bags. However, grocery stores in Hawaii have always had such high demand that they’ve been able to purchase full containers of rice directly from the mill for years. Because of this, it’s one of the few markets where California Rice mills can sell and focus on promoting their own in-house brands. It doesn’t compare to the large volume of rice shipped to places like Japan and South Korea, but it’s a high rice consuming market per capita.
It was great to see this little bit of home on so many menus during our vacation. If we’re lucky, perhaps our family will head to more exotic locations where California rice enjoys widespread popularity!
Jim Morris is Communications Manager for the California Rice Commission. Jim has worked in communications for more than 20 years. When he’s not on the job, he enjoys his family, faith, football, outrageous monster stories and running marathon
Our family just returned from vacation in Maui, where we enjoyed snorkeling alongside of Honu (sea turtles), a variety of field trips and a familiar item from home- California rice.
Walk into a Long’s Drugs and you immediately see stacks of Diamond G and Hinode Rice. Big bags too, not the two-pounders I often see in my local Safeway.
One of our favorite dining places is Kimo’s in Lahaina. I took two runs at the Broke da Mouth lunch plate, which featured a generous portion of Hinode rice.
A short walk along the beach from our condo led us to the Gazebo Restaurant for a half order of fried rice. Featuring Portuguese sausage, egg, veggies and Fukesake brand rice, this behemoth of a dish kept me fed for three glorious meals.
We had a terrific day trip to the island of Lanai. After the ferry ride and some time on the beach I had a powerful hunger. We fixed that problem in grand style with this Teriyaki chicken plate complete with Homai rice at the Blue Ginger Café.
It turns out that rice figures prominently in California-Hawaii trade. Ryan Malm, Manager of Consumer Products for Farmers’ Rice Cooperative was kind enough to provide background. As Ryan explains it, with the Reciprocity Treaty of 1875 we agreed to remove import duties on sugarcane from Hawaii and in turn they gave us Pearl Harbor, as well as duty-free access to their rice market. Until that time Hawaii, along with many of their Japanese immigrants, grew quite a lot of their own rice in abandoned taro fields. The Japanese influence can also be credited with why the local Hawaiians favor Calrose/sticky rice versus other varieties that may have been available at the time.
Ryan describes Hawaii as a unique California rice market. In general, most of the mills in California sell a high percentage of their business to ethnic distributors in private label bags. However, grocery stores in Hawaii have always had such high demand that they’ve been able to purchase full containers of rice directly from the mill for years. Because of this, it’s one of the few markets where California Rice mills can sell and focus on promoting their own in-house brands. It doesn’t compare to the large volume of rice shipped to places like Japan and South Korea, but it’s a high rice consuming market per capita.
It was great to see this little bit of home on so many menus during our vacation. If we’re lucky, perhaps our family will head to more exotic locations where California rice enjoys widespread popularity!
Jim Morris is Communications Manager for the California Rice Commission. Jim has worked in communications for more than 20 years. When he’s not on the job, he enjoys his family, faith, football, outrageous monster stories and running marathon
New - California Rice Newsletter (June 2013)
05.30.2013
New video- The origin of the term Bankout Wagon
05.28.2013
Rice grower Dennis Lindberg of Butte County describes how the term Bankout Wagon came to be. Bankout Wagons are used to haul newly harvested grain from rice fields to trailers.
Dennis Lindberg has grown rice in Butte County for more than 70 consecutive years. He’s a well-known author and metal artist, taking scrap metal and creating beautiful animal sculptures. His civic work and love of community is evidenced by his being honored as “Outstanding Citizen of the 20th Century” by Lundberg Family Farms. He and his wife Charlotte have two children – Gary and Sherry. Gary farms with his father in the historic community of Richvale, which recently celebrated its centennial.
Dennis Lindberg has grown rice in Butte County for more than 70 consecutive years. He’s a well-known author and metal artist, taking scrap metal and creating beautiful animal sculptures. His civic work and love of community is evidenced by his being honored as “Outstanding Citizen of the 20th Century” by Lundberg Family Farms. He and his wife Charlotte have two children – Gary and Sherry. Gary farms with his father in the historic community of Richvale, which recently celebrated its centennial.
New CRC Blog- Strong partners in Conservation
05.20.2013
By Paul Buttner
As the Manager of Environmental Affairs for the California Rice Commission (CRC), I was humbled to stand with our President & CEO Tim Johnson to accept the 2013 Partner of the Year Award from the Central Valley Joint Venture (CVJV) on behalf of the rice growers of California.
The CVJV (www.cvjv.org) is a collaborative group of highly respected conservation organizations committed to enhancing habitat values for birds and other wildlife species in the Central Valley. The current CVJV Vice Chairman, John Carlon of River Partners, and Coordinator, Bob Shaffer, presented us with the distinguished award.
I was truly honored with this recognition from the CVJV. In his presentation, Bob Shaffer talked about their long history with rice growers all the way back to the industry’s phase-down of rice straw burning and replacement of that practice with winter flooding. Much of this collaborative work pre-dates my tenure at CRC, which began in 2001. Since then so much has been accomplished to help increase habitat values in rice, a subject matter I have grown extremely passionate about.
We are now three years into a new program called the Waterbird Habitat Enhancement Program (WHEP) that supports the implementation of innovative new approaches to habitat enhancement in ricelands. It is now implemented on nearly 25 percent of rice acres (about 115,000 acres) thanks to the dedication and assistance of the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and ongoing technical assistance from organizations like Audubon California, PRBO Conservation Science and the Nature Conservancy. Each of these three partners helps make up the broader membership of the CVJV. The CVJV has been solidly behind rice every step of the way towards greater habitat enhancement and I’m very pleased to have the CVJV’s support and recognition for the CRC’s ongoing commitment to habitat enhancement on its working ricelands.
The ongoing coordinating force of the CVJV certainly helps move the ball forward on wildlife conservation projects and awareness of the importance of this great Central Valley for millions of birds that reply upon it. We are honored to be considered one of its valued partners in these efforts.
As the Manager of Environmental Affairs for the California Rice Commission (CRC), I was humbled to stand with our President & CEO Tim Johnson to accept the 2013 Partner of the Year Award from the Central Valley Joint Venture (CVJV) on behalf of the rice growers of California.
The CVJV (www.cvjv.org) is a collaborative group of highly respected conservation organizations committed to enhancing habitat values for birds and other wildlife species in the Central Valley. The current CVJV Vice Chairman, John Carlon of River Partners, and Coordinator, Bob Shaffer, presented us with the distinguished award.
I was truly honored with this recognition from the CVJV. In his presentation, Bob Shaffer talked about their long history with rice growers all the way back to the industry’s phase-down of rice straw burning and replacement of that practice with winter flooding. Much of this collaborative work pre-dates my tenure at CRC, which began in 2001. Since then so much has been accomplished to help increase habitat values in rice, a subject matter I have grown extremely passionate about.
We are now three years into a new program called the Waterbird Habitat Enhancement Program (WHEP) that supports the implementation of innovative new approaches to habitat enhancement in ricelands. It is now implemented on nearly 25 percent of rice acres (about 115,000 acres) thanks to the dedication and assistance of the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and ongoing technical assistance from organizations like Audubon California, PRBO Conservation Science and the Nature Conservancy. Each of these three partners helps make up the broader membership of the CVJV. The CVJV has been solidly behind rice every step of the way towards greater habitat enhancement and I’m very pleased to have the CVJV’s support and recognition for the CRC’s ongoing commitment to habitat enhancement on its working ricelands.
The ongoing coordinating force of the CVJV certainly helps move the ball forward on wildlife conservation projects and awareness of the importance of this great Central Valley for millions of birds that reply upon it. We are honored to be considered one of its valued partners in these efforts.
Paul Buttner is Manager of Environmental Affairs for the California Rice Commission.
New CRC Blog- Why the Farm Bill is important
05.14.2013
By Tim Johnson
Every five years the leaders of our country have a discussion on farm policy. In large part the debate is healthy, though, sometimes to make a point, arguments get off track. In the upcoming weeks and months you will hear both good arguments and ones that stray a bit far afield.
One of the most basic questions is why a farm bill is necessary in such a well–fed nation. The reality is that our nation is the place of both expanding belt lines and one where many struggle daily to put food on the table – especially high quality fruits, vegetables and grains. The farm bill steps in here in a big way, providing support through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance program or SNAP.
In 2012, the program provided support for 46 million Americans according to the USDA. SNAP is the largest program area in the farm bill with nutrition programs (including a number of school food programs) accounting for 78 percent of all spending in the same year.
The reality is that these programs have been expanding. But then so has need in this lengthy recession. When there is need, we are proud to be a generous people.
The second question in the farm bill debate involves farm spending. Farm programs were designed to keep farmers on the land when times got tough. We call it a safety net. Over the years that safety net has taken many different forms, the most recent of which were dictated by international trade agreements such as the WTO, which required farmers to be eligible for payments even if they didn’t grow a crop. This was never a farmer’s idea.
In the upcoming farm bill, there will be many reforms in how farmers are supported. Many of the changes are driven by honest questions about how to support farmers when they need it but not send them a check every year simply because they grow a commodity.
This time around the safety net for farmers will be programs that only kick in when prices drop below the cost of production - the idea being to keep the farmer on the farm during the tough times. There are also incentives for farmers to buy crop insurance for greater protection. This approach to a safety net makes sense.
So, when you start hearing about ‘food stamp this’ and ‘rich farmer that,’ keep these facts in mind and you will be able to keep it all in the appropriate perspective.
Incidentally, payments to farmers only account for a little over six percent of total farm bill spending.
Every five years the leaders of our country have a discussion on farm policy. In large part the debate is healthy, though, sometimes to make a point, arguments get off track. In the upcoming weeks and months you will hear both good arguments and ones that stray a bit far afield.
One of the most basic questions is why a farm bill is necessary in such a well–fed nation. The reality is that our nation is the place of both expanding belt lines and one where many struggle daily to put food on the table – especially high quality fruits, vegetables and grains. The farm bill steps in here in a big way, providing support through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance program or SNAP.
In 2012, the program provided support for 46 million Americans according to the USDA. SNAP is the largest program area in the farm bill with nutrition programs (including a number of school food programs) accounting for 78 percent of all spending in the same year.
The reality is that these programs have been expanding. But then so has need in this lengthy recession. When there is need, we are proud to be a generous people.
The second question in the farm bill debate involves farm spending. Farm programs were designed to keep farmers on the land when times got tough. We call it a safety net. Over the years that safety net has taken many different forms, the most recent of which were dictated by international trade agreements such as the WTO, which required farmers to be eligible for payments even if they didn’t grow a crop. This was never a farmer’s idea.
In the upcoming farm bill, there will be many reforms in how farmers are supported. Many of the changes are driven by honest questions about how to support farmers when they need it but not send them a check every year simply because they grow a commodity.
This time around the safety net for farmers will be programs that only kick in when prices drop below the cost of production - the idea being to keep the farmer on the farm during the tough times. There are also incentives for farmers to buy crop insurance for greater protection. This approach to a safety net makes sense.
So, when you start hearing about ‘food stamp this’ and ‘rich farmer that,’ keep these facts in mind and you will be able to keep it all in the appropriate perspective.
Incidentally, payments to farmers only account for a little over six percent of total farm bill spending.
Tim Johnson, CRC President & CEO
New Blog- Rice planting finale
05.11.2013
Grower Peter Rystrom discusses progress on the 2013 rice planting, including participation in a special wildlife program.
After completing his college education, Peter Rystrom is happily back at work as a fourth-generation farmer in Butte County. Working alongside his father Steve, grandfather Don, uncle Gary and several cousins, this family has a century-long tradition of rice farming in the Sacramento Valley.
After graduating from UC Davis with an International Relations and Spanish double major, he worked with Community Enterprise Solutions in Guatemala and lead tours across the United States for Trek America.
Peter enjoys the change in seasons on the farm and the freedom of being outside all day.
When he’s not on the farm, he enjoys backpacking trips into the mountains as well as world travel. Other passions include being involved in the lives of others through church small groups and friendships, both at home and abroad.
After completing his college education, Peter Rystrom is happily back at work as a fourth-generation farmer in Butte County. Working alongside his father Steve, grandfather Don, uncle Gary and several cousins, this family has a century-long tradition of rice farming in the Sacramento Valley.After graduating from UC Davis with an International Relations and Spanish double major, he worked with Community Enterprise Solutions in Guatemala and lead tours across the United States for Trek America.
Peter enjoys the change in seasons on the farm and the freedom of being outside all day.
When he’s not on the farm, he enjoys backpacking trips into the mountains as well as world travel. Other passions include being involved in the lives of others through church small groups and friendships, both at home and abroad.
New CRC Blog- Sowing future prosperity
05.08.2013
By Jim Morris
Drive through the Sacramento Valley these days and you very likely will see and hear airplanes seeding more than a half million acres of rice. I was able to witness an entirely different seeding method at the Rice Experiment Station in Biggs, which has provided growers with important research and varieties for a century.
The Experiment Station works with so many varieties in a relatively compact space that aerial seeding is out of the question. The closest thing that mimics the aerial seeding process is seeding by hand. With 40,000 different breeding lines this is no easy feat!
For more than 30 years, extra help in the form of skilled workers of Sikh descent have worked with researchers at the station to plant millions of seeds. The entire process takes a little more than a week and is fascinating to watch.
One of the starting steps is illustrated here by Baldish Deol, as seeds are soaked and carefully loaded into vials.
These seeds are planted one vial at a time in their specific part of the field- 60,000 rows in all!
Each vial has about 100 seeds, which represents one head of rice.
In addition there are 1,500 large plots, also planted with extreme care and by hand.
This work happens during an intense five-day period and is done with little outside attention but is part of the foundation of research that has helped this industry maintain its status as a reliable producer of premium quality rice.
Spring seeding is just one way the Rice Experiment Station maintains its role as an invaluable part of California rice production. It’s a job where patience is a virtue, as it takes about a decade for a new rice variety to go from its first planting to commercial use.
Jim Morris is Communications Manager for the California Rice Commission. Jim has worked in communications for more than 20 years. When he’s not on the job, he enjoys his family, faith, football, outrageous monster stories and running marathon
Drive through the Sacramento Valley these days and you very likely will see and hear airplanes seeding more than a half million acres of rice. I was able to witness an entirely different seeding method at the Rice Experiment Station in Biggs, which has provided growers with important research and varieties for a century.
The Experiment Station works with so many varieties in a relatively compact space that aerial seeding is out of the question. The closest thing that mimics the aerial seeding process is seeding by hand. With 40,000 different breeding lines this is no easy feat!
For more than 30 years, extra help in the form of skilled workers of Sikh descent have worked with researchers at the station to plant millions of seeds. The entire process takes a little more than a week and is fascinating to watch.
One of the starting steps is illustrated here by Baldish Deol, as seeds are soaked and carefully loaded into vials.
Each vial has about 100 seeds, which represents one head of rice.
In addition there are 1,500 large plots, also planted with extreme care and by hand.
This work happens during an intense five-day period and is done with little outside attention but is part of the foundation of research that has helped this industry maintain its status as a reliable producer of premium quality rice.
Spring seeding is just one way the Rice Experiment Station maintains its role as an invaluable part of California rice production. It’s a job where patience is a virtue, as it takes about a decade for a new rice variety to go from its first planting to commercial use.
Jim Morris is Communications Manager for the California Rice Commission. Jim has worked in communications for more than 20 years. When he’s not on the job, he enjoys his family, faith, football, outrageous monster stories and running marathon
New Rice Grower Blog- Curveballs
05.06.2013
Curveballs. They're great in baseball but nerve wracking in rice farming! I had a big one thrown at me the other day. This spring had been pleasant enough apart from all the north wind. The ground dried out early and our "leisurely" pace is a pleasant respite from the frenetic pace of the last two years, at least until the other day.
Here is my rice roller in action- happily applying both base and starter fertilizers in one final pass across the fields before flood up and seeding.
The quadtrac seen above is an older tractor that is well suited to for this purpose, or was well suited rather. Within hours of this photo being taken a piston in its engine seized. What do I do now? I did not have another tractor to take its place so on the phone I went. Do I rent a replacement for two weeks while I fix this old tractor? Should I fix the quadtrac? Will I get the money invested in an old tractor back? Do I buy a new one? Not in this market! What's available in the used tractor market that will work? What does the banker think?
To answer all those questions and get back to rolling in the field took almost three days. Answering the questions and negotiating a deal for a used replacement tractor took a day and a half. Transferring all the GPS equipment and software was another day and a bit but we are up and going finally. Curveball managed!
Here is a photo of the old quadtrac with oil on the hood from the blown engine after being towed out of the field and its replacement getting started in the background.
Keep plowing ahead.
Sean Doherty is a 3rd generation rice farmer living out his dream, being a rice farmer in Dunnigan.
He farms in Yolo, Colusa, and Sutter Counties with his wife Melissa, and three kids, Hannah, Gus, and Mary. He enjoys being in the fields, watching the seasons, and sharing it with his family.Read more about Sean in Rice Farming magazine
Here is my rice roller in action- happily applying both base and starter fertilizers in one final pass across the fields before flood up and seeding.
The quadtrac seen above is an older tractor that is well suited to for this purpose, or was well suited rather. Within hours of this photo being taken a piston in its engine seized. What do I do now? I did not have another tractor to take its place so on the phone I went. Do I rent a replacement for two weeks while I fix this old tractor? Should I fix the quadtrac? Will I get the money invested in an old tractor back? Do I buy a new one? Not in this market! What's available in the used tractor market that will work? What does the banker think?
To answer all those questions and get back to rolling in the field took almost three days. Answering the questions and negotiating a deal for a used replacement tractor took a day and a half. Transferring all the GPS equipment and software was another day and a bit but we are up and going finally. Curveball managed!
Here is a photo of the old quadtrac with oil on the hood from the blown engine after being towed out of the field and its replacement getting started in the background.
Keep plowing ahead.
Sean Doherty is a 3rd generation rice farmer living out his dream, being a rice farmer in Dunnigan.He farms in Yolo, Colusa, and Sutter Counties with his wife Melissa, and three kids, Hannah, Gus, and Mary. He enjoys being in the fields, watching the seasons, and sharing it with his family.
New video- State Official tours a Sacramento Valley rice field
05.02.2013
Chair of the California Air Resources Board Mary Nichols provides comments after touring a Sacramento Valley rice farm.
New video: Faster Pace
04.30.2013
Rice grower Tom Butler of Robbins says despite some delays due to strong winds, this planting season is well ahead of recent years.
More about Tom: Tom Butler farms rice with his father, Steve, in Sutter and Yolo Counties. Tom is the fourth generation of his family to farm.
When he’s not on the job, the University of Nebraska graduate enjoys swimming, water polo, hunting and spending time with his family.
More about Tom: Tom Butler farms rice with his father, Steve, in Sutter and Yolo Counties. Tom is the fourth generation of his family to farm.When he’s not on the job, the University of Nebraska graduate enjoys swimming, water polo, hunting and spending time with his family.
New Blog- Faster Track
04.23.2013
We are ahead of schedule for this rice season; a welcome change from recent years when spring rains brought delays. I'm almost complete preparing my rice fields. The water will be going on soon and airplanes should carry out the seeding process in a matter of days. There already have been some airplanes flying seed around Richvale so my neighbors are on a good schedule as well.
Winds have proven a bit challenging in recent days. They can be helpful for drying out the ground but we have had some gusty winds that can delay some of our work.
All in all things have started well this year. This earlier start is a big help. Late plantings like we have had in recent years leads to the risk of not as much yield during the fall harvest.
This will be my seventy-second consecutive rice crop, something I derive a lot of satisfaction from.
Dennis Lindberg has grown rice in Butte County for more than 70 consecutive years. He’s a well-known author and metal artist, taking scrap metal and creating beautiful animal sculptures. His civic work and love of community is evidenced by his being honored as “Outstanding Citizen of the 20th Century” by Lundberg Family Farms. He and his wife Charlotte have two children – Gary and Sherry. Gary farms with his father in the historic community of Richvale, which recently celebrated its centennial.
Winds have proven a bit challenging in recent days. They can be helpful for drying out the ground but we have had some gusty winds that can delay some of our work.
All in all things have started well this year. This earlier start is a big help. Late plantings like we have had in recent years leads to the risk of not as much yield during the fall harvest.
This will be my seventy-second consecutive rice crop, something I derive a lot of satisfaction from.
Dennis Lindberg has grown rice in Butte County for more than 70 consecutive years. He’s a well-known author and metal artist, taking scrap metal and creating beautiful animal sculptures. His civic work and love of community is evidenced by his being honored as “Outstanding Citizen of the 20th Century” by Lundberg Family Farms. He and his wife Charlotte have two children – Gary and Sherry. Gary farms with his father in the historic community of Richvale, which recently celebrated its centennial.
New- Rice Commission Internship
Learn more about our new summer internship for college students. Those interested can apply immediately.
Background on internship
Internship application
04.22.2013
Learn more about our new summer internship for college students. Those interested can apply immediately. Background on internship
Internship application
New video: Environmental Stewardship in the Sacramento Valley
04.16.2013
Conservation Project Director Monica Igelcia with Audubon California comments on work by rice farmers to improve wildlife habitat on the farm.
New video: Armstrong & Getty and a small airplane
04.15.2013
Radio personalities Armstrong & Getty comment on the use of airplanes in planting rice in the Sacramento Valley each spring.
New CRC Blog- Enjoying our natural treasure
04.10.2013
By Jim Morris
Many areas have that “go to” location. First-timers to San Francisco often seek out the Golden Gate Bridge. When in Anaheim, one must don mouse ears. Neophytes to Los Angeles crane their necks on the 101 looking for the Hollywood sign. Perhaps the most iconic natural feature of our Sacramento Valley is something commonly seen but rarely experienced- the Sutter Buttes.
This smallest mountain range in the world was the result of a volcanic uprising more than one million years ago. This circular, castle-shaped mountain range in Sutter County is 10 miles across from any point and can be seen throughout much of the central Sacramento Valley.
After spending my entire life in the valley and taking tons of photos of the Buttes, it was time to get up close and personal with this icon. If you want to do the same it takes some planning.
Noted Outdoor Columnist Tom Steinstra with the San Francisco Chronicle said it well that the Buttes are “one of California’s last off-limits lands of secrets and mysteries.” The vast majority of this unique landscape is privately owned. State Parks acquired almost 1,800 acres deep within the Buttes, behind private rangelands and orchards. The park grounds are not yet open to the public. Your way to view the Buttes up close is through more than 30 hikes and other projects facilitated by the Middle Mountain Foundation, a non-profit group aimed at education and preserving this marvel of nature. The cost is $35-45 per person, depending on the event. There’s a sign up period and reservations fill up fast. Be sure to wear your hiking boots and bring plenty of water and lunch as this a genuine outdoor adventure.
Wife Leslie, son RJ and myself started our wildflower hike experience by meeting fellow hikers at Waffle Shop in Live Oak (note to self, return to Waffle Shop for a future breakfast). Our group caravanned to Shaeffer Ranch. Our guide for the day was Ty Shaeffer, whose family settled on the land in 1860. They farm almonds, lease land for cattle grazing and derive some of their livelihood from guided hikes.
The region’s volcanic past was unmistakable as we set out, as a wide array of rocks dominated the landscape.
Ty has named many of the more prominent rocks, including this he calls the Sentinel, which looks like a Roman Guard.
The recent rainfall helped perk up the wildflower populations and there were some marvelous sights along the trail.
Ty says there are likely 100 or more different types of flora and fauna in the region. Flowers include Monkey Flower, Manroot, Douglas’s Violet, Lobb’s Poppy and Bird’s Eye Gilia to name a few.
Animals include a healthy lizard population, kept on their toes by RJ’s unfulfilled mission to capture one. There are also raptors, woodpeckers and an estimated 2 to 3,000 feral pigs that are rototilling the natural environment. We didn’t see any of those brutes, except for this unfortunate swine that ran into something higher on the food chain.
One of the interesting anecdotes of the day was the Cold War remnant of the region. In 1963, a missile silo complex was built at the base of the Buttes that housed three Titan I ICBM missiles. The site was decommissioned and dismantled in 1965.
Just like with the food production and wildlife habitat derived from area rice fields, it was nice to see there were multiple, harmonious uses for the land – farming interwoven with tourism and environmental protection.
As we wrapped up our five-mile hike, tired yet satisfied, we finished with a deeper appreciation for the Buttes and the passionate people working to protect them for future generations.
Jim Morris is Communications Manager for the California Rice Commission. Jim has worked in communications for more than 20 years. When he’s not on the job, he enjoys his family, faith, football, outrageous monster stories and running marathon
Many areas have that “go to” location. First-timers to San Francisco often seek out the Golden Gate Bridge. When in Anaheim, one must don mouse ears. Neophytes to Los Angeles crane their necks on the 101 looking for the Hollywood sign. Perhaps the most iconic natural feature of our Sacramento Valley is something commonly seen but rarely experienced- the Sutter Buttes.
This smallest mountain range in the world was the result of a volcanic uprising more than one million years ago. This circular, castle-shaped mountain range in Sutter County is 10 miles across from any point and can be seen throughout much of the central Sacramento Valley.
After spending my entire life in the valley and taking tons of photos of the Buttes, it was time to get up close and personal with this icon. If you want to do the same it takes some planning.
Noted Outdoor Columnist Tom Steinstra with the San Francisco Chronicle said it well that the Buttes are “one of California’s last off-limits lands of secrets and mysteries.” The vast majority of this unique landscape is privately owned. State Parks acquired almost 1,800 acres deep within the Buttes, behind private rangelands and orchards. The park grounds are not yet open to the public. Your way to view the Buttes up close is through more than 30 hikes and other projects facilitated by the Middle Mountain Foundation, a non-profit group aimed at education and preserving this marvel of nature. The cost is $35-45 per person, depending on the event. There’s a sign up period and reservations fill up fast. Be sure to wear your hiking boots and bring plenty of water and lunch as this a genuine outdoor adventure.
Wife Leslie, son RJ and myself started our wildflower hike experience by meeting fellow hikers at Waffle Shop in Live Oak (note to self, return to Waffle Shop for a future breakfast). Our group caravanned to Shaeffer Ranch. Our guide for the day was Ty Shaeffer, whose family settled on the land in 1860. They farm almonds, lease land for cattle grazing and derive some of their livelihood from guided hikes.
The region’s volcanic past was unmistakable as we set out, as a wide array of rocks dominated the landscape.
Ty has named many of the more prominent rocks, including this he calls the Sentinel, which looks like a Roman Guard.
The recent rainfall helped perk up the wildflower populations and there were some marvelous sights along the trail.
Animals include a healthy lizard population, kept on their toes by RJ’s unfulfilled mission to capture one. There are also raptors, woodpeckers and an estimated 2 to 3,000 feral pigs that are rototilling the natural environment. We didn’t see any of those brutes, except for this unfortunate swine that ran into something higher on the food chain.
One of the interesting anecdotes of the day was the Cold War remnant of the region. In 1963, a missile silo complex was built at the base of the Buttes that housed three Titan I ICBM missiles. The site was decommissioned and dismantled in 1965.
Just like with the food production and wildlife habitat derived from area rice fields, it was nice to see there were multiple, harmonious uses for the land – farming interwoven with tourism and environmental protection.
As we wrapped up our five-mile hike, tired yet satisfied, we finished with a deeper appreciation for the Buttes and the passionate people working to protect them for future generations.
Jim Morris is Communications Manager for the California Rice Commission. Jim has worked in communications for more than 20 years. When he’s not on the job, he enjoys his family, faith, football, outrageous monster stories and running marathon
New CRC Blog- Aerial Applicators take preseason seriously
04.10.2013
By Roberta Firoved
No longer is the term crop duster acceptable in referring to the professionals who apply crop protection materials from airplanes. The term was coined over eighty years ago when airplanes used dusting materials. Today, the technology has greatly evolved with highly specialized aircraft that use Global Positioning System (GPS) software, dispersal systems monitoring flow rates and calibration software.
In California, rice is grown mostly in the nine contiguous counties just north of Sacramento. Rice acreage accounts for approximately 500,000 of the over two million acres dedicated to farmland in this area. With rice grown in proximity to other crops, product stewardship is vital for maintaining crop protection materials. The California rice industry has taken proactive and protective measures to ensure positive stewardship for pesticide applications.
The term “California rice industry” extends beyond the farmers, millers and rice commission. Our stakeholders include a broad array of companies, businesses regulators and researchers. We give credit to two companies for implementing a novel approach to product stewardship.
Dow AgroSciences and Valent U.S.A. Corporation introduced preseason airplane calibration to the stewardship portfolio. The program utilizes support from the California Agricultural Aircraft Association (CAAA) and the expertise of Dick Stoltz who is certified to do airplane calibration. CAAA owns the software technology utilized to measure droplet deposition from the aircraft. The software for determining droplet deposition is the same used in the bakery industry as quality control for counting holes in bread. The droplet deposition results show where to adjust the calibration, or whether the boom and nozzle placement should be changed. Any airplane not meeting certification requirements must make adjustments, be recalibrated and retested.
This level of airplane calibration is novel to the Sacramento Valley. At first, airplane calibration was not popular among aerial applicators. It was as if they were signaled out. Now, the aerial applicators look forward to airplane calibration because it assures an additional level of quality control. From the success of the airplane calibration, other programs have evolved such as ground rig stewardship for the use of select crop protection materials.
Airplane calibration is just one piece of the process to assuring positive stewardship when applying crop protection materials by air. It is a complex process to set-up the airfield for the calibration exercises. Wind gauges are used and the droplet deposition cards must be readjusted if conditions change. The airplane lands for inspection and filling with a blank formulation of the product. Pilots make a few passes next to the airstrip. The ground crew signals all conditions are positive and the pilot makes a pass over the string and blocks holding the deposition cards to the ground.
Once the airplane makes a pass over the cards, the ground crew waves a flag if the droplets appear. The process allows the pilot to return home without landing the airplane again. With a tip of the wing, the pilot takes the newly calibrated airplane back to the home hanger for another rice season.
The agricultural aerial applicators have the benefit of loving what they do, and doing what they love. Yes they deal with the elements, customers and long hours, but they are there every year providing great benefit to farmers – and ultimately consumers too.
Watch an airplane in action during the testing:
Roberta Firoved is Industry Affairs Manager for the California Rice Commission.
No longer is the term crop duster acceptable in referring to the professionals who apply crop protection materials from airplanes. The term was coined over eighty years ago when airplanes used dusting materials. Today, the technology has greatly evolved with highly specialized aircraft that use Global Positioning System (GPS) software, dispersal systems monitoring flow rates and calibration software.
In California, rice is grown mostly in the nine contiguous counties just north of Sacramento. Rice acreage accounts for approximately 500,000 of the over two million acres dedicated to farmland in this area. With rice grown in proximity to other crops, product stewardship is vital for maintaining crop protection materials. The California rice industry has taken proactive and protective measures to ensure positive stewardship for pesticide applications.
The term “California rice industry” extends beyond the farmers, millers and rice commission. Our stakeholders include a broad array of companies, businesses regulators and researchers. We give credit to two companies for implementing a novel approach to product stewardship.
Dow AgroSciences and Valent U.S.A. Corporation introduced preseason airplane calibration to the stewardship portfolio. The program utilizes support from the California Agricultural Aircraft Association (CAAA) and the expertise of Dick Stoltz who is certified to do airplane calibration. CAAA owns the software technology utilized to measure droplet deposition from the aircraft. The software for determining droplet deposition is the same used in the bakery industry as quality control for counting holes in bread. The droplet deposition results show where to adjust the calibration, or whether the boom and nozzle placement should be changed. Any airplane not meeting certification requirements must make adjustments, be recalibrated and retested.
This level of airplane calibration is novel to the Sacramento Valley. At first, airplane calibration was not popular among aerial applicators. It was as if they were signaled out. Now, the aerial applicators look forward to airplane calibration because it assures an additional level of quality control. From the success of the airplane calibration, other programs have evolved such as ground rig stewardship for the use of select crop protection materials.
Airplane calibration is just one piece of the process to assuring positive stewardship when applying crop protection materials by air. It is a complex process to set-up the airfield for the calibration exercises. Wind gauges are used and the droplet deposition cards must be readjusted if conditions change. The airplane lands for inspection and filling with a blank formulation of the product. Pilots make a few passes next to the airstrip. The ground crew signals all conditions are positive and the pilot makes a pass over the string and blocks holding the deposition cards to the ground.
The agricultural aerial applicators have the benefit of loving what they do, and doing what they love. Yes they deal with the elements, customers and long hours, but they are there every year providing great benefit to farmers – and ultimately consumers too.
Watch an airplane in action during the testing:
Roberta Firoved is Industry Affairs Manager for the California Rice Commission.
New video from Lauren LaGrande-Spring in Maxwell
04.09.2013
Lauren LaGrande comments on upcoming activities in Maxwell, a rice farming community in Colusa County.
Lauren LaGrande is the latest in a family farming tradition that began nearly 100 years ago. She is a student at Maxwell High School and is active in FFA, Future Business Leaders of America, volleyball, basketball and softball. When she’s on the farm, you’ll often see her with her trusted companion, Hank, the family dog. Lauren’s great-grandfather grew his first rice crop in the Sacramento Valley in 1916 and the family has continued this tradition ever since.
Lauren LaGrande is the latest in a family farming tradition that began nearly 100 years ago. She is a student at Maxwell High School and is active in FFA, Future Business Leaders of America, volleyball, basketball and softball. When she’s on the farm, you’ll often see her with her trusted companion, Hank, the family dog. Lauren’s great-grandfather grew his first rice crop in the Sacramento Valley in 1916 and the family has continued this tradition ever since.
