Chairman's Report 77

Chairman's Report - 77
Rice Research Board Chairman, James Leathers	Dear Fellow Rice Grower: I strongly urge you and your rice-growing neighbors to vote promptly when you receive your mail ballot for the Rice Marketing Order referendum scheduled for May 1-31, 1978. Our ability as rice growers to remain competitive - and to scientifically address environmental concerns depends upon continuation of our strong research program. Industry sponsored research led to record California rice yields that reached 5,810 pounds per acre in 1977. Even greater and more economical yields are possible as the new short-statured varieties and better weed, disease and insect control and crop fertilization methods developed with our research funds become more widely used in California. Our improved technology has kept us competitive with rice produced in the Southern states - particularly the new rice districts in the Mississippi Delta - where land, labor and tax costs are less. Our 1977 costs per hundredweight averaged about 11 percent less than their lowest cost and 17.5 percent lower than their highest cost areas. A 1977 USDA study revealed that, among other efficiencies, we use less energy than our competition per hundredweight of rice produced. Our efficient production keeps us competitive in domestic markets and in worldwide export trade. We also can point with pride to our successful efforts to preserve and improve California's air, soil and water resources. Certainly, research that we have sponsored has enabled us to better manage rice crop residues and has permitted us to retain essential pesticides. This report summarizes our research progress since 1969. More detailed information is available in the Eighth Annual Report, April, 1977. To harvest the benefits of even better varieties and better management practices, I feel that you will find overwhelming evidence in these reports to warrant a favorable vote, ensuring continued funding for our highly productive research program. For more information, please consult one of the Rice Research Board members listed on page 30 of this report. With kind regards, I am, James Leathers, Chairman California Rice Research Board

Chairman's Report - 77

Rice Research Board Chairman, James Leathers

Dear Fellow Rice Grower:

I strongly urge you and your rice-growing neighbors to vote promptly when you receive your mail ballot for the Rice Marketing Order referendum scheduled for May 1-31, 1978. Our ability as rice growers to remain competitive - and to scientifically address environmental concerns depends upon continuation of our strong research program.

Industry sponsored research led to record California rice yields that reached 5,810 pounds per acre in 1977. Even greater and more economical yields are possible as the new short-statured varieties and better weed, disease and insect control and crop fertilization methods developed with our research funds become more widely used in California.

Our improved technology has kept us competitive with rice produced in the Southern states - particularly the new rice districts in the Mississippi Delta - where land, labor and tax costs are less. Our 1977 costs per hundredweight averaged about 11 percent less than their lowest cost and 17.5 percent lower than their highest cost areas. A 1977 USDA study revealed that, among other efficiencies, we use less energy than our competition per hundredweight of rice produced. Our efficient production keeps us competitive in domestic markets and in worldwide export trade.

We also can point with pride to our successful efforts to preserve and improve California's air, soil and water resources. Certainly, research that we have sponsored has enabled us to better manage rice crop residues and has permitted us to retain essential pesticides.

This report summarizes our research progress since 1969. More detailed information is available in the Eighth Annual Report, April, 1977. To harvest the benefits of even better varieties and better management practices, I feel that you will find overwhelming evidence in these reports to warrant a favorable vote, ensuring continued funding for our highly productive research program.

For more information, please consult one of the Rice Research Board members listed on page 30 of this report. With kind regards, I am,

James Leathers, Chairman California Rice Research Board