Thanks to the research which you have faithfully funded, 1980 was the second straight year that our average yield has exceeded 6,000 pounds per acre. In the good growing season of 1979 the average yield was 6,520 pounds per acre on 522,000 acres, and in the poor growing season of 1980, it was 6,440 pounds per acre on 548,000 acres! Yes, we are annually receiving many-fold returns on our investment in research.

We will continue to support the productive variety development projects at the Rice Experiment Station and other essential projects such as weed control, but the time has arrived for a crash program on the straw management problem. The agricultural burning issue has attracted wide public interest. We have to find and quickly implement new straw management practices.

The increased funds you voted for in June 1980 to accelerate straw management research are already being put to effective use. Our manager, Mel Androus, presents an up to date summary for you in this report.

Your Board assures you that every dollar invested in new straw research will be wisely invested. We will not be pressured into sponsorship of questionable research just to respond to public pressure about agricultural burning. Our prior residue research projects have provided a base which we believe will enable our industry ultimately to turn the 1.5 million tons of straw produced annually into a valuable asset, perhaps to generate power to help meet our on-farm energy needs.

Another area of public concern requiring our renewed close attention involves agricultural water use and water quality. Since 1970 your Rice Research Board has sponsored University of California research on the amount of water needed to grow rice and the environmental fate of the chemicals we use. Since 1974 we have annually accumulated information which shows that if growers follow recommended procedures, water quality is not degraded by the chemicals we use for rice culture. In some cases it is actually improved.

Rice irrigation research findings recently have been summarized and published by the University of California in Division of Agricultural Sciences Leaflet 21175. Copies are available from your local Cooperative Extension Office. Despite the information we have accumulated, we probably will have to expand our research on water use and water quality.

If you have questions about any phase of the research program, please contact your local Board representative or our manager, Mel Androus, in Yuba City, 916-673-6247.