Chairman's Report 83

Chairman's Report-83

Rice Research Board Chairman, Lance D. Tennis

As California rice growers you are to be congratulated again for your continued support of the Rice Research Program. Over 1.27 million dollars have been invested in our 1983 research program while administration costs have been reduced to a minimum under the able direction of our manager, Mr. Mel Androus. The 4 1/2 cents per hundredweight assessment on the 1983 crop will ensure that adequate funding will be available to finance a strong program in 1984.

A special committee of the Rice Research Board reviews research proposals before recommending them for Board approval

The rice breeding program at the Rice Experiment Station, Briggs, is developing new improved varieties including the just released long grain, L-202. This high yielding long grain indicates great potential for California growers in meeting new markets that can only be penetrated by a salable long grain. Higher milling quality characteristics have been requested by the mills so the station has intensified its efforts to incorporate this into our California varieties. Disease resistance and herbicide tolerance are also stressed in the breeding program.

Scientists at the University Of California, Davis, continue to provide ongoing research in critical areas of study such as invertebrate pest control, weed control, rice diseases, basic variety development, rice nutrition and grain quality and environmental impact.

The University's farm advisors in the rice growing counties coordinate with local farmers to provide test plots and field trials so new varieties and pesticides can be observed in different areas under field conditions. To ensure that these hundreds of trials will be harvested in a timely manner, the Rice Research Board funded a new custom-built SWECO full-track plot harvester which will serve the industry for many years to come.

The successful rice straw burning program has become the model for all agricultural commodities with a pollution problem. We have been so successful that the California Air Resources Board has amended its regulations to permit more burning which is justifiable under new criteria developed through this program. The Nowcasting project at Chico State University and the fantastic support of the county agricultural commissioners have developed a burn system that has enabled growers to burn most of their fields in the fall.

We must recognize the growers who have served on the board of directors at the Rice Experiment Station and the Rice Research Board. Certainly, without the time and effort put forth by these people over the years, we would not have the fine research program we are enjoying today. Much has been accomplished; however, much remains to be done. With your support, we will continue this tremendous rice research program.