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Chairman's Report-87
Rice Research Board Chairman Steven L. Dennis	In a few short months, we will have completed 20 years of rice research under the expanded program made possible with grower support through the Rice Research Board. We have good reasons to boast. After all, California is the the top yielding rice growing region in the world and has one of the fastest growing domestic markets. Much of our success has been due to the skilled minds and hands of the talented team of Dr. Howard Carnahan, Dr. Carl Johnson, and Dr. Shu-Ten Tseng. Through their efforts, California has a high yielding long-grain of good quality, bred for California's unique climate. We recently released an aromatic long-grain to go with our high yielding sweet rice for specialty markets. With Dr. Kent McKenzie as Howard Carnahan's replacement, our team promises to retain the high standards of achievement it has maintained in the past, while setting new goals for quality so that California can remain competitive and seek new markets, both domestic and foreign. A new, environmentally-sound herbicide, Londax, is anticipated to be available for wide-scale use in 1989. Londax promises to be a safe chemical because it is highly effective in very low doses. The general public will appreciate the strides the rice industry is making to protect the environment. Progresss is being made in selecting rice varieties with greater tolerance to herbicides. Increased use of on-farm water recirculating systems, along with better control of herbicide applications and slow release drainage, are helping to reduce pesticide residues in drains and rivers. While we haven't completely solved the problem, progress has been made to reduce or eliminate pesticide residues in the environment. New marketing horizons are in sight. As rice and its by products gain popularity at home, a new commercial bran stabilization process developed at the Western Regional Research Center, USDA at Albany, California, is being used by two major Sacramento Valley mills. Stabilized rice bran has found strong demand in Japan, Taiwan and Korea. And, as a result, we are researching ways to convert bran from low value livestock feed to breakfast cereals and other human consumptive uses. Improved shelf life is another major research area. Initial results show we can keep rice fresh for cooking much longer through partial milling or non-parboiling processes. These are highlights of research developments at the Rice Experiment Station, the University of California, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Greater detail is provided in this report. I encourage you to get involved with your rice research program. Develop working relationships with your research scientists. They value your thoughts and experience. Remember, it is your research program, and it needs your participation. As a last note, after 18 dedicated years to the rice research program, Dr. Howard L. Carnahan's retirement changes the face of our breeding team, but not its overall commitment. I want to thank Howard for his past endeavors and wish him well in the future. I have every confidence that his replacement, Dr. Kent S. McKenzie will use his abilities and creativity to help carry us into another era of outstanding accomplishments.

Chairman's Report-87

Rice Research Board Chairman

Steven L. Dennis

In a few short months, we will have completed 20 years of rice research under the expanded program made possible with grower support through the Rice Research Board. We have good reasons to boast. After all, California is the the top yielding rice growing region in the world and has one of the fastest growing domestic markets.

Much of our success has been due to the skilled minds and hands of the talented team of Dr. Howard Carnahan, Dr. Carl Johnson, and Dr. Shu-Ten Tseng. Through their efforts, California has a high yielding long-grain of good quality, bred for California's unique climate. We recently released an aromatic long-grain to go with our high yielding sweet rice for specialty markets. With Dr. Kent McKenzie as Howard Carnahan's replacement, our team promises to retain the high standards of achievement it has maintained in the past, while setting new goals for quality so that California can remain competitive and seek new markets, both domestic and foreign.

A new, environmentally-sound herbicide, Londax, is anticipated to be available for wide-scale use in 1989. Londax promises to be a safe chemical because it is highly effective in very low doses. The general public will appreciate the strides the rice industry is making to protect the environment.

Progresss is being made in selecting rice varieties with greater tolerance to herbicides.

Increased use of on-farm water recirculating systems, along with better control of herbicide applications and slow release drainage, are helping to reduce pesticide residues in drains and rivers. While we haven't completely solved the problem, progress has been made to reduce or eliminate pesticide residues in the environment.

New marketing horizons are in sight. As rice and its by products gain popularity at home, a new commercial bran stabilization process developed at the Western Regional Research Center, USDA at Albany, California, is being used by two major Sacramento Valley mills. Stabilized rice bran has found strong demand in Japan, Taiwan and Korea. And, as a result, we are researching ways to convert bran from low value livestock feed to breakfast cereals and other human consumptive uses.

Improved shelf life is another major research area. Initial results show we can keep rice fresh for cooking much longer through partial milling or non-parboiling processes.

These are highlights of research developments at the Rice Experiment Station, the University of California, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Greater detail is provided in this report.

I encourage you to get involved with your rice research program. Develop working relationships with your research scientists. They value your thoughts and experience. Remember, it is your research program, and it needs your participation.

As a last note, after 18 dedicated years to the rice research program, Dr. Howard L. Carnahan's retirement changes the face of our breeding team, but not its overall commitment. I want to thank Howard for his past endeavors and wish him well in the future. I have every confidence that his replacement, Dr. Kent S. McKenzie will use his abilities and creativity to help carry us into another era of outstanding accomplishments.