ARLINGTON, VA – What do children’s books and crop protection products have in common? Well, they can each help protect the rice industry’s investment in itself and both are the topics on the latest episode of
The Rice Stuff podcast, available now.
California rice farmer and creator of Rice Farming TV Matthew Sligar joined the show to explain what possessed him to write a children’s book, “Daddy’s Got Dirt: A California Rice Story,” and how he hopes the beautifully illustrated book will bring a better understanding of rice farming to kids in and out of rice country.
“Fostering a better appreciation of what it takes to farm rice and the care that goes into every crop will go a long way to helping the reputation of the industry,” said Michael Klein, USA Rice vice president of communications and domestic promotion, and co-host of the podcast. “Like everything Matthew does, he’s putting a very specific face on rice farming, and that goes a long way to protecting our social license to operate as an industry.”
Speaking of protection, Rice Foundation Executive Director and podcast co-host Dr. Steve Linscombe was then joined by some old friends to talk about the safe use of crop protection products.
Weed scientist Dr. Eric Webster, entomologist Dr. Mo Way, and Arkansas rice farmer Sidney Robnett shared some of their vast knowledge and experience on everything from the difference in preventative and reactive treatment; coordination of researchers, regulators, and private agri-science companies; and how growers make on-farm decisions about what products to use and when.
The 2021 season will be here before you know it, so now is as good a time as any to spend some time with crop protection experts as you think about what you might like to do differently next year.
Sligar’s book, that was produced with support from USA Rice, many in the California rice industry, and The Rice Foundation, can be found on his website at www.ricefarmingtv.com or Amazon.
New episodes of The Rice Stuff are published on the second and fourth Tuesday of every month and can be found on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, and Stitcher. All episodes and additional information can be found on the podcast’s dedicated website at
thericestuffpodcast.com. The site includes a “Podcast 101” section on the “About” page for people new to the medium and a means to reach out to the show hosts and guests via the “Talk to Us” button.