STUTTGART & JONESBORO, AR – Growers, industry partners, and researchers loaded up into carts at the research stations – in Stuttgart last week – and yesterday at the brand new Northeast Rice Research & Extension Center (NERREC) that formally opens later this month. All told, more than 500 industry professionals toured the two stations to hear about cutting edge research at eight mini-presentations at each station.
Following last week’s field tours in Stuttgart, a line-up of researchers from the station as well as University of Arkansas officials provided remarks. Producers Rice Mill and Riceland Foods were the key event sponsors, and Producers CEO and current chair of USA Rice Keith Glover thanked the crowd for their participation and reinforced the importance of the checkoff program and the role USA Rice plays in advocating for the industry.
At NERREC yesterday, rice breeders Dr. Xueyan Sha and Dr. Christian De Guzman talked about the six breeds the University has released over the past several years and the promising yield data from current research including a new conventional long grain, several varieties of Clearfield long grain, two Provisia long grains, and some medium grain varieties, as well as the heralded aromatic, ARoma 22.
Dr. Jarrod Hardke shared interesting details on his planting dates study that looks at six dates in both the Stuttgart location, and now the Jonesboro plots to give an even fuller picture of data for growers. He reported on a new study in the works addressing milling yield as it relates to planting dates and late nutrient applications.
Hardke also warned farmers that harvest was going to start in earnest, with moisture levels of early cut rice a few points lower than what would be typical.
Dr. Trent Roberts briefed attendees on the production system sustainability work he is heading up, with funding from Anheuser-Busch, examining the intersection of cover crops, no till, row rice, and crop rotation that will ultimately reduce input costs.
Arkansas State University’s Dr. Steve Green dove into soil health, explaining his findings into organic content, bioactivity, and carbon sequestration, and how field grading impacts phosphorus and nitrogen levels, and thus soil health.
On-farm automation, particularly in irrigation, was the focus of the next stop on the tour. Dr. Joe Massey explained early cascade irrigation shut off that he said provides a cost-effective option for farmers who prefer not to use polypipe solutions. He added that not only can reduced pumping and fuel help control input costs, the quality of life an automated system offers is difficult to quantify but should factor into farmer decisions.
Finally, Dr. Arlene Adviento-Borbe talked about her research into developing climate smart cropping systems through residue management, managing nitrogen, dryness, and various cultivars.
An additional tour track heard updates on tailwater recirculating systems in row rice from Dr. Chris Henry; real time measurement of greenhouse gases in row rice production from Dr. Michele Reba; and rice disease and weed management from Dr. Camilla Nicolli and Dr. Bob Scott, respectively.
Following lunch at the NERREC, Station Director Dr. Tim Burchum welcomed attendees and thanked the team who made the station possible, recalling that when he first stood on this spot just three years ago there was one truck, one shovel, and one pair of boots. Vice President of Agriculture for the University, Dr. Deacue Fields, echoed those sentiments, also thanking the farmers and industry partners.
Then keynote speaker Rich Hillman, immediate past chair of Arkansas Farm Bureau, and former member of the Arkansas Rice Research and Promotion Board, waxed poetic about all that went into the new station and the promise of what it will offer farmers here and around the world.
“There’s a Chinese proverb that says every grain of rice contains a drop of sweat from a farm,” Hillman observed.