Crowded Calendar for Missouri Field Days Last Week

RICE COUNTRY, MO – The Missouri bootheel was a hot spot for rice field days last week although the weather here was cooler than usual.  

The Missouri Rice Research and Merchandising Council kicked off their annual field day last Tuesday with updates on weed and insect management, rice varieties, ongoing rice research and verification, and an economics report with a focus on farm bill implications.

“Commodity markets, input prices, and the financial situation of the agriculture industry were top of mind for many of the farmers we visited,” said Jamison Cruce, USA Rice vice president of government affairs.  “The field day provided an excellent opportunity to have conversations on the status of a new farm bill and USA Rice’s years long work to ensure that the next reauthorization contains provisions that are beneficial to rice farmers – chiefly, a meaningful increase in the rice PLC reference price.”
 
Last Thursday, the Fisher Delta Research, Extension, and Education Center hosted the University of Missouri Ag Research Expo.  This event is an expansion on the annual Fisher Delta Rice Field Day and allows participants an opportunity for more one-on-one interactions with vendors and researchers through self-guided tours.  USA Rice and Ducks Unlimited were proud vendors and excited to hear about the producers that are already harvesting rice in the region, the earliest harvest that many producers can remember.
 
The 63rd Annual Fisher Delta Field Day started off early Friday morning with an appreciation breakfast and updates from an array of Missouri elected officials.  Trent Haggard, director of the Fisher Delta Research Center, welcomed everyone, including Governor Mike Parson, Lieutenant Governor Mike Kehoe, U.S Congressman Jason Smith, and Missouri Senator Jason Bean, all of whom are deeply rooted in agriculture.  Participants then saw plans for the future Roy Blunt Soil Testing and Research Laboratory and loaded on trailers for field tours.

“Those in attendance at the event last Friday took advantage of the impressive turnout of their state’s elected officials to do some real time advocacy for the industry,” said Emily Woodall, USA Rice senior manager of rice conservation services, who was in attendance at Friday’s event.  “And a good reminder that now is definitely the time to touch base with your legislators who should be home during the August recess.”