CALIFORNIA RICE COUNTRY – Earlier this month, the California Rice Commission (CRC) hosted a multi-day industry tour for representatives from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Attendees included staff from the EPA’s Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP), USDA’s Office of Pest Management Policy (OPMP) and Office of the Chief Economist (OCE), and USA Rice’s Shelby Young.
Following a welcome dinner hosted by CRC, the group visited Sun Valley Rice Mill, where they were provided with a detailed tour and overview of how California’s rice moves from cultivation to the consumer. The delegation also observed water quality monitoring conducted by a field crew at the Colusa National Wildlife Refuge and learned about CRC’s Rice Footprint Project and conservation initiatives from Kristin Sesser.
The day continued with a field tour led by rice farmer and CRC Chair Josh Sheppard and then on to Williams Ag Services where Clarence and Karen Williams discussed aerial rice seed planting and pesticide application, and participants were provided an opportunity to review application technologies and examine equipment.
Mitch Renfree, manager of the Joint Water District, briefed the group on the distinct water supply system that supports rice production in the region. Later, the Butte County Rice Growers Association (BUCRA) welcomed participants to their Richvale facility. CEO Carl Hoff and Pest Control Advisor (PCA) J.R. Gallagher offered an in-depth look at the California rice industry and emphasized the vital role PCAs play in effective pest management.
On the final day of the tour, the group went to the Rice Experiment Station (RES), where attendees learned about the station’s role in the California rice industry, ongoing research efforts, and rice pest management. Eric Pittman, Deputy Agricultural Commissioner for Butte County, discussed local pesticide regulation and enforcement practices.
The group also visited the farm of Kim Gallagher, CRC Industry Affairs Committee Chair, who shared her experience managing pests and the unique challenges California rice growers face. The final stop was the CRC’s Sacramento office, where Roberta Firoved provided a historical perspective on California’s pesticide regulatory environment and its evolution over the years.
“We want to sincerely thank Craig Riddle and the rest of the California Rice Commission team for hosting such a thoughtful and well-organized tour,” said Shelby Young, USA Rice senior manager of government affairs. “We’re hopeful that the experience, insights, and relationships formed during this visit will significantly deepen participants’ understanding of the unique challenges rice growers face. We also appreciate the time and engagement of the EPA and USDA staff, whose work is critical to ensuring the rice industry continues to have access to the tools it needs for effective and responsible pest management.”
For more information, contact the CRC’s Industry Affairs Manager Craig Riddle at criddle@calrice.org.