HARRISBURG, AR – The Northeast Rice Research and Extension Center (NERREC) held the first Arkansas rice field day of 2025 yesterday. Attendees braved the heat to join field tours in the early morning. The primary field tour focused on rice, specifically on rice breeding and variety development, the efficacy of Azyoxystrobin and Flutolanil against Rhizoctonia solani in rice, weed control and a Dodhylex herbicide demo, rice water management, nitrogen management of varieties in furrow-irrigated rice, and rice agronomy and variety testing.
This year’s field day also featured a new seminar series. This series included Dr. Hunter Biram, an assistant professor with the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture, providing an economic and policy update for the Arkansas ag economy, as well as Brigit Rollins and Emily Stone, both staff attorneys with the National Agricultural Law Center, discussing the latest news regarding Make America Healthy Again and the Endangered Species Act. To top off the seminar series, Dr. Scott LaFontaine, also an assistant professor with the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture, discussed new markets for Arkansas rice in the brewing industry, and provided samples of their department’s newest non-alcoholic beer.
Dr. Tim Burcham, Director of the Northeast Rice Research and Extension Center, welcomed and thanked the 300 attendees before they enjoyed a delicious catered meal. Dr. Deacue Fields, Vice President for Agriculture of the University of Arklansas Division of Agriculture, provided an update on the Division’s activities for the year as well as the new building improvements that are planned in the coming years. USA Rice president and CEO Peter Bachmann gave an industry update on what’s happening in Washington as well.
Bachmann said, “We cannot thank our Congressional leadership enough for the economic assistance provided through the recent passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Senator Boozman along with his House counterpart Chairman Thompson and many of their agriculture committee colleagues ensured that the improved Farm Bill reference prices and other key provisions were incorporated into the legislative package, resulting in one of the largest investments in rural America in many years.”
The event concluded with a moving and emotional keynote address by Jennifer James titled “Rooted in Resilience – Navigating the Future of Rice Farming.” James is a fourth generation rice, soybean, and corn farmer in Northeast Arkansas who is passionate about telling her story through her Field Good Life blog and podcast and she urged others to help tell the ag story.
“We know there is a great rural-urban divide,” she said. “But it’s not just people who live in Manhattan or Denver or Miami. It can be folks who live in Jonesboro or West Memphis or Beebe who might not be in touch with what we do. But consider the fact that your neighbors who live in the heart of rice country – Pocahontas, Hunter, Walnut Ridge, Leachville, Trumann, Cherry Valley, Lepanto, Tuckerman, and many other small communities do not understand what we do, how we do it, or why we do it. If our neighbors don’t understand, how can we expect them to advocate for agriculture – the economic base of all our small communities?”
Following the field day, USA Rice staff, including COO Sarah Moran presented on industry priorities and activities at the Arkansas Rice Research and Promotion Board meeting.