HARRISBURG, AR & MEMPHIS, TN – Last week, three signature events brought together farmers, researchers, agribusiness leaders, and conservation partners from across the rice industry.
RiceTec's annual Industry Social and Field Day was held Wednesday evening in Harrisburg, Arkansas, bringing together growers and industry partners to tour research plots featuring new hybrid varieties, learn about advances in weed management and herbicide technologies, and exchange ideas with fellow producers and researchers. The event also provided an opportunity to strengthen the partnerships that continue to drive innovation across the rice industry.
The following morning, more than 200 producers, consultants, researchers, and industry representatives gathered at the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture's Northeast Rice Research and Extension Center (NERREC) for the annual Rice and Soybean Field Day. Attendees participated in field tours and educational sessions covering rice breeding, irrigation, nutrient management, weed control, aerial application technology, and other research designed to improve profitability and resilience for Arkansas farmers.
The series continued Friday through Sunday in Memphis at the Ducks Unlimited Expo. With more than 30,000 attendees, this year's event was the largest in the organization’s history. More than 300 exhibitors filled the Renasant Convention Center, welcoming outdoor enthusiasts, conservation supporters, and industry partners from across the country while showcasing Ducks Unlimited's commitment to conservation and the outdoor heritage that supports working agricultural landscapes.
Beyond the research plots and record-setting crowds, the week also provided an opportunity to recognize one of Arkansas rice's most influential leaders. During the NERREC Field Day, Dr. Tim Burcham announced his retirement following more than 30 years of service in research, extension services, and higher education. The event celebrated not only his distinguished career, but also the successful completion of the Northeast Rice Research and Extension Center, a facility he helped guide from concept to reality.
“We started with a pickup truck, one pair of rubber boots, and a shovel, and that is no exaggeration,” Burcham recalled, reflecting on the center’s beginnings. “But there was one word that described everyone involved in the early days of this project, and that one word was faith. Staunch and unbridled faith, that guided every decision and shattered every obstacle in our path."
True to that spirit, Burcham was quick to credit those who helped shape his career. "Whatever recognition I've received over my career, it's never been about me," he said. "It's about the people around me that have guided me, sustained me and encouraged me."
Amid the innovation on display throughout the week, the lasting impression was that collaboration makes progress possible. Each event reflected the partnerships and people that continue to shape the future of U.S. rice.