Writer: Jay Cockrell, (409) 752-2741, Ext. 2272
BEAUMONT — The Texas A&M Agricultural Research Center in Beaumont will celebrate its 55th Annual Rice Field Day in honor of Texas rice farmers on July 11.
“The tremendous advances made in varietal development, production practices and genetics would not have been possible without the support of our producers,” said Dr. Ted Wilson, center director.
“Not only have per-acre rice yields increased,” he added, “but research has also improved the crop’s disease resistance, shortened the growing season to avoid insect pests, and improved the taste and cooking quality of the grain. Much of this advance technology can be attributed to the support provided by Texas farmers.”
Texas rice farmers have done more to support their industry than any other producer group in the state, Wilson said. As far back as 1950, the growers initiated a check-off program that provided funding for market expansion and development.
In 1983, he noted, the Texas Rice Research Foundation was established to allocate check-off funds for both marketing and research. Since its inception, the producer- governed board has distributed over $7 million for rice research projects in Texas.
Besides the chance to network with other growers, the field day is an excellent opportunity for producers to visit the center and see its research programs firsthand. Wilson said the event is not just for farmers, though, but for anyone who is interested in the rice industry and the impact it has on our local communities.
Field tours will begin at 8 a.m. on covered trailers, to give some relief from the sun, and bottled water will be provided. The presenters and topics will be Dr. Anna McClung, variety improvement; Dr. Arlen Klosterboer, weed management systems in rice; Dr. M.O. Way, research in pest management; Dr. Fred Turner, nitrogen use efficiency and water management; Wilson, potential for drip irrigation in rice; Dr. Lee Tarpley, rice plant physiology; and Dr. Bob Fjellstrom, the applications of sequencing the entire rice genome.
The morning program begins after the tours. Dr. Edward Hiler, vice chancellor and dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Texas A&M University, will honor Robert Bauer for 25 years of outstanding service to the rice industry. Bauer is a rice farmer and president of the Texas Rice Improvement Association.
Klosterboer will have a special message of thanks for Texas rice producers, recognizing their important contributions in supporting research and marketing.
At 11a.m., the Texas Rice Improvement Association will meet. Annual reports will be given by Bauer and by Des Woods, Texas Rice Research Foundation chairman.
Dr. Charles Scifres, deputy director of the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station, will discuss the future of the experiment stations in Texas.
After that, Chandler Mazour with BASF will discuss the new CLEARFIELD* variety CL161 and its pending release. The CLEARFIELD* varieties are non-GMO, herbicide-tolerant lines that offer hope to farmers with severe red rice infestations.
In closing, Bob Papanos with the U.S. Rice Producers Association will talk about the issue of declining export markets, and how federal legislation affects Texas rice farmers.
At noon, field day guests will be treated to a complimentary lunch catered by Austin’s Barbeque. Afterwards, Experiment Station researchers Dr. Garry McCauley and Dr. Mike Chandler will host a special tour to present information on weed control with Command, Regiment, Aim and Newpath herbicides. There will be plenty of opportunities for growers to ask questions and learn more about this emerging technology.
The center is located 6.5 miles west of Beaumont off Highway 90 at Aggie Drive.
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