Soil scientists increase
phosphorus content in paddy soils
Credit: RUDN University
Soil scientists from the RUDN
University (Russia) and Huazhong Agricultural University (China) have
demonstrated that adding carbon compounds to the soil can increase phosphorus
availability in paddy fields. For these purposes, biologists have described the
processes of iron (III) compounds reduction and phosphorus release by soil
microorganisms in the presence of carbon as an energy source. These results
will help reduce dependence on phosphate fertilizers and increase agricultural
productivity. The research has been published in the journal Geoderma.
Phosphorus deficiency in soils
limits crop production capabilities. Often it is found in soils in the form
that is unavailable for plants, i.e. iron compounds. Phosphorus unavailability
is particularly typical for tropical and subtropical soils, for example,
in paddy
fields, where iron is one of the most common elements. To resolve
this problem, expensive phosphorus fertilizers are used in
agriculture. Soil scientists from the RUDN have shown that it is possible to
mobilize phosphorus in paddy soils using soil microorganisms. The process
requires soil carbon.
Paddy fields are watered to
prevent weeds from growing. The depth of watering is periodically changed
depending on the phase of plant development. When rice is ripening, water is
drained from the fields, and the soil is dried. Therefore, paddy soils have
specific properties: They constantly alternate periods of oxidative and
reducing processes, when the acidity of such soils increases during stagnation
of water and decreases when the water recedes. In addition, a large amount of
carbon-rich organic material is accumulated in the upper layer, as well as
sedimentary iron due to the destruction of iron-containing rocks affected by
water.
Soil microorganisms oxidize or
reduce inorganic compounds, transforming them into a different digestible form.
In weathered, acidic rice soils, soil microorganisms decompose iron and
phosphorus compounds, reducing ferric iron to ferrous, and releasing phosphorus
in a form accessible to plants. But this process requires oxygen. Flooded
fields with increased soil acidity are prone to oxygen deficiency, which
impedes the process of phosphorus release. Scientists have assumed that
microorganisms need carbon as an energy source to restore iron without oxygen.
To test this assumption, soil
scientists conducted an experiment: They took 255 soil samples from two paddy
fields in China with a typical subtropical climate. Researchers removed visible
plant debris, stones, and soil microfauna and added oxalate, acetate,
propionate, and formiate solutions—labile, that is easily degradable, organic
matter that is a readily available carbon source. One sample was left without
adding any compound as a control. Soil samples were kept underwater for two
months, that is, without oxygen. Paddy soils exist in similar conditions. For
60 days, researchers measured the concentration of ferrous iron in the samples.
Iron appears once phosphorus is released and can serve as a marker to find out
the concentration of free phosphorus. Direct measurement of phosphorus is more
complex and costly.
Measurements showed that labile
organic matter accelerated phosphorus release from iron compounds. Moreover,
phosphorus is released faster in soil
samples with an initially higher concentration of labile
organic matter and iron compounds. This proved the assumption that in
oxygen-free conditions in paddy soils, carbon can "replace" oxygen as
an energy source for soil microorganisms that release phosphorus
in the form available for plants.
Research findings show that
relatively small amounts of labile organic
matter can release soil phosphorus reserves and reduce the
dependence of paddy farms on fairly expensive and environmentally unsafe
phosphorus fertilizers.
Pretenders at Public
Forum
By Lesley
Dixon
WASHINGTON,
DC -- Last week, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) held a public
meeting to discuss the FDA's efforts to modernize standards of identity for
foods (SOI). USA Rice President & CEO Betsy Ward presented public
comments to FDA officials and spoke with representatives from the food and
agriculture industries on the importance of adopting an SOI for rice in the
United States and protecting consumers from the misleading marketing of rice
pretenders.
While CODEX, the international food safety standard of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Health Organization (WHO), defines rice as "whole or broken kernels from the Oryza sativa L. plant," there currently is no SOI for rice in the U.S. with the exception of enriched rice. This is in stark contrast to most commercial grains, which have national SOIs defined and enforced by the FDA.
This has become an ever-growing problem in recent years, as more and more vegetables and pulse-based flour products masquerading as rice have cropped up on retail shelves next to bags of actual rice. These rice imposters, often vegetables processed into small pieces, do not have the same dietary or nutritional profile as rice yet are marketed as rice products. While both rice and cauliflower products are healthy, they fit different essential nutrient categories.
"These standards exist to protect against consumer deception," said Ward in her testimony. "The current use of the common or usual name "rice" has created confusion in the marketplace. Rice is a grain, not a shape. We recommend that these guidelines be adapted into formal standards of identity in the United States to meet consumer expectations from a nutritional and culinary standpoint, as well as allow for innovation."
The meeting was part of the FDA's Nutrition Innovation Strategy, a program designed to improve healthy dietary behavior and help reduce preventable death and disease related to poor nutrition. The public forum allowed industry leaders, health experts, and concerned citizens to weigh in on how the FDA can modernize SOI while facilitating innovation and flexibility for the development of healthier foods.
"USA Rice supports new product innovation and the use of pulse-based flours to create new and innovative products," Ward continued. "It is not our goal to limit such product development, but to ensure that all products are clearly labeled and not deceptive. We believe a standard of identity for rice will do that."
The meeting also featured breakout sessions focused on nutrition, innovation, and consumer expectations, where attendees discussed the relationship between the establishment and enforcement of food standards and innovation in nutrition. During these sessions, Ward stressed that SOIs and innovation are not at odds. "Providing a standard of identity allows for innovation while maintaining customer expectations. Protecting rice's SOI promotes honesty and fair dealings while ensuring products labeled as rice meet the nutritional profile consumers expect. Ensuring a concept is protected does not limit innovation into different products."
On the question of how SOIs can support nutritional goals, Ward commented that SOIs "do not pose a barrier to production of more nutritious food. Lack of standard definitions creates ambiguity and paths to consumer confusion. Currently, anything can call itself rice. While cauliflower can be riced, the final product is not rice as consumers understand the name. Calling this product "rice" does not promote honesty and fair dealings in the interest of consumers."
She went on to say that the CODEX rice definition "provides great flexibility for nutritional advancement, while clearly defining its key characteristics. The CODEX provides a standard for the use of the term "rice" and also protects its use. Rice is an identity that should be reserved for rice grains."
In March of 2018, Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson signed a resolution establishing an SOI for rice using the common understanding of the term "rice." In June of this year, Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards signed similar legislation in his state that goes into effect next October. Such actions on the state level, as well as making rice's voice heard at FDA meetings such as last week's, are crucial steps toward achieving a national SOI for rice and protecting consumers from the misleading marketing of rice pretenders.
While CODEX, the international food safety standard of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Health Organization (WHO), defines rice as "whole or broken kernels from the Oryza sativa L. plant," there currently is no SOI for rice in the U.S. with the exception of enriched rice. This is in stark contrast to most commercial grains, which have national SOIs defined and enforced by the FDA.
This has become an ever-growing problem in recent years, as more and more vegetables and pulse-based flour products masquerading as rice have cropped up on retail shelves next to bags of actual rice. These rice imposters, often vegetables processed into small pieces, do not have the same dietary or nutritional profile as rice yet are marketed as rice products. While both rice and cauliflower products are healthy, they fit different essential nutrient categories.
"These standards exist to protect against consumer deception," said Ward in her testimony. "The current use of the common or usual name "rice" has created confusion in the marketplace. Rice is a grain, not a shape. We recommend that these guidelines be adapted into formal standards of identity in the United States to meet consumer expectations from a nutritional and culinary standpoint, as well as allow for innovation."
The meeting was part of the FDA's Nutrition Innovation Strategy, a program designed to improve healthy dietary behavior and help reduce preventable death and disease related to poor nutrition. The public forum allowed industry leaders, health experts, and concerned citizens to weigh in on how the FDA can modernize SOI while facilitating innovation and flexibility for the development of healthier foods.
"USA Rice supports new product innovation and the use of pulse-based flours to create new and innovative products," Ward continued. "It is not our goal to limit such product development, but to ensure that all products are clearly labeled and not deceptive. We believe a standard of identity for rice will do that."
The meeting also featured breakout sessions focused on nutrition, innovation, and consumer expectations, where attendees discussed the relationship between the establishment and enforcement of food standards and innovation in nutrition. During these sessions, Ward stressed that SOIs and innovation are not at odds. "Providing a standard of identity allows for innovation while maintaining customer expectations. Protecting rice's SOI promotes honesty and fair dealings while ensuring products labeled as rice meet the nutritional profile consumers expect. Ensuring a concept is protected does not limit innovation into different products."
On the question of how SOIs can support nutritional goals, Ward commented that SOIs "do not pose a barrier to production of more nutritious food. Lack of standard definitions creates ambiguity and paths to consumer confusion. Currently, anything can call itself rice. While cauliflower can be riced, the final product is not rice as consumers understand the name. Calling this product "rice" does not promote honesty and fair dealings in the interest of consumers."
She went on to say that the CODEX rice definition "provides great flexibility for nutritional advancement, while clearly defining its key characteristics. The CODEX provides a standard for the use of the term "rice" and also protects its use. Rice is an identity that should be reserved for rice grains."
In March of 2018, Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson signed a resolution establishing an SOI for rice using the common understanding of the term "rice." In June of this year, Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards signed similar legislation in his state that goes into effect next October. Such actions on the state level, as well as making rice's voice heard at FDA meetings such as last week's, are crucial steps toward achieving a national SOI for rice and protecting consumers from the misleading marketing of rice pretenders.
usa rice
Pretenders at Public
Forum
By Lesley Dixon
WASHINGTON, DC -- Last week, the U.S.
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) held a public meeting to discuss the FDA's
efforts to modernize standards of identity for foods (SOI). USA Rice
President & CEO Betsy Ward presented public comments to FDA officials and
spoke with representatives from the food and agriculture industries on the
importance of adopting an SOI for rice in the United States and protecting
consumers from the misleading marketing of rice pretenders.
While CODEX, the international food safety standard of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Health Organization (WHO), defines rice as "whole or broken kernels from the Oryza sativa L. plant," there currently is no SOI for rice in the U.S. with the exception of enriched rice. This is in stark contrast to most commercial grains, which have national SOIs defined and enforced by the FDA.
This has become an ever-growing problem in recent years, as more and more vegetables and pulse-based flour products masquerading as rice have cropped up on retail shelves next to bags of actual rice. These rice imposters, often vegetables processed into small pieces, do not have the same dietary or nutritional profile as rice yet are marketed as rice products. While both rice and cauliflower products are healthy, they fit different essential nutrient categories.
"These standards exist to protect against consumer deception," said Ward in her testimony. "The current use of the common or usual name "rice" has created confusion in the marketplace. Rice is a grain, not a shape. We recommend that these guidelines be adapted into formal standards of identity in the United States to meet consumer expectations from a nutritional and culinary standpoint, as well as allow for innovation."
The meeting was part of the FDA's Nutrition Innovation Strategy, a program designed to improve healthy dietary behavior and help reduce preventable death and disease related to poor nutrition. The public forum allowed industry leaders, health experts, and concerned citizens to weigh in on how the FDA can modernize SOI while facilitating innovation and flexibility for the development of healthier foods.
"USA Rice supports new product innovation and the use of pulse-based flours to create new and innovative products," Ward continued. "It is not our goal to limit such product development, but to ensure that all products are clearly labeled and not deceptive. We believe a standard of identity for rice will do that."
The meeting also featured breakout sessions focused on nutrition, innovation, and consumer expectations, where attendees discussed the relationship between the establishment and enforcement of food standards and innovation in nutrition. During these sessions, Ward stressed that SOIs and innovation are not at odds. "Providing a standard of identity allows for innovation while maintaining customer expectations. Protecting rice's SOI promotes honesty and fair dealings while ensuring products labeled as rice meet the nutritional profile consumers expect. Ensuring a concept is protected does not limit innovation into different products."
On the question of how SOIs can support nutritional goals, Ward commented that SOIs "do not pose a barrier to production of more nutritious food. Lack of standard definitions creates ambiguity and paths to consumer confusion. Currently, anything can call itself rice. While cauliflower can be riced, the final product is not rice as consumers understand the name. Calling this product "rice" does not promote honesty and fair dealings in the interest of consumers."
She went on to say that the CODEX rice definition "provides great flexibility for nutritional advancement, while clearly defining its key characteristics. The CODEX provides a standard for the use of the term "rice" and also protects its use. Rice is an identity that should be reserved for rice grains."
In March of 2018, Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson signed a resolution establishing an SOI for rice using the common understanding of the term "rice." In June of this year, Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards signed similar legislation in his state that goes into effect next October. Such actions on the state level, as well as making rice's voice heard at FDA meetings such as last week's, are crucial steps toward achieving a national SOI for rice and protecting consumers from the misleading marketing of rice pretenders.
While CODEX, the international food safety standard of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Health Organization (WHO), defines rice as "whole or broken kernels from the Oryza sativa L. plant," there currently is no SOI for rice in the U.S. with the exception of enriched rice. This is in stark contrast to most commercial grains, which have national SOIs defined and enforced by the FDA.
This has become an ever-growing problem in recent years, as more and more vegetables and pulse-based flour products masquerading as rice have cropped up on retail shelves next to bags of actual rice. These rice imposters, often vegetables processed into small pieces, do not have the same dietary or nutritional profile as rice yet are marketed as rice products. While both rice and cauliflower products are healthy, they fit different essential nutrient categories.
"These standards exist to protect against consumer deception," said Ward in her testimony. "The current use of the common or usual name "rice" has created confusion in the marketplace. Rice is a grain, not a shape. We recommend that these guidelines be adapted into formal standards of identity in the United States to meet consumer expectations from a nutritional and culinary standpoint, as well as allow for innovation."
The meeting was part of the FDA's Nutrition Innovation Strategy, a program designed to improve healthy dietary behavior and help reduce preventable death and disease related to poor nutrition. The public forum allowed industry leaders, health experts, and concerned citizens to weigh in on how the FDA can modernize SOI while facilitating innovation and flexibility for the development of healthier foods.
"USA Rice supports new product innovation and the use of pulse-based flours to create new and innovative products," Ward continued. "It is not our goal to limit such product development, but to ensure that all products are clearly labeled and not deceptive. We believe a standard of identity for rice will do that."
The meeting also featured breakout sessions focused on nutrition, innovation, and consumer expectations, where attendees discussed the relationship between the establishment and enforcement of food standards and innovation in nutrition. During these sessions, Ward stressed that SOIs and innovation are not at odds. "Providing a standard of identity allows for innovation while maintaining customer expectations. Protecting rice's SOI promotes honesty and fair dealings while ensuring products labeled as rice meet the nutritional profile consumers expect. Ensuring a concept is protected does not limit innovation into different products."
On the question of how SOIs can support nutritional goals, Ward commented that SOIs "do not pose a barrier to production of more nutritious food. Lack of standard definitions creates ambiguity and paths to consumer confusion. Currently, anything can call itself rice. While cauliflower can be riced, the final product is not rice as consumers understand the name. Calling this product "rice" does not promote honesty and fair dealings in the interest of consumers."
She went on to say that the CODEX rice definition "provides great flexibility for nutritional advancement, while clearly defining its key characteristics. The CODEX provides a standard for the use of the term "rice" and also protects its use. Rice is an identity that should be reserved for rice grains."
In March of 2018, Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson signed a resolution establishing an SOI for rice using the common understanding of the term "rice." In June of this year, Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards signed similar legislation in his state that goes into effect next October. Such actions on the state level, as well as making rice's voice heard at FDA meetings such as last week's, are crucial steps toward achieving a national SOI for rice and protecting consumers from the misleading marketing of rice pretenders.
Customs
breaches P10-billion rice tariff collection target for 2019
October 3, 2019
50
Bureau of Customs
The Bureau of Customs (BOC) has
already exceeded its P10-billion rice import tariff collection target for this
year.
“Yes, we have already reached
P10.7 billion as of end-September,” Customs Assistant Commissioner Vincent
Philip Maronilla told the BusinessMirror on Wednesday.
His confirmation came as the BOC
is working with the Department of Agriculture and the Tariff Commission on the
possible imposition of safeguard duties on rice imports to protect the farming
industry.
Agriculture Secretary William Dar
said last month that they are eyeing to raise tariffs on imported rice as early
as mid-October in a bid to arrest an oversupply of the staple.
As of September, Dar said, they
have already imported 2.4 million tons since March.
Despite the plan to double the
current rice import tariff of 35 percent, Maronilla said, they think they would
still be able to hit P15 billion even if the volume of rice imports would
decrease.
“If they [importers] are going to
shoulder [the additional 30 percent to 35 percent safeguard duties], then we’ll
still have the same volume, then so much better. But if the volume decreases
even by half of our projected price, I think we will still be able to make it
because we are going to collect double the duties,” he said.
Under the rice trade
liberalization law, or Republic Act 11203, the tariff revenues in excess of the
P10 billion shall be earmarked by Congress and included in the General
Appropriations Act for the following year.
Moreover, the law also provides
that these excess tariff revenues shall be allocated for rice farmers’
financial assistance, titling of agricultural rice lands, expanded crop
insurance program on rice, and crop diversification program.
Last month, National Statistician
and Civil Registrar Dennis S. Mapa confirmed that average farm-gate price of
unhusked rice have gone up from P8 per kilogram to P10 kg, particularly
in Luzon.
Meanwhile, the average farm-gate
prices of wet palay have reached P14 per kg to P18 kg in other provinces, such
as those in the Visayas.
100th
rice harvest
Ty Spooner, left, Dennis Spooner
and Marshall Masters pose on a rice harvester on Wednesday, Sept. 25.
·
Spooner & Sons with a wooden
harvester in 1915. Dennis Spooner said his great-grandfather is standing in
front – five of his sons are also pictured. The harvester was pulled by 28
mules and was likely pictured in a wheat or barley field. Their first rice
harvest was in 1919.
Dennis Spooner, left, Ty Spooner
and Marshall Masters pose in front of a rice harvester and tractor and grain
cart on Wednesday, Sept. 25.
·
A local family rice business is
in the process of harvesting their 100th rice crop.
Dennis Spooner, of Spooner & Sons, has been farming for most
of his life – being involved in the family business for the last 52 years – and
his son, Ty Spooner, has been involved for about 29 years.
Dennis Spooner said his family came from Canada in the late
1850s and some ended up in what is now Willows – at that time the area was
known as Glenn and was part of Colusa County.
Dennis Spooner has a photo from 1915 of his great-grandfather
and five of his sons (one of whom is Dennis Spooner’s grandfather) with a
wooden harvester that was pulled by 28 mules – he believes it was either in a
wheat or barley field when the photo was taken.
“They used the harvester to cut that first rice crop (in 1919),”
Dennis Spooner said. “... You wouldn’t catch anybody doing that today, you can
imagine all the work of getting those prepared every morning and then putting
them away at night and putting in a full day with them is quite an extravaganza.”
They were the original Spooner & Sons – his
great-grandfather being the first generation.
Dennis Spooner said his grandfather was the second, his father
was the third generation, he is the fourth and his children are the fifth
generation – his daughter is not currently involved in the business.
“Like a lot of farmers, I was born into it,” Ty Spooner said.
“... I grew up here, I grew up on the ranch ... and it’s all I ever knew. I was
driving a tractor when I was 10 years old. It’s a nice lifestyle, and I’m very
fortunate to have the opportunity to be able to continue that.”
Dennis Spooner said they grow both organic and commercial rice
for Lundberg Family Farms and they also grow a number of specialty varieties
such as long-grains and Jasmines.
The father-son duo, along with their full-time employee,
Marshall Masters, are currently in the process of harvesting this season’s
crop.
“So far we’re off to a good start this year,” Dennis Spooner
said. “... It looks real good, we’re on pace to have a good year.”
He said they started in September and it can last about a month,
depending on the weather.
“Anytime we finish before Halloween, I think that’s pretty
good,” Dennis Spooner said.
When he was a child, he said, it wasn’t uncommon for them to be
harvesting through Thanksgiving.
“Between the equipment and between our new varieties that
California has produced … that has probably taken a month off our growing
time,” Dennis Spooner said. “It’s quite an advantage for growers to have these
varieties and the equipment we have, it makes it a lot easier.”
He said one of the biggest changes he’s noticed in farming is
the equipment that’s used.
“It’s just gotten so much more technical because we have
computers, it’s more of a science,” Dennis Spooner said. “You’re hands on from
experience but you have soil tests that you monitor … your equipment has
monitors on it … you drive (the equipment) but everything is off a GPS
satellite so it goes in a straight line and you don’t have to worry about it as
you’re tending a harvester or tractor or driving anything else. The equipment
has come a long way.”
Ty Spooner said there have been changes in regulations as well.
“We’re so restricted in California for what we can and can’t do,
what we can use, when we can use it, how we use it,” he said. “... Everybody is
in that same boat, so regulations are a big part of the changes we’ve overcome
… for the better most of the time it seems like. We get pushed in a direction
that maybe we didn’t always want to go but us farmers are resilient and always
figure out how to make it better.”
Dennis Spooner said California has been instrumental in leading
the nation in how farming and equipment has progressed.
“We have the infrastructure that most places don’t have, we have
water, we have the land, we have a good climate,” he said.
“I feel very fortunate doing what I do,” he said. “... There’s
satisfaction in knowing that you feed a lot of people, that you’re productive
and efficient ... We’ve been doing it for a while and most of the time we enjoy
it.”
How
a rice-mimicking weed has taken over the planet
The domestication of plants proved a pivotal point in human
history, propelling our species to ever newer heights of sophistication and
control over the environment, for better or worse. Right from the get-go,
though, farmers made mistakes with long-lasting consequences.
Take the wild grass Echinochloa crus-galli,
which originated in tropical Asia and has turned into one of the world’s worst
agricultural weeds. The grass has long caused people plenty of trouble as the
fast-growing grass needs to be weeded constantly, usually by hand. Barnyard
grass is an invasive weed that has conquered the planet.
The reason for its spread? A
mistake by early rice growers in the Yangtze River region a millennium
ago. These farmers mistook the grass for rice because the plant has come to
imitate rice stalks, explain the authors of a new study published in the
journal Nature Ecology & Evolution.
The researchers behind the study
postulate that the mimic version of the grass emerged during the Song Dynasty in China when local
populations were growing fast and demand for rice as the region’s staple grain
was very high. A quick-maturing rice called Champa rice, which is better able to resist
droughts, was introduced to the Yangtze basin from Vietnam at this time. Its
cultivation allowed farmers to have two harvests in a year instead of just one.
On the downside, the weedy grass that mimics rice likely gained a foothold in
and around paddies.
“In Asia, rice farmers have
traditionally planted and weeded their paddies by hand. Any weeds that stick
out are easily detected and removed,” said Kenneth Olsen, a professor of
biology. “Over hundreds of generations, this has selected for some strains of
barnyard grass that specialize on rice fields and very closely mimic rice
plants. This allows them to escape detection.”
This form of crop mimicry, also
known as Vavilovian mimicry, is
an evolutionary adaptation whereby weeds come to resemble domesticated plants
so as to avoid detection by people. Echinochloa crus-galli has come to imitate
rice stalks with nearly identical green stems.
“With the advent of agriculture
about 10,000 years ago, humans all over the planet began creating a wonderful
habitat for naturally weedy plant species to exploit,” Olsen explained. “The
most successful and aggressive agricultural weeds were those that evolved
traits allowing them to escape detection and proliferate in this fertile new
environment,” he added.
'Manoomin' brings together UMN researchers and tribal members
University
researchers and local tribes are working to preserve manoomin, commonly known
as wild rice, and cultural traditions.
Sarah Mai
For the past two years, River
Spry has ventured out in his canoe to harvest wild rice. Spry, a forestry
technician for the Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa in northern
Minnesota, said harvesting the tall, green stalks of wild rice is an intimate
process.
“Just being out there, you are so
connected to the plant and the Earth. It is a beautiful thing,” Spry said. “It
changed my life. The rest of my life I will be a ricer.”
Spry, along with other tribal
members, harvests wild rice for food but also to honor tribal culture and
tradition around the grain. While Native American tribes have harvested wild
rice, called manoomin in Ojibwe, for generations, about one-third of the wild
rice in Minnesota has disappeared over the past century.
Because of the decline,
University of Minnesota researchers are working with tribes through the Grand
Challenges Initiative. Since last year, they have been examining why wild rice
is disappearing and seeking ways to preserve its habitat while honoring sacred
traditions surrounding the grain.
“We make sure the research is
driven by our tribal partners and not the University,” said Michael Dockry, an
assistant professor in the Department of Forest Resources who is involved with
the work. “Our project is pretty unique and important, because it gives an
example of how to work with tribes while protecting tribal sovereignty."
Wild rice, which grows in water,
has been declining because of environmental factors caused by human activity,
said Thomas Howes, natural resources manager for the Fond du Lac Band of Lake
Superior Chippewa. Part of the reason for the decline can be attributed to
issues such as industrial pollution and poor water quality.
According to Howes, the Great
Lakes region is the only place in the world wild rice grows.
“We have to do our best to take
care of it,” he said.
While the Fond du Lac tribe has
been able to revitalize their wild rice habitats, there continues to be a
decline in the plant outside the reservation.
The grain is significant to many
tribal communities. According to the migration story of the Anishinaabe, or
Ojibwe people, the Creator instructed tribes to find the “food which grows upon
the water.” Wild rice, or manoomin, was discovered in the Great Lakes region,
and that is why people settled there.
Not only are University
researchers doing this work to study and preserve the sacred grain, but also to
repair the University’s relationship with local tribes – which has been rocky
in the past.
“Our projects goal is to … really
make sure we are researching wild rice collaboratively and making sure we
understand what wild rice means to them,” said Crystal Ng, head researcher for
the project.
Almost two decades ago,
University researchers tried to develop a genetically engineered form of wild
rice without input from tribes, which made tribal communities unhappy. They
feared creating new forms of wild rice would contaminate the ecosystem for
traditional wild rice, Howes said.
In a 2009 letter written
by Anishinaabe tribal members and the University, the University acknowledged
wrongdoing.
“...virtually all wild rice
research emerging from the University has reflected the goals and desires of
non-Indians with little regard for native concerns, perspectives or the considerable
store of traditional knowledge,” the letter read.
The letter was written to propose
the University and Anishnaabe nations in Minnesota work to build a relationship
built on mutual respect and reciprocity.
“The University messed this up
royally previously,” Karen Driver, former chairwoman of the Fond Du Lac tribe,
said regarding previous University work around wild rice. “It left a bad taste
in tribal peoples’ mouths.”
Driver, who is an adviser for the
Grand Challenge project, said researchers for this project are taking the time
to establish good relationships and establish mutual respect.
Tribal members can add value to
the research being done by sharing their knowledge accumulated from generations
of being good stewards of wild rice, Driver said.
“Because of this respect, both
sides can learn from each other.”
While it has not been easy to
rebuild relationships and regain trust, Ng said the University researchers
keeping their word and working collaboratively with tribes has helped the
partnership.
“We are working together and
really trying to heal a lot of what has happened in the past from us not
working together,” Ng said.
Last month, tribal partners were
invited to the University as part of President Joan Gabel’s inauguration week,
to honor the research and relationship between tribal communities and the
University.
Gabel said bringing community
members together and doing work like this allows them to share both indigenous
wisdom and scientific discovery.
While funding for the Grand Challenge
project only goes through January 2020, researchers are looking to other
funding sources to continue their work.
The long-term goal for
researchers involved with the project is for the University to go beyond wild
rice research and someday be a center of excellence for supporting tribal
resource management.
One of Spry’s favorite parts of
harvesting wild rice is that he feels personally connected to the food.“We need
to protect that.”
Farm Hands on the
Potomac: Trump nominates MacGregor
President Donald
Trump has nominated Katharine MacGregor to be
the deputy secretary of the Department of the Interior (DOI). MacGregor is
currently serving as the deputy chief of staff exercising the authority of the
deputy secretary. She has served as the principal deputy assistant secretary of
lands and minerals management, and before coming to the DOI she was on Capitol
Hill for 10 years on the House Natural Resources Committee … Interior Secretary
David Bernhardt has signed a secretarial order to redelegate authority for
vacant, non-career positions. The appointments are as follows: deputy secretary
to Kate MacGregor; solicitor
to Daniel Jorjani; director of the
Bureau of Land Management to William Perry Pendley; director
of the National Park Service to David Vela; and director of the
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to Margaret Everson.
Christy Seyfert is set to join the American Soybean Association Oct. 21 as
its new executive director of government affairs, completing a transition of
the organization’s lobbying efforts to in-house staff. Seyfert comes to ASA
from her most recent stop at Zurich North America, but her resume also features
stops at Wells Fargo and Michael Torrey Associates as well as time working for
the House and Senate Ag Committees. Seyfert will lead an office that will
include Hanna Abou-El-Seoud, who
will handle trade and international policy, Renee
Munasifi, who will focus on biotechnology, crop innovation, and
regulatory policy, and Wendy Brannen, who will lead
ASA’s policy communications. All three come to ASA from Gordley Associates, the
lobbying firm that previously handled ASA’s government affairs efforts in
Washington.
Rachel Millard is leaving the House Agriculture Committee, where she has served
as the communications director for the Republicans. She is heading over to the
U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission where she will serve as the deputy
director of public affairs. Replacing her on the House Agriculture Committee as
communications director is Emily Hytha. She currently
serves as Rep. Mike Conaway’s, R-Texas,
communications director in his personal office.
Anne DeCesaro is leaving the House Ways and Means Committee, where she served
as the staff director for the Worker and Family Support Subcommittee for
Rep. Adrian Smith, R-Neb., to begin
a new job at USDA in the Office of the Undersecretary for Food, Nutrition,
and Consumer Services. In 2015, she was the lead staffer on the House
Agriculture Committee Subcommittee on Nutrition.
Kristina Baum began a new job at the White House as the communications
director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy. She previously served
on the House Natural Resources Committee for Rep. Rob
Bishop, R-Utah, as the communications director.
Kate O’Connor is now the chief counsel for Rep. Bob
Latta, R-Ohio, on the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on
communication and technology. She previously served as a congressional liaison
for the National Telecommunications and Information Administration.
Emily Benavides has been promoted to communications director for Sen. Rob
Portman, R-Ohio, succeeding Kevin
Smith, who has been promoted to chief of staff. She
previously served as deputy communications director. Smith replaces Mark
Isakowitz, who joined Google as its new head of government
affairs and public policy.
Marsha Espinosa is now the chief of staff for Rep. Linda
Teresa Sánchez, D-Calif. She most recently worked at Swann
Street Strategies and previously worked for Rep. Nanette
Diaz Barragán, D-Calif., as her chief of staff in 2017. Melissa
Kiedrowicz is now the deputy chief of staff for Sánchez,
covering the appropriations and foreign trade portfolio. She previously served
as the legislative director.
Harper Stephens has been promoted to legislative assistant covering the energy,
environment protection, natural resources, science and technology, and
transportation portfolio for Rep. Martha Roby, R-Ala. She
previously served as legislative correspondent.
Olivia Hodge has been promoted to communications director for Rep. Lois
Frankel, D-Fla. She previously served as Frankel’s press
secretary.
Huston Wallace has been promoted to legislative aide for Rep. Kendra
Horn, D-Okla., covering the agriculture and food, animal
welfare, energy, environment protection, and natural resources portfolio. He
previously served as a staff assistant.
Sara Werner is now the communications director for Rep. Virginia
Foxx, R-N.C. She previously served as press secretary.
Ryan Dierker is now a legislative assistant for Rep. Mark
Amodei, R-Nev., covering the foreign trade, immigration, and
labor portfolio. Dierker previously served as the senior legislative assistant
for Rep. Brad Wenstrup, R-Ohio.
Catherine Costakos has left the office of Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer, R-Mo.,
where she served as communications director. Replacing her is Georgeanna
Sullivan, who currently works for Sen. Mitch
McConnell, R-Ky., in the Senate Republican Majority Leader
Office as deputy press secretary. Sullivan's first day in Luetkemeyer’s office
is Tuesday, October 8.
Chelsea Erin Brown has left the office of Rep. Jodey Arrington, R-Texas, where
she served as chief of staff. She is being replaced by John
Porter, who previously served as Rep. Kevin
Brady's, R-Texas, legislative director and deputy chief of
staff. Porter also previously worked on the House Agriculture Committee as a
legislative assistant to Rep. Frank Lucas, R-Okla.
Catherine Knowles has left the office of Rep. Kay Granger, R-Texas, where she
served as chief of staff. Replacing her is Suzi Plasencia, who
previously served as legislative director. Plasencia covers the labor and
appropriations portfolio.
Claire Borzner has left the office of Rep. Mike Doyle, D-Pa., where she
served as a legislative assistant covering the energy and environment
portfolio.
Halie Craig has left the office of Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pa., where she
served as a legislative assistant covering the trade, labor, and education
portfolio. Craig now works for Facebook as a product policy associate manager.
Jessica Wharton has left Gordley Associates and the American Soybean
Association, where she served as the state policy and communications
coordinator. Beginning Oct. 14, she is starting a new role with Farm
Journal Foundation, leading its communications efforts in Washington, D.C.
Lucas Lentsch has joined Dairy Management Inc. as the executive vice president
of the United Dairy Industry Association. In this newly created role, Lentsch
will oversee work across the state and regional system to optimize execution
and evaluation of the Unified Marketing Plan. Lentsch previously served as the
South Dakota Agriculture Secretary and most recently served the past three
years as the CEO of Midwest Dairy.
Molly Pelzer now serves as the CEO of Midwest Dairy. She has been with the
organization since 1984 and most recently served as the chief experience
officer.
Alfonso Clavijo has been appointed as director of the National Bio and
Agro-Defense Facility, effective Oct. 13. Before his appointment, Clavijo
served as laboratory executive director of the Canadian Food Inspection
Agency's National Centers for Animal Disease. He has also directed the
management of biosafety level (BSL) 2-4 facilities that allow for the contained
study of pathogens that cause foreign animal diseases, including
foot-and-mouth, African swine fever, classical swine fever and highly
pathogenic avian influenza.
Maggie Stith has been promoted to sustainability and external relations
manager for Valent. She previously served as sustainability coordinator.
Secretary of Agriculture Sonny
Perdue has appointment 20 members to serve on the Advisory
Committee for New and Beginning Farmers and Ranchers (ACBFR). Members newly
appointed to serve two-year terms are: Davon Goodwin, Raeford,
N.C; Katie Carpenter, Attica,
N.Y.; Casey Spradley, Cuba,
N.M.; Jacob Handsaker, Radcliffe,
Iowa; Adam Brown, Decatur,
Ill.; Amanda Jo Carey, Morley,
Mich.; Paul Bickford, Ridgeway,
Wisc.; Jason Brand, Honolulu; Jeffry
Gittins, Smithfield, Utah; Denis Ebodaghe (USDA
NIFA); Latrice Hill (USDA
FSA); R. Alan Hoskins, Evansville,
Ind.; Tony Gudajtes, Minto,
N.D.; Juli Obudzinski, Washington,
D.C.; John Bailey, Ukiah,
Calif.; Elicia Chaverest, Madison,
Ala.; Shelby Swain Myers,
Crawfordsville, Ind.; Liya Schwartzman, Sacramento,
Calif.; Anusuya Rangarajan, Freeville,
N.Y. James Carl Hafer, Colstrip,
Mont., is reappointed to serve a one-year term.
Anuvia Plant Nutrients has
hired Michael Hoger as its new
vice president of sales for agriculture. Hoger comes to Anuvia from HELM Agro,
where he served as national sales manager. He has also led sales, agronomy and
marketing initiatives for crop protection and seed brand portfolios for DuPont
Crop Protection and Pioneer Seed.
Chris Hoffman has been named America’s Pig Farmer of the Year for 2019-2020.
The award is given to an individual who exemplifies industry leadership, raises
hogs following the We Care ethical principles, and connects consumers with
farmers to help them learn more about where their food comes from. Hoffman is a
pig farmer from McAlisterville, Pa.
The National Association of State
Foresters (NASF) elected a new slate of officers at its annual meeting in
Asheville, N.C. Greg Josten, state forester of
South Dakota, will lead NASF as president in 2020. Joe Fox,
state forester of Arkansas, will serve as the association’s new vice president,
and Chris Martin, state forester of
Connecticut, as its new treasurer. Each will serve a 12-month term.
Archer Daniels Midland
Rice President Christian Bonnesen announced
he will retire Oct. 31 after more than 40 years in the U.S. and international
rice industry. Bonnesen started his career working for the Continental Grain
Company. In 1999 he founded ADM Rice, and in 2004, Bonnesen spearheaded the
acquisition of a California rice mill to add to the ADM Rice portfolio. In his
career he served on the USA Rice Board of Directors, the USA Rice Millers'
Association Board of Directors, and the USA Rice International Trade Policy
Committee.
Tom Tracy unexpectedly passed away due to health complications at the age
of 47. Tracy joined Farm Credit Illinois (FCI) in 2009, and in 2015 he was
named president and CEO. Prior to joining FCI, he worked 20 years in banking
and served as a senior officer and board member of a publicly traded financial
institution. Condolences may be offered online at www.morganmemorialhome.com.
For more news, go to www.agri-pulse.com.
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Voting lines were 29 percent LONGER in black
neighborhoods: Study uses cell phone pings and census data to determine racial
differences in voting wait times during 2016 US election - with the longest
wait time being 41 minutes in Missouri
Study found those in
predominately black neighborhoods waited 29% longer
Also found they were 74%
more likely to spend more than 30 minutes
Study used smartphone pings and
census data to determine wait times
Political scientists have long been outraged
over voting waiting times, but a new study has revealed it is not just an
inconvenience – it is also a civil rights issue.
By matching the location data from 10 million
smartphones to 93,000 polling facilities in the US, researchers found that
those in predominately black neighborhoods waited 29 percent longer than those
living in primarily white areas.
Smartphone 'pings' were collected from within
nearly 200 miles of each poling location during the 2016 presidential election
and combined with demographic data to determine the racial differences in
voting wait times.
+4
By matching the location data from 10 million
smartphones to 93,000 polling facilities in the US, researchers found that
those in predominately black neighborhoods waited 29 percent longer than those
living in primarily white areas
The study was conducted by a team of experts
ranging in fields of business, economics and management, who collectively
believe 'equal access to voting is a core feature of democratic government'.
'Relative to
entirely-white neighborhoods, residents of entirely-black neighborhoods waited
29% longer to vote and were 74% more likely to spend more than 30 minutes at
their polling place,' the team shared in the study published in Arxiv.
HOW WAS IT DONE?
The researchers created a map of used
93,658 different polling places across the US.
They then used smartphone pings that
came within nearly 200 feet of a selected polling place.
At the end of the collection, there was a
sample of more than 150,000 voters at 40,000 polling locations.
In order to determine the race of these
neighborhoods, the team looked to demographic data from the US Census.
'This disparity holds when comparing
predominantly white and black polling places within the same states and
counties, and survives numerous robustness and placebo tests.'
'Our results document large racial
differences in voting wait times and demonstrates that geospatial data can be
an effective tool to both measure and monitor these disparities.'
To get their
results, researchers used 93,658 different polling places across the US and
converted each location into latitude and longitude coordinates in order to
create a map of voting spots using Google Maps API and use
Microsoft-OpenStreetmaps, according to Scientific American.
Then smartphone pings were collected from
cellphone towers in the area, as this technology determines the owner's
location 'with reasonable accuracy'.
The team gathered pings that came within
nearly 200 feet of a selected polling place during the 2016 US presidential
election.
+4
Then smartphone pings were collected from
cellphone towers in the area, as this technology determines the owner's
location 'with reasonable accuracy'. The team gathered pings that came within
nearly 200 feet of a selected polling place during the 2016 US election
However, data was combed through to determine
who was and was not a voter.
At the end of the collection, there was a
sample of more than 150,000 voters at 40,000 polling locations.
In order to determine the race of these
neighborhoods, the team looked to demographic data from the US Census.
Relative to entirely-white neighborhoods,
residents of entirely-black neighborhoods waited 29% longer to vote and were
74% more likely to spend more than 30 minutes at their polling place
And that is when the team found those in
majority-black neighborhoods (as well as other non-white-majority
neighborhoods) waited longer.
'The median and average times spent at
polling locations are 14 and 19 minutes, respectively, and 18% of individuals
spent more than 30 minutes voting,' reads the study.
'Average wait times vary from as low as ∼ 11 minutes in
Massachusetts's sixth congressional district — primarily in Essex County — to
as high as ∼ 41 minutes in Missouri's fifth congressional
district, which contains Kansas City.'
Still, the smartphone method does not answer
a key question: 'What it doesn't tell us is why. What's going on here?' Robert
Stein, a political scientist at Rice University, who did not participate in the
new research, told Scientific America.
'I would want to use it as a basis for doing
further observational studies. You know, you just can't get that from the
phone.'
However, the researchers of the study believe
their findings can be used for the greater good.
+4
Smartphone pings were collected from
cellphone towers in the area. At the end of the collection, there was a
sample of more than 150,000 voters at 40,000 polling locations
'Exploiting the recent advent of large
geospatial datasets, we provide new, nationwide estimates for the wait times of
voters during the 2016 US presidential election,' according to the paper.
'We find substantial and significant evidence
of racial disparities in voter wait times, and detail that geospatial data can
robustly estimate these disparities.'
'This provides policymakers an easily
available and repeatable tool to both diagnose and monitor progress towards
reducing such disparities.'
Hillary Clinton talks to Mother
Jones
French rice salad for when you’re on the go
October 2, 2019
A
colorful French rice salad. —Paul Bagnall
Perhaps one of the most
straightforward and flexible recipes I have tried is rice salad. Hot or cold,
oil or vinaigrette, veggies or meat — there are many ways to approach
it. The idea came to me while listening to “Splendid Table” on the Cape
and Islands NPR station in my car on the way
to work. I heard rice salad, and it sounded like a great recipe to experiment
with.
Rice salad can be hot or cold,
depending on the ingredients you use. The rice salad I chose to make took some
inspiration from a Niçoise salad, which is a French salad that uses tuna fish
and capers. I experimented with cold ingredients.
Since the recipe is incredibly
flexible, you can use vinegar, vinaigrette, or oil to coat the rice. I used two
tablespoons of extra-virgin olive oil for the two cups of rice I cooked.
The goal I keep in mind is to
make the salad as colorful as possible without one flavor overshadowing
another. If you like crunchy vegetables, some red onion or any colorful pepper
will do.
I also recommend that you cut up
the veggie, or meat, to about the size of the rice pieces. Rice salad is a
great way to experiment with many different spices, herbs, and oils.
Ingredients:
· 2 cups basmati rice
· 1 cup frozen peas
· 4 garlic cloves, minced
· 1 cup capers
· 10 diced cherry tomatoes
· 1 can tuna fish
· 4 garlic cloves, minced
· ¼ tsp. oregano
· ¼ tsp thyme
· 2 Tbsp. lemon juice
· 2 Tbsp. olive oil
Boil two cups of rice and defrost
the frozen peas, then rinse the rice in cold water before putting in the fridge
for 20 minutes. While the rice is cooling, prepare the tomatoes, tuna fish, and
garlic by dicing them on the cutting board. Mix a little oregano and thyme
into the tuna fish, so it blends in better. Remove the cold rice from the
fridge and toss the rice in with the oil, lemon juice, vegetables, and
seasonings. Add salt and pepper to taste and enjoy.
Massey
Ferguson harvester gains ground
Since its introduction in 2017,
All Certified Equipment Trading Corp. (ACETC) has sold more than 100 units of
the Massey Ferguson 2168 Rice Combine Harvester nationwide, proving the
preference by businesses involved in rice farming for the Massey Ferguson
brand.
ACETC President and Chairman of
the Board Benigno Limcumpao said the Massey Ferguson 2168 is a product of the
brand’s proven technologies for harvesting grains like rice and wheat. Massey
Ferguson is the pioneer for large combine harvesters.
“Like the Massey Ferguson farm
tractors ACETC has been distributing in the Philippines since 2011, the Massey
Ferguson 2168 rice combine harvester is durable and easy to operate, and will
serve its owners and users for decades given proper maintenance,” he said.
Bhong Amoroso, vice president and
general manager at ACETC, added the company carefully studied and tested the
Massey Ferguson 2168 for the Philippine setting, making sure it could withstand
tropical conditions.
“We at ACETC subjected the Massey
Ferguson 2168 for more than a year of study and testing, ultimately getting it
certified by the Agricultural Machinery and Testing and Evaluation Center
(Amtec). In tropical countries like the Philippines, factors like excessive
heat, dust and torrential rains should always be taken account when introducing
farm equipment for use by Filipino farmers and agribusiness companies,” Amoroso
said.
Amtec is based at the University of the Philippines Los Banos.
Amtec is based at the University of the Philippines Los Banos.
Limcumpao said ACETC’s
introducing the Massey Ferguson 2168 rice combine harvester in the Philippines
is the company’s contribution to modernizing the country’s farming sector.
The Massey Ferguson 2168 can
harvest and bag palay (unmilled rice) in just 1.17 hours over one hectare. On
the other hand, at least 10 laborers are needed to harvest and bag palay in 12
to 24 hours also over 1 hectare. It is powered by a diesel engine that produces
87 horsepower and has rubber tracks.
ACETC also distributes in the
Philippines are the 7600 Series for large plantation operations; the Global
series that offers versatility for both large plantations and consolidated
small farms; and the 2600 and 1500 series for use in non-plantation operations.
ACETC also distributes Yanmar,
Kaiao and Platinum small engines for largely agriculture applications; farm implements
from Kuhn, KK, SiP, FAE, Berti, Bison and CMT; GT Mobile Fast Dryers; Max Cane
Loaders; Rain Bird advanced irrigation systems; and Tajima 3-in-1 knapsack type
sprayers.
Rice Value Chain for
Increasing Farm Income and Entrepreneurship
Share this
article
Dr. Trilochan Mohapatra, Secretary (DARE) & DG (ICAR)
visited the ICAR-National Rice Research Institute, Cuttack and reviewed the
Institute’s activities there. The Director General interacted with the
22 participants of a two-months “Start-up Agri-Business Incubation Programme”
launched by the VIKAS R-ABI, ICAR-NRRI. He also applauded the innovative
prototypes and provided his valuable tips for improving them.
Dr. Mohapatra also visited the
newly built Central Genomics and Quality Laboratory, Social Science Building
and other facilities created at the Institute.
Among the various approaches to
increase farm income and promote entrepreneurship, the prospect of value chain
is being advocated in agriculture and allied sectors. Dr. Trilochan Mohapatra,
the then Director of ICAR-NRRI first made an attempt to operationalize in rice.
According to him, the rice value
chain besides having the fundamental benefits have some added prospective which
were
- Rice will continue to dominate the farm
production for various socioeconomic and cultural reasons in spite of poor
financial gains and market glut.
·
Demand
in the national and international market for quality rice is quite apparent
·
Apart
from farmers other stake holders can join the chain leading to creation of
additional employment and
·
Quality
and speciality rice varieties developed by research institutes can spread
quickly with less investment in extension.
Having the above logic in view,
the planning for the model was initiated. Dr. H. Pathak, Director, ICAR-NRRI
along with various other Dignitaries was present during the review.
The VIKAS R-ABI aims to promote
the innovation led entrepreneurship through Start-Up creation. The programme
has been funded under the Scheme of RKVY-RAFTAAR Agribusiness Incubator by the
Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana of Department of Agriculture, Cooperation &
Farmers’ Welfare, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of
India, New Delhi.
PH
rice scientist honored for pioneering breeding research
October
3, 2019, 2:44 pm
HONORED. Dr. Glenn B. Gregorio (2nd
from right), director of the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in
Agriculture (SEARCA), receives the 2019 Crop Science Society of the Philippines
(CSSP) Honorary Fellow during the 25th Federation of Crop Sciences Societies of
the Philippines and 1st Federation of Plant Science Association of the
Philippines Scientific Cooperation in Davao City on Sept. 19, 2019. CSSP
President Edna A. Anit (right) presented the award in front of CSSP Awards and
Recognition Committee chairperson Marissa V. Romero (left), and Gregorio’s wife
Myla Beatriz Audije (3rd from right) and two of their six children. (Photo
courtesy of SEARCA)
LOS BAŇOS -- Dr. Glenn B. Gregorio, a
scientist, research manager, and teacher, was awarded Crop Science Society of
the Philippines (CSSP) Honorary Fellow for his significant contributions to
crop science through his pioneering breeding research.
Gregorio, who is also director of
the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in
Agriculture (SEARCA), led the development of at least 20 rice varieties with
tolerance to abiotic stresses while at the International Rice Research Institute
(IRRI) as senior plant breeder.
Gregorio’s studies on the genetics
and molecular mapping for salinity tolerance, and his development of rapid
screening techniques resulted in the first batches of salt-tolerant varieties
in the Philippines and other countries in Asia and Africa.
The iron-enhanced rice he and his
team had developed has been proven to significantly increase levels of total
body iron in the blood of women.
Gregorio has 112 scientific
publications to date and has also mentored many undergraduate and graduate
students, and postdoctoral fellows in the Philippines and other countries.
The award was presented during the
25th Federation of Crop Science Societies of the Philippines (FCSSP) and 1st
Federation of Plant Science Associations of the Philippines (FPSAP) Scientific
Conference in Davao City last September 19.
The CSSP promotes human welfare
through the discovery and dissemination of knowledge concerning the nature,
use, improvement, and interrelationships of plants and their environment and
the people.
“The prestigious award could
dissuade one from making mistakes, and thus making one hesitant to explore and
trying new and different things more daunting,” Gregorio said in his acceptance
speech.
However, he affirmed that it will
not be so for him and asserted that he still wants to explore and takes risks.
He also pushed young crop science
professionals to “continue to explore and enjoy, to try and to be ready, to
fail and learn from it.”
“We tried it; succeed or fail, we
always learn. Explore, dare, be different and take risks for the sake of
science. But, at the same time, be patient. Perseverance is the key,” Gregorio
said.
“There are three types of people
who are likely to be great or successful: those who are related to great
people, those who are pioneers or the first in doing things, and those who are
different. Most of us cannot be the first two, so be different,” he added. (PR)
DA inks P433-million rice-seed deal
-
File photo: A farmer in Buenavista in Santiago City, Isabela,
checks his rice crops soon ready for harvest.
THE Department of Agriculture (DA) has inked a P432.78-million
deal with the country’s top seed growers to kick-start the government’s
seed-distribution program via the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF).
The DA said it forged a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with five
seed growers’ associations and cooperatives for the seed component of the RCEF.
The deal accounts for 21.64 percent of the P3-billion allocated for the RCEF
seed program.
Under the MOA, the seed growers will supply 25 percent, or about
500,000 bags, of the 2 million bags of inbred rice seeds to be distributed to
farmer-beneficiaries of the program.
The DA said the seed program of the RCEF started on October 1,
the same day the MOA was signed.
“The 2 million bags of seeds, each containing 20 kilos, will be
planted to around 1 million hectares of rice land, and will benefit 1 million
rice farmers in the country,” the DA said on Wednesday.
The seed growers’ associations and cooperatives that signed the
MOA are: Pangasinan Organic Seed Growers and Nursery Multi-purpose Cooperative;
Isabela Seed Growers Multi-purpose Cooperative; Nueva Ecija Seed Grower Multi-purpose
Cooperative; South Nueva Ecija Seed Growers Multi-purpose Cooperative; and West
Visayas Federation of Multi-Purpose and Seed Producers Cooperative.
The five cooperatives are all accredited by the Bureau of Plant
Industry’s National Seed Quality Control Services.
“They have outstanding track records and have been in the
business for a long time. None of them are newly registered and they continue
to step up their game to
produce high-quality seeds that will help farmers to be productive,” the DA said.
produce high-quality seeds that will help farmers to be productive,” the DA said.
“The 2 million bags of seeds that they will produce will be a
tremendous boost to elevate the level of productivity in the countryside,” it
added.
The seeds procured by the government from the seed producers
will be distributed to rice farmers in 57 provinces identified to have high
potential for competitiveness.
The eligible farmer-beneficiaries should be listed in the
Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture. Each farmer could receive a
maximum of four bags of inbred seeds depending on farm size for the October to
December planting season, according to the DA.
“This is based on the size of area harvested, yield level, cost
of production and share of irrigated area. Also, the municipalities and cities
must have an annual area of more than 500 hectare for the dry season
2019-2020,” it said.
The DA said the BPI will “constantly” monitor and oversee the
seed growers to ensure that they comply with protocols and guidelines for seed
production. Also, the Philippine Rice Research Institute will assist the rice
farmers achieve their optimum yield potential.
The creation of the RCEF was mandated by the rice trade
liberalization law, which took effect on March 5. The P10-billion fund will
bankroll various programs for improving the productivity of planters who will
have to compete with cheaper imports.
Venezuela to fund construction of US $3.8m rice
research institute in Kenya
By Linus Kemboi
Oct 2, 2019
A
US $3.8m rice research institute is set to be constructed in Busia County, Western Part of Kenya to boost
production and marketing of the crop in the region. The project which will be
the first of its kind in the country will be funded by the Venezuela
government.
According to Jane Ndung’u the head of the Rice Promotion Programme
in the Ministry of Agriculture, the Busia project will improve innovation and
research. “The institute will develop new products for the lowland areas and
also quality grains that are tolerant to diseases and harsh weather
conditions,” she said.
“Rice is one of the main food crops that the national government
has included in the Big Four Agenda under Food security pillar, and because of
that we want to start with boosting the uptake of rice from Busia through the
construction of the institute,” added Ms. Ndung’u.
Availability of funds
Ms. Ndung’u who was speaking during a meeting with officials
from the Department of Agriculture, led by county executive Moses Osia noted
that funds for the project are already with the National Treasury awaiting
disbursement. Moreover, the design of the project is ongoing and the Ministry
of Public Works is expected to complete the design and hand it over to the
contractor to start construction works.
Madagascar on the other side has completed the same project
after receiving the funds from Venezuela. The project will not only create jobs
during the construction phase but will also grow the rice market in the region
and country at large by producing quality and different varieties of rice.
Chairperson Bunyala Rice Farmers said the project comes at the
right time to maximize production through value addition.
'Manoomin' brings together UMN researchers and tribal members
University researchers and local tribes are
working to preserve manoomin, commonly known as wild rice, and cultural
traditions.
For the past two years, River Spry
has ventured out in his canoe to harvest wild rice. Spry, a forestry technician
for the Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa in northern Minnesota,
said harvesting the tall, green stalks of wild rice is an intimate process.
“Just being out there, you are so
connected to the plant and the Earth. It is a beautiful thing,” Spry said. “It
changed my life. The rest of my life I will be a ricer.”
Spry, along with other tribal
members, harvests wild rice for food but also to honor tribal culture and tradition
around the grain. While Native American tribes have harvested wild rice, called
manoomin in Ojibwe, for generations, about one-third of the wild rice in
Minnesota has disappeared over the past century.
Because of the decline,
University of Minnesota researchers are working with tribes through the Grand
Challenges Initiative. Since last year, they have been examining why wild rice
is disappearing and seeking ways to preserve its habitat while honoring sacred
traditions surrounding the grain.
“We make sure the research is
driven by our tribal partners and not the University,” said Michael Dockry, an
assistant professor in the Department of Forest Resources who is involved with
the work. “Our project is pretty unique and important, because it gives an
example of how to work with tribes while protecting tribal sovereignty."
Wild rice, which grows in water,
has been declining because of environmental factors caused by human activity,
said Thomas Howes, natural resources manager for the Fond du Lac Band of Lake
Superior Chippewa. Part of the reason for the decline can be attributed to
issues such as industrial pollution and poor water quality.
According to Howes, the Great
Lakes region is the only place in the world wild rice grows.
“We have to do our best to take
care of it,” he said.
While the Fond du Lac tribe has
been able to revitalize their wild rice habitats, there continues to be a
decline in the plant outside the reservation.
The grain is significant to many
tribal communities. According to the migration story of the Anishinaabe, or
Ojibwe people, the Creator instructed tribes to find the “food which grows upon
the water.” Wild rice, or manoomin, was discovered in the Great Lakes region,
and that is why people settled there.
Not only are University
researchers doing this work to study and preserve the sacred grain, but also to
repair the University’s relationship with local tribes – which has been rocky
in the past.
“Our projects goal is to … really
make sure we are researching wild rice collaboratively and making sure we
understand what wild rice means to them,” said Crystal Ng, head researcher for
the project.
Almost two decades ago,
University researchers tried to develop a genetically engineered form of wild
rice without input from tribes, which made tribal communities unhappy. They
feared creating new forms of wild rice would contaminate the ecosystem for
traditional wild rice, Howes said.
In a
2009 letter written by Anishinaabe tribal members and the
University, the University acknowledged wrongdoing.
“...virtually all wild rice
research emerging from the University has reflected the goals and desires of
non-Indians with little regard for native concerns, perspectives or the
considerable store of traditional knowledge,” the letter read.
The letter was written to propose
the University and Anishnaabe nations in Minnesota work to build a relationship
built on mutual respect and reciprocity.
“The University messed this up
royally previously,” Karen Driver, former chairwoman of the Fond Du Lac tribe,
said regarding previous University work around wild rice. “It left a bad taste
in tribal peoples’ mouths.”
Driver, who is an adviser for the
Grand Challenge project, said researchers for this project are taking the time
to establish good relationships and establish mutual respect.
Tribal members can add value to
the research being done by sharing their knowledge accumulated from generations
of being good stewards of wild rice, Driver said.
“Because of this respect, both
sides can learn from each other.”
While it has not been easy to
rebuild relationships and regain trust, Ng said the University researchers
keeping their word and working collaboratively with tribes has helped the
partnership.
“We are working together and
really trying to heal a lot of what has happened in the past from us not
working together,” Ng said.
Last month, tribal partners were
invited to the University as part of President Joan Gabel’s inauguration week,
to honor the research and relationship between tribal communities and the
University.
Gabel said bringing community
members together and doing work like this allows them to share both indigenous
wisdom and scientific discovery.
While funding for the Grand
Challenge project only goes through January 2020, researchers are looking to
other funding sources to continue their work.
The long-term goal for
researchers involved with the project is for the University to go beyond wild
rice research and someday be a center of excellence for supporting tribal
resource management.
One of Spry’s favorite parts of
harvesting wild rice is that he feels personally connected to the food.“We need
to protect that.”
Late September storms affecting rice, cotton crops throughout
Northeast Arkansas
CRAIGHEAD COUNTY,
Ark. (KAIT) -Heavy rain and winds during the last week of September affected
crops in several Region 8 counties.
According to a report from content partner Talk Business &
Politics, the National Weather Service reported on Sept. 26, more than six
counties received at least one to four inches of rain, with as much as five
inches being reported in central Jackson County.
Brandon Thiesse,
staff chair for the Craighead County Cooperative Extension Service office,
reported the western half of Craighead County received two inches of rain Sept.
25.
Most of his concerns
drifted towards cotton, with most of the rice already harvested.
“Heavy wind and rain
will pull the lint right out of the bolls if this continues,” Thiesse said.
“We’re right on the front end of harvest, so we don’t need any more of this
stuff. It needs to get out of here, so we can get to pickin’.”
Jarrod Hardke, a
rice agronomist for the Univ. of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, said
he noticed damage to several unharvested rice acres when he toured several
fields in northern Arkansas.
“Wind and rain did a
number on remaining rice in the field,” Hardke said. “Fields ready for harvest
have anywhere from small patches to large swaths of downed rice. This will slow
down harvest in these fields and increase wear and tear on combines.”
Texas Crop and Weather Report – Oct. 1, 2019
Rice
producers faced tough 2019, yields likely below average
- Writer: Adam Russell,
903-834-6191, adam.russell@ag.tamu.edu
- Contact: Ted Wilson,
409-752-3045, lt-wilson@aesrg.tamu.edu
Texas rice growers faced a
challenging 2019 due to early and late-season rains, according to a Texas
A&M AgriLife Research expert.
It was a challenging growing season for Texas rice farmers.
Spring rains delayed planting, and late rains may hurt ratoon yields. (Texas
A&M AgriLife Research photo)
Ted Wilson, Ph.D., Texas A&M AgriLife Research and
Extension Center director,
Beaumont, said reports on yields and quality are too preliminary to determine
likely outcomes, but he expects a below-average year due to late plantings and
late rains that included flooding in Texas’ rice-growing regions.
Yields in recent years have
averaged around 8,000 pounds per acre, Wilson said.
Texas’ rice crop includes 100%
of main crop acreage and the acres that producers decide to take to a second
harvest, also known as the ratoon crop. Producer surveys indicate 64 percent of
producers took their acres to ratoon, but Wilson said he expects fewer acres
actually producing ratoon rice.
Wilson said the wet spring will
likely contribute to lower yields this growing season. Flooding from Tropical
Storm Imelda likely didn’t help remaining stands of the main crop or ratoon
potential.
The effects of late plantings
and Imelda are still unknown because harvest surveys from producers, which help
assess yields and quality are only now coming in, Wilson said.
As of Sept. 27, around 97% of
the main rice crop had been harvested, Wilson said. But rains from Tropical
Storm Imelda delivered up to 40-plus inches of rainfall along rice-producing
areas of southern Texas.
“Wet springs tend to delay
planting. For every week of delay, there is a yield penalty because an
increasing amount of grain is produced when there are higher nighttime
temperatures, which reduces rice plant’s efficiency,” Wilson said. “Now there
are questions about a good portion of the ratoon crop, especially if there was
lodging due to mud.”
Delays
The majority of rice planting
in Texas usually occurs by the last week of March or first week of April west
of Houston and the second to third week of April east of Houston, he said. But
there were reports of planting as late as June, and some producers missed their
window to plant altogether.
Delays meant main crop harvest,
which typically occurs beginning in July, extended into September, he said.
“Our research shows you lose
310 pounds per acre per week each week harvest is delayed due to higher
nighttime temperatures chewing up plant energy,” he said. “So, if you were
planting in June east of Houston, that’s eight to nine weeks times 310 pounds
per acre. Those are considerable losses.”
Wilson said individual growers
did very well this year, but crop performance will likely depend on location,
planting and growing conditions and any other challenges.
Other
challenges
Pests were localized in Texas
rice this year, but diseases like kernel smut impacted several producers,
Wilson said. The fungal disease has become progressively worse over the past
five to six years.
“It hurts grain, and some
individual fields where kernel smut was found had loads of rice rejected by
driers and mills,” he said.
Narrow brown leaf spot is
another disease that is increasing in severity and is affecting yields, Wilson
said. There is no highly effective treatment for brown leaf spot.
“I’m very impressed with Texas
rice growers, but when you face challenges like those presented this year, it
can be difficult,” he said. “Hopefully there weren’t too many losses from Imelda,
and the ratooned crop does well.”
AgriLife Extension district
reporters compiled the following summaries:
The 12 Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Districts
CENTRAL: The district reported
hot temperatures and needed more moisture. Some brush work was done. Cattle
were in fair condition. Stock tank and pond levels were decreasing. Pastures
were drying out. Trees were showing stress from drought. Cotton harvest yields
varied from very good to bad. Corn harvest was complete. Counties reported
short to very short soil moisture. Rangeland and pasture conditions were mostly
poor.
ROLLING PLAINS: Most counties
reported trace amounts of rain up to 3 inches. Clay County reported up to 6
inches of rainfall in areas. Rangeland and crop conditions continued to
progress. Cotton continued to mature as bolls continued to open. Wheat
producers continued planting. Livestock remained in good condition.
COASTAL BEND: Scattered showers
fell across the district, but some areas remained fairly dry. Fieldwork
continued with remaining cotton harvest, stalk destruction, disking, plowing
and some winter pastures being planted. Cotton gins were still running around
the clock and were expected to continue for several more weeks. Hay baling
accelerated as producers tried to get another cutting. Rangelands and pastures
were improving after recent rains, but many livestock producers were still supplementing
with hay or protein. Livestock were in good condition, and fall calves were
hitting the ground and doing well.
EAST: Rains brought by Tropical
Storm Imelda were not enough to relieve drought conditions in the district.
Many counties still needed much more rain to improve pasture and meadow
conditions. Producers were on hold waiting for more moisture to make another
cutting of hay. Pasture and rangeland conditions were fair. Subsoil and topsoil
conditions were adequate. Preparations were made for cool-season vegetable
crops. Polk County reported producers were planting winter pastures and some
stands of ryegrass were already established. Most other counties were on hold
waiting for moisture to plant winter pastures. Livestock were in good
condition. Cattle prices were higher. Wild pigs caused extensive damage to
creeks, pastures and hay meadows. Houston County reported that horse flies were
a tremendous problem. Armyworms continued to be an increasing problem.
SOUTH PLAINS: Heavy rains were
reported across most counties, with farmers receiving 3-4 inches of rain. Other
counties still needed more moisture. Heavy hail in eastern counties destroyed
cotton in several fields with all the bolls and leaves being stripped from the
stalk. Several pivots were damaged in the storm. Other cotton in the eastern
part of the counties received lighter damage from the hailstorm. Winter wheat
was emerging and making a good stand after recent rains. Late-planted corn and
sorghum were harvested for silage. Producers were busy making decisions on the
best defoliant to apply when fields dry up. Cattle were in good condition.
PANHANDLE: Northern parts of
the district were warmer than normal and needed moisture. Early planted corn
was being harvested. Silage harvest was complete. Wheat planting was
progressing. Rangelands and pastures were in fair to good condition and going
dormant. Most outlooks for cotton were poor. Eastern parts of the district
reported cotton to be fair, and bolls were opening. Peanuts were fair. Subsoil
moisture was less than adequate, and topsoil moisture was very short. Southern
parts of the district reported moisture conditions were favorable for wheat and
rangeland conditions. Moisture may affect cotton yields and quality for bolls
open to the rain.
NORTH: Soil moisture was mainly
short across the district with some counties reporting adequate levels. Many
counties needed rain, but Cooke County reported some areas received 3.5 inches.
Temperatures ranged from the mid- to high-90s. Soils were dry and full of
cracks. Hay producers were working overtime to get the last cutting out.
Armyworm reports increased with heavy infestations in some places.
FAR WEST: High temperatures
were in the low-90s with lows in the low-60s. Thunderstorms brought 0.38-1.68
inches of rain. Cattle producers were rotating dry cows to fall grazing
pastures and preparing for the next season. Fields were prepared and ready for
wheat and oats. A small amount of wheat was planted. Cotton harvest was
starting to pick up as fields already sprayed were being quickly stripped. Most
harvested fields were dryland cotton. Yields were below average to very low.
Irrigated cotton should be ready for harvest in coming weeks. Many cotton
fields were being sprayed with defoliant. Pecans were coming along very well
with earlier varieties reaching shuck split. Yields looked very good. Pastures
were a little greener with a few weed issues reported. Producers continued to
feed livestock and wildlife.
WEST CENTRAL: Soil moisture and
pastures declined under hot, dry conditions. Wildfire potential was high, and
much of the district remained under a burn ban. Field preparations for small
grains continued with some producers putting seed in the ground to be ready for
the next rain. Many farmers and ranchers were feeding cattle hay and protein
early due to poor grazing conditions. Stocker steers and heifers sold steady.
Feeder steers and heifers sold $3 higher per hundredweight. Packer cows sold $2
higher while packer bulls sold steady. Pairs and bred cows sold in good demand.
SOUTHEAST: Most of the district
received rain amounts that improved conditions, but there was flooding. Lee
County reported extremely hot and dry conditions. Most of Chambers County
received 40-plus inches of rain from Tropical Storm Imelda. About 30% of rice
was still in fields and will not be harvested. Some fields were still
underwater, and conditions will be evaluated in the coming days. Pastures
rebounded with the rain. Cattle were healthy, but flies continued to be an
issue. Rangeland and pasture ratings were excellent to very poor with good
being most common. Soil moisture levels ranged from adequate to very short with
adequate being most common.
SOUTHWEST: Very little
precipitation was reported with mostly hot and extremely dry conditions.
Rangelands continued to be dry, and wildfire was a concern. Livestock were in
fair condition, and supplemental feeding continued for livestock.
SOUTH: Northern, eastern and
western parts of the district reported warm weather conditions with very short
soil moisture levels. Southern areas reported mild weather with scattered
showers and short to adequate soil moisture. Parts of Live Oak County reported
1-3 inches of rain. Cotton harvest was wrapping up in some areas and continued
in others. Average yields were reported. Producers were busy destroying cotton
stubble and plowing harvested fields. Peanuts were maturing under irrigation
and approaching harvest. Fieldwork for planting small grains continued. Wheat and
oat plantings were still on hold as producers waited for moisture to get fields
started. Pecans were doing well. Irrigated Coastal Bermuda grass and some
vegetables were doing well. Cabbage made good progress, and some spinach was
planted. Rangelands and pastures continued to suffer from extremely dry
conditions. Some supplemental feeding was reported. Starr County reported
rangeland and pastures continued to improve.
Rice prices, acres and yields rebound in 2019
·
