Learn more about how CA rice farmers prepare harvested fields for their eventual role as wildlife habitat.
Friday, October 29, 2010
New video reports: Preparing fields for wildlife
Learn more about how CA rice farmers prepare harvested fields for their eventual role as wildlife habitat.
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
New Recipe - Chicken & Rice Won Ton Cups
By Russell Okubo, Executive ChefFat’s Family Restaurants
This graduate from the California Culinary Academy has been preparing innovative and satisfying cuisine in Sacramento for the past twenty-five years. View Recipe
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Blog post by Sean Doherty: Challenging Season
I can't wait to finish rice harvest this year. Unfortunately, that is quite far off.Mother Nature has not being as kind as she usually is and it is creating a very difficult harvest. The lateness of this year’s crop means that my harvest window is even more exposed to the late fall, early winter storms...
Friday, October 22, 2010
Blog post by Tom Butler: Of Rice and Rain
It has been hard to complain too much about the harvest season, once it got started of course. We were rolling along, getting over 100 acres a day harvested, the yields were above my expectations given the conditions of the year, and no real delays brought on by weather or broken equipment. However, last night, as everyone finished for the day, I went home knowing that the run of luck was probably going to end overnight.
Sadly I was right. The forecast for rain was correct, and a shower passed through overnight. Although it wasn't much, a few tenths of an inch, it brought enough moisture to make the rice too damp to efficiently harvest and dry for at least until late afternoon today, if at all.
To make matters worse, this was the first wave of three days of unsettled weather. We're two-thirds done with our rice harvest, but we probably won't make any progress over the weekend. There are a few things to do today, get the truckloads of rice left in the field overnight hauled to the dryer, the daily service and repairs of the combines and tractors, but after that, we'll do what every other rice grower will do over the weekend, wait.
More about Tom: Tom Butler farms rice with his father, Steve, in Sutter and Yolo Counties. Tom is the fourth generation of his family to farm.
When he’s not on the job, the University of Nebraska graduate enjoys swimming, water polo, hunting and spending time with his family.
Sadly I was right. The forecast for rain was correct, and a shower passed through overnight. Although it wasn't much, a few tenths of an inch, it brought enough moisture to make the rice too damp to efficiently harvest and dry for at least until late afternoon today, if at all.
To make matters worse, this was the first wave of three days of unsettled weather. We're two-thirds done with our rice harvest, but we probably won't make any progress over the weekend. There are a few things to do today, get the truckloads of rice left in the field overnight hauled to the dryer, the daily service and repairs of the combines and tractors, but after that, we'll do what every other rice grower will do over the weekend, wait.
More about Tom: Tom Butler farms rice with his father, Steve, in Sutter and Yolo Counties. Tom is the fourth generation of his family to farm.When he’s not on the job, the University of Nebraska graduate enjoys swimming, water polo, hunting and spending time with his family.
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Guest video post: Japanese cooking contest winner tours CA rice fields
Mr. Kaoru Tanaka of Japan comments on his trip to California rice fields, as one of three grand prize winners in USA Rice Federation's Jambalaya Rice Recipe Contest.
Monday, October 18, 2010
Video post by Josh Sheppard: "Rice harvest making good progress"
Josh Sheppard is proud to be part of the fourth generation of his family that have been farming rice in Butte County for many generations. After receiving degrees in Agribusiness and Water Science from Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo in 1997 he returned to the 3,000 acre family rice operation with his parents, a brother, and a sister. Josh and his wife, Kathryn, have two children.When he’s not on the farm, he enjoys time as a volunteer for the California Waterfowl Association and his children's youth basketball programs.
Friday, October 15, 2010
New Blog Posts
Check out the latest posts from our California family rice farmers.
Tom Butler-
"Seeking the finishing line"
Lauren LaGrande-
"Exciting Times"
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Video: U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer comments on California Rice Farming
U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer visited a rice field in Live Oak, Sutter County, today and spoke about the tremendous work family rice farmers are doing to help the environment.
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Blog post by Sean Doherty: Red Light, Green Light
I don't want to hear a single disparaging word about the north wind. Here’s why: Remember the kid’s game "Red Light, Green Light?” I’ve been playing a real life version since my last posting.
The rice that took forever to mature is - surprise surprise- taking forever to dry down. The warehouses up and down the valley typically don't like to receive rice with the moisture of the kernels over 24 percent because it is to costly and labor intensive to dry to a stable 14 percent level.
For the last two weeks I’ve been cutting samples of different fields hoping for a number under 24 percent. When I have found that rare field, I would start the harvest only to be shut down soon after as the moisture climbs back up in a different portion of the field. Green Light, Red Light.
The big hot north wind currently blowing through the valley is just what the doctor ordered to solve this ongoing problem. Nothing will dry a rice field down faster than a north wind, and I love every minute of it because it means the end of all the starting and stopping.
Hopefully.
Sean Doherty is a 3rd generation rice farmer living out his dream, being a rice farmer in Dunnigan.
He farms in Yolo, Colusa, and Sutter Counties with his wife Melissa, and three kids, Hannah, Gus, and Mary. He enjoys being in the fields, watching the seasons, and sharing it with his family.
The rice that took forever to mature is - surprise surprise- taking forever to dry down. The warehouses up and down the valley typically don't like to receive rice with the moisture of the kernels over 24 percent because it is to costly and labor intensive to dry to a stable 14 percent level.
For the last two weeks I’ve been cutting samples of different fields hoping for a number under 24 percent. When I have found that rare field, I would start the harvest only to be shut down soon after as the moisture climbs back up in a different portion of the field. Green Light, Red Light.
The big hot north wind currently blowing through the valley is just what the doctor ordered to solve this ongoing problem. Nothing will dry a rice field down faster than a north wind, and I love every minute of it because it means the end of all the starting and stopping.
Hopefully.
Sean Doherty is a 3rd generation rice farmer living out his dream, being a rice farmer in Dunnigan.He farms in Yolo, Colusa, and Sutter Counties with his wife Melissa, and three kids, Hannah, Gus, and Mary. He enjoys being in the fields, watching the seasons, and sharing it with his family.
Monday, October 11, 2010
Video post by Tom Butler: Rice season gets rolling
More about Tom: Tom Butler farms rice with his father, Steve, in Sutter and Yolo Counties. Tom is the fourth generation of his family to farm.When he’s not on the job, the University of Nebraska graduate enjoys swimming, water polo, hunting and spending time with his family.
Friday, October 8, 2010
Video post by Charley Mathews
Fifth-generation farmer Charley Mathews is continuing a family a legacy that began in the 1850s. Their first rice fields were planted in the 1940s and are still going strong in Yuba County. Charley is a graduate of Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. He and his wife Hillary have two sons, Parker and Adam.
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Featured Recipe by Chef Antonio Villagomez
Grilled ling cod served with a tomato chipotle cream sauce, cilantro cream, and a California rice cake.You can serve this dish with some grilled asparagus or almost any other vegetable that you might prefer. Enjoy.
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Video posts by featured guests: Helping Wildlife Flourish
California rice growers are working with conservation groups to enhance habitat for the already abundant wildlife living in rice fields.View comments from Khara Strum of PRBO Conservation Science and Jon O’Brien of Audubon California.
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