News Release Distributed 05/30/13
CROWLEY, La. – The LSU AgCenter Rice Research Station Field Day on June 26 will feature the latest in research tailored at helping Louisiana rice farmers.
“Our program features a well-rounded slate of presentations, including entomology, variety and hybrid development, disease and weed control, and agronomy,” said Steve Linscombe, station director. “We also will have visiting professors from Mississippi and Arkansas.”
Linscombe said the field day typically draws rice industry leaders from other states and abroad.
“The day gives us a chance to showcase our research and give a progress report to growers whose checkoff dollars help fund much of our work,” Linscombe said.
The day begins with field tours starting at 7:15 a.m. and continuing until 9 a.m.
AgCenter speakers on the field tour include Linscombe, weed scientist Eric Webster, pathologists Don Groth and Jong Ham, entomologist Mike Stout, geneticist Jim Oard, and agronomist Dustin Harrell. Out-of-state speakers are University of Arkansas agronomist Jarrod Hardke and rice breeder Greg Berger and Mississippi State University agronomist Tim Walker.
A poster session showing additional research projects and rice-related activities will be held from 7:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m.
The program starting at 10:45 a.m. will feature Jackie Loewer, chairman of the Louisiana Rice Research Board; LSU AgCenter economist Michael Salassi giving the latest information on the farm bill debate; Michael Creed of the Creed Rice Co. from Houston with an update on rice economics; and Herman Wenzler from Kellogg’s with a report on the Kellogg’s Master Rice Grower Program.
The final speakers are Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry Commissioner, Mike Strain; LSU AgCenter Chancellor, Bill Richardson; and Rogers Leonard, associate vice chancellor. Lunch will follow the program.
Bruce Schultz