UC Rice IPM Workgroup Meeting: Crop Rotation Calculator

Feb 11, 2022

By Whitney Brim-DeForest

The UC Rice IPM Workgroup is holding a grower meeting on February 16^th to provide research updates and exhibit a new decision-support tool under development. The meeting is relevant to rice growers and other rice industry experts throughout California. This event will primarily focus on the economics of crop rotations and the decision-support tool. There will also be a short segment on the Rice IPM Workgroup (updates and next steps).

The presenters will be Sara Rosenberg, UC Davis Ph.D. student in Horticulture and Agronomy, and Whitney Brim-DeForest, UCCE Rice Advisor.

Rosenberg will present on crop rotation economics and on the web-based cost calculator developed for rice growers to explore the costs and benefits of switching over to selected rotation crops. There will be an opportunity for attendees to ask questions and provide feedback on this decision support tool and for individuals to test it on their own. All are welcome.

“We are looking for grower and industry input for further developing this economics of crop rotations calculator”, Brim-DeForest says. “We hope to have lots of participation”. For those unable to make it in person, the tool itself will be posted on the rice.ucanr.edu website, as well as the soon-to-be-launched UC Rice IPM Workgroup website.

Source : ucanr.edu

Video: What I’m Checking Behind the Planter This Spring

This is the first episode of a new behind-the-scenes series on our farm.

Today I’m checking behind the planter looking at planting depth, seed-to-soil contact, and making sure we’re placing seed into moisture, even in a dry spring.

Everything can look good from the cab, but this is where you find out what’s really happening.

We also ran into a prescription issue that slowed us down, which is a good reminder that even when conditions are ideal, the little things still matter.

If you’re planting right now, it’s worth taking a few minutes to check behind your planter.