Thoughts on Rice

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In this episode, Sarah catches up with UCCE Farm Advisor Whitney Brim-DeForest (Sutter-Yuba) to discuss the latest research, survey trends, and management strategies for California weedy rice (Oryza sativa). They dive into genetic diversity among local biotypes, the impact of winter cultural practices, and realistic updates on post-emergent herbicide pipelines.

Upcoming Events

Rice Winter Grower Meetings

• Woodland: February 16, 2027
• Richvale & Willows: February 17, 2027
• Colusa & Yuba City: February 18, 2027

Resources

Weedy Rice Website

Other Resources

UC Rice Blog

UC Agronomy - Rice

Rice Briefs (Colusa/Yolo)

Rice Notes (Yuba-Sutter)

Rice Leaf (Butte/Glenn)

Rice in the Delta

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This episode of the Thoughts on Rice podcast features Craig Riddle, the Industry Affairs Manager for the California Rice Commission, discussing the history and requirements of the Drinking Water well survey program. Under this program, growers must conduct annual nitrate monitoring for drinking water wells located on parcels where rice is grown, though compliance frequencies can be reduced based on low nitrate results. Craig also highlights a commission assessment showing that rice practices have a de minimis impact on nitrate contributions to groundwater, allowing rice growers to operate under a commodity-specific compliance pathway. 

Resources

Drinking Water Well Resources

Upcoming Events

Rice Quality Workshop

• July 30, 2026 from 8:30 am – 12:30 pm
• An in-depth workshop covering the factors affecting rice quality. Registration required.
• Hillcrest Catering, 210 Julie Dr, Yuba City, CA

Emerging Pests Workshop

• August 5, 2026 from 9:00 am – 11:00 pm
• CIP Conference Room, 100 Sunrise Blvd, Colusa, CA

Rice Winter Grower Meetings

• Woodland: February 16, 2027
• Richvale & Willows: February 17, 2027
• Colusa & Yuba City: February 18, 2027

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UC ANR is an equal opportunity provider and employer

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 The demands of agriculture are unique, often blending long hours, unpredictable weather, and financial pressure. Taking care of your mental well-being is just as vital as tending to your crops. Whether you are looking for proactive stress management or need immediate support, there are resources specifically designed for the agricultural community. 

Proactive Management & Toolkits

• Western Regional Agricultural Stress Assistance Partnership (WRASAP): A comprehensive hub for agricultural stress resources.
• Farmer Toolkit: Practical tools for managing daily farm pressures.
• Virginia Cooperative Extension’s Guide to Beating Stress: Strategies for maintaining mental health in rural communities.
• Utah State Extension Mindfulness Sessions: Guidance on staying grounded during difficult times.

Immediate Support & Crisis Lines

• Farm Aid Hotline: 1-800-FARM-AID (1-800-327-6243)
• 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988.
• Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741.
• CalHOPE Warm Line: 1-833-317-HOPE (1-833-317-4673) — Peer support and non-emergency help.

Specialized Support Services

• SAMHSA National Helpline: 1-800-662-HELP (4357) — Treatment referrals for mental health or substance use.
• The Trevor Project: 1-866-488-7386 — Crisis intervention for LGBTQIA+ youth.
• Trans Lifeline: 1-877-565-8860 — Peer support for trans and questioning callers.
• LGBT National Help Center: 1-888-843-4564 — Confidential peer-support and local resources.

Remember: Reaching out is a sign of strength, not weakness. Keep these numbers in your phone or posted in your shop - you never know when you or a neighbor might need them. 

Source Material: This episode was adapted from the article "Cultivating resilience: mental health resources for the ag community" by Sarah Marsh Janish, found in the April 2026 UCCE Rice Briefs. 

Music: Music credit to Adam and Darcie

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In this episode, Sarah Marsh Janish, Carson Jeffries (UC Davis), and Paul Buttner (California Rice Commission) discuss an exciting project - the concept of running young salmon on rice fields!

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 In this episode, Sarah Marsh Janish gives a recap of the 2025 rice season, looking ahead to the 2026 season. 

Links 

Armyworm Monitoring Network 

Upcoming Events 

Rice Production Workshop (registration required - REGISTER HERE) 

March 18-19, 2026 

8:30 am - 3:30 pm 

Lundberg Family Farms, 5311 Midway, Richvale, CA 

Other Resources 

UC Rice Blog 

UC Agronomy - Rice 

Rice Briefs (Colusa/Yolo) 

Rice Notes (Yuba-Sutter) 

Rice Leaf (Butte/Glenn) 

Rice in the Delta 

Mention of an agrichemical does not constitute a recommendation, merely the sharing of research findings. Always follow the label. The label is the law. Find out more at ipm.ucanr.edu.

The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed are the speaker's own and do not represent the views, thoughts, and opinions of the University of California. The material and information presented here is for general purposes only. The "University of California" name and all forms and abbreviations are the property of its owner and its use does not imply endorsement of or opposition to any specific organization, product, or service.

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On this episode, Sarah Marsh Janish speaks with Dr. Dustin Harrell and Dr. Teresa DeLeon, both of the California Cooperative Rice Research Foundation and breeders at the California Rice Experiment Station. They detail the history of the Rice Experiment Station and new varieties coming to the California rice market.

Links

California Cooperative Rice Research Foundation

Upcoming Events

Propanil Stewardship Meeting

February 26, 2026

10 am - 12 pm

Colusa Industrial Properties Conference Room, 100 Sunrise Blvd, Colusa, CA

Rice Production Workshop (registration required - REGISTER HERE)

March 18-19, 2026

8:30 am - 3:30 pm

Lundberg Family Farms, 5311 Midway, Richvale, CA

Other Resources

UC Rice Blog

UC Agronomy - Rice

Rice Briefs (Colusa/Yolo)

Rice Notes (Yuba-Sutter)

Rice Leaf (Butte/Glenn)

Rice in the Delta

Mention of an agrichemical does not constitute a recommendation, merely the sharing of research findings. Always follow the label. The label is the law. Find out more at ipm.ucanr.edu.

The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed are the speaker's own and do not represent the views, thoughts, and opinions of the University of California. The material and information presented here is for general purposes only. The "University of California" name and all forms and abbreviations are the property of its owner and its use does not imply endorsement of or opposition to any specific organization, product, or service.

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On this episode, Sarah Marsh Janish welcomes back colleague Dr. Sara Rosenberg, a UCANR Farm Advisor for Mariposa, Merced and Stanislaus counties, to discuss a recent paper she has published. Dr. Rosenberg recently published a paper about part of her dissertation work, the first study to assess soil health and agronomic outcomes in diversified and continuous rice systems in California. This journal article is called "Benefits and tradeoffs of diversifying rice-based cropping systems: Impacts on soil health, productivity, and agroecosystem multifunctionality" and was published in volume 391 of Agriculture, Ecosystems, and Environment. The conversation focused in on one aspect of this fascinating work: how crop rotation in rice systems affects soil microbial communities.

Links

Benefits and tradeoffs of diversifying rice-based cropping systems: Impacts on soil health, productivity, and agroecosystem multifunctionality

Addressing economic barriers to crop diversification in rice-based cropping systems

UCCE Regenerative Ag Facebook

Upcoming Events

Winter Grower Meetings (2 DPR CE credits (0.5 Laws and Regulations, 0.5 Aerial Pest Control, 1 Other) – Applied for CCA CE credits)

January 21, 2026: Richvale 8 am /Willows 1 pm

January 22, 2026: Colusa 8 am/ Yuba City 1 pm

January 23, 2026: Woodland 8 am

Rice Production Workshop (registration required - REGISTER HERE)

March 18-19, 2026

8:30 am - 3:00 pm

Lundberg Family Farms, 5311 Midway, Richvale, CA

Other Resources

UC Rice Blog

UC Agronomy - Rice

Rice Briefs (Colusa/Yolo)

Rice Notes (Yuba-Sutter)

Rice Leaf (Butte/Glenn)

Rice in the Delta

Mention of an agrichemical does not constitute a recommendation, merely the sharing of research findings. Always follow the label. The label is the law. Find out more at ipm.ucanr.edu.

The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed are the speaker's own and do not represent the views, thoughts, and opinions of the University of California. The material and information presented here is for general purposes only. The "University of California" name and all forms and abbreviations are the property of its owner and its use does not imply endorsement of or opposition to any specific organization, product, or service.

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Jens Beets (USDA) and Whitney Brim-Deforest (UCCE) sit down to discuss the invasive weed Winged Water Primrose (Ludwigia decurrens) and research efforts to mitigate this weed.

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In this episode, Sarah Marsh Janish welcomes back colleagues Dr. Jens Beets (USDA) and Dr. Whitney Brim-Deforest (UCCE) to sit down to discuss the invasive weed Winged Water Primrose (Ludwigia decurrens) and research efforts to mitigate this weed.

Upcoming Events

Winter Grower Meetings (2 DPR CE credits (0.5 Laws and Regulations, 0.5 Aerial Pest Control, 1 Other) – Applied for CCA CE credits)

January 21, 2026: Richvale 8 am /Willows 1 pm

January 22, 2026: Colusa 8 am/ Yuba City 1 pm

January 23, 2026: Woodland 8 am

Rice Production Workshop (registration required - REGISTER HERE)

March 18-19, 2026

8:30 am - 3:00 pm

Lundberg Family Farms, 5311 Midway, Richvale, CA

Other Resources

UC Rice Blog

UC Agronomy - Rice

Rice Briefs (Colusa/Yolo)

Rice Notes (Yuba-Sutter)

Rice Leaf (Butte/Glenn)

Rice in the Delta

Mention of an agrichemical does not constitute a recommendation, merely the sharing of research findings. Always follow the label. The label is the law. Find out more at ipm.ucanr.edu.

The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed are the speaker's own and do not represent the views, thoughts, and opinions of the University of California. The material and information presented here is for general purposes only. The "University of California" name and all forms and abbreviations are the property of its owner and its use does not imply endorsement of or opposition to any specific organization, product, or service.

Support the show

UC ANR is an equal opportunity provider and employer

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Part 4 of 4

This special episode series features Colusa County rice farmers George and Carson Tibbitts discussing the multi-generational history of their family farm, and how Carson is now taking on more responsibilities as a junior partner while learning from his father's decades of farming experience.

Feedback Poll

Upcoming Events

Winter Grower Meetings (2 DPR CE credits (0.5 Laws and Regulations, 0.5 Aerial Pest Control, 1 Other) – Applied for CCA CE credits)

January 21, 2026: Richvale 8 am /Willows 1 pm

January 22, 2026: Colusa 8 am/ Yuba City 1 pm

January 23, 2026: Woodland 8 am

Rice Production Workshop (registration required - REGISTER HERE)

March 18-19, 2026

8:30 am - 3:00 pm

Lundberg Family Farms, 5311 Midway, Richvale, CA

Other Resources

UC Rice Blog

UC Agronomy - Rice

Rice Briefs (Colusa/Yolo)

Rice Notes (Yuba-Sutter)

Rice Leaf (Butte/Glenn)

Rice in the Delta

Mention of an agrichemical does not constitute a recommendation, merely the sharing of research findings. Always follow the label. The label is the law. Find out more at ipm.ucanr.edu.

The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed are the speaker's own and do not represent the views, thoughts, and opinions of the University of California. The material and information presented here is for general purposes only. The "University of California" name and all forms and abbreviations are the property of its owner and its use does not imply endorsement of or opposition to any specific organization, product, or service.

Support the show

UC ANR is an equal opportunity provider and employer

Let us hear from you!

Part 3 of 4

This special episode series features Colusa County rice farmers George and Carson Tibbitts discussing the multi-generational history of their family farm, and how Carson is now taking on more responsibilities as a junior partner while learning from his father's decades of farming experience.

Feedback Poll

Upcoming Events

Winter Grower Meetings (2 DPR CE credits (0.5 Laws and Regulations, 0.5 Aerial Pest Control, 1 Other) – Applied for CCA CE credits)

January 21, 2026: Richvale 8 am /Willows 1 pm

January 22, 2026: Colusa 8 am/ Yuba City 1 pm

January 23, 2026: Woodland 8 am

Rice Production Workshop (registration required - REGISTER HERE)

March 18-19, 2026

8:30 am - 3:00 pm

Lundberg Family Farms, 5311 Midway, Richvale, CA

Other Resources

UC Rice Blog

UC Agronomy - Rice

Rice Briefs (Colusa/Yolo)

Rice Notes (Yuba-Sutter)

Rice Leaf (Butte/Glenn)

Rice in the Delta

Mention of an agrichemical does not constitute a recommendation, merely the sharing of research findings. Always follow the label. The label is the law. Find out more at ipm.ucanr.edu.

The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed are the speaker's own and do not represent the views, thoughts, and opinions of the University of California. The material and information presented here is for general purposes only. The "University of California" name and all forms and abbreviations are the property of its owner and its use does not imply endorsement of or opposition to any specific organization, product, or service.

Support the show

UC ANR is an equal opportunity provider and employer