This region’s status as a leader in Ag and cuisine took center stage at Sacramento’s Capitol Mall Saturday. Organizers estimate about 65,000 people attended the fourth annual Farm to Fork Festival. READ MORE
We strongly support the effort being led by Audubon California to better understand the linkages between mosquito control requirements and farmers’ ability to help birds. READ MORE
Sacramento’s Capitol Mall will be packed this Saturday, as tens of thousands of people will gather for the Farm to Fork Festival.
There will be a strong California Rice presence at the festival, including our booth at Fifth and Capitol, which we expect will lead to steady interaction with the public. The booth will feature a plethora of information on our industry, including brochures, recipe cards, rice panicles and a large monitor nearby playing drone footage of this year’s harvest as well as rice wildlife clips.
A California Rice cooking demonstration is planned at the Whole Foods Stage at about 1 pm, featuring acclaimed Chef Kurt Spataro and KFBK Afternoon News Anchor Kitty O’Neal.
We are also working on the Farm Tank Summit tomorrow and Friday.
Our goal with these events is to convey the important role rice plays in our region’s environment, economy and cuisine. Additionally, we will provide information on the careful stewardship of water in the Sacramento Valley to benefit the environment, cities and farms.
The USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service and Ducks Unlimited have extended to November 18, the deadline to apply for the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) – Rice Stewardship Partnership. This program aims to provide financial and technical assistance to rice growers to implement projects designed to improve irrigation efficiency while also benefitting wildlife. READ MORE
The deadline to apply for the Rice Leadership Development Program is October 1.
Applicants must be between 25 and 45 years old and will need to submit a completed application form accompanied by references and letters of recommendation.
This two-year program provides a firsthand comprehensive look at all aspects of the rice industry.
For more information on the Rice Leadership Development Program, please contact Chuck Wilson at 870-673-7541, cwilson@usarice.com, or Roberta Firoved at 916-387-2264, rfiroved@calrice.org.
A full-day Rice Commission briefing, harvest and mill tours are part of this week’s California visit for the 2015-17 Class of the Rice Leadership Development Program.
The class is receiving a firsthand look at the similarities of rice production in the Sacramento Valley as well as some of the unique aspects of California Rice. READ MORE
The bill, AB 1066, which eliminates the exemption from overtime for agricultural works has been approved by the Legislature and is on the Governor’s desk. Ironically, the exemption would remain in place for firefighters, actors and capitol staff.
The Ag Presidents Council is mounting an effort to communicate to the Governor the full impact this change would have on Ag in the state. READ MORE
Like clockwork, with the coming of another rice harvest season, also comes a unique gathering Sacramento Valley water managers and bird conservation groups to share information and ideas on how best to maximize benefits to waterbirds and other wildlife. We met on August 29 at The Nature Conservancy’s office in Sacramento. READ MORE
Thank you to all who participated in the recent producer district elections. Following are the results as of Wednesday, August 31. We still have several write in candidates we are working to contact but wanted to communicate the results we have so far. READ MORE
