Managing Nitrogen Fertilizer when it Rains during Planting
Here’s a link to a new blog from Bruce Linquist, UC Cooperative Extension Specialist.
Bruce covers three scenarios that may arise, following this month’s heavy rainfall during rice planting.
Industry News
Thiobencarb Exceedance at Second Monitoring Event
Thiobencarb exceeded the 1.5 µg/L (parts per million) performance goal to a reading of 2.3 µg/L at the Colusa Basin Drain 5 (CBD5) site off Highway 20. A monitoring site receiving drainage from Colusa and Glenn Counties. This particular exceedance was at the second monitoring event on May 14.
Pyrethroid TMDL for 303(d) listed water bodies
Pyrethroid insecticides have been under scrutiny for several years resulting in recent changes to water quality requirements. The changes set monitoring levels for pyrethroids at nanograms in surface waters. Consistent exceedances of the levels could result in additional restrictions to pyrethroid use, or designate a drain as impaired with future restoration to correct the water quality. Last year, one of the water quality coalitions had a detection that could be problematic under the new standards.
Thiobencarb Monitoring Schedule
Weekly monitoring will start at all sites tomorrow, May 7. We increase monitoring around the Memorial Day holiday weekend with the program continuing into July.
Handler Guidance Verifying Use of Certified or QA Seed
In order to prevent the spread of weedy rice, effective in 2019, growers may only use seed that has been enrolled in a certification program by an Association of Official Seed Certifying Agencies (AOSCA) member or is subject to a third-party quality assurance program approved by the California Rice Certification Committee. Currently, California Crop Improvement Association (CCIA) is the only organization offering these certifications for California rice.
Application of State Wetlands Policy and Dredge and Fill Procedures to Rice
CRC counsel Tess Dunham with Somach Simmons & Dunn has developed the following summary to assist growers in understanding both the new State Wetlands Policy and Dredge and Fill Procedures, as they apply to rice.
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Rice Receives Commodity Specific Exemptions in State Wetlands Definition, Dredge and Fill Procedures. No changes to Crop Conversion
As a result of months of close work with the State Water Resources Control Board, rice (and wild rice) growers have received commodity specific exemptions in the newly adopted Wetlands Definition and Dredge and Fill Procedures. READ MORE
New Images and Login Information for our Industry Photo Library
We have added more than 50 new images to the photo library available to industry members. The more than 150 photos provided are a mix of landscapes, environmental scenes and shots of various stages of rice, from planting through harvest. READ MORE
Referendum passes with overwhelming industry support
The five-year referendum to gauge industry’s interest to continue the activities of the Commission passed with overwhelming support. 100 percent of handlers and 96 percent of growers who voted cast a ballot to continue the Commission. READ MORE
Revised Worker Safety Information
The Department of Pesticide Regulation revised the Pesticide Safety Information Series (PSIS), which are available for agricultural settings (A Series) and non-agricultural settings (N Series) in English, Spanish and Punjabi. Please find the information here: https://www.cdpr.ca.gov/docs/whs/psisenglish.htm READ MORE