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Rice Program
Meet Our New Rice Advisor in Sutter, Yuba, Placer and Sacramento Counties
Why do you want to work in Cooperative Extension?
I really enjoy being out and about in the field, talking to growers and PCA's. I prefer doing research that can have an immediate impact, that results in new tools and information that growers' can use in their own fields. I find that I learn a lot from growers' and PCA's , as they are in the fields everyday, and are often the best at identifying the potential implications of a research idea--the risks and benefits to growers.
What is your background?
I am a weed scientist by training,and so far, my research has been primarily focused on weed agroecology: the interaction of weeds with the rice field environment. Since I started at UC Davis, I worked first with Dr. Albert Fischer and then with Dr. Kassim Al-Khatib at the Rice Experiment Station (RES) in Biggs, where I managed the weed science field trials. During my time at the RES, through the herbicide-resistant weed testing program, I met many growers and PCA's and I am looking forward to meeting more of you!
What are you research and outreach plans for the future?
This season, I plan to spend time getting to know Sutter, Yuba, Placer and Sacramento growers and PCA's, and to familiarize myself with the location of your farms, fields, and places of work. I'm looking forward to meeting as many of you as possible, so that I can begin understanding the issues that you identify as the most important.
Some of my future outreach ideas include a rice-specific workshop on weed management and identification and some videos on weed identification and seed collection. With the other farm advisors, I will be involved in research on the emerging weed issues, including red rice and winged primrose willow. Currently, I am involved in research focusing on identifying and managing herbicide resistance, since that is a concern for many rice growers. Over the next 1 to 2 years, this will include surveying and screening for resistant populations in growers' fields.
Contact Information
Feel free to contact me at any time, at the Sutter-Yuba Office, at 530.822.7515, on my cell at 541.292.1553, or by email at wbrimdeforest@ucanr.edu.
University of California Rice Project: http://ucanr.edu/sites/UCRiceProject/
UCCE Sutter-Yuba Rice Notes Newsletter: http://cesutter.ucanr.edu/news_204522/Rice_Notes/
UC Rice Blog
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How to Collect Herbicide Resistant Weed Seed for Testing
Added June 27, 2017It may be a bit early in the season to start thinking about herbicide resistance, but in just a couple of weeks, most rice growers will have put out their last herbicide applications, and it will be time to start scouting. University of California...
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New Weedy Rice Materials for the 2017 Season
Added June 25, 2017
Over the past year, weedy rice has become a top issue in California rice, both for individual growers and for the industry as a whole. Working together, the University of California Cooperative Extension and the California Rice Commission have come...
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Some Weeds Ahead Of Rice This Year
Added June 22, 2017
I went out on a few farm calls in the past week, and have noticed a trend. Due to the unusually wet weather this spring, some of the weeds are already producing seed out in the field! This occurs when the field was moist or wet in the spring, and was...
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Armyworms Are Back
Added June 21, 2017
I have received reports of significant defoliation due to armyworms from several areas: Glenn, Colusa, Butte and Yolo counties. In most areas the defoliation is severe but the area affected within fields still small. I inspected a field in...
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Armyworm Monitoring 2017 - Week of June 19
Added June 20, 2017
Moth numbers have increased since the week of June 12, specially in the Colusa trap. The degree day model predicted worms in the fifth instar by June 22; I'm starting to receive reports of worms in Colusa, Glenn and Butte counties. Keep your...
