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Blackbirds may be small, but their impact on rice fields can be huge. We explore how and when they cause the most damage, why they target rice, and what farmers are doing to protect their crops.

Feedback Poll

Upcoming Events!

• Annual Rice Field Day on August 27

Blackbird Resources

UC Rice Blog Blackbird post (with ID photos)

Overall blackbird damage to rice crops has been estimated to >$20 million

Drones as bird abatement

Laser scarecrows

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.

UC ANR is an equal opportunity provider and employer

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Feedback Poll

Together, the UCCE Farm Advisors seek to provide relevant, topical research-backed information relating to CA rice production.

We're doing a rerun episode today: Luis Espino and Sarah Marsh will be talking about Rice Armyworm Monitoring Program and the second generation of armyworms in rice. We're using this episode as the second peak of armyworms is approaching quickly!

Two true armyworm generations occur in rice; moths fly in spring and early summer, laying eggs in rice fields and surrounding vegetation. The larvae that emerge feed on rice foliage. A second moth flight occurs in mid-summer, followed by larvae feeding on rice foliage and panicles.

Upcoming Events!

• Annual Rice Field Day on August 27

Armyworm Resources

CA Armyworm Trapping Network in Rice

Graph of Armyworm Peaks

UC IPM - True Armyworm in Rice

Other Resources

UC Rice Blog

UC Agronomy - Rice

Rice Briefs (Colusa/Yolo)

Rice Notes (Yuba-Sutter)

Rice Leaf (Butte/Glenn)

Rice in the Delta

Feedback Poll

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.

UC ANR is an equal opportunity provider and employer

Send us a text

Feedback Form

Sarah Marsh Janish and Billy Abbott discuss the upcoming BirdReturns program, the Sandhill Crane Program, which incentivizes farmers to provide roosting and forage habitat for the Greater Sandhill Crane, an threatened bird species in the Sacramento Valley and CA Delta regions.

BirdReturns Sandhill Crane Application

Applications open on July 25 and close on August 17.

Upcoming Events

• Weedy Rice Workshop - August 5, 2025, 10:00 AM - 1:15 PM, Roberts-Union Farm Center, 4925 Howard Rd, Stockton, CA 95206
• CRC Bird Conservation Programs Informational Workshop - Wednesday, August 13, 2025, 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm, Hillcrest Catering, 210 Julie Dr, Yuba City, CA 95991
• Rice Field Day - August 27, 2025, Rice Experiment Station, Biggs, 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.

UC ANR is an equal opportunity provider and employer