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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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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

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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

Send us a text

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Sarah and Luis discuss armyworms as a significant pest in California rice production. The discussion included Luis providing current updates on armyworm populations, scouting techniques, treatment thresholds, and management options for rice farmers.

Upcoming Events

• Rice Production Workshop - POSTPONED TO MARCH 2026
• Weedy Rice Workshop - August 5, 2025, 10:00 AM - 1:15 PM, Roberts-Union Farm Center, 4925 Howard Rd, Stockton, CA 95206
• Rice Field Day - August 27, 2025, Rice Experiment Station, Biggs, CA

Armyworm Resources

Lemaire-Hamel S, Neau M, McCune F, et al. 2025. Armyworm (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in the province of Quebec, Canada: trapping, sex ratios, and female reproductive status. The Canadian Entomologist 157:1-16.

Armyworm Monitoring Network

Second Peak of Armyworm Podcast Episode

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

Send us a text

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The UCCE Rice group discussed various agricultural topics including no-till rice field demonstrations, pest management challenges, and new tools for detecting tadpole shrimp, followed by updates on ongoing research projects and planting trials in the 2025 rice season.

Upcoming Events

• Rice Production Workshop - POSTPONED TO MARCH 2026
• Weedy Rice Workshop - August 5, 2025, 10:00 AM - 1:15 PM, Roberts-Union Farm Center, 4925 Howard Rd, Stockton, CA 95206
• 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

Send us a text

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Today's mini-episode concerns the 2025 spring planting report and current CA rice marketing prices.

USDA Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin

USA Rice Spring Planting Report

Weekly National Rice Summary from the USDA AMS

Upcoming Events

• No-Till Rice Field Day - June 10, 2025, 9-11am, 694 Watson Road, Biggs, CA 95917
• Rice Production Workshop - POSTPONED TO MARCH 2026
• Weedy Rice Workshop - August 5, 2025, Delta

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

Send us a text

Feedback Form

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

Sarah Marsh Janish sits down with Dr. Kassim Al-Khatib, who is responsible for the Herbicide Resistance Screening Program that UC Cooperative Extension provides, free of charge, to rice growers and PCAs who are interested in determining the herbicide resistance status of their rice weeds.

Herbicide Resistance Testing Form

Resistant Weed Seed Testing Resources

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.

UCCE Upcoming Events - SAVE THE DATES:

- No-Till/Reduced Till Rice Field Day, June 10, 2025

- Rice Production Workshop, POSTPONED TO MARCH 2026

- Weedy Rice Workshop, August 5, 2025

- Rice Field Day, August 27, 2025

Other Resources

UC Rice Blog

UC Agronomy - Rice

Rice Briefs (Colusa/Yolo)

Rice Notes (Yuba-Sutter)

Rice Leaf (Butte/Glenn)

Rice in the Delta

UC ANR is an equal opportunity provider and employer

Send us a text

Feedback Form

Together, the UCCE Farm Advisors seek to provide relevant, topical research-backed information relating to CA rice production. Sarah Marsh Janish sits down with Kate Walker, a representative from FMC, to discuss some of the latest developments in the rice chemical market.

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.

UCCE Upcoming Events

• Hedgerows and Soil Assessments Field Day
  • Date: April 1st, 12:30 PM
  • Location: Corner of Tule Rd & Lodi Rd, Colusa, CA 95932 (39.01286825023778, -121.93150847565158)
  • Questions: UCCE Sutter-Yuba office at (530) 822-7515
  • 2.5 Soil & Water Management CCA Credits ~ Approved
• UCCE Colusa Centennial Sprint
  • Date: April 5th, 2025
  • Check-in: 8:30am
  • Run Time: 9:00am
  • Location: Colusa Sacramento River State Recreation Area, 1 10th Street, Colusa, CA 95932
  • Questions: UCCE Colusa office at (530) 459-0570

Other Resources

UC Rice Blog

UC Agronomy - Rice

Rice Briefs (Colusa/Yolo)

Rice Notes (Yuba-Sutter)

Rice Leaf (Butte/Glenn)

Rice in the Delta

UC ANR is an equal opportunity provider and employer