Around Washington
Conservation Service Expands Role on Farmed Wetlands Farm Futures
If you are farming land that NRCS considers to have been wetlands at any time before December 1985, and you improve your tiling and drainage system, NRCS will want to be involved in such a decision.
House Votes to Block EPA Water Rules ABC News
The House approved the bill, 262-152. Thirty-five Democrats joined 227 Republicans to support the bill. The measure is not expected to advance in the Democratic-controlled Senate.
Around the Country
California Rice Farmer: Drought May Make Us 'Quit' CBS
To try and make money, some California rice producers have turned to selling their water sources, rather than planting a crop this year. While some farmers could afford to leave their land unplanted, others have opted to just sell water rights.
Carolina Couple Make Their Mark in Conservation Free Times
Rice & Ducks by Virginia Beach is an illustrated history that traces the rise and fall of the rice-growing lands from the Pee Dee River to the Savannah River. Proceeds from the sale of the book will go toward waterfowl conservation efforts.
Hopes for a Strong El Niño Fade in California New York Times
One bright spot in the long-range outlook is that with the odds favoring at least a weak El Niño, the opposite weather phenomenon, known as La Niña, is less likely. La Niña occurs when Pacific water is colder than normal, and the result for California could be very dry weather.
Trade and Tariffs
Rice Exporters See Unfair Overseas Competition Agri-Pulse Newsletter
Two separate perspectives saying much the same are coming soon to federal trade officials, warning that U.S. rice exporters face a near-crisis level of unfair and ever-stiffening competition from the Far East.
Science and Technology
Can Big Ag Put the Cloud in the Crops Before Someone Else Does? Wall Street Journal
Like any other industry, farming is in the process of being reshaped by the application of computing power, and all the biggest players are scrambling to build up their own software services before someone else comes along and eats their world.
Health and Nutrition
Everything's Nice Like Gumbo on Rice; But It's Also Good for Other Stuff
Alabama Living
Recipe for Oriental Rice Pilaf from the good folks at the USA Rice Council, a group charged with promoting domestic rice and to that end, they provide on their website a ton of tasty and easy recipes for rice.
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