Introducing rice as a commercial crop to the northeastern U.S.

1. Preliminary Evaluation (see #6 “Results”) We received seed from the National Small Grains Collection, (NSGC). in Aberdeen, Idaho, and the Genetic Stocks - Oryza (GSOR) Collection of the Dale Bumpers National Rice Research Center in Stuttgart, Arkansas. All the varieties were the Japonica type except one Indica type. The Japonica types were mainly from Hokkaido, Japan, plus 2 from Italy, 2 from Korea, and one from California. We evaluated a total of 31 varieties. 2. Production Comparisons (see #6 “Results”) We selected three varieties from 2007 and sowed seed and then transplanted them about two weeks apart in each of the two fields. Each field was divided into six sections so each of the three varieties were planted with two replications. We skipped one row between each of the 6 sections. We kept data on weather, soil temperature, observations, yields and took weekly pictures. In the fall we built a drying greenhouse to dry the harvested bundles of rice and purchased a foot-powered thresher to thresh the rice. The rice was harvested, dried and threshed. 3. Workshops, Presentation, & Article (see #11 “Outreach”) 4. Basic Organic Crop Management Manual and Seeds of Selected Varieties (see #11 “Outreach”) 5. Wildlife Observations (see #6 “Results”) We did these observations by ourselves, since we were not able to find a wildlife biologist to help us. 6. Other Events • April 10, we attended an “Innovations in the Vermont Soil Survey” workshop at White River Junction. We needed more information about soil types in order to make soil recommendations for rice growers. We talked to several officials there. In the spring a soil specialist sampled the soil and did a particle size analysis. We have not received the results yet. • In May, the Westminster West Elementary School (grades 1-4) visited our farm and brought back seedlings to grow in containers at their school. During the summer they took turns to take care of the rice plants. In the fall we visited their class and worked with the students to thresh and de-hull the rice with them. • In June, Arlen Lancaster (NRCS Chief) visited our farm from Washington D.C., along with local NRCS staff. • In June and July, we had two open farm days for members of the community. • July 2, we visited Pete Gianforte’s farm in Cazenovia, NY. He was planning to make a 5-acre rice paddy and asked us for some advice • Late July, Yolanda Chen, entomologist, former researcher at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), and now at the University of Vermont, came to visit our farm. She instructed us on how to collect insects and store them for later identification. • Roger Allbee, the VT Agriculture Secretary, visited our farm twice (August and October). The second time he brought with him Job Serebrov, Senior Counselor to the General Counsel and Senior Advisor to the Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment, from Washington, D.C. Mr. Serebrov suggested that he will work with the Chinese government to get newly released rice varieties for us to trial. Since then, Job Serebrov, Roger Allbee, Timothy Schmalz, State Plant Pathologist, VT Agency of Agriculture, and Arnold T. Tschanz, Senior Risk Manager, USDA APHIS PPQ PRIM, have been processing the importation of seed from China and Korea. We recently learned from the USDA contact in China that the varieties that are approved for export by the China Ministry of Agriculture do not include any Japonica species. Also, we learned from the USDA Plant Germplasm Quarantine Program in Beltsville, Maryland, that they have received seeds of 5 Korean rice cultivars that will be entered into quarantine in March. When the quarantine process is complete, about 8 months, we will received a small amount to trial. • In October, we gave a presentation at the Upper Valley Food Coop’s annual meeting about growing rice in the Northeast USA. • We were invited to and agreed to present at two winter conferences: the NOFA-New York Winter Conference, Jan 23-25, Rochester Riverside Convention Center, Rochester, NY and the NOFA-Vermont Winter Conference, Feb. 14 & 15, Vermont Technical College, Randolph, VT. 7. Weather station Late March, we ordered and received a Vantage Pro wireless weather station. Due to technical problems, it only recorded monthly high and low termperatures. We found the problem and are able to use it for the next season. Conditions The factors that we think are critical to rice growing in the northeast USA are: amount of sunshine, ability of the soil to hold water, and a reliable source of water In the fall of 2007 we designed (with the help of the NRCS) and built (with a contract by a local contractor) a rice paddy system. The definition of a rice paddy is a shallow pond with a flat (leveled to a grade of +/- 2” ideally) bottom that can hold water 6-8” deep, provides for control of water depth, and is able to drain completely. This rice paddy system consists of a warm up basin (pond), one small paddy, two larger paddies, and pipes from the source of water to the system. The whole system was designed to conduct the water by gravity. Paddy 2 and 3 were constructed in the fall of 2007 using heavy equipment and a laser level. In order to construct it, the sod was removed and the topsoil moved aside. Then the subsoil was leveled and the topsoil spread out to level. In the spring we leveled the paddies to a difference of +/- 2” using hand tools. Even so the depth of the cultivated soil has some variation. Our farm is located in southeastern Vermont at Latitude 43 degrees N. It is approximately 5 miles west of the Connecticut River and 900 feet above sea level. Even though we are in southeastern Vermont, because of our elevation, we are colder than the other locations that we monitor such as Burlington, Vermont and Ithaca, New York. Weather – Monthly Highs and Low and Last and First Frosts for 2007 & 2008 2007 – starting June 19, data from min/max thermometer, temperatures in degrees Fahrenheit High Low June 94 44 July 94 43 August 96 38 September 92 32 October 84 24 Last Frost: 5/22 First Frost: 9/16 (32oF) 2008 – starting May 1, data from Vantage Pro weather station, temperatures in degrees Fahrenheit High Low May 81 32 June 94 42 July 88 50 August 84 44 September 87 34 October 70 21 Last Frost: 5/5 (32oF) First Frost: 9/19 (34oF) Condition of Seedlings – 1. First Planting – Two weeks after we sowed seeds into plug trays, the seedlings showed signs of yellowing and wilting. Later we identified the yellowing problem as a lack of nutrients. The wilting problem is related to temperature and moisture. The first planting was weakened and growth was delayed. 2. Second Planting – Seedlings of the second planting grew well.