The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture has announced plans to build a rice research facility in Poinsett County. A news release Tuesday from the university states the facility will be built on 614 acres. A $4 million gift from the Arkansas Rice Promotion Board helped purchase the land. The division is working to get more funding for facility construction, equipment, and other expenses. The purpose of the rice research center is to "enhance production techniques best management practices for the grain in areas north of I-40 and west of Crowley‘s Ridge." According to Talk Business & Politics, a timetable for construction on the project was not released. However, officials hope the facility will be operational by 2021. The university also conducts research on rice production in Stuttgart and Keiser. Copyright 2018 KAIT. All rights reserved. http://www.kait8.com/story/38424873/new-rice-research-center-coming-to-poinsett-co
PRRI trains Pangasinan farm techs on crop management By Monique Danielle A. Fernando June 14, 2018 Share on Facebook Tweet on Twitter
Pangasinan-based local farmer technicians (LFTs) were trained by the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) on proper crop management to help their province sustain and even improve its rice production. PhilRice said some 30 LFTs participated in a weeklong specialized course on “pest identification, disease diagnosis and damage assessment.” Ev P. Angeles, training coordinator of PhilRice’s technology management and services division, said LFTs are trained to help their fellow farmers in identifying, assessing and managing major pests and diseases in rice. Angeles added it is vital to enhance the skills and capabilities of local LFTs as they are being tapped by the Department of Agriculture “to complement local agricultural extension workers in providing technical assistance to farmers.” LFTs are model farmers in farming communities, according to Angeles. “We chose participants from major rice-producing areas of the province who need to strengthen their pest and disease diagnostic skills or those who have not undergone other intensive field diagnostic and pest management skills training,” she was quoted as saying in a statement. “Through practical, hands-on exercises, we hoped to enhance their competence in this critical aspect of rice crop management,” she added. From June 4 to 8, the LFTs learned principles on the following topics: integrated pest management, agroecosystems analysis and the PalayCheck system.