Christian Richard RICE FARMER OF THE YEAR AWARD
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tionists to improve his farm’s water-use efficiency. Richard has installed underground irrigation and grade-stabilization structures to NRCS specifications and has seen a significant reduction in water use while the field yields show continuous improvements. He has implemented a tailwater recovery system on one of his farms that will store about 4 million gallons of water. This system allows him to recycle water that comes off of his fields as well as neighboring fields, pump it into his reservoir and hold it until needed for irrigation. Richard was elected as a supervisor for the Vermilion Soil and Water Conservation District in 2008. Serving in this capacity has allowed him to promote conservation programs and practices that help his farm, as well as others, become more sustainable, protect natural resources and comply with Environmental Protection Agency requirements. In 2014, Richard installed a grain management system in his grain bins, which allows constant monitoring of grain temperature and moisture. He can access the system from his smartphone to get updated readings. A weather station outside the bins allows Richard to run the heaters only when weather conditions indicate they’re needed. The system promotes consistent grain quality and moisture content and provides a snapshot of conditions within each bin. Richard also works closely with the Louisiana State University AgCenter and other universities on tailwater recovery systems and agritourism projects and participates in the LSU AgCenter rice verification and soybean verification programs. He understands the importance of advocacy and tries to spread the agricultural industry’s message of sustainability and stewardship to as many people as possible. “As farmers, we have a lot of exposure, and people are always critiquing us,” The Richard family, from left: son Saul, wife Julie, daughter Katherine, Christian and Richard says. “We need to be involved — son Landry be proactive, not reactive in telling the In spite of his young age, Richard has accomplished a great story of what we do. deal during his career as a south Louisiana rice producer. He “Rice is close to my heart, and it’s where our families uses technology, sustainability, and other conservation procome from. I often think back to the days sitting in the truck grams and practices to bring his crop to harvest in the most between my grandfather and great uncle listening to their efficient manner possible. conversations. Farming rice is what I have always done and it Richard has precision leveled 95 percent of the land he defines who I am and the heritage of my family.” farms according to Natural Resources Conservation Service It is with great pleasure that we congratulate Christian recommendations and works closely with agency conservaRichard as the 2017 Rice Farmer of the Year. PHOTOS BY BRENT LEBLANC
hristian Richard was born into a part of the world where rice is grown with passion and celebrated with pageantry and admiration for its life-sustaining qualities. Everything his family did involved agriculture and, specifically, rice. As a very young boy, Richard spent countless hours sitting between his grandfather and great uncle in the cab of a pickup truck while the men smoked cigars and spoke in Cajun French about life in general and what they planned to do on the rice farm each day. When he was 11 years old, his grandfather put him on a tractor and told him it was time to go to work. “I was nervous and excited,” Richard says. “Everyone would pass by the field to see what I was doing. I was fascinated with growing rice and quickly gained a deep respect for it.” He later married Julie Baker, whose family also has deep roots in rice. The young couple established Richard Farms — a sixth-generation family legacy — where today they grow rice, soybeans and crawfish and raise their three children: Katherine, Saul and Landry.