Many UC groups in various disciplines are using the site for research. In particular, straw management practices have been seen to affect disease, insect pests, fertility, and weed control. Mike is presently conducting 3 separate studies within the main plots in an effort to understand just how the straw treatments affect watergrass population dynamics and control. Alternative herbicides increasingly being used are foliar sprays which require field draining, investment in ground applicators, and have drift problems. A 20 acre site at Maben Farms in Glenn County is now being used to evaluate resistance management and drill seeding.
Most alternatives require different water management and other cultural practices.
A straw management trial will be initiated at the Maben site in the fall of this year in an attempt to expand and apply the observations we made at the Maxwell straw project for resistance management. At both sites watergrass seedbank sampling and continued monitoring over several years is a key tool for evaluating the various cultural and chemical practices. Recruitment for a permanent rice farm advisor will commence in October 2000, and we are hopeful of having a person in the office by April 2001.