Circles for Rice | Weekly Update

Well, it's been a few weeks since my last update!  Unfortunately, I don't have much to report this week.

In the United States, rice harvest is wrapping up.  Most of the Circles for Rice fields have been harvested, and the Rice Team is collecting data.  We will have this data analyzed by next week; at that time, I will report dry weight yields and water usage.

Until then, take care, and have a wonderful week!  

September is National Rice Month

Happy 20th anniversary, National Rice Month!

The U.S.A Rice Federation explains:

"Initiated by an act of Congress in 1991, NRM helps increase awareness of rice and recognizes the contribution the U.S. rice industry makes to America’s economy. NRM celebrations will take place across America in grocery stores, restaurants, schools, and rice-growing communities."

To learn more about National Rice Month, please watch this video produced by the U.S.A. Rice Federation.






For more information on the U.S.A. Rice Federation, please visit their website.

To help celebrate National Rice Month, I will be posting my favorite rice recipes from now until October 1!  

Stuffed Peppers | Yield - 3-4 servings

You need:

• 3-4 large green bell peppers
• 1 lb lean ground beef or turkey
• 1 can (8 oz) tomato sauce
• 1 1/2 cups brown rice (uncooked)
• 1 cup water
• Sharp cheddar cheese (shredded - for topping)
• Ground sea salt
• Ground black pepper
• 1-2 large sauce pans, with lids
• 1 shallow baking dish

To do:

• Wash and core green peppers; cut 3 of the peppers in half length-wise.
• Fill a large sauce pan with water and bring to a boil; add the 3 peppers.
• Boil peppers for 4-5 minutes, or until blanched.
• Remove peppers from the water and place them upside down on a paper towel or plate until all water has been drained.
• Finely chop the last pepper.
• In a large sauce pan, brown ground beef/turkey, chopping finely; add chopped green pepper.
• Cook ground meat and green pepper together until the green pepper is about half-cooked, salt and pepper as needed.
• Stir in 1 can tomato sauce and 1 can water.
• Add rice (uncooked); put a lid on the pan.
• Cook mixture until rice is tender.
• Place blanched green peppers in a shallow baking dish and fill with meat/rice "stuffing." 
• Top with cheese and microwave at 50% for about 6 minutes, or until cheese is melted.

Circles for Rice | Weekly Update

United States Harvest

Harvest information continues to come in to the Circles for Rice team as farmers collect their data.

Scott, Arkansas

A couple of week ago, we reported an overall field average of 173 bu/ac (8.3mt/ha) dry weight across a field of 137 acres (55.4 hectares). This was RiceTec hybrid Clearfield XL746. The predominant soil type is silt loam. This field had more potential, but suffered moisture stress during grain fill due to problems with wheel tracks in an area where no changes had been made to the center pivot.

Neelyville, Missouri

This field has a variety of soils ranging from silt loam to fine sand. On some of the hill tops, the preliminary yield averaged 186 bu/ac (8.9mt/ha) dry weight on a field of 37 acres (14.9 hectares). This was RiceTec hybrid Clearfield XL729. This field has considerable slopes in some areas. The nearby flooded field to the southeast of the center pivot yielded just under 200 bu/ac (9.6mt/ha)


More fields are being harvested this week and we hope to have some details next week.

How is your harvest going?  Share your thoughts in the Comments box below!

2010 Farm Progress Show | Boone, Iowa, USA

Hello, everyone!  Valmont Irrigation attended the 2010 Farm Progress Show this week in Boone, Iowa, USA.  Both Jake and I helped staff the booth, and we talked about Circles for Rice whenever we had the chance! 

Thanks to all the Valley booth staffers who helped make this trade show a success!

Please look for us at Husker Harvest in Grand Island, Nebraska, USA, in two weeks!