Circles for Rice Field Day Recap | by Kelly Cackin

John Robison, Valley Irrigation

The Valley Irrigation Circles for Rice team hosted the 4th Annual Circles for Rice Field Day on August 7, 2012, in Neelyville, Missouri, USA.  Rice farmer Dennis Robison hosted a group of 50 people at his rice under center pivot field Tuesday morning.  2012 marks the second year Dennis participated in the Circles for Rice program, 2010 being the first.

Speakers included John Robison (Valley Irrigation, Crop Specialist), Kelly Downing (Valley Irrigation, Ag Specialist), Jerry Gerdes (Valley Irrigation, Water Application Product Manager), Matthew Rhine (University of Missouri Delta Research Center, Research Associate), Marc Cummings (consultant), and Dennis Robison (rice farmer).  Ellot Raffety from Mid-Valley Irrigation also said a few words to open the Field Day.

Presentation topics included:

• Overview of center pivots and linears
• History of the Circles for Rice project
• Pivot Irrigation vs. Flood Irrigation
• Pivot-Irrigated Rice Myths
• Machine Requirements
• Weed Control
• Irrigation Scheduling
• Fertility Management
• Grower's Experience

We at Valley Irrigation would like to thank all of the 2012 Circles for Rice Field Day participants for joining us in Missouri last week!

To register for a license-free copy of the exclusive Valley Irrigation Rice Production Guide, please visit  www.CirclesForRice.com.