Follow rice story in LSU AgCenter blog

CROWLEY – An LSU AgCenter web log, or blog, that features rice farming in Southwest Louisiana has begun its second year.

This year, the blog is following a commercial rice field near Lake Arthur being grown by farmer Ronnie “Blue” Zaunbrecher. The 39-acre field is in the AgCenter’s Rice Verification Program under the direction of Johnny Saichuk, rice specialist.

“Ronnie is an excellent farmer who takes a lot of pride in raising a crop,” Saichuk said.

The blog features photos of the different stages of rice production including a photo of the airplane that seeded the field by air.

The blog also points viewers to a 21.25-acre field at the LSU AgCenter Rice Research Station near Crowley. A webcam has been set up there and shows continuous progression of a field that was seeded on the ground, or drill-seeded.

Last year, the blog followed a 10-acre rice field at the Rice Station. It is fallow this year, said Steve Linscombe, Rice Station director.

“The blog is one of our teaching tools. Farmers can get details on how problems are being addressed on the two fields,” Linscombe said.

To see the Web site and the webcam, go to: http://lsuagcenterrice.blogspot.com/.