Rice farmers gathered at the David R. Wintermann Rice Research Station this week to the annual rice field day organized by the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and the Colorado County Rice Committee. The event including an evening program was sponsored by area agri-businesses including the US Rice Producers Association and the Texas Rice Council. An extensive list of Texas A&M scientists presented research developments on a range of subjects while Dr. Ted Wilson (Center Director) introduced economist George Knappe who updated the audience on the rice economy and farm policy issues. Grace Wang, Eastern Hemisphere Director for the USRPA attended along with Dwight Roberts (market & policy advisor), visited with individual farmers and scientists.
Prior to the field day, the Texas Rice Producers Board met where Josey Dishman of Beaumont was named the new President and farmers Neal Stoesser (Dayton) and Barrett Franz (Bay City) were both sworn in by the Texas Department of Agriculture as new board members for Districts 2 & 7. Congratulations to those gentlemen for their leadership on behalf of the Texas rice farming industry.