Daily Archives: September 6, 2012

Vietnam – Backyard inventor makes machine that picks up dried rice

Source: TalkVietnam02/09/2012 – A farmer in the Mekong delta province of An Giang has been successful in inventing a machine that can pick up unhusked rice at 15 tons an hour, thereby saving the labor cost of about 30 workers.

Thailand to renew rice intervention scheme in October

Source: Reuters03/09/2012 – Thailand, the world’s biggest rice exporter, will renew its intervention policy in October after the current scheme expires, aiming to buy up to 25 million tonnes of paddy to shore up prices, a senior government official said on Monday.

USA – Rice farmers preparing for heavy rain, high wind

Source: Kait8.com28/08/2012 – Rice farmers in Region 8 are preparing for the possibility of heavy rain and high winds as Tropical Storm Isaac approaches land.

China – Spread of genes from GM rice ‘unavoidable but slow’

Source: SciDev.Net22/08/2012 – The spread of genes from genetically modified (GM) crops to neighbouring wild plants, although inevitable, may not happen as quickly as feared, according to a study conducted in Chinese rice fields.

Wild rice gene gives yield boost

Source: BBC News22/08/2012 – A gene from wild Indian rice plants can significantly raise the yield of common varieties in nutrient-poor soils.

Japan – Fukushima starts radiation checks on rice

Source: The Daily Yomiuri26/08/2012 – The Fukushima prefectural government on Saturday began checking all bags of rice for radiation in Nihonmatsu, home to the crippled Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant.

USA – Minnesota wild rice harvest hurt by June flooding

Source: TwinCities.com25/08/2012 – June’s massive rainstorm was too much for many of the region’s wild rice stands, which flooded and never recovered, experts are saying as the annual rice harvest arrives.