Farming Practices
- Organic, used by Lundberg Family Farms® and other certified organic farmers.
- Eco-Farmed, used exclusively by Lundberg Family Farms.
- Conventional, the method of choice for most commercial rice farmers.
Each of these three farming methods must, in some form, address the same issues: soil enrichment, planting, water management, pest control, harvest, straw incorporation, and storage. Our goal is to better our customers' understanding of Lundberg rice farming methods as compared to conventional methods.
Soil Enrichment
In Conventional farming, soil enrichment methods such as rotation crops and fallow fields are not generally planned. Rice straw is usually burned after harvest, leaving little to no organic matter to build the soil.
Lundberg Organic fields are never burned. The rice straw is chopped, rolled, and turned back into the soil. Nitrogen-fixing cover crops, such as purple vetch and other legumes, are planted to improve soil fertility and tilth. Cover crops grow over winter, adding a substantial amount of organic material and nitrogen to enrich the soil. Vetch is the primary source of nitrogen in our organic fields, although we have experimented with other nitrogen-fixing plants. Organic fields lie fallow every two to three years, allowing the soil to replenish itself naturally. Compost and aged manure are the primary fertilizers added.
Soil enrichment methods for Eco-Farmed fields are the same as those used on organic fields with the addition of synthetic fertilizer.
Planting
Conventional soil preparation begins with a chisel plow, a disc, and a land plane to prepare the seedbed. Conventionally farmed fields are flooded and seed is broadcast by airplane.
Organic soil preparation is the same as conventional, but nutrient-rich vetch is incorporated into the soil. The method of seeding is determined by the type of weeds prevalent in the field. For instance, the primary method for water grass control is to flood the field and broadcast the seed by airplane. If broadleaf grasses are a problem, we drill the seed through the chopped vetch and into the soil.
Eco-Farmed rice is planted using organic planting methods.
Water Management
Water is a precious commodity to all farmers in California. Because rice is submerged in three to four inches of water for three or more months, it is often incorrectly assumed that rice is the highest water use crop in California. Rice crops utilize about three and one-half acre feet of water per acre per year, considerably less than that used by alfalfa, beans, or melons.
At Lundberg Family Farms we practice water conservation. We accomplish this by carefully monitoring water levels and by not releasing any water after planting except when absolutely necessary for weed control or seedling stand development.
Weed Control
The major weeds in California rice fields are water grasses, broadleafs, and sedges.
Conventional farming has a routine program for applying herbicides and pesticides. Generally, a schedule established by chemical pest control advisors is followed, and amounts recommended by the agrichemical industry are used.
Organic fields only use products allowed by state and federal organic laws. Water management and crop rotation are the most important weed and pest control tools we use. We apply a deep water flood (8 to 15 inches) about one week after the seed is sown. Approximately 21 days of deep water is used to control water grasses. The field is then allowed to dry for approximately 35 days. The dry up method is used to kill broadleafs and sedges but does not harm the rice seedlings. Close monitoring during the dry up assures that young rice plants can successfully compete with weeds for ground space. When the weeds wilt, a three to four inch flood is applied.
Eco-Farmed fields are only treated with herbicides on an as needed basis by our team of farming experts. If we feel a chemical control is unavoidable, we use about one-half to three-quarters of the recommended rates. We tolerate more weeds in our Eco-Farmed fields than conventional farmers do, and will accept lower crop yields in order to significantly reduce chemical use.
Pest and Disease Control
The major pests and diseases in California rice fields include: 1) the rice water weevil, which attacks the roots of young rice plants, 2) tadpole or horseshoe shrimp, which feed on newly germinated rice plants, and 3) certain fungi which create problems such as stem rot. The above three reduce plant size, vigor, rice quality, and crop yields.
Conventional farming uses routine application of pesticides, similar to their weed control strategies. In addition to the major pests, some farmers will also treat for grasshoppers, midge, army worms, and seedling fungi.
Organic fields use only natural controls such as the deep water/dry up method and very controlled amounts of Bordeaux mixes, which are copper products allowed by state and federal organic laws. Crop rotation and soil conservation techniques provide a healthy, balanced environment for new rice plants.
Eco-Farmed fields have no routine program for treatment. Pest problems are evaluated as they occur, and are treated only when absolutely necessary with a bare minimum of chemical material. We do not treat for grasshoppers, midge, army worms, or seedling fungi. Crop rotation and soil conservation techniques used on organic fields are also used on Eco-Farmed fields.
Harvesting
The moisture level of the rice kernels is the determining factor for timing harvest.
Conventional farms generally grow rice that will be milled to white rice and harvest early at a high moisture content of 22-26%. Higher moisture rice does not break and crack during milling, which removes the germ and bran layers, leaving the starchy white center.
Organic rice is allowed to mature naturally in the field and to ripen to its fullest flavor. Virtually all of Lundberg rice is grown to be sold as brown rice, with the exception of some exotic white rices such as Arborio and sushi rice. We harvest rice at 16-18% moisture, indicative of a mature and flavorful rice kernel.
Eco-Farmed rice is harvested using the same methods as organic rice.
Straw Incorporation
About three and one-half tons of rice straw per acre is left in the fields after harvest. Disposing of rice straw has always been an issue in the rice industry, as rice straw is implicated in crop threatening diseases such as stem rot, and is thought to sour in the field if it is left on the soil.
On most Conventional fields the straw is removed after harvest by burning. Straw burning is done to sterilize the soil. Burning the straw also means that very little organic matter is returned to the soil.
Rice straw is never burned on our Organic fields. We chop the straw and integrate it into the soil by pulling huge rubber rollers over the field, pressing the straw into the earth. The field is then allowed to rest during the winter. The soil, sun, water, and winter waterfowl (ducks, geese, cranes, egrets, herons, swans, and other birds) help to decompose the straw. The multitudes of waterfowl work the soil while feeding on the leftover rice kernels. Its a true symbiotic relationship between farming and nature.
Straw incorporation techniques for Eco-Farmed fields are the same as they are for organic fields.
Storage
In Conventional farming, a routine program of fumigating storage bins with chemical fumigants such as aluminum phosphine or methyl bromide may be used to keep the rice insect free.
Organic rice is kept in airtight bins. A large air conditioner is used to keep the rice cool during warm weather. We constantly monitor the rice for moisture, temperature, freshness, milling quality, and insects. If only a few insects are found, we can remove them using a vacuum fan. If we need to treat for insects, we replace the natural air in the bin with carbon dioxide. Without the necessary oxygen, the insects cannot survive.
Eco-Farmed rice is chilled with a large air conditioner and monitored like organic rice. We use all of our available natural controls before we allow any Eco-Farmed rice to be fumigated. Over 75% of our Eco-Farmed rice is stored and milled using no fumigation. Our goal is to eventually eliminate all use of storage fumigation.