Rice board approves $1.3 million for research projects

CROWLEY, La. (AP) -- Soil scientist David Weindorf has received funding for research into how to quickly measure the amount of salt and zinc in rice fields. Economist Mike Salassi has been awarded a grant for an economic analysis of rice production and farm management in Louisiana.

They're among 14 LSU AgCenter researchers who shared $1.3 million from the Louisiana Rice Research Board.

The board approved money for 17 projects in October.

The board decides how to use money from a 5-cent fee collected on every 100 pounds of rice produced and sold in Louisiana.

Steve Linscombe, director of the LSU AgCenter Rice Research Station, says the check-off program is a major source of research funding.

The board allocated money to Linscombe for a rice-breeding nursery, to enhance rice research and extension communications and to develop superior rice varieties for Louisiana.

Other projects that received funding from the board included:

--Integrated management strategies for insect pests of rice in Louisiana, Mike Stout, entomologist.

--Characterization and use of genetic traits for resistance to multiple diseases of rice, Jong Hyun Ham, plant pathologist.

--Study of the biology and management of Cercospora disease in rice, Clayton Hollier, plant pathologist.

--Weed management, Eric Webster, weed scientist.

--Breeding rice varieties with tolerance to salt and other stresses, Prasanta Subudhi, plant breeder.

--Development of disease control in rice, Don Groth, plant pathologist.

--Rice management strategies for efficient use of agronomic inputs and natural resources, Dustin Harrell, agronomist.

--Marker-assisted breeding and development of molecular markers for important traits in Louisiana rice production, Herry Utomo, molecular biologist.

--Characterization of high-protein rice lines and development of herbicide-resistant rice, Ida Wenefrida, rice researcher.

--Development of hybrid rice and sheath blight-resistant germplasm, James Oard, geneticist.

--Rice research verification program, Johnny Saichuk, rice specialist.

Copyright 2012 The AP.