From the Fields: David Perry, ​​​​​​​Glenn County rice farmer

By David Perry
Glenn County rice farmer

On the farm, we’re getting equipment out and looking it over in anticipation of spring work, changing oils and fluids and making sure our tractors will be ready when the ground dries out. On the trucking side, I’m hauling dry rice from dryers around the valley to mills so it can be milled and shipped out.

We use our trucking business for our rice operation. I haul rice from our fields to dryers during harvest and from dryers to the mill in winter so they can mill it, package it and ship it in the U.S. or export. I also haul almonds and walnuts for other people as custom work. Having both businesses gives me an extra income stream year-round, especially when commodity prices are low. It also allows me to keep my truck drivers year-round, so I have them at harvest.

We harvested in October and November. After harvest, we do decomposition to get rid of the rice straw. Some people flood their fields to rot the straw. Then we have duck and geese season, and they work in the fields and help incorporate the straw back into the soil. Currently, people are draining their fields so they can start drying out. In late March or early April, depending on weather, we can start cultivating.

Rice prices are still below break-even but have come up a little from last year, which is good but not good enough. Family farms are important to our area, and farming is important for local economies in small towns. When prices are low, some people think about selling their ground to someone bigger and moving on or moving out of state. I think it’s important that we support local farms and ranches, so we don’t lose them in the future.

Where we farm, there are orchards and rice, and the soil is good. You can grow almost anything. We’re lucky to have good soil and enough water. The lakes are full right now.