“Hank” Beachell

Texas A&M University System Texas Agricultural Research and Extension Center Beaumont, Texas September 2006 Volume VI Number 7 A Tribute to Henry M. “Hank” Beachell Henry Monroe Beachell, co- as teaching tours of rice production recipient of the 1996 World Food areas in India, Central America and Prize, has been called “one of the South America. After retiring from most important individuals in rice the Beaumont Center in 1963, he improvement in the world”, cel- accepted a position at the Interna- ebrated his 100th birthday on Sep- tional Rice Research Institute in the tember 21. Beachell’s pioneering Philippines. research put him at the forefront of That same year, while going the Green Revolution, which led to through IRRI’s experimental plots, dramatic increases in rice produc- seeking a sturdy rice plant that tion over the last three decades. would respond well to fertilizer Henry Beachell, known to his and mature early, he helped select friends as “Hank,” was born Sep- the rice that eventually became tember 21, 1906, in Waverly, Ne- the IR8 rice variety. After further braska, to William Albert and Alice development, IR8 was released in Leona Degler Beachell. He was 1966 and set yield records, more than doubling previous yields. the second of seven children, two Hank Beachell, very early on in his boys and five girls. He graduated renowned rice breeding career. For two decades, Hank traveled from the University of Nebraska to promote IR8 and other varieties In March, 1931, Hank became in February, 1930 and obtained his resulting from the institute’s work. Texas’ first rice breeder at the master’s degree from Kansas State He also continued research to USDA/ARS Rice Research Unit, University in 1934. In 1972 Hank make improvements to the variety, which is part of the Texas A&M Ag- was awarded an honorary doctorate including making it more resistant ricultural Research and Extension by the University of Nebraska. to pests, adapting it to various Center in Beaumont, Texas. That While attending Kansas State, growing conditions, and meeting year Dr. Beachell made several rice Hank studied under Dr. John H. cooking and taste criteria. In 1982, crosses, probably the first artificial Parker. It was Dr. Parker who he returned to the United States and crosses of rice made in the state, impressed upon Hank that a plant became a consultant to RiceTec. with the first release, Texas Patna, breeder’s existence depended upon In addition to his remark- coming in 1942. his ability to develop improved able rice breeding achievements, While at the Beaumont Center, varieties that met the needs of the Beachell has been a dedicated and he created, and helped introduce, farmer, the miller, and the ultimate enthusiastic mentor to dozens of nine rice varieties, which eventu- consumer; therefore, it was impera- young research scientists who have ally accounted for more than ninety tive that the breeder be cognizant become leaders of rice breeding percent of U.S. long-grain rice of all phases of production, pro- programs worldwide, significantly production. During this time, he cessing, consumption and market increasing the quantity and quality also took part in research, as well demands. of this vital food crop.* From electronically. A number of supporting and opposing letters have been submitted. Although I do not agree the with some of the comments that appear to promote Editor... hysteria about GMO foods being dangerous or even Rough rice futures evil, I agree with our system that allows input from reached $9.72/cwt on concerned individuals. the November futures, On another front, rice yields across the U.S. continuing an upward trend, are higher than last year, with the possible exception but 30¢ below the November of Louisiana, where yields are down slightly. In Texas, futures price reached back in yields to the west of Houston are particularly high. August 17. This was the However, the extended rainfall east of Houston reduced day before storage bins in Arkansas and Missouri yields and contributed to the higher disease pressures were found to have trace amounts of an unapproved, during the ratoon crop. genetically modified rice developed by Bayer Crop Last month, the Beaumont Center hosted two Sciences. Ignoring any impact the GMO contamination workshops. Kelby Boldt, the Jefferson County had on premiums, this equates to roughly a $56 million Extension Agent, organized a workshop on organic drop in the value of U.S. long-grain rice, up from the rice production. The workshop was well attended with roughly $188 million drop in value two days following about 40 participants. The workshop was repeated at the announcement. These numbers suggest the market Bay City, with an additional 40 people in attendance. is recovering from the GMO contamination problem, A common theme of the workshop was the need but it has a way to go to fully recover. for additional research, particularly addressing the The GMO contamination story continues to unfold, development of rice varieties that compete more but it does not appear we are any closer to knowing effectively with weed species, and the development of how the Arkansas and Missouri storage bins became improved weed and fertilizer management options. The contaminated in the first place. On a positive note, all U.S. organic market is projected to maintain a 9-16% of the samples from the Beaumont Center rice varietal annual rate of increase through 2010. Mike Doguet, a development programs have been tested and are clean. local rice producer and miller, estimates that last year’s The other states have reported identical results, with Texas organic rice crop reached 6% of the state’s rice the exception of one Louisiana sample. production. It would not take much of an increase in On October 1, the USDA initiated what is market price for U.S. organic rice production to really referred to as a “grassroots regulatory action take off. alert” for interested parties to submit comments Keep on sending us your suggestions. regarding Bayer’s application to have LLRICE 601 Sincerely, deregulated. The deadline for submission is October 10. If approved, the deregulation does not mean that LLRICE 601 will be commercially produced. Nor L.T. Wilson does it mean that Bayer will be off the hook, so-to- Professor and Center Director speak, regarding pending lawsuits. However, it does Jack B. Wendt Endowed Chair mean that any commercial rice contaminated with in Rice Research LLRICE 601 can be marketed. If you are interested in reviewing comments that have been submitted to Inside This Issue USDA regarding the proposed deregulation, the best DE Plus Methoprene to Control Lesser Grain Borer .........3 way to do this is to go to http://www.regulations.gov USDA Seeks Public Comment on LLRICE601 ................4 and, in “Agency” box, select the menu item titled Farmer Owned Ethanol Plants ...........................................5 ‘‘Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service’’, then Poultry Litter May Increase Rice Tillering ......................6 click on ‘‘Submit.’’ In the Docket ID column, select Disaster Aid Bill Doesn’t Get Vote .....................................7 “APHIS–2006–0140” to view public comments and Poultry Litter Plus Urea for Better Yields ......................8 to view supporting and related materials available Juliio Castillo Joins Beaumont Center .............................10 2 Farming Rice a monthly guide for Texas growers Providing useful and timely information to Texas rice growers, so they may increase productivity and profitability on their farms. Diatomaceous Earth Plus Methoprene for Control of the Lesser Grain Borer, Rhyzopertha Dominica, in Rough Rice The lesser grain borer (LGB), Rhyzopertha domi- to be “reduced-risk” nica L., is a world-wide primary insect pest of stored insecticides because Photo courtesy of Frank Arthur grains. Females lay an egg outside the kernel, and upon they are not neuro- hatching the first instar bores into the kernel, where toxins, and are less it completes development to the adult stage. Once hazardous than con- inside the kernel, the developing larva is protected ventional chemical from exposure to contact insecticides. Adults will bore compounds. through the kernel to exit, thereby creating a large hole, Although DE is a and the kernel is classified for grading purposes as an safe chemical product, insect-damaged kernel (IDK). the LGB is particu- The LGB is a strong flyer attracted to odor of larly difficult to kill warming grain in bins, and is a major economic pest with DE alone, and of wheat in the southern plains and rice in the south- there is variation in Lesser grain borer on rough rice. central USA. Insect control in stored rice can be ac- effectiveness among complished through fumigation with phosphine and grain commodities through the use of grain protectants, including diato- and with insect species. Methoprene as an IGR, does maceous earth (DE), and the insect growth regulator not kill adults, and combination treatments with other (IGR) methoprene (Diacon II). insecticides is required for adult mortality. Combina- Diatomaceous earth and methoprene are considered tion treatments of methoprene and DE give control of adult LGB and reduce progeny production on stored wheat. In a detailed study, long-grain rice (Cocodrie), short-grain rice (S-102), and medium-grain rice (M- 205) were treated first with 0, 0.25, 0.50, 0.75, and 1.0 ppm methoprene, then with 0, 125, 250, 375, and 500 ppm DE. There were 25 combinations, with 5 replicates each, and the experimental unit was 20g of rice in plastic vials. Relative humidity (RH) was maintained at 75%. Twenty adults were exposed in each vial for 2 weeks at 32°C-75%RH, mortality was assessed and parental adults discarded, and vials were then returned to boxes and held for 8 weeks to obtain F1 progeny.

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