Weed scientist get rice industry national award

Eric Webster, LSU AgCenter weed scientist, was honored with the Rice Industry Award at the USA Rice Federation’s Outlook Conference.

Webster, who began his career with the LSU AgCenter in 1997, has been instrumental in the development of the most effective use of Newpath herbicide on Clearfield rice. Over the past two years, he has noticed an improvement in rice weed control.

“That has translated into higher yields,” he said.

Steve Linscombe, director of the LSU AgCenter Rice Research Station, said Webster was an obvious choice for the award. “He is extremely deserving of the recognition because he is an excellent example of a hardworking, dedicated and respected research scientist.”

“He is often called upon to travel to other states to help address weed problems,” Linscombe said. “He is also often asked to speak at field days and grower meetings in other states and countries.”

In 2010, Webster received the Rice Technical Working Group’s Distinguished Research and Education Award. In 2005, he received the LSU AgCenter Rogers Research Excellence Award and the Weed Science Society of America Outstanding Early Career Award.

Also honored at the conference was Elton Kennedy, Louisiana rice grower and rice mill owner, who received the Lifetime Achievement Award. Kennedy farms several thousand acres of rice in north Louisiana and opened the Kennedy Rice Mill at Mer Rouge in 2012. He leases a rice mill in Brinkley, Ark., and one in Abbeville with the Godchaux Family Partnership. Kennedy said this year marked his 50th year growing rice.

“It’s such an honor to be here and to be associated with such a group of people,” said Kennedy, who stressed the importance of a united rice industry.

Linscombe said Kennedy has been a strong supporter of LSU AgCenter faculty.

Also recognized was Joe Aguzzi of Cleveland, Miss., as the 2013 Rice Farmer of the Year.

The awards presented to Webster and Kennedy were sponsored by HorizonAg, RiceFarming magazine and the USA Rice Federation.

Also at the conference, A.J. Sabine, broadcaster with the Louisiana Farm Bureau, was among seven men chosen for the 2014-16 Rice Leadership Class sponsored by John Deere, RiceTec and American Commodity Corp. Also chosen for the class was Jonathan Hobbs of Russell Marine in Metairie.

The pending farm bill was the major topic of discussion at the conference. John Owen, Louisiana Rice Growers Association president and a rice farmer in Richland Parish, said the farm bill deliberations are grinding along. He said rice farmers don’t want special treatment, but they are asking for assistance so they can continue to be viable when prices are bad.

Johnny Saichuk, LSU AgCenter rice specialist, told the conference attendees that he expects next year’s Louisiana rice acreage to remain unchanged from 2013.