Already listed as threatened under the California Endangered Species Act, Julia Barfield with The Nature Conservancy says the Greater Sandhill Crane has also recently seen a sharp decline in numbers. Learn more about how these creatures of habit rely on rice fields as an essential part of their existence ..read more

The Sacramento Valley is part of the region that supports one of the highest concentrations of waterfowl on earth, and it’s no wonder many of Northern California’s wildlife refuges and areas are surrounded by rice fields.  There is a unique relationship between them, one that Jennifer Isola a wildlife biologist with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Tim Hermansen who manages the Gray Lodge Wildlife Area for the CA Department of Fish and Wildlife and Greg Golet an ecologist and wildlife biologist with The Nature Conservancy all say is vitally important in sustaining waterbird populations ..read more

In the heart of Northern California, the Sacramento Valley represents the gold standard for symbiotic relationships between agriculture, communities, and the environment. This year, as we approach the 2023 harvest season, we reflect on the vital role that over half a million acres of rice fields play in nurturing not just our communities, but a rich and diverse ecosystem that is home to 230 different wildlife species. A Harvest for All The rice harvest is more than an agricultural endeavor; it is a lifeline for countless individuals and businesses. From the diligent workforce in trucking comp ..read more

“We should all be concerned about sustainable agriculture and wildlife habitat because that’s an indication of a healthy ecosystem, which benefits all of us,” Virginia Getz, Director of Conservation Programs for Ducks Unlimited Western Region ..read more

It was a vision, far ahead of the curve. Montna Farms in Sutter County holds the state’s first ever wildlife-friendly agricultural conservation easement. As Nicole Montna Van Vleck explains, it’s a proactive way of protecting both the family farm and the beautiful wildlife habitat, for future generations to enjoy ..read more

“Permanently protecting California ricelands, especially fields that are close to other protected ag lands and habitat areas, means we can provide connectivity for wildlife populations,” Virginia Getz, Director of Conservation Programs for Ducks Unlimited Western Region ..read more

California’s planted rice fields are unique, acting as surrogate wetlands for wildlife by mimicking the historic habitat wildlife connected to our region now relies on. Kristin Sesser, Waterbird Ecologist and Conservation Programs Manager for the California Rice Commission, explains how sustaining current waterbird populations means continuing to have scenes like this in the Sacramento Valley, year after year ..read more

Planted rice fields in the Sacramento Valley provide a year-round benefit to wildlife. Kevin Vella, a regional biologist with California Waterfowl Association, shows us how rice fields are used as nesting habitat by ducks in the summer months with millions more waterbirds arriving in the fall and winter, relying on these rice fields for food and habitat ..read more

Listed as a Threatened species under both the Federal Endangered Species Act and the California Endangered Species Act due to habitat loss, the Giant Gartersnake’s survival is intertwined with planted rice in the Sacramento Valley. According to Anna Jordan, a Wildlife Biologist with the U.S. Geological Survey who monitors Giant Gartersnakes, this rice-reliant species is also an umbrella species, making the work to conserve their summer rice field habitat critically important to helping conserve a multitude of different wildlife species. There are 230 wildlife species connected to planted ..read more

For small businesses like California Heritage Mills in Colusa County, the people you work with are like family. But delayed drought impacts continue to cause hardworking, dependable people and operations to suffer ..read more