How to Grow Rice in the Great California Desert! 

Chances of Michael seeing this and actually learning something? Slim to none. Chances of Matt doing even more good work educating people on modern agriculture and its place in society? Excellent.

Matt, gracefully responding to ignorance. Bravo!

Part of the reason Rice Farming TV exists is to educate, and you're doing it masterfully Matt. Keep doing it.

Being a 53, tomorrow I will be anyway, 1st generation rice farmer in Arkansas I love your videos and I have learned a lot from them. We all hear these comments, uneducated comments, and you handled this professionally and properly..

You Rock Matt, some people just don't understand farming, can't fix stupid comments

You can't fix stupid, but sometimes you can fix ignorance. Excellent rebuttal to those ignorant comments. Wishing you and yours continued success.

You guys are real farmers... Dont mind those who say crap about your farming and they dont know any thing about rice... Except eating... Iam a beginner rice farmer and we do farming a lot different from u guys and we get same problems like this.. Sometimes there will be no water in the field for the tractor to plough or excess water also... Any way keep it up🙏🙏

DEF not too ranty at all!!!!!!!! Growing up in a farming family from Glenn Co-I've heard some similar uneducated babble. Unfortunately most folks, even those in surrounding states, think that we're either all beach/all desert or all Lake Tahoe. I feel folks make these types of comments because they dont understand the process-which you did an AMAZING job of re-explaining!!! Thank you so very much for providing food for the masses and educating them as well. It takes a very special person :)

HATERS will be HATERS! I am glad you made this video to educate the uneducated people about agriculture.

As a child of a rice farmer family, I enjoy watching your videos. Greetings from Turkey.

Like most things nobody ever thinks about, Rice Farming is a complicated business. Everyone just goes to the store and buys the rice that 'magically' appears on the shelf. It appears that the ' magic' is what Matt (and others) provide. Keep up the videos, and the 'magic'.

I used to be critical when I first found your channel. So I decided to watch and learn and see how it works.

You are a genius. My father was a farmer in Alberta. Farming is not well understood. I remember the blonde on the Tonight show. She told Jay Leno, "I would never kill a chicken. I get my chicken at Safeway."

I'm glad you addressed these issues, Matthew. Your videos are always as educational as they are informative.

I just saw this video. Just an amazing field youve got there at the US. I'm from north borneo and just being amazed how modern your equipment. From where I'm from, most of our rice farmers still growing rice traditionally without any power tools or modern machine.

I love a good agricultural rant. This one was informative and edifying.

Greetings from Austria! I actually watched the planting by plane video yesterday and was fascinated how this is working in a state that is known for being dry. Now I learned how fascinating it is. Thank you for your great work! Stay safe and I wish you the best!

Thank you for this video, growing up in the North East, where there is very little if any rice grown, I knew almost nothing about what it takes and all that you have to do to bring in a harvest of rice. Truly fascinating and mentally enriching.

Thank you for your honest reply to those comments, Matt! I live in heart of the grass seed growing area of Oregon and am friends with many of the farmers around here. They are some of the hardest working business people I know.

I am a Whole Foods Plant-Based Vegan who is always high on carbs. I ate 20 lb of brown rice every month mixed with vegetables, I am plant strong and healthy. Thank you rice Farmers I appreciate the work that you do.

Perfect explanation. Hard work and efficient use of resources the key to rice farming( any farming). Support from a organic rice farmer from India.

If you Google rice farming and see how other farmers grown it around the world - you set the benchmark to measure others against. You are right to answer "annoying" questions. Many consumers in the industrialised world have no idea where food comes from (other than supermarket shelves). Another great video.

Good job explaining to the uninformed, Their comments are exactly why we need more farmers telling our stories.Keep up the good work .

I think you gave a reasoned response to the thoughtless critical comments you cited. I absolutely agree with your statement on the answer to problems being to build up, not tear down. It’s way more difficult to build than to destroy, and only competent people contribute by creating or building up. You are making the world a better place. God bless you and your family! Good luck on a bumper crop.

Hey Matt my dad grew up in Paradise and Chico so I am very familiar with rice farming in the northern Sac valley. One of my fondest memories as a kid was riding in the back of a pickup on the paddy roads with one of my dads good friends from school. Keep up the great work with the videos they are fantastic.

I came here to find out how mechanized farming was possible and learned more than I bargained for ... thank you for the info and feeding us.

You are a great spokesperson for the CA rice industry, Matthew. I buy CA rice, like I buy CA wine, almonds, olive oil, and other produce. Thanks for the work you put into your videos, which are always educational, interesting, engaging and humorous.

Keep fighting the good fight Matt! Those comments are precisely why what you are doing via Rice Farming TV is so important to the agricultural industry in California and beyond. The only way to combat ignorance is through education!

i hope we have this kind of technologies in the Philippines. Rice farming in California is surprisingly efficient.. I love it :)

Great Job Matt, and once again great rice. People who have no clue spout off their pablam talking points without doing any research into the subject matter. You are a hard working American farmer and we love what you do to bring this into the public eye.

those people have no idea about what they are talking and importance of farming. nice to see so many viewers supporting matt

Thanks for the hard debunking. Reading those comments hurt (partly because of all the face palms). A few more details: -I don't think people understand how much California is a flood plain. The central valley used to become an ENTIRE SEA where you could take a SHIP from NorCal to SoCal in the valley. Having the water just dammed up and levy is NOT normal for the environment. When non-Natives started going there, they noticed that the flood debris was in the trees. The Chinese community in the 1800s had to build their traditional stilt houses to avoid flooding. Sacramento had to be jacked upwards. The water can't just stay between the levies. It HAS to go somewhere. -Desert doesn't mean no rain. A desert can have lots of rain, it just loses that water quickly. You know what technology was developed to keep water in? Rice paddies. -California is predicted to get dryer, not from lack of precipation, but lack of snow melt. Instead of having a somewhat steady source of water, that water is going to come down as rain that needs to be captured somehow. You know how people catch water in Asia? Take a guess. 😁 Not saying that the agriculture industry doesn't waste water, but people need to stop judging CA for feeding them. There's so many other issues to judge CA on. 😂 Stop creating demand for the problematic food if you don't like the ag.

Well said, Matt. You addressed each point rationally and accurately. Maybe your best video so far. As a corn/soybean farmer I often have to address inaccurate comments. Goes with the territory

Im from Asia and to see Western people plant rice in a desert is mesmerizing to say the least. Keep it up!

All thumbs up Matt. I chewed gum the other day. It was made with rice flour and rice sugar. First thing I thought of was you and your family. I think you explained that very well. The reservoirs were built for farming and recreation. Without the farm you would loose all the business at each lake. And the water storage is great for when the state is dry. You keep making rice so I can eat gum, sushi 🍣, and sweeten my beverage and keep healthy. Thanks.

The trolls just make it that much easier to explain how rice farming works and be able to pick on the trolls at the same time. Thank you for the update on how your crops are doing. I was thinking about how things were going with your rice crops the other day.

This is by far my most favourite channel on RU-vid. Never knew how rice was grown but now I know. Greetings from South Africa

Non Californians loves trashing and bashing California, yet they sure love their fresh fruits and vegetables in their local grocery stores. I’m a long haul trucker and has been for 16 years now after serving 12 years in the Army. Ive traveled around the country including Canada delivering fruits and vegetables. When I heard comments about negative things in California, I would ask these individuals where do they buy their vegetables and fruits and if they enjoy their vegetables and fruits year round not just seasonal. They don’t have a clue. Thank you so much for educating these ignorant people. That is if they want to be educated. Ignorance is a very expensive price to pay.

From a grain farmer in Saskatchewan I had no idea on how rice was grown you do a excellent job of going through the rice growing process keep up the great work I subscribed so I won’t miss harvest

Super Job Mathew ! I am so glad I farm in the Palouse and Northern Idaho where people still appreciate what farming contributes to society ! Farming is one of the leaders in use of technology and efficiency in all the USA ! Sadly most people today don't have a clue ! Thanks again Mathew for being an advocate for not only Rice but all Agriculture !

The way you calmly counter stupidity made within a few seconds used to post a comment is commendable. Keep up the great work, offline and online.

Great video that truly explains the real perspective and benefits of rice farming. As a livestock rancher I hear the same ignorant arguments too, it is more efficient to eat plant based foods and so forth. The only problem with that mentality is that the land I graze for livestock is not good for farming, it has too many elevation changes and in farming that would allow too much soil erosion and it is just poor quality soil. Yet I can let it grow native fauna and graze sheep on it and completely utilize it while preserving and protecting the local environment and creeks all while providing a quality meat product that other wise would have been wasted space.

wow, the passion, you explained it perfectly. I do believe people in California are confused by water issues and there are just so many voices coming from so many directions. But you were concise and have the knowledge to share it, good on you for throwing it back.

From a Kansas cattleman to a California rice farmer great job educating the world about sustainable agriculture keep it up we need all the help we can get

I really enjoyed your video, very informative and it changed my thoughts on the situation (growing rice in the former wetlands, not desert). I especially liked how you took the comments of people and systematically explained away their ignorance on the subject matter. You are doing the rice industry and public a good service. I wonder if the farmers of other crops in the dry arid regions of California can justify growing food in the desert with transferred water. I enjoy my almonds, nuts in general, fruits and vegetables from California, but believe it's unsubstantial because of future mega droughts. My example is the migration of a once thriving population of native people from Mesa Verde in Colorado 1200 years ago because of a major drought in an arid desert, they had to migrate to survive.

Wow, call me ignorant, but I need to tell you that I thought America only import rice from Asia. Anyway, I went to Costco yesterday to buy rice. Guess what did first, checked where it came from, and was surprised that it was actually grown right here in our own country, I couldn't believe it!!! Thanks for this video, I'm totally assured that I am eating rice grown from America, not imported from other countries. Thank you for this great video, it's very informative. Our students should watch all your videos. God bless you all rice farmers, you're great!

My grandfather used to have rice fields,but he did everything by himself, it's not easy, however ,the rice taste the best, because bwe have our own machine at home, so we all excited about every year's new harvest

Keep up the great work Matt! Some people are just clueless, and so far removed from the farm they make these comments through ignorance because they not informed! You are doing a wonderful job speaking up for all farmers! As a dairy and Tobacco farmer I get lots of negative comments on social media! Some people are willing to listen and some people just think there right no matter what!

You are an excellent teacher. Thank you for such clear, concise and emotional presentation. As a third generation Rice Farmer, you have more than earned the right not only educate, but also the right to emote when offended. Your defense of your families efforts and contributions to all America was excellent. Thank you.

I bought some rice at Chico’s farmers market and decided to do a little research on rice farming in CA. This is an excellent video, so fascinating, had no idea how much goes into growing rice here!

Keep doing what you're doing. I and my family Thank You for all you and your family do for growing the Rice that we need.

be proud living in a place like this.. ill take hard work with nature over sitting in some rotten floor box not even realizing what life is all about. Awesome vid man

Making all California rice growers proud I’m sure. Keep up the great work 👍

i live on the east coast, and before i found ur channel, i never knew rice was being grown out there. so i like how u show everything about it. thumbs up every time. thanks!!

Beautiful stand of rice. I love rice and helping y'all out , one mouthful at a time. I blend wild, brown and M rice together.

Excellent video!

You are a great spokesmen for rice in your area. I don't have a dog in the fight but you convinced me.

i certainly got educated a bit more on rice farming, as well as cali's water problems. well explained and intresting to listen to.

Haters gonna hate! Keep up the great work, farmers are the backbone of America yall put food on our plates!

l purchase short graim rice from Caliform here in Germany ,please keep it up.

You are one of the best spokesmen for agriculture that I have seen. Keep up this valuable work! Many 👍👍👍👍👍😎

I was educated and I liked the video.

I've been farming for over 17years now, rice will survive in any climate. I am young farmer, I'd experienced a lot in terms of rice farming. Drought is more productive than rainy season. Base on my experience here in the Philippines.

Well PLAYED Matt...Well spoken... Easily understood. Saturated with common sense and facts. We all can tell it has been a busy summer working the rice fields with POPS. Good luck with the 2019 harvest !

We love you, farmers! I just drove down the 5 from Tracy to San Diego, and I saw all the bulldozed orchards, victims of California's backwards water policies. We can only pray that someday CA will again be sane and that we can get those reservoirs built!

UC Davis grad student here. I drive up north to do field work and I always enjoy looking at the rice fields!

I’m a Laotian American and I approve domestic rice agricultural!! 🌾🌾🌾

Thank you for the update! I know that this is a busy time for you to release a video. I always look forward to a notification from you and the blancolirio channels! It is amazing that when individuals think of California, they think of LA and San Francisco but there is a whole other region that does so much good for the world. Keep up the hard work and look forward to the next video

Awesome -love the work around on draining the water! Way to go Pops!

wow i live in SOUTH EAST ASIA.. so i eat rice almost everyday, Never grow i just buy at shop... :)) by way awesome Video and THANK YOU you make Growing rice AWESOME COOL!

Beautiful crop. I live in Thailand and enjoy driving past the rice fields near my wife's hometown.

The keyboard jockeys that are commenting are probably eating sushi while they are complaining . Farmers are what the USA is about . Keep up the good work Matt.

I worked (past tense) for a tractor company. What most people know about California is what they get from bad television. That bad television includes the news. Most people think California is all Bay Area, L.A., or Orange County. They have no idea that California is the one of the largest diary producers or rice producers. Most people don't know that California has generations of people that grow grapes, peaches, oranges, garlic, rice, celery, almonds, walnuts, tomatoes, and the that list goes just goes on and on. And those farmers produce those crops without a government subsidy. Further agriculture has been and continues to be one of the largest industries in California. But most people just see Hollywood and Silicon Valley when they think of California. California is the 9th largest economy in the world because economically and industrially, it is diverse.

Bro... I only eat rice grow in California. Love supporting our agriculture in California...

Rice farming is hard but you have knowledge and modern equipment ,wish we could have affordable machinaries in odisha❤

Love the videos and the voice overs , living in Ireland I only see rice on a plate. Good to see wild live friendly Rice.

Good to see you back. Thanks for all the information. Gotta love the people out there who know everything.

Thanks for the education :) it's funny listening to "Arm-chair farmers" LOL. Keep up the great content

Good thing Bloomberg gives us all this advice on farmin

I thoroughly enjoyed the education, especially wildlife benefits. Wow what a lot of work, well done, great American ingenuity too! From the Apple Capital of the world, Wenatchee WA👍👍🍎

I have learned a ton since finding this channel. Thanks for taking the time to do that. I would not worry too much about the folks out there who are just miserable...!!

Matt. This is your best video yet.

08:04 I'm reminded of the "amber waves of grain" verse in one of the US' many unofficial national anthems, although in this case it's more like, "amber waves of *recordscratch* ... rice‽"

For those who don’t understand farming my advice is to: stop eating see how long they last no farmers no food

I love that you are doing these videos, I always feel that our rice farming community is unrepresented, along with other agriculture, especially in Northern California, Scott Davis here, Davis Machine Shop, Meridian,Ca

Just keep doing what you guys do best is farm Rica...

finally- I was worried about you and also having video withdrawls lol

Rarely comment on any videos, but you Sir, Bravo. Thourghly enjoyed watching the playlist and this episode just hits the nail on the head! Outstanding! 👏👏👏

bastante detallada la explicación muy edificante la verdad , una bonita manera de cerrar bocazas, saludos

Next we will see “YOUR PUTTING PESTICIDES IN WATER THAT FLOWS TO CITIES😡😡😡” comments😂😂. Love what your doing👍🏻👍🏻

WOW! I'M FROM PHILIPPINES. RICE IS OUR STAPLE FOOD BUT I'M SHOCKED RICEFIELDS IN USA IS AWESOME!!!

G'day from Australia mate. My family previously grew rice in New South Wales for the Sunrice company.

I enjoy watching and learning about rice since there isn't much of it grown here in Kansas. Also enjoyed how you took the time to try to inform those who think farming and ranching is a waste of time since they can just go to the grocery store for all of your food.

Matt, the people who leave comments like that are the reason you have to put a disclaimer on your store that says "truck not included" when showing your magnetic sticker for sale. There is a term used in marketing; "you have to assume you're selling to the wit-less boob". The same reason there are warning stickers on lawn mowers telling the operator to not stick their hands into the blade while it's running.

Thank you very much for your hard work and keep growing rice. I love rice so much don'tlisten to complainer.

Keep on Farming Rice, I support you!

So much information! Unfortunately those people with negative views might not have learned by not watching it!

Excellent video. These critics have no idea how things work in life. They think food comes to their table from stores or factories. But then again, if it wasn’t for them, you probably wouldn’t make this video to educate them and the rest of us on rice farming. Thanks

You do the right thing brother keep it up it doesn't matter what others are saying you do the right thing

I was educated! However I wasn't an "interesting commenter", just happy to be educated... lol. Love the channel! New subscriber. Thank you for over 100 years of food and hard work. Your passion and expertise show IMMENSELY! GOD bless you!