Rice straw utilization by livestock

Population pressures, plus the increased awareness of the need for environmental improvement, are limiting the use of burning as a method for disposing of all agricultural wastes, and rice straw is no exception. Producers are actively seeking alternate methods for disposal, or use, of the four tons of straw produced per acre on an average rice field in California. The summary reported here is from a detailed study of literature on the utilization of rice straw by livestock (available from local Farm Advisors as Agricultural Extension Service Publication MA—1). Further studies are in progress.