Kent McKenzie has been appointed the new director of the California Rice Experiment Station near Biggs. He fills the position left vacant with the passing of Marlin Brandon in February of this year.

McKenzie has been a member of the rice breeding team at the Rice Experiment Station since 1988. A result of his efforts is the release in 1999 of the premium quality medium grain, M-402, and the premium quality short grain, Calhikari-201. Before his return to California, McKenzie, who has a MS in agronomy and a PhD in genetics from UC Davis, worked at the Louisiana State University Rice Research Center, and the University of Arkansas Rice Research and Extension Center.

The Rice Experiment Station conducts research in cooperation with the University of California, the US Department of Agriculture, and private industry, and maintains and produces foundation seed for the public rice varieties grown on more than 90% of the California rice acreage. The Foundation is funded by rice growers through the California Rice Research Board, the Rice Research Trust, and industry donations.