Ecological Rice Farming in the Northeastern USA is an effort to support sustainable, small-scale, organic rice production in the northeastern United States. This website highlights experiences on Akaogi Farm in Westminster West, Vermont and provides agricultural and environmental information about rice cultivation in this northern climate extreme. Details about the annual summer conferences are also available.


The 5th Annual Northeast Rice Conference

The conference took place on Saturday, August 2nd, 2014 from 9am-4pm at Akaogi Farm. 2014 Conference details.

An article in Lancaster Farming about our 2013 conference: "Conference Looks at Growing Rice in Northeast" + Read Article

"Seasons of Change" Video

View the "Seasons of Change" video slideshow. Enjoy a season's worth of ecological vibrancy and diversity in the Akaogi Farm rice paddies through Takeshi Akaogi's photographs.


Growing Degree Days

Growing degree day data is a tool to help define climatic differences and we are using it in our effort to identify rice varieties that are able to grow well in a specific location in the Northeast. Our current growing degree day map will be improved with results from rice variety trials currently being conducted at around 30 sites throughout the northeastern USA. + Learn More





This effort is currently funded by the National Science Foundation.
In 2008 and 2009, funding was provided by a Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) Grant.