The newly planted rice seed that farmers hope will turn into a huge rice crop is being attacked by birds this year according to south Louisiana farmers.

LSU AgCenter rice specialist Johnny Saichuk says blackbirds and ducks really love rice, and it seems our weather has not been hot enough yet this Spring to encourage the birds to fly north for the summer.

Steve Linscombe heads up the LSU AgCenter Rice Research Station in Crowley.  He says all birds like to each rice, but usually by the time planting rolls around most of them have already left.

Some farmers are even deciding this year to delay their planting hoping that most of those birds will fly north.

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