08/31/2026
August 30–September 6, Wisconsin is celebrating its first-ever Wild Rice Week! This is a time to recognize the importance of wild rice, or manoomin, to Wisconsin’s waters, communities, and Tribal Nations.
There is encouraging news for 2026: wild rice production is showing improvement compared with the past few years. Harvesters may find some good beds across northern Wisconsin, although low water levels may make navigating by canoe more challenging in some areas.
If you're a Wisconsin resident, you can harvest wild rice for yourself! If you choose to celebrate by harvesting your own wild rice, remember: good stewardship matters! Wait until the rice is mature and ready to drop its seed. If little or no rice falls with gentle strokes of the ricing sticks, give the bed a few more days or try another bed. Protecting immature rice helps support future harvests and ensures others have the opportunity to enjoy this incredible resource.
Find a place to harvest: https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/wildlifehabitat/rice
Across Wisconsin, Tribal Nations, state agencies, researchers, and other partners are working together to restore and protect wild rice through research, traditional knowledge, habitat management, seeding, invasive species control, water-level management, and watershed protection.
This Wild Rice Week, let’s celebrate the progress, recognize the work still ahead, and honor the people and waters that sustain manoomin. 💚
