Rice Farming January 2024 by One Grower Publishing

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ONE GROWER PUBLISHING, LLC

PROFITABLE PRODUCTION STRATEGIES

JANUARY 2024

Furrow-Irrigated Rice: The Changing Paradigm

Specialists Talk Variety Selection

Sustainability at its Finest How a Southeastern Arkansas Team Takes it to the Next Level

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January 2024

Columns 4

From the Editor

USA Rice Update

Vol. 58, No. 2

Cover Story

Starting the Year off Right New Era for USA Rice

D e pa rt m e n t s 18 Industry News Rice business scene

20 Specialists Speaking

Sustainability at its Finest

2024 Variety Selection

ON THE COVER: Jim Whitaker, is a fifth-generation farmer alongside his brother Sam in a well-rounded rice, cotton, corn, soybean, and wheat operation in McGehee, Arkansas.

How a Southeastern Arkansas Team Takes it to the Next Level

Photo by Cassidy Nemec

F e at u r e s 7

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Drought, Farm Bill, Foreign Ownership, WOTUS among 2023’s Top Ag Stories

Rice Outlook Conference Review

The Changing Furrow-Irrigated Rice Paradigm

Goldilocks Level

Innovative Collaborations Boost Soil Health Outreach in California

Rice Companies Partner with University of Arkansas Campus Food Pantry

GET CONNECTED Stay up to date with the latest from Rice Farming.

2023 In Review

2023 Rice Awards presented in Indian Wells, California.

Finding the Goldilocks Zone or Conditions in Rice Irrigation.

17 JANUARY 2024 | RICE FARMING

From The

Editor

Starting the Year off Right They have studies that link clutter and mess to more anxiety and stress in a person’s life. They say a cluttered space can lead to a sense of being overwhelmed and lead to that stress that we all would rather not have. In addition to everything else we have going on in life, I think this is a great reminder to get organized and make sure the year is starting off in a good place. We could all handle a little less stress in our lives, right? This month’s issue of Rice Farming contains information and ideas of how to have a successful rice crop. Keeping in mind that a new year doesn’t have to call for sweeping, drastic changes to declutCassidy Nemec ter, Peter Bachmann, USA Rice’s new CEO and Editor president, reminds us on page six that small, fine-tuning changes over time can start you off on the right track. “I’m beginning my tenure as CEO during a period of fine-tuning for many of those policies and programs, rather than an era of revolutionary changes. The new USDA $1.3 billion in RAPP funds will soon be allocated to commodity groups, for example. Farm Bill deliberation is circling around reference price increases, rather than full-blown programmatic changes. And of course, the Biden Administration is in a wrap-up year, with the general election just around the corner in November.” Pages 10 and 11 feature some of Dr. Chris Henry’s work with furrow-irrigated rice in Arkansas. He said “the ability to utilize cover crops is a big advantage for furrow-irrigated rice, something that could help with infiltration, water-holding capacity, nitrogen cycling, and weed suppression.” Whether cover crops work for your operation is to be determined by you, but this certainly made me think more about soil health. Pages 12 through 14 discuss an operation partnered by Jim Whitaker and his brother Sam in a well-rounded rice, cotton, corn, soybean, and wheat operation in McGehee, Arkansas. They have a wide range of sustainable measures they implement on the farm, all of which are something that could be considered based on your operation characteristics. Jim discussed the difficult, yet rewarding, integration of cover crops for soil health. “Cover crops are hard to figure out and plant into. It’s a mindset — you determine ‘who am I farming for?’ If you’re farming for next year, no cover crop; if you’re farming for the next generation, protect the topsoil at all costs.” Every farm is different, most fields on those farms are different, and it can all be a lot to keep up with. This is a great time to do what you can to declutter and make room for new ideas and growth in your operation. After all, there’s a lot to be said for “start clean, stay clean!”

Cassidy

EDITORIAL/PRODUCTION Editor Cassidy Nemec cnemec@onegrower.com Copy Editor Carroll Smith csmith@onegrower.com Digital Content Editor Katie Guthrie kguthrie@onegrower.com Art Director Ashley Kumpe akumpe@onegrower.com

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Recommendations for Provisia Rice in 2024

he release of elite Provisia® rice varieties like PVL03 and new PVL04 is driving increased interest in the

Provisia Rice System as an important tool to control

weedy rice and resistant red rice.

Last year, Horizon partnered with university and other industry leaders to help farmers best manage the Provisia Rice System. Their efforts resulted in significantly fewer confirmed instances of weedy rice outcrossing than the previous year. Ahead of 2024, Horizon asked university rice experts to again weigh in on practices to maximize results with Provisia rice. “The Provisia system is an excellent tool and will likely be the only tool of this type available for the foreseeable future,” says LSU AgCenter rice breeder Dr. Adam Famoso. “It is not as forgiving as the Clearfield® system and Newpath® herbicide, however, and will require more effort and attention.” It is unlikely that we will see a new trait for weedy rice within the next 5 to 6 years,” adds Dr. Jason Norsworthy, University of Arkansas weed scientist. “The Clearfield/Fullpage® technology is ineffective on more than 90% of the weedy rice in Arkansas. If a similar level of resistance is to be prevented in Provisia, growers must take the steps necessary to preserve the technology.” Planting

PVL03 was planted on almost a third of Louisiana’s long grain rice acreage in 2023. “PVL03 yields were solid this year and the Provisia herbicide system resulted in great weed control and one of the cleanest red rice-free crops we’ve had in many years,” Dr. Famoso says. Dr. Famoso recommends farmers plant early to maximize yield potential and mitigate disease, using a 55-60 pounds per acre seeding rate for PVL03. In the north Delta, Dr. Jarrod Hardke, Arkansas extension rice agronomist, agrees PVL03 and PVL04 perform best when planted early, preferably beginning in late March. Yield potential drops off once planting runs into May. He says a 50-75 pound per acre seeding rate should produce the optimal 20-30 seed/ft2. Plant Health

Protecting plant health minimizes the risk of adverse impacts from the environment or herbicide antagonism in Provisia rice. Critical practices include using a recommended seed treatment, timely fertilizer applications, and monitoring for disease to keep plants healthy from the start. Don’t make herbicide applications in rice showing bronzing, cold stress, or nutrient deficiency. Wait until the health problem has been addressed and the rice is healthy.

Dr. Hardke recommends using a full seed treatment package (insecticide plus fungicide). He adds that nitrogen rate response is similar to most common varieties but it’s important that potassium is adequate. Farmers also should consider a triazole application starting at 2-inch panicle (~1/2” + 7 days) to minimize the potential for Cercospora issues. Weed Management

The Provisia Rice System has consistently proven its ability to result in clean fields and control costly weedy rice and red rice. Industry specialists say farmers can reduce the potential for antagonism and outcrosses by: • Starting clean, applying a residual burndown grass herbicide or using tillage in the fall to control weeds and limit early competition. • Relying on a stale seedbed approach to achieve an effective herbicide burndown and minimize weed flushes after planting. • Overlapping residual herbicides, applied at planting and with each Provisia application before flooding. • Applying Provisia as a solo application, when possible, especially on larger grasses. • Combining Provisia with Rogue® herbicide if fields are zero grade or side inlet. • Holding off on the first application of Provisia until the temperature is 65 degrees or above for three consecutive days, and rice is beyond the 2-leaf stage. • Spraying actively growing grasses, red rice and volunteer rice. • Making three applications of Provisia versus two at the higher labeled rate. • Having at least one Provisia application after the field is flooded. • Using proper carrier volumes for ground and aerial applications. “Carrier volume should be 10 GPA if you can find a pilot that will spray that volume,” says Dr. Norsworthy. • Practicing “zero tolerance” for weedy rice and red rice escapes. • Spot-treating any escapes, using drones if necessary. • Following the Provisia Rice System with soybeans if weedy rice is not being controlled with the Clearfield technology. “Most importantly, make sure you are using residual herbicides up front, minimizing the risk of antagonism by knowing what not to mix with Provisia, trying to get at least one application of Provisia by itself, and making sure you are using an adequate carrier volume to maximize your coverage,” says Dr. Connor Webster, LSU AgCenter weed scientist. “I always recommend a crop oil concentrate with ACCase herbicides to maximize uptake of these herbicides.” Scan for the latest technical information on the Provisia Rice System.

USA Rice

Update

2024 Starts a New Era for USA Rice, Prioritization Reset

By Peter Bachmann President and CEO USA Rice

anuary is the perfect time to reflect, recalibrate, and prioritize, and here at USA Rice we are gearing up for a big year. For those that I have not yet had the pleasure of working with in my previous roles in government affairs and trade policy, I took the reins from Betsy Ward after her retirement late last year and am honored to serve the industry now as USA Rice’s CEO. 2024 will certainly present us with plenty of changes, opportunities, and—as always—challenges, and I look forward to tackling them headon with all of you. Throughout Betsy’s accomplished career with the industry, we’ve seen many “new” policies and programs implemented through

Administrative and Congressional mandates. Take, for example, the development of ACRE and the subsequent shift to ARC/PLC; the creation of RCPP followed by Climate Smart Commodities; and especially the historic addition of the USDA ATP program, which dispersed new international trade promotion funding throughout commodities. I’m beginning my tenure as CEO during a period of fine-tuning for many of those policies and programs, rather than an era of revolutionary changes. The new USDA $1.3

6 RICE FARMING | JANUARY 2024

billion in RAPP funds will soon be allocated to commodity groups, for example. Farm Bill deliberation is circling around reference price increases, rather than full-blown programmatic changes. And of course, the Biden Administration is in a wrap-up year, with the general election just around the corner in November. The rice industry’s priorities remain steadfast, but we are taking advantage of our leadership changes as an excuse to approach them a little differently than in the past. From my perspective, these are some of our top challenges: • Holding India accountable for over-subsidizing their rice production, resulting in distorted world rice prices and causing rice exports from the Western Hemisphere to become less competitive. • Increasing the PLC reference price for rice to align more with the 2024 cost of production. • Improving the quality and consistency of U.S.-grown rice to better meet the needs of our diverse export markets and the high standards expected of our product. • Highlighting the advantages of using U.S.-grown rice domestically over rice pretenders and imported rice. • Seeking ways to reduce or slow rising input costs, including the growing labor market shortage, variable inflation and high interest rates, limited fertilizer supply, and more. I plan to use this column to dig deeper into some of these issues and how we propose to face them with our in-house experts, keeping you informed and engaged along the way. Despite the hurdles we’re facing, this is a time of great potential. U.S. rice exports are recovering after several years of turbulence due to drought, world rice prices, and decreased margins compared to other crops. Consumers are increasingly looking for sustainable food with elements of traceability—a need that U.S. rice is well positioned to meet. As we start off this year with almost two dozen veteran staff and their decades of experience and expertise, I can confidently say that we’re up to the challenge. RICEFARMING.COM

Drought, Farm Bill, Foreign Ownership, WOTUS among 2023’s Top Ag Stories

By Mary Hightower

University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture

hree words defined the big picture for agriculture in 2023: weather, politics and courts.

Drought Severe, extreme, and exceptional drought afflicted many areas along the Mississippi River, with more than 65% of Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Texas having some form of drought in September. Drought was a double-edged sword for Arkansas growers. On the plus side, drought helped suppress crop diseases and speed harvest. On the downside, the water-starved Mississippi River dropped to its lowest level ever at Memphis, Tennessee, on Oct. 17, to minus 12.04 feet. Recent rains along its length in early December prompted a forecast rise to more than three feet by Dec. 18, followed by another drop into the negative numbers. “We began to see the river levels fall about a week earlier than last year,” said Hunter Biram, Extension economist for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.“ On Aug. 29, we saw barge freight rates start to tick up. Last year, the rates began to move Sept. 6. Some farmers learned from 2022. “I heard of more farmers taking advantage of on-farm grain storage or at least considering storage as a risk-management option to avoid paying lower basis,” Biram said. “Some farmers were able to lock in basis or engage in forward pricing. However, the ones who didn’t engage in any risk management were severely hit on corn and soybean basis.” Farm Bill “The big question mark was, are we going INSTAGRAM: @RICEFARMING

to get a new Farm Bill?” Biram said. “Farmers want a new Farm Bill.” In hearings held in 2022 and 2023 by the Senate Agricultural, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee, farmers pleaded for changes in indexed reference prices, margin protection, and base acre reallocation. Arkansas Senator John Boozman is ranking member of the committee. “Reference prices are a big deal,” said Ryan Loy, Extension economist for the Division of Agriculture. “Another issue people get up in arms about would be crop insurance. So right now, they have ARC and PLC,” which are Agricultural Risk and Price Loss Coverage programs. “They are going to want to protect ARC and PLC because it is useful,” Loy said. “However, crop insurance is starting to nip at the heels of participation in those two programs, so it’s going to be increasingly important to find some balance since they’re all federally subsidized.” Crop insurance may protect farmers in the event of market downturns or adverse weather. ARC and PLC help farmers when revenues or prices fall below certain levels. Congress faced many hurdles while trying to develop a new Farm Bill, including the retirement of Debbie Stabenow, chair of the Senate ag committee, and the turbulence surrounding the House speakership. “Congress members were having to devote their time and their resources to other issues,” Biram said. “The Farm Bill just got put on the back burner.” The current Farm Bill was reauthorized for another year and Biram said it’s likely there will be déjà vu at the end of 2024. “With 2024 being an election year, we are probably going to get another reauthorization,” he said.

Foreign Ownership Foreign ownership of U.S. farmland has been an issue over the past few years, thanks in part to Chinese purchases of agricultural lands near U.S. military bases in Texas and North Dakota. In 2023, Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Idaho, Louisiana, Montana, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Utah, and Virginia — have enacted or amended a law restricting certain foreign investments in land in their states. Arkansas became the first state to take action on such a law, telling a Chinese-owned company to divest itself of land in Craighead County. “Increasing oversight and restricting foreign investments in U.S. land will continue to be a policy issue considered by both federal and state policymakers in 2024,” said Micah Brown, staff attorney for the National Agricultural Law Center. “Specifically, at least 12 states have proposed or have plans to propose legislation seeking to prohibit certain foreign investments in land located within their state for the upcoming legislative session.” WOTUS In May, the U.S. Supreme Court weighed in on WOTUS — providing clarity in the decades-long struggle to define “waters of the U.S.” By the end of August, the Environmental Protection Agency issued its new WOTUS rule, which deleted scores of waterways from regulation under the Clean Water Act. “While next year is unlikely to be as active on the WOTUS front as this year has been, with three ongoing lawsuits and lingering questions on how to interpret the current WOTUS definition, we’re expecting to see WOTUS developments continue into 2024,” said Brigit Rollins, staff attorney with the National Agricultural Law Center. JANUARY 2024 | RICE FARMING

2023 Rice Outlook Conference Review The annual Rice Awards were presented on Dec. 7 in Indian Wells, California, and Betsy Ward, longtime CEO and President of USA Rice, celebrated her retirement.

Jeremy Jones (far left), Betsy Ward, and Dr. Ronnie Levy receive the 2023 Rice Awards. These awards are presented by Horizon Ag, Rice Farming magazine and USA Rice annually at the Rice Outlook Conference.

The National Rice Month Scholarship grand prize winner was Kaylee Snell, a Rogers, Arkansas, resident.

8 RICE FARMING | JANUARY 2024

The 2023 Distinguished Conservation Achievement Award was presented by the USA Rice Conservation Committee Chair Leo LaGrande to Paul Bonderson, founder of Brocade Communication Systems and a past chair and past president of Ducks Unlimited. RICEFARMING.COM

Lundberg Family Farms was the recipient of the 2023 USA Rice Sustainability Award. Bryce Lundberg (left) accepted the award. “Our founder, Albert Lundberg, came to California in 1937 and knew caring for the land was the only sustainable path forward,” said Bryce. “He committed to farming in partnership with nature, and every generation since has followed in his trailblazing footsteps.”

Betsy Ward celebrated her retirement alongside coworkers and USA Rice membership at her retirement celebration in Indian Wells, California, on Dec. 8. INSTAGRAM: @RICEFARMING

The new 2024-2026 Rice Leadership Class was announced in Indian Wells, California, in conjunction with the 2023 Rice Outlook Conference. The new leadership class is composed of (from left to right): Everett Willey, Nicolaus, California; Allen Anderson, East Bernard, Texas; Carissa Lee, Maxwell, California; Cole Reiners, Mowata, Louisiana; Andy Brown, Walker, Louisiana; Jason Satterfield, Jonesboro, Arkansas; and (not pictured) John McLain, Abbeville, Louisiana.

JANUARY 2024 | RICE FARMING

The Changing Furrow-Irrigated Rice Paradigm By Dr. Christopher Garrett Henry

University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture

o grow rice in levees or on furrows is a paradigm change for many Mid-South rice farmers. The attraction of reduced labor and machinery operations is very appealing to them. Worn down beds from the soybean crop are about the perfect height for a furrow rice crop and ready to plant without any fall or spring prep work. Some Arkansas growers have completely converted all of their acres from flood to furrow. As appealing as rice on furrows can be, we have documented a 16 bushels per acre yield penalty and no significant difference in water use between furrow and flood systems. When using Multiple Inlet Rice Irrigation and compared in farmer fields side by side, this reduction shows up across five years. This yield penalty and the additional challenges and time commitments of irrigating row rice about twice as often as other row crops is challenging. Additional disadvantages are heavy reliance on preemergent herbicides and possible higher nitrogen costs. Don’t expect farms that are a challenge to irrigate in a flooded system, to do better as a FIR field; the better the soil type and land grade is suited for flooded rice, the better it will perform as a furrow field. Often, there is the misconception that a field that is steep at the top of the field will somehow do better as a furrow field, when it’s just as much a challenge to irrigate as a flooded field. One problem I have observed early on in researching FIR, is that it is difficult to irrigate and soak across the beds effectively. Then as the season goes on, it becomes even more challenging because the soil seals and the rice demands irrigation more frequently. Without rains like we experienced in 2022, growers often fall behind, using up the stored soil water. The lack of water at this critical time is likely one of the causes for the yield penalty. Because of the shallower rooting zone relative to other row crops, it requires more frequent

10 RICE FARMING | JANUARY 2024

Merritt McDougall, a former graduate student of Chris Henry, standing in an Arkansas row rice field with Autonomous Pivot, an irrigation system that assesses soil moisture and crop health.

irrigations and, in some soils, each time becomes more difficult to fully wet the bed than the irrigation before. So, I thought, since rice grows well in saturated soil, why not continuously irrigate furrow rice? This is what our pit-less system does, and the water management is similar to a flooded field. Without this system, we found that while most growers irrigate every three to seven days, in some

cases, every day or every other day irrigation would be necessary to keep up with demand. The potential benefits of furrow irrigated rice are many — less tillage, less equipment, fewer field passes, the ability to use cover crops and no-till, and improved soil infiltration from reduced tillage. The disadvantages include the loss of the flood as a weed control tool. While we have docuRICEFARMING.COM

mented a yield penalty, we think that this is something that can be overcome. During a row rice roundtable, farmers told us they are willing to accept a 10-15 bushels per acre yield penalty and that the reduced need for tillage and labor were the main reasons for considering FIR. The yield penalty can be offset by the extra tillage and labor costs if one can manage post weed management effectively. The ability to utilize cover crops is a big advantage for FIR, something that could help with infiltration, water-holding capacity, nitrogen cycling, and weed suppression. For those first starting out, water management is going to be more challenging. We suggest a soil moisture monitor to help determine irrigations, as rice water use is deceiving. Most farmers irrigate every three to seven days, but in the late vegetative and early reproductive stages, rice has periods of intense water use and even three days may not be often enough for those growth stages. Sensors also help the grower understand the water demand of furrow-irrigated rice. Those who have closely monitored a row rice field using a soil moisture monitor have come to realize these high-water-use periods and how effective or ineffective their irrigation changes as the season progresses. This adaption during the growing season can really help stay ahead of the irrigation and may reduce the yield penalty. In 2023 we added rice to our “Arkansas Soil Sensor calculator” mobile app that is available on the Apple App Store and Google Playstore, published by the University of Arkansas Water Management Team. The app helps with scheduling decision-making, providing the days between irrigation and when to start and stop. With FIR, there is more flexibility in planting because tillage and field preparation needs are greatly reduced. Some plant with the furrows, some at an angle, some plant flat and pull the beds after. There is a need for better equipment for FIR. Growers will need to experiment with the equipment they have and find the technique that results in the best stand. A Clearfield hybrid, a field with a history of low weed pressure and a ground-rig available, and a Greenseeker with a reference area(s) in the field are other tools that will aid in learning FIR management.

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Finally, we have developed and demonstrated new production practices centered around the pit-less pump. In the near future, automation we have developed on should greatly reduce the trips to the hydrant and maintain soil moisture at an optimum level. The data shows the system can improve yield in dry years like 2022 by 24 bushels per acre over conventional FIR irrigated every three days while using 56 pounds less nitrogen in a dry year. In wet years, the yield difference can be insignificant, so the pit-less system provides yield stability using 40%-60% less irrigation water.

The ability to utilize cover crops is a big advantage for FIR, something that could help with infiltration, water-holding capacity, nitrogen cycling, and weed suppression. Conventionally irrigated furrow rice is going to be a challenge to be climate smart because of the water use and the challenge of controlling methane emissions in the flooded tailwater area and top of the field where nitrous oxide emissions will occur from the wetting and drying. Whereas the pit-less system can keep the entire field between saturation and field capacity while still having irrigation water use in line with zero grade fields (<19 ac-in/ac). Expect to see more on our efforts in the next few years. NRCS has recently approved the pit-less pump for incentive payments, so expect to see more pit-less pumps on the landscape in the near future. Support of our research to improve the FIR system has been provided by the Arkansas Rice Research and Promotion Board, the Arkansas USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service, RiceTec, Yara, FMC, Bayer, Gowan, ADAMA, Syngenta, Delta Plastics, UPL, BASF, Nutrien (ESN and seed division) and OxPipe have all supported the efforts of my program to develop and improve the FIR system. Without the support of the rice board and the check-off, such improvements, new ideas, and the development of the pit-less system would not have been possible.

JANUARY 2024 | RICE FARMING

Sustainability at its Finest How a Southeastern Arkansas Team Takes it to the Next Level By Cassidy Nemec Editor

im Whitaker, a McGehee, Arkansas, native, is a fifth-generation farmer alongside his brother Sam in a well-rounded rice, cotton, corn, soybean, and wheat operation. The Overall Operation The Southeast Arkansas farm is comprised of a sandy loam and clay soil mixture along with a whole host of conservation measures to keep it going. Some of these measures include every acre of rice being zero grade and flooded for waterfowl, every row crop acre having a cover crop, and planting wildlife food plots. “Our goal is to have every acre protected from erosion, offer habitat, and have a biodiversity aspect,” Jim said. As far as rice goes, most of their fields are in a continuous rotation with their zero-grade field, and all their equipment is tracked so as to not create ruts. Their wells are being electrified and running off solar, making them energy neutral on their rice production. “Everybody has a corner somewhere that’s not able to be farmed, and it doesn’t take but a few acres to put solar in.” Jim said he’s a fan of row rice when it is no tilled behind soybeans with water impounded at the bottom of the field, all while keeping an eye on nitrogen levels. He said he has not seen good success with water running out the bottom of the field and excess nitrogen, noting the importance of careful management and the impact of nitrous oxide being 265 times more potent than methane. “Row rice can be a really good tool if it’s managed properly.” Jim, along with having a plethora of involvements in other committees and organizations in the rice industry, is currently the chair of the Arkansas Research Promotion Board and said research and promotion is vital to their operation. “If we export half of our rice and don’t have anyone working internationally on

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A Department of Energy grant funded a Cloud-based eddy covariance tower on the farm. It measures methane, carbon dioxide, and nitrous oxide gas-exchange levels with the soil as well as rainfall with moisture sensors down in the ground.

export markets, how are we going to do that? If we’re looking for new fungicides or irrigation practices, we have to have research to validate. If we’re going to do carbon credits, we have to have a researcher that first does the greenhouse gas work.” He discussed a benefit derived from these funds in the new research center in Jonesboro, Arkansas. “We want it to be the epicenter of research and education. We need to teach the next

generation about rice farming and waterfowl habitat. I’m a strong believer in that and what we’re doing. When you look at it as a whole, research and promotion dollars have done exponentially more good than harm.” “Every day when I wake up, I have people working for me all over the world, in Washington D.C., on the University level, and on the county level to help me be a better farmer — every day on my behalf, and that’s funded by our rice research and RICEFARMING.COM

promotion check off.” A Team Effort A myriad of people makes up the framework of Whitaker Brothers operations. Jim covers the rice and movement of grain, while Sam manages the row crops. Both of their wives lead different administrative roles, and all of their children are involved on the farm as well. “We have kids with agronomy degrees, MBAs, and even one with a law degree, so we’ve got the dream team of children,” Jim said. Jim’s son Scott scouts rice and makes chemical recommendations, and his daughter Jessica is the project coordinator for the South Arkansas Ducks Unlimited in partnership with rice stewardship. “Environmental factors really play a big role on us; whether it’s a wet or dry season, or even nighttime temperatures, that can mess us up sometimes,” Scott said. He discussed how nice it is to have the agricultural community to help learn from previous mistakes. “Most of us learn from other’s mistakes or our own, so anytime someone wants to say, ‘Hey, I’ve done this; it didn’t work,’ I can appreciate that.” Beyond the family, Jim said they have assembled a really strong group of people as coworkers. “We have a data guy to help track everything we do, a grain manager, a conservation specialist, and a manager and support staff for each crop of their operation. Each one of them is so independently important.” Elijah Wojohn, their conservation specialist, planted fields that were too wet to plant rice on in some different millets for ducks and geese and frequently checked rice moisture levels. “I want to increase calories available in the landscape for wintering ducks and geese and just try and enhance and restore as much waterfowl habitat as we can while growing rice.” Their grain manager Mark Hatcher operates all the inbound and outbound grain. When the crew is not running in full force, they will go help where needed on the farm. “It can get really hectic sometimes, but it mellows out,” he said. “You’ve got to really love the job if you want to do it.” They have an offsite company that monitors their grain and sends Mark daily emails with the data. With that, they are able to see how much energy they are using, see temperature and moisture levels, and even turn fans on and off automatically when needed. “It helps for when we have problems with a bin, we are able to go in and see what’s going on,” Mark said. Jim said they figure about a 30% energy reduction with this technology and come out with better grain at the end. Leveraging Data and Improving Soil In 2016, Whitaker Brothers sold the very first agricultural carbon credits in the world to Microsoft. “Going through that verification program and the data collection and being audited by the American Carbon Registry, I realized we were on a trajectory where companies are going to demand this in the future. It’s not going to be a ‘we want your data;’ it’s going to be a ‘we have to have it,’” Jim said. Between companies with net-zero claims and their stockholders, Jim said they will have to come to the farm level to meet those expectations. Kyle Lassiter, their chief technology officer and agronomist, INSTAGRAM: @RICEFARMING

Jim and Lesli Whitaker in one of their rice fields on Trinity Farms. Jim, a McGehee, Arkansas, native, is a fifth-generation farmer alongside his brother Sam in Trinity Farms and Whitaker Grain, a well-rounded rice, cotton, corn, soybean, and wheat operation.

Jim and his daughter Jessica spoke at a TED Countdown Summit on climate change and rice sustainability solutions in July of 2023 in Detroit, Michigan.

Jim’s son Scott harvesting 2023 rice in McGehee, Arkansas. JANUARY 2024 | RICE FARMING

Conservation specialist Elijah Wojohn and chief technology officer and agronomist Kyle Lassiter work to bring solutions to the growing need for conservation and sustainability on the farm.

Mark Hatcher, grain manager for Whitaker Grain, operates all inbound and outbound grain on the farm.

Scott, Jim’s son and rice agronomist, is holding inbound and outbound water samples that are taken every three years. With this, they now have picture evidence of water leaving the rice field cleaner than when it came in.

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said they have a handful of platforms they use when it comes to data collection on the farm — My John Deere, Ag World for the financial and warehousing side of things, and a solid Excel spreadsheet can help get the job done. “It’s only going to move forward — bigger, faster, stronger, smarter.” He said it is fun to see the synergy component of everybody and all the moving parts across the farm. “You get to see the teamwork create the final result.” Jim said they have several years history of every gallon of water that’s been pumped on the farm through their data collection. Every three years, they take an inbound water sample and an outbound water sample. With this, they now have picture evidence of water leaving the rice field cleaner than when it came in. “The reason is because our fields are flat; when rain comes, everything settles down for the rice plant to use rather than run off.” A Department of Energy grant funded a Cloud-based eddy covariance tower on the farm. It measures methane, carbon dioxide, and nitrous oxide gas-exchange levels with the soil as well as rainfall with moisture sensors down in the ground. In addition, they have both the Precision King system and the Aquarius control system on some farms to the point where they can go so far as to schedule irrigations and save water on every crop they have. Building the Future The Whitakers are doing more than just waiting to see what is next. Jim recalled how the Rice Leadership program he accepted in 2010 helped him get more involved in the rice industry and enhance his own farm from what he came away with. “I’ve been all over the world since then. They develop you, and then they push you out to do more.” He discussed the difficult, yet rewarding, integration of cover crops. “Cover crops are hard to figure out and plant into. It’s a mindset — you determine ‘who am I farming for?’ If you’re farming for next year, no cover crop; if you’re farming for the next generation, protect the topsoil at all costs.” He said in the short term, they will have a more conservation and environmentally friendly mindset and methodology on the farm to adapt to increased regulations and help with scope three reductions and carbon offsets for other companies ahead of their 2030 net-zero claims. Jim said their long-term strategy lines up with what is happening across the nation. “I think we need to combat imports and pay close attention to ethnic markets in our country and what they desire — aromatics and basmati — and we need to put effort into growing those for them as that is one of the fastest-growing markets in the country.” The decommoditizing of rice is something he said should be further investigated. “We are the leading country in the world; we don’t need to be competing for the cheapest rice in the world. U.S. rice is better hands down than any other rice in the world. Jim said the most challenging aspect of the farm is having that multi-generational family farm with many coworkers who depend on the farm every day amid all the fluid conditions like weather that go with farming. He said the team has been integral in shaping the present and future of the operation. “Finding, training, and keeping good workers is key. They make all the difference.” RICEFARMING.COM

Finding the ‘Goldilocks’ Zone or Conditions in Rice Irrigation New Texas A&M AgriLife Study Examines Wet, Dry Growing System

Finding the Goldilocks Zone The advantages of alternate wetting and drying could include cost savings for Texas rice farmers through efficient water irrigation practices as researchers continue to seek the most fruitful methods. Another benefit is the potential to reduce methane emissions from flooded rice fields. “The idea is to not continually pump water into the fields,” said Jake Mowrer, Ph.D., Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service state fertility specialist in the Texas A&M College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, Bryan-College Station. “There are efficiencies with regards to water savings, greenhouse gas emissions, and fertilizer use, but we need to find this ‘goldilocks zone’ before farmers get out there and adopt.” “This is not a new concept,” said Fugen Dou, Ph.D., Texas A&M AgriLife Research scientist, crop nutrient management, Beaumont, and professor in the Department of Soil and Crop Sciences. The practice originated in Asia in the 1980s and has since been utilized by rice farmers in Arkansas, Louisiana, and California. It’s a relatively new practice for Texas due to emerging challenges from nitrogen loss, weed control, and yield penalty. “Water availability plays a big role with Texas rice, particularly west of Houston,” Dou said. “They primarily rely on a ratoon crop to make money. (The study results) could be a larger benefit to our farmers to keep farming. We are seeing a lot of urban expansion around Katy and west of Houston. We want to try to do our best to support the growers.” The project trials will be carried out at the Beaumont and Eagle Lake research stations using controlled plots, Mowrer said. “We will start measuring things in small scale and build upon that,” he said. “At the stations, we will be dealing with multiple varieties of work between our research efforts and then also the trials with rice producers. The results will tell us to either do this or don’t do it. It will really help Texas rice producers.” INSTAGRAM: @RICEFARMING

MICHAEL MILLER/TEXAS A&M AGRILIFE

lternate wetting and drying, a rice irrigation practice dating back to the 1980s, is part of a broader Texas A&M AgriLife study investigating its potential to reduce water and fertilizer use. The practice is a water management system where rice fields are allowed to dry intermittently during growth stages instead of remaining continuously flooded. The research has sparked broader interest, specifically from Texas rice producers who are participating in field trial studies and those following the main work with controlled plots at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Beaumont and Eagle Lake research stations. The U.S. Department of Agriculture-National Institute of Food and Agriculture is funding the four-year research project.

Alternate wetting and drying, a rice irrigation practice dating back to the 1980s, is part of a broader Texas A&M AgriLife study investigating its potential to reduce water and fertilizer use. The research could lead to water irrigation savings as opposed to traditional flooded rice field practices.

Reducing Carbon Emissions Nithya Rajan, Ph.D., AgriLife Research agronomist and professor in the Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, said one of the goals of the project is to evaluate the impact of various management strategies on greenhouse gas emissions, especially methane. “The water management strategies being tested in the project have the potential to reduce methane emissions,” Rajan said. “Given that rice is traditionally cultivated under flooded conditions, the anaerobic soil conditions create an environment conducive to the release of methane by microorganisms. Implementing alternate wetting and drying cycles can significantly influence the overall greenhouse gas emission footprint of the entire rice cropping system. Although the exact extent of emission reduction remains uncertain, we will employ state-of-the-art instrumentation technologies to monitor emissions in collaboration with regional rice producers.” The data will really be significant in helping rice producers get more information, providing insights into the carbon footprint and potentially opening avenues to participate in carbon markets. Researchers will conduct data collection from both experimental plots and large fields and might include drones in producing new data points on weeds and pest challenges. With traditional irrigation practices, weed control is a concern. “Especially with red rice, we don’t want weed control to get out of hand,” Mowrer said. “Overall, it’s a complicated system, but we are determined to find the right solutions to benefit Texas rice farmers.” This article is provided by Texas A&M AgriLife Today. JANUARY 2024 | RICE FARMING

Innovative Collaborations Boost Soil Health Outreach in Colusa County By Linda J. Forbes

University of California Agricultural and Natural Resources

n 2020, agencies and experts in Colusa County came together for a project evaluating winter cover crops (planted in the fall and terminated in late winter or early spring) in annual crop rotations. This project had a large outreach component, and various cover crops were planted each year to demonstrate how well they grew in the region. During the three-year project, the team has significantly increased soil health outreach in the region and built a strong regional collaboration that continues for other projects. The research findings will be published upon completion of analysis. Funded by the California Department of Food and Agriculture Healthy Soils Program, the collaboration involved measuring changes in soil health between two cover crop treatments and a fallow control and led to innovation in outreach methods to make healthy soil practices more accessible. Promoting soil health during a pandemic lockdown was a challenge for the team, comprising Sarah Light, UC Cooperative Extension agronomy farm advisor; Liz Harper, executive director of the Colusa County Resource Conservation District; Davis Ranch; Richter Ag; and the USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service. Unable to conduct in-person field days or workshops, Light and Harper created a YouTube channel called “The Soil Health Connection” and produced 29 episodes in English and five in Spanish. These episodes featured soil health experts from around the state. In addition, field demonstrations were recorded including soil sampling demonstrations, a cover crop field tour, soil health field assessments following NRCS protocols, and more. “The collaboration was effective not only in sharing information on how to manage cover crops, but also allowed us to continue to extend knowledge and do outreach during COVID, when regular in-person programming was not available,” Light said. Interviewees included researchers,

16 RICE FARMING | JANUARY 2024

Liz Harper (Colusa RCD) and Gerry Hernandez (UCCE Colusa) collected data in cover crop plots.

farmers, ranchers, industry representatives, technical assistance providers, and natural resource conservation agency representatives. The YouTube channel won the 2021 Conservation Education Award from the California-Nevada Chapter of the Soil and Water Conservation Society. NRCS collaborated on six of the episodes and featured them in their statewide Soil Health newsletter. Participants included resource soil scientist Jacqueline Vega-Pérez, regional soil health specialist Kabir Zahangir, California plant material director Margaret Smither-Kopperl, Colusa County soil conservationist Brandi Murphy, California state conservationist Carlos Suarez, and USDA research soil scientist Claire Phillips. Other innovations included hosting a virtual field day with continuing education credits and two drive-by, in-person field tours. The project itself was innovative in terms of conducting virtual and in-person outreach in Colusa County. “We were one of the first in the region to organize virtual soil health events and because of our strong project team were able to quickly pivot to comply with state and local regulations during the pandemic,” Light said. Outreach is critical to advancing soil health because it demonstrates successful,

economically viable practices that farmers can implement. “The opportunity for growers to see these practices first-hand in our growing conditions can break down barriers to implementation,” said Light. A lasting benefit of the project has been the interagency collaborative relationship they developed. “Colusa County RCD loves partnering with UC Cooperative Extension on research to improve soil health in the Sacramento Valley,” said Harper. “It’s wonderful working with Sarah as our agencies both share a vision for scaling the adoption of conservation in agriculture.” “We brought together our different strengths and created something even stronger,” said Light. “This has brought other advantages as well, like workforce and career development, reduced isolation and a stronger natural resource community, and conservation technical assistance enhancement.” Building trust and demonstrating a mutual commitment to service have been personally rewarding for Light as well. She emphasized the importance of seeking out people with complementary skill sets and maintaining the relationships effectively. The team is continuing to work together on other soil health-related work in the region. RICEFARMING.COM

Arkansas Rice Companies Partner with University of Arkansas Campus Food Pantry By Robby Edwards

Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences

INSTAGRAM: @RICEFARMING

KARLI YARBER/UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS

n 2023, three Arkansas-based rice companies helped address food insecurity at the University of Arkansas by donating hundreds of pounds of rice to the Jane B. Gearhart Full Circle Food Pantry. Cormier Rice Milling Co., Riceland, and Producers Rice Mill donated to the food pantry and pledged to donate even more. Cormier recently sent 625 pounds to Fayetteville while Riceland and Producers sent 200 pounds each, with more to follow. Caroline Wilson, the chair for Full Circle Food Pantry, emphasized the needs of the pantry. She noted how demand for rice means it goes quickly at the pantry. “Rice is a staple crop and food that so many people use every single day,” Wilson said. “We have a lot of international students on campus who are clients at our pantry because, for international students, we are the only food resource that they are allowed to use. Most food assistance programs are limited to U.S. citizens only. For our international clients, this is literally their only option.” Wilson also explained international students at the University of Arkansas on a visa struggle more because they legally cannot work more than 20 hours weekly. This creates strain on finances and the ability to afford groceries and other essentials. “It’s really important for us to provide foods that are used daily in people’s diets,” she said. “The rice on our shelves right now may look like a lot, but that will not even last us through the semester. We just go through it so quickly because it’s something that so many people love.” Katelyn Helberg, the alternative assistance coordinator for the pantry, also said the pantry is often in need of rice. “Rice is something that a lot of our clients typically want,” Helberg said “We’re currently serving around 1,100 clients a month. You can imagine how many people we’re trying to distribute to, and rice is something more expensive for us to buy and supply in the pantry.”

Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station director Jean-Francois Meullenet, left, and assistant director Nathan McKinney, right, joined student volunteers Katelyn Helberg and Caroline Wilson for the intake of rice donations to the Jane B. Gearhart Full Circle Food Pantry at the University of Arkansas.

Back in the fall 2022 semester, a group of students visited with the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences Dean’s Partnership Council. The students shared information about food insecurity on campus with Jean-Francois Meullenet, interim dean of the college. Meullenet, while serving as interim dean since July 2022, is also senior associate vice president for agriculture research with the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture and director of the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station. Meullenet recognized an opportunity to use his food industry connections to help. “We are the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences, and that ‘food’ part is very important,” Meullenet said. “It was eye-opening to learn how many people in our community are in need of food. I have connections with industry, so contacting them was really just an easy first step in assisting the food pantry.” Meullenet worked with Nathan McKinney, assistant director of the experiment station, to coordinate the rice donations. Wilson said McKinney came to the pantry first with a generous donation. While

there, he offered his business card and said if the pantry ever needed more rice, to contact him. “So, we did,” Wilson said. “And we’ve continued that partnership, even when there were times when there wasn’t any rice available to donate. He stayed connected and let us know as soon as there was availability. It’s been so impactful to have that reliable source of donations coming in.” McKinney gives all credit to the producers in the state. “Arkansas rice producers and rice millers have always been generous and gracious with their products, and they will continue to do so.” McKinney said. “They have pledged to give even more in the future.” “They always give to efforts like this,” Meullenet said. “They will just bring entire pallets of bags of rice and I can tell they are excited to be aware of a need that serves a community well, like the Full Circle Food Pantry.” “We’re just so appreciative of this donation and all donations that come into the pantry,” Wilson said. “I’m really excited to continue any and all partnerships that come our way.” JANUARY 2024 | RICE FARMING

Industry RiceTec Announces Retirement of Dr. José Ré, Appoints New Head of Global R&D Since its inception in 1988, RiceTec has been at the forefront of sustainable rice agriculture, continually setting new standards in the industry. Dr. José Ré, a key figure on the company’s leadership team, is retiring from his role as global head of research and development by the end of March 2024. Under his leadership, the RiceTec R&D program has flourished globally and positioned the company as a leader in sustainable rice agriculture with a market-leading portfolio of commercial hybrids launched in India, the U.S., Mercosur, and various export markets. Dr. José His vision and relentless pursuit of excellence Ré have driven the company to new heights as well as shaped the wider rice seed industry. Ré’s influence extends well beyond RiceTec. He has also served on the Boards of the International Seed Federation and the American Seed Trade Association, which are the voice of the global and U.S. seed industry with a mission to create the best environment for the global movement of healthy, quality seed, and promote plant breeding and innovation in seeds. His tenure on various committees, including more than eight years on the Illegal Seed Practices Coordination Group and nearly 11 years on the Intellectual Property Coordination Group, has been instrumental in lending a voice to the more than 7,000 members in 70 countries. In 2015, Jose was appointed by the U.S. Agriculture Secretary to the U.S. Plant Variety Protection Board, where he served representing the seed industry sector. Succeeding Dr. Ré will be Dr. Amitabh Mohanty as new head of global research and development. An experienced R&D leader with demonstrated history of innovation and product development, Dr. Mohanty joins in the vision of sustainable rice agriculture that creates value for farmers, consumers, and the planet. As a member of the executive leadership team, Dr. Mohanty will play a pivotal role in driving forward product development, aligning research initiatives with market demands, and upholding RiceTec’s commitment to sustainability. His expertise will be invaluable in translating RiceTec’s strategy into an actionable R&D agenda, a high-performing product pipeline, overseeing transformation of the global breeding organization, guiding trait discovery and development, and advancing gene editing efforts. Dr. Amitabh Before joining RiceTec, Dr. Mohanty served at Mohanty Corteva Agriscience as leader of global biotech operations, trait discovery operations leader, and program leader, ag productivity and insect control traits. His contributions there were key to the success of their trait pipeline. Dr. Mohanty brings rich experience and expertise in trait discovery, technology, and product development in rice. His domain knowledge is well-recognized by external peers. He was invited to serve as a member of the genome engineering task force of the department of biotechnology, govt. of India. Dr. Mohanty holds a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) from the

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News Department of Plant Molecular Biology at the University of Delhi South Campus, India. He did his post-doctoral studies at the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory in New York. He is a contributor to scientific literature with numerous journal articles and patents to his name, as well as a rich history of participation in scientific conferences and symposiums. Dr. Mohanty’s expertise promises to continue our legacy of innovation in sustainable rice agriculture. We look forward to this new era of growth and discovery, firmly committed to our mission for the benefit of farmers, consumers, and the planet.

Arkansas Ag Economist Helps Producers Develop Risk-Management Strategies Weather. Markets. Global events. Farmers still have to produce the world’s food amid a world of uncontrollable factors. “Any farmer will tell you that farming is a lot like gambling,” said Andrew Anderson, assistant professor of agricultural economics and agribusiness for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. “To be able to have policies that are created understanding that risky environment is really important.” Anderson investigates the role of risk in decisions throughout the agricultural supply chain. He said he hopes his research will improve policy-making decisions and help people develop strategies to manage risky environments. Risk can come from various sources for agricultural producers, Anderson said. Two especially significant factors are uncertainty in the final price and production quantity — price risk and production risk. Farmers make production decisions long before they know the price, and uncontrollable variables such as weather make it Andrew difficult to predict production outcomes. Anderson Some economics research assumes risk is not a factor, which might not provide an entirely realistic scope, Anderson said. The economists who work specifically on risk help offer a more complete picture of the economic environment. Anderson joined the University of Arkansas System in August. He conducts research for the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station, the research arm of the Division of Agriculture. He also teaches classes through the Dale Bumpers College of Food, Agricultural and Life Sciences at the University of Arkansas. Anderson is part of the Fryar Price Risk Management Center of Excellence in the agricultural economics and agribusiness department. “Agriculture is such a unique industry,” Anderson said. “As long as we have people on the planet to feed, improving the production and distribution of that food can have a real impact on people’s lives.” Policy, Risk, and Futures Market Part of Anderson’s research focus relates to the intersection of government policy and producer risk. One of his ongoing projects aims to determine how drought insurance impacts the demand for pastureland. Drought insurance, officially known as Rainfall Index Pasture, Rangeland and Forage insurance, helps protect a producer’s operation from the risk of forage loss due to lack of precipitation. Anderson said that government policy interacts with RICEFARMING.COM

Industry

News

From left: Everett Willey, Allen Anderson, Carissa Lee, Cole Reiners, Andy Brown and Jason Satterfield

2024/26 Leadership Development Program Class Announced Members of the 2024/26 Rice Leadership Development Program class were announced recently during the annual Rice Awards Luncheon at the 2023 USA Rice Outlook Conference. The class is comprised of seven rice industry professionals selected by a committee of agribusiness leaders. “This is an excellent group that displays exceptional leadership potential,” said Rice Foundation Director Dr. Steve Linscombe. “They also represent a mix of southern and west coast individuals which always makes for good class dynamics.” The new rice producer class members are Allen Anderson, East Bernard, Texas; Carissa Lee, Maxwell, California; John McLain, Abbeville, Louisiana; Cole Reiners, Mowata, Louisiana; Everett Willey, Nicolaus, California.

The new industry-related class members are Andy Brown, Walker, Louisiana; Jason Satterfield, Jonesboro, Arkansas. The Rice Leadership Development Program gives young men and women a comprehensive understanding of the U.S. rice industry, with an emphasis on personal development and communication training. During a two-year period, class members attend four one-week sessions that are designed to strengthen their leadership skills. John Deere Company, RiceTec, Inc., and American Commodity Company are sponsors of the Rice Leadership Development Program through a grant to The Rice Foundation, and USA Rice manages the program. — Deborah Willenborg, USA Rice

the price and quantity of pastureland in interesting ways. Government policy may have unintended consequences, Anderson said. For example, policy makers might design a program to benefit livestock producers by reducing risk. However, if much of the value of the program is capitalized into land values, the large share of producers who rent land won’t benefit as rental rates increase and the benefits are passed on to landlords. Anderson’s projects also explore volatility in the cattle futures market, which helps with price discovery and risk management, Anderson said. Through the futures market, people buy and sell contracts settled at a future date, Anderson explained. There are concerns that cattle futures markets experience excessive volatility, due to a variety of factors. Anderson’s research aims to address the source of this volatility and find the impact that excess volatility on price discovery and risk management for cattle producers

can have. Cattle producers use the futures market to hedge against large price movements. A volatile futures market makes it difficult to accomplish this goal. Volatility could also spill over into local cash markets, increasing uncertainty and risk even for those who don’t use futures contracts as a hedge. In addition to his cattle market projects, Anderson said he plans to expand his research to other agricultural commodities in Arkansas, such as rice and poultry. Anderson hopes that his research will support stakeholders in Arkansas and the land-grant mission. Anderson received his bachelor’s degree in agricultural economics from Brigham Young University — Idaho in 2017. He earned master’s and doctoral degrees also in agricultural economics from Purdue University in 2019 and Kansas State University in 2023, respectively.

INSTAGRAM: @RICEFARMING

JANUARY 2024 | RICE FARMING

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Speaking

Rice Variety Selection DR. RONNIE LEVY LOUISIANA Extension Rice Specialist Louisiana State University RLevy@agcenter.lsu.edu Variety selection is not a decision to be made lightly as it is the most important decision facing a producer going into the season. No other input can radically change the yield potential to the extent that variety selection can. This decision can be challenging, but through the LSU AgCenter, producers do have information at their disposal to improve this decision-making process. Fortunately, growers in Louisiana have multi-environment data to use when selecting varieties. In addition to variety testing on research stations, the LSU AgCenter collaborates with rice producers to evaluate varieties directly on their farms. These trials provide valuable yield data from local growing conditions and agronomic practices. For best use of the “Rice Varieties and Management Tips” publication, we recommend judging variety yield results by looking at performance and stability. Performance refers to identifying the varieties that are high yielding in environments that best represent your local farm.

A Good Choice of Medium-Grain Varieties DR. BRUCE LINQUIST CALIFORNIA UCCE Rice Specialist balinquist@ucdavis.edu In California, most acreage is devoted to high-quality, medium-grain varieties. In 2023, over 94% of the acreage was grown to medium grains. There are currently six medium-grain varieties to choose from: very early (M-105), early (M-206, M-209, M-210, and M-211), and late-maturing (M401 – a premium medium grain). Here are some things to consider when making a choice. M-105 is our earliest variety. It is about one to two days earlier than M-206 in the northern part of the valley and three to five days earlier in the southern, cooler parts of the valley. It has excellent yield potential. This year, it had the highest yields in our yield contest with a yield of 132.5 cwt/acre. It also tends to yield the highest in our variety trials located in the southern portion of the valley. It is an excellent choice to plant early in season in order to get an early start on harvest. The knock on M-105 is that it can lodge; however, in our variety trials (and other trials at the Rice Experiment Station),

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Stability refers to the performance of a variety across multiple environments across the state and other states. It is important for growers to consider both factors when making variety decisions. Variety yield potential is an important trait in selecting a variety, but other varietal characteristics should also be considered. How these criteria rank in importance to the grower may vary from one grower to the next and may vary from one field to the next. Avant (LA) is a new variety available from Louisiana. It is a very early, high-yielding, longgrain rice semi-dwarf variety with very good yield potential. It has shown very good lodging resistance and excellent ratoon potential. Avant is the earliest variety available, five to 10 days earlier to 50% days to heading than Cheniere. It has traditional Southern long-grain cooking characteristics, with intermediate amylose and gel temp. Avant contains the CRSP2.1 gene and is resistant to narrow brown leaf spot and moderately susceptible to Cercospora infection on the stem. It is rated as susceptible to sheath blight, moderately susceptible to blast and bacterial panicle blight, and moderately resistant

there is no indication that its lodging potential is different than M-206. Both M-206 and M-210 are nearly identical except that M-210 has blast resistance. They are both early varieties and stable across environments. In areas with blast, or if dry seeding, M-210 is an excellent choice. In 2023, blast was wider spread than normal. For growers who have only used M-206, try using M-210 on a field and see how it compares. You should have very similar results. In terms of yield potential, M-209 and M-211 have the highest yield potential. M-211 regularly out yields other medium grains by one to three cwt/acre. Both M-209 and M-211 are longer in duration than M-206 and neither are well suited to cooler areas (M-209 being the least suited). Duration is also important when thinking about water limitations as they require more water to irrigate. Achieving good milling quality is one issue with these varieties. Milling quality drops rapidly when harvest grain moisture drops below 20%. Given this, it may not be wise to plant these varieties on a large number of acres. On a positive note, these varieties are less prone to lodging. This is partly due to thicker tillers. Some growers indicate that managing the rice straw in M-211 is harder than for other varieties. Finally, where kernel smut is an issue, M-209 is one of the more-susceptible medium grains. California’s first herbicide-resistant variety M-521 has been approved for release. However, seed production for this variety will not proceed until the herbicide is approved. RICEFARMING.COM

Specialists

Speaking

Performance of selected cultivars in the Arkansas Rice Performance Trials, 2021-2023. Cultivar

Grain Yield (bushels/acre)

Grain Type

50% Heading

2021

2022

2023

Mean

CLL16

176

173

176

175

CLL18

179

187

183

CLL19

179

182

181

DG263L

195

185

191

190

Diamond

176

172

173

174

Ozark

186

190

184

187

PVL03

161

163

160

161

PVL04

162

RTv7231MA

179

181

180

RT 7302

196

227

212

RT7331MA

194

210

202

RT7321FP

210

177

215

201

RT7421FP

183

214

199

RT7521FP

202

196

215

204

RT7401

209

197

208

205 209

RT XP753

212

200

214

CLM04

163

158

162

161

DG353M

168

156

153

159

Jupiter

172

151

152

158

ProGold M3

183

RT3202

217

Taurus

193

181

186

187

Titan

178

156

161

165

to false smut. Consult as many different sources as possible for information. Variety Selection is the most important part of Rice Production. The 2024 “Rice Varieties and Management Tips” publication is available at https://www.lsuagcenter.com/profiles/astrahan/articles/page1701362113346.

Try Something New DR. JARROD T. HARDKE ARKANSAS Professor/Rice Extension Agronomist University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture jhardke@uada.edu If new rice cultivars continue to be released at this rate, “we’re going to need a bigger boat.” As more offerings enter the rice market each year, there are more options available to find the right fit for your farm. It’s always best to try new things on smaller acres, especially if you are satisfied with your current options. Going into the 2024 season, there are a number of new cultivars to keep an eye on, no matter your preferred rice type. INSTAGRAM: @RICEFARMING

First, let’s talk long-grain conventional (non-herbicide-tolerant) cultivars. Ozark will have good availability and appears to perform better than or equal to Diamond while having a similar overall agronomic package. Ozark and Nutrien’s DG263L, the most widely grown pureline variety, have performed similarly the past few years. For the hybrids, RiceTec (RT) 7302 appears to have an edge over the long-time standard XP753. This is a considerable statement given the performance of XP753 for roughly a decade. RT7401 will also be in the mix with similar yields to XP753 and better milling yield. Clearfield long-grain variety offerings will expand to include CLL18 and CLL19, in addition to the already popular CLL16. CLL18 and CLL19 offer higher yield potential compared to CLL16 but the packages differ. Compared to CLL16, CLL18 has less dependable blast tolerance while CLL19 is more susceptible to sheath blight. Provisia variety offerings remain limited but PVL04 is coming online, which appears slightly better yielding than PVL03 with other similar characteristics. MaxAce technology also has limited offerings, mainly those we’ve seen before. RTv7231MA and RT7331MA will have similar availability as the past two seasons. FullPage hybrids are also similar for 2024, with RT7521FP once again leading the way. RT7421FP is similar in maturity but does provide a different choice while RT7321FP will begin to fade as JANUARY 2024 | RICE FARMING

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Speaking

an option. For medium grains, there are a few favorable options emerging. Titan will still be widely planted, primarily because more seed is available. Taurus and ProGold M3 look to be steps back in the right direction to the types of yields we at one time depended on from Jupiter (wave bye-bye). Another new option is RT3202, a medium-grain hybrid. It displayed excellent yields in one year of testing, so all eyes will be on its performance and acceptance in 2024. There are plenty of additional available cultivars out there to look at, but these are some of the more notable ones. We always want to spread our risk out, so while we do that, we should use the opportunity to see how new offerings fit into our systems. Review the results of the Arkansas Rice Performance Trials at https://uaex.uada.edu/rice. The Arkansas Rice Performance Trials table provides multi-year data, but have a look at the details of site-by-site performance that can be found in the complete published data. Let us know if we can help.

Cultivar Testing Aids Missouri Rice Producers DR. JUSTIN CHLAPECKA MISSOURI Assistant Research Professor/ Rice Extension Specialist University of Missouri jchlapecka@missouri.edu While cultivar selection depends upon a lot of factors, our rice research team conducts a wide array of cultivar trials on different soil types, planting dates, irrigation systems, and even farmers. This past year, the Missouri Rice Agronomy program in cooperation with the Missouri Rice Council planted 30 cultivars in 22 unique environments, including planting dates ranging from mid-March to mid-June, flood-irrigated and furrow-irrigated rice, and on-farm locations. These trials can be a good tool to aid in your cultivar selection in 2024. We generally like to look at a three-year average before making bold statements, but since we started these two years ago, we look at a two-year average this year. When looking at hybrids, the conventional (no special herbicide tolerance) hybrid RT7302 has consistently produced yields as good or better than RT XP753, the gold standard for hybrid production for some years now. If interested in hybrids with herbicide technology, RT7321 FP has performed slightly better than the rest, but the rest of the pack is not far behind. RT7331 MA is a great option for quizalofop tolerance but has been in short supply in the past. If looking toward inbred varieties, DG263L remains a great conventional option along with Ozark, a new University of Arkansas release. The frontrunner for us in the past two years when seeking Clearfield tolerance is CLL18, which should have a much greater supply for the 2024 crop. CLL18 has averaged 12 bushels per acre better than CLL16 in our trials, and very similarly to DG263L and Ozark.

22 RICE FARMING | JANUARY 2024

When looking at yield averages, it is important to know that this includes multiple soil types and irrigation systems. We break out grain and milling yield data individually in our cultivar trial reports, including agronomic measures such as canopy height and lodging. Full 2023 reports should be available in January on our Extension website and the Missouri Rice Council webpage (www.missouririce.com). Preliminary yield numbers can also be found posted throughout harvest on Facebook and Twitter (@ mizzourice, @jchlapecka). In cultivar selection, your production system (flood vs. furrow-irrigated) matters. The table below summarizes our 2023 cultivar trials in both systems. You can find more information on cultivar trials and other studies at https://extension.missouri.edu/ programs/rice-extension. Our crew hopes you all had a merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year as we remember that He is the true reason for celebration. As always, eat MO rice! 2023 Missouri Cultivar Trial Averages Flood Rice/ Planting Date Trials*

Furrow-Irrigated Rice**

Cultivar

Grain Type

DG263L

Diamond

Ozark

ProGold1

172

141

ProGold2

160

130

ARoma22

151

122

CLHA02

169

142

CLL16

177

142

CLL18

186

150

CLL19

166

143

PVL03

155

141

PVL04

173

146

RTv7231 MA

165

144

RT7302

219

178

RT7401

201

174

XP753

206

173

RT7321 FP

196

165

RT7421 FP

199

169

RT7523 FP

201

160

RT7331 MA

205

175

Canopy Height

Days to Heading

Grain Yield

Canopy Height

Days to Heading

Grain Yield

days

bu/ac

days

bu/ac

187

159

178

142

184

153

RT7431 MA

198

171

Jupiter

167

144

ProGold M3

175

151

RT3202

180

151

Taurus

Average

198

171

183

154

*Average of all trials planted from March 15 to June 13 **Average of top, middle, and bottom sections

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