Rice Farming May 2022 by One Grower Publishing

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ONE GROWER PUBLISHING, LLC

PROFITABLE PRODUCTION STRATEGIES

MAY 2022

Consider percent defoliation thresholds for armyworms Irrometer Watermark series construction guide

Rice Leadership Development Accolades abound for program run by The Rice Foundation

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March 2018 May 2022

l Uu M m NnSs Co OL

Vol. 52, 56, No. 4 6 Vol.

v EeRr SSTtOoRrYy Co OV

Fromthe the Editor Editor 4 From

Keep on the ball Rice's your long eye history bucks 'what's hot in food' trends

6 USA Rice Update RiceGuest leadingColumn the way to zero 6 Rice and sustainability

D e pa rt m e n t s 8 USA Rice Update

16 Specialists Speaking Rice industry sets priorities Disease and Farm insectBill pests for the next

Rice Leadership Here to stay? Development Program

20 Industry News

D E business P A R T Mscene ENTS Rice 19 Industry News

Rice business scene ON THE COVER: During March, the

2022 class visited the drier facility on Timothy Gertson’s farm near Lissie, Tex20 Specialist Speaking as. From left, Derek Sohnrey (2021 class), Early mistakes can Connor herbicide Popeck, Daniel Cavazos, Julie plague you all season long Richard, John McGraw, Corey Conner, Adam McCalister and Peter Rystrom. Photo courtesy of The Rice Foundation

ON THE COVER: Armyworms once again plagued California rice growers in 2017.

The California rice industry preparesprogram for whatconducted may become armyworm Accolades abound for leadership by annual The Rice Foundation. infestations.

F eE a uRrEeSs A TtU 9 7

The yin and yang Jasmine-type aromatic rice line Shorter supplies have shorn up the released

market, 22 butisincreased planting ARoma the third 2018 jasmine-type projections cloud outlook. aromatic rice fromlong-term the Arkansas Rice Breeding Program.

Photo by Luis Espino, University of California Cooperative Extension

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directly to your inbox.

14 16

Record off-season harvest in Puerto Rico New tools in the tool box

are available in time for this year’s rice Fall armyworms

www.facebook.com/ ricefarming1

season. defoliation thresholds gain Percent popularity over number of worms per square foot.of success The smell

2022 Rice Awards Nomination Form

1992, the Rice Farmer of the Year, Rice Industry Award and Rice Lifetime Farm & GinAchievement Show recap Award recdeserving mean leaders any Tight worldognize rice supplies within the rice industry. disruption could push form markets Nomination on higher. page 5. 5

recognize those rice leaders who have Award and Rice Lifetime Achievement Award The Rice Farmer of the Year, Rice Industry your help to identify candidates who are and innovation to the industry. We need demonstrated dedication, determination in your area should be recipients of take time to consider which industry members worthy of these prestigious awards. Please and supporting materials. these honors and mail or scan/email this form

Categories:

Please check the box of the appropriate award category:

Rice Farmer of the Year Award

■ Must farm at least 200 acres. goals in ■ A farmer who has successfully achieved his/her farming operation, rice industry association, community leadership/development, innovative stewardship. production practices and/or environmental

Rice Industry Award

five years. ■ Has been in the rice industry for more than ■ A researcher, Extension person, government/association to the leader, etc... who has demonstrated commitment rice industry through innovative practices, industry association, community leadership/development.

Rice Lifetime Achievement Award

10 years. ■ Has been in the rice industry for more than contributions ■ An industry leader who has provided great to the rice industry through industry associations, community leadership/development, innovative industry. practices/projects that have advanced the

Deadline:

form, please make a copy before If you are submitting more than one nomination be downloaded or submitted online you fill out the form. Nomination forms can at www.ricefarming.com.

Nominee’s name

Nominee’s address

Nominee’s phone number/email address Nominee’s rice acreage (if applicable)

Number of years involved in the rice industry

(if applicable)

Your name

Your profession Your address

Your phone number/email address

Date

Your signature

Please send completed form & supporting 7201 Eastern Ave., Germantown, TN 38138 Scan/Email: csmith@onegrower.com

Include supporting materials to elaborate

TWITTER: @RICEFARMING @RICEFARMING

19 16

University of Arkansas breeding program releases new jasmine-type long grain. Rice Awards: Since

June 30, 2022

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Several new crop-protection products

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

Floods aid expansion Irrometer Watermark Series Giant invasive snail threatens the rice-crawfish rotation Construction Guidein southwest Louisiana.

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10 8

materials to: Carroll Smith

on your nomination:

the nominee in terms of the following guidelines: separate piece of paper, please describe In addition to completing this form, on a education. and the rice industry, local community and Dedication to farming and/or agriculture reach goals. hurdles that have emerged while trying to Determination to succeed and overcome manage risk, achieve a higher level of efficiency. for the industry to become more profitable, his/her Innovation to identify new and better ways in the rice industry who are familiar with for the nominee from other individuals It also is helpful to send letters of recommendation of the 2022 Rice Awards. across the Rice Belt will select the recipients accomplishments. A panel of judges from will be made at the awards in Austin, Texas, where an official presentation the USA Rice Outlook Conference, Dec. 7-9 issue. The award recipients will be honored at Farming magazine in the December 2022 sponsored by Horizon Ag, USA Rice and Rice They also will be featured in a special salute

SPONSORS

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MAY 2022

RICE FARMING

USA Rice

Update

Rice leading the way to zero

U.S. FOOD & DRUG ADMINISTRATION

ast year, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration launched an initiative called “Closer to Zero” to identify actions the agency can take to reduce exposure to toxic elements from foods eaten by babies and children. You know where this is going: to infant rice cereal and to arsenic in rice. But it might surprise you By Betsy Ward to learn that we welcomed the program bePresident and CEO cause the agency is promising a rigorous, sciUSA Rice ence-based approach in partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Consider the alternative. Last fall, egged on by Consumer Reports that is in the habit of cherry-picking data and then using hucksters like Dr. Oz to whip up his base of fact-starved viewers, staff at the House Oversight Committee issued a report so light on rigor on the subject, that calling it a “report” is an insult to last-minute middle school book reports everywhere. Last month I testified at a USDA public meeting on Closer to Zero and told them I’m proud that, according to FDA data, the overwhelming majority of U.S.-grown rice, and certainly all rice used in infant cereals, meets a 100 parts per billion (ppb) threshold for inorganic arsenic in rice destined for baby food that FDA has set. And that according to the According to the U.S. Food & Drug Administration, it has United Nations and launched an initiative called “Closer to Zero” to identify acthe World Health tions the agency will take to reduce exposure to arsenic, Organization, U.S.lead, cadmium and mercury from foods eaten by babies and grown rice has the young children — to as low as possible. lowest levels of inorganic arsenic in the world. I reminded them that the U.S. rice industry has spent millions of dollars on research to understand the issue and identify mitigation strategies, and that we have been transparent throughout, sharing our research with the FDA. Multi-state research proposal And we are building on that legacy. The USA Rice Food Safety Management Practic-

RICE FARMING

MAY 2022

es Task Force has partnered with researchers and Extension specialists on a comprehensive multi-state research proposal called “Closing in on Zero: A Sustainable Model to Reduce Heavy Metal Concentrations and Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Rice Production” that we have submitted to USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture. The proposal seeks to identify current and potential alternative rice production practices, study the economic viability and potential obstacles to those practices, develop producer decision tools, create an educational and training platform to disseminate new technologies to the rice industry and the public and provide innovative educational opportunities for the next generation of rice producers and scientists, all in the name of moving the U.S. rice industry “closer to zero.” End-product testing is skewed But as I testified, this is not a rice issue. It is a food issue. The most prevalent source of arsenic in the American diet is fruits, vegetables and juices. But since rice is the only product for which there is an action level, rice is disproportionately impacted by the regulatory framework. Essentially, any level of inorganic arsenic in baby food is possible because only products with rice are regulated. I testified that unless and until other ingredients used in baby food have action levels established for any contaminants they may contain, USA Rice objects to the sole reliance on end-product testing of baby food simply because it contains rice. I also shared the undeniable health benefits of rice in baby food that come from studies at the Centers for Disease Control. There’s a reason we’ve all been fed rice cereal. Once again, I am proud of our record as an industry — accepting our obligations and responsibilities and committing precious resources to better understand and mitigate problems. I know you are dedicated to providing a healthy and nutritious staple food for children and adults here and around the world, and I am just as dedicated to making sure you can. Thank you for your support and have a safe and productive growing season. RICEFARMING.COM

Jasmine-type aromatic rice line released ARoma 22 is the third jasmine-type aromatic rice from the Arkansas Rice Breeding Program. By John Lovett

Some background ARoma 22 was developed by emeritus professor Karen Moldenhauer and Debra Ahrent Wisdom of the Arkansas Rice Breeding Program based at the Division’s Rice Research and Extension Center in Stuttgart. “The goal is to meet the consumer and grower demands of developing high-quality, high-yielding aromatic rice lines,” Wisdom said. “The growers who have produced aromatic rice would like to have more seed to grow as they are finding more markets available.” Wisdom has been an assistant breeder specializing in jasmine-type aromatic rice since 2010. She is also the accounts manager for the Foundation Seed Program, which sells the rice and soybean seed developed and released by the Division of Agriculture. Wisdom noted that the consumers who have tried ARoma 22 are “very happy with the flavor and quality of the rice.” Sensory tests conducted in February at the experiment station’s Sensory Science Center found ARoma 22 to compare favorably to other jasmine-type varieties. After consulting with the Arkansas Rice Research and PromoTWITTER: @RICEFARMING

U OF A SYSTEM DIVISION OF AG

new jasmine-type aromatic rice called ARoma 22 has been released by the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station amid rising U.S. demand for aromatic rice. ARoma 22 offers increased aromatics and color consistency over its predecessor and includes qualities looked for by consumers of imported Asian aromatic rice, sensory tests show. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service, a sharp increase in imported rice over the past few years from Asia has been driven by jasmine-type rice from Thailand. “Considering the high competition from Asian and South American suppliers and the stagnant export prospects for U.S. long-grain rice, aromatic rice represents an opportunity for U.S. farmers to expand production and lower the dependency on aromatic rice imports,” said Alvaro Durand-Morat, assistant professor of agricultural economics and agribusiness for the experiment station, the research arm of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. The experiment station’s Rice Breeding Program added the aromatic breeding program in 2010 to fill a growing niche market. The Division of Agriculture’s Foundation Seed Program has seen aromatic rice orders double over the past few years. In 2020, the program sold 1,249 bags of seed. For the 2023 growing season, growers have pre-ordered 2,565 bags. A bag contains 50 pounds of rice seed.

ARoma 22, the jasmine-type rice known in performance trials as 19AR231, has been adapted to grow in Arkansas’ environment.

tion Board, the variety was submitted for restricted public release, where purchasers of foundation seed sign a non-exclusive, non-royalty bearing license agreement before purchasing seed. Numbers talk ARoma 22 averaged 167 bushels per acre with high milling yields in five Arkansas Rice Variety Advancement Trials. ARoma 22 reaches 50 percent heading at 88 days with “excellent” straw strength, according to data collected from the Arkansas Uniform Rice Regional Nursery and reported in 2020 research trials. It is moderately susceptible to blast, sheath blight, bacterial panicle blight and is susceptible to false smut. Arkansas continues to be ranked first in the nation in rice production. More than 1.4 million acres are harvested annually in over 40 counties, according to the 2021 Arkansas Agriculture Profile (https://bit.ly/2021ArkAgProfile). Commodity production and value in 2020 for Arkansas rice was nearly $1.3 billion. A total of 16 rice varieties have been developed by the Rice Breeding Team and released to Arkansas rice growers during the past 10 years. Three of those have been aromatic lines to meet a growing niche market, Wisdom said. John Lovett is a science writer for the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture and may be reached at jlovett@uada.edu. MAY 2022

RICE FARMING

On the Mississippi River near New Orleans, the 2022 class observed rice export operations with Russell Marine. From left, Derek Sohnrey, Peter Rystrom, Connor Popeck, Josh Brunet (RM), Larry Vanderbrook (RM), John McGraw, Adam McCalister, Steve Linscombe, Daniel Cavazos, Corey Conner and Julie Richard.

Rice Leadership Development Program Accolades abound for leadership program conducted by The Rice Foundation. By Cassidy Nemec Assistant Editor

hen Dr. Steve Linscombe was accepted into the Rice Leadership Development program in 1996, he likely didn’t think he would end up heading the program decades later. That is what the Leadership Program does. It selects rice industry individuals who have applied to the program and develops them into impactful leaders by way of exposing them to people and places they might have never witnessed before. Selection process and trip sessions “Normally during July, I’ll put out an application with a call to the program, and we have a selection committee that first goes through and looks at the written applications,” Linscombe said. “Seven people are selected — typically five farmers and two industry people.”

RICE FARMING

MAY 2022

After being interviewed and announced at the annual Rice Outlook Conference in December, these selected individuals begin their program the following March. “When I’m encouraging people to apply to the program, I often hear people say, ‘I just can’t be away from the farm to participate,’ and I hear Steve that a lot from people who have finally broken Linscombe down and applied for the program … I’ve never heard anyone say that it was a mistake; everybody that has been through the program says, ‘This is one of the best things I’ve done.’” In essence, the Rice Leadership Development Program involves four, one-week program sessions covering rice production, milling, marketing and other agricultural topics related to the rice RICEFARMING.COM

The program at a glance

Legislative contact meetings in Washington, D.C., are one of the Rice Leadership Development Program highlights. From left, Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Austin Davis (2022 Class), Kirk Satterfield (2011 Class), Mississippi rice producer Gibb Steele and Marvin Cochran (2004 Class).

industry. These sessions span Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi, Missouri and California rice regions, as well as a tour at the John Deere Factory in Illinois. The program caps off in Washington, D.C., with legislative contact meetings and the current class’ graduation. With Linscombe leading the program now, he plans and coordinates all trip sessions and has a great deal of experience in the rice industry to aide in answering any questions that may come up in the duration of the program. In addition to the regular Rice Leadership Development Program, an international component was added in 2009 for alumni to apply to go on that additional During the 2019 international session in Italy rice country, program participants visited the National Rice Institute of Italy. From left, David Martin, Jonathan Hobbs, Kirk Satterfield, Massimo Biloni (private rice breeder), Jim Whitaker, Sunny Bottoms and several researchers at the Institute. TWITTER: @RICEFARMING

session. “It is important for folks who are hopefully going to be future leaders in the industry to have some exposure above and beyond rice in the United States,” Linscombe said. “It’s very rewarding to see someone go through this program and see people become more active in leadership roles within the U.S. rice community,” he said. “This program gives them the skills they need to prosper — not only in leadership positions, but in their careers.” More than a sponsor Sponsors for the Rice Leadership Development Program are American Commodity Company, John Deere and RiceTec.

The Rice Leadership Development Program is funded by grants from John Deere Company, RiceTec and American Commodity Company to The Rice Foundation. The USA Rice Federation develops and manages the program on behalf of The Rice Foundation. The Rice Leadership Development Program gives future leaders a comprehensive understanding of the rice industry, with an emphasis on personal development and communication skills. The class attends four one-week sessions over a two-year period that encompasses studies of all aspects of the rice industry through firsthand observations. They also attend seminars and workshops designed to strengthen leadership skills. A special committee of rice industry and agribusiness leaders evaluate applications, letters of recommendation, as well as conduct personal interviews to determine the five rice producers and two individuals from rice-industry related professions who will make up the Rice Leadership Development Class.

Eligibility requirements • Derive their primary livelihood as rice producers or from a rice industry related profession or firm, including rice mills, rice product marketers, sales officials, dryers, Extension services, research facilities, etc. Participants from the industry related category must serve the rice industry in their primary job responsibility. • Demonstrate leadership potential. • Be 25 to 45 years of age at time of application. • Obtain employer approval prior to applying; if self-employed, must agree to devote time away from their business as required. • Agree to attend all scheduled sessions, with exception of illness of participant or immediate family. • Agree to complete all reports and evaluations as required. All applicants chosen as finalists must be available for personal interviews. Interviews will be conducted by the Rice Leadership Selection Committee in conjunction with the USA Rice Outlook Conference.

International leadership session A one-week international session has been added for graduates of the program who have, since graduation, applied their leadership skills to industry service. A committee of rice industry and agribusiness leaders will evaluate applications and select alumni to participate in the session. The number of participants will be determined annually based on projected expenses to travel to the selected location. Source: www.usarice.com/foundation MAY 2022

RICE FARMING

The 2021 class — pictured on the Mississippi River in March 2021 — surveyed rice export operations with Russell Marine. From left, Garrett Williams, Jonathan Hobbs (RM), Mallory Everett, Steve Linscombe, Christine Wylie, Adam Shea, Eliott Maschmann, Kerri Cambre (RM) and Kane Webb (USA Rice).

Chris Crutchfield, president and CEO/partner of American Commodity Co., LLC, said that they saw the program as being part of something with the same values as their company’s core belief set. He recounted how natural it seemed to sponsor when the leadership program was looking for another sponsor. “We are just extremely honored and proud to be a part of what we believe is a fantastic program that’s invaluable to the industry.” Ray Gherardini, marketing manager for John Deere, said their relationship with the Rice Leadership Program is strong. “The leadership program is a great opportunity to help develop future leaders in the rice industry,” he said before adding that they look at “creating advocates for the rice industry.” Brian Ottis, director of supply chain management for RiceTec, said he quickly realized the value of having a relationship with the program after having also gone through it himself. “The impact we can have on lawmakers, and the impact we can have to influence policy to protect our industry is very eye-opening,” he said. “We’re a small, tight-knit industry, so we need as many people as possible to be well versed in all the facets of the industry, so we’ve got lots of great representatives out there.” Perspectives from the past and present Past and present members alike expressed great reverence toward the Rice Leadership Development Program. Charley Mathews, a California rice farmer and former chair for both USA Rice and The Rice Foundation, was a member of Class VI of the Rice Leadership Development Program.

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During March, the 2022 class visited the drier facility on Timothy Gertson’s farm near Lissie, Texas. From left, Derek Sohnrey (2021 class), Connor Popeck, Daniel Cavazos, Julie Richard, John McGraw, Corey Conner, Adam McCalister and Peter Rystrom. RICEFARMING.COM

He spoke on the importance of knowing the industry in each of the different rice-growing areas, noting the application of that coming into play when discussing policy decisions for different regions. Mathews recounted the John Deere tour and all the “van time” as some of his favorite aspects of the program. “It’s great hanging out with people from all these different places… I really enjoyed it.” He noted that while leadership of the proCharley gram has changed from Chuck Wilson to Dr. Mathews Linscombe, the culture of the original program remains. Kirk Satterfield, a Mississippi rice farmer, current USA Rice Farmers chairman and 2011 graduate of the Rice Leadership Development Program, said that the four, one-week sessions were intensive and worthwhile for development within the rice industry. Kirk He credited Tim Walker, GM of Horizon Ag, Satterfield for encouraging him to apply and talked about the many relationships he made through the program. “I can’t say enough about the relationships I formed. I made not just acquaintances, but also some really good friends in people I may not have ever met otherwise.” “It opened a lot of doors and taught me a lot of things I would have never looked at.” Satterfield also participated in the most recent international trip offered to Rice Leadership alumni when a group went to the rice

country of Italy in Oct. 2019. “We had a fantastic trip to Italy… it was such a fascinating experience; that’s the kind of exposure and opportunity you get.” Connor Popeck, Louisiana rice farmer and current class member, further emphasized the exposure received through the leadership program. He said his future goals include increasing his acreage and becoming a seed rice producer. He suggested this program can help him get there by gaining a multitude of perspectives and contacts from other individuals in a variety of regions. “The amount of information I learned, even in just the first session, is surreal.” He talked about reaching out to other rice producers in other states and bringing up the Rice Leadership Program prior to applying. “Three of them said it was the best thing they’d ever done for their business… it seemed like everyone whose opinion I respected had done it.” Popeck also commented his interest in learning more about rice and its different segments in milling and retail. “My eyes have already been opened to the industry.” He ended by reiterating his excitement for the remainder of the program, how great it is to have resources and the benefit he’s already noticed. “I’m just thoroughly impressed… it’s more than I ever dreamed it would be.” More information pertaining to the Rice Leadership Development Program and The Rice Foundation can be found at www.usarice. com/foundation.

The 2019 Class watched lettuce harvest near Salinas, California, on Costa Farms. From left, Kent Wiley with Sun Foods, Matthew Morris, Jason Bond, Bobby Golden, Michael Durand, Mike Costa, Austin Davis and Justin Nix.

TWITTER: @RICEFARMING

MAY 2022

RICE FARMING

I R R O M E T E R WAT E R M A R K S E R I E S

CONSTRUCTION GUIDE Mississippi State Extension put together a publication covering the Irrometer Watermark series. The assembly guide below depicts the Irrometer Watermark 200SS, a granular matrix sensor commonly used in Mississippi for scheduling irrigation. This publication provides a step-by-step guide to proper Watermark sensor construction. Following these steps will make the sensors easier to install at the intended depths and easier to remove at the end of the season.

TOOLS & SUPPLIES

A S S E M B LY

The tools and supplies pictured below will be used. Fifteen feet of sensor wires is usually convenient.

STEP 1: Using the PVC cutter, cut a PVC length that is 10 inches longer than the intended sensor depth to simplify sensor removal. Following the color code below for that sensor depth, wrap a ring of colored electrical tape 4 inches from one end of the cut PVC section. Sensor depth

PVC length

Tape color

6”

16”

blue

12”

22”

white

24”

34”

red

36”

46”

yellow

STEP 2: Using the electric drill and a 3⁄16-inch drill bit, make a weep hole ¼ inch from the untaped bottom end of the PVC section.

One set of 6-inch, 12-inch, 24-inch, and 36-inch sensors will require one 10-foot stick of ½-inch Class 315 PVC pipe. Select the correct PVC specifications to avoid frustrations later.

STEP 3: Apply PVC primer at least ½ inch inside the bottom end of the PVC section. Be ready for drips.

USE THIN WALL! ABS-PVC transition cement is best for joining the ABS sensor collar to a primed PVC section. Using a different cement can increase the risk of sensor-PVC separation during removal.

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RICEFARMING.COM

I R R O M E T E R WAT E R M A R K S E R I E S : C O N S T R U C T I O N G U I D E For more information, please contact Extension Irrigation Specialist Drew Gholson at drew.gholson@msstate.edu or (662) 390-8505.

STEP 4: After a few minutes of drying, thread the sensor wires from the bottom end of the PVC section to the top end until the sensor collar meets the bottom end. Bundle the extra wire.

Ensure that the weep hole will allow water to drain out.

STEP 7: Wrap a ring of black electrical tape so that the distance between the bottom of the tape and the middle of the attached sensor equals the intended sensor depth. After installation, the bottom edge of the black electrical tape should be flush with the ground. STEP 5: Carefully apply an appropriate amount of ABSPVC transition cement to the sensor collar.

Placing a rubber washer around the PVC section can reduce water flow down the installation hole.

STEP 8: Slide a rubber cap onto the top end of the PVC section. The construction is now complete!

STEP 6: While aligning the sensor weep slot with the drilled weep hole, push the sensor collar fully into the bottom end of the PVC section.

This publication is a contribution of the National Center for Alluvial Aquifer Research (NCAAR), the Mississippi State University Extension Service, and the Row-Crop Irrigation Science Extension and Research (RISER) initiative. NCAAR is supported by the Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), under Cooperative Agreement number 58-6001-7-001. RISER is supported jointly by Mississippi Soybean Promotion Board, Mississippi Corn Promotion Board, Mississippi Rice Promotion Board, Cotton Incorporated, Mississippi Peanut Promotion Board, and by the Conservation Innovation Grants program at USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service under award number NR203A750008G007. This information and photos were provided by the Mississippi State University Extension Service; Jacob Rix, Extension/Research Associate; Himmy Lo, PhD, Assistant Extension/ Research Professor; Drew Gholson, PhD, Assistant Professor; and Mark Henry, Extension Associate, Delta Research and Extension Center. TWITTER: @RICEFARMING

MAY 2022

RICE FARMING

Record off-season harvest in Puerto Rico By John Lovett

University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture

Submit a nomination for the 2022 Rice Consultant of the Year Award. Recognize an outstanding consultant for his or her dedication, leadership and innovation in the Mid-South rice industry. For more information, go to ricefarming.com/rcoy or go to Page 15 in this issue of Rice Farming.

Submit nominations by July 15, 2022.

S P O N S O R E D

B Y

Abbreviated Rules. No Purchase Necessary. Contest ends on 7/15/22 at 11:59:59 PM (CT). To enter, go to http://www.ricefarming.com/rcoy. Nominators must be legal residents of the fifty (50) United States and District of Columbia who are 18 years of age or older at the time of entry and possess knowledge and/or experience in the rice farming industry. Entrants must be legal residents of the fifty (50) United States and District of Columbia who are 18 years of age or older at the time of entry and serve as a rice consultant in the rice farming industry. Void where prohibited. Sponsor: Corteva Agriscience, 9330 Zionsville Road, Indianapolis, IN 46268.

™

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he Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station’s Rice Breeding Program off-season harvest in the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico pulled in a record amount of rice breeding materials this year for ongoing experiments and seed increases. The rice research site at the University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez’s Lajas Experiment Station has a long-running cooperative arrangement between the public breeding programs in Arkansas and other Mid-South states to decrease the number of years required to breed new lines of rice. Experimental varieties are first grown at the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture’s Rice Research and Extension Center in Stuttgart. Seeds from chosen plants are grown in Puerto Rico during the winter. Seeds from the off-season harvest in Puerto Rico are then sent back to Arkansas in the spring to continue the breeding experiments, as well as produce additional seeds from new varieties for sale by the Arkansas Foundation Seed Program. The Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station is the research arm of the Division of Agriculture. Puerto Rico nursery advantage Depending on differences between parental lines of a given rice plant cross, it takes seven to nine generations with rigorous selection to achieve the required uniformity and stability for a new variety to be ready for release, said Xueyan Sha, senior rice breeder for the experiment station. That process takes eight to 10 years if the progenies are only grown in Arkansas. The Puerto Rico nursery allows the breeding programs to shorten the development time by two to three years. “Overall, we have had a very good off-season,” Sha said. “In addition to less COVID restrictions for travel and social distancing that limited a full crew, there has been a close-to-normal weather pattern in Puerto Rico from November to April and low disease pressure, especially rice blast.” Sha said they planted and harvested a

record 5 acres of breeding materials and seed increases this off-season. About 6,000 pounds of rice seed have been shipped back for planting this year. The Arkansas Rice Breeding Program usually harvests and ships back about 1,000 pounds of seed each year for breeding and trials. Increase in rice seed The increase in rice seed this year is mainly due to production of Ozark breeder seed, a long grain variety publicly released in January, Sha said. Seventy bags of Ozark breeder seed — seed used to grow the foundation or other classes of seed — were shipped from Puerto Rico to the Rice Research and Extension Center in Stuttgart to grow this year. Sha said they also harvested purification plots for three potential Provisia long grain lines at the Puerto Rico nursery, as well as seed purification and propagation plots of three new-and-improved male sterile lines for hybrid seed production this summer at the Stuttgart location. Sha noted that “purity” means the seed is authentic to the breeder’s description without other rice offtypes or variants mixed in. Sha said the off-season seed purification project included a promising conventional long grain line, which is bred to have resistance to blast. The potential future release has “excellent grain quality and showed a very good yield potential in the 2021 Arkansas Rice Performance Trial,” Sha added. Arkansas rice researchers also used the Puerto Rico site to plant many second- and third-generation progenies of conventional Clearfield and Provisia long grain and medium grain test varieties for generation advancement, Sha added. New rice lines are needed to further increase grain and milling yields, Sha said. New varieties are also bred to improve disease resistance to existing and emerging diseases and other stresses like higher day and nighttime temperatures. Specialty rice varieties, like jasmine-type ARoma 22, are also developed by the Rice Breeding Team to meet evolving customer demands. RICEFARMING.COM

N O M I N A T I O N

F O R M

Nominate an outstanding consultant for the Rice Consultant of the Year Award. Sponsored by Corteva Agriscience and Rice Farming magazine, the annual award recognizes the dedication, leadership and innovation of this crucial segment of the Mid-South rice industry. “Crop consultants are an indispensable component of the rice farming industry. The agronomic guidance and support they provide rice producers is invaluable,” says Clark Smith, product manager for rice herbicides, Corteva Agriscience. “Corteva Agriscience remains committed to the Rice Consultant of the Year Award. We are honored to recognize the consultants who positively impact their local communities and help ensure the success of the rice industry for many years to come,” he says. The RCOY Award recipient will:  Be featured in a four-page salute in the February 2023 Rice Farming magazine and honored at a special recognition event Feb. 23, 2023.  Receive a personalized Rice Consultant of the Year jacket. The award recipient and nominator each will receive one night’s hotel stay and round-trip travel to the event.

SUBMIT SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION

Consultant’s Name:

Please use a separate page for biographical/professional information.

Mailing Address:

Additional recommendation letters from rice farmers, consultants and industry members in support of the nominee are encouraged.

Company Name: City:

State:

Phone:

Email:

ZIP:

Please describe the dedication, leadership and innovation that makes this person a good candidate for the 2022 Rice Consultant of the Year Award. (Be as specific as possible, and use a separate sheet, if needed.)

Submit all materials via: Email: csmith@onegrower.com Mail: Carroll Smith 7201 Eastern Ave. Germantown, TN 38138 Online: ricefarming.com/rcoy

Your Name:

Submit nominations by July 15, 2022.

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MAY 2022

RICE FARMING

Specialists

Speaking

Disease and insect pests

the fungicide application. For blast and the smuts (kernel smut and false smut), they occur in a manner that prevents us from using thresholds. We’re forced to treat for these preventatively. In fields with a history of these diseases, avoid susceptible cultivars and excess nitrogen applications. For blast, maintaining an adequate flood depth is critical. Susceptible cultivars grown in fields with a history of these diseases may be candidates for preventative treatment. Rice stink bugs are certainly an annual issue, but we never know what we’re going to get. The most important consideration for this year will likely be the point at which we can safely stop treating for stink bugs. When 60% of the kernels on panicles have reached the hard dough stage (straw-colored kernels), and rice stink bugs are below treatment thresholds, we can stop treating for the pest. As a reminder, the threshold is 5 stink bugs per 10 sweeps the first two weeks of heading and 10 stink bugs per 10 sweeps the second two weeks of heading. Hopefully, we deal with a below average pest management season in 2022. Contact your county Extension agent or a specialist if we can help.

DR. JARROD HARDKE ARKANSAS Professor/Rice Extension Agronomist University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service jhardke@uada.edu Every season, the situation for disease and insects in rice is entirely different. Each is influenced greatly by environmental conditions, but they’re always there looking to take a bite out of our bottom line. The 2022 season and its rising input costs scream this is the time to follow integrated pest management practices. This means we need to use scouting and thresholds to determine whether it’s economically in our best interests to act. Let’s start with sheath blight, arguably our No. 1 disease in rice. Other diseases can cause greater direct losses, but we deal with sheath blight on a more regular basis. Finding sheath blight in a field does not mean we should treat for it. Use a threshold to determine when to treat based on cultivar susceptibility, frequency of distribution and height in the plant canopy. For moderately susceptible cultivars, when greater than 50% of field stops are positive for sheath blight, or for susceptible cultivars when greater than 35% of field stops are positive, treatment may be warranted. That covers the cultivar susceptibility and the frequency of distribution. The final condition is height in the canopy. Even if we meet the previous two criteria to consider treating, we need to evaluate how high in the canopy sheath blight has progressed. Our goal is to reach 50% heading with the upper three leaves in the canopy clean to outrun yield loss. If sheath blight is present at above-threshold levels, we need to keep a very close eye on it. If it is staying low in the canopy, we can delay treatment and hopefully outrun it, which will save us

Sheath blight issues in furrow-irrigated rice DR. JUSTIN CHLAPECKA

BRANTLEE SPAKES RICHTER, UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA, BUGWOOD.ORG

MISSOURI Assistant Research Professor/ Rice Extension Specialist University of Missouri jchlapecka@missouri.edu

The threshold for rice stink bugs is 5 stink bugs per 10 sweeps the first two weeks of heading and 10 stink bugs per 10 sweeps the second two weeks of heading.

RICE FARMING

MAY 2022

The time we’ve all been waiting for is finally here. I opened with that line last month, and it appears I was wrong. Writing this at the end of April, we MIGHT be 1% planted in Missouri and that’s being hopeful. A few dry days to close out the month have been much needed, and some of the lighter ground is finally planted. Hopefully, by the time you’re reading this, we have some real rice acreage in the ground. If not, we’ll be looking at even more of a reduction in rice acreage for 2022. Caused by the fungus Rhizoctonia solani, sheath blight has been an issue in furrow-irrigated rice. The mindset of most experts four or five years ago was that it would be much less of a problem in furrow-irrigated rice. It’s safe to say we got that one wrong. While there is not a flood to float inoculum into contact with the sheaths, the disease inoculum is still present in the field. Reports from farmers and consultants indicate that sheath blight is a much more common problem in furrow-irrigated rice than we would have thought. In fact, the largest issue is at the top of the field. Now let’s dive into that issue. While the sclerotia float and infect the plant at the water line in flooded rice, it can start at the soil line where a flood is not held. Also, keep in mind the furrows do hold water for a significant period of time. Once infection occurs in furrow-irrigated rice, it may be more likely to spread due to slightly higher nitrogen rates and increased RICEFARMING.COM

LSU AGCENTER

Specialists

This rice plant shows signs of severe sheath blight damage.

seeding rate. Also, the lack of a flood may keep the temperature higher under the canopy while the humidity remains very high due to muddy soil, creating an environment for sheath blight to thrive. A strobilurin fungicide is still the best method of suppression for sheath blight. Avoiding a dense stand and excessive N rates are good cultural practices but may be needed to optimize furrow-irrigated rice production. Growing a taller cultivar may also help, but that brings up another point — the rice is not growing as tall at the upper end of a row rice field, making it more susceptible to sheath blight damage vertical progression. The take-home message remains the same in furrow-irrigated rice — the upper two or three leaves must be threatened to cause significant yield reduction. Treatment threshold is 35% positive stops for a susceptible or very susceptible cultivar, and 50% positive stops for a moderately susceptible cultivar. Ultimately, we would never recommend an automatic fungicide application in rice. However, it is imperative to scout even our furrow-irrigated rice for sheath blight infection and be ready to pull the trigger if needed. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me, and as always, eat Missouri rice!

Speaking

kernel smut and blast. Stem rot and aggregate sheath spot are fairly common, but in many fields do not reach high enough levels to cause concern. Kernel smut is usually found at low levels, but in 2018, we saw a large epidemic in the northern part of the valley. Blast can be a severe problem when we experience warm nights, high humidity and long periods of dew in the morning. Variety can have an effect on disease severity. An experiment conducted last year showed that longer season varieties, like M-211 and M-209, are more tolerant of stem rot than shorter season varieties. This was not the case for aggregate sheath spot, which was not affected by variety. Long grains are more susceptible to kernel smut than medium grains, and among the medium grains, M-209 is the most susceptible. M-210 is the only blast-resistant variety currently available. This variety is basically M-206 but with a gene for blast resistance. M-209 is probably the most blast-susceptible variety. Good fertility levels will help to reduce disease severity. Excess nitrogen makes plants more susceptible to stem rot, blast and kernel smut. Potassium deficiency can result in higher levels of stem rot and aggregate sheath spot. Good straw decomposition can reduce the stem rot and aggregate sheath spot inoculum levels in the soil, resulting in less disease during the season. Fungicides can help reduce the levels of disease and avoid yield losses. Trials I have conducted during several years have shown that application of azoxystrobin — the active ingredient in Quadris — between mid-boot and early heading, can reduce the incidence and severity of stem rot, aggregate sheath spot and blast. The trials showed that applying the fungicide at propanil time did not significantly reduce disease levels. If kernel smut is a concern, the fungicide propiconazole — the active ingredient in Tilt — can be tank mixed with azoxystrobin at the mid boot stage.

Disease management in California DR. LUIS ESPINO

Thanks to the dry weather we enjoy in the Central Valley of California during summer, we do not have to deal with a large number of rice diseases. There are four main diseases that can create problems: stem rot, aggregate sheath spot, TWITTER: @RICEFARMING

UC ANR/IPM

CALIFORNIA Rice Farming Systems Advisor University of California Cooperative Extension laespino@ucanr.edu Panicle blast (left) results in blanked panicles and can reduce yields significantly. A fungicide application at late boot to early heading will protect the panicles from infection. Stem rot (right) is one of the four main diseases in California rice. MAY 2022

RICE FARMING

Specialists

Speaking

Kernel smut DR. RONNIE LEVY LOUISIANA Extension Rice Specialist Louisiana State University RLevy@agcenter.lsu.edu Kernel smut symptoms appear just before maturity. A black mass of smut spores replaces all or some of the endosperm of the seed. Often the spores ooze out of the grain, leaving a black mass along the seam of the hulls. The fungus, Tilletia barclayana, overwinters as spores in soil of affected fields and in seed. The disease is easily observed in the morning when dew is absorbed by the smut spores. The spore mass expands and pushes out of the hull, where it is visible as a black mass. When this spore mass dries, it is powdery and comes off easily on your fingers. Rain washes the black spores over adjacent parts of the panicle. Affected grains are a lighter, slightly grayish color compared with normal grain. Usually, only a few florets may be affected in a panicle, but fields have been observed in Louisiana with 20% to 40% of the florets affected on 10% or more of the panicles in a field. Smutted grains produce kernels with black streaks or dark areas. Milled rice has a dull or grayish appearance when smutted grains are present in the sample. Because fewer kernels break when parboiled rice is milled, kernel smut can be a severe problem in processed rice. This disease is usually minor in Louisiana, but it can become epidemic in local areas. Spores of the fungus are carried on affected seeds and overwinter in the soil of affected fields. The patho-

With kernel smut, the spores ooze out of the grain, leaving a black mass along the seam of the hulls.

gen attacks immature, developing grain and is more severe when rains are frequent during flowering. Fungicide applications at early booting can be affective for controlling this disease. Significant quality and yield reductions are possible. Disease development is favored by high nitrogen rates. Research results indicate the 2- to 4-inch panicle in the boot applications of demethylation inhibitors (propiconazole and difenoconazole) reduce damage significantly. Applications after boot split have little, if any, activity. Remember, growth stages can advance quickly, so it is important to scout for the rice growth stage at the same time as you scout for disease. Also, you will need to allow time to obtain a fungicide, schedule the application and allow for good weather conditions to apply the fungicide at the correct time. The use of foliar fungicides is justified in many cases. The history of the field is a major factor to consider in making this decision.

Spores of the Tilletia barclayana fungus are carried on affected seeds and overwinter in the soil of affected fields.

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MAY 2022

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Fall armyworms Percent defoliation thresholds gain popularity over number of worms per square foot. By Carroll Smith Editor

Percent defoliation thresholds When it comes to rice, armyworms can infest every growth stage. The traditional scouting procedure is to look at the number of worms per square foot. Although seeing a lot of worms out in the field can be scary and prompt a knee-jerk reaction to spray, Bateman said Arkansas researchers are now moving toward basing thresholds on percent defoliation. The new threshold says no treatment is needed between seedling and 2- to 3-tiller rice unless armyworms are feeding on the growing point. For May and June plantings, treat when defoliation exceeds 40% at 5- to 6-tiller rice. For all plantings, treat when defoliation exceeds 20% at green ring. “Higher yield loss has been observed for later plantings,” Bateman said. “Armyworms should be treated if head feeding or clipping occurs. “We don’t have a true threshold based on counts with a sweep net. I sweep for armyworms to get an idea of how big the population is and what size the caterpillars are. The fall armyworm has between six and seven instars. If I have quite a bit of defoliation and a bunch of small caterpillars out there, I know they have the potential to exceed the defoliation threshold because they have quite a bit more to eat. “If I see a lot of large caterpillars and a small amount of defoliation, I’ll probably ride the population to see if they will naturally TWITTER: @RICEFARMING

VICKY BOYD

he fall armyworm, which doesn’t overwinter here, typically begins its migration in South America and moves up through Mexico. It usually appears in the Mid-South in late July and August. But in 2021, wind and rainfall patterns created the perfect storm for the caterpillars to reproduce quickly and build up large numbers. In mid-May, populations were spotted in Texas, Louisiana and south Mississippi. “Around June 1, we started picking up some really large numbers that started in pastures and then moved into rice and soybeans,” says Nick Bateman, University of Arkansas Extension entomologist. Some of my counterparts who have been around awhile said it was the worst armyworm infestation they had ever seen. “We also saw a lot of fluctuation in pyrethroid control. For example, in one of our trials we got 20% control and the next one that we sprayed seven days later about a mile down the road, we got 80% control. That’s not typical. The armyworms that get in rice are usually easy to control with Lambda insecticide. That’s one reason we sought the Section 18 last year on Intrepid 2F insecticide because we didn’t have any other options.”

Arkansas entomologist Nick Bateman sweeps for armyworms to get an idea of how big the population is and what size the caterpillars are.

cycle out. In a year like this where it’s going to be more costly in general to produce the crop, I am going to let the armyworms prove to me they can get up to those defoliation thresholds before I spray for them.” Bateman said one of his goals this year is to provide education at field days regarding what 10% versus 20% defoliation in rice looks like. Row rice, flooded rice There has been speculation about whether armyworms are more troublesome in row rice than in flooded rice. “Last year, the first 25% to 30% of the phone calls we got about armyworms were in row rice,” Bateman said. “But they also lay eggs in flooded rice, so I wouldn’t say one is worse than the other although flooded rice does have some benefits, especially if it’s smaller. If armyworms get in the field just prior to flood, and we can flood a bit earlier, we can potentially run them out of there. Armyworms can’t swim, so if they eat everything they are feeding on, they can’t move on because of the flood. If they get in the water, they will drown. “In row rice, it did appear that the armyworm damage went further out in the field than it did in flooded rice. In flooded rice, we saw pockets with quite a bit of defoliation, whereas in row rice they damaged sections of fields because they could pick up and move a lot easier.” Bateman also points out that rice seed treatment insecticides, such as Dermacor X-100 and Fortenza, are a good option for armyworm control. “If you have a seed treatment on the rice, odds are you won’t have to worry about armyworms at all,” he said. MAY 2022

RICE FARMING

Industry

News

Ducks Unlimited hosts nation’s leaders at Capitol Hill Dinner & Auction Following a two-year break due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Ducks Unlimited (DU) hosted the annual Capitol Hill Dinner and Auction for the first time since 2019. With more than 500 total guests in attendance, including Biden Administration officials, congressional staff, DU leadership and more than 40 bipartisan members of Congress, wetlands conservation was once again the focus of government leaders from across the United States. “After a few years off, it was wonderful to gather again in the nation’s capital to celebrate wetlands conservation,” said DU CEO Adam Putnam. “DU is incredibly fortunate to have such great friends in Congress on both sides of the aisle who prioritize the conservation of waterfowl habitat and the preservation of America’s cherished outdoor spaces. This event is testament to the hard work of our volunteers and emblematic of our continued success working with Congress to support critical programs, like NAWCA, that will ensure our grandchildren have the same

Partnership sells ‘SmartRice’ across the United States RiceTec, a global rice seed company, in partnership with U.S. rice farm — Whitaker Grain — brought SmartRice to market earlier this year on Amazon and has now expanded to be available through Shopify. According to a recent press release, SmartRice is a rice product grown in a more sustainable method to reduce the use of agricultural resources and provide more grain to meet the world’s growing appetite. “Today’s consumers are hungry for sustainability. They’re demanding more environmental common sense out of every-

RICE FARMING

MAY 2022

opportunities to experience the outdoors that we enjoy today.” The North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA) is a voluntary matching grant program that leverages non-federal and federal funds for wetland restoration. Since enactment in 1989, NAWCA has conserved more than 30 million acres and created an average of 7,500 new jobs annually. Every dollar spent by the federal government, on average, receives a $3 match from program partners like Ducks Unlimited. NAWCA is the nation’s most successful wetlands conservation program. DU hosts the annual Capitol Hill Dinner and Auction every spring in our nation’s capital, welcoming Members of Congress from both sides of the aisle and leaders of the current presidential administration, including from the White House, U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Department of the Interior. For more information, visit www.ducks.org, and be sure to follow DU’s Twitter feed — @DUNews1937 — to get the most up-to-date news from Ducks Unlimited.

thing they buy — including the food they put on their tables and the food they feed their pets,” said Tim Williamson, RiceTec marketing director. “That’s precisely what SmartRice delivers.” SmartRice is grown and distributed by Whitaker Grain, a family owned, fifth generation farm in Arkansas — the U.S. state with the largest rice production. Using highly researched methods, Whitaker Grain uses hybrid rice seed to qualify as a SmartRice product that lowers greenhouse emissions, creates water savings and results in high yields of grain production. “Rice growing methods such as alternate

wetting and drying irrigation and solar energy, along with other methods of conservation, allow us to save on natural resources, yield more rice and provide habitat to waterfowl,” said rice farmer Jim Whitaker. The release said SmartRice has the smallest carbon footprint of all commercially grown rice, thanks to a higher photosynthetic rate and naturally occurring pest and disease tolerance, requiring less water, nitrogen and pesticides. Based on an average of farm and statecollected data, SmartRice produces 50% less carbon emissions, yields 20% more per land unit and uses 50% less water than RICEFARMING.COM

Industry traditionally grown rice. SmartRice is successfully selling on Amazon across the country and is now available through Shopify for $13.07 per 2-pound bag. Visit www.smartrice.com for the latest in sales information, farmer videos and additional details.

Arkansas scholarship chance for agriculture majors The Arkansas Department of Agriculture is now accepting scholarship applications from students majoring in agriculture or an agriculture-related field at one of the following universities:  Arkansas State University.  Southern Arkansas University.  The Uninversity of Arkansas System.  Arkansas Tech University. Applications will be accepted through June 1. Go to bit.ly/DeptofAgScholarship. Scholarship recipients may receive up to $5,000 for the 2022-2023 academic year. Funding for the scholarships comes from civil penalties collected by the Arkansas Department of Agriculture. Recipients must have a minimum 2.5 GPA. Selections are based on academmic achievements, character, leadership, career plans and financial need. Questions regarding the scholarship program can be directed to Amy Lyman at amy.lyman@agriculture.arkansas.gov.

April 2022 California drought statement released The following information was published by the California Rice Commission: With a continued lack of sufficient rain and snow to replenish our state’s reservoirs, California’s drought means one thing: less water available for all. This third year of drought in California will likely lead to an unprecedented agricultural season for farmers across the state, including communities in the Sacramento Valley where farming is a major part of their foundation. Specific impacts on the rice planting season won’t be known until late May, at the earliest. Long-term drought impacts remain unclear. “What is certain is this historic drought has made our rural rice farming communities and our wildlife more vulnerable,” remarked California Rice Commission TWITTER: @RICEFARMING

News

Louisiana Agriculture Hall of Distinction names inductees Three icons of Louisiana agriculture were recently inducted into the Louisiana Agriculture Hall of Distinction. The new inductees are former director of the Louisiana Cooperative Extension Ser- Dr. Paul Don Jim vice and current chancellor of Coreil Molino Monroe LSU Alexandria Paul Coreil, of Alexandria; long time Louisiana Radio Network farm broadcaster Don Molino, of Baton Rouge; and Jim Monroe, of Pineville, the former assistant to the president at Louisiana Farm Bureau, where Monroe worked for 47 years. The Louisiana Agriculture Hall of Distinction is a joint effort of the LSU AgCenter, Louisiana Radio Network, Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation and Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry. It honors individuals who have made significant contributions to agriculture or agriculture-related industries. Previous inductees have represented farming, ranching, forestry, aquaculture, education and agribusiness. To learn more about the Louisiana Agriculture Hall of Distinction, contact Eboni Register with the Louisiana Radio Network at eboni@louisianaradionetwork. com or 225-291-2727. President and CEO Tim Johnson. “Our rice mills, dryers and suppliers will undoubtedly feel the effects of the drought this season.” With less water on the landscape, natural wildlife habitat is shrinking. The few inches of water used to sustain the nation’s second largest rice-producing state also acts as surrogate wetlands for millions of migratory birds along the Pacific Flyway. Nearly 230 wildlife species rely on Sacramento Valley Ricelands for their survival. “With extreme drought conditions forcing extraordinary challenges for both the wildlife and our farming communities, it is clear that flooded rice fields in the Sacramento Valley are more critical to our environment and our economy than ever before,” said Johnson.

Texas crawfish acres up Todd Sink, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension aquaculture specialist and director of the AgriLife Extension Aquatic Diagnostics Lab, Bryan-College Station, said the recent calamities have not deterred growth of crawfish production in Texas. The state added around 2,500 acres of crawfish production over the past three years. This brings the state’s crawfish production capacity to approximately 9,500 acres. Pounds of crawfish are hard to pin down due to the lack of official reporting, but

Sink believes producers average between 750-800 pounds per acre, or 6.75 million to 7.2 million pounds of crawfish. Around 60% of Texas acres are dual-purpose flooded rice fields that provide habitat for crawfish farming until rice is planted. Those acres produce around 650 pounds of crawfish until they are shut down for rice planting. Acres dedicated solely to crawfish produce 900-950 pounds per acre and can be harvested a month to six weeks longer than rice acres, Sink said. Texas ranks No. 2 in crawfish production and remains far behind Louisiana. But he estimates Texas gained about as many acres as Louisiana lost this past year to economic hardship, hurricane damages and invasive apple snail infestations. “Texas maybe gained 1%-3%, but we are still small apples compared to Louisiana,” he said. In 2019, Louisiana crawfish farmers harvested 150 million pounds of crawfish from 250,000 acres. Sink said the popularity of crawfish continues to grow. A recent article by Aquaculture North America reported crawfish popularity hit a record high this season based on domestic and foreign demand from countries like China. MAY 2022

RICE FARMING

Most Crop per Drop

Who can enter? Here is the criteria to determine eligibility to enter the contest:

UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS DIVISION OF AGRICULTURE

Arkansas irrigation yield contest is open for entries.

he University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture has been demonstrating Irrigation Water Management Practices on cooperator farms for five years. Experience has shown that when applied effectively, water use can be reduced by 24% on average with no yield penalty. Reductions in water use of around 40% have been documented. The adoption rate of Computerized Hole Selection is over 40%, indicating that this is now a mainstream practice in Arkansas. The Arkansas Irrigation Yield Contest is designed to test the knowledge and ability of growers to produce the “Most Crop per Drop.” You may participate in the contest by identifying and irrigating a 30-acre field where water use using a propeller meter or other meter approved by the UADA contest staff is used to measure water use in the irrigated field. Yield is measured by harvesting 3 acres in a skip pattern. Harvest must be completed top to bottom of the field. Go to https://bit.ly/3ukLKHp to access the entry form and view the complete guidelines for the contest. The deadline for the entry form is June 30. The meter will need to be sealed before the first irrigation. Call 870-673-2661 to request meter seal at least five days before. Entrants should read the contest rules carefully as the

RICE FARMING

MAY 2022

contest is similar to a yield contest but requires water use to be measured in addition to yield. To enter, print and complete the paper form contest entry or enter by using the Irrigation Contest online entry form. Send the entry form and a check made out to the University of Arkansas for $100 (entry fee) to: Irrigation Yield Contest, University of Arkansas Rice Research and Extension Center, 2900 HWY 130 East, Stuttgart, AR 72160. Locate a portable flow meter or have an in-place meter approved for use in the contest. The meter must only be used to measure water use during contest. Meters will be sealed to the irrigation system. Contestants are officially entered only after their entry form has been received and processed by the UADA. Entry forms must be postmarked within 10 days of meter sealing, and no later than June 30. Incomplete entry forms will be disqualified. Contest field locations must be entered on entry forms and boundaries of the field must be identified before any irrigation event, including the flushing of rice fields. The supervisor must certify the beginning meter reading on the entry form. The University of Arkansas provided this information. Contact contest@uark.edu or call 870-673-2661 for any questions.

• Entries are for rice, soybeans and corn. Irrigated fields only. • Contestant must be a certified FSA owner/operator of the entry plot, and the field must have a history of being irrigated. • A copy of the FSA Form 578, including farm summary, must be submitted with the contest entry form. • Contestants may not enter more than once per crop and per season. • Contestants must be 18 years old at the time of entry. • University of Arkansas employees and spouses are prohibited from entering the contest. • Board members, employees, spouses of the Arkansas Rice Research and Promotion Board, Arkansas Corn and Grain Sorghum Promotion Board and the Arkansas Soybean Promotion board are prohibited from entering the contest.

Anticipated awards • $11,000 seed tote credit for first place winner in flooded rice production system (Cascade, MIRI, AWD) sponsored by Ricetec. • $7,260 in hybrid seed for second place and $3,740 in hybrid seed for third place sponsored by Ricetec. • $6,000 cash for the first-place winner in corn, $3,000 for second place and $1,000 for third place sponsored by the Arkansas Corn and Grain Sorghum Promotion Board. • $6,000 cash for the first-place winner in soybeans, $3,000 for second place, and $1,000 for third place sponsored by the Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board. • $500 cash from Delta Plastics for each first-place winner. • $500 cash, 4 Watermark sensors and a manual reader from Irrometer for each first-place winner. • Portable Meter from Mccrometer for each first-place winner. • Insertion meter from Seametrics for each first-place winner. • Soil Moisture Monitoring unit (Base and rover) from Trellis for each first-place winner. • Aquatrac soil moisture monitor from Agsense/Valmont for each first-place winner. • CropX 18” sensor and telemetry for each first-place winner. $20,485 in total for each first-place winner in corn, soybeans and rice will be awarded. RICEFARMING.COM

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Articles inside

Irrometer Watermark Series Construction Guide

Fall armyworms

Industry News

Specialists Speaking

Jasmine-type aromatic rice line released

From the Editor

Record o -season harvest in Puerto Rico