Rice Farming February 2022 by One Grower Publishing

www.ricefarming.com

ONE GROWER PUBLISHING, LLC

PROFITABLE PRODUCTION STRATEGIES

FEBRUARY 2022

UArk doubles down on rice breeding efforts with 2 releases Louisiana crawfish season gets off to an early start

Rice outlook Commodity prices, input costs are key considerations this year

INSIDE: 2021 RICE CONSULTANT OF THE YEAR BD FONTENOT

THE TRIFECTA OF

RICE PROTECTION

Get elite weed control no matter the rice seed. Prowl® H2O, Facet® L and Sharpen® herbicides deliver a trifecta of rice herbicide options fit to defend any rice production system. Contact your BASF rep to get started today.

www.ricefarming.com www.ricefarming.com

March 2018 February 2022

l Uu M m NnSs Co OL

Vol. 52, 56, No. 4 3 Vol.

v EeRr SSTtOoRrYy Co OV

Fromthe the Editor Editor 4 From

Rice outlook

Showtime back in the Rice's long is history bucks South! 'what's hot in food' trends

6 Guest USA Rice Update 6 Column USA Ricesustainability pivots, brings Rice and farms and mills to chefs

8 USA Rice Update D e pa rt m e n t s Rice industry sets priorities for the next Farm Bill 17 Industry News Rice business scene

DEPARTMENTS Rice business scene strategies for 2022

20 Specialist Speaking

ON THEherbicide COVER: Deciding on the Early mistakes can optimal crop mix for 2022 is compliplague you all season long cated by a number of variables from relative crop prices and the outlook for each, to input costs and yield ON THE COVER: Armyworms once expectations.

again plagued California rice growers Photo by Vicky Boyd in 2017.

The Californiaprices rice industry prepares for what may become annual armyworm Commodity and input costs are key considerations this year. infestations.

F eE a uRrEeSs A TtU 9 10

Photo by Luis Espino, University of California Cooperative Extension FEBRUARY 2022

ONE GROWER PUBLISHING, LLC

16 14

K-State researchers hope to crush weed seeds

The yang Moreyin in and the pipeline

Shorter supplies haveonshorn up the UArk doubles down rice breeding market, but two increased 2018 planting eff orts with releases from senior rice projections long-term outlook. breeder Dr. cloud Xueyan Sha.

GET CONNECTED Stay up-to-date with the latest from Rice Farming. www.facebook.com/ ricefarming1 Follow us on Twitter: @RiceFarming TWITTER: @RICEFARMING @RICEFARMING

Louisiana crawfish season gets Giant invasive snail threatens theoff to an early start. rice-crawfish rotation in southwest

New tool evaluates in-season tissue K levels

Pinch, peel, eat Floods aid expansion Louisiana.

Stamp out ‘hidden hunger’

Look thethe Soybean Southe-newsletter supplement Sign upforfor monthly following page 2 in the Arkansas, at ricefarming.com to the have exclusive Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri and industry news andofcontent delivered Texas versions Rice Farming . directly to your inbox.

10 8

Here to stay?

18 Specialists Speaking 19 Industry News Fertility management

New tools in the tool box

16 14

Several new crop-protection products are available in time for this year’s rice season.

The smell of success BD FONTENOT

2021

University of Arkansas breeding program releases 2021 new jasmine-type Rice Consultant of the Year long grain.

BD Fontenot of Eunice, Louisiana, is the 2021 recipient of this esteemed award. Read more about him beginning on page 11.

Farm & Gin Show recap

Tight world rice supplies mean any disruption could push markets higher.

18 MARCH 2018 FEBRUARY 2022 | | RICE RICEFARMING FARMING

From The

Editor

Showtime is back in the South! The Mid-South Farm & Gin Show is an iconic event that has educated and entertained the agricultural community for decades. The doors open this year Feb. 25 on its 70th anniversary — quite a milestone! Generations of Southern families have packed their suitcases, put on their blue suede shoes and journeyed to Memphis, Tennessee, to walk the aisles at the Gin Show, filling giveaway bags with trinkets and learning about the latest and greatest products and services to make them more profitable. It’s a tradition in the South. For many, many years, we have memorized our route around the Cook Convention CenCarroll Smith ter. We all know to drop by the Helena booth to Editor grab some hot popcorn, bring the kids to pose for pics on new farm machinery, and have face-to-face time with the hundreds of vendors who have worked so hard to find ways to make farmers more prosperous. We missed the Mid-South Farm & Gin Show’s physical presence last year because of the COVID pandemic. However, Tim Price, executive vice president, Southern Cotton Ginners Association, rose to the challenge. He and his talented staff produced a virtual version of the show to keep the ball rolling. In 2022, we are back to in-person activities. The Mid-South Farm & Gin Show will be the same thing, only different. Different in that the Cook Convention Center has been transformed into a state-of-the-art facility to house the event. Same location on Main St., but with a major facelift. You have to see it to believe it. The show kicks off Friday with the Ag Update meeting at 8:30 a.m. Another Ag Update meeting will be held Saturday at the same time. Show exhibits open at 9 a.m. both Friday and Saturday. In addition to these meetings and exhibits, several seminars are on the schedule. Of special interest to the rice community is an educational rice marketing seminar. It will be held Saturday, beginning at 12:30 p.m. Milo Hamilton, co-founder and senior agricultural economist, Firstgrain Inc., says, “This workshop looks at the rice price as trapped between uncertain input costs and other factors you may never have thought about before. We will be in Memphis to help you sort through your new crop rice price outlook.” The Mid-South Farm & Gin Show provides the perfect opportunity for our diverse Southern agricultural community to network, catch up with old friends and get ready for the upcoming season. Please make plans to attend. You will be glad you did. Go to farmandginshow.com to register and get more information. See you in Memphis!

Carroll

EDITORIAL/PRODUCTION Editor-In-Chief Carroll Smith csmith@onegrower.com Copy Editor Amanda Huber ahuber@onegrower.com Digital Content Editor Katie Guthrie kguthrie@onegrower.com Art Director Ashley Kumpe akumpe@onegrower.com

ADMINISTRATION Publisher/Vice President Lia Guthrie 901-497-3689 lguthrie@onegrower.com Associate Publisher/Editor-In-Chief Carroll Smith 901-326-4443 csmith@onegrower.com Associate Publisher/Sales Manager Scott Emerson 386-462-1532 semerson@onegrower.com Production Manager David Boyd dboyd@onegrower.com Audience Services Kate Thomas 847-559-7514 For subscription changes or change of address, call 847-559-7578 or email ricefarming@omeda.com

ONE GROWER PUBLISHING, LLC Mike Lamensdorf President/Treasurer Lia Guthrie Publisher/Vice President ASSOCIATED PUBLICATIONS — One Grower Publishing LLC also publishes COTTON FARMING, THE PEANUT GROWER, SOYBEAN SOUTH and CORN SOUTH magazines. RICE FARMING (ISSN 0194-0929) is published monthly January through May, and December, by One Grower Publishing LLC, 875 W. Poplar Ave., Suite 23, Box 305, Collierville, TN 38017. Periodicals postage paid at Memphis, Tennesee, and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to OMEDA COMMUNICATIONS, CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT, P.O. BOX 1388, NORTHBROOK, IL 60065-1388. Annual subscriptions are $25.00. International rates are $55.00 Canada/Mexico, $90.00 all other countries for Air-Speeded Delivery. (Surface delivery not available due to problems in reliability.) $5.00 single copy. All statements, including product claims, are those of the person or organization making the statement or claim. The publisher does not adopt any such statement or claims as its own and any such statement or claim does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the publisher. RICE FARMING is a registered trademark of One Grower Publishing LLC, which reserves all rights granted by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office in association with its registration.

Send comments to: Editor, Rice Farming Magazine, 875 W. Poplar Ave., Suite 23, Box 305, Collierville, TN 38017 or email csmith@onegrower.com.

RICE FARMING

FEBRUARY 2022

One Grower Publishing, LLC 875 W. Poplar Ave., Suite 23, Box 305 Collierville, TN 38017

RICEFARMING.COM

At UPL, we don’t mind getting into the nitty-gritty.

When our rice growers face challenges, we’re right there in the ﬁelds next to them, with tailored solutions and products to help them keep their season on track from start to ﬁnish. Ready for a partner for your season? We’ve already got our boots on.

Get the most out of your rice season by visiting uplriceportfolio.com.

RICE-2101A Not Afraid 7.875x10.75.indd 1

SUPERWHAM!

HERBICIDE

RICEBEAUX STAM 80 EDF STAM M4 ®

HERBICIDE

10/19/21 12:35 PM

USA Rice

Update

USA Rice pivots, brings farms and mills to chefs

S By Betsy Ward

President and CEO USA Rice

ince 2016, USA Rice’s Foodservice Farm & Mill Tour program has played a central role in how we tell our story to the critical foodservice world. It creates a bridge from the field to the plate, connecting our growers and millers with the foodservice folks who are so uniquely positioned to bring U.S. rice’s story to the consumer. Over the years it has reached dozens of influential chefs, writers, and industry professionals, inspiring their creativity and passion for food, and expanding their understanding and appreciation of U.S.-grown rice. Program background The program began in Arkansas when we took a few chefs to the fields and mill of Windmill Rice in Jonesboro. The next year, the tour went to Arbuckle, California to the fields, dryers and mill of Sun Valley Rice, and we expanded attendees to include dieticians representing Division I NCAA sport programs.

Join award-winning Chef Jerome Grant as you visit U.S. rice fields, experience a grain mill and meet local rice farmers in USA Rice’s Virtual Farm & Mill Tour. COURTESY USA RICE

RICE FARMING

FEBRUARY 2022

The following year we got bigger still, responding to chef ’s interest in aromatic varieties. We went to the Zaunbrecher’s farm in Rayne, Louisiana, to see and smell the jasmine rice the brothers were growing, and then off to the Falcon Rice Mill and Supreme Rice Mill in Crowley. We also added a sustainability angle, taking everyone to the Grosse Savanne Lodge in Lake Charles so they could see first-hand

the relationship between rice and waterfowl habitat. In 2019, we went to back to culinary roots in Mississippi, taking the chefs to dryers and farms in Washington County and to the Mars Foods Mill in Greenville. We added a TVstyle cooking competition for the chefs at the Viking Cooking School with great prizes and bragging rights. But then the pandemic hit and the reality of taking chefs out to farms and mills in 2020 became all but impossible. So we pivoted to a virtual tour that has several advantages, beyond not getting your boots muddy. Pandemic pivot First, we were able to “take” attendees to geographically diverse locations. We visited fields in Illinois and California, and we went back to the Sun Valley Rice Mill. Second, we’re able to reach many more foodservice professionals with the video — a walking mill tour and rides on combines does severely limit the number of participants. Third, we’re able to see more of the process — from field prep to planting, through harvest, drying, milling and packaging. We also added a tour host. It’s James Beard-nominated chef Jerome Grant who loves talking about U.S.-grown rice. (By the way, Grant went on our 2019 tour in Mississippi if you were wondering.) Attendees at the 2021 USA Rice Outlook Conference got a preview of the tour video, but now it’s available for all. Digital advertising in the foodservice space direct chefs and decision makers to the video on our dedicated foodservice webpage (www.thinkrice. com/farmtour), and you can see it too on the USA Rice YouTube page. We can’t wait to get our foodservice visitors back out in the field, and we’re making plans to do just that in 2022. But in the meantime, I’m thrilled we have been able to keep the important program alive and even expand our reach. Attendees and viewers take what they learn in the program back to their restaurants and menus, their hometowns, their social media platforms, and their fanbases beyond, and that makes it time well spent. RICEFARMING.COM

Custom Programs, Optimal Weed Control Jared Wood Hefty Seed Co. Augusta, Arkansas

Growing up in the Arkansas Delta, I have always been out on the farm. When I became of age to work, I helped area rice growers put in levee gates in the spring and pull them in the fall. My buddies and I were known as the “spill crew” around here. After graduating college, I went to work for Ritter Crop Services in McCrory, Arkansas, as a consultant. About five years ago, I joined Hefty Seed Co. in Augusta. For me, barnyardgrass is always a problem weed. This year will be no different. As always, we hope to get residuals out and activated behind the planter, if possible. If spraying is delayed, I will make an early post application before the grass gets too big. ALS-resistant sedge is becoming a bigger issue in my area, but I have never really dealt with it until this past year.

Barnyardgrass And Pigweed Control Strategies

I look at both levee rice and row rice. In a row-rice situation, we fight barnyardgrass and pigweeds. In row rice, I like to get two to three residuals out behind the planter. Depending on how many residuals I get out, I may have to make an early post application at 2- to 3- leaf rice. In conventional rice, it typically will be Stam and Prowl herbicides. In a Clearfield/FullPage situation, I replace Stam with Preface/Newpath herbicides. Two weeks later, I spray it with Loyant® herbicide and maybe some more Prowl, go to flood, and it’s off to the races. With Loyant, pigweeds are not an issue in row rice because it works very well. If I am going after big barnyardgrass, Grasp® SC herbicide or Regiment herbicide picks it up along with other broadleaves and aquatics. In the past two years when we have had a lot of water-seeded rice, RebelEX® herbicide has been helpful in certain situations with aquatics and bigger grass. If it’s 90 degrees Fahrenheit, constant rain is causing delays and grass is putting on a new leaf every three days, I am thankful to have options such as RebelEX to go after problematic weeds. Preflood, I use Grasp because it takes out bigger barnyardgrass as well as eclipta and other aquatics in water-seeded or dry-seeded rice. After we go to flood, if a farmer wants to get rid of sprangletop that has gotten big, I apply 15 ounces of Clincher® SF herbicide with 1 quart COC or MSO. Every field is different. I always customize my herbicide recommendations based on weed spectrum and weed size. They are by farm and by field.

• Bachelor of Science degree in agricultural business, Arkansas Tech University, Russellville. • Consults on rice, corn and soybeans in Jackson, White and Woodruff counties and one farm in Lonoke County. • Has consulted for 11 years. • Youth Sunday school teacher at First Baptist Church, McCrory, Arkansas. • Married to wife Kristin for 11 years. One son: Jameson, 3. • Enjoys hunting, fishing and driving a tractor or running a combine for a few local farmers in the fall.

Recap: Tailor Programs For Weed Control 1. With Loyant® herbicide, pigweeds are not an issue in row rice because it works very well. 2. When targeting big barnyardgrass, Grasp® SC herbicide or Regiment herbicide picks it up along with other broadleaves and aquatics. 3. When we have had a lot of water-seeded rice, RebelEX® herbicide has been helpful in certain situations with aquatics and bigger grass. 4. For big sprangletop post-flood, I use 15 ounces of Clincher® SF herbicide with 1 quart COC or MSO.

Sponsored by

Trademarks of Corteva Agriscience and its affiliated companies. Clincher® SF, Grasp® SC, RebelEX® and Loyant® are not registered for sale or use in all states. Contact your state pesticide regulatory agency to determine if a product is registered for sale or use in your state. Always read and follow label directions. © 2022 Corteva.

™®

Rice outlook Commodity prices and input costs are key considerations this year. By H. Scott Stiles

University of Arkansas, Division of Agriculture

ice or soybeans — or both? Many Mid-South growers are still wrestling with that decision. Deciding on the optimal crop mix for 2022 is complicated by a number of variables from relative crop prices and the outlook for each, to input costs and yield expectations.

Source: USDA, Economic Research Service.

ance sheet and historically high prices in competing commodities, one would be hard pressed to come up with a factor that would reduce rice prices in the early months of 2022. However, if I had to put one wet blanket on the rice outlook, it would have to be the possibility of USDA dialing back its long-grain export projection. USDA’s current long-grain export target for 2021/22 is 64 million cwt.; not quite 2% below last year’s 65.1 million. By comparison, U.S. long-grain sales and shipments through mid-January are running 10% behind last year. Long-grain milled rice sales are up compared to a year ago, due to the 120,000 tons sold to Iraq last July. More than offsetting the export gains in milled rice is a 23% decline in rough rice sales. This sharp drop is due in large part to the “once-in-a-decade” sales the United States made to Brazil last year. And U.S. rough rice sales to Venezuela are down about 128,000 tons year-on-year.

VICKY BOYD

Market fundamentals Beginning with some thoughts on the rice market, new crop rice prices during the month of January are the highest they’ve been since 2014 with September 2022 futures trading between $14 and $14.50 per hundredweight (cwt). Given this price strength, it is becoming more likely the Mid-South will see year-to-year stability in rice acres. Planting time weather and soybean price direction will also play key roles in determining rice acres. No doubt too, growers will see higher input costs. However, the rice market is sending a clear signal as we start the year with tighter ending stocks. Despite record rice yields in Arkansas, Missouri and Mississippi, U.S. long-grain production was down 15% in 2021 on lower acreage. As a result, ending stocks are expected to drop in 2021/22. Long-grain ending stocks are currently projected at 21.4 million cwt.; down 28% from last year. This equates to a stocks-to-use ratio of 12.1% — below the previous five and 10-year average of 14%. The U.S. Department of Agriculture also projects total supplies of long-grain to decline nearly 17 million cwt. in the current marketing year to 198.3 million. Historically, the United States has better export market participation in years with total supply at or above 200 million cwt. To maintain export market share, the futures market and basis are trying to keep rice competitive with other grains. Given relatively low stocks-to-use in the U.S. long-grain bal-

RICE FARMING

FEBRUARY 2022

RICEFARMING.COM

MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY

Battle for acres In 2022, soybeans will be a key competitor for rice acres in the Mid-South. Corn and cotton are competing for acres as well and lending some price support to rice. November 2022 soybean futures began to surge higher in early December (2021) and continued into January on poor crop conditions in key areas of South America. For much of January, the November soybean contract has traded in the range of $12.75 to $13.35 per bushel. Corn and cotton have followed soybeans higher with new crop contracts moving above $5.80 and 98 cents, respectively. With September 2022 rice futures trading at 7-year highs, it is apparent rice prices are at least attempting to provide the same relative profitability as soybeans. In this era of extreme commodity price volatility, few will offer up a price projection for the upcoming year. That being said, prior to planting, new crop rice prices appear likely to remain at levels that prevent a large shift from rice to soybeans in the upcoming year. More information about planting intentions will be released March 31 in USDA’s Prospective Plantings report. Input costs Higher input costs will be a major consideration in 2022 planting decisions. Compared to a year ago, variable costs for a conventional hybrid rice production system have increased almost $230 per acre or 34%. These cost increases are based on budgets published by the University of Arkansas in early December 2021. Sharp increases in production cost have been driven largely by fertilizer and fuel. Many crop chemicals have increased in cost over the past year as well. Assuming an average yield of 190 bushels per acre, rice prices would need to increase by roughly $1.20 per bushel to maintain the same return as in 2021. Rice prices still have some work to do to offset increases in input costs. However, competitiveness with soybeans may get a boost by way of lower nitrogen costs if recent trends continue. Since mid-November, urea barge values at the U.S. Gulf have fallen by more than $220 per ton. This is obviously great news for producers who have remained on the sidelines and waited for fertilizer prices to decrease. From conversations with Mid-South growers and suppliers, it appears the price decline in urea barge values at the Gulf translated to the retail level. By mid-to-late January, pre-pay urea offers near $675 per ton were reported in some areas — significantly TWITTER: @RICEFARMING

Source: USDA, Economic Research Service.

lower than prices plugged into budgets near the end of 2021. In the University of Arkansas 2022 crop budgets, an average urea price of $850 per ton is used in the rice budgets published in early December. Reducing the cost of urea to $675 per ton trims off nearly $29 per acre in fertilizer expense. If urea prices remain well below the late 2021 highs, that could factor into planting decisions, particularly with rice, corn and cotton impacted most by fertilizer cost increases over the past year. On a final note, keep in mind the current fall bids for rice and soybeans are well above long-term averages. Pre-harvest hedging of a portion of 2022 production seems warranted, particularly if some input purchases have already been made. In times when commodity prices are historically high, the responsibility of price risk management falls entirely on the producer. Since the Price Loss Coverage (PLC) program was initiated in 2014, the $14/cwt reference price for long-grain rice has exceeded the season average producer price in each marketing year thus far. This streak appears it could be broken in the 2022/23 marketing year. As commodity and input prices hover near historical highs, make the necessary revisions to crop budgets and marketing plans. Before returning to the field this spring, remove some stress by identifying profitable price levels and a marketing strategy that protects your farm business. H. Scott Stiles has been an Extension ag economist with the University of Arkansas for 22 years. FEBRUARY 2022

RICE FARMING

More in the pipeline UArk doubles down on rice breeding efforts with 2 releases. By Vicky Boyd

VICKY BOYD

Ozark A cross between Diamond and LaKast, Ozark is a tall-statured variety similar to Diamond. Nevertheless, he said, Ozark came through a number of hurricane and tropical storms during fall 2021 with minimal damage. “Being taller doesn’t necessarily translate to lodging,” Sha said. “When we went through a hurricane last year, this variety performed much better than a semi-dwarf. This tall one stood much better because the sheath stayed green and withstood the wind.” In 2021 Arkansas Commercial Rice Trials, Ozark — trialed as 20AR185 — yielded an average of 212 bushels per acre across 11 locations. Milling yield was 57-70. Diamond averaged 202 bushels per acre across the same 11 locations, with average milling yields of 59-69. Ozark doesn’t have blast-re“The milled rice is very white, sistance genes and has blast susand also the cooked rice is ceptibility similar to Diamond. very white,” Dr. Xueyan Sha But it isn’t considered very sussaid about Ozark. ceptible like Francis was. Agronomically, growers should manage Ozark much as they would Diamond. But trials by University of Arkansas Extension plant pathologist Yeshi Wamishe found the new variety exhibited slightly less false smut infection and had slightly improved narrow brown leaf spot tolerance. Disease ratings for sheath blight and bacterial panicle blight were similar to Diamond. Ozark kernel length falls into that 7-millimeter sweet spot sought by millers and buyers, he said. It also produces kernels less

RICE FARMING

FEBRUARY 2022

PHOTO COURTESY DR. XUEYAN SHA

he University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture has released a long-grain and a medium-grain rice variety, both with improved yield potentials over previous cultivars. They will undergo seed increase in 2022 with the hope of a limited commercial launch for the 2023 season, said Dr. Xueyan Sha, senior rice breeder who developed the two. Ozark is a conventional-height traditional long-grain variety with improved yield potential over Diamond, a previous UA release. Taurus is a true semi-dwarf medium-grain variety with significantly improved yield potential over Jupiter, an older medium grain from the Louisiana State University breeding program. The two releases mark a renewed effort by the University of Arkansas to bring quality rice varieties to the market. “This is the first step — we’re going to have a lot more coming in the pipeline that will show even better yield potential,” Sha said. “It’s just doubling down on our efforts.”

Taurus is a new medium-grain with improved yield potential over Jupiter. It is from the breeding program of Dr. Xueyan Sha.

chalky than Diamond. At 23.5% amylose, the new variety has typical Southern long-grain cooking quality. “The milled rice is very white, and also the cooked rice is very white,” Sha said. He said he settled on the Ozark name based on his previous breeding experience at LSU. There, rice breeder Steve Linscombe chose names, such as Cheniere and Pirogue, that paid homage to Louisiana. “We wanted to stick with an Arkansas connection,” Sha said of Ozark. Taurus Taurus is a true semi-dwarf conventional medium grain, standing shorter than Jupiter, Titan and Clearfield CLM04, which is also from Sha’s breeding program. In three years of Arkansas Rice Performance Trials, Taurus showed a significant yield advantage over Jupiter, Sha said. Across 11 locations in 2021, Taurus yielded an average of 220 bushels per acre, with average milling yields of 62-71. Jupiter yielded an average of 197 bushels per acre, with milling averages of 65-69, while Titan yielded an average of 203 bushels per acre, with milling averaging 50-70. Taurus’ grain size is similar to CLM04 but larger than Jupiter’s. Compared to Titan, Taurus’ grain size is slightly smaller. The variety produces low-chalk kernels that are very translucent. The new medium grain is three days earlier than Jupiter but three days later than Titan. Like Titan, Taurus contains the Pi-ks and Pi-z genes for blast resistance. Sha has already sent 2-pound samples to Kellogg’s for the past few years to get the processor’s take on its suitability. So far, he said they’ve seemed happy. The next step will be to send 1,000 pounds so Kellogg’s can run it through pilot-scale processing. Sha said he chose to call the new variety Taurus to follow other recent Arkansas medium-grain releases named after constellations or planets. RICEFARMING.COM

2021

BD FONTENOT

VICKY BOYD

BD Fontenot is joined by his wife, Laurie, and their American quarter horse, Grace.

D Fontenot grew up in Mamou, Louisiana — a small town in Evangeline Parish surrounded by agriculture. When he was 10 years old, Fontenot got his first job. His relatives had a cotton farm and came to town on Sunday to eat lunch at their grandparents’ house. Fontenot rode home with them in the afternoon and stayed all week to pick cotton. When they brought the cotton bale to town on Saturday, they dropped him back at his house. “I think that is what developed my interest in agriculture,” Fontenot says. “I always did like farming.”

While attending the University of Southwestern Louisiana in Lafayette, he worked on rice farms during the summers, driving a cart or cutting levees. After graduating from USL with a degree in agronomy, Fontenot worked for the Louisiana Farm Bureau but knew he wanted to get closer to agriculture. When a position opened up at a retail outlet in Elton, Louisiana, he took it. “That’s where I got my education in rice farming and met a lot of people,” Fontenot says. “David Prochaska, who was a consultant, spurred an interest in me to become a crop consultant. Other people I looked up to at that time were Steve Zaunbrecher, who was employed at G&H Seed Co., and Lawrence Trahan, who pretty much ran Crowley Grain. Steve and Lawrence were the go-to guys in rice. “David encouraged me to start attending the Louisiana Agricultural Consultants Association meetings. I met a lot of people there and began testing to get my consultant’s license. That’s how I would describe the growth process in my profes-

sional life. Today, I am still at the same location in Elton, where I am employed by Nutrien Ag Solutions.” A Love Of Learning Fontenot considers himself a lucky fellow because he likes what he does and has had some good people, such as Prochaska, to point him in the right direction. He also has an inquisitive mind. “When something new comes out, I can’t wait to learn about it and try it,” he says. “I enjoy looking for innovative ways to use a product in an efficacious manner. “One thing that helped me a lot was attending the parish rice meetings that LSU Extension put on in January and February. I would not only go to the one in Evangeline Parish, I would make three or four of those a year. I learned something different at every one of them. I also got to know Steve Linscombe, Pat Bollich, Dearl Sanders and Eric Webster. The professionals at LSU AgCenter were a great resource for me.”

management than we have ever had before,” he says. “I am a big believer in residual herbicides. Malori Lansing, my Corteva territory manager, once said, ‘BD likes rice plants and dirt and water in his fields.’ That is my goal as far as weed control. Start clean and stay clean.” Interacting With Rice Producers Fontenot and the farmers for whom he consults know each other very well. Ninety percent of the growers he has today are the same ones he started with when he first began working in Elton. Most of these family farms are multigenerational now, so there has been a lot of continuity in his career. “Any time they need to make an agricultural or agronomic decision, they call me,” Fontenot says. “I usually go out to the farm to talk to them so I can get a better idea of what is going

VICKY BOYD

Linscombe, who is now rice breeder and director emeritus at the Rice Research Station in Rayne, Louisiana, says Fontenot is by far the best rice consultant with whom he has ever worked. “He is knowledgeable, meticulous, hardworking and a real pleasure to be around,” Linscombe says. “One thing that has always impressed me about BD is that he will leave no stone unturned in getting the answer to a question or issue that will benefit one of his growers. He has always been considered an early adapter of new technologies. However, he is somewhat conservative in this aspect until he is convinced that the new technology will benefit his growers.” Fontenot’s rice consulting career has spanned more than four decades. During that time, he has seen big advancements in rice production, particularly in weed and insect control. “We have better tools today for weed management and insect

Louisiana rice consultant BD Fontenot has walked fields for more than four decades.

DOREEN MUZZI

VICKY BOYD

BD Fontenot and warehouse manager David Gillett (right) discuss the upcoming workday.

From left, Malori Lansing, Corteva Agriscience territory manager; David Gillett, warehouse manager; BD Fontenot; and Troy Neal, operations manager, pose in front of Nutrien Ag Solutions in Elton, Louisiana.

PHOTOS BY VICKY BOYD

BD Fontenot (right) visits with John Chatagnier, who works in the fertilizer plant, as Chatagnier cooks up a pot of ducks. on. I also call on them when it’s time to book seed for the next year and before planting when we discuss what we are planting and how we are going to plant it — drill it or water-seed. “We talk about new herbicides or new ways to use herbicides. We discuss what problems they had last year that we need to get ahead of this year. We go from planting to harvest and provide whatever services our farmers need. These guys are very good at what they do. If they have practices in place that are working, we don’t change them unless something drives that change. That’s the way things work.” Randy Ouzts, Nutrien Ag Solutions US rice manager, says his first encounter with Fontenot was at the annual LSU AgCenter Rice Field Day in 2001. “I developed an immediate sense of respect for him, carefully listening to his ideas about current issues in play, his opinions on things — sometimes very pointed, but always fair — and his predictions on the future of rice production with new tools in hand while holding on to the ‘old’ that couldn’t be quickly displaced. “Today, his tenacity and willingness to go the extra mile is always evident. He also serves as a mentor to many people within the company who look to him for guidance, and he never says no.” A Look Behind The Scenes Reflecting on his career, Fontenot recalls a typical day during the heat of the rice growing season. “I was up before daylight,” he says. “I wouldn’t fix a lunch, but I did fix a late breakfast to bring along. I left the house early enough to get to the furthest point at daylight. When I got there, I went to work. We worked from daylight to dark and sometimes got home after dark. “Before we had cell phones, when farmers called the office, the office would call me on my radio. I would write down their names and go out to the farms to work. It became easier after we got cell phones because we could do things along the way.

BD Fontenot and his wife, Laurie, reside in Eunice, Louisiana.

BD Fontenot At A Glance Background w Bachelor of Science degree in agronomy, University of Southwestern Louisiana, 1976. w Employed by Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation in 1978. w Went to work for an ag distributor in Elton, Louisiana, in 1980. w Currently works for Nutrien Ag Solutions in the same Elton location. w Consults on rice in Allen, Evangeline and St. Landry parishes. w Active member of the Louisiana Agricultural Consultants Association. Family Life BD Fontenot grew up in Mamou, Louisiana, in Evangeline Parish. Today, he and his wife, Laurie, reside in Eunice, Louisiana. They have a son Jacques, daughter-in-law Shelly and two grandchildren, Rose and Finn, who live in Youngsville, Louisiana. Fontenot’s hobbies include starting colts and going to the deer camp. He also enjoys good food and Cajun music. “It was a six day a week job, and on Sunday afternoons I would knock out a few fires so Monday wouldn’t be so hectic. You had all you wanted and all you could get to. Everything happens so fast during those critical months.” When asked about his reaction to learning he was selected as the 2021 Rice Consultant of the Year, Fontenot says he was surprised, pleased and honored. “I didn’t even realize I was a candidate,” he adds. He says what he does know is the most rewarding aspect of being a rice consultant is looking out for the best interests of his farmers. “At times, a grower might come to me with a problem on his farm or something he wants to change on his farm,” Fontenot says. “If I can find an innovative way for him to be successful and see a smile on the farmer’s face, that is my reward.”

S P O N S O R E D

™®

B Y

Five Reasons to Plant Horizon Ag Ag Varieties Varietiesin in2022 2022 Five Reasons to Plant Five Reasons to Plant Horizon Ag Varieties in 2022 Five Reasons to Plant Horizon Ag Varieties in 2022 Proven to to perform. Proven Proven perform.It’sIt’smore morethan thana aclaim. claim.It’s It’saastatement statement validated validated 3. CLL17: An Answer to Higher to perform. It’s more than a enabled claim. It’srice a statement by consistent field that have farmers achieve byProven consistent by consistent fieldresults results that have enabled farmers totovalidated achieve Proven to perform. It’s more than a claim. It’srice a statement validated by consistent field results that have enabled rice farmers to higher yields, outstanding milling quality and, ultimately, aaachieve better higher higher yields, outstanding milling quality and, ultimately, better by consistent field results that havequality enabledand, riceultimately, farmers to aachieve higher yields, outstanding milling better return onon investment. return return investment. higher yields, outstanding milling quality and, ultimately, a better return on investment. Heading into a a2022 Heading into 2022production productionseason season that that already already promises promises Heading return on investment. Heading into a 2022 production season that already promises more than its share of challenges, farmers who choose Horizon Ag more than its share of challenges, farmers who choose Horizon more Heading into a 2022 production season that already promises more than its share of challenges, farmers who choose Horizon Ag Clearfield® andProvisia® Provisia® varietiesforfor theirfarms farmschoose can be beHorizon confident Clearfield® varieties their can confident Clearfield® more thanand its share of challenges, farmers who Ag Clearfield® and Provisia® varieties for their farms can be confident they’ve made bestchoices, choices, based provencan results, strong they’ve made thethe best based onon proven results, strong they’ve Clearfield® and Provisia® varieties for their farms be confident they’ve made the best proventraits results, strong potential andthe themost mostchoices, reliablebased weedon control available. potential and reliable weed control available. potential they’ve made the best choices, based on proventraits results, strong potential and the most reliable weed control traits available. Compared to more expensive, unproven competitor seed and Compared to more expensive, unproven competitor seed and Compared potential and the most reliableunproven weed control traits seed available. Compared to more expensive, competitor and systems, there’s reallyno nochoice. choice. systems, there’s systems, Compared to really more systems, there’s reallyexpensive, no choice. unproven competitor seed and systems, no choice. Here arethere’s Fivereally Reasons to Plant Horizon Ag Provisia

Here HereareareFive FiveReasons ReasonstotoPlant PlantHorizon Horizon Ag Ag Provisia Provisia and Clearfield Varieties in 2022: Here are Five Varieties Reasons toin Plant Horizon Ag Provisia and Clearfield 2022: and Clearfield Varieties in 2022: and Clearfield in 2022: 1. NEW PVL03: AVarieties Game-Changer 1. 1.NEW PVL03: A AGame-Changer NEW PVL03: Game-Changer The latestPVL03: and greatest variety to be released 1. NEW A Game-Changer The latest andandgreatest TheThe latest latest greatestvariety varietytotobebereleased released

for latest the Provisia Rice variety system,to PVL03 is a and greatest be released for the Rice system, PVL03 isis aa forThe thetheProvisia for Provisia Rice system, PVL03 game-changer. You get system, yield potential for the Provisia PVL03 that isthat game-changer. You Rice getgetyield potential game-changer. game-changer. yield potential thata isgame-changer. comparable You to the best Clearfield® You get yield potential that isis iscomparable toto thethe best Clearfield® comparable comparable best tolerance Clearfield® varieties plus industry-leading to is comparable to the best Clearfield® varieties plus industry-leading tolerance toto varieties varieties plusCercospora. industry-leading tolerance blast and It’s an extremely varieties plus industry-leading tolerance to blast andand Cercospora. extremely blast blast Cercospora. It’s anan extremely robust plant with very It’s good straw strength, so lodging is not a blast and Cercospora. It’s an extremely robust plant soso lodging isis not robust robust plant withvery verygood goodstraw straw strength, lodging not problem. Itwith has exceptional grainstrength, dimensions and good grainaa robust plant with very good grain straw strength, so and lodging is not problem. It has exceptional dimensions good grain problem. problem. It has exceptional grain dimensions and good translucency. And you are goinggrain to getdimensions the Provisiaand Rice good Systemgrain and problem. It has exceptional translucency. And you are going to get the Provisia Rice Systemgrain and translucency. translucency. And youlower are going topoint get the Provisia Rice System PVL03 at a much price than hybrids or competitive translucency. And you are going to get the Provisia Rice System and PVL03 muchlower lower pricepoint pointgood thannews hybrids competitive PVL03 PVL03 at atvarietals. a amuch than hybrids oror competitive traited That isprice extremely for farmers wanting PVL03 at a much lower price point than hybrids or competitive traited varietals. Thatis isextremely extremely goodbynews news for farmers farmers wanting traited traited varietals. That good for wanting to maximize profitability next season minimizing inputs while traited varietals. That is extremely goodbynews for farmers wanting to maximize profitability next season minimizing inputs while to still maximize to maximize profitability next season byrice, minimizing inputs while effectively controlling costly weedy red rice and grasses. to maximize profitability next season byrice, minimizing inputs while still effectively controlling costly weedy red rice and grasses. still effectively effectively controlling costly weedy rice, red rice and grasses. still stillCLL16: effectively controlling costly 2. Consistently Highweedy Yieldsrice, red rice and grasses.

CLL16: Consistently High Yields 2. 2. Consistently High Yields at a Lower Price Than Hybrids 2.CLL16: CLL16: Consistently High Yields at a Lower Price Than Hybrids a Lower Price Than Hybrids Inatfields from the Missouri Bootheel to the at a Lower Price Than Hybrids In fields from the Missouri Bootheel to the

fields offromHouston, Texas, CLL16totothe has InIn west fields thetheMissouri Bootheel In fieldsfrom Missouri Bootheel the west of Houston, Houston, Texas, CLL16 has consistently shown it can yield with or west west of Texas, CLL16 has west of Houston, Texas, CLL16 has consistently shown it can yield with better thanshown top-performing varietals consistently consistently it itcan with oror consistently shown can yield yield with and or better than top-performing varietals and even hybrids. This is a varietyvarietals yielding and 200better better than top-performing better than top-performing varietals and even hybrids. This is a variety yielding 200plus bushelsThis per consistently across a wide range of even hybrids. even hybrids. is isa acre yielding even hybrids. This avariety variety yielding200200plus bushels per acre consistently across a wide range of geographies while offering the advantages of a aClearfield variety of at plus plus bushels perperacre consistently across wide range plus bushels acre consistently across a wide range of geographies while offering the advantages of a Clearfield variety at ageographies lower seed costoffering than hybrids. It has resistance to blast,variety performs geographies geographies while the ofofaaClearfield at while offering theadvantages advantages Clearfield variety at awell lower seed cost than hybrids. It has resistance to blast, performs inseed both flood andhybrids. row riceIt Ithas situations and to has the high yield lower aa lower cost than resistance blast, performs awell lower seed cost than hybrids. has resistance to blast, performs in both flood and row quality rice situations and hasits the high yield potential and great milling to trulyand earn reputation as well well inin inboth flood and row has high well both flood and rowrice ricesituations situations and hasitsthe the high yield yield potential and great milling quality to truly earn reputation as “The Complete Package.” potential potential and great milling quality to truly earn its reputation as potential and great milling quality to truly earn its reputation “The Complete Package.” “The Complete “The CompletePackage.” Package.” “The Complete

3. CLL17: An Answer to Higher 3. CLL17: An Costs Answer Fertilizer Costs to Higher Fertilizer 3. CLL17: An Costs Answer to Higher Fertilizer grain Clearfield Clearfield varietyparticularly particularly long A long grain Fertilizer Costs variety

Awell-suited long graintotoClearfield particularly well-suited theCoastal Coastalvariety production regions the production regions Awell-suited long grainto Clearfield variety particularly the Coastal production regions of Louisiana and Texas, CLL17 has one the Louisianatoand has oneregions ofofthe well-suited theTexas, CoastalCLL17 production of Louisiana and Texas, CLL17 has one of the highest nitrogen (N) nitrogen (N) utilization utilization efficiencies highest of Louisiana and Texas, CLL17 has efficiencies one of the highest nitrogen (N) utilization efficiencies of all varieties or hybrids offered. With varieties or hybrids offered. With all highest nitrogen (N) utilization efficiencies of all varieties or hybrids offered. With current nitrogen prices near $1 per pound, nitrogen or prices near $1 per pound, using20-30 20-30pounds current poundslessless of all varieties hybrids offered. Withusing current nitrogen prices near $1 per pound, using 20-30 pounds less Ncurrent can savings. Combine acre can provide provide asignificant significant savings. Combine N per per acre thatpotential potential nitrogen prices aanear $1 per pound, using 20-30that pounds less Nsavings per acre can provide significant savings. Combine that potential great crop ratoon crop potential, savings with great main main crop and and ratoon cropyield yield potential, Nsavings per acrewith can provide a significant savings. Combine that potential with greatquality main and cropanand ratoon crop disease yield potential, impressive milling industry-leading package impressive milling quality and anand industry-leading disease package savings with greatquality main and crop ratoon crop disease yield potential, impressive milling an industry-leading package featuring resistance to blast and Cercospora, and you can featuring resistance to blast and Cercospora, and you canbe be impressive milling quality and anand industry-leading disease package featuring resistance to blast Cercospora, and you can be confident you’ve made the right decisions to set your farm up for confident you’ve made the right decisions to set your farm up for featuring resistance Cercospora, be confident madetotheblast rightand decisions to set and your you farmcan up for success inin you’ve 2022. success 2022. confident you’ve made the right decisions to set your farm up for success in 2022. success in 2022. 4. Proven Varieties at a Great Price

4. Proven Proven Varieties VarietiesatataaGreat GreatPrice Price 4. Horizon Ag varieties likeatCL111, CL151,Price CL153 and CLL15 have won a 4. Proven Varieties a Great Horizon Ag varieties like CL111, CL151, CL153 and CLL15 have won a

Horizon varieties CL111, CL151, because CL153 andofCLL15 won a place onAg many farmslike the South theirhave consistent Horizon varieties likein CL151, CL153 andofCLL15 have won a place on onAgmany many farms inCL111, the South Southbecause because oftheir their consistent place farms in the consistent performance yearfarms after year. OverSouth the seasons, farmers have learned place on many in the because of their consistent performance year yearafter afteryear. year.Over Overthe theseasons, seasons, farmershave have learned performance learned how to manage reliable and havefarmers confidence their performance yearthese after year. Overlines the seasons, farmers have in learned how to to manage manage these reliable lines andhave have confidence intheir their how these reliable lines and confidence in ability to achieve maximum results. Farmers can also get the proven how toto manage these reliable lines and have confidence in their ability to achieve maximum results. Farmers can also get the proven achieve maximum Farmers alsopoint get well the proven effectiveness of the Clearfieldresults. system, all at acan price below ability to achieve maximum results. Farmers can alsopoint get well thewell proven effectiveness of the Clearfield system, all at a price point below effectiveness of the Clearfield system, all at a price below many newer seed lines. effectiveness of thelines. Clearfield system, all at a price point well below newer seed seed lines. many newer many many newer seed lines. 5. Supplies of Clearfield and Provisia

5. Supplies of SuppliesHerbicides of Clearfield Clearfieldand andProvisia Provisia Systems 5. Supplies of Clearfield and Provisia Systems Herbicides Systems Herbicides “BASF has a Herbicides very good portfolio of rice herbicides, and those Systems

“BASF ofofand rice “BASF has andthose those has aa very very good good portfolio portfolio riceherbicides, herbicides, herbicides available the Provisia riceand systems,” “BASF has are a very goodfor portfolio of and rice Clearfield herbicides, and those herbicides are available for the Provisia Clearfield rice systems,” rice systems,” herbicides are available for the Provisia and Clearfield says Dr. Tim general supply herbicides areWalker, availableHorizon for theAg Provisia andmanager. ClearfieldDue rice to systems,” says Tim Walker, Horizon Ag manager. Due Duetothat tosupply supply says Dr. Dr. Tim there Walker, Horizon Aggeneral general manager. chain issues, will be products from some companies are says Dr. Tim there Walker,willHorizon Ag general some manager. Due tothat supply chain chain issues, issues, there willbebeproducts productsfrom from somecompanies companies thatareare limited in availability. chain issues, there will be products from some companies that are limited limited inin availability. availability. limited in availability.

If you have questions about Horizon Ag varieties, IfIf you questions please contactabout yourHorizon Horizon Ag you have have questions about HorizonAg Agvarieties, varieties, If you have questions about Horizon Ag varieties, please contact your Horizon AgAg District Field Representative or rice seed retailer. please contact your Horizon please contact your or Horizon Ag retailer. District Field Representative rice seed District Field Field Representative or rice seedretailer. retailer. District Representative or rice seed Additional information for elite Additional information for elite Clearfield and Provisia varietiesforfor is elite available Additional information elite at Additional information Clearfield and Provisia varieties is available at HorizonSeed.com Clearfield and and Provisiavarieties varietiesis.isavailable availableatat Clearfield Provisia HorizonSeed.com . HorizonSeed.com. . HorizonSeed.com

Clearfield® and Provisia® are registered trademarks of BASF. ©2022 Horizon Ag, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Clearfield® and Provisia® are registered trademarks of BASF. ©2022 Horizon Ag, LLC. All Rights Reserved. ® Clearfield andProvisia Provisia®® ® are registered trademarks of BASF. ©2022 Horizon Ag, LLC. All Rights Reserved. ®® and Clearfield Clearfield and Provisia are registered trademarks of BASF. ©2022 Horizon Ag, LLC. All Rights Reserved. TWITTER: @RICEFARMING

FEBRUARY 2022

RICE FARMING

Pinch, peel, eat Louisiana crawfish season gets off to an early start. By Craig Gautreaux

Louisiana State University AgCenter

White spot virus One of the biggest threats to the crawfish industry is the deadly white spot virus. Because little is known about the virus, AgCenter and Sea Grant researchers have started a research project to learn more about it.

Mark Shirley, an LSU AgCenter and Louisiana Sea Grant aquaculture agent, and Haley Gambill, an LSU graduate student, examine some young crawfish as part of a white spot virus research project. The virus can lead to a very high mortality rate, bringing the commercial harvest of the pond to an end.

RICE FARMING

FEBRUARY 2022

CRAIG GAUTREAUX/LSU AGCENTER

bove-average temperatures in November and December have helped Louisiana’s crawfish season get off to a fast start. Water temperatures in some ponds were as high as 75 degrees Fahrenheit at the end of December, which kept newly hatched crawfish active and growing. These weather conditions led to many crawfish reaching market size in late December and early January. “When the water temperature is jumping between 60 and 70 degrees, that’s optimum for crawfish growth,” said Mark Shirley, an aquaculture agent for the LSU AgCenter and Louisiana Sea Grant. Unfortunately for crawfish lovers, freezing conditions across much of the crawfish-producing parishes in late January put a damper on the catch until warmer weather returned. Shirley said some crawfish producers and buyers have told him this year is one of their better starts in the past five years. Shirley expects this year to be a good season because of the rainy weather through early September while many crawfish were in their late-summer burrows with their young. Wet conditions help both adult and young crawfish survive until their ponds are flooded in September and October.

Mark Shirley shows several different sizes of crawfish taken from a pond in Vermilion Parish. Shirley said mild weather in November and December helped get a good number of young crawfish to market size. Shirley expects the crawfish supply to be good this year because of the rainy, late summer conditions Louisiana experienced.

“We don’t know the transmission vectors at this point — whether it’s birds, whether it’s insects or something in the water,” Shirley said. “We haven’t identified how it gets into a pond.” Haley Gambill is an LSU graduate student involved in collecting field data for the project. “There’s not a lot of published literature on white spot within crawfish ponds,” Gambill said. “So, this is really one of the first intensive studies to look at white spot within an aquaculture context.” Gambill said most of the information on white spot is related to shrimp. Shirley is quick to point out that white spot is only a threat to crustaceans. “The virus might be present or not present in a sack of crawfish you may boil this weekend,” Shirley said. “It’s not a concern for people. So go ahead and enjoy the crawfish. It doesn’t affect the taste. It doesn’t affect anything else.” Shirley said one of the telltale signs a pond has been affected is that larger crawfish will die and be found floating on the water. Another sign is the catch will go down significantly in a matter of two or three days. Louisiana is expected to have nearly 260,000 acres of crawfish ponds across the state producing nearly 150 million pounds of crawfish. Craig Gautreaux is a communications specialist with LSU AgCenter. He may be reached at CGautreaux@agcenter.lsu.edu. RICEFARMING.COM

Industry

News

High-yielding, long-grain Clearfield rice variety released A new high-yielding, Clearfield rice variety developed by the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station will be available to rice growers from Horizon Ag in 2023. The new rice is called CLL18 and averaged 221 bushels per acre over two years in the 2020-21 Arkansas Rice Performance Trials conducted by the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. Beginning in 2022, the ARPT will be known as the Arkansas Rice Variety Advancement Trials. “This was the highest yielding nonhybrid Clearfield rice in the ARPT for those two years,” said Karen Moldenhauer, professor emeritus and rice breeder for the experiment station. “It has looked very good in all of the tests it has been in. “CLL18 is an excellent long-grain Clearfield line derived from the cross of Roy J and CL142-AR, made at the Rice Research and Extension Center at Stuttgart in 2011. It has excellent rough rice yields. CLL18 yielded a two-year mean of 221 bushels per acre in the 2020-21 ARPT, compared to CLL16 at 210 bushels per acre and Diamond at 209 bushels per acre.” Frank Hardimon, rice licensing account manager for BASF Agricultural Solutions, said, “BASF views CLL18 as a high performing new Clearfield variety that will greatly benefit Arkansas rice growers, as well as rice growers in the Mid-South down to the coastal states. Tim Walker, Horizon Ag general manager, said, “We’re excited about the fit that new CLL18 will have in our elite Clearfield rice variety portfolio and the outstanding performance potential it offers farmers. “CLL18 has shown it has yield potential equal to or greater than CLL16, which has proven it can yield with or better than top-performing varietals and even hybrids. In addition, because CLL18 is earlier in maturity than CLL16 and appears to be well adapted to the coastal region of Louisiana and Texas, it may have a better fit in second crop situations.” CLL18 will be in seed production in 2022, Walker said. He encourages farmers to look at how it performs and where it will fit on their farms, along with other Horizon Ag Clearfield performers like CLL16, CLL15 and CLL17. TWITTER: @RICEFARMING

The new Clearfield variety has been named CLL18.

“Since CLL18 doesn’t have the pi-ta gene, it doesn’t have as broad a spectrum for blast as CLL16,” Walker said. “But it will be a great addition to the top-performing Clearfield varieties that are helping farmers improve production potential and profitability.” Moldenhauer said CLL18 has a plant height of 37 inches with grain weight and kernel size like Diamond, and early maturity similar to CLL15. It has a lodging resistance similar to Diamond and CLL16. “CLL18 is moderately susceptible to common rice blast, to sheath blight, bacterial panicle blight and false smut,” Moldenhauer said. “It is moderately resistant to narrow brown leaf spot.” CLL18 has typical southern U.S. long-grain cooking quality. Fertilizer and other management recommendations are available from county Extension offices or Horizon Ag.

Korean wholesaler sucessfully promotes U.S. rice online In cooperation with Daesang Bestco, a large food wholesaler here, USA Rice conducted a series of online promotions of U.S. rice during December 2021, according to The USA Rice Daily. “Daesang Bestco has been a USA Rice promotional partner many times over the last two years,” said Jim Guinn, USA Rice director of Asia promotion programs. “They purchase U.S. rice in weekly table rice auctions held by the Korea Agro-Fisheries Food Trade Corporation and their main customer base varies from small foodservice operators to individual consumers. Until recently, Daesang concentrated on in-store sales but the COVID pandemic has pushed their sales efforts online.” Last December, Daesang redesigned their website’s primary online banner to highlight U.S. rice, one of their key sell-

ers, and kept it posted on the front page of both their online store and the mobile application for the whole month. The banner featured the ThinkRice logo and listed the advantages of U.S. medium grain rice. Daesang also added U.S. rice to their premium item category, called “M.D.’s Pick.” “Daesang recently reported that, as a result of the December online advertising campaign, U.S. medium grain rice sales increased on the online store from 50 tons to 70 tons, about 40% higher than sales in December 2020,” Guinn said. “Mobile application sales were 10 tons or half the sales increase, which is considered a very good start for a mobile channel. USA Rice Korea believes promotion efforts with Daesang will continue to boost U.S. rice sales in the future.” South Korea is the second largest market for U.S. rice in Asia, and the seventh largest export destination for U.S. rice, importing more than 156,000 MT in the first 11 months of 2021.

Where to learn more about California wild rice production To provide key information for growers and researchers on cultivated wild rice production (Zizania palustris), the UCCE Sutter-Yuba team and the Agronomy Research and Information Center built a wild rice database in 2020. It is hosted at https://wildrice.ucanr.edu/ under “Wild Rice Database.” Article topics include varieties and varietal development, processing and marketing. The database also includes publications on pest management, seeds and water management. For more information, email Whitney Brim-DeForest at wbrimdeforest@ucanr.edu. FEBRUARY 2022

RICE FARMING

Specialists

Speaking

Fertility management considerations for 2022 DR. BRUCE LINQUIST CALIFORNIA UCCE Rice Specialist balinquist@ucdavis.edu With input prices increasing, it is more important than ever to manage fertilizers in the most economically feasible way possible. Here are several things to consider when making fertility decisions. First, aqua-ammonia is the cheapest and most efficient nitrogen source for California rice growers. When applying N, apply as much as possible in this form. Second, do not plan to top-dress, but apply enough N preplant for an average yield. At panicle initiation, access your crop to see if it needs additional N. Third, in 2021, we analyzed soil data from 83 rice fields (in 28 fields we also analyzed leaf samples) around the Sacramento Valley. Importantly, no soil or leaf samples were deficient for either sulfur or zinc. Many growers apply these nutrients routinely. Skipping these applications (i.e. applying urea instead of ammonium sulfate) may help reduce costs; however, if in question, it would be good to take your own soil samples. In previous years, aqua-ammonia has not always been available. The best option for replacing it is to use urea. Urea (liquid or granular) works equally well if applied preplant and is put several inches below the soil surface. Liquid urea is hard on the pump, so make sure to clean out your pump very well at the end of the season. If you are applying the N after planting, you need a split application for best results. Due to reduced N-use efficiency, the total rate may need to be increased by 5% to 10%. I suggest putting on the starter N (plus P and K) about three weeks after planting. This should represent about 15% to 20% of your total N rate. The rest of the N should be applied at four (30%), five (30%) and six (20%) weeks after planting. In our survey of rice field soils, we found many growers are under applying phosphorus (P). A typical rate was 40 pounds per acre, which is enough P to replace the P in the harvested rice grain of a field that had an 80 cwt/acre yield. Yields are usually well above this now and straw removal is also more common. If your field is yielding 100 cwt/acre, you need to apply 50 pounds per acre to replace the P removed in the grain. Add an additional 5-10 pounds per acre if you are baling rice straw. Finally, many fields did not get flooded this winter, due to water limitations. Furthermore, the October rains prevented straw incorporation in many fields. If there is still a lot of straw in the field at the start of land preparation due to poor winter decomposition, early season N may need to be increased. This is one area where I suggest adding a higher N rate in the starter fertilizer (as opposed to increasing aqua-ammonia N rate) and tilling the starter fertilizer in with the straw.

RICE FARMING

FEBRUARY 2022

Phosphorus and potassium DR. RONNIE LEVY LOUISIANA Extension Rice Specialist Louisiana State University RLevy@agcenter.lsu.edu With the high cost of fertilizer, don’t forget the importance of phosphorus (P) and

potassium (K). Phosphorus is a constituent of nucleic acids and is needed for several plant-essential processes, including photosynthesis, respiration, energy storage and energy transfer among others. Rice removes P from the soil as an orthophosphate ion, primarily H2PO4- or HPO4-2. Fertilizer P is always expressed as a percent P2O5 equivalent and on a fertilizer label is located as the second number (example: 0-46-0). Soil test P and soil test-based fertilizer recommendations can be reported as either P2O5 equivalent or P. Convert P to P2O5 equivalent by dividing by 0.44. Convert P2O5 equivalent to P by multiplying by 0.44. Soil P is most available to plants in soils with a pH around 6.5. Typically, plant available P is decreased as a soil becomes more alkaline or acidic. When a rice soil is flooded and becomes anaerobic (no oxygen), the pH of the soil migrates towards neutrality over time regardless of the initial pH. Therefore, in most cases P becomes more available to rice after permanent flood establishment. Rice takes up approximately 0.0086 pounds of P2O5 (0.02 pounds of P) per pound of dry rice harvested. Approximately 75% of the P taken up is contained in the harvested grain. Potassium is needed to regulate normal metabolic processes in the plant including photosynthesis and protein synthesis as well as maintaining plant osmotic pressure. Deficiencies of K in rice have been related to increased disease incidence — typically brown spot, stem rot and blast. Rice takes up K in the ionic (K+) form.

Phosphorus is a constituent of nucleic acids and is needed for several plant-essential processes, including photosynthesis, respiration, energy storage and energy transfer. RICEFARMING.COM

CONSISTENT RESULTS MAKE US LEADERS IN OUR FIELD. AND IN YOURS, TOO.

The Costellos with Matt Laird in Morehouse Parish, LA

RiceTec helps farmers succeed with the ideal mix of seed and technology. For more than 25 years, we have developed a range of products and programs that can be tailored for your needs. Whether you’re set up for traditional rice fields

TWITTER: @RICEFARMING

or row rice, you’ll benefit from our many technologies and rotations. Choose from conventional lines, FullPage® or MAX-ACE.®* And, you’ll have our full support every step of the way. Call your RiceTec rep at 877.580.7423. Learn more at RiceTec.com.

* This is not a guarantee of performance nor a warranty of fitness for a particular use.

FEBRUARY 2022

RICE FARMING

Specialists

Speaking

Deficiencies of K in rice are more often found on coarse-textured soils with a relatively low cation exchange capacity (CEC). Fertilizer K is expressed as a percent of K2O equivalent, and on the fertilizer label it is located as the third number (example 0-060). Soil test K and soil test K fertilizer recommendations can be reported as either K2O or K. Convert K to K2O by multiplying by 1.2. Convert K2O to K by multiplying by 0.83. Rice takes up approximately 0.024 pounds of K2O (0.02 pounds of K) per pound of dry rice harvested. Approximately 17% of the K taken up is contained in the grain while the remaining 83% is contained in the straw. Phosphorus and potassium fertilizers are mobile nutrients within the rice plant. When a plant becomes deficient in one, it is translocated from the older (lower) leaves into the newer (upper) leaves. Potassium deficiency symptoms Phosphorus symptoms ininclude stunted plants, interveinal chlorosis (yellowing) of oldest clude stunted, erect plants leaves beginning at leaf tips and with slender stems, and leaves tend to have a very moving backward down the leaf. dark green color. Other symptoms are reduced tillering, slowed plant development and necrosis (death) of leaves beginning with the oldest. Potassium deficiency symptoms include stunted plants, interveinal chlorosis (yellowing) of oldest leaves beginning at leaf tips and moving backward down the leaf. Other symptoms are necrosis (death) of leaf tissue following chlorosis beginning at leaf tips, increased incidence of brown spot and potential for increased disease pressure. Phosphorus and potassium fertilizer rates should be determined from a recent soil test. Phosphorus and potassium fertilizers are most efficient in rice production when applied just before planting until permanent flood establishment.

Carefully adjust fertilizer rates DR. JARROD HARDKE ARKANSAS Professor/Rice Extension Agronomist University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service jhardke@uada.edu Fertilizer price inputs for the 2022 season have been the hot topic for rice. Producers need to avoid emotional decisions and be extremely careful when adjusting their fertilizer programs to manage overall input costs this season.

RICE FARMING

FEBRUARY 2022

Hopefully, we’ve been proactive with our nutrient management programs following soil-test based recommendations and have adequate soil test levels. Nitrogen (N) is essential for setting yield potential and is the focal point of most fertilization programs. Unfortunately, urea market volatility will remain quite high throughout 2022. Stay close to the N rates that have made you successful. Slightly trimming N rates likely won’t reduce yield, but savings can add up. As N rates increase, return on investment declines. Taking N-STaR (Nitrogen Soil Test for Rice) samples can help fine-tune N rates. We can also evaluate rice at midseason using Greenseeker to determine if additional N is needed. Using these tools, we may be able to see cost savings related to N fertility, but with a higher degree of management. Heavy clay soils and rice following rice scenarios typically see the largest benefit (N rate reductions) using N-STaR. What about phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) fertilization? We prefer to rely on a soil test history (consider the past five to 10 years) rather than a single year. This history indicates whether P and K levels are being maintained, increasing or decreasing. If soil test levels are decreasing, fertilization rates should not be reduced as the soil is being mined of nutrients. With stable or increasing soil test levels, there is a chance to reduce P and K rates without hurting yield potential. However, it is unwise to completely omit applications. A smaller amount is better than skipping applications entirely. Weak field areas aren’t always captured in soil tests and will suffer from having no fertilizer applied. Finding ways to For P in particular, the main stay profitable is concerns are soils with high pH (>7.0) and very low or low soil the name of the test P levels (<9 ppm). A P degame for 2022. ficiency has a limited window to correct in-season and still maximize rice yield. For K, where applications are typically required on lighter-textured soils, rates could be lowered, and deficiencies are often easily corrected in-season. If you have high soil pH (>6.0) and very low soil test Zn levels (<2.5 ppm) you cannot afford to skip or reduce Zn rates. The cost is similar between applying granular Zn and foliar Zn, but only the granular application builds soil test levels. Fertilization is a little different with furrow-irrigated rice (FIR), and it appears P and K are not available in the soil to the same degree as flooded rice. These fields likely do not need to have rates reduced or deficiencies may be encountered. The soil test recommended P rate of P2O5 is the minimum that should be applied to FIR. Additional work is needed to improve fertilizer recommendations for P and K in FIR. Finding ways to stay profitable is the name of the game for 2022. Let’s be smart about how and where we trim our input costs. Remember that small reductions can add up to big savings but attempting to cut back drastically could lead to losses we can’t recover. Anything we can do to increase nutrient uptake and nutrient use efficiency will pay dividends this season so always focus on the 4 Rs of nutrient management: Placement, time, rate and source. Good luck in 2022 and let us know if we can help. RICEFARMING.COM

Start strong. Finish strong. Dyna-Gro’s DG263L Rice Variety offers innovation in every seed. We started by identifying your struggles: input costs, yield and quality control. Then we created an independent Rice Breeding Program supported by award-winning consultants to develop a variety with answers to every issue. From purchase to harvest, trust DG263L to deliver value and excellent ROI. DynaGroSeed.com

Available through:

Specialists

Speaking

Don’t starve your rice crop DR. JUSTIN CHLAPECKA MISSOURI Assistant Research Professor/Rice Extension Specialist University of Missouri jchlapecka@missouri.edu Fertility is a topic on many minds, especially due to the volatility of input prices over the past five to six months. While the prices of urea and DAP have fallen off their highs at the end of 2021, the input prices remain up compared to last year. To that point also, despite a relatively dry fall, the sharp upswing in prices led to very few phosphorous (P) and potassium (K) fall applications. Our first message is to make sure you have an up-to-date soil test for your ground. It is impossible to guess the nutrient levels and how much may need to be applied without one. While a common theme across much of the area where I am located is adequate to excessive soil test levels of P and K, many factors can affect those levels. You could be doing yourself a disservice by assuming levels are high. Once you receive a soil test reading and recommendation, it is especially important to keep up with your fertility if you’re in the

low or very low categories. A “fertilize the crop” mentality will usually benefit the bottom line more than a “fertilize the soil” approach in our area, regardless of fertilizer prices. Soil test recommendations will consider the amount of each nutrient needed for your rice yield goal. One emerging philosophy that could be used in years where fertilizer price is higher is to wait and apply K near mid-season timing if there is deficiency through plant sampling. Recent studies have shown that maximum yield can still be achieved if K deficiency is corrected by mid-season. However, that philosophy is not recommended in furrow-irrigated rice due to less K availability in a non-flooded environment. With September rough rice trading near $6.50/bushel, the numbers still work for growing rice profitably. The N rate should not be shorted in any situation. But using a single pre-flood application as opposed to a split with a midseason application on varieties can slightly decrease the total N rate and be just as effective where good water management can be practiced. A late boot application is still recommended on hybrids, but if urea hits $1,000 per ton I would definitely want to reconsider. Of course, this is still a fluid situation that changes nearly every day. If big changes occur, we will certainly keep you in the loop. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me or Justin Calhoun (jscgvf@missouri.edu), UM soil and cropping systems specialist. As always, eat Missouri rice.

Rice is ready to go to flood after the pre-flood nitrogen application.

RICE FARMING

FEBRUARY 2022

RICEFARMING.COM

THIS IS YOUR COUNTRY. Take control of your rice fields with Command® 3ME microencapsulated herbicide from FMC. It’s the number one preemergence solution when it comes to controlling tough grasses and weeds in Clearfield® or conventional rice production. It is safe to use in rice as a preemergence and early postemergence application. A novel mode of action makes it ideal for your resistance management program, even against barnyardgrass.

Visit your FMC retailer or COMMAND3ME.AG.FMC.COM to learn more.

Always read and follow all label directions, precautions and restrictions for use. Some products may not be registered for sale or use in all states. FMC, the FMC logo and Command are trademarks of FMC Corporation or an affiliate. Clearfield is a registered trademark of BASF. ©2022 FMC Corporation. All rights reserved. 18-FMC-2416 10/21

Renew your subscription online We appreciate your reading Rice Farming magazine. The U.S. Postal Service requires that we receive a direct request to continue mailing you our publication. We value your time but ask that you go to www.ricefarming.com/subscribe to verify the continuation of your FREE subscription. Our editors strive to provide production tips, new product information and proﬁt-making ideas in every issue. Please take a minute to renew online to ensure you donʼt miss a single issue. We would also love to hear about speciﬁc topics you feel need more attention to help you produce a successful crop. Thank you for your continued support!

Lia Guthrie Publisher lguthrie@onegrower.com

www.ricefarming.com

ONE GROWER PUBLISHING, LLC

PROFITABLE PRODUCTION STRATEGIES

FEBRUARY 2022

UArk doubles down on rice breeding efforts withONE2 releases

www.ricefarm

ing.com

GROWER LLC

PUBLISHING,

PROFITABLE

Louisiana crawfish season gets off to an early start

PRODUCTION

STRATEGIES JANUARY 2022

Rice outlook Commodity prices, costs LSU input releases 2 are key considerations year long-grathis in varieties

INSIDE: 2021 RICE CONSULTANT OF THE YEAR BD FONTENOT

Dyna-Gro’s new DG263L long grain impresses growers

More crop per drop

Novel tailw ater return system max imizes wat er use

Rice Farming February 2022

Articles inside

More in the pipeline

Industry News

Pinch, peel, eat

Specialists Speaking