Rice Farming December 2018 by One Grower Publishing

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December 2018

COLUMNS

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Vol. 53, No. 1

COVER STORY

4 From the Editor

Texas FFA students learn about rice

5 USA Rice Update

As the year ends, we check the rearview mirror

DEPARTMENTS 27 Industry News

Yellow Rails & Rice

Rice business scene

28 Specialist Speaking

Growers achieve near-record yields despite challenges ON THE COVER: Erik Johnson, director of bird conservation for Audubon Louisiana, bands a sora rail, a slightly larger relative of the yellow rail. The bird was caught in fine mist nets erected near the combine turn-row.

Louisiana festival invites birders to see firsthand the rice industryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s conservation efforts.

F E AT U R E S 6

Photo by Vicky Boyd 2018

RICE AWARDS Horizon Ag, Rice Farming and USA Rice are proud to bring you the recipients of the 2018 Rice Awards. The program highlights three honorees for their contributions to the success of the U.S. rice industry through the Rice Farmer of the Year, the Rice Industry Award and the Rice Lifetime Achievement Award.

2018 Rice Awards See page 13

ONE GROWER PUBLISHING, LLC

DECEMBER 2018

A repeat of 2016-2017?

Despite the positive signs seen with exports, the market must still work through large rice supplies during 2018/19.

Another weed-control tool

RiceTec plans limited launch of FullPage herbicide-tolerant hybrids this season.

Back after three years

Rice planthopper resurfaces in Texas ratoon rice, prompting grower alerts.

24 2019 Variety/Hybrid Roster

Review these proven and new releases for the upcoming season.

2019 Southern soybean varieties Check out the latest offerings

Look for the Soybean South supplement following page 28 in the the Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri and Texas versions of Rice Farming . TWITTER: @RICEFARMING

24 DECEMBER 2018

RICE FARMING

From The

Editor

Texas FFA students learn about rice through contest When you think about FFA, images of blue jackets, livestock showing and judging, public speaking and leadership may come to mind. Chances are rice is not among those. But the long-running Ruben Stringer Memorial Texas Rice Education Contest is designed to spark FFA students’ interest in the Texas rice industry east of Houston, says Mike Broussard, a vocational agriculture teacher and FFA adviser at Hamshire-Fannett High School. “We’ve had students in this contest who are actually farming rice today,” he says. “It’s probably not because of the contest, but it’s kept some interest.” Vicky Boyd He also had another student from a non-ag Editor background who was determined to begin farming rice because of the competition. The contest is conducted in partnership with Texas AgriLife Extension and Research. Currently, Mo Way, a Texas A&M rice entomologist, works with high school voc-ag teachers and oversees the contest each year. Before him, Arlen Klosterboer, a now-retired Texas A&M rice weed scientist, helped. Each year, students are told which area, such as weeds, insect pests or diseases, the contest will cover so they can study. They also need general rice production knowledge, which is contained in educational materials prepared by Texas AgriLife. The “Rice Education Contest Study For the contest, students may be handed a Guide” is available for free download from the Beaumont Texas vial that contains an insect and asked to write AgriLife Research and Extension down the pest’s name. In another part, students Center, https://bit.ly/2ROQkIU. are asked to determine whether grains of rice in a Petri dish are short, medium or long grain. The contest is held in conjunction with the Texas Rice Festival in Winnie. Judging is conducted the Tuesday before, with the winners announced during the festival weekend each October. Amanda Duplechin, a Hamshire-Fannett student, has participated in the contest for four years, having won the individual title the past three years. Although she grew up on a livestock operation, she had no exposure to rice production before signing up for the contest as a freshman. Duplechin says her competitive nature prompted her initial interest, and she continued because she excelled in it. Now a high school senior, she plans to enlist in the Army after graduation to become an animal care specialist. Duplechin says the contest has taught her many valuable lessons, including how to stay focused. “After winning the first time and definitely the second time, you start getting a bit cocky,” she says. “But you have to keep studying because there’s someone out there who could easily beat you. Trying hard to find better ways to study is definitely a key thing you could take away from this.”

RiceFaRming EDITORIAL/PRODUCTION Editor Vicky Boyd 209-505-3612 vlboyd@onegrower.com Copy Editor Amanda Huber ahuber@onegrower.com Art Director Ashley Kumpe akumpe@onegrower.com

ADMINISTRATION Publisher/Vice President Lia Guthrie 901-497-3689 lguthrie@onegrower.com Associate Publisher Carroll Smith 901-326-4443 csmith@onegrower.com Sales Manager Scott Emerson 386-462-1532 semerson@onegrower.com Circulation Manager Charlie Beek 847-559-7324 Production Manager Kathy Killingsworth 901-767-4020 kkillingsworth@onegrower.com For circulation changes or change of address, call 847-559-7578

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, TN. 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.

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

RICE FARMING

DECEMBER 2018

One Grower Publishing, LLC 875 W. Poplar Ave., Suite 23, Box 305, Collierville, TN 38017 Phone: 901-767-4020

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USA Rice

Update

As the year ends, we check the rearview mirror

By Betsy Ward President and CEO USA Rice

The Think Rice truck and the USA Rice team traveled coast to coast, spreading the word to “start with rice” and giving out Aroma rice cookers. PHOTO COURTESY USA RICE

SA Rice kicked off the third leg of the Think Rice Road Trip in October. And it seems to me like a good time to take a look in the rearview mirror and reflect on the many rice success stories from the past year as our journey culminates at the USA Rice Outlook Conference in San Diego in December. Anyone who’s worked in agriculture knows the road isn’t always smooth, but we buckle up and take things as they come. There was a lot of uncertainty this year for farmers, from tariffs to the modernization of the North American Free Trade Agreement. As always, the rice industry weathered the storm, and we’re grateful for the stability and efficiency the new trade agreement, the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, will afford us. I’m sure we are all breathing a sigh of relief knowing that U.S. rice’s position is secured in our largest and fourth largest export markets. A different approach on the ‘Hill’ USA Rice worked tirelessly this year to advocate for the issues that matter most to you. Our members made a big impact on Capitol Hill in February at our Government Affairs Conference, sitting down with legislators on both sides of the aisle to talk about the Farm Bill and other priorities for rice. This year we broke with tradition by visiting with representatives who aren’t from rice-producing areas, a strategy I think really got our message beyond the traditional agriculture circles. Another accomplishment was Iraq’s purchase of 90,000 metric tons of U.S. rice in October after a 30,000 MT sale in August. USA Rice worked closely with U.S. and Iraqi officials to secure a major export market at a time when trade wasn’t always smooth sailing. Fighting the great pretenders We ramped up our battle against rice pre-

TWITTER: @RICEFARMING

tenders by sending formal complaints to major retailers and fighting for a national standard of identity for rice. When the Food and Drug Administration moved to enforce the standard of identity for milk, we were front and center at the public hearings in Washington, D.C., voicing our concern over rice pretenders. In Arkansas, our members’ persistence paid off with state legislation to establish a standard of identity for rice, a move that strengthens our push for a national standard. Rice Stewardship Partnerships The USA Rice-Ducks Unlimited Rice Stewardship Partnership hit a milestone this year, marking five years. We were fortunate to welcome new partner Nestlé Purina into the fold and celebrate the expanded commitment of Anheuser-Busch, which, along with the many other participants, help us conserve critical habitat, keep working ricelands in production and address important consumer expectations. Record food donations It was a banner year for National Rice Month in September, highlighted by record donations to area foodbanks in Louisiana and Arkansas, as well as a partnership with Roti Modern Mediterranean to donate rice to local food pantries and call out its use of U.S.-grown rice. And of course, who could forget the Think Rice truck? Our team partnered with Aroma Housewares and has been blazing a trail across the country, donating industrial rice cookers and bulk rice to charitable organizations. We also are handing out 3,000 household Aroma rice cookers and about 2 tons of U.S.-grown rice donated by our members to put in them, spreading the “Start with Rice” message. We’re looking forward to seeing everyone at the Outlook conference in San Diego, where you’ll have a chance to win that new Ford F-150 in the raffle. It’s the perfect event to wrap up the year and reflect on the obstacles overcome and achievements made, as well as to look toward 2019’s market trends, new technologies and potential challenges. This year has been a journey. Thanks for making the trip with us. DECEMBER 2018

RICE FARMING

Will the 2018-19 marketing year repeat the low prices of 2016-17? It depends… By Kurt Guidry

hen examining the market situation for a commodity and trying to project where that market may trend, it can often be useful to look back at similar years. When looking at the current rice market, the one thing that becomes apparent from a supply and demand numbers standpoint is that it is very similar to what was experienced during the 2016/17 marketing year. The 2016/17 marketing year was characterized by large supplies, large ending stocks, and low cash prices that fell to and below the $16 per-barrel ($9.88 per hundredweight or $4.45 per bushel) level. Following the 2016/17 marketing year, rice acres were reduced signiﬁcantly in the United States, which helped reduce overall supplies and helped push cash prices up to the $19-$21 per-barrel range ($11.73 to $12.96 cwt or $5.28-$5.83 per bushel). With the higher prices in 2017 and the lack of attractive cropping alternatives heading into 2018, rice acres increased by nearly 500,000 acres or nearly 20 percent. Along with increased acres, yields are also expected to be up slightly in 2018 from the previous year, despite periods of adverse weather conditions during the growing season. The increased acres and yields are projected to quickly eliminate the relatively tight market situation created during the 2017/18 marketing year and put this current market year back to the levels experienced during the 2016/17 marketing year.

Market must absorb large supplies Despite the positive signs seen in export demand, the reality remains that the market must still work through large supplies of rice during the 2018/19 marketing year. As such, while downside risk for prices would seem limited at this time, it is difﬁcult to project a signiﬁcant increase for prices in the short term. As we move toward the end of this year and beginning of next, a continuation of improved export demand could conceivably help support and move prices back to the levels seen earlier in the year around the $19 per-barrel ($11.73 per cwt) range. For prices to move above those levels, we would likely need better-than-expected demand or projections for lower acreage and production in 2019. However, given prices of many crops, there appears to be a lack of an attractive cropping alternative and likely suggests very little acreage changes in 2019. Dr. Kurt Guidry is Southwest Region director and Extension economist with the Louisiana State University AgCenter in Crowley. He may be reached at KMGuidry@agcenter.lsu.edu. BRUCE SCHULTZ/LSU AGCENTER

Are we in for another 2016-17 market? So does having supply and demand numbers similar to the 2016/17 marketing year mean that prices are destined to return to the levels seen during that year? While cash prices have come down in response to growing supplies and stocks, they have, to this point, been able to stay slightly above the levels seen during the 2016/17 marketing year. After starting the growing season in the $19 per-barrel ($11.73 cwt) range, cash prices have fallen to mostly the $17- $17.50 per-

barrel ($10.50-$10.80 cwt) range. Although they have fallen, they are not at the levels seen in 2016/17. Despite having similar production levels, smaller beginning stocks to start the 2018/19 marketing year have helped keep total supplies from reaching the levels seen in 2016/17 and have likely helped limit downward pressure on prices. In addition, improved export demand to this point in the marketing year has also likely helped limit downside pressure. Current rice export shipments are nearly 10 percent higher than the same time last year with increases seen for long-grain rough rice exports and medium-grain milled exports. In addition, recent news of additional sales to Iraq, along with lower rice production in several countries throughout the world, offer the promise of continued strength in export demand.

Despite the positive signs seen in export demand, the reality remains that the market must still work through large supplies of rice during the 2018/19 marketing year. | DECEMBER 2018 @RICEFARMING 6TWITTER: RICE FARMING

DECEMBER 2018 2018

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Another weed-control tool RiceTec plans limited launch of FullPage herbicide-tolerant hybrids this season By Vicky Boyd Editor

RICE FARMING

DECEMBER 2018

PHOTOS BY VICKY BOYD

or the 2019 season, Alvin, Texasbased RiceTec plans a limited release of four long-grain hybrids developed to tolerate overthe-top applications of Preface and Postscript IMI herbicides from Adama Inc. In 2018, 11 growers from South Texas to Northeast Arkansas got a sneak peak of the new FullPage herbicide-tolerant production system by hosting on-farm fieldscale trials, says Mason Wallace, RiceTec technical services manager. The fields, all planted to the RT7321 FP hybrid, ranged in size from 40 to 80 acres. Yields were comparable to the highest-yielding Clearfield hybrids, which share some of their genetic background with the FullPage releases, he says. As far as management, Wallace says growers who are used to managing Clearfield hybrids should not have any problems making the transition to the FullPage system because of program similarities. One of the releases — RT7321 FP — has similar yield potential, standability and disease package as XP753. Unlike Clearfield hybrids, RT7321 FP is paired with Preface herbicide. RT7521 FP, another FullPage release, is about five days later than RT7321 FP and has agronomic traits similar to XP760. “Both are excellent hybrids, and they’re a couple of our highest yielding hybrids,” Wallace says of XP753 and XP760. “They’re pretty much interchangeable with our FullPage hybrids. They’re slightly different but they’re very similar.” Hybrids are created when two dissimilar parents are crossed, resulting in progeny that have better traits than either of the parents individually. This is sometimes referred to as hybrid vigor. As with Clearfield hybrids, FullPage hybrids were developed using traditional

Andy Kendig, Adama herbicide development lead, discusses the company’s offerings during a RiceTec field day near Harrisburg, Arkansas, in August.

breeding methods and are not genetically modified. Solid herbicide tolerance RiceTec designed the FullPage system specifically for its hybrids, resulting in improved tolerance to the herbicides. In six experiments across the Mid-South rice belt in 2018, researchers applied four times the labeled rate of Preface and Postscript herbicides to a FullPage hybrid pre-flood and against post-flood without a crop response, says Andy Kendig, Adama herbicide development lead. “We wanted to demonstrate they really had solid tolerance in the FullPage hybrids,” he says. “We had zero crop response and no yield response. Farmers won’t be applying 4X rates, but if you have cool weather or you have boom overlap, we demonstrated you don’t have to worry about those difficult environmental conditions.” Preface herbicide, which contains the

active ingredient, imazethapyr, is labeled at 4-6 ounces per acre for use only with the FullPage system. Kendig recommends the higher 6 ounce rate as part of a resistance-management program and to reduce the need for post-flood clean up treatments. In addition, he generally recommends adding crop oil concentrate, but the actual adjuvant will depend on other tankmix partners. To date, RiceTec researchers have not seen a crop response from various herbicides and tankmixes applied to FullPage hybrids, and they continue trials as new products come to the market. Postscript, which contains the active ingredient, imazamox, is designed for post-emergence clean-up. Stewardship is key As with any herbicide program, growers should start with a clean field, Kendig says. The FullPage system comprises two applications of Preface, which provides post-emerge and residual control of some RICEFARMING.COM

FullPage hybrids will come treated with Squad, which includes currently offered seed treatments plus an encrustment. The encrustment creates a smoother seed surface and allows for better movment through the planter.

FullPage hybirds are paired with the IMI herbicide, Preface, from Adama.

of the most troublesome grasses including weedy rice, red rice and barnyardgrass. Kendig’s preferred program starts with clomazone. He may add quinclorac or propanil, depending on whether legume weed species are present, with the ﬁrst Preface application. He’ll follow with a second Preface application preﬂood. Kendig also recommends a sound stewardship program, which includes two Preface applications, overlapping residual herbicides and rotating out of rice after one season. Because residual of Preface herbicide may carry over in the soil to the next season, rotating to a different rice system is not recommended because of potential crop injury.

“The situation with herbicide-resistant weeds in rice is sobering,” he says. “We’ve been talking about resistance for 30 years. Something that really bugs me in rice is ALS-resistant red rice. What’s wrong with putting out 55 pounds per acre of soybean seed? That’s a wonderful rotational crop for resistance management and agronomics.” As IMI herbicides, Preface and Postscript belong to the ALS herbicide class. New seed treatment New to the FullPage system is Squad seed treatment. Seed treated with Squad will have the currently offered seed treatments plus an encrustment, which creates a smoother seed surface and allows

for better movement through the planter. It also gives the grower better seed singulation for different drills in the rice-growing region. But it means growers should recalibrate their planters if they’re set up for other hybrids, Wallace says. “Don’t just throw it in your drill and use the same settings because you’re going to burn through your seed very quickly,” he says. “It’s going to take away the abrasiveness of the seed.” Like most other RiceTec hybrids, Wallace recommends growers start with a rate of 450,000 seeds per acre, and they may vary it depending on individual ﬁeld characteristics.

RT7321 FP is one of four FullPage hybrids RiceTec is offering for the 2019 season. It has agronomic characteristics similar to XP753.

TWITTER: TWITTER: @RICEFARMING @RICEFARMING

DECEMBER DECEMBER 2018 2018 2018

RICE RICE FARMING FARMING

PHOTOS BY VICKY BOYD

Louisiana rice producer Kevin Berken gives bird watchers a ride in his combine as he harvests his second crop. The hope is the large machine will flush out the elusive yellow rail, which frequents ratoon rice fields.

Yellow Rails & Rice Louisiana festival mixes rice farming’s conservation story with birding By Vicky Boyd Editor

s they prepared to head out to a South Louisiana ratoon rice field, Kris and Eddie Farrey from The Villages, Florida, were anxious to cross two things off their bucket list. “We were trying to find some new birds we hadn’t seen before, and the yellow rail was one of those,” says wife Kris. “We’re excited about riding the combine,” chimes in husband Eddie. “I’ve never seen a rice field, so I’m excited about this.” The Farreys were among 114 bird watchers from 22 states and three foreign countries who flocked to South Louisiana in early November with hopes of seeing a yellow rail, a non-descript small brown bird that frequents ratoon rice fields. And they weren’t disappointed. During the very first combine pass, the three birders riding

RICE FARMING

DECEMBER 2018

on the harvester got to see three yellow rails. Peg Clukey, one of 16 birders from the Buffalo (New York) Ornithological Society, was all smiles as she climbed off the harvester. Asked which was better, the combine ride or seeing a yellow rail, she says, “I don’t know. They were equal — that was so exciting!” Described as “one of the most secretive birds in North America” by experts, the robin-sized yellow rail lives in marshy underbrush and frequents the second rice crop. What makes it even more difficult to spot is the birds prefer to run or hide rather than fly unless under extreme pressure, such as caused by a combine. And it’s the yellow rail’s shyness that draws in birders, many of whom want to mark it on their “life list” of species they’ve observed. RICEFARMING.COM

Festival highlights rice’s environmental profile Now in its 10th year, the annual Yellow Rails & Rice Festival capitalizes on one of the holy grails of birdwatching while educating attendees about rice farms’ contributions to wildlife habitat and conservation. Thornwell, Louisiana, rice producer Kevin Berken, one of the event founders, times his ratoon harvest so the mostly urban bird watchers can experience a combine ride and see the rails as they flush. Before participants — many of whom have never been on a working farm — get to hop on his combine, Berken gives them a “Rice 101” lesson about the conservation measures rice producers use on their farms. He also discusses how rice fields offer habitat, not just to yellow rails but a myriad of wildlife species. Berken says he hopes the birders leave with a better understanding of the importance of rice fields to wildlife. “I didn’t realize this when we began, but it’s truly something good for the rice industry to have people from all over the country and all over the world come here to see how valuable rice is to wildlife,” he says. “So I always tell them up front, rice provides more habitat for wildlife than any other crop.” Peter and Kristi Keller of Sugarland, Texas, soaked in Berken’s message. “Now we’re educated, and we’re going to make an effort to buy U.S. rice,” Peter Keller says. He admits they typically buy imported rice. But after touring the nearby Falcon Rice Mill and listening to Berken, the Kellers took samples of Toro, Jazzman II and Louisiana long-grain back to conduct their own taste test. “I think it’s really smart putting together birders and farmers,” Peter Keller says. “It’s really educational.” When the event started 10 years ago, Berken says he never thought it would become as popular as it is today. “It’s been such a blessing and wonderful opportunity to talk about rice, because most people don’t know rice is grown in the United States and that there’s an alternative to Thai jasmine,” he says. “Many of them will come away with a greater appreciation for what we do. “I want to make sure the birders and the environmentalists know we’re not the bad guys. There’s a misperception that we’re not taking care of what the good Lord has given TWITTER: @RICEFARMING

The Yellow Rails & Rice Festival was the brainchild of Thornwell, Louisiana, rice producer Kevin Berken (above); his wife, Shirley; and Donna Dittmann and Steven Cardiff, collection managers with the Louisiana State University Museum of Natural Science in Baton Rouge.

agriculture lands to the abundant clean water and wildlife habitat. “In particular, our working rice fields provide food for millions of resident and migratory birds. Whether it is the sight of yellow rails flying during rice harvest or the rise of ducks off flooded fields on a cold winter morning — farmers, our private land stewards, do more than sow and harvest.”

Erik Johnson, director of bird conservation for Audubon Louisiana, bands a sora rail, a slightly larger relative of the yellow rail. The bird was caught in fine mist nets erected near the combine turn-row.

us. I want to show them how very responsible we’re with our natural resources.” Kevin Norton, Natural Resources Conservation Service state conservationist, agrees. “Through sound conservation practices, these fields still sustainably produce the food, fiber, fuel and forest products that support our communities and feed our families and the world,” he says. “The benefits extend well beyond food production to the contribution of our private

Riding the rails The event is the brainchild of Berken and his wife, Shirley, along with Donna Dittmann and Steven Cardiff, collection managers with the Louisiana State University Museum of Natural Science in Baton Rouge. Berken first met Dittmann and Cardiff when they were bird watching by his fields as he cut a ratoon crop more than 10 years ago. Dittmann says she and Cardiff discovered in the mid-’80s that watching combines during the ratoon harvest was a reliable way to see yellow and other rail species. From there, Dittmann, Cardiff and the Berkens became friends and started talking about how they could mix rice farming and birding. “We just joked about starting a festival around the bird and the whole harvest,” Dittmann says. What really kick-started the idea was a state statute adopted several years ago that limited liability for certified agri-tourism events, such as Yellow Rails & Rice. The group focused on the yellow rail because “it was a bird that was charismatic DECEMBER 2018

RICE FARMING

In addition to the yellow rail, festival participants saw numerous other birds that frequent unharvested and newly harvested rice fields. VICKY BOYD

for bird watchers so it was a lure, and Louisiana doesn’t have any other type of (avian) lure like that,” Dittmann says. “It shares other bird fauna with other southeastern states like Texas or Florida. “All bird watchers have to go to the southeast Arizona. All bird watchers have to go to the lower Rio Grande Valley and Florida. You can go to any state in the Southeast and see most of the same species. With the yellow rail, we can bring people here.” The combination of agri-tourism with bird watching also makes the Yellow Rails & Rice Festival unique among other birding events, Dittmann says.

the abundance of yellow rails. In fact, the Louisiana Legislature in 2014 proclaimed the community of Thornwell where Berken farms as the “Yellow Rail Capital of the World.”

Event takes flight Over the years, the festival has evolved; however, the focus remains seeing yellow rails during harvest. Four days of activities also include netting and banding workshops, combine rides, rice mill tours and bird watching in nearby natural areas. On two nights, participants are treated to Cajun cuisine that includes jambalaya or etouffee — and, of course, rice. Event organizers have focused on activities around Jeff Davis Parish because of the region’s wide array of offerings and

Organizers also capped the event at slightly more than 100 so most participants have an opportunity to ride the combine and see yellow rails, Dittmann says. With very little advertising, the festival has gained a following among bird watchers simply from word of mouth, and it typically sells out each year. And much like farming, organizers’ efforts are at the mercy of weather and mechanical break-downs. Two years ago, for example, Berken’s combine malfunctioned, but neighbor Paul Johnson came

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DECEMBER 2018

to the rescue and offered up use of his harvester. This year, the opening day was rained out, but the weather was clear and sunny for the remainder of the festival. Rain is always a concern because it

"Our working rice fields provide food for millions of resident and migratory birds. Whether it is the sight of yellow rails flying during rice harvest or the rise of ducks off flooded fields on a cold winter morning — farmers, our private land stewards, do more than sow and harvest.” halts harvest. And if it floods fields, yellow rails don’t like wet feet, Berken says. This year, participants saw more sora rails than yellow rails, which wasn’t surprising because it is usually more numerous and the fall was rainy, he says. Sora rails, a slightly larger cousin of yellow rails, prefer wetter fields whereas yellows prefer them drier. Nevertheless, attendees still logged more than 50 yellow rails, not to mention a plethora of other bird species, many of which also were on their life lists. RICEFARMING.COM

2018

Melvin ‘Skip’ Hula Jr. RICE FARMER OF THE YEAR AWARD

PHOTOS BY CARROLL SMITH

an 80-foot land leveler that farmers use to help row irrigate elvin “Skip” Hula Jr. is a fourth-generation rice more efficiently, especially on hillside ground. His latest invenproducer from Hazen, Arkansas. He vividly retion is a self-contained rice drainer that eliminates the physical members the excitement of riding in the truck labor involved in draining a rice field. Hula has also built his with his dad while taking the last load of grain own combine parts that extend the life of the machine six to to the dryer late in the evening during harvest. He fell in love seven times more than that of a factory combine. with growing rice as a youngster and knew farming was the Because the Hula-Sabbatini Farm is located within the life for which he was destined. Grand Prairie “critical water area,” Hula looks for ways to ir“When I was 14 years old, daddy gave me my first rice field rigate more efficiently. In a support letter submitted on Hula’s to water,” Hula says. “I quickly learned short cuts weren’t the behalf, Prairie County CEA-Staff best way to do things.” Chair Brent Griffin says, “Skip After graduating high school has used and continues to use U.S. and declining numerous academic Department of Agriculture/Corps and athletic college scholarships, of Engineers financial programs he joined the family operation in to construct on-farm surface wa1976, started farming some ground ter impoundments either through on his own in 1978, and bought EQIP or the White River Irrigaout his father in 1979. Today, Hula tion District. This has allowed for grows 1,500 acres of rice and 1,800 construction of several ‘pit’ ditchacres of soybeans in partnership es and above-ground reservoirs with his nephew, Joe Sabbatini, in to capture and re-capture water Prairie County, Arkansas. during the growing season. This year, at the suggestion of his “Once harvest is complete, Skip crop consultant, Virgil Moore, he and Joe repair existing rice levees planted PVL01 — the first Provisia to capture winter rains to provide Rice variety released by Horizon wildlife habitat for migrating ducks Ag — in a couple of fields where and geese. During the early spring, red rice had built up herbicide rethe remaining water is drained and sistance. The fields had been in rice pumped back into above-ground for multiple years because deer ate Melvin “Skip” Hula Jr. and his wife, Cathy, reside in reservoirs in preparation for spring the soybeans. Hazen, Arkansas. and summer irrigation.” “Provisia herbicide did a great Hula also designed a method for measuring gallons per job of controlling red rice and pigweed,” Hula says. “Having a minute for each hole size in collapsible poly tubing to match different herbicide mode of action will help keep rice farming the flow rate for row length. He created a cinching program sustainable.” to control water flow rates. Hula believes one of the keys to Many describe Hula as having the mind of an engineer farming success is innovative technology, such as auto-steer and the heart of a farmer. He constantly thinks outside of the and GPS that is installed on all of his equipment. He also uses box for new ways to make farming more efficient, not just for a sophisticated drone system that includes a DJI Inspire 1 to himself, but for the farming community as a whole. Hula has monitor his fields. He says the drone, which can fly up to 55 engineered and built several implements that he uses himself mph if necessary, saves a lot of time and physical manpower. and sells to other farmers. In 1980, he created Hula ManufacOn a personal note, Cole Plafcan, with AgHeritage Farm turing Inc. as a better way to produce them. Credit Services, describes Hula as a “man’s man, genuine and The first one he designed is called the Levee Hog because he kind. He is a good farmer and a man of high character, integwas tired of the levees washing out on the hillside farms where rity, family and faith.” he planted rice. The Levee Hog, which works in all types of In recognition of his innovative production practices, ensoil, is pulled behind a tractor and squeezes the levee together vironmental stewardship and commitment to the U.S. rice while pulling it. The next implement he created is known as the industry, it is a pleasure to name Melvin “Skip” Hula Jr. the Gate-A-Minute — a machine used to put in levee gates in dry 2018 Rice Farmer of the Year. and muddy ground without using a shovel. Hula also designed

Melvin ‘Skip’ Hula Jr. Hazen, Arkansas

• Hula-Sabbatini Farms grows 3,300 acres of rice and soybeans in Prairie County, Arkansas • Received the Century Farm designation in 2014 that acknowledges continuous family farm ownership in Arkansas for at least 100 years • Began Hula Manufacturing Inc. in 1980 • Strong supporter of the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture Cooperative Extension Service • Participates in the Rice DD50 Program, Flag the Technology Program, UA soil testing lab, UA plant disease clinic, UA weed resistance monitoring, on-farm UA small plot research, and use of Extension publications MP44, MP144 and MP154 • Served on the DeValls Bluff School District Board of Education • Member of the Hazen First United Methodist Church where he has served as trustee chairman and currently serves on the Finance Committee • Married to wife, Cathy. Two daughters: Megan Hula and Christin Hula Bryant (husband, Tim). One granddaughter: Maggie Bryant

Earl J. Garber RICE INDUSTRY AWARD

PHOTOS BY BRUCE SCHULTZ

arl Garber was raised on a family dairy farm in ciation of Conservation Districts beginning in 2013. The Lafayette Parish, Louisiana. His father, Walter Louisiana farmer and crop consultant says his interest in Garber, bought the property right after World War conservation was influenced by his father’s love of the land II and started his own operation. He and his wife, and serving as founding chairman of the Lafayette Soil and Eula Bodin Garber, instilled a lifelong sense of responsiWater Conservation District in the mid-1960s. bility and a strong work ethic in their five children from a “Conservation of land and water is something I was very young age. raised with, and my agronomy degree lends itself to that “My father would never interfere with our education, but same concept,” Garber says. in the afternoon after school, we all had to be there to milk Wayne Hensgens, Sanders district sales manager, says cows and work on the farm,” Garber says. Garber consistently strives for excellence in every task he In the mid-1970s, the family began to look for an opportakes on, and environmentally safe and profitable agricultunity to sell the dairy herd and establish a grain farm. They ture has always been his focus. decided to move to Acadia Parish where they grew their first “As a full-time farmer involved in food production, my soybean crop on the new farm in 1978. Garber joined his strategy was to come up with good management practices, father and brother in that build a system to impleoperation in 1979, with an ment them and make sure agronomy degree from the we were profitable in the University of Southwestern end,” Garber says. “I took Louisiana in Lafayette and that philosophy of environfive years as a soil scientist mentally safe and profitable and soil conservationist unagriculture with me when I der his belt. went out for 16 years to asOver the years, the famisist other farmers.” ly added rice and sweet poLouisiana rice farmtatoes to their crop lineup er David F. LaCour says and vertically integrated Garber has been his crop the operation by building consultant since 2002. a sweet potato marketing “One of the qualities I office and packing facility. most admire in Earl is his Earl Garber and his wife, Janis, reside in Basile, Louisiana. “When I left full-time keen awareness of the urfarming after 23 years to pursue other interests, we were gency a farmer faces when it comes to crop health and conmarketing 60 percent of the Louisiana sweet potato crop,” sistency,” LaCour says. “He has always shown concern with Garber says. how crops are progressing and, due to his farming backIn 2002, he dusted off his diploma, became a certified ground, really understands what it takes to be successful. crop adviser with the American Society of Agronomy and I have witnessed his dedication to this industry, as many went to work as a crop consultant and field service manof his days were spent working from sun up to sun down. ager for G&H Seed Co., which later became Sanders in “Earl attempts to help farmers discover and implement Crowley, Louisiana. In 2006, Garber completed the Louthe newest technology by bringing recently released prodisiana Crop Consultant Certification and still holds both ucts to the farm to conduct field trials. His dedication has designations today. helped so many farmers in our area grow more profitable “In looking back, the accomplishment I find most satiscrops and achieve a higher level of efficiency while also befying is shifting careers and developing myself as a support ing mindful of environmental concerns and sustainability. person to the agriculture industry,” he says. “I enjoyed being His recommendations are invariably made from the farmable to assist other farmers and growing my involvement er’s perspective, and I never doubt they are made with my with conservation and my community.” best interests at heart.” Garber has been a supervisor on the local Acadia Soil As a tribute to his dedication, perseverance and experiand Water Conservation District board for 38 years and ence, it is a privilege to name Earl Garber as the recipient served a two-year term as president of the National Assoof the 2018 Rice Industry Award.

Earl J. Garber Basile, Louisiana

• B.S., Agronomy, University of Southwestern Louisiana • Past president of the National Association of Conservation Districts • Supervisor of the Acadia Soil and Water Conservation District • Member of the American Society of Agronomy, Louisiana Farm Bureau, Right of Way Association, National Soil Health Institute and Bayou des Cannes-Nezpique Drainage District • Alternate board member of the Louisiana State Soil and Water Conservation Commission • Past member of the U.S. Environmental Agency’s Farm, Ranch and Rural Communities Committee • Recipient of the Louisiana Association of Conservation District’s President’s Award and Guy Claire Award, the Louisiana Concurrent Resolution Recognition from the Louisiana State Senate, and The Fertilizer Institute’s 4R Nutrient Stewardship Advocate Award • Married to wife, Janis. Three children: Kirk Garber (wife, Karen), Ashley LeBlanc (husband, Alan) and Brandon Garber. Three grandchildren: Claire Guillory, Emma LeBlanc and Oran LeBlanc

Marvin Hare Jr. RICE LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

PHOTOS BY CARROLL SMITH

arvin Hare Jr., a third-generation farmer from “Helping to direct research that benefits Arkansas rice Newport, Arkansas, just completed his 52nd farmers has been one of the most satisfying experiences in crop. Th rough the years, he has worked tiremy career,” he says. “Another achievement that ranks high lessly to diversify, grow and improve his opon my list is serving as chairman of the USA Rice Founeration; serve the U.S. rice industry; and promote valuable dation, which works to fund research for all six rice-prorice research on both the local and national level. ducing states. Currently, the foundation’s corporate memToday, Hare farms 6,000 acres of mostly long-grain bers make voluntary contributions to support activities. rice, soybeans and corn with his daughter and son-inWe also are working to secure research grants and other law, Jennifer and Greg James. The family also continues private and public donations to supplement our revenue.” to grow, clean and export natto soybeans to Japan. Hare In a support letter submitted by several University of developed this specialty crop — which commands a preArkansas Division of Agriculture personnel on Hare’s mium price — in the early 1980s to help overcome the behalf, Drs. Mark Cochran, Rick Roeder and Rick Cartadversity of the farm crisis. All of the crops are dried and wright say Hare “recognizes the value of independent stored in on-farm grain evaluations of new bins. technologies and the Hare has always role of demonstration been a fi rm believer in plots to the decisions producing more grain that farmers make to with fewer inputs and adopt new practices protecting natural reand technologies. He sources. To conserve has been so active with water, he began fi lling our teams we often in the above-ground cathink of him as a renals that moved water search partner. across his farm in the “His visionary sup1970s. He then installed port of the University underground pipe and of Arkansas Division began precision levelof Agriculture variing his rice fields. Aletal development has though the farm located Marvin Hare Jr. and his wife, Lynne, reside in Newport, Arkansas. helped Arkansas rice between the White and farmers continually inCache River basins is not in a critical groundwater area, crease rice yields, which recent studies have shown resultHare built a 6-acre reservoir that holds 20 million gallons ed in more than $1 billion in additional rice farm gate of water and two tailwater recovery systems that service revenues between 1983 and 2016.” 1,095 acres of rice and soybeans. When asked to “look into his crystal ball,” Hare preAlways the visionary, Hare recognized the synergy dicts “the future of U.S. rice will be bright and exciting. among rice fields, duck habitat and the joy of family being For example, we are working to increase the domestogether during duck hunts. Th is motivated him to adopt tic market for rice, and researchers are developing betpractices on the farm to improve habitat conservation. ter varieties, finding more efficient ways to irrigate and His operation now includes annually flooding more than fine-tuning conservation practices. And the technology 1,800 acres to serve as rest and feeding areas for thouwe have today is mind-boggling.” sands of migratory birds on their trip to and from the CaWhile spending time with his family and tilling the nadian prairies. land they have owned for more than 100 years, this ArHare is a long-time advocate for the University of Arkansas producer, innovator, research advocate, businesskansas Division of Agriculture Research and Extension man and leader has garnered the respect of the entire U.S. and has been a member of the Arkansas Rice Research rice industry. and Promotion Board for the past 20 years. He also served It is an honor to name Marvin Hare Jr. as the recipient as board chairman in 2015. of the 2018 Rice Lifetime Achievement Award.

Marvin Hare Jr. Newport, Arkansas

• B.S., Agriculture, University of Arkansas • Started Hare Planting Co. Inc. in 1972. Farms about 6,000 acres of rice, soybeans and corn • Past chairman, USA Rice Foundation • Past chairman and member of the Arkansas Rice Research and Promotion Board • Serves on the Arkansas Rice Farmers Board of Directors • Member, Arkansas Rice Council • 2017 Arkansas Conservationist of the Year • Cooperated with Ducks Unlimited in the Arkansas Rice Project in the 1990s • Married to wife, Lynne. Two children: Marvin “Trey” Hare III (wife, Candy) and Jennifer James (husband, Greg). Stepson: Lance Connor. Stepdaughter: Kathryn Connor. Grandchildren: Hannah Hare White (husband, Brandon), Christopher Hare and Dylan James.

Horizon Ag would like to recognize past Rice Awards recipients.

2018

RICE AWARDS

1992

Dennis Leonards

1993

Jacko Garrett Jr.

Rice Farmer of the Year: Gibb Steele Rice Industry Award: Chuck Wilson Rice Lifetime Achievement Award: John Denison

1994

2007

Nolen Canon

orizon Ag is honored to partner with Rice Farming magazine on the 2018 Rice Awards and to welcome the industry to beautiful San Diego for the 2018 USA Rice Outlook Conference. As Andy Williams first sang many years ago, “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year.” This time of year is wonderful largely because we are compelled to give. We have recently given thanks, and we now prepare to give gifts. Rice farming and the entire rice industry face challenges every year. This year, the fires in California and the weather extremes in the South have been part of the challenges we’ve encountered. Additionally, it is no secret that the overall farm economy is hurting while the nonfarm economy has experienced record highs. Next year will bring a new set of challenges. However, as is the case every year, the rice industry still moves forward. Here at the 2018 USA Rice Outlook Conference, we take advantage of the opportunity to give of ourselves to a great industry that is much larger than any sole individual. As an industry, we give of ourselves and our respective businesses to advance U.S. rice both here and abroad to secure the future for farmers today and for the generations that follow. With this year’s awards, we look forward to once again acknowledging individuals who have truly made a difference by their hard work, persistence and devotion. Those recognized for their outstanding achievements will receive:  The Rice Industry Award, which honors the person who has proven to be innovative in his or her role in this industry.  The Lifetime Achievement Award, which recognizes the person who has dedicated his or her life to the viability of the U.S. rice industry.  The Rice Farmer of the Year Award, which is given to a farmer who has shown determination, innovation or dedication to growing the crop. The 2018 Rice Industry Award winners can stand proudly with the award winners who have gone before them and, on behalf of Horizon Ag, we sincerely congratulate each one. Finally, we appreciate the rice farmers who continue to allow Horizon Ag to be successful by trusting in and supporting our brand and our Clearfield® and Provisia® rice varieties. At the end of the day, Horizon Ag partners with farmers to ensure they have the tools, technology and support to be more profitable. Because when rice farmers succeed, our industry succeeds with them. Zig Ziglar said, “Gratitude is the healthiest of all human emotions. The more you express gratitude for what you have, the more likely you will have even more to express gratitude for.” Horizon Ag is grateful for our great industry and looks forward to continuing to partner to help our industry reach new heights. Tim Walker Horizon Ag General Manager

2006

1995

Duane Gaither

1996

Leroy & Chris Isbell

1997

Charles Berry John Denison Paul Haidusek Errol Lounsberry Charley Mathews Jr. Patrick Mullen Fred Tanner

1998

Tommy Andrus Don Bransford Larry Devillier Jr. Dennis Robison Gary Sebree Linda Zaunbrecher

1999

Ken Collins James “Jimmy” Hoppe Charles Parker Johnson Abbott Myers Lowell George “L.G.” Raun Jr. Martin Walt Jr.

2000

John B. Alter R. Ernest Girouard Jr. Bill Griffith Ken Minton Michael Rue J.D. “Des” Woods

2001

Rice Farmer of the Year: Clarence Berken Rice Industry Award: Dr. Joe Street Rice Lifetime Achievement Award: Dr. Steve Linscombe

2008

Rice Farmer of the Year: Milton LaMalfa Rice Industry Award: John Cummings Rice Lifetime Achievement Award: Martin Ahrent

2009

Rice Farmer of the Year: Curtis Berry Rice Industry Award: John E. Broussard Jr. Rice Lifetime Achievement Award: Carl Wayne Brothers

2010

Rice Farmer of the Year: Greg, C.J. and Jeff Durand Rice Industry Award: Dr. Richard J. Norman Rice Lifetime Achievement Award: Dr. Elaine T. Champagne

2011

Rice Farmer of the Year: Mark Wimpy Rice Industry Award: Dr. Rick Cartwright Rice Lifetime Achievement Award: Jacko Garrett Jr.

2012

Rice Farmer of the Year: Jim Whitaker Rice Industry Award: Dr. Donald Groth Rice Lifetime Achievement Award: Jim Erdman

2013

Rice Farmer of the Year: Larry and Candice Davis, Bolivar County, Miss. Rice Industry Award: Jack William Rice Lifetime Achievement Award: David LaCour

Rice Farmer of the Year: Joe Aguzzi Rice Industry Award: Dr. Eric Webster Rice Lifetime Achievement Award: Elton Kennedy

2002

Rice Farmer of the Year: Tommy Ray Oliver Rice Industry Award: Howard Cormier, Rice Lifetime Achievement Award: Leland L. Carle

Rice Farmer of the Year: Fred Zaunbrecher Rice Industry Award: Dr. Kent McKenzie Rice Lifetime Achievement Award: Marvin Baden

2003

2015

2014

Rice Farmer of the Year: David Monroe Smith Jr. Rice Industry Award: Dr. Johnny Saichuk Rice Lifetime Achievement Award: Lundberg Brothers

Rice Farmer of the Year: Jerry Hoskyn Rice Industry Award: Keith Fontenot Rice Lifetime Achievement Award: Jimmy Hoppe

2004

Rice Farmer of the Year: Dane Hebert Rice Industry Award: Dr. M.O. “Mo” Way Rice Lifetime Achievement Award: Dr. Joseph Musick

Rice Farmer of the Year: Richard Fontenot Rice Industry Award: Dr. Steve Linscombe Rice Lifetime Achievement Award: Gary Sebree

2005

2017

Rice Farmer of the Year: John Greer Rice Industry Award: Charles “Eddie” Eskew Rice Lifetime Achievement Award: Donald Bransford

2016

Rice Farmer of the Year: Christian Richard Rice Industry Award: Dr. Xueyan Sha Rice Lifetime Achievement Award: Chuck Wilson

PHOTOS BY DR. MO WAY, TEXAS A&M

Back after three years

One of the telltale signs of a rice delphacid infestation is hopper burn, a bronzing of the crop caused by its feeding.

Rice planthopper resurfaces in Texas ratoon rice, prompting grower alerts. By Vicky Boyd Editor

ice delphacid, a planthopper native to Central and South America, has been found in several South Texas counties after a three-year absence. “It’s a very, very similar infestation as three years ago,” says Dr. Mo Way, a Texas A&M entomology professor who has visited the ﬁeld. The ﬁrst report came from Galveston County in a ratoon crop of Texmati, and the grower reported patches of hopper burn. Way has since found it in Brazoria, Matagorda and Jackson counties and possibly Wharton County. As in 2015, all of the infestations this season were west and south of Houston. “In 2015, it came in on the ratoon rice in October, and the same thing again three years later,” he says. “We’ve monitored for it for three years and nothing until now.” Because the Galveston County crop was in the hard dough stage and nearing harvest, Way says the grower couldn’t apply an insecticide because of pre-harvest intervals and nothing was labeled to control it. Since then, a Section 18 crisis exemption for Endigo ZC — a premix of lambda-cyhalothrin and thiamethoxam — was issued. TWITTER: @RICEFARMING

At about ¼ inch, the rice delphacid can cause significant crop damage by sucking out plant juices.

Way has a theory about why the insect seemed to disappear between 2015 and this season. “My gut feeling is that the critter’s been here for a while, maybe since 2015, and the populations were just undetected until the environment was just right,” he says. This season, the area south of Houston where the infestation was discovered has received at least 40 inches of rain in September, so there have been prolonged periods of wetness. In December 2017, Way traveled to the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) in Cali, Colombia, to observe ﬁrst-hand this insect and the virus it can carry that causes a severe rice disease called “hoja blanca.” Translated, that means white leaf. Because the pest is endemic DECEMBER 2018

RICE FARMING

DR. MO WAY, TEXAS A&M

Consultant Cliff Mock and rice grower Weldon Nansen inspect a ratoon rice field for rice delphacid.

in that country, researchers can carry out field trials. For growers there, developing resistant varieties is the only economic solution. Way says he plans to send some of the public inbred U.S. varieties to Dr. Maribel Cruz, an entomologist at CIAT, so she can rate them for field tolerance to hoja blanca and rice delphacid feeding. History repeats In 2015, a consultant reported symptoms of hopper burn — bronzing of the plants caused by planthopper feeding — in a ratoon rice field south of Houston. Subsequent inspections and sampling of rice fields using insect sweep nets found rice delphacid in five counties: Brazoria, Jefferson, Wharton, Colorado and to a lesser extent, Jackson. Results from a non-randomized, small-plot insecticide experiment in a commercial field in Brazoria County suggested pyrethroids were not effective, but dinotefuran was. In fact, the trials in 2015 found pyrethroids flared rice delphacid populations. Observations of infested fields found no difference in susceptibility among inbred and hybrid cultivars. What caused the pest to appear in 2015 remains unknown. Way established sentinel plots and sampled test fields weekly in 2016, 2017 and earlier this season without finding a single planthopper.

RICE FARMING

DECEMBER 2018

Get to know rice delphacid The rice delphacid uses a piercing-sucking mouth part to feed on plant phloem — plant tissue that transports nutrients, including sugar, made during photosynthesis to parts of the plant where they’re needed. The planthopper, roughly 1/4 inch long, damages rice plants through feeding as well as egg-laying. In addition, it is an important vector of a virus that causes hoja blanca, which can cause up to 50 percent crop loss in Central and South America. Way sent dead, preserved samples of delphacid from the 2015 infestation to Dr. Ismael Badillo-Vargas (Texas A&M AgriLife Research virologist) for analysis, and they came back as genetically similar to those found in Argentina, he says. The planthopper, known scientiﬁcally as Tagosodes orizicolus, was reported in rice-growing areas of the Southeast United States from 1957-1959 and from 1962-64. During that time, hoja blanca was found in Florida, Louisiana and Mississippi. But because the vector never established, the disease has not been reported since then. Extension rice specialists urge you to be on the lookout for the pest as you scout and cut your ratoon crop. Contact them if you suspect a rice delphacid infestation. Texas A&M’s Mo Way can be reached at 409-239-4265 or moway@ aesrg.tamu.edu. LSU AgCenter’s Blake Wilson can be reached at 225-642-0224 or BWilson@agcenter.lsu.edu. RICEFARMING.COM

Boosting Profitability Should Be Goal as Rice Farmers Plan for 2019 Season Providing Southern rice farmers with the best chance to make the most money from their crop, year in and year out, is a mission that seed provider Horizon Ag takes seriously. It’s a commitment driven by a vision for a sustainable U.S. rice industry today and for the future and for successful, productive and profitable farmer customers. “Everything we do, from providing proven, high-performance Clearfield® rice varieties to bringing to market seed for the latest technology like the Provisia™ Rice System, is done with the goal of helping the industry be more viable over the long haul,” said Dr. Tim Walker, Horizon Ag General Manager. “To achieve that, Horizon Ag is about providing the products, service and support rice farmers need to take more money to the bank in this challenging economic environment.” For farmers planning for the 2019 season, it’s about maximizing profitability. Attempting to make the highest yield across every acre typically results in less net income because the resulting yields do not make up for the higher seed costs, increased maintenance and repair, and fewer premiums at the mill. For example, leading Horizon Ag Clearfield varieties like CL111, CL151, CL153 and CL172 all offer proven, outstanding yield potential in the region. However, they also come with the most cost-effective weed control, desirable agronomic characteristics, and the grain quality needed to keep foreign and domestic buyers interested in purchasing U.S. rice, at a seed cost half as much as hybrids. PVL01, the first Provisia rice variety introduced as part of the Provisia Rice System, proved its value in 2018 by enabling farmers to bring fields back into profitable production that had been rendered unproductive due to herbicide-resistant weedy rice. In addition to cutting strong yields with PVL01 this past season, farmers consistently reported that their Provisia rice fields were the cleanest on their farms and cost less than any other system.

“Working with our industry partner BASF to bring this technology forward, we knew that PVL01 and the Provisia Rice System were going to be important to farmers who needed to take back fields where weedy rice was considerably lowering production potential,” said Dr. Walker. “PVL01 did that in addition to displaying stellar grass control in a year where other grass control options were very costly with poor results. As a result of its outstanding weed control and yields, farmers from Louisiana to Missouri are saying they will be planting more PVL01 next year to improve profitability in those problem fields, as well as to manage against the development of harmful weedy rice.” Dr. Walker said farmers who tried a new weed control program in conventional rice were disappointed with the results because of lack of grass control and, in many cases, injured rice, are indicating they’ll return to the consistent, and proven results they’ve received over the years with the Clearfield Production System for Rice.

“More than ever, now is the time for rice farmers to choose proven varieties and a production system that they know how to manage, and have confidence in their ability to maximize profits,” he said. “Horizon Ag and BASF brought the Clearfield Production System for Rice to market earlier this century and dramatically changed the rice industry for the better. With the addition of Provisia rice, which proved its merit in fields this past season, farmers have even more tools today to make the right decisions to strengthen the financial outlook for their operations.”

Fixed 0% APR Financing Now Available Horizon Ag is also excited to announce that it and BASF are working together to improve farmer profitability by offering an opportunity to secure fixed 0% APR1 financing for seed and crop protection products for rice, through John Deere Financial. Eligible Southern rice seed varieties from Horizon Ag include all of its Clearfield varieties, followed by Clearpath® herbicide or Newpath® herbicide. In addition, the program includes Provisia rice variety PVL01 followed by Provisia™ herbicide. Customers can also finance other BASF crop protection products applied to their rice acres, such as Beyond® herbicide, Facet® L herbicide, Sharpen® herbicide or Prowl® H2O herbicide. The program, part of a farmers Multi-Use Account with John Deere Financial, runs from October 1, 2018, through September 30, 2019, with payment due in full in December 2019. The offer is valid in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Tennessee, Texas and Illinois.

For more information, farmers can call 1-800-356-9033 or see their Horizon Ag and BASF Authorized Retailers.

Always read and follow label directions. 1 Offer valid on qualifying purchases made between 1 October 2018 to 30 September 2019. Offer limited to Multi-Use Account Agricultural customers with an available Special Terms Credit Limit. Subject to the Multi-Use Account credit agreement and approval. Fixed 0% APR from the date of purchase, which may be prior to delivery, until December 2019, when the entire transaction amount is due in full. The principal balance, accrued interest, and all finance charges associated with the purchase are due in full on the customer's December 2019 statement due date. Regular Multi-Use Account rates will apply after that date. Offer may be limited to qualifying products. No minimum purchase required. Subject to merchant participation, see your local merchant for complete details. Multi-Use Accounts are a service of John Deere Financial, f.s.b. Provisia is a trademark and Clearfield, Clearpath, Beyond, Facet L, Newpath, Prowl H20 and Sharpen are registered trademarks of BASF. © 2018 Horizon Ag, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Variety/Hybrid

2019 Roster Review these proven and new releases for the upcoming season

y watching the numbers tick off your yield monitor during harvest or counting the number of trailers coming out of your fields, you likely were beginning to consider what varieties to plant in 2019. What ones did well in particular fields and what ones weren’t up to expectations? These easy-to-use charts that highlight how Clearfield and Provisia varieties and/or hybrids performed in Mid-South trials during 2018 are designed to help with those planting decisions. Consider each field individually along with your goals when making selections for 2019. The following charts and information were provided by Horizon Ag LLC and RiceTec.

2019 Horizon Ag Varieties PVL01 • First Provisia herbicide-tolerant variety • Outstanding seedling vigor • Exceptional tillering • Superior grain quality and milling • Very good yield potential CL111 • Earliest maturity of any Clearfield variety • Excellent vigor with high yield potential • Outstanding grain quality and milling • Exceptional ratoon crop performance • Kellogg’s preferred long grain CL151 • Exceptional yield potential • Uses nitrogen efficiently

Web Resources For more information about Horizon Ag Clearfield and Provisia varieties, visit www.horizonseed.com For more information about RiceTec hybrids, visit www.ricetec.com − Manage nitrogen input to reduce lodging and disease pressure • Susceptible to blast; not recommended for fields with a history of blast or water issues CL153 • Exceptional seedling vigor • Very good yield potential • Outstanding grain quality and milling

• Blast resistance • Lodging resistance CL163 • Excellent yield potential and seedling vigor • Outstanding grain quality and milling • Exceptional cooking quality − Extra-high amylose content compared to current long grain varieties − Ideal for parboil, canning, food services or package rice • Susceptible to blast; not recommended for fields with a history of blast or water issues CL172 • Yield potential between CL111 and CL151 • Outstanding grain quality and milling • Superb cooking quality • Blast resistance • Lodging resistance CL272 • Medium grain variety • Comparable to Jupiter with better blast package • Very good milling and cooking quality • Lodging resistance

Horizon Ag LLC Disease Ratings Variety

Sheath Blight

Blast*

Straight Head

Bacterial Panicle Blight*

Narrow Brown Leaf Spot*

Kernel Smut

False Smut

Lodging

PVL01

CL111

CL151

CL153

MS1

CL163

CL172

MS1

CL272

VS = Very Susceptible S = Susceptible MS = Moderately Susceptible MR = Moderately Resistant R = Resistant * Reactions may differ due to variability of strains among pathogens. 1 These varieties have genetic markers for Pita, which confers resistance to the following blast races: IA45, IB1, IB49, IB54, IB45, IH1, IG1, IC17, IE1.

RICE FARMING

DECEMBER 2018

RICEFARMING.COM

Horizon Ag LLC 2019 Variety Characteristics and Suggested Management Practices Variety

Height 1 (inches)

Maturity 2 (days to 50% heading)

Suggested Seeding Rate 3 (lb seed/A)

Suggested Nitrogen Rate 4 (lb N/A)

PVL01

50-70

120-160

CL111

60-70

120-160

CL151

55-65

90-150

CL153

60-70

120-160

CL163

60-70

120-160

CL172

65-80

120-160

CL272

60-70

120-160

Height will vary with plant density and environmental conditions. Maturity varies with geographical region and environmental conditions in a given year. 3 Optimum drill seeded planting rate is only for fungicide-treated seed. If using non-treated seed, the seeding rate should be increased by a minimum of 10 lbs/A. 4 Optimal nitrogen rate varies from field to field. The high end should be reserved for heavy clay soils and fields where rice is followed by rice. Using the high end of the nitrogen and seeding rate recommendations may increase the incidence of disease. Please scout and treat the Clearfield varieties accordingly. The NSt*R program is recommended where applicable. 1

RiceTec FullPage Hybrids 1 RT7321 FP

RT7322 FP

RT7521 FP

RT 7221 FP

Yield advantage

28%

19%

28%

20%

Milling average

54/71

59/71

56/71

54/71

Maturity group

Early

Very early

Days to 50% headed

Days to grain maturity

109

116

105

Agronomic characteristics Pubescence

Present

Height (inches)

42-46

42-44

44-48

37-41

Above average

Average

Above average

Average

Standability Grain retention Ratoon potential

Management recommendations Total nitrogen (lbs of N)

120-150

Preflood

90-120

Late boot

Disease characteristics

Sheath blight

Straighthead

Kernel smut

False smut

Bacterial panicle blight

Narrow leaf brown spot

Blast

1 RiceTec seed characteristics are determined from data collected from specific RiceTec and/or university field trials and are not a guarantee of performance, nor do they constitute a warranty of fitness for a particular use. 2 Milling averages taken from head-to-head comparisons in planting date trials; very early and medium-late seed products maybe disadvantaged due to single harvest date. 3 Ratoon potential on full-season rice may be reduced if harvest is delayed due to later planting. 4 R = Resistant, MR = Moderately Resistant, MS = Moderately Susceptible, S = Susceptible, VS = Very Susceptible; although RiceTec products normally do not require fungicide treatment, fields should be scouted closely for diseases and treated when necessary. Consider field history and environmental conditions when making fungicide decisions. Apply preventive applications of fungicide if justified by field history of kernel smut, false smut, and/or Cercospora (narrow brown leaf spot). 5 RiceTec seed products have shown field resistance to common strains of rice blast fungus. Susceptibility to unusual strains of the rice blast fungus, which have been thus far rare in the field to date, has been documented in nursery trials.

TWITTER: TWITTER: @RICEFARMING @RICEFARMING

DECEMBER DECEMBER 2018 2018

RICE RICE FARMING FARMING

25 25

RiceTec

CL XL745

CL XP4534

Gemini 214 CL

RT7311 CL

XP723

XP753

XP760

RT7301

RiceTec Hybrids 1

CL XL729

RiceTec Clearfield Hybrids 1

Herbicide tolerance trait

Clearfield

N/A

Grain type

Long grain

Yield advantage

17%

21%

23%

28%

21%

23%

26%

24%

Milling average 2

58/70

58/71

52/71

56/71

54/71

59/70

56/71

58/71

56/71

Maturity group

Early

Very early

Early

Days to 50% headed

Days to grain maturity

112

109

105

116

109

111

109

117

109

Agronomic characteristics Stress tolerance

Excellent

Pubescence

Present

Height (inches)

42-44

37-39

44-48

42-44

44-48

42-44

Standability

Average

Excellent

Above average

Average

Above average

Grain retention

Below average

Average

Above average

Below average

Above average

Ratoon potential 3

Above average

Average

Above average

Average

Above average

Average

Management recommendations Total nitrogen (lbs of N)

120-150

Preflood

90-120

Late boot

Disease characteristics 4 R

Sheath blight

Straighthead

Kernel smut

False smut

Bacterial panicle blight

Narrow leaf brown spot

Blast 5

RiceTec seed characteristics are determined from data collected from specific RiceTec and/or university field trials and are not a guarantee of performance, nor do they constitute a warranty of fitness for a particular use. 2 Milling averages taken from head-to-head comparisons in planting date trials; very early and medium-late seed products maybe disadvantaged due to single harvest date. 3 Ratoon potential on full-season rice may be reduced if harvest is delayed due to later planting. 4 R = Resistant, MR = Moderately Resistant, MS = Moderately Susceptible, S = Susceptible, VS = Very Susceptible; although RiceTec products normally do not require fungicide treatment, fields should bescouted closely for diseases and treated when necessary. Consider field history and environmental conditions when making fungicide decisions. Apply preventive applications of fungicide if justified by field history of kernel smut, false smut, and/or Cercospora (narrow brown leaf spot). 5 RiceTec seed products have shown field resistance to common strains of rice blast fungus. Susceptibility to unusual strains of the rice blast fungus, which have been thus far rare in the field to date, has been documented in nursery trials. 1

RICE FARMING

DECEMBER 2018

RICEFARMING.COM

Industry

News

A new program built on the multi-use account through John Deere Financial will offer Southern rice producers zero percent APR financing on their purchases of Horizon Ag Clearfield and Provisia rice seed and BASF crop protection products for the upcoming season. Eligible rice seed varieties from Horizon Ag include Clearfield varieties CL111, CL151, CL153, CL163, CL172, CL272, and CLJ01 followed by Clearpath or Newpath herbicides. In addition, the program includes Provisia rice variety PVL01 followed by Provisia herbicide, according to a news release. Customers also can finance other BASF crop protection products applied to their rice acres, including Beyond, Facet L, Sharpen or Prowl H2O herbicides The zero percent APR financing program runs from Oct. 1, 2018, through Sept. 30, 2019, with payment due in full in December 2019. The offer is valid in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Tennessee, Texas and Illinois. For more information, call 1-800-356-9033 or contact your local Horizon Ag and BASF authorized retailers.

Alliance Tire Group launches radial tire for muddy rice fields

The Alliance Agristar 374, a new R-2 radial tire for muddy rice and sugar cane fields from the Alliance Tire Group, combines deep-lug traction with a smooth ride on the road. With its unique tread bar design—more than 3 inches deep—the new tire features a pair of “step” reinforcements to reduce lug movement and heat buildup while delivering the tractor’s torque to soft ground, according to a news release. This stable footprint exerts great traction in mud and even longer-lasting performance on the road. The Agristar 374 lug also features a flat tread profile, as well as a wide nose that creates a dense center line to keep the tire steady and smooth on the road while minimizing irregular tread wear from pavement. Alliance has launched the Agristar 374 R-2 in a range of sizes popular in the rice and sugar cane markets, including 480/80R46, 480/70R34, 420/90R30, 520/85R42, 520/85R46 and 480/80R50. TWITTER: @RICEFARMING

VICKY BOYD

Horizon Ag, BASF partner on zero percent financing plan

From left: Gary Enos, chairman, California Cooperative Rice Research Board; UC Extension agronomist Bruce Linquist; Randall ‘Cass’ Mutters; and Kent McKenzie, California Rice Experiment Station director.

Retired UC farm adviser honored for years of service

The California Rice Research Board recently honored Randall “Cass” Mutters with its annual Rice Industry Award. Presented at the California Rice Field Day, it recognizes and honors an individual from any segment of the rice industry who has made outstanding contributions. “This is an honor to present this to Cass, who really needs no introduction to anyone in this audience,” says Bruce Linquist, University of California Cooperative Extension agronomist, in presenting the award. Mutters served as a UC Cooperative Extension farm adviser for Butte County from 1994 to 2017, when he retired. He helped develop the Leaf Color Chart, a simple device growers can use to determine whether a rice field needs a mid-season nitrogen application. About 15 years later, Mutters updated the chart to reflect new varietal releases and their responses to nitrogen. Mutters also conducted research into the effects of cold water on rice growth and yield. In addition, he helped develop guidelines about when to drain rice fields, allowing growers to save water while maintaining yields. Mutters was a co-author of the “Rice Quality Handbook,” which Linquist called the “most important rice book in California.” In receiving the honor, Mutters called it “unexpected” and says he was surprised, having only learned about the presentation a few days before the field day. Initially, Mutters says he thought about not attending because he was a bit shy and wanted to stay out of the limelight. “But I decided to come for the primary reason to give me the opportunity to thank you,” Mutters told the audience. “All of

this stuff he talked about wouldn’t have been possible without the support of the grower community and all of these organizations you see around the room.” Since the board began presenting the award, 56 individuals have been honored.

Rice Festival fetes rice and crawfish producer

The 82nd International Rice Festival recognized Gerard Frey as the 2018 Farmer of the Year during the recent event in Crowley, Louisiana. Frey was born and raised in the rural community of Shortbread, northeast of Iota in Acadia Parish, Louisiana. At an early age, there Gerard was never any doubt of Frey Frey’s future occupation. He began driving a tractor at the age of 6 by himself, tilling soil and hauling rice out during harvest. At 9, he began operating a combine and has never stopped. In 1979, during Frey’s senior year of high school, a retired farmer and neighbor offered to rent his farm to him. At 17 years old, Gerard financed 100 percent of the money needed to purchase equipment and crop expenses from a local banker without a co-signer. This became the first farm he purchased, still farms and resides on with his family today. “Looking back 40 years, why in the world they loaned me this money is beyond me,” he says. “But I’m sure they looked at my dad, whom was a great farmer and honorable hard-working man, and that helped.” From his first crop of about 150 acres of rice and 200 acres of soybeans, the operation has grown to the current 3,000 acres, which consist of rice, crawfish and cattle. Throughout his career, he has received numerous awards, including the highest rice yield and quality challenge in the state in 2003 and 2004, State of Louisiana Farmer of the Year in 2005, Acadia Soil and Water Conservation District Farmer of the Year in 2006, Guy Caire Memorial Award for outstanding leadership in the promotion of soil and water conservation in 2015, and the Good Land Use Award for Environmental and Conservation Excellence in 2015. DECEMBER 2018

RICE FARMING

Specialists

Speaking

Growers achieve near-record yields despite challenges DR. DUSTIN HARRELL LOUISIANA Extension Rice Specialist dharrell@agcenter.lsu.edu

Record grain yields were last achieved in Louisiana during the 2014 growing season when we were blessed with very favorable weather conditions. Until 2018, each crop since 2014 had been successively lower yielding than the year before. Louisiana saw constant rainfall and cloudy conditions nearly the entire rice growth period in 2015. In 2016, record flooding occurred when more than 24 inches of rainfall was recorded in a 36-hour period during harvest in some areas in southwest Louisiana. The 2017 season saw more flooding, albeit earlier in the season, and poor growing conditions throughout the remainder of the season. I would say Louisiana was due for a good year. Fortunately, Louisiana had more favorable growing conditions in 2018, and near-record yields were obtained, but there were many agronomic challenges along the way. Louisiana planted just more than 434,000 acres in 2018. Planting was spread out more evenly than normal from the period beginning in late February through March, mainly due to wet soil conditions caused by frequent, but not excessive, rainfall. The Rice Variety by Parish Survey conducted annually by Extension agents indicated that Louisiana planted approximately 89 percent long-grain, 10 percent medium-grain and 1 percent

2018 conditions proved favorable to California rice BRUCE LINQUIST CALIFORNIA UCCE Rice Specialist balinquist@ucdavis.edu

As of writing in mid-October, a little more than 50 percent of the California rice crop is harvested, so the harvest is delayed by about a week relative to average. However, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture statistics, the 50 percent planting date was May 20, which is also about a week later than normal, so the season length (planting to harvest) is fairly typical. The delay in planting was due to April rainfall that delayed land preparation. Overall, the season was favorable. July was a bit warmer and August a bit cooler than usual. Wildfires around the Sacramento Valley in late July and early August lead to two to three weeks of smoky skies, which lowered solar radiation, although it is

RICE FARMING

DECEMBER 2018

special-purpose rice varieties. The top planted rice varieties and hybrids included CL153 (19.5 percent), CL111 (14 percent), Cheniere (11.9 percent), Mermentau (10.5 percent), CLXL745 (9.7 percent), Jupiter (5.8 percent) and XP753 (4.9 percent). Clearfield seed technology in both inbred and hybrid rice varieties made up approximately 59 percent of the acres. The new Provisia herbicide technology was available for the first time in 2018 in a variety named PVL01, and it was planted on approximately 10,000 acres or 2.3 percent of the total acreage. The first real challenge of 2018 was cool weather. Most of March and the first couple weeks of April were cooler than normal. In fact, we even had a daily low temperature in early April that reached into the mid-30s. Cold damage, delayed growth and development, and short and stunted plants were common early on. Rice stressed by cold weather also tended to be more susceptible to herbicide damage with many of our commonly used early season rice herbicides. The rice herbicide Loyant was available to growers for the first time in 2018. Loyant is a unique herbicide in that it is an auxin and it has activity on broadleaves, sedges and even some grasses. It was used on many acres during its first year of availability, and we learned a lot about the herbicide. First, it is only effective on small grasses and is not effective in controlling the larger grass problems. However, it is very effective in controlling soybeans, and several drift issues with the herbicide were recorded. Rice can also be damaged by the herbicide when used on recently land-leveled fields or when other rice stresses (like cold stress) are present. Hybrid rice also seemed to be more susceptible to the damage than conventional rice. The weather turned hot almost overnight in late April — like a light switch was turned on. Pre-flood nitrogen fertilizer applications were easily made in 2018, making the fertilizer efficiency higher than in most years. The drought-like conditions made the too early to say how this may have impacted crop performance. Armyworms were not a problem this year as they have been the past couple of years. Weed control was generally good; however, there were a number of complaints about herbicide-resistant weeds – particularly watergrass. Weedy rice has been an emerging problem in California. This year, a new type was found in Butte County (that makes a total of six types). Generally, in fields that have had weedy rice in the past, weedy rice infestations were lower where growers took recommended steps to control it. Harvest began in mid-September. Some rain in early October slowed harvest, but since then there have been fairly strong north winds and low humidity, allowing for harvest to progress rapidly. There is some lodged rice but not nearly as bad as last year. There are also more complaints about kernel smut this year. Based on last year’s findings, kernel smut has the potential to reduce grain quality. Based on early estimates, it seems that yields are higher than last year, and so far milling quality is good. However, the continued strong north winds accompanied by low humidity may lower grain quality in rice harvested later in the season. RICEFARMING.COM

Specialists

With strong yields, Texas farmers find tight storage and drying facilities DR. M.O. “MO” WAY TEXAS Rice Research Entomologist moway@aesrg.tamu.edu

In 2018, Texas rice was grown on about 190,000 acres, of which about 50 percent was planted to hybrids. About 70 percent of our main crop was ratooned (this metric is increasing yearly). The 2018 Texas main crop produced high yields with good quality, despite a wet, cool spring. At the time of writing this article, I still do not have good yield estimates, but anecdotal average yields appear to be over 8,000 pounds per acre dry weight for the main crop. In general, the ratoon crop is looking very good, but we have had some very wet weather in September that could lead to disease and pollination problems. Because of our high yields, limited storage/drying facilities and low prices for rice, Texas farmers were having a difficult time finding a home for their crop. In some instances, farmers had to delay harvest past optimum harvest moisture because of a TWITTER: @RICEFARMING

Rice delphacid nymphs, or immatures, were found in this ratoon rice crop.

WELDON NANSEN

rice move quickly and favorable for high yields due to the lower disease potential. The only real problem were growers who could not keep up with the flood due to lower irrigation capacities. The winter preceding the 2018 planting season was colder than normal, and the sentiment going into the season was that the insect and disease pressure would be lessened to some degree. Disease potential was low due to the drought conditions, and few blast issues were reported. Sheath blight did move in late with some of our more susceptible varieties. Insect pressure from stink bugs and rice water weevil were not overly excessive in 2018. The rice new Provisia variety PVL01 did better than expected in 2018. We knew going into the season that the variety was lower yielding than all of our other commonly grown varieties and hybrids. We also knew that the technology would enable farmers to clean up Newpath-resistant red rice and weedy rice and still make decent yields, and even higher yield in fields that previously had excessive outcross populations. We also learned that the cold weather stress also increased the herbicide damage from the Provisia herbicide; however, the control of red rice was excellent. Due to blast susceptibility, two fungicide applications were applied on the variety. While blast was controlled, sheath blight did become a problem in some fields that received two fungicide applications. Part of the problem is the very leafy canopy of the variety that shielded the fungicide from reaching into the canopy. Nonetheless, the variety probably averaged in the low 40-barrel range in south Louisiana, which I would label a huge success. The 2018 rice did not set a record, but it will be remembered as one of our highest yielding seasons in Louisiana.

Speaking

lack of bins. Clearly, this leads to lower quality (e. g. lower head rice yield). It can also lead to increased problems with stored rice pests, such as lesser grain borer and Angoumois grain moth. As far as pest management, a problem earlier in the season was Loyant injury to rice, but reports from the field indicate this issue is being addressed by private industry. Disease pressure has been light, but we have had some problems with insects. For instance, rice water weevil populations were higher than normal, so those farmers who applied an insecticide to their seed made a good decision. My research is beginning to find less-than-expected control of rice water weevil with pyrethroids. We will be doing more studies on this subject. We also observed more chinch bug injury to rice compared to the past several years. However, farmers were able to manage chinch bugs with timely flushes/floods or selected insecticides. In October, we found another infestation of the rice delphacid/ planthopper, which is an exotic pest from Latin America. I did not observe the disease hoja blanca in the infested field, but I did see very high numbers of rice delphacid nymphs and adults (well over 1,000 per 10 sweeps). This is the second time in three years this critter has invaded Texas ratoon rice. We have received a crisis exemption for Endigo ZC, which we believe will provide good control of the rice delphacid.

‘We had July in May’ DR. BOBBY GOLDEN MISSISSIPPI Extension Rice Specialist bgolden@drec.msstate.edu

As I write this article (Oct. 15), rain falls across most of the Mississippi Delta. Fortunately, we are about 96 percent harvested with only a few fields of extremely late-planted rice remaining. Environmental conditions dominated the 2018 season. To recap, we started quick with large chunks of rice planted in March prior to the rainfall that resulted in many mid-March planted fields requiring 20-plus days to emerge. The remaining acres were planted in a 10-day window in April. The season was met with normal challenges of off-target herbicide movement early and late in the year, and extremely dry conditions in DECEMBER 2018

RICE FARMING

Specialists Speaking

Better lucky than good? DR. JARROD HARDKE

ARKANSAS Asst. Professor/Rice Extension Agronomist University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service jhardke@uaex.edu The 2018 Arkansas rice season couldn’t make up its mind. Despite season-long struggles, the end result has surprised most everyone. A near-record cold April followed with a record hot May and set us up for an “ugly” rice crop. Planting began in earnest in late March with fair planting conditions. The weather then turned very cold and wet for the next few weeks bringing things to a standstill. Once it warmed back up again, it warmed all the way to hot and the rain refused to fall. A lot of rice then went in the ground in a short period of time. A lack of rainfall led to the need to flush where possible to achieve optimum stands and activate herbicides. We were finally rescued with some rain in May that again looked like it might not stop. The result was one of the grassiest crops in

STATEMENT OF OWNERSHIP MANAGEMENT AND CIRCULATION 1. Publication Title: Rice Farming 2. Publication Number: 0194-0929 3. Filing Date: 9/10/2018 4. Issue Frequency: Jan - May & Dec 5. Number of Issues: 6x/year 6. Annual Subscription Price: Free to qualified subscribers 7&8. Mailing Address of Known Office/Headquarters: 875 W Poplar Ave., Suite 23, Box 305, Collierville, TN 38017 Contact Person: Kathy Killingsworth (901-767-4020) 9. Publisher: Lia Guthrie, 7100 Black Bart Trail, Redwood Valley, CA 95470 Editor: Vicky L. Boyd, 280-B West Rumble Road, Modesto, CA 95350 10. Owners: Cornelia Guthrie, 7100 Black Bart Trail, Redwood Valley, CA 95470; Dr. David Scott Guthrie,Sr., 7100 Black Bart Trail, Redwood Valley, CA 95470; Morris Ike Lamensdorf, 17 S. Third St., Rolling Fork, MS 39159; Mary Jane Lamensdorf, 17 S. Third St., Rolling Fork, MS 39159 11. Known Bondholders, Mortgagees and Other Security Holders Owning/Holding 1% or More of Total Amount of Bonds, Mortgages or Other Securities: None 12. Tax Status: Has Not Changed During Preceding 12 Months 14. Issue Date for Circulation Data Below: May 2018 15.a. Total Number of Copies (net press run): (Average No. Copies each Issue During Preceding 12 Months – 7,654) (No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date – 7,569) 15.b.(1) Outside County Paid/Requested Mail Subscriptions: (Average No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months – 3,942) (No. Copies of Single Issue Nearest to Filing Date – 3,920) 15.c. Total Paid and/or Requested Circulation: (Average No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months – 3,942) (No. Copies of Single Issue Nearest to Filing Date – 3,920) 15.d.(1) Outside County Nonrequested Copies: (Average No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months – 3,421) (No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date – 3,438) 15.d.(4) Nonrequested Copies Distributed Outside the Mail: (Average No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months – 88) (No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date - 0) 15.e. Total Nonrequested Distribution: (Average No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months – 3,509) (No Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date – 3,438) 15.f. Total Distribution: (Average No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months — 7,451) (No Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date – 7,358) 15.g. Copies Not Distributed: (Average No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months - 203) (No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date - 211) 15.h. Total: (Average No. copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months – 7,654) (No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date – 7,569) 15.i. Percent Paid and/or Requested Circulation: (Average No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months - 52.9%) (No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date – 53.3%) 18. I certify that all information furnished above is true and complete. Lia Guthrie, Publisher

RICE FARMING

DECEMBER 2018

most anyone’s memory banks. Despite that, most of it was cosmetic as the weed density didn’t appear to be holding back the rice. The hot, dry conditions continued throughout most of June and July. Flooding of fields took twice as long as usual due to the extremely dry conditions. This did not help with weed control or nitrogen management. By late summer, we had what looked like a very good crop in the field. Late July gave us a reprieve from high temperatures, and a little rainfall helped us along. Once combines started rolling, it became apparent that the crop was even better than thought. The state average yield estimate according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture is 166.6 bushels per acre for 2018 on approximately 1.422 million acres — an amazing yield considering the difficulties of this season. If it holds, that will be the third highest state average yield on record behind only 2013 and 2014 at 168 bushels per acre and slightly ahead of 2012 and 2017. Milling yields were phenomenal during the early part of harvest. Once Tropical Storm Gordon brought rain into the state in mid-September, milling yields have been heading south. Hopefully the early quality balances it all out. The shift to furrow-irrigated rice (row rice) continues in Arkansas. I estimate we had about 100,000 acres of row rice this year, and the success most experienced will lead to a further increase in 2019.

early May due to abnormal heat. Colleague Dr. Jason Bond’s favorite line on our podcast this year was, “We had July in May.” The abnormal heat influenced water management and herbicide performance more so than during recent years. Yield reports in many parts of the state have been average to above average. Looking forward, the first question is what do I plant next year? There are numerous excellent varieties and hybrids available in the Clearfield and conventional management systems. With so many options available, it’s often difficult to decide. Relying on university-sponsored variety trials, conducted at multiple locations can ultimately aid in seed selection decisions. Mississippi’s 2018 on-farm variety trials evaluated 36 entries at seven locations. Data collected from these trials are available at the Mississippi Crop Situation blog (http://www.Mississippi-crops.com) and the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station variety trial website (http://mafes.msstate.edu/variety-trials/). The document contains small-plot variety testing data as well as disease reaction ratings and N fertilization suggestions. Of the entries evaluated, 20 will be commercially available for 2019. When consid-

ering yield averaged across all locations, most cultivars performed well, with standouts among conventional inbred varieties including Diamond (220 bu/ac) and Thad (216 bu/ac) compared to Rex (227 bu/ac) as the control. Diamond and Thad were released by Arkansas and Mississippi, respectively. Each variety has performed well on limited commercial acres. The newer rice hybrids RT7801 (267 bu/ac) and RT7311 CL (277 bu/ac) produced similar yield, greater than CLXL745 (237 bu/ac). If red rice is an issue and a Clearfield or Provisia variety is preferred, CL153 (220 bu/ac) has performed well but shatters easily. The newly released Provisia, PVL01 (188 bu/ac), produced good yields and excellent grass control on limited acres. Keep in mind the incidence of ALS-resistant barnyardgrass and rice flatsedge has increased in Mississippi, and stewardship remains important. A wealth of data is annually generated on varietal performance across the Mid-South by universities and industry. But do not overlook perhaps the most important data in selecting a variety — past performance on your farm. Remember, no single variety is the silver bullet, and spreading risk with multiple varieties and production systems is a good practice. RICEFARMING.COM

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In an ever-changing industry, Des Woods can rely on a constant RiceTec partnership. While the land and the rice business are continuously evolving, farmers like Des can trust that our RiceTec field reps will always be there every step of the way. We take pride in being a true partner when it’s needed most – providing advice on planting, harvesting and beyond. By partnering with farmers for the long haul, we’ve become America’s most widely grown long-grain rice.

To find your local RiceTec representative, call 877.580.7423 • RiceTec.com

These statements are not a guarantee of performance, nor do they constitute a warranty of fitness for a particular use.