Rice Farming February 2021 by One Grower Publishing

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PROFITABLE PRODUCTION STRATEGIES

FEBRUARY 2021

Louisiana crawfish producers hope to rebound in 2021

Start early, overlap residuals to control barnyardgrass

An unwelcome newcomer Aggressive watergrass challenges California growers, researchers

INSIDE: 2020 RICE CONSULTANT OF THE YEAR AMY BETH DOWDY

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March 2018 February 2021

COLUMNS

www.ricefarming.com

Vol. Vol. 52, 55, No. 4 3

COVER STORY

4 From the Editor

Rice's long history Supervillain grassy bucks weeds 'what's hot in food' vs. ‘Kryptonite’: Whotrends will win?

6 Guest Column 6 Rice Update RiceUSA and sustainability

New year, new government, newUSA priorities 8 Rice Update Rice industry sets priorities D P Anext R T Farm M E NBill TS for Ethe

An unwelcome Here to stay? newcomer

20 Specialists Speaking D P A and R T scout M E Nfields TS SoilEtest to ID zinc deficiency

19 Industry News Rice business scene 26 Industry News Rice business scene

10 8

20 Specialist Speaking

The California rice industry preparesCalifornia for what may become armyworm Aggressive watergrass challenges growers and annual researchers who seek infestations. effective control programs.

watergrass, sprangletop and barnyardgrass plants found in California rice.THE COVER: Armyworms once ON again Photoplagued by Jim F.California Cook rice growers in 2017.

F E AT U R E S

Early herbicide mistakes can plague you all(from season long ON THE COVER: left) Early

9 17

The yin and Goodbye andyang good riddance 2020! Shorter have shorn up the to Louisianasupplies crawfish producers hope market, increased 2018 planting this reboundbut from hurricanes, pandemic projections cloud long-term outlook. season.

Photo by Luis Espino, University of California Cooperative Extension FEBRUARY 2021

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14 18

Floods aidBurgundy expansionof weeds’ ‘The Ron

New tools in the tool box

Giant invasive snail preemergence threatens the Start early, overlap rice-crawfish rotation in southwest residuals for season-long barnyardgrass Louisiana. control.

Research looks at non-chemical weed control

Give your center pivot a 5-point inspection

Look thethe Soybean Southe-newsletter supplement Sign upforfor monthly following page 24 in the the Arkansas, at ricefarming.com to have exclusive Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri and industry news andofcontent delivered Texas versions Rice Farming . directly to your inbox.

The smell of success 2020

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

18 14

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

GET CONNECTED

amy beth University of Arkansas breeding DOWDY program releases new jasmine-type long grain. 2020 Rice Consultant of the Year

Amy Beth Dowdy of Dexter, Missouri, is the 2020 recipient of this esteemed award. Read more about her beginning on page 13.

Farm & Gin Show recap

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

18 FEBRUARY MARCH 2018 2021

RICE FARMING

From The

Editor

Supervillain grassy weeds vs. ‘Kryptonite’: Who will win? If the weed kingdom had a band of supervillains, barnyardgrass and watergrass would surely be members. These species that belong to the genus Echinochloa wield super powers and are the bane of rice growers. Herbicides, once the Kryptonite for these grassy invaders, have lost their super powers in many instances as the weeds have developed resistance. With only a few truly new weed-control products on the horizon, growers are left with trying to steward the current ones and slow resistance development. University of Arkansas weed scientist Jason Norsworthy has been screening barnyardgrass Vicky Boyd (E. crus-galli) samples sent in for the past sevEditor eral years for herbicide resistance. Between 2017 and 2019, he found populations resistant to propanil, Facet, Newpath/Preface (imazethapyr), Loyant, ACCase-inhibitors (fop and prop) and Command (clomazone). Several had resistance to multiple modes of action, including one with resistance to five MOAs. Kassim Al-Khatib, a University of California weed scientist, also has been screening weed samples sent in from growers and pest control advisors. He returns a report card to each submitter showing the products to which the weed is resistant as well as ones that still provide control. During the past few years, Al-Khatib has found populations of late watergrass (E. phyllopogon), early watergrass (E. oryzoides) and barnyardgrass with documented resistance to up to four herbicide sites of action. They include Cerano (clomazone), Clincher (cyhalofop), Abolish/Bolero (thobencarb) and propanil. Since 2017, a new grassy member of the Echinochloa genus has been spreading in California rice fields. (See article on page 8.) UC Cooperative Extension rice advisor Whitney Brim-DeForest has taken identification down to the genus level, but she hasn’t been able to nail down whether it’s a new biotype of a resident watergrass species or a watergrass species new to the state. Identifying the newcomer will help formulate a control program. The new biotype/species is small-seeded and has long purple awns. It grows aggressively, pushing out rice and quickly taking over a field. In initial greenhouse screenings, few products effectively controlled it. But Brim-DeForest said she plans to look at additional products and application timings this season to help develop a battle plan. Unfortunately, one program growers have used on the newcomer is two sequential propanil applications. With propanil resistance already widespread in other Echinochloa species, several in the California rice industry fear the same could happen with this purple-awned stranger. And with it, growers lose some of their super powers over these grassy weeds, much like Kryptonite degrades to a piece of worthless iron in the comic books.

Vicky

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

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

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USA Rice

Update

New year, new government, new priorities

By Betsy Ward President and CEO USA Rice

As part of sustainability efforts, some rice farmers — like this one in Southeast Arkansas — have installed solar panels to generate electricity, cut their power bills and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. DELTA SUNENERGY

RICE FARMING

FEBRUARY 2021

very spring brings transformation. It’s a new year, a new growing season, and this year there’s a new president in the White House. The Biden administration will be made up of both fresh and familiar faces, and one thing we can expect is a renewed focus on the environment. While this may be a point of concern among other sectors, U.S. rice is in a prime position to lead the agriculture industry in sustainability and environmental conservation. I’ve had the opportunity to meet with several of President Joe Biden’s cabinet picks and members of his transition team. And they have consistently stressed the four priorities of his administration as COVID 19, economic recovery, racial equity and climate change. One of his first acts as president was an executive order to rejoin the Paris Climate Agreement, and several new department secretaries are vocal supporters of aggressive climate policy. Biden also created a new cabinet-level position, “special presidential envoy on climate change,” to be filled by former senator and Secretary of State John Kerry. In addition to administration priorities, we can expect a Democrat-controlled Congress to push climate legislation in the coming year. In light of this intensified focus on environmental issues, we do have members of Congress as well as the proposed Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack who are familiar with rice’s sustainability story. And of course, our job at USA Rice is to educate new administration and congressional leaders about the commitment the rice industry has made to the environment and ensure that they see us as part of climate solutions, not part of the problem.

The industry’s conservation track record We can tell that story with great confidence given the rice industry’s track record at conserving land and water, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions and fossil fuel use. These ongoing accomplishments are sure to resonate with environmentally conscious members of the new administration. U.S. rice farmers and millers are on the cutting edge of both technique and technology when it comes to sustainability. And we’re in a strong position to tackle whatever policy or regulatory changes might come our way in the next four years. The data from the U.S. Rice Industry Sustainability Report showcased our amazing strides in sustainability over the past several decades — cutting our water use by more than half and reducing energy use and greenhouse gas emissions across the board. But we’re not done yet. Every day, our farmers and millers are changing and improving their operations that make our crop more sustainable and more crucial to wildlife and the economy. From solar panels that power dryers and mills to rice irrigation practices that reduce groundwater use and pumping costs, new innovations are saving natural resources, time and money for the entire industry. As an industry, we’ve made our commitment to sustainability public by setting goals that these new innovations will help us reach by 2030. As the Biden administration’s environmental priorities inevitably filter down to end users and consumers, our sustainability track record is going to become an even bigger asset. Presidential terms come and go just like seasons change. But regardless of who is in office, USA Rice will keep telling our sustainability story — whether to top-level officials and lawmakers, corporate leaders or consumers — because it’s such a good story to tell. And I thank you for helping make that job easy through your commitment and good work. RICEFARMING.COM

Natural Fit In Pinpoint Flood System BD Fontenot Nutrien Ag Solutions Elton, Louisiana

In my area, rice farmers use different methods to plant rice — dry planting and water seeding. Starting clean is rule No. 1 in any rice planting system. An early spring burndown on winter vegetation is usually easy to accomplish but be sure to follow labeled plant-back restrictions for the products you apply. In a water-seeded pinpoint flood system, you work the ground, flood up, level the field, plant rice seed into the muddy water and allow it to sit for a couple days to germinate. Then remove the water to let in sunlight and oxygen so the seed can finish germinating and peg down its roots into the soil. This step allows the seed to resist buoyancy and wave action, so it won’t drift off. While the soil is still very wet, impregnate fertilizer with Command herbicide and drop it onto the wet soil surface. The fertilizer melts and the Command attaches to the soil, so you have a residual grass herbicide in the system. Once the seed pegs, bring the water back and leave the flood on. If you started clean prior to planting, not many weeds will be present, and Command will take care of the grasses for a while. In about two weeks when you put on the permanent flood, here come the aquatic weeds, such as redstem and ducksalad. Sometimes small grass may be present below the water. Because water is the ultimate herbicide, we don’t remove the permanent flood because it suppresses “undesirable rice.” This suppression takes precedence over everything. Today, all kinds of crossed-up rice is in the field, so I call it undesirable rice instead of red rice.

Impregnate Loyant® Herbicide On Fertilizer At about 4- or 5-leaf rice, it's time for the first nitrogen application, and the nitrogen will go into the water. Early on, I considered spraying Loyant to clean up most of the aquatic weeds but wondered how I would take out the small grass if it is underwater. It occurred to me to impregnate Loyant onto the fertilizer. This method would take out most of the aquatic weeds that have germinated since we brought the flood back. If some small grass is emerging, Loyant will probably take it out, too. Another benefit of this impregnation technique is that it is safer for the rice. If sedge is present, also impregnate Permit herbicide on the fertilizer to help with sedge control. To me, this approach is a natural fit in a water-seeded pinpoint flood system.

• B.S., agronomy, University of Southwestern Louisiana. • Certified Crop Consultant. • Consults on rice and soybeans. • Has consulted for 40 years. • Active in Louisiana Agricultural Consultants Association. • Wife: Laurie. Son: Jacques (wife Shelly). Two grandchildren: Rose (10) and Finn (10). • Enjoys colt starting and deer hunting.

Recap: Natural Fit For Pinpoint Flood

1. While the seed is pegging down in water-seeded pinpoint flood rice, impregnate fertilizer with Command to introduce a residual grass herbicide into the system. 2. At about 4- or 5-leaf rice, the first nitrogen application will go into the water. 3. Impregnating Loyant® herbicide onto the fertilizer will take out most of the aquatic weeds that have germinated since bringing back the flood. If some small grass is emerging, Loyant will probably take it out, too. 4. This impregnation technique also is safer for the rice.

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Seed head of the unknown watergrass species ( Echinochloa spp.) Notice the visible purple awns.

PHOTO COURTESY UC COOPERATIVE EXTENSION

An unwelcome newcomer Aggressive watergrass challenges California growers and researchers who seek effective control programs. By Vicky Boyd Editor

new weed in the watergrass genus continues to bedevil California rice producers and researchers as they try to identify it and develop herbicide programs to control it. Kurt Richter, who farms with his family near Colusa, is among those who have faced the newcomer. He probably first saw a bit of the new grassy weed in one field in 2017 but didn’t think much of it. “In 2018, it just exploded and took over a field,” Richter said. “We found a chemical program, while expensive, that worked. Last year we didn’t have a single living watergrass plant in the field before harvest.” Jim F. Cook, who heads research for Colusa County Farm Supply in Williams, also has been looking at control programs for the new weed with mixed results. He plans to conduct additional trials in 2021. “That tillered barnyardgrass is a monster to control,” he said. “The other issue is the weed is so aggressive, it’s pushing out the rice stand.” Purple awns Whitney Brim-DeForest, University of California Cooperative Extension rice farm advisor for Yuba and Sutter counties, has

RICE FARMING

FEBRUARY 2021

narrowed the newcomer down to a member of the Echinochloa genus, which includes barnyardgrass, early watergrass and late watergrass. Whether it is a species not before seen in California or a new biotype of a resident species remains unknown. Knowing exactly what they’re dealing with could help with developing control programs, she said. The new biotype/species is small seeded and completely awned with large, bushy purple structures. Based on phenotypical characteristics, it differs from late watergrass, which has large seeds and no awns. While early watergrass is awned, it has large seeds. Barnyardgrass, on the other hand, has small seeds that may or may not be awned. “Barnyardgrass can be very plastic in appearance,” Brim-DeForest said. “Barnyardgrass in the Midwest looks different than what we have here even though they are the same species.” Genetic testing to determine whether the weed is a new biotype or a species related to other Echinochloa worldwide is the next step, but she said she needs additional funding before proceeding. First reports in 2017 Brim-DeForest said she ﬁrst became aware of the newcomer in RICEFARMING.COM

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UC rice advisor Whitney Brim-DeForest checks out a grassy weed.

2017. A pest control advisor had contacted her about a grassy weed he had sprayed with several herbicides, resulting in poor control. She already was aware of late watergrass populations that were resistant to multiple herbicides, but this was not late watergrass. Brim-DeForest ruled out possible causes for herbicide failure, such as a water level drop or incorrect application methods. During 2018, she received a few more calls about the troublesome weed, prompting her and Butte County farm advisor Luis Espino to start collecting samples. “In 2019, we kept getting other calls and realized this was more serious,” Brim-DeForest said. “Now it’s looking like it’s pretty widespread.” With funding from the California Rice Research Board, she and Espino issued a request in August 2020 for samples suspected of being the new Echinochloa. They received about 60 that Brim-DeForest is still trying to sort through and work to identify.

Samples of the grassy newcomer collected from the field. Note the bushy purple awns.

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FEBRUARY 2021

PHOTOS COURTESY UC COOPERATIVE EXTENSION

Greenhouse trials During 2018, Brim-DeForest conducted a greenhouse trial in Davis that compared the efficacy of different herbicides on eight samples of the new biotype and two samples of late watergrass. The project also was funded by the Rice Research Board. The goal was to look at representative species in rice fields to determine whether there were similarities or differences in herbicide response. Treatments included field rates of Cerano (clomazone), Butte (benzobicyclon + halosulfuron), Granite GR (penoxsulam) and Bolero (thiobencarb) used as early season granular applications. Field rates of SuperWham (propanil), Regiment (bispyribac-sodium) and Clincher (cyhalofop) were tested as late-season clean-up applications. In the greenhouse, all applications were made at the 1.5 leaf stage of the grass. None of the eight samples of the new biotype were controlled by Granite GR or Butte, seven of eight were not control by Bolero and six of eight were not controlled by Cerano. “It pretty much matches up with what I was hearing in the field,” she said. “Whatever they put on up front wasn’t really working.” RICEFARMING.COM

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The biotype had escaped early season control in the field and was then difficult if not impossible to control with later-season herbicide applications, Brim-DeForest said. In the greenhouse tests, three products — Super Wham, Regiment and Clincher — each provided at least 60% control of all eight samples. But her results don’t necessarily match up with what growers have seen in the field. Since the greenhouse application was made at an early timing — 1.5-leaf stage — she said it’s possible that later applications in the field may be less effective. She plans further herbicide screenings this season. Possible programs Based on preliminary greenhouse results, she said growers may need to prioritize control of the new biotype/species early in the season. Although Brim-DeForest provided a number of possible treatments, she emphasized they had not been tested in the field and could be phytotoxic to rice plants. Among those are a stale seedbed using a non-selective herbicide such as glyphosate. The field is prepared and flushed to cause weed-seed germination. A non-selective herbicide then is used as a burndown. This is program is similar to one that growers have used to control weedy rice. One large drawback is it may delay planting. Other possible treatments include preplant Abolish (thiobencarb) followed by Cerano or Butte or Granite GR; Cerano followed by Butte or Bolero or Granite GR; or Butte followed by Granite GR or Bolero. Even so, Brim-DeForest said there’s a good chance that growers will have to make a follow-up application later in the season. Although a program with two sequential propanil applications has been widely used by growers, she said the industry needs to be very careful because the practice can select for and accelerate herbicide resistance. And much like fields with weedy rice, she recommended growers harvest fields infested with the new grassy weed last so they don’t spread weed seeds to other fields. Trial and error On his farm, Richter had one 70-acre field divided into three checks that had varying degrees of infestation. The middle check was completely infested from corner to corner. The upper check had little to none of the new biotype, whereas the bottom check was about 50% infested. Initially they tried Regiment, which is labeled for early season control of barnyardgrass, with poor results. In fact, all ALS herbicides proved useless against the newcomer, Richter said. But he said they found an early application of SuperWham, followed five days later by a second application, provided excellent control of all grasses. The first application weakened the grass, and the second one “smoked them,” Richter said. “It picked up everything. It was really a clean field.” He said they will probably use the same program in the field in 2021 to pick up any seeds in the seed bank that may germinate. Watergrass a major focus CCFS’ Cook also is in the hunt for a control program and in 2020 conducted a small-plot field trial in a Colusa County rice field infested with the new biotype/species. He plans to continue his work this season, adding in different application timings.

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Preliminary distinguishing characteristics of watergrass species in California rice fields, based on seed characteristics. Preliminary Identification

Seed Description

Late watergrass

Large size, no awns

Early watergrass

Large size, awned (all seeds)

Barnyardgrass

Small size, variably awned (some seeds have awns, some do not)

New biotype/species (unknown)

Small size, awned (all seeds)

Treatment 1 consisted of a tankmix of standard post-emergence herbicides plus multiple adjuvants. Although the treatment gave the best performance — about 60% control — Cook said it needed to be simplified to be commercially viable. Treatment 2 was liquid benzobicyclon and methylated seed oil, or MSO. Treatment 3 was a tankmix of Loyant and RebelEx with crop oil concentrate. Loyant and liquid benzobicyclon are not registered for use in California rice. As these treatments showed promise on watergrass in other areas, he believed the applications were too late in the study to achieve commercial performance. He plans to look at different timings this season. “Watergrass is going to be a major focus for us,” he said, adding he also planned to test some experimental products against the new biotype/species this season. “We’ll try an earlier timing before this thing really gets revved up and maybe a later timing after it heads to see if we can get better performance. When these things get into the very aggressively growing tillering phase, it’s very hard for them to be controlled because they’re growing too fast.” If you think you have the new biotype/species in your field, email Brim-DeForest at wbrimdeforest@ucanr.edu or Espino at laespino@ucanr.edu so they can collect samples. RICEFARMING.COM

2020

amy beth

DOWDY

Two of the producers for whom Missouri rice consultant Amy Beth Dowdy consults are Rance Daniels (left) and Zach Worrell (center). Both farm in Pemiscot and Dunklin counties.

my Beth Dowdy grew up in a close-knit farming family in Stoddard County, Missouri, in the southeast corner of the Bootheel. “Daddy had a few fields of rice and Mama always said that gave us something to argue about at the dinner table,” she says. Soon after graduating from Mississippi State University with an agronomy degree, Dowdy landed a job in Missouri with Terra — a crop input retailer — which allowed her to come back home. She initially worked with the company’s local sales representative, accompanying him on farm visits and honing her weed identification and rice consulting skills. “I was a ‘truck secretary’ and a scout,” Dowdy says. “I kept notes about what inputs needed to be applied because we had a spray rig at the dealership to service our clients’ farms. When one of the larger producers began to ramp up his rice acres, I soon came to love and learn more about the crop.” In 1996, Dowdy went out on her own and started ABD Crop Consulting LLC. She says she takes her farmers from seed to grain. During the winter planning season, Dowdy assists them with variety selection at seed booking time. Once the crop is planted, she scouts their rice fields weekly. “If I see some type of problem or if the farmer notices something like the weed size has changed, I usually make the call to go back a second time,” Dowdy says. “I drive a Jeep, don’t use a four-wheeler and walk every field. This past spring, my nephew, Atom, and I walked between 10 and 12 miles a day. I make input recommendations throughout the growing season, and when we drain the fields, I ride the combines.”

A Collaborative Approach The Missouri consultant describes the relationship with her farmers as a partnership. As much as possible, Dowdy wants to be with each farmer’s crop every step of the way and is equally thrilled or disappointed about how it turns out. If something went exactly right, she wants to duplicate that success. If something went horribly wrong — whether on a particular piece of ground or in a wet year — she wants to figure out what happened and make a note to never do it again. Dowdy’s farmer-clients appreciate her tenacity, honesty and expertise in rice production. Missouri rice producer Rance Daniels says, “The 2021 season marks the 15th year that Amy has been my consultant. I can always count on her to give me an honest opinion of the rice crop. We have very open conversations about what we want to do, and I know she is giving me her best recommendations. “Amy doesn’t stop consulting when the crop reaches

One of Amy Beth Dowdy’s biggest challenges as a rice consultant is battling resistant weeds, such as barnyardgrass, sprangletop, sedge, red rice and smartweed.

Amy Beth Dowdy scouts for rice diseases during the growing season.

maturity. She is there until it is in the bin. Amy spends countless hours riding combines with her producers seeing how the different varieties and fields are yielding.” Zach Worrell, who farms in Pemiscot and Dunklin counties, Missouri, says, “Amy is reliable, trustworthy, hardworking and has consulted on my family’s farm since we began growing rice about 17 years ago. She has become like a family member to us. Amy’s work ethic, education level and industry knowledge make her one of the best rice consultants in the business. “Our family’s success — and undoubtedly many Southeast Missouri farmers’ success — is a direct result of Amy’s efforts. Not only has she helped us produce high-yielding rice crops year after year, but Amy has also pushed me to become more involved in the rice industry at a local, state and national level.” A Day In The Life In the heat of the season, Dowdy’s day typically begins at the crack of dawn with a text or phone call from one of her farmers

to confirm a detail about a spray recommendation. “I roll out of bed, fire up my computer, put in the 80 to 90 fields I am going to walk that day, load up the Jeep and head out,” she says. “When I receive a text or phone call from a farmer while checking fields, I stop and sit on the turnrow so I can concentrate on what he is talking about. A lot of times I have to go back to my computer to see what weeds were in the field or what recommendations I made. This goes on throughout the day. “I eat peanut butter and crackers in the Jeep, walk and answer phone calls. Even if I don’t hire a full-time person, I find somebody to drive me during the heat of the battle. I can’t pay attention to my job and drive at the same time that time of year. “At night, I try to get home about 7 or so because it takes me a couple hours to organize my reports and make recommendations. A lot of fussin’ and cussin’ goes on to make sure my recommendations match the field and can do the job that needs to be done without overdoing the chemicals.

PHOTOS BY VICKY BOYD

Corteva Agriscience territory manager Jody Vancil-Cole (left) says, “It’s a blessing to have a strong woman in ag like Amy Beth Dowdy receive the Rice Consultant of the Year award.”

PHOTO COURTESY AMY BETH DOWDY

“After sending out my reports, I get my shower and go to bed. It’s a busy, hectic time. I always ask my farmers to go over the recommendations to make sure I didn’t mess up. Mr. Ray Young, an older consultant in Louisiana, once told me, ‘If you do make a mistake, go right then and tell them. You’ve got to admit your mistake, and if it can be fixed, figure out a way to do it.’” Challenges And Rewards Dowdy keeps meticulous records and is adamant about rotating crops whenever possible. “Resistant weeds and the problems we have with resistance are my biggest challenges as a rice consultant,” she says. “In the two counties I cover — Pemiscot and Dunklin — there are a lot of zero-grade fields. Because they are flat, those fields don’t grow soybeans very well or a farmer may want to keep them in rice anyway for duck hunting. This does provide extra revenue that they need, but it doesn’t help with rotation.” In the fields that are mostly continuous rice, Dowdy says she may find resistant barnyardgrass, resistant red rice and possibly some resistant sedges. What she finds most rewarding in her profession is seeing her farmers succeed — watching them roll out the combines and the trucks, realizing everything went as planned and knowing they are going to pay out. “For some farms, success is not necessarily 100% weed control, but it’s better than the last time,” Dowdy says. “Where we are slowly Missouri rice consultant Amy Beth beginning to beat down Dowdy drives a Jeep, doesn’t use a the pressure, success is four-wheeler and walks every field. She measured on different typically walks 10 to 12 miles a day levels depending on the during the growing season. farm. It’s also rewarding to see the rice ready for the combine — standing upright at the end of the season.” When asked about her reaction to learning she was selected as the 2020 Rice Consultant of the Year, Dowdy says she was caught off guard. “When my Corteva rep, Jody Vancil-Cole, called me while I was out in the field, I thought she was just checking in with me about something. Then she said, ‘You have been selected as the Rice Consultant of the Year.’ I said, ‘This isn’t a 2020 joke, is

Amy Beth Dowdy’s 16-year-old nephew, Atom Dowdy, worked for her last summer, mainly keeping up with the computer work during the heat of the season.

Amy Beth Dowdy At A Glance Background w Bachelor of Science degree in agronomy, Mississippi State University, 1992. w Established ABD Crop Consulting LLC in 1996. w Consults on rice in Southeast Missouri in Pemiscot and Dunklin counties. w Member of the National Alliance of Independent Crop Consultants for 20 years. w Served on the NAICC executive board, 2011-15. w Works with USA Rice to promote the U.S. rice industry. w Works with the Missouri Rice Research and Merchandising Council to give a consultant’s view on Missouri research needs. w Member of the Stoddard County Fair Board. Serves on the 4-H and FFA livestock committees. Family Life Amy Beth Dowdy grew up in Stoddard County, Missouri. Today, she splits her time between Dexter, Missouri, and Rives, Missouri. Dowdy enjoys spending time with family that includes her mom, Pam; brother Matt; nephew Atom; niece Maci and Maci’s family: husband Nick and their two children, Raegan and Landri. When time permits, Dowdy likes to read and go to antique auctions. it?’ She said, ‘No, it’s true, and you deserve it.’ “My nephew, Atom, heard the conversation because I had Jody on speaker phone when she called. He started smiling and clapping and said, ‘Way to go, Amy!’ I was both surprised and honored.”

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Goodbye and good riddance 2020! Louisiana crawfish producers hope to rebound from hurricanes, pandemic this season. By Vicky Boyd Editor

One-two punch Thanks to LSU AgCenter ag economist Kurt Guidry, who documented how the pandemic hurt crawfish producers financially, they were eventually eligible for Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act payments. Guidry found a season-long price decline of about 55 cents per pound from the previous three-year average. “It kind of depends on your particular situation whether you came out OK or how much behind or even if you were a little ahead,” Shirley said of the CARES payments. “But it was pretty disastrous for the coronavirus to hit right at that time at the peak of our season.” Although early demand for live crawfish appears average this year, he said interest in peeled tail meat — typically used by restaurants — was depressed as many have closed or are serving at reduced capacity. Crawfish harvest typically picks up as temperatures warm, with most growers finishing around Memorial Day, depending on the market and the year. Pests to watch for Channeled apple snails, which can grow to the size of tennis balls, continue to be a nuisance for producers. Although they don’t appear to affect production directly, they can slow harvest. “When they dump the traps on the sorting table, they have to TWITTER: @RICEFARMING

BRUCE SCHULTZ, LSU AGCENTER

he 2021 Louisiana crawfish season started off on a slow note as producers hoped to rebound from a double whammy caused by coronavirus-induced restaurant closures and last year’s series of hurricanes. As crews return from the holidays and harvest ramps up, Louisiana State University AgCenter Extension crawfish specialist Mark Shirley said it’s unknown how much impact the previous year’s storms will have on production. “Crawfish that were buried in levees came out, and early spawning females had young on their tails probably were killed by bad water,” he said of two week-long storm surges that hit parishes south of Interstate 10. “Some were able to find or dig another burrow. We’re seeing some young of the year show up in some of those flooded ponds. It looks better than we originally thought.” Ponds north of I-10 where growers were able to promptly remove flood water appeared better off with average production of young crawfish during the fall. In addition to continued lower restaurant demand due to COVID-19, the state’s crawfish producers also face localized challenges from channel apple snail and white spot syndrome. Although harmless to humans, the viral disease can kill crawfish in a few days. Shirley made his comments during the AgCenter’s recent virtual rice, soybean and crawfish winter grower meeting.

Workers grade and sort crawfish by size at the Richard Farms facility in Vermilion Parish in March 2020.

pick out all of the snails,” Shirley said. Harvest crews may end up with 10 to 20 buckets of snails at the end of the day to dispose of. The pest was first found in the Vermillion River drainage a few years ago, but it appears to be spreading slowly west to the Mermentau Basin. A few reports of the pest also have come from Calcasieu Parish. White spot syndrome continues to be a serious concern, he said. The AgCenter veterinary school received funding to study how the virus that causes the syndrome affects crawfish metabolism. Researchers also have collected samples of those that survived to produce offspring to determine whether a heredity factor affects immunity. Shirley advised growers to be on the lookout and contact him if they suspect the disease in their ponds so he can collect samples. He may be reached at mshirley@agcenter.lsu.edu or 337-893-7165. “If you have white spot virus, your catch will drop off,” he said. “You may be catching 10 to 20 sacks per day and all of a sudden within a couple of days, it drops off to one. You’ll see some large, dead crawfish floating on the pond, and that’s usually indicative of white spot.” To ratoon or not ratoon Shirley also continues to work on a side-by-side demonstration with two fields at the Crowley Rice Experiment Station South Farm to determine how much crawfish production is lost if growers decide to ratoon the rice crop. During 2020, the first crop was harvested in August, while the second crop in one field was cut in November. After one year, preliminary data showed about a $100 per-acre difference between the treatments. Shirley said he plans to repeat the demonstration this season, drill seeding the same 84 pounds per acre of the Pirogue rice variety. FEBRUARY 2021

RICE FARMING

‘The Ron Burgundy of weeds’ Start early, overlap preemergence residuals for season-long barnyardgrass control. By Vicky Boyd Editor

niversity of Arkansas Extension weed specialist Tommy Butts has a simple recommendation for barnyardgrass control this season: “residual, residual, residual.” “Make sure to get those residuals out preemerge and overlap every 14-21 days,” he said. “And make sure we’re getting activation with plenty of water because that’s going to be key to successfully controlling your barnyardgrass season long.” By not getting an upper hand on the grassy weed early, growers could be forced to play catch up with post applications the remainder of the season, often winding up with a costly, weedy mess, he said. Butts made his comments during a recent University of Arkansas virtual winter rice production meeting. In a survey of growers and consultants in 2020, 44% of respondents said they didn’t effectively control barnyardgrass with the first post application, he said. If the first application failed, respondents said they needed an average of three more to control the grassy weed. “That’s really, really scary that it takes us that many more applications to successfully manage it if we missed with the first one, especially when we put cost to it,” Butts said. The average cost to control barnyardgrass alone was $87.45 per acre, or 81% of total herbicide costs, based on the survey. “I say all of that to basically come to the conclusion that barnyardgrass is a big deal,” he said. “It’s the Ron Burgundy of weeds, and it is driving our producers mad.”

Comparing preemergence programs In a small-plot trial at the Rohwer Research Station in 2020, Butts compared barnyardgrass control using various preemergence programs. Command alone had better barnyardgrass control than the untreated check but still not acceptable. Command followed by Prowl + Bolero provided excellent barnyardgrass control without any post applications because of the sequential overlapping residuals. His work also found Facet worked better on barnyardgrass when applied as a preemergence. “Facet consistently shows up in small plot trials that it’s better as a

Extension weed specialist Tommy Butts talks weed management during the University of Arkansas’ 2019 Rice Field Day in Stuttgart. COURTESY UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS

pre, especially if we’re mixing it with Command up front than if we try to rely on it as an early post or as a post product,” Butts said. “It gives us better control pre and better flexibility because we get better control up front and more time for that second application.” Plots treated with Command followed by Facet had “pretty good” barnyardgrass control. During two years of trials at two different locations, Butts said he saw the best overall weed control, including barnyardgrass, from a tankmix of Command, Bolero and League. On first glance, growers may experience shock because it is not a cheap tankmix, he said. “Although it was really expensive up front, it saved me at least one to two applications on the back end and ended up being a cheaper overall herbicide program just because we got that great residual control for that length of time,” Butts said. If growers want to try it, he recommended doing so on a small scale or on a problematic field. For effective weed control throughout the season, he recommended growers keep the mnemonic, SPORTS, in mind:  Start clean.  Preemergence herbicides.  Overlap residuals.  Required: integrated weed management such as pinpoint flood, seed prevention and tillage.  Timely  Select multiple effective modes of action post herbicides designed to match emerged weeds.

This photo of a rice field heavily infested with barnyardgrass, taken in June 2020, shows the repercussions of not getting a jump on the weed with overlapping residual preemergence treatments. TOMMY BUTTS, UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS

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FEBRUARY 2021

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Farming has changed tremendously over the years. When most farms were homesteaded, it was a big thing to develop a forty-acre farm. This required most of the family and long, arduous, backbreaking days. In 1920, the world’s population was roughly 1.9 billion people. Most countries were autonomous, minding their own business, mostly providing for themselves within their own borders. By the year 2000, the world’s population had swollen to more than 6 billion people. The need to feed the growing population became more and more obvious. As of today, the population has become 7.7 billion people. This is a fourfold increase of the world’s population in only one hundred years. What does this mean? There is a need to improve productivity and efficiency. How is this accomplished? Adapting to practices that promote profitability, yield increases, and overall productivity of a given number of acres. In the production of rice, it is common knowledge that rice prospers in heavy clay soils that most other crops struggle. Soils that retain water, minimize the water application costs, and help the rice develop and mature. Heavy soils require a different approach. As machinery gets bigger and bigger, it is necessary to be able to support these machinery platforms as to not be detrimental to the overall progress and productivity of the rice farm. Combines and grain carts are both approaching weights that were unimaginable forty years ago. The only way that these weights can be supported is a proportional increase in the support platform of the contact surface of the machinery to the ground. Tires have only had so much footprint that can be applied.

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What more can be done? Tracks. Tracks have the ability to work outside of the pneumatic tire’s abilities and actually support loads in ways that a tire can’t. Geometry and physics can be applied to actual needs and necessities of machinery working in this difficult application.

Specialists

Speaking

Editor’s note: Welcome Dr. Ronnie Levy. He is taking over LSU AgCenter Extension rice specialist duties from Dr. Dustin Harrell, who was promoted to resident coordinator of the H. Rouse Caffey Rice Research Station in Crowley, Louisiana. Ronnie is no newcomer to rice, having spent more than 20 years as an LSU AgCenter county agent in Acadia Parish working in rice.

Soil test and scout fields to ID Zn deficiency DR. RONNIE LEVY

LOUISIANA Extension Rice Specialist RLevy@agcenter.lsu.edu Rice planting is not far away. Optimum planting dates in Louisiana are March 10 to April 15 in Southwest Louisiana and April 1 to May 5 in North Louisiana. While planting early can have many advantages, such as higher main and ratoon crop yields, problems from early planting can occur. Zinc (Zn) deﬁciency can be a serious problem in rice, resulting in reduced yield if not corrected. Plant growth is limited when the soil supply of Zn is low or adverse soil conditions (such as cold weather or continuous ﬂooding) prevent plant uptake. Zinc is an essential micronutrient for both plants and humans. It is involved in more than 300 plant enzyme activities including

Zinc deficiency symptoms include bronzing of leaves.

chlorophyll production, carbohydrate metabolism, maintenance of cell turgidity, protein synthesis, auxin regulation and pollen formation. Rice affected by Zn deficiency initially becomes chlorotic (yellow) followed by a bronzing (brown) appearance in water-seeded fields. The plants are weakened, and leaves tend to float on the water rather than grow erect. Severely zinc-deficient plants may die, leaving a sparse stand with poor vigor. In dry-seeded rice, zinc-deficient plants show an initial lightening of color, followed by bronzing of the leaves.

PHOTOS COURTESY LSU AGCENTER

In water-seeded fields, zinc-deficient plants initially become bronzed, then are weakened and tend to float on the water rather than grow erect.

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Specialists Speaking These symptoms usually become visible in dry-seeded rice soon after the permanent flood is applied. Plants can exhibit Zn deficiency symptoms at any stage of growth. If plants become deficient at heading, the leaves and glumes will show the typical chlorosis, brown flecking and spotting. When Zn deficiency becomes severe at heading, the florets are affected. A condition resembling straighthead may occur where the panicles of affected plants remain upright as fertilization fails to occur or kernel development is aborted. Soil testing is an important tool in assessing nutrient needs. Zinc fertilizer recommendations are based on using a granular Zn sulfate. Other zinc sources can be used; however, inorganic Zn sources should be greater than 50% water soluble. Liquid inorganic or chelated Zn fertilizers can be soil applied at lower rates compared with granular sources, generally between 2.5 to 5 pounds, because they can be applied more uniformly. When Zn deficiency symptoms begin to occur (bronzing), it is recommended to immediately drain the field. When the rice begins to show signs of recovery (new growth), a foliar zinc application can be made to rice at rates between 1 and 2 pounds Zn per acre. Granular Zn applications at this time have also shown to be equally effective. Application of nitrogen fertilizer should also be made prior to reflooding to account for losses associated with draining and reflooding.

Make an ‘A’ on your soil test DR. JARROD HARDKE

ARKANSAS Assoc. Professor/Rice Extension Agronomist University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service jhardke@uaex.edu The 2020 season was particularly notable for the amount of potassium (K) deficiency observed in rice. Both the 2018 and 2019 season displayed their share of it, but it seemed to be in overdrive this past year. Interestingly enough, K deficiency even showed up in fields and areas where adequate fertilizer K was applied. This would seem to emphasize that the extremely wet conditions played havoc on the availability of K and the ability of plants to take it up. The nature of the soil and nutrient availability can be difficult to pin an easy target on. But the wet season definitely left us with a shallow-rooted rice crop that would have difficulty maximizing K uptake even with seemingly plenty available given soil test values and fertilizer K rates applied. These occurrences seem to promote the idea of increasing our grid sampling of fields to better indicate potential problem areas. Potassium is one nutrient in rice where variable-rate

RICE FARMING

FEBRUARY 2021

Fertility management considerations for 2021 DR. BRUCE LINQUIST CALIFORNIA UCCE Rice Specialist balinquist@ucdavis.edu

I would like to address a few fertility management considerations for this upcoming year. First, I saw a lot of straw being bailed and removed from rice fields this past fall. Rice straw contains roughly 34 pounds K 2O per ton, compared to 7 pounds per ton of grain. A field that yields 100 hundredweight per acre has about 5 tons of rice straw. Replenishing the potassium (K) that is removed is important for sustainably managing rice fields. Low K results in lower yields, increased lodging and higher disease pressure. This past year, we developed two fact sheets related to this topic that provide much more detail than I have here. The first is “Nutrients in Rice Grain and Straw at Harvest” and the second is “Managing Potassium in Rice Fields.” They can be found at http://rice.ucanr.edu/FactSheets/. Second, we have been having a dry year. For those farmers who rely on good winter rains to decompose rice straw (as op-

application may have some merit to better address problem areas rather than a blanket application over the whole field. In contrast, phosphorus (P) is not a good candidate for variable-rate application in rice due to the fluctuations in availability as the soil becomes saturated. Plus, the current soil test procedures are less sensitive at predicting the need for this particular nutrient. Luckily, a number of commercial fertilizer application rigs do have the ability to apply a variable rate of one product, such as K, while applying a blanket rate of another product, such as P. This could be a great way to manage input costs while putting your investment where it is most needed. Typical visual potassium deficiencies are expressed as chlorosis along the margins of the older lower leaves and will often appear as a yellow-red firing of the leaves. Low K levels in rice can lead to increased disease susceptibility and severity. One key indicator of potential K deficiency is brown spot, but in 2020 Cercospora was more common. Rice with low P levels, in contrast, typically has short, dark (green) colored plants with few tillers. Stay the course with soil test recommendations for P and K. Where possible, variable-rate K may help us invest in improving weak areas of the field. In-season applications of P and K can still provide a benefit if deficiencies are detected and verified, but stick with granular products to achieve the best results even then. RICEFARMING.COM

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SPECIALISTS SPEAKING

Soil sample, use urease inhibitor to steward nutrients DR. M.O. “MO” WAY

TEXAS Rice Research Entomologist moway@aesrg.tamu.edu I am no expert on rice fertility, but I do know it is absolutely essential to test your soil for N, P and K. If you have not done so, now is the time to take your samples. Make sure you take them according to Extension or laboratory instructions. If you recently have moved dirt from high to low areas, be sure to take samples from both areas. In addition, if you plan to ratoon crop, you may want to adjust your N, P and K according to your state’s guidelines, which can be obtained from your local Extension Service or rice research/Extension faculty and/or publications.

RICE FARMING

FEBRUARY 2021

It is absolutely essential to test your soil for N, P and K.

TEXAS A&M AGRILIFE

posed to purposeful winter flooding), there may be still a lot of straw in the field when it comes time for land preparation. Having a lot of rice straw in the soil at the start of the growing season can bind up applied fertilizer nitrogen early in the season. Therefore, if you have a lot of straw still in the field, you may need to apply a bit more nitrogen. Third, topdress N applications are needed if the plant is N deficient or you suspect it will become so. At panicle initiation (45 to 55 days after planting), the crop should be assessed to determine if topdress N fertilizer is necessary. A good assessment is important because not applying N when needed can lead to a reduction in yield; however, applying N fertilizer when it is not needed can lead to lodging, delayed maturity, increased incidence of disease and reduced yields. The Green Seeker, which measures the NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index) of the canopy, is a tool we have been testing for this purpose. In the past (based on preliminary data), we suggested a response index of 1.1 or greater indicates the need for top-dress N application. Based on a more complete analysis, we are adjusting this figure and now suggest a response index of 1.07 or greater warrants a top-dress N application. The response index is the NDVI reading of an enriched N strip (representing a crop with unlimited N) divided by the NDVI reading from the field test area. The N enriched strip is an area where extra N was added to the field. This could be done by overlapping an area with an aqua rig or a small area where you intentionally added extra N. For example, if the N enriched strip gave an NDVI value of 75 and the field test area gave an NDVI value of 71, the response index would be 1.06 (75/71 = 1.06) and this would indicate no need for a top-dress N application. Additional information on nutrient management as well as other aspects of crop management can be found at http://rice. ucanr.edu/.

And of course, there are variety, soil type/pH and planting date considerations, all of which will impact your given fertility program…again, check with your local university folks and fertilizer dealerships for more detailed information. I know some Texas rice crop consultants include fertility recommendations in their programs. You may want to hire one of these highly trained and valuable experts to help you make important fertility decisions. Most rice farmers in Texas apply a urease inhibitor to preflood urea to minimize volatilization of ammonia, which results in less uptake of N by the crop and an increase in greenhouse gas emissions. It’s best to apply urea to dry soil and flush or flood immediately after application. If urea is applied to wet soil, crop uptake is reduced. Also, it may take a few days before you can get water across your fields. In this situation, you should employ a urease inhibitor. The longer you leave urea on the soil surface before a flush/flood, the more N you lose to volatilization. Here is the science behind volatilization of ammonia gas from urea: 1. Microorganisms naturally occurring in the soil produce an enzyme called urease. 2. Urease in the presence of water breaks down urea to ammonia. 3. Some of the ammonia reacts with water to produce ammonium, which is taken up by the rice plant, but a lot of the ammonia escapes into the air. 4. High pH soils and soils with a lot of organic matter increase ammonia volatilization. 5. Urease inhibitors decrease the amount of urease in the soil, which results in less N volatilization. One last comment — kudos to Corrie Bowen (Wharton County Cooperative Extension agent) and Veronica Galvan (with U.S. Rice Producers Association) for putting on an informative virtual Rice Production Conference Jan. 20! RICEFARMING.COM

Horizon Ag Offers Its Strongest Lineup Ever for 2021 Every new season brings fresh opportunities and challenges for rice farmers. With planting on the horizon, it’s a great time to look at some of the key decisions you can make to ensure you are planning for success. It starts with choosing the right seed, one that offers the potential for high yields and excellent milling characteristics and grain quality, the ability to cost effectively control weeds and grasses, and industry-leading disease protection, all at the right price. Horizon Ag is proud to offer its strongest variety lineup ever, from the latest Clearfield® varieties that rival hybrids in yield potential at a lower price, to improved varieties for the Provisia® Rice System, the only unique herbicide system today for controlling weedy rice and red rice.

Horizon Ag CLL16 Delta rice farmers looking for the “complete package” in a rice variety don’t have to search any further than new CLL16 from Horizon Ag. A long grain Clearfield rice variety developed by the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, CLL16 has shown excellent rough rice yields, averaging higher than Diamond in university tests. Its performance consistency, high milling quality and industry-leading blast resistance make CLL16 the complete package for many rice farmers considering seed choices for planting this season. Missouri farmer Zack Tanner, president and co-owner of Tanner Seed Company, had a chance to see the newest Horizon Ag Clearfield variety up close in his seed production fields, taking note of its agronomic characteristics and performance potential. He calls CLL16 “hands down my favorite Clearfield variety, ever. It had good vigor and tillered very well. It is a medium-season variety that made a very good yield, and the milling was great. We didn’t see any blast in it, it didn’t have any lodging and it does well at a low seeding rate.” “Horizon Ag is excited to market CLL16, developed in partnership with the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture and BASF,” said Dr. Tim Walker, Horizon Ag general manager. “This variety promises a step change in yield potential, while offering industry-leading blast tolerance and a milled product that continues to bring back the Gold Standard rice the Southern USA has historically produced.”

Horizon Ag CLL17 High yield potential and industry-leading blast resistance are an essential combination for Coastal rice farmers today who need both characteristics in their rice seed to maximize profitability. Farmers get both with new CLL17 from Horizon Ag, a Louisiana-bred Clearfield variety being released for the 2021 season. CLL17 has consistently out-yielded CL153, the top-planted Louisiana variety in recent years, in multi-year trials in the state. It has solid ratoon crop potential in addition to featuring outstanding resistance to blast. CLL17 also has proven to provide excellent milling yield and very good grain quality. “CLL17 represents the next generation of Clearfield varieties in Louisiana, providing farmers the complete package of strong yield potential, excellent milling yield, very good grain quality and resistance to blast,” said Dr. Walker. “It’s a great fit for farmers who have been planting CL153 who want to raise the bar for performance potential in their fields.”

Provisia Rice System Horizon Ag PVL02, the second variety available in the Provisia Rice System, was released for the 2020 season and proved to be a significant step change over the first Provisia variety, PVL01, in terms of yield and overall performance. Due to its improved agronomic characteristics and greater yield potential, PVL02 will replace PVL01 in the Horizon Ag lineup for 2021. There is a larger supply of seed available for planting throughout the region, and demand is expected to be very strong, especially in areas where weedy and resistant red rice are significant threats. “A lot of rice farmers had a chance to see PVL02 last season and were pleased with what they saw,” said Dr. Walker. “PVL02 is earlier maturing, which bodes well for southern Louisiana when it comes to a ratoon crop. It has better clarity and lower chalk, and it offers improved milling. It’s also not quite as susceptible to blast.” In addition, a very limited supply of PVL03 is expected to be available for planting in 2021, giving some farmers a chance to experience firsthand the latest and greatest variety developed for the Provisia Rice System. “With PVL03, we’ll have a variety that rivals the highest-yielding Clearfield varieties, in terms of yield potential, and that will also have the gene for blast resistance, which is very important in areas like South Louisiana,” he said.

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

MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY

Industry

Drew Gholson

MSU’s Drew Gholson to lead Alluvial Aquifer Research Center

Dr. Drew Gholson has been appointed coordinator of the National Center for Alluvial Aquifer Research, a cooperative organization established by Mississippi State University and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service. The center’s mission is to conduct research and provide information for issues surrounding water-use for agriculture and natural resources in the Lower Mississippi River Basin. Gholson received his undergraduate degree in rangeland ecology and management and his masters in water management and hydrological sciences from Texas A&M University. He received his doctorate in soil science also from Texas A&M. He previously was an assistant professor and irrigation specialist at MSU’s Delta Research and Extension Center. In his new role, Gholson and his team will coordinate closely with ARS faculty and staff to further the mission of NCAAR.

New editions of the most widely used publications from the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture are now available. They offer the latest research-based recommendations for managing insects, weeds and diseases in row-crop agriculture as well as in fruit, vegetable and garden production. The 2021 publications include:  MP44 — Recommended Chemicals for Weed and Brush Control.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom has appointed three, including rice producer Kim Gallagher, to the California Water Commission. Joining her are Amy Cardalis, a member of the Yurok Tribe and its general counsel, and Fern Steiner, an attorney and member of the San Diego County Water

 MP144 — Insecticide Recommendations for Arkansas.

USA RICE

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Authority Board. They still have to be confirmed by the state Senate. The California Water Commission consists of nine members appointed by the governor. Seven members are chosen for their expertise related to the control, storage and beneficial use of water, and two are chosen for their knowledge of the environment. The commission provides a public forum for discussing water issues, advises the director of the Department of Water Resources on matters within its jurisdiction, approves rules and regulations, and monitors and reports on the construction and operation of the State Water Project. Gallagher, 45, of Davis, has been farm operations manager at Erdman Farms since 2014 and owner and operator of Gallagher Farming Co. since 2009. She was a science teacher for the Davis Unified School District from 2012 to 2014 and an independent study teacher for the Elk Grove Unified School District from 2004 to 2011. Gallagher is a member of the Colusa County Resources Conservation District, Colusa Glenn Subwatershed Program and the California Rice Commission. She also is a graduate of the Rice Leadership Development Program.

UArk publishes 2021 weed, insect and disease guides

Rice producer named to the California Water Commission

California rice producer Kim Gallagher

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 MP154 — Arkansas Plant Disease Control Products Guide. Printed copies are available at county Extension offices at no charge. Digital copies are available online for free download at https://www.uaex.edu/publications/ new.aspx. “MP” stands for “miscellaneous pub-

lication.” More than 20,000 copies of the 2021 guides have been distributed to county Extension offices across the state. They are updated annually. The 2021 MP44, “Recommended Chemicals for Weed and Brush Control,” is a onestop shop for all you need to know about herbicides, applications and the most up-todate research-supported weed control recommendations for Arkansas. MP144, “Insecticide Recommendations for Arkansas,” is Extension’s most-requested entomology-related publication. It contains information on recommended insecticides in row crops, animal agriculture, fruits, nuts, vegetables — both home garden and commercial — as well as household pests. The “Arkansas Plant Disease Control Products Guide” — or MP 154 —includes a list of fungicides and nematicides registered for use in Arkansas used to control diseases of row crops, vegetables, small fruits, turfgrass and ornamental plants. For the past two years, the university has grouped row crops together at the beginning of the book for quick reference. It also includes information on fungicide efficacy, fungicide timing and steps to mitigate the development of diseases resistant to fungicides for the major row crops.

Mo Way, Bob Little honored for rice industry service

Dr. Mo Way, a Texas A&M AgriLife Research entomologist at Beaumont, and Bob Little, general manager of the El Campo Rice Farmers Co-op, were recently honored during the Western (Texas) Rice Belt Virtual Conference for their industry contributions. Both are retiring soon. Way has spent 38 years serving the Texas rice industry, and before that, he worked in California rice. Little has been involved with the co-op for more than 46 years. They received gifts the morning of the conference via mail to thank and honor each for their years of service and dedication to the Texas and U.S. rice industries. Via Zoom, both shared their gratitude and thanked the growers for their support and friendship during their careers. RICEFARMING.COM

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