Rice farming january 2016 by One Grower Publishing

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PROFITABLE PRODUCTION STRATEGIES

Program promotes masters of conservation Rice Outlook Conference Recap

C and H Farms Details drive farming, leadership decisions

JANUARY 2016

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We partner with rice growers to increase their bottom line – today and for generations to come. Three generations of Isbells have relied on RiceTec for high-yielding rice seed. Moreover, they have trusted the advice of our ﬁeld reps on important decisions, such as drill calibration, timing and inputs. We’re here to assist our grower partners for the long haul. That’s how we became America’s most widely grown long-grain rice.

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January 2016

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Vol. 50, No. 2

COV ER STORY

COLUMNS From The Editor

Will ‘Godzilla’ of an El Niño be a boon or a bust?

USA Rice Federation

Rice priorities for the new year

US Rice Producers Association

Rice Market & Technology Convention offers myriad networking opportunities.

DEPA RTM EN TS Industry News

Rice business scene

Specialists Speaking

Variety selection has a ripple effect throughout the season and milling. ON THE COVER: California producer Charley Mathews Jr. takes a detail-oriented approach whether analyzing production practices or leadership issues. He also believes in giving back to the industry. Photo by Vicky Boyd

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

C and H Farms California’s Charley Mathews Jr., owner of C and H Farms, for years has participated in Extension variety trials so he can see firsthand what works best in his region.

FEATUR ES

Nutrient stewardship California growers will need to log nitrogen use as part of a statewide ag water quality program.

Masters of conservation Voluntary program helps Louisiana producers improve natural resource management while bolstering sustainability and economics.

Like us on Facebook: Search RiceFarming

Rice Outlook Recap

Take a look at what you missed at the 2015 Rice Outlook Conference in New Orleans.

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RICE FARMING • JANUARY 2016

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From The Editor

Will ‘Godzilla’ of an El Niño be a boon or a bust? In this day and age when the Kardashians can pass for entertainment and a reality TV star can run for president, it’s no surprise that the current El Niño has been dubbed “Godzilla” because of its potential star power. Although much of the attention has been focused on how this weather event will help California’s lingering drought, it also is having global implications, says Joel Widener, founding partner and chief administrative officer of the Washington, D.C.-based Commodity Weather Group. His comments came during the recent USA Rice Outlook Conference in New Orleans. El Niño develops when water in the equatorial area of the Pacific Ocean warms by at least 0.5 degrees Celsius — roughly 0.9 degrees Fahrenheit — for three or more months. Conversely, La Niña develops if water in the same region cools by at least 0.5 degrees C for three or more months. Depending on the definition, the current El Niño ranks in the top four strongest since 1950. During a typical winter, storms tend to originate in the Arctic, sweep south along the western United States, loop around the South and head back north along the East. But El Niño changes the jet stream so it runs straight eastwest across the middle of the United States, bringing milder temperatures and wetter conditions to much of the country. Parts of Texas saw record rains accompanied by flooding in late October and early November. The moisture helped replenish reservoirs within the Lower Colorado River Authority to the point where rice producers west of Houston have been told to expect 100 percent deliveries in 2016 for the first crop. For the past four seasons, the LCRA had suspended water deliveries to downstream ag users because of low reservoir levels. The current El Niño appears to have peaked and will slowly evolve into La Niña, Widener says. Nevertheless, he says the largest amounts of precipitation are likely to come this month and into February. “It’s too early to tell whether El Niño is a bust in California — the last half of the winter will make a difference,” Widener says. Through mid-December, Sierra Nevada snowpack was about 80 percent of historical average. For other parts of the world, El Niño has meant droughts, which can affect global rice supplies. Indonesia and southeast Asia, for example, saw dry conditions in the fall, Widener says. Altogether, the lack of moisture is expected to reduce global rice production by about 10 percent, he says. The big question remains, will these current weather patterns that have been compared to a Hollywood monster live up to their billing? As they say in the entertainment industry, “stay tuned.”

Vicky

Send your comments to: Editor, Rice Farming Magazine, 6515 Goodman Road, Box 360, Olive Branch, MS 38654. Call 901-767-4020 or e-mail vlboyd@onegrower.com.

4 RICE FARMING • JANUARY 2016

EDITORIAL/PRODUCTION Editor Vicky Boyd vlboyd@onegrower.com 209-505-3612 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 615-377-3322 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 Decemb er, by One Grower Publishing LLC, 6515 Goodman Road, Box 360, Olive Branch, MS 38654. Periodicals postage paid at Memphis, TN. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to OMEDA COMMUNICATIONS, CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT, P.O. BOX 5024, BRENTWOOD, TN 37027. Annual subscriptions are $25.00. International rates are $55.00 Canada/Mexico, $90.00 all other countries for AirSpeeded 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.

One Grower Publishing, LLC 6515 Goodman Road, Box 360, Olive Branch, MS 38654 Phone: 901-767-4020

RICEFARMING.COM

“Horizon Ag continues to be committed to improving rice quality, working with our public breeding partners as well as rice buyers to develop better-quality varieties that bring value not only to the end buyers and end users, but to the farmer as well.”

– Tim Walker

RICE

QUALITY MATTERS

Rice Quality Matters To Horizon Ag

Tim Walker General Manager Horizon Ag, LLC Since 2011, Horizon Ag has helped drive an industry-wide discussion and effort to improve rice quality grown in the United States. With more than 50 percent of U.S. rice being sold on the export market, improving the quality of U.S.-grown rice is imperative for maintaining and growing our export business, as well as competing domestically with an increasing population of consumers who appreciate rice quality. Horizon Ag continues to be committed to improving rice quality, working with our public breeding partners as well as rice buyers to develop better-quality varieties that bring value not only to the end buyers and end users, but to the farmer as well. Three new high-yielding Clearfield varieties capable of producing the appearance and cooking properties desired by important domestic buyers and export markets are being introduced this season. CL163 is a semi-dwarf line with “Dixiebelle-type” cooking properties, which makes this variety an excellent fit for the domestic parboil market. It also has the potential to be a preferred variety in the Central American export market. According to a major domestic food company that has tested this variety extensively, CL163 has cooking and processing properties that are substantial improvements over most varieties and hybrids grown today.

ricequalitymatters.com

CL172 is a semi-dwarf variety that produces a bold, translucent grain and demonstrates excellent milling quality. It contains multiple genes that confer broad-spectrum blast resistance in the southern United States. In an effort to demonstrate how quality improvements can be achieved in the industry, Horizon Ag partnered with a major mill and a select group of farmers in Arkansas to showcase the overall performance of identity-preserved CL172. Grain yields and preliminary milling reports were very positive. The latest long-grain offering from Horizon Ag is CL153. It also provides excellent blast resistance and good grain quality with yield potential that rivals the highest-yielding cultivars currently being produced. While we are proud to bring these three new high-yielding, excellent quality varieties to market in an effort to show the world that U.S. rice farmers can and do produce quality, we also strive to see that farmers who grow high-quality rice are rewarded. Horizon Ag is connected with the many rice buyers in Latin America who are searching for reliable quantities of quality rice grown in the United States. Some of our valuable contacts with rice buyers have resulted in action on the ground to identify large quantities of desirable-quality rice in the United States and get that rice shipped to its destination. We expect these opportunities to occur more and more and look forward to supporting those initiatives.

R ice Feder ation

Update

Entering 2016 USA Rice sets key priorities for the new year.

O By Betsy Ward President and CEO USA Rice Federation

ur most successful USA Rice Outlook Conference ever is freshly behind us and a new year is stretching out before us, so this seems like a good time to lay out some of our key priorities for 2016.

International trade With nearly half of our crop exported each year to more than 110 countries around the world, having a healthy international trade program is vital. USA Rice maintains programs in about 30 of those countries with activities ranging from basic trade servicing to major public relations and advertising campaigns. We also have a robust trade agenda to tackle issues, such as tariffs and non-tariff trade barriers, and support subsidies in competing rice-producing coutries. Here are a few of the challenges and opportunities you may be following in the news.

USA RICE

Continuing the fight in old markets Iraq could be a fairly good-sized market for us, but lately we’ve seen the United States shut out of tender after tender. In response, USA Rice has brought Iraqi (From left to right) Reubén Ramos Arrieta, minister counselor in officials to rice country, the economic and trade office of the embassy of the Republic of Cuba, chats with Bill Reed of Riceland Foods and Chuck Wilson, held technical meetings director of Arkansas Field Services for the USA Rice Foundation, and seminars, worked at the recent Rice Outlook Conference in New Orleans. closely with U.S officials in Iraq — including the U.S. ambassador — and most recently hired an Iraqi representative on the ground in Baghdad. Ultimately, our efforts will only take us so far because that country is in a state of chaos. But we continue to position ourselves to seize opportunities in this important market and expect to make additional sales in 2016. Despite being virtually shut out of Europe since 2006, the United Kingdom has been a small but solid market for us. Traditionally, it has been all ethnic where the large Chi-

6 RICE FARMING • JANUARY 2016

nese and Afro-Caribbean populations prefer U.S. rice. Thanks to aggressive outreach and committed partners, U.S.-origin rice now appears on mainstream retail shelves. This year we’ll be working to expand our reach and to remove language in procurement policies that unfairly prejudices buyers against U.S. rice. Developing new markets You’ve surely been reading about developments in Cuba, at one time the No. 1 destination for U.S. rice, and China, the largest consumer of rice in the world. We’re been actively working in both markets for years, anticipating the day when U.S. rice can legally be imported. We think that day is coming in 2016 — certainly for China — and we will be ready. Cuba may take more time to materialize, but here, too, we continue to prepare. Trade deals You’ve undoubtedly heard about the Trans Pacific Partnership, the massive, 12-country trade deal that the Obama Administration announced last year. Like many trade groups, we’ve yet to take a position on the deal. It has some apparent gains for the U.S. industry, but there are some drawbacks as well. Given politics in Washington and the presidential election, TPP may not come up for a Congressional vote until the end of 2016, if at all. Domestic issues Here at home, we work to raise awareness and encourage use of U.S.-grown rice. Over the past year, per-capita consumption has risen 1 pound to 26 pounds per person. We also work on farm-specific issues, such as preparing for the next Farm Bill, taking on burdensome regulations and advocating for the best outcomes for rice farmers from the 2014 Farm Bill. We had a huge victory in 2015 with new funding under the Resource Conservation Partnership Program to reward conservation efforts on the ground. We secured millions of dollars for rice growers, and we intend to build on this in 2016 while continuing to tell our sustainability story. RICEFARMING.COM

Vigilant Weed Control Pays Off Amy Beth Dowdy ABD Crop Consultants, LLC Dexter, Mo.

I began my career as a field scout in 1990 and started my consulting business – ABD Crop Consultants, LLC – in 1996. In 2015, I celebrated 25 years of checking rice in the Missouri Bootheel. Last year’s wet spring and slow start were very similar to the 2013 season. The majority of the rice was planted in May, and my farmers weren’t able to prepare the ground as well as they would have liked in some cases. Because of these conditions, about 25 percent of my acres were water-seeded. We flew seed into fields with established ducksalad and leftover winter vegetation with the hope that we could clean them up. On the conventional water-seeded fields, we applied Grasp Xtra alone. Where Clearfield rice was planted, we mixed Grasp Xtra with Beyond to clean up the ducksalad and mud plantain. There are some synergistic qualities that occur when combining Grasp Xtra and Beyond that result in a quicker burndown on the aquatics. In water-seeded fields, I like to apply herbicides when the rice has pegged down and is actively growing. Although aquatics were our main target weed, we also went after barnyardgrass that had emerged during a warm spell. We were very satisfied with the control that we got with our herbicide program and will definitely be using more Grasp Xtra this year. Smallflower umbrella sedge was also present in some of the fields that we sprayed. If there is any sedge in the field, I always assume that some portion of it is umbrella sedge because it looks a lot like rice flatsedge until it gets a head on it. The nature of umbrella sedge is for one flush to come up with a lot of small plants underneath. It’s difficult to get good coverage with a plane because it uses less water than a ground rig does. When this occurs, it’s more of a coverage issue than a resistance issue. In this case, we may need to make two applications with a plane. I also noticed some dwarf spikerush, which typically shows up in a wet spring, in some of the water-seeded fields last year. I controlled this weed with Grasp. I was glad to find a herbicide that worked because dwarf spikerush has productive seed heads, spreads out in patches and chokes out the rice, whether it is drill-seeded or water-seeded. One of the main things I learned in regard to weed control last year is to apply pre-emerge herbicides as much as you can, where you can. In 2015, we tried to cut corners to save a penny, but cost ourselves a dollar. Another observation is if at all possible, do not water-seed. A lot of things can go wrong, and we don’t have the option to go back in and use a ground rig unless the field dries up completely and we start over. Farmers are realists and understand their situation. They also are optimists. When planting time rolls around, they have faith that everything will work out in the upcoming season.

• B.S., Agronomy, Mississippi State University • Consults only on rice in the Missouri Bootheel • Member of the National Alliance of Independent Crop Consultants Executive Board 2011-15 • 2010 NAICC Consultant of the Year • Member of the Stoddard County Fair Board. Serves on the Livestock Committee and is in charge of 4-H and FFA Youth Games • Her mom, Pam, and brother Matt operate the family farm in Dexter, Mo. • Enjoys reading, going to auctions and, when possible, visiting the beach in the winter for some downtime

Recap: Vigilant Weed Control Pays Off 1. About 25 percent of my acres were water-seeded in 2015. We flew seed into fields with established ducksalad and leftover winter vegetation with the hope that we could clean them up.

2. On the conventional water-seeded fields, we applied Grasp Xtra alone. Where Clearfield rice was planted, we mixed Grasp Xtra with Beyond to clean up the ducksalad and mud plantain. 3. Although aquatics were our main target weed, we also went after smallflower umbrella sedge and some barnyardgrass that had emerged during a warm spell. We were very satisfied with the control that we got with our herbicide program. 4. I also noticed some dwarf spikerush, which typically shows up in a wet spring, in some of the water-seeded fields last year. I controlled this weed with Grasp.

Sponsored By

DOW Diamond, Grasp and RebelEX are trademarks of The Dow Chemical Company (“Dow”) or an affiliated company of Dow. Grasp Xtra and RebelEX are not registered for sale or use in all states. Contact your state pesticide regulatory agency to determine if a product is registered for sale or use in your state. Always read and follow label directions. ©2016 Dow AgroSciences LLC

®™

R ice Producers

Forum

‘¿Quien tiene arroz?’ RMTC in Houston offers opportunities to network with international buyers, vendors and other participants.

By Dwight Roberts President and CEO U.S. Rice Producers Association

ark your calendar — the Rice Market & Technology Convention is coming to Houston, May 31–June 2. Judging from early comments from participants and confirmed exhibitors, the 2016 edition will be another great opportunity to meet the rice buyers, sellers, shippers, grower leadership, seed technology, research, government officials, market analysts and other allied industries. Several new additions will make for a great atmosphere of learning and doing business. The RMTC was created several years ago by the U.S. Rice Producers Association in an effort to enhance the marketing of U.S. rice.

Location, location, location Houston is a great location for the convention because of direct flights from every country. Sorry Miami, you’re not the only one. But what makes Houston attractive is the proximity to rice farms, mills, private research, university research and an assortment of equipment companies located in the region. Many participants plan to travel throughout the U.S. rice sector after the conference, so this is a great opportunity to promote U.S. rice. Held at the Royal Sonesta Hotel in Houston’s famous Galleria area, the convention will be opened by Dr. Robert S. Zeigler, director general and CEO of the International Rice Research Institute in the Philippines. Also known as IRRI, it is the largest rice research operation in the world. Respected worldwide as a plant pathologist with more than 30 years experience in agricultural research, Zeigler earned degrees from Cornell University, Oregon State University and the University of Illinois. This, in addition to completing management and governance programs from Harvard Business School and Kellogg School of Management.

8 RICE FARMING • JANUARY 2016

Meet foreign rice buyers This conference is an excellent opportunity for U.S. rice producers to meet the foreign buyers of their crop. Every country is a different market, a different story. And in today’s market, it’s important to understand the issues that effect U.S. rice exports and can have an effecrt on quality. Take the U.S.-Peru Free Trade Agreement, for example. It has been in effect since 2009, yet less than 10 percent of the duty-free quota is used, and rice from other origins are sold to Peru at a much higher price than U.S. values. In Colombia, the FTA quota is filled and buyers even purchase rice outside of the quota while paying an 80 percent duty. Plan to attend the RMTC to find out why this is occurring.

‘¿Quien tiene arroz?’ Some 22 private companies from seven countries have already confirmed exhibit space in Houston. Several will be making presentations on new technology and developments for rice producers, mills and research programs — all designed to improve profits. IMECO (Italy); Indumak (Brazil); Zaccaria (Brazil); Stockton Israel Ltd. (Israel); Satake USA (USA); Buhler Inc. (USA); Lambton Conveyor Ltd. (Canada); Hlavinka Equipment Co. (USA); and SCAFCO Grain Systems (USA) are just a few already on the list. Last year’s two-day milling school conducted by Super Brix and Applied Milling Systems was so popular it has been scheduled again this year. And new this year will be a two-day postharvest seminar organized by Mega Dryers. These are two activities we know will be beneficial to participants and will be held May 30-31. The conference is conducted in three languages — English, Spanish and Portuguese — simultaneously, but that doesn’t mean you can’t practice your speaking ability. Networking during breaks, at exhibit stands, at receptions, and during lunches and happy hours are as important as the speaking sessions themselves. So make your plans, mark your calendar. RICEFARMING.COM

And the winner is... Northern California contest yields information, recognition By Bruce Linquist

TWITTER: @RICEFARMING

Participating growers were asked to provide some mandatory information whereas other information on management was optional. In 2015, growers provided all the requested information, which related to water, nutrient and pest management, variety, and combine and header type. All entries were high yielders Five entries were submitted in 2015, which Linquist says was ideal for a pilot study. Contest plots included the medium-grain M-206 and M-205 varieties. Yields were high and ranged from 108.3 to 126.9 cwt. Richter AG’s winning entry, which involved M-205, was 126.9 cwt with a milling yield of 66/73. Results suggest that even with very high yields, milling quality is still good, Linquist says. The yield and quality even surprised Richter. “This was definitely higher than what I was expecting,” he says. “But it was a really good year and for us, it was a recordbreaking year across all of our acres.” Richter says they didn’t treat the contest field any differently than any of their other fields. The total nitrogen rate was 167 pounds per acre. Most of this was applied before flooding the field for planting. They applied a starter blend that contained nitrogen and phosphorus about a month after planting flown into the standing water and a top dress around panicle initiation. About 70 to 80 percent of their fields received the same fertility programs, Richter says. The other fields may receive added potassium or phosphorus, based on soil types. In 2016, Linquist says he’d like to expand the contest to the entire Sacramento Valley. “We’re discussing how we might divide up the area into regions with similar yield potential so that growers can compete on a level playing field,” he says. Prizes will be given out by UC Cooperative Extension to the top two 2015 contestants. These are not large prizes — a high-quality hunting knife and a specially designed hat. The National Corn Yield Contest winners receive larger prizes, but these are given out by industry sponsors and not the contest organizer. In the future, it may be possible for companies to sponsor prizes to encourage rice yield contest participation. Linquist says it is too early to say what Extension specialist and researchers can learn from such tests; however, from a breeder’s perspective, it provides good information on the genetic potential of a given variety. Bruce Linquist is the University of California Cooperative Extension rice specialist. He can be reached at balinquist@uc davis.edu. Rice Farming editor Vicky Boyd also contributed to this article. RICE FARMING • JANUARY 2016

PHOTO BY RICHTER AG

n 2015, the University of California Cooperative Extension kicked off a yield contest with rice growers. The purpose was to provide an opportunity for rice producers and UC scientists to share information about intensive rice production in California and to recognize individuals who have achieved the highest yields. This season, Richter AG of Colusa won with 126.9 cwt adjusted to 14 percent moisture from a field in Butte County. Joe Richter, one of the partners in the family-owned operation, says he decided to enter the contest to see how much they could push the rice plants and still maintain quality. “I’m on the California Rice Research Board, and I’m extremely interested in figuring out how to do things better,” he says. “When Bruce brought up the idea of the yield contest at one of the research board meetings, I was all for it.” The contest is modeled after the National Corn Yield Contest with some modifications. The rice contest required a minimum field size of 20 acres within which a 10-acre contiguous rectangular portion was selected by the grower as the contest plot. From the contest plot, a minimum of 3 acres was harvested with the combine skipping three passes between each harvest pass. This ensured that the contest plot was adequately sub-sampled and left enough harvestable area in case a retest was required. UC Cooperative Extension supervisors monitored the whole test to ensure combines, bank-out wagons and trailers were empty before harvesting the test plot. In addition, they measured the harvest area with tapes and measuring wheels. The supervisors went with the trailer to a certified drier where the rice was weighed and moisture taken. Yields — adjusted to 14 percent moisture — were determined based on these measurements. If yields exceeded 120 cwt, a recheck was done. Final yields also accounted for dockage but not shrink. In 2015, we conducted a pilot study that was restricted to Butte County. The purpose was to see if the contest could be conducted without interfering with harvest operations or the flow of traffic at the driers. Participating growers had to have the area around the contest plot harvested before the arrival of the supervisors. Richter says participating in the contest really didn’t slow harvest — it just took a bit more coordination. On average, growers harvested close to 3.5 acres of rice, which came close to filling up a set of double trailers. Richter says he selected the contest entry site in the field based on prior years’ experience. “We have yield monitors on all of our harvesters, so we analyze the data,” he says. “We know with most fields, there are always high-producing areas and low-producing areas. I think this field is normally in our top 20 or 25 percent.”

Although Charley Mathews Jr. says he’d love to have new combines, his two 10-year-old machines do just fine and don’t carry the high payments.

10 RICE FARMING • JANUARY 2016

RICEFARMING.COM

A man of many hats Charley Mathews Jr. takes a detail-oriented approach to growing rice, dryer operations and industry leadership. By Vicky Boyd Editor

or Charley Mathews Jr., growing a high-quality rice growers to buy two rice driers near Marysville when the owners crop profitably and efficiently is only part of the equawanted to retire. tion. The 49-year-old Marysville, Calif., producer says Not only do the two facilities handle the four partners’ crops, he also feels compelled to repay the industry for time but they also commercially dry other growers’ rice and provide investments made by others before him. the partners more vertical integration, Mathews says. “The way I think about it, somebody sacrificed time to benefit “I grew up in a rice-drying business, and it was important to me, so I figure I will sacrifice time as well to carry on that trakeep it open,” he says. dition,” he says. “There has to be somebody Shortly after a field is harvested, Mathews there who’s kind of a trustee.” likes to chop and disk it as part of rice-straw A member of the 1993 Rice Leadership management. Soon after, he floods the field Development Program, Mathews serves as to help with straw decomposition and to co-vice-chairman of Farmers’ Rice Coopprovide winter wildlife habitat. erative, a board member on the California Since California completed a phase-down Rice Commission and a California repreof open-field rice straw burning in 1998, no sentative to USA Rice. That doesn’t count more than 25 percent of total acreage can be the numerous committees on which he burned annually and then only if growers serves within these groups. have confirmed disease problems. Ken Collins, a Biggs area rice producDespite concerns raised by many grower and also co-vice chairman of FRC, deers when state regulators were debating the scribes Mathews as a “unique individual issue in the 1990s, Mathews says he has not and, obviously, a pretty bright person.” seen rice diseases increase in his fields that “He thinks outside the box and has such aren’t burned. broad powers to figure things out and reason things out,” Collins says. “He’s a pretty ‘He does everything right’ good thinker.” Josh Cartwright, a pest control adviser Medium-grain M-206 comprises the bulk Collins also marvels at how Mathews balwith Bear River Supply Inc., Rio Oso, Caof Charley Mathews Jr.’s acreage. ances farming, a rice drying operation and lif., has worked with Mathews for about 10 leadership activities along with a family. years and points to Mathews’ attention to “I’m just amazed at how much of his life he puts into the rice detail as a reason for his accomplishments. industry,” Collins says. “One of the keys to his success is excellent farm management,” Cartwright says. Until this year, Mathews drove a combine and would note arVertical integration eas of weed escapes he saw from the cab for later discussion. A fifth-generation farmer who grew up in a rice-producing With the addition of the two driers, his time has been diverted family, Mathews went out on his own in 2002. As with many away from driving at harvest. young farmers, he says the first few years were tough. Throughout much of California’s rice-production region, sevBut Mathews continued to slowly build his acreage and in eral weeds have become resistant to a number of herbicides. But 2015 harvested 800 acres of medium-grain M-206 as well as Mathews has been able to keep all but a little resistant waterpremium M-401. He also has partnered with three other rice Twitter: @RiceFarming

RICE FARMING • JANUARY 2016

grass and smallﬂower umbrella sedge in check through herbicide rotations and diligent water management. “Charley is really good at water management,” Cartwright says. “It’s such a huge thing in weed management. What I like about him is he’s so good about controlling water depth and knows when to spray the weeds early when they’re small. “He has a good rotation, and he uses what works and uses it correctly. He does everything right. He never rushes, makes sure he mixes correctly and is really thorough.” Cartwright says he takes notes throughout the season, and he and Mathews meet before the next crop to develop a program. But Mathews typically has a plan in mind already. “Not only is he a good farmer, but he’s helped me with my job,” Cartwright says. “I’ve been a PCA for 15 years. Not only do we bounce ideas off of each other, but he’s really helped me.”

But Mathews isn’t locked into M-206, either. Until this season, when he didn’t know whether he’d have water deliveries in a ﬁeld near his house, Mathews had hosted a University of California Cooperative Extension rice variety trial there for several years. “I learn something from every one of these trials,” Mathews says. “If I’m hosting one of these experiments on my ground, anything that is beneﬁcial works for me, too.”

Of drought and export trade As both a grower and an industry leader, Mathews says he remains concerned about the drought and the state’s water future. Since 2013, when growers harvested about 562,000 acres of rice, production has dropped to an estimated 410,000 planted acres in 2015, according to the California Rice Commission. Although much of the planting reductions are from the continuing drought and reduced water supplies, some are due to growers converting rice ground to permanent tree crops. Learning from trials Even if rain and snow return to hisDespite the drought, Mathews says torical averages, planted rice acres likely A fifth-generation grower, Charley Mathews Jr. has slowly built his own operation from the ground up. the 2014 and 2015 growing seasons prowon’t bounce back to levels earlier in the vided nearly ideal weather for producdecade. And further erosion of rice proing rice. He is fortunate to receive water from the Browns Valley duction could affect the industry’s infrastructure, Mathews says. Irrigation District, which has senior water rights and is one of But he also sees positives, especially with trade. Although the the last to receive cutbacks during a dry year. Trans-Paciﬁc Partnership may not provide a large beneﬁt to the In 2015, Mathews expected to harvest about 98 hundredCalifornia rice industry, potential trade with China could be a weight per acre of M-206 — a medium-grain developed by the big boon. California Cooperative Rice Research Foundation for areas with “China has such a huge lack of trust in their own government slightly cooler growing conditions. in terms of the quality of food production that anything that says He points to fellow growers in District 108 north of the SacraCalifornia is salable,” he says. “So we’re close on China, and I mento airport that routinely harvest more than 100 cwt per acre think that will be a huge market for us. And I think it will be a because they have slightly warmer weather and water. good market for us because it will be all private sales.”

For the 2015 season, Charley Mathews Jr. expected to harvest an average of 98 cwt per acre.

12 RICE FARMING • JANUARY 2016

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Texas rice grower nabs Farm Bureau awards

Timothy and Lindy Gertson, who grow rice, sorghum, soybeans and wheat near Lissie, Texas, were named winners of the 2015 Texas Farm Bureau Outstanding Young Farmer & Rancher competition at the group’s recent annual meeting in Arlington. Although Timothy is a fifth-generation rice farmer, he didn’t sit back and wait to inherit the family farm. He and his cousin, Daniel, set out to farm on their own. He’s worked for years to improve the land he leases, repairing dilapidated irrigation wells and canals and using technology to conserve water wherever possible. Timothy also is a graduate of the Rice Leadership Development Program. Lindy is a registered nurse at the community hospital. The couple is involved in many community organizations, including the local Habitat for Humanity and the USA Rice Federation. Timothy also is president of the Wharton County Farm Bureau. Other finalists in this year’s competition included Galen Franz, a rice producer near Victoria, and Marcus and Amy Halfmann, row-crop and cattle producers near Garden City. Timothy also won the Texas Farm Bureau’s Discussion Meet, which encourages problem-solving through cooperative discussion among young farmers and ranchers. The Gertsons represented Texas at the American Farm Bureau annual meeting earlier this month in Orlando.

DuPont, Dow announce merger

DuPont and Dow have announced a plan to merge into one company — Dow-

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retary. He’s active with the United Soybean Board, United States Soybean Export Council and USA Rice Federation. In addition, he is a member of the 2014-16 Rice Leadership Class. Shannon is currently serving on the county Women’s Committee and served on the Annual Meeting Planning Committee in 2014. The Haigwoods represented Arkansas at the American Farm Bureau annual meeting earlier this month in Orlando.

UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS

Timothy and Lindy Gertson

DuPont — then spin off three independent publicly traded companies. Those firms would focus on agricultural, material science and specialty products. Combined, the two are worth about $130 billion, according to a news release. The merger would provide about $3 billion in savings. The agricultural entity will unite DuPont's and Dow's complimentary seed and crop protection businesses. Combined pro forma 2014 revenue for agriculture was about $19 billion. Boards of both companies approved the merger unanimously in early December. The spin-offs are expected to occur during the next 18 to 24 months, subject to regulatory and board approval. Dow is based in Midland, Mich., with DuPont based in Wilmington, Del. After the merger is complete, DowDuPont will have dual headquarters.

Dr. Trent Roberts

RiceTec, CPS partner on conservation funding

ARKANSAS FARM BUREAU

TEXAS FARM BUREAU

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Shannon and Derek Haigwood

Arkansas farm couple earns top honors from Farm Bureau

Derek Haigwood and wife Shannon, who farm rice and other row crops near Newport, Ark., earned the Young Farmer & Rancher Achievement Award at the recent Arkansas Farm Bureau’s annual meeting. A fourth-generation farming family, the Haigwoods grow soybeans, rice, corn and cotton on 3,130 acres. The Haigwoods want to leave a sustainable farming legacy for their son, 3-yearold Judah. Derek served as Jackson County Farm Bureau president, vice president and sec-

Houston-based RiceTec has partnered with Crop Protection Services to contribute $75,000 to a conservation project led by University of Arkansas soil scientist Trent Roberts. The contribution fulfilled a matching grant total of $150,000 from the Natural Resources Conservation Service for Roberts’ research, which will look at the benefits of cover crops for rice producers. Under Conservation Innovation Grants, awardees must provide non-federal matching funds for at least 50 percent of the project cost. Dubbed “Healthy Soils, Happy Rice,” the project is examining Austrian winter peas as a cover crop. The hardy, vine-like legume uses naturally occurring soil bacteria to fix nitrogen in plant tissue. When farmers prepare the soil for spring planting, the nitrogen is deposited from the peas’ roots back into the soil, improving rice fertility. CPS and RiceTec had agreed in May to make the matching pledge, but it wasn’t until early December that NRCS awarded Roberts the Conservation Innovation Grant. RICE FARMING • JANUARY 2016

Nutrient stewardship California growers will need to log nitrogen use as part of a statewide ag water quality program. By Vicky Boyd Editor

in a unique position, says Roberta Firoved, manager of industry affairs for the Sacramento-based California Rice Commission. Evaluation of the groundwater under rice ground shows low vulnerability from nitrogen, so growers do not have to submit a nitrogen management plan. But they must provide it if inspected by the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Board. “Rice farmers actually have a very good story to tell,” she says.

PHOTO BY LUIS ESPINO, UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, DAVIS

eginning this year, California rice producers will have to comply with the requirements of the Irrigated Lands Regulatory Program, a water quality program implemented as waste discharge requirements. California rice continues with a commodity-speciﬁc program based on years of positive water-quality monitoring. A new requirement is a nitrogen management plan, which places rice producers

Aqua-ammonia, which is injected a few inches into the soil, has traditionally been the most common form of nitrogen applied to California rice. Research has shown that applying all of it preplant is the most efficient way for water-seeded rice systems.

14 RICE FARMING • JANUARY 2016

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It also means that rice producers will not have to complete the more in-depth reports that growers in many other watersheds have to. Under the statewide Irrigated Lands Program, rice farmers completed an online farm evaluation by March 2015, which essentially meant transferring farm field descriptions from mandatory pesticide use reports and recording management practices that benefit water quality. The CRC plans to launch an online nutrient management tool early this winter, where growers input their previous years’ nitrogen use information. “It’s like a planning tool — they can reference back to that the following year and see what they did on the field and how it performed,” Firoved says. After recording the information, growers either store it electronically or print out a hard copy to keep on farm. The commission already has beta tested the online rice-specific nitrogen management plan with a handful of pest control advisers, many of whom also are certified crop advisers. “They all seemed pleased with it,” Firoved says of the tool. “Once we get the online version going, we’re going to send it back to them and have them give us more feedback.”

Since then, growers who irrigate their land and have runoff from irrigation or rainfall have an option. They can either apply to the Regional Water Quality Control Board for individual discharge permits or they can join a regional water quality coalition. Most choose the latter. The roughly dozen coalitions statewide collect per-acre fees from members to help fund water quality monitoring, develop best management practices and educational programs, and data collection. The rice program is similar to other regional coalitions but it is commodity specific and only involves Northern California rice producers. If those same producers have other crops, they would likely join the Sacramento Valley Water Quality Coalition. Firoved says it made sense to keep the same commodity-based structure that the industry already had in place. “We already had a long history of monitoring surface water from the beginning of Irrigated Lands, and we took the same approach for groundwater,” she says. Northern California’s rice producing region also is categorized by the state as having a low vulnerability for groundwater contamination from nutrients, pesticides and other ag chemicals, Firoved says. That is one reason for the reduced reporting requirements. Producers in watersheds with a high vulnerability for groundwater leaching have to complete reports that summarize how much nitrogen they actually applied, crop yields, an estimate of how much was removed by the crop and comply with other additional reporting requirements. Those reports also have to be certified by a PCA or CCA or self-certified by the grower after he or she attends a special training session.

Evolution of a rice-specific program The Irrigated Lands Regulatory Program was adopted by the state in 2003 to reduce agricultural pollutant runoff into surface water. It was later expanded to include groundwater. Until 2003, agriculture had received a discharge waiver from the State Water Board.

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Masters of conservation Voluntary program helps Louisiana producers improve natural resource management while bolstering sustainability and economics. By Vicky Boyd Editor

A voluntary approach to water quality The Master Farmer Program had its roots in a 1996 Total Maximum Daily

16 RICE FARMING • JANUARY 2016

LSU AGCENTER

ichard Fontenot, who farms with his brother, Neal, near Ville Platte, La., looks at the Louisiana Master Farmer Program as an integral part of their operation’s succession plan. “It enhances some of your conservation efforts and allows you to be a little bit more aware of all of the things you can use to build something that’s sustainable,” says Fontenot, a fourth-generation rice, soybean and crawfish producer. “We felt this was a good way of protecting our resources for the next generation.” Even before the program, the Fontenots had been doing some no-till and modified their pipe drops to reduce erosion. But Richard says the program opened their eyes to practices they weren’t familiar with. “It just broadened our scope of what can be done and helped identify resources and also concerns that we just didn’t recognize at the time,” he says. “It helped us enhance our current practices and employ new ones.” Both Richard and Neal Fontenot are among the more than 225 Louisiana producers who have become certified Master Farmers since the program began in 2001. Of those, rice is by far the largest commodity represented, says Ernest Girouard, Louisiana State University AgCenter state Master Farmer Program coordinator and a certified Master Farmer himself before he retired from rice production.

Rusty Wiggers (right) describes how he and his family use various irrigation techniques to get water to most of their corn and soybeans. The field tour was held on their farm in Winnsboro, La.

Load lawsuit against 38 states, including Louisiana, and was developed as a voluntary approach to address water quality concerns, Girouard says. But it goes beyond just water. The program is designed to give producers the tools they need to continue farming and ranching with an eye to the environment, he says. It also helps them develop and implement research-based best management practices and farm-specific conservation plans. Growers who complete the Master Farmer Program and receive certification are presumed to be in compliance with state soil and water regulations.

Master Farmer Program at a glance: • Demonstrate knowledge of and dedication to environmental stewardship. • Demonstrate mastery of conservation-based production. • Demonstrate resource management through the implementation of a comprehensive conservation plan. • Promote the success of local-level conservation to the agricultural community and public and private interests. RICEFARMING.COM

Mix of classroom, hands-on learning The program is divided into three phases — classroom education, demonstration farm field tours, and development and implementation of a comprehensive whole-farm resource management system plan, Girouard says. Developing a whole-farm plan does take time, with the actual amount dependant on farm size, Perry says. But his job — and that of his colleagues throughout the state — is to help producers design customized resource management programs. “We develop the plan with them and there’s a lot of field work with them,” he says. “Once the plan is developed, it’s that producer’s plan, and we go over it with them. And until it’s implemented, we’re with them all the way.” Only after the plan is implemented can producers be certified as Master Farmers. Continual improvement Each January, those producers achieving certification the previous year are recTwitter: @RiceFarming

Ernest Girouard, LSU AgCenter state coordinator of the Louisiana Master Farmer Program, opens the Master Farmer University in West Monroe, La.

LSU AGCENTER

A matter of pride Participation varies around the state, depending on commodity and existing Master Farmers who actively encourage colleagues to become certified, Girouard says. In Vermilion Parish, for example, 30 producers have become Master Farmers. Mike Perry, NRCS district conservationist in Abbeville, Vermilion Parish, attributes the region’s high level of participation to pride. “That’s their goal — to be a Master Farmer,” he says. Water quality and soil erosion are two of the top resource concerns in the parish, and the Master Farmer Program addresses those. But it offers other benefits as well. “There’s that old saying, ‘Conservation pays,’” Perry says. “So it becomes an economic thing, also. It pays off financially as well as with conservation benefits.”

LSU AGCENTER

The program was developed by five core partners – the Louisiana State University AgCenter, Louisiana Farm Bureau, Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry, Louisiana Cattlemen’s Association and U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service. The partnership operates under a memorandum of understanding and specific framework, and the MOU is reviewed and renewed every five years.

Kenneth Lahaye of Ville Platte was one of the first in Louisiana to achieve Master Farmer status after completing all three phases of the program. Here, he explains his irrigation practices.

ognized during a luncheon ceremony held in conjunction with the Louisiana Association of Conservation Districts state convention. For producers to maintain certification, they must earn six hours of approved continuing education annually. Fontenot says he and his brother are diligent about attending continuing education and continually look for ways to enhance their conservation efforts. Producers also must recertify every five years, which involves ensuring the continuing education requirement is met and updating the conservation plan to reflect ground that has been added, has been let go or is no longer farmed. The curriculum has evolved since the program’s inception to recognize new conservation practices, programs and

regulations as well as grower input. Until 2014, for example, the class and field tour were held during separate times of the year. Based on grower input, Girouard says the program combined them into the twoday Master Farmer University, beginning in 2014. The first day addresses general conservation practices — such as soil testing, spill prevention and nutrient management — in a classroom setting. During the second day, producers are separated for commodity-specific field tours because conservation practices used in cattle or sugar cane may not be applicable to rice, and vice versa. The program also has moved away from single model farms to demonstration farms, where participants visit two or three operations and view specific conservation practices under different conditions. This format is conducive to interaction among participants and farm hosts, sharing of ideas and generating more discussion, he says. “They visit with the (host) farmer and move on,” Girouard says. “Even that moving attracts more attention, and it creates more interest in the program. Farmers get to see more and visit with the farmer, and the same practices can be implemented in different ways. “One of the most effective field days we have is with the cattle producers, and those are the pasture walks. There’s more rubbing shoulders than sitting in the classroom. It’s live.” To learn more about the Master Farmer Program, visit http://bit.ly/1RmTyPV. RICE FARMING • JANUARY 2016

Rice Outlook Recap Take a look at what you missed at the 2015 Rice Outlook Conference in New Orleans.

MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY

Delta Plastics offers free multiple-inlet planning software Delta Plastics will offer the latest version of its online multiple-inlet irrigation planning tool free to growers this year to help bolster water conservation. Pipe Planner 3.0 offers easy-to-use Web-based calculations to determine the size of holes and the number of holes or gates to use with collapsible or layflat poly irrigation tubing. MIRI, also called sideinlet irrigation, provides more precise water management, allowing growers to flood fields faster, lessen cold-water effects on rice, reduce energy costs, cut labor costs and save water. In fact, studies have The Web-based Pipe Planner allows shown it can reduce water users to easily figure out the number and spacing of holes or gates for coland related energy pumplapsible poly irrigation tubing. ing costs by up to 25 percent and labor expenses by up to 30 percent, says Sean Whiteley, CEO of Delta Plastics. The company, based in Little Rock, Ark., decided to make the latest version of Pipe Planner available free to encourage grower adoption of the technology. Previous versions were available for a fee. “It’s free to any grower who wants to use it, whether they’re a customer or not, because we believe that MIRI and Pipe Planner address some of the fundamental issues farmers are facing in this environment – water availability, water conservation and farmers’ bottom lines,” Whiteley says. The tool is based on Google maps and allows users to draw their field boundaries, levees and pipe locations. Users also enter water flow rates in gallons per minute. “Once you submit that, Pipe Planner provides the size of pipe, how much pipe and what spacing and hole sizes or gates for each paddy,” he says. It takes growers familiar with the program about three to five minutes to map out a 40-acre field. Even novices can lay out a similarly sized field in 10 to 20 minutes, he says. For more information, visit http://www.pipeplanner.com.

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VALLEY IRRIGATION

f you weren’t able to attend the recent 2015 Rice Outlook Conference in New Orleans, Rice Farming editor Vicky Boyd has compiled some of the highlights, including new products that were featured in the conference expo.

The USDA now offers crop insurance to rice producers in Arkansas, Missouri, Tennessee and Texas using center-pivot irrigation.

USDA offers sprinkler crop insurance For those growers who want to experiment with center-pivot irrigation of rice, crop insurance will be available this season to help manage the associated risks. The sprinkler-irrigated rice crop insurance program, underwritten by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Risk Management Agency, will be offered for Arkansas, Missouri, Tennessee and Texas. It carries several requirements for both the crop itself and the irrigation system, says Kelly Downing, international ag project specialist with Valley, Neb.-based Valley Irrigation. The rice variety have to be short- to mid-season maturity, have blast resistance and have the potential to reach USDA No. 1 grade. The irrigation source must be able to yield at least 7.5 gallons per minute per acre, and the pivot must be able to complete a full circle in no longer than 24 hours. “We need to make sure the irrigation system has the ability to meet full ET (evapotranspiration) of the crop,” Downing says. Participants also will have to have fields scouted at least once per week and document fertility practices and weed, disease and insect management throughout the season. New soybeans should help address ALS rice herbicide drift Pioneer’s introduction of the Bolt soybean with enhanced tolerance to ALS herbicides should help address some of the issues with off-target movement of that class of herbicides from rice, says Frank Carey, Valent U.S.A. field market development specialist in Olive Branch, Miss. Conventional beans, on the other hand, are very sensitive to ALS herbicides. Carey describes Bolt soybean’s enhanced tolerance to ALS herbicides as “STS on steroids,” referring to sulfonylurea-tolerant varieties. STS soybeans were first introduced in 1994 and are considered the grandfather of herbicide-tolerant beans. RICEFARMING.COM

(From left to right) USA Rice CEO Betsy Ward, grand prize winner Haven McElhanon and Leslie Rodgers with Dow AgroSciences

Promotional program earns high-schooler a scholarship Haven McElhanon, the daughter of a Forrest City, Ark., rice producer, garnered the 2015 USA Rice Federation National Rice Month Scholarship sponsored by Dow AgroSciences. She received a $4,000 scholarship and a trip to the awards ceremony at the 2015 USA Rice Outlook Conference. The second- and third-place winners were Mary Katherine Swindoll and Clay Parker, respectively. McElhanon’s initiative, “Rice — a Health Happy Hand,” touted the health beneﬁts of budget-friendly rice, which she promoted through classroom visits and community events. She also enlisted support from a local judge, who signed a proclamation to make September Arkansas Rice Month. McElhanon is part of a ﬁfth-generation farming family in Arkansas. Although rice production has always been part of her community, she learned more about its importance while conducting rice promotions and serving as Miss St. Francis County Rice 2015. To apply for the scholarship, high school students were required to develop a promotional program in their local community that highlighted U.S.-grown rice as part of National Rice Month in September.

Louisiana NRCS conservationist recognized for leadership Ken Norton, the Natural Resources Conservation Service state conservationist for Louisiana, received the sixth annual USA Rice Distinguished Conservation Achievement Award at the USA Rice Outlook Conference’s annual awards luncheon. In making the presentation, Leo LeGrande, a California rice producer and USA Rice Farmers’ Conservation Committee chairman, praised Norton’s strong leadership. After 26 years working in Oklahoma, Norton moved to Louisiana in 2007 and has encouraged the adoption of innovative practices beyond NRCS standards. “Among fellow state conservatioinists, Kevin has been recognized as a strong leader,” LeGrande says. “Recently he spent 29 months detailed to the Senate Agriculture Committee to develop the Conservation Title of the 2014 Farm Bill Rice producer Leo LeGrande, left, and personally helped design presented Ken Norton of the Natuthe Regional Conservatioin ral Resources Conservation Service with the sixth annual Distinguished Partnership Program.” Norton says he was sur- Conservation Achievement Award. prised by the award. “When Leo called me, it really took me aback,” he says. “As a public servant, there is no greater or more humbling honor than to be recognized by your customers. And this is really special to me because rice is special to me.” VVKD1115 RICE FARMING POST-HARVEST AD 110615-rast.pdf

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Sulfonylureas are part of the much bigger acetolactate synthase, or ALS, herbicide Group 2. ALS rice herbicides include Regiment and League MVP, both from Valent. “This is a very exciting development not just for Regiment but also the other ALS’s out there like League,” Carey says.

3:44 PM

Rice Leadership Program names 2016 class The USA Rice Leadership Development Program named ﬁve producers and two industry representatives to the 2016-18 class at the recent USA Rice Outlook Conference in New Orleans. Producer members are Brandon Truax of Gillett, Ark.; Allen McLain, Abbeville, La.; Imran Khan of Chico, Calif.; Sidney Robnett of Stuttgart, Ark.; and Michael Bosworth of Olivehurst, Calif. The industry-related class members are Sunny Bottoms of Horizon Ag, based in Dumas, Ark., and Kristopher Riggs with Anheuser-Busch in Jonesboro, Ark. The class attends four one-week sessions over a two-year period designed to strengthen leadership skills, and they learn ﬁrsthand about all aspects of the rice industry. TWITTER: @RICEFARMING

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RICE FARMING • JANUARY 2016

Specialists Speaking

Do homework before choosing varieties DR. BOBBY GOLDEN MISSISSIPPI Extension Rice Specialist bgolden@drec.msstate.edu

As we put an end to the 2015 growing season, one of the first and if not the most important decisions for the 2016 production season is cultivar selection and how to place those on the different soils and farms within a producer’s base of operations. There are numerous considerations to make when selecting a variety, with the first being between Clearfield and conventional varieties. This would be closely followed by the question: Do I plant a hybrid or inbred? Luckily, each state conducts multiple variety trials at various locations to aid producers in making those decisions. Mississippi’s 2015 on-farm variety trials evaluated 29 entries at seven production locations throughout the Delta rice-growing area. Data from these trials are available at the Mississippi Crop Situation blog (http://www.Mississippi-crops.com) and the new Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station variety trial website (http://mafes.msstate.edu/variety-trials/). When considering yields averaged across all testing locations, most cultivars performed well in 2015, with notable standouts in

Newly released M-209 looks promising BRUCE LINQUIST CALIFORNIA UCCE Rice Specialist balinquist@ucdavis.edu

In California, most farmers grow medium-grain varieties. The commercially available medium Calrose rice varieties have been selected to meet the high quality and yield standards for California. In fact in 2015, California Calrose varieties were named best in the world in terms of flavor and texture at the seventh annual World Rice Conference in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Varietal selection is one of the first and most important decisions a rice grower will need to make each year. In making a decision, first consider the maturity class that fits your farming operations and climatic zone. There are three maturity classes: Very early (e.g. M-104, M-105); early (e.g. M-202, M-205, M-206, M-208, M-209); and late matur-

20 RICE FARMING • JANUARY 2016

the conventional inbred rice being LaKast (245 bushels per acre) and Rex (238 bushels per acre) compared to our control variety, Cocodrie (214 bushels per acre). Both conventional hybrid entries, XL753 and XL760, produced 275 and 270 bushels per acre, respectively. The blast issues encountered in 2014 and 2015 should not be a deterrent to conventional varieties. Over the past several years, many conventional long-grain varieties have performed exceptionally well in Mississippi, with most being rated susceptible to blast. If red rice is an issue and a Clearfield variety is needed, it’s hard to beat CL151 (230 bushels per acre). All other long-grain Clearfield inbred entries produced similar yields compared to state averages across locations but were slightly less than CL151. Of the three Clearfield hybrid entries, CL XL729 topped the yields (265 bushels per acre), followed by CL XL745 (252 bushels per acre). Keep in mind that incidence of ALS-resistant barnyardgrass and rice flatsedge has increased in Mississippi, and stewardship is of utmost importance to keep this technology viable in the future. This leads me to the last cultivar, a new Clearfield long-grain release — CL163. It was developed by Mississippi State University and offers a “Newrex” cook type. This variety has an amylose content of 26 percent compared to the 20 percent of current long-grains, making it ideal for parboiling, canning, food service and package rice. It is semi-dwarf, early maturing and has good straw strength. Like most conventional university bred cultivars, CL163 is susceptible to blast. Early reports in seed rice fields and data from variety-nitrogen trials suggest that CL163 will be a good variety for Mississippi producers to consider in the future.

ing (e.g. M-401, M-402 – both premium medium-grains). Very early varieties (and M-206) are commonly grown in cooler areas and used for late plantings. Cooler areas are those south of Highway 20 and that include the Sacramento Delta region — perhaps the coolest area where rice is grown. Late-maturing varieties fit early planting schedules and are best for warmer areas. Early varieties are grown on the largest amount of acreage. M-202 foundation seed production ended in 2014, thus the principle Calrose-type medium-grain varieties are M-205, M-206 and M-209. Averaging yields over six years from our variety testing program, M-209 yielded 3.5 cwt per acre more than M-205 and 2.2 cwt per acre more than M-206. On average, M-209 and M-205 head five to six days later than M-206. M-206 is the most versatile of the varieties and can be grown statewide, while M-205 and M-209 are not recommended for cooler regions. Commercial seed production of M-209 was initiated in 2015, and seed availability for 2016 planting will be limited. Importantly, many of these newer varieties can be safely harvested at lower grain moisture content than the last generation, such as M-202, which ensures higher grain quality and may reduce drying costs and allow for greater harvest flexibility. RICEFARMING.COM

Specialists Speaking

Select hybrids, varieties for profitability DR. JARROD HARDKE

Given current economic conditions, each decision has a major impact on having a positive return for the season, and it all starts with rice cultivar selection. While minimizing risk, we also need to maximize our profit potential. Plant several different cultivars with different benefits where they have the best chance of succeeding on your farm. And hope for some luck. Fields planted during our earlier window are historically our best yielding rice, but not in 2015. Some of the worst fields were planted during April and some of our best rice was planted in May last year. Don’t expect that to happen again and continue to attempt planting early. It’s best not to put too much stock in a single observation, such as the abnormal results of 2015, when making decisions for the next season. Anything can happen in one year, but to be successful and profitable over time, we need to consider multiple years. For multi-year performance trial results, visit http://www. arkansasvarietytesting.com/home/rice. Averaged across the past three seasons, RiceTec hybrid XL753 has had the highest grain yield. Among conventional long-grain varieties, Roy J, LaKast, Taggart and Mermentau have performed well. The yield decline experienced in 2015 compared to 2013-2014 was similar across all cultivars, resulting in a similar decline in profitability. XL753 and Roy J were the most widely planted conventional long-grain cultivars in 2015. Although LaKast acreage increased in the first year of wide availability, the difficult year leaves many with questions. But research indicates it is still one of the strongest varieties available. Mermentau acreage declined last year and had a second consecutive year of variable results, which may lead to a further acreage drop-off. Taggart remains a reliable option with a good disease package but continues to be planted on only a limited number of acres. Several Clearfield long-grain cultivars continue to perform similarly each year, including RiceTec CL XL729, RiceTec CL XL745 and CL151. CL111 has not had the same success, but its early maturity continues to work well for many growers. CL163 appears to have potential in only two years of evaluation and at a number of locations performed similarly to CL151. Another Clearfield line available this year is CL172. It has a good disease package and standability but will need further evaluation. Medium-grain cultivars Jupiter and Caffey have performed extremely well, and Jupiter continues to dominate medium-grain acreage. CL271 is a Clearfield line that shows promise for mediTwitter: @RiceFarming

BRUCE SCHULTZ, LSU AGCENTER

ARKANSAS Asst. Professor/Rice Extension Agronomist University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service jhardke@uaex.edu

Jarrod Hardke (left), University of Arkansas rice specialist, and Dustin Harrell, LSU AgCenter rice specialist, talk about the most effective ways of applying fertilizer to minimize nitrogen losses at the 2015 LSU rice field day.

um-grain growers who would benefit from the herbicide technology. However, it will be phased out after this year.

LSU AgCenter variety recommendations DUSTIN HARRELL

LOUISIANA Extension Rice Specialist dharrell@agcenter.lsu.edu Each year, rice scientists meet at the H. Rouse Caffey Rice Research Station to discuss the previous year’s rice variety research and make decisions on which varieties to recommend for the coming year. This information is compiled in the “Rice Varieties and Management Tips” publication. The 2016 publication is still in press, but it will be available soon at parish Extension offices and at http://www.lsuagcenter.com. In 2016, five conventional long-grains will be recommended — Catahoula, Cheniere, Cocodrie, Mermentau and Roy J. The first four have semi-dwarf plant types and are similar in maturity. These four typically average between 35-38 inches in height at maturity and range from 120-125 days from emergence to harvest maturity with a March to mid-April planting date. Roy J is a conventional-height variety released from Arkansas. It averages about 4-5 inches taller than the semi-dwarfs and is four to five days later in maturity. All of these varieties have good yield potential and milling quality. In addition, they all have shown good potential to produce a ratoon (second) crop. Two conventional medium-grain varieties are recommended this year. Caffey and Jupiter are both short-stature lines averaging 34-38 inches in height at maturity. Both varieties have excellent yield potential and good milling quality. RICE FARMING • JANUARY 2016

Specialists Speaking There are three Clearfield long-grains recommended for production this year — CL111, CL151 and CL152. CL111 was the most widely grown rice variety in Louisiana in 2015. Of the three, CL151 has historically shown the highest yield potential, followed by CL111 and CL152. CL151 is very susceptible to blast and should only be grown when a fungicide is used. CL111 and CL152 consistently have shown superior grain quality compared to CL151. All three lines have very good ratoon crop potential. CL271 is the lone Clearfield medium-grain currently recommended. It has good first and ratoon crop yield potential and excellent grain quality. Hybrid rice lines have been re-inserted into our trials at the Rice Station and across the state for the past three years. Only rice lines that have three or more years in our testing program can make the recommended list. This year one conventional hybrid long-grain and two Clearfield hybrid long-grains are recommended in Louisiana. XL753 is the conventional hybrid. It has excellent first and second crop potential. CL XL745 and CL XL729 are the recommended Clearfield hybrid long-grains. Both have shown excellent first and second crop potential. Both are susceptible to lodging and resistant to blast. CL XL729 is rated as moderately susceptible to sheath blight, while CL XL745 is rated as moderately resistant.

Have fields ready and be prepared to plant DR. M.O. “MO” WAY TEXAS Rice Research Entomologist moway@aesrg.tamu.edu

Variety selection is the first thing you should think about when planning your 2016 crop. I’ve heard it said that about 50 percent of final yield is based on variety and 50 percent is based on production practices. This doesn’t take into account atypical weather like we had in 2015. I hope we don’t have a repeat of 2015, but El Niño may lead to another wet year in 2016 for the Texas Rice Belt. In anticipation of another wet, cool year, have your seedbed ready to go to allow you to plant early. You may only have a few good days of decent weather in which to plant. If you are not prepared, you could be out of pocket for a week or more. Early planting seems to be a key to high yields in Southeast Texas. It allows you to ratoon crop, which is becoming more common and important in Texas. If you plan on planting early, treat your seed with a fungicide and consider using an insecticidal seed treatment. As you well know, variety selection (as well as all other inputs) is not made in a vacuum. Basically, you should select a variety or varieties you are familiar and comfortable with. If you want to try a new variety, don’t plant it on all your acreage. Ease into it and if you like the results, gradually increase acreage over time.

22 RICE FARMING • JANUARY 2016

Talk to your neighbors to see what works for them. Contact Extension specialists and/or university rice breeders. Attend Extension meetings and contact seed reps. Above all, make your decision based on facts and data — not on feelings or hearsay. The following are data taken from the 2015 Texas main crop as reported in the Texas Rice Crop Survey. Variety/hybrid

Main crop, lbs/ac

% head rice

XL723

6,282

58.7

CL XL745

7,533

59.1

Presidio

6,645

56.5

CL151

7,214

59.1

Cheniere

6,703

64.0

XL753

7,935

59.1

These yields are relatively low due to atypical weather in 2015. Ratoon yields have not yet been reported in the Texas Rice Crop Survey, but I’ve heard from some crop consultants that Texas ratoon yields were very good on the whole. In last month’s article, I made a mistake. Texas rice acreage in 2015 was about 130,000 — not 103,000. I apologize for my error. Don’t forget to attend the 36th Rice Technical Working Group at Moody Gardens Hotel Spa & Convention Center on Galveston Island, March 1-4. For more information, visit https://beaumont. tamu.edu/rtwg/.

Match variety or hybrid to field conditions SAM ATWELL

MISSOURI Agronomy Specialist atwells@missouri.edu Missouri farmers are in the process of choosing what rice varieties to plant this season and trying to find the most profitable one for their land. Some will choose hybrids for higher yield potential and a better disease resistance package. Some want the Clearfield trait, while others want less expensive seed so they can use higher seeding rates. Sometimes quality will prevail over yield, so they may choose a better grading variety. On heavy clay soils, we often times need an early variety just to manage it through the season. And for row rice, we’re seeking blast resistance. About 60 percent of Missouri farmers are estimated to plant hybrid and Clearfield rice. CL XL745, XL753, CL151 and CL111 lead the charge. Most of the state’s farmers are concentrating on quality equal to yield. Of total production, about 95 percent is long-grain, with 3 to 5 percent medium-grain. One of the new releases from the Missouri Rice Council is MM14, a mid-season medium-grain with excellent yield potential. RICEFARMING.COM

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RF0116 Layout_CF 11/13 template 1/4/16 8:49 AM Page 24

CL111

CL151

CL152

OONLY NLY HHORIZON ORIZON AAGG GGIVES IVES YYOU OU TTHE HE CCOMPLETE OMPLETE PPACKAGE. ACKAGE. You demand high-qual y seed that delivers outstanding in-field performance. A seed that has superior weed control w h the highest tolerance to Newpath® and Beyond® herbicides. And when you choose Horizon Ag Clearfield® varie es, you get the complete package to op mize your yield — and maximize your profit.

CL163

CL271