Rice farming january 2018 by One Grower Publishing

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ONE GROWER PUBLISHING, LLC

PROFITABLE PRODUCTION STRATEGIES

Future Driven. Farmer Focused.

JANUARY 2018

Quality focus aims at regaining Central American markets

New reservoir will offer multiple benefits

Gone hog wild Fighting feral pigs requires a long-term plan

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CL1722 from Horizon Ag CL17

Producing oducing High-Quality High-Quality Milling Rice Rice Begins With VVarietyy Selection Selec Producing high-qualityy milling ric rice that brings a premium pric starts emium price by planting a variety that’s t’s bred br to perform. That’s why Joe Mencer,, a grower gr from Lake Village, Arkansas, plan CL172, ansas, plants a Clearfield® rice varietyy from fr Horizon Ag. “I’ve been growing CL1722 for f a couple of years now w and learning a lo lot more ear about the variety each year ear,” he said. “One One thing I’ve found is it has really good milling characteristics tics and lower lo chalk than mostt of the rice ric we’ve grown the last several year ears. It’s good-quality milling rice.” CL172 is a Universityy of Arkansas Ark release that showss solid performance perf potential, offers resistanc tance to blast and has good stalk strtrength. The maturity falls between een the CL111 and CL151 CL15 varieties from Horizon A and it on Ag, dries down quickly,, similar to t CL111. Mencer, who has made consider onsiderable investments in his operation o the tion over years to elevate his farm’s arm’s potential po to produce high-qualityy grain, gr said the good milling and cooking ooking qualit quality of CL172 is important for profitabilit ofitability, as well ell as to opening up ne new w markets mark ts for the grain.

I’ve found “One thing I’v vee ffo ound is it has really reeally goo good milling characteristics charraact ctte teristics and lower chalk than most moos of several years. of the rice ce we’ve wee’vvee grown ro the last seve verraal ye yea ars.s. It’s’s go good-quality ood-qualittyy milling rice.” ce “Pricee is based on milling grade, gr so to get premiums on rice wee need good milling quality,” he said. “One thing I have always tried too pr produce on my farm is high-qualityy milling rice. ric There’s a lot we do too improve impr milling quality, including starting tarting with a good-quality variety with that characteristic already bred ed into in it, and then adding to thatt with our management practices. es. Finally, Finally we have to continue efforts too ﬁnd markets mark that reward us for or high-quality high-qualit rice. Varieties likee this support that tha effort.” Mencer’s 700 acres of CL1172 were planted in the ﬁrst half of Appril this past

Although the varietyy has a desirable desir blast package,, Mencer Menc typically has more trouble ouble with sheath shea blight, panicle blightt and smut on his farm. f He said CL1722 seems to t be fairly resistant to all three,, but he still s routinely es disease pr pressure but also uses fungicides, “because it not no only reduces improves milling quality. qualit That’s one of the things we do on all of our rice to improve qualityy – put a good fungicide package pack on there.” er yield results with CL172 this year ear after aft upping the He said he saw better r ound up harvesting in the range of 1655-179 bushels per seeding rate. He wound harv acre with the variety.

CL172 University Variety Trial Summary 2014-20161 Yield by Region2 (lbs/A) /A

Grand Prairie

8,235

South Delta

8,820

North Delta

8,100

South Louisiana 1st Crop

Ratoon

S. LA L Total

8,595

3,195

11,790

Data obtained from LSU AgCenter,, Univ University of Arkansas, University of Missouri, Mississippi Statee Univ University and Texas A & M 2 Grand Prairie airie of AR; South Delta = MS Delta, Northeast Northeas LA and Southeast AR; North Delta = Northeastt AR and Southeast Southeas MO

“We’ve found ound on our soil type, t if we up our seeding ratee just jus a little more than what is recommended ommended when a variety v is not one thatt tillers tiller rapidly, it has a positive impactt on yields,” yields, he said. “It helps to havee a few f more plants per square foott out there.” ther Mencer ric since it was first introduc oduced ed and, today, t y, er has planted plan ed Clearfield rice g. Because of their also grows the CL1633 and CL15 CL151 varieties by Horizon Ag. arieties for next outstanding grain ain quality, qualit his two lead Clearfield rice varie acres of new season will be CL1633 and CL172. CL17 He’s also planting 800 too 900 acr PVL01 from Horizon Ag, g, the first fir Provisia™ rice variety. rice, The Provisia Rice System is an ideal companion system too Clearfield ric rice, providing growerss with another ano effective tool too manage weedy w including rice volunteers that are resistant too herbicides like lik Newpath® and Beyond®, ond®, and also multi-herbicide resistant r grasses. “This is the first year it is on the market,” he said. “We alw ways are looking

Always read and follow label directions. Provisia™ is a trademark and Clearfield ®, Newpath® and Beyond® are registered trademarks of BASF. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. ©2018 Horizon Ag, LLC. All Rights Reserved. HORIZ-18026 RF-JAN-IFC

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ONE GROWER PUBLISHING, LLC

PROFITABLE PRODUCTION STRATEGIES

JANUARY 2018

Quality focus aims at regaining Central American markets

New reservoir will offer multiple benefits

Gone hog wild Fighting feral pigs requires a long-term plan

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DEMAND LESS

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foundation residual as the first line of defense against tough weeds in both conventional and Clearfield® rice systems. Its microencapsulated formulation ensures up to 80 percent less volatility over other clomazone formulations and is the weed management defense that works where you need it.

Visit FMCcrop.com or your FMC retailer to learn more.

Command 3ME microencapsulated herbicide qualifies for the exclusive agronomic and economic incentives of the FMC Freedom Pass program. Visit FMCAGUS.com/FMCFreedomPass or your authorized retailer for more details.

Always read and follow label directions. Command 3ME microencapsulated herbicide is not registered for sale or use in California. FMC and Command are trademarks of FMC Corporation or an affiliate. Clearfield is a registered trademark of BASF. ©2017 FMC Corporation. All rights reserved. 18-FMC-1865 12/17

January 2018

COLUMNS

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Vol. 52, No. 2

COVER STORY

4 From the Editor Once upon a time... Telling the ‘rice’ story

5 USA Rice Update Help on two fronts: specialty and organic rices

DEPARTMENTS 18 Industry News Rice business scene

20 Specialist Speaking Match varieties to individual fields COVER PHOTO BY: Billy Higginbotham, professor emeritus with Texas A&M AgriLife Research & Extension Center in Overton

Gone hog wild

Feral pig numbers soar, requiring long-term management programs to battle the pests.

F E AT U R E S 6

Winter hibernation Year-end doldrums mean little potential for prices to climb until after the new year.

First in decades A reservoir under construction west of Houston will serve many beneficiaries, including the rice industry.

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

Regaining a lost market Effort focuses on improved grain quality to satisfy Nicaragua’s discerning tastes and help restore a large import market for U.S. rice.

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Consumer-focused approach Company with stable of beneficial microbes launches identity-preserved quality-based rice program.

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JANUARY 2018

RICE FARMING

From The

Editor

Once upon a time... Telling the ‘rice’ story If you don’t tell the story of the rice industry, somebody else will, and you may not like what they say. That was the take-home message from two growers and a media expert who shared their experiences using social media to connect with consumers. The three, each of whom taps social media in a slightly different way, were part of a “storytelling” panel discussion during the recent Rice Outlook Conference in San Antonio, Texas. Gridley, California, rice producer Matthew Sligar started his Rice Farming TV YouTube channel after acquaintances asked him how he grew rice. Some have described his weekly vidVicky Boyd eo as “edu-tainment,” which Sligar says is spot Editor on because he wants to educate people about rice in a fun way so they don’t actually know they’re learning. Although the bulk of his videos deal with rice, he also has made ones about trips to see his in-laws in Brazil, a visit to the Big Apple and even site-seeing in San Antonio before the Outlook Conference. Sligar says the non-ag videos show viewers he is more than just a farmer — he’s also a son, a husband and a father. Having an occasional non-rice topic also allows him to capture viewers he may not otherwise be able to. Sligar cited as an example his video on a Northern California comic book convention where he asked costumed attendees whether they preferred white or brown rice. Viewers may have found the video after they googled comic book-related subjects. Kurt Richter, a Colusa County, California, rice producer, decided to focus on podcasts because he saw it as an untapped medium. The format also lends itself to multi-tasking — the audience may listen while they’re plowing fields, harvesting crops or doing dishes. His monthly “Rice Radio” podcasts average about 20 minutes, allowing Richter — who spent 13 years in TV news broadcasting before returning to the family farm — to delve in depth into current issues. Fox, who used to live in Utah, admits he knew nothing about the industry before he married into the VanDyke family, who farm near Pleasant Grove, California. But he has used his talents to make videos that capture the emotional stories of farmers tied to Rice Growers of America. One video he recently posted to Facebook followed a young aerial applicator as he flew fields shortly after a close friend died in an airplane crash. Telling your story on social media doesn’t have to be as formal as the three panelists, either. It can be something as simple as sharing images of your family, dog or farming operation on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter. Regardless of the medium, the panelists had two tips: Be real and be true to yourself.

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

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JANUARY 2018

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

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

ONE GROWER PUBLISHING, LLC Mike Lamensdorf President/Treasurer Lia Guthrie Publisher/Vice President ASSOCIATED PUBLICATIONS — One Grower Publishing LLC also publishes COTTON FARMING, THE PEANUT GROWER, SOYBEAN SOUTH and CORN SOUTH magazines. RICE FARMING (ISSN 0194-0929) is published monthly January through May, and Decem ber, 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 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

Help on two fronts A new risk-management program aids growers of specialty and organic rices, while another sleuths out fraudulently labeled organic rice.

By Betsy Ward

Another kind of pretender Organic food sales increase each year by double digits as Americans take a greater interest in their food. Although consumers have plenty of misconceptions about organic crops — what they are, what they are not and what the real benefits may or may not be — the simple fact is food labeled as organic commands a premium in the marketplace. We believe this is leading unscrupulous people to label rice as organic when it almost certainly is not. This is specifically a problem with imports. For the marketing year 2015-16, the U.S. imported almost 18,000 metric tons of “organic” rice. Ninety-nine percent originated in Thailand and India, and some quick math signals something isn’t right. We have a good idea of what it costs to grow an organic rice crop, mill it, package it, ship it halfway around the world, market it and still be in business next year. What we are seeing for prices of these imported organics make us highly suspect. There is no question the U.S. Department of Agriculture has quite specific and exacting standards when it comes to organic crops; however, we question whether these high standards are being upheld by third-party certifiers on the other side of the world. VICKY BOYD

President and CEO USA Rice

s the national organization dedicated to successfully representing and serving all segments of the U.S. rice industry, I wanted to share with you two new initiatives we are tackling on the organic rice front this year. Though a small segment of our industry, it is growing, and organics touch every ricegrowing state. The first effort is to ensure organic rice in our market is what it says it is; the second is to help empower the growers of organic and other specialty rices to manage their risk effectively.

USA Rice is advocating that growers of organic rice in other countries adhere to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s strict definitions of organic.

TWITTER: @RICEFARMING

We have already raised the issue with USDA, the Food and Drug Administration, and Customs and Border Patrol, and we will support the efforts of the Organic Trade Association as it tackles this as well. We want to see greater inspections and enforcement of our high standards, as well as some indication that third-party certifiers are meeting our expectations. Helping understand and manage risk There is no question that the crop insurance landscape is complex and confusing, and missteps can be devastating. In an attempt to empower rice growers in this area, I’m pleased to report that USA Rice is partnering with USDA’s Risk Management Agency to support the agency’s education efforts on mitigating risk management for rice farmers. Having secured a grant from RMA for this program, we worked with the agency and other experts to develop a robust plan to inform all growers, but especially those with specialty and organic varieties, about crop insurance, whole farm revenue protection, prevented planting and record keeping for organic crops. The program helps growers identify a good crop insurance agent and offers tips about how to choose and tailor a crop insurance policy to meet the farm’s risk management needs. Issues such as prevented planting, downed rice endorsement, margin protection policies, detailed record keeping and more are all a part of the program. Our program kicked off at last month’s USA Rice Outlook Conference in a dedicated session that growers found helpful as they weigh their options ahead. We will be continuing our outreach in the coming weeks as USA Rice staff attend rice meetings in Louisiana, Arkansas, Texas and Mississippi, and I urge you to attend and seek us out. I know the organic rice segment today is not large, but it is growing, and ensuring the integrity and viability of the sector has positive repercussions for our entire industry. I hope you find our efforts helpful, and I hope you avail yourself of these new programs we are undertaking. JANUARY 2018

RICE FARMING

COURTESY USDA RICE

The recent uptick in rice prices is more likely due to fewer acres in 2017 than an increase in export demand.

Winter hibernation Year-end doldrums mean little potential for prices to climb until after the start of the new year. By Kurt Guidry

he rice market appears to be stuck in a sideways trading pattern with little indications of signiﬁcant moves in either direction. And the release of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s December supply and demand report did little to change this current tone of the market. The December report made only minor changes to the overall supply and demand dynamics of the rice market. Total rice exports were reduced slightly, which led to an equal increase in expected ending stocks. This reduction in demand seems to reinforce the thought that the increase experienced in prices this year has predominately been a function of lower supplies and not a result of improved demand. This inability of demand to add to the momentum created earlier in the year by lower production and tighter supplies has led to prices stalling over the last couple of months. Now, with the market going into its normal hibernation as the year comes to an end, there seems little potential for prices to make any signiﬁcant move until after the start of the new year. Larger rice acres may pressure prices While tighter supplies in the 2017/18 marketing year created a more favorable situation for prices, uncertainty about export demand and the potential for larger acres will likely limit any upside potential. Early projections call for increased rice acres in 2018, with the market recapturing 300,000 to 400,000 of the

RICE FARMING

JANUARY 2018

650,000 acres that were reduced in 2017. Given that the price increase in 2017 is thought to be primarily supply driven, this increase in acres could put signiﬁcant downward pressure on prices as we move into the 2018 growing season. Current market prices in Louisiana remain in the $20-per-barrel ($12.35 cwt) range. Short-term price movement could see prices moving marginally higher with a 50-cent to $1-per-barrel increase seeming plausible. Anything higher than this would likely require a better-than-expected performance out of milled rice export demand. Looking to the 2018 growing season, it is difﬁcult to project prices remaining at current levels, particularly if large acreage increases occur. If the market recaptures most of the acres that were lost in 2017, it may be logical to suggest that prices would move back to the $16- to $17-per-barrel ($9.88 to $10.50 cwt) experienced in 2016. However, the improved supply and demand situation created by the lower production in 2017 should give this market enough of a solid base to prevent prices falling all the way back to 2016 levels. Assuming a 300,000- to 400,000-acre increase in 2018, a logical projection for prices for the 2018/19 marketing year would be in the $17- to $19-per-barrel range ($10.50 to $11.73 cwt). Dr. Kurt Guidry is Southwest Region director and Extension economist with the Louisiana State University AgCenter in Crowley. He may be reached at KMGuidry@agcenter.lsu.edu. RICEFARMING.COM

Regaining a lost market Effort that involves identity preservation and grain quality is designed to satisfy Nicaragua’s discerning tastes and help restore a large import market for U.S. rice. By Vicky Boyd Editor

Quality is key Among their quality parameters are high amylose, low chalk and a big, bold TWITTER: @RICEFARMING

COURTESY USA RICE

ven as recently as the 2010-11 season, Nicaragua imported more than 81,000 metric tons of U.S. rice. As the quality of U.S. exports decreased, so did the amount of rice that the Central American country bought from its neighbor to the north. But Tim Walker, general manager of Horizon Ag, says he hopes that new varieties bred for the quality that Central American customers demand, along with an identity preserved program, will reverse the trend. He points to the 6,000 metric tons the country bought from the United States in 2017, up from 2,000 metric tons in 2016, as reason for his optimism. Nicaraguan buyers have expressed interest in tripling that amount for 2018. Walker was among ﬁve industry representatives who traveled to Nicaragua and Columbia in late 2017 as part of the Rice Leadership Development Program’s International Session. “Nicaragua was probably the most interesting to me because it was at one time a 100,000 metric-ton market,” he says. “Over the last 10 years, it’s gone essentially to zero.” As part of the trip, they toured Agricorp, a modern dryer and mill in Chinandega. They also had dinner with the company’s CEO, Amilcar Ybarra-Rojas , who said he hoped to buy more U.S. rice in the future. “‘We want to get back to buying 100,000 metric tons of rice from the U.S., but we have to have the quality. We have to have something that works for us,’” Walker says Ybarra-Rojas told the group.

Participants of the Rice Leadership Development Program’s International Session toured a modern dryer and mill operated by Agricorp in Chinandega, Nicaragua.

“If Central America is buying rice from you, you’re the gold standard, since they have discerning tastes for long-grain rice.” grain. Horizon Ag’s CL172, a long-grain pure-line Clearﬁeld variety, ﬁts the bill. The crop is grown under contract, and growers must keep it identity preserved and not co-mingle it with other varieties. In addition, an independent third party samples and inspects the loads to ensure they meet Nicaraguan buyers’ minimum quality standards. In return, participating growers receive a premium. “There are a lot more things to it, but it can be done, and clearly there are people

out there who are willing to pay for it,” Walker says. This winter, Sunny Bottoms, Horizon Ag senior technical service representative, plans to take a group of producers who have grown CL172 under contract to visit Nicaraguan buyers to gain a better understanding of the dynamics involved. If Nicaragua has the most discerning quality standards in Central America, Walker says Costa Rica isn’t far behind. At one time, U.S. rice comprised all of Costa Rica’s imports. That has since dropped to about 75 percent. And Costa Rica is watching closely what happens in Nicaragua. Add in the rice imports of a few other Central American nations, and you quickly have a 500,000 metric-ton market, Walker says. “If Central America is buying rice from you, you’re the gold standard, since they have discerning tastes for long-grain rice,” he says. JANUARY 2018

RICE FARMING

Gone hog wild Feral pig numbers soar, requiring long-term management programs to battle the pests By Vicky Boyd Editor

Higginbotham, professor emeritus with Texas A&M AgriLife Research & Extension Center in Overton. “Regardless of the type of ag damage, most everyone will tell you that it’s more of a problem now than previously. Especially if you look at the last 1520-25-year range, the population has increased.” To gain the upper hand on wild pigs, land owners and managers will need a long-term concerted program that involves aerial shooting or largescale trapping, depending on terrain, he says. But it shouldn’t involve both simultaneously because they can be counterproductive. And wild pig management is a continuing process, much like mowing your lawn or getting a hair cut.

PHOTO COURTESY LSU AGCENTER

xpanding wild hog populations and the increasing damage they cause have made the news recently with headlines like “World War III” or “When Pigs Go Wild.” Although wildlife experts may not go quite that far, they nonetheless say the four-footed pests are becoming more of a costly problem for agricultural and urban landowners alike. At the same time, wild hogs can pose trafﬁc hazards as they cross roads; carry diseases that may spread to livestock; compete with native wildlife; and cause environmental damage to land, forests and riparian areas. “The population has been expanding both in range and numbers for the last three decades,” says Billy

RICE FARMING

JANUARY 2018

RICEFARMING.COM

PHOTO COURTESY UNIVERISTY OF CALIFORNIA

Female wild hogs have a high reproductive rate, averaging six piglets per litter and 1.5 litters annually.

“If you remove the pigs and stop and don’t continue management to rid the site, those pigs can start rebounding,” Higginbotham says. “So it’s very important to keep looking for sign. When you see the pigs have shown up based on sign, then start back up with your control methods. You want to watch for sign and react before damage occurs.” Those signs include footprints, scat, wallowing, rooting and rubbing. Timothy Gertson, who farms rice and other row crops near Lissie, Texas, says hogs are a continual challenge and the reason he doesn’t grow organic corn any more. “It’s a very frustrating problem,” he says. Rice fields near creeks or those near fallow fields that have grown up tend to attract hogs more than other fields. The problem has become so common that Gertson has to have a worker repair hog-damaged levees almost daily.

healthier litters, allowing more piglets to survive to adulthood and contribute to population growth. Fortunately, research conducted by Texas A&M AgriLife Extension has shown that fencing around deer feeding stations with 34 inch high swine panels can prevent pig access to feed without disrupting the deer’s use of the supplement. Therefore, all hunters using feeders in wild pig habitat are encouraged to build these pig excluders around their feeders.

What’s caused numbers to go hog wild? Wild pigs, also called feral hogs, were ﬁrst introduced to the New World by the Spanish explorers in the mid-1500s. Although feral hogs would have continued to expand territory slowly on their own, human intervention in the form of trapping and transplanting for managed pig hunts from the 1970s through the 1990s hastened their spread in Texas and many other states, Higginbotham says. The practice, where transplanted hogs are released into a fenced-in area for subsequent hunting, is illegal in most states because the fencing may not be sound and hogs can escape. However, in Texas wild pig males can legally be released in stated-inspected and permitted hunting preserves that have fences to prevent their escape into surrounding areas. Some Texas wildlife managers also have pointed to the increasing practice of deer feeders for hunting since deer and wild hogs typically occupy the same habitat as a factor in expanding and increasing pig populations. Female hogs who feed on nutritious deer corn and protein supplements may have larger and

Wild hogs are intelligent opportunists with a wide-ranging diet. They also easily adapt to different environments, aiding in their habitat expansion. Wild hogs also have responded to human pressure by becoming increasingly nocturnal to avoid shooting. In addition, they frequent areas near water, especially in riparian areas with abundant security cover. Although the exact number of wild hogs isn’t known, Higginbotham says a guesstimate is 8 million to 9 million nationwide, with about 2.6 million living in Texas. A conservative estimate of wild hog damage to Texas agriculture alone is $52 million annually, with an additional $7 million annually spent by landowners on controlling the pest and ﬁxing damage. In Louisiana, which has an estimated 700,000 wild pigs, they cause about $76 million in damages to agricultural crops, says Jim LaCour, a veterinarian with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. That doesn’t count the damage they cause to forestry, riparian and other non-agricultural properties.

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“If you remove the pigs and stop and don’t continue management to rid the site, those pigs can start rebounding.”

JANUARY 2018

RICE FARMING

BILLY HIGGINBOTHAM, TEXAS AGRILIFE EXTENSION SERVICE, BUGWOOD.ORG

Corral traps that catch the entire group, or sounder, are one of the more successful ways to manage wild hog populations.

Management options In most states, wild hogs can be legally managed year-round on private property by shooting, snaring or trapping. Higginbotham says snaring can be effective but is too time consuming and since snares must be checked daily and each snare only removes one pig at a time. Recreational hunting has not proven to be effective in reducing overall wild pig numbers, either, he says. A 2010 Texas A&M Agrilife Extension survey found Texas recreational hunters killed about 11 percent of the state’s estimated 2.6 million wild pigs annually. That leaves aerial gunning and trapping. In areas with dense canopies, such as in East Texas, aerial shooting isn’t as effective as it is in open terrain where the hogs are easier to see. In wooded areas, Higginbotham says corral trapping that targets an entire group, or sounder, may be more successful. Because of wild hogs’ intelligence, trapping isn’t as simple as setting up a baited trap. It involves using game cameras, scouting and pre-baiting to determine where hogs usually feed. Then you need to erect a corral trap slowly so they get used to it. With the trip gate up, place bait just inside the trap, slowly moving it deeper and to the back. Once the entire group has become habituated to the trap, then the gate can be closed using either a mechanical trigger such as an old car tire or a cell-phone activated trigger. The goal is to catch the entire group in one session. For complete instructions on building an effective corral trap for approximately $500, visit Texas A&M AgriLife Extension’s feral hog website at http:// agrilife.org/feralhogs/ﬁles/2010/05/CorralTraps.pdf. LaCour says different control methods work better at different times of the year, too. Traps baited with corn, for example, may not be as attractive during the summer when acres of cultivated corn are more enticing than a handful of grain. Depending on the ﬁelds, Gertson says they’ve used aerial gunning, where someone shoots hogs from a helicopter as well as cell-phone-controlled traps with minimal success. “There’s nothing we’ve done that really has put much of a dent

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in the problem,” he says. “We more or less see a temporary lull, that’s it.” Combining all control methods, Texas was removing about 29 percent — or 760,000 — of the total wild hog population annually based on a 2010 survey. Although those may sound like large numbers, consider that one female hog averages 1.5 litters annually with six piglets per litter. “We need to be removing about two-thirds just to end up with the same number of pigs we started the year with,” Higginbotham says. In Louisiana, as much as 70 percent of the wild hog population may need to be removed annually just to stay even with the high reproductive rates, LaCour says. Another challenge controlling the pests is most are found on private property, where management is up to the landowner. “And some people actually want hogs on their places to hunt. But they just act as reservoirs, adding to lands adjacent to the hogs,” he says. The Environmental Protection Agency registered Kaput, a toxicant that contained Warfarin, in early 2017. Warfarin, an anti-coagulant, has been used to control rodents for decades. The Texas Department of Agriculture subsequently registered Kaput, only to have the registrant, Scimetrics Ltd Corp. of Wellington, Colorado, pull it a few months later over concerns of lawsuits amid the Texas Legislature’s call for more research before any wild pig toxicant could be used in Texas. Researchers continue to look for other toxicants, most notably sodium nitrite. Used as a preservative in food products, including bacon, sodium nitrite causes rapid depletion of oxygen to the brain and vital organs when hogs eat it. They die within 1.5 hours of consumption. Even if the EPA and state regulators eventually approve a toxicant, LaCour says it won’t be a silver bullet. Instead, it should be used as part of an integrated management program. “We’re not making much progress until we have another tool, something that can provide birth control, to reduce that high reproductive rate. But the toxicants can help reduce the numbers,” he says. RICEFARMING.COM

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COURTESY LOWER COLORADO RIVER AUTHORITY

First in decades

A reservoir under construction west of Houston will serve many beneﬁciaries, including the rice industry. By Vicky Boyd Editor

he 40-foot earthen and concrete embankments that ring the 40,000 acre-foot Arbuckle Reservoir are essentially completed, with crews continuing to work on the plumbing that will connect the facility to an adjacent canal and the Colorado River. The Lower Colorado River Authority, which is building the reservoir, says it still is on track to ﬁnish the project near Lane City, Texas, by the end of 2018. With memories of the worst drought in the state’s history still fresh on their minds, rice producers and allied industry representatives west of Houston say they’re encouraged by the prospects. “I think especially in a dry year, it will deﬁnitely help us,” says Scott Savage, with Triangle Rice Farms near Bay City. During the four-year drought from 2012-2015, the family-owned operation eliminated rice production and survived with one small well, a little bit of corn and milo, and prevented planting insurance. “We’re excited that there’s some type of new facility to help farmers, and we’re excited to have something in the county.” The water being delivered to farmers from Arbuckle will still be what LCRA calls “interruptible,” meaning farmers pay less

RICE FARMING

JANUARY 2018

but also will be the first to experience delivery cutbacks during a drought. But growers say they hope the new reservoir will significantly reduce the risks of water supply interruptions. Multiple beneficiaries Not only will Arbuckle provide a more reliable water supply to lower Colorado River basin growers, but it also will serve other industries as well as environmental uses in Matagorda Bay. In addition, water managers will have more flexibility, particularly with what are referred to as the Highland Lakes. The 900-mile Colorado River starts in West Texas and flows to the Gulf of Mexico. The Highland Lakes are a group of reservoirs created by damming the Colorado River above Austin. Among them are Lake Travis and Lake Buchanan, which store water for use in the Colorado River basin. When users in the lower Colorado River basin need water from the Highland Lakes, orders must be placed seven days or more in advance to allow time to deliver water down 300 miles of river channel. On average, about 30 percent of the water ordered for irrigation is subsequently not taken by the irrigators, due priRICEFARMING.COM

 Crews work on the ‘plumbing’ that will convey Colorado River water into the reservoir.

marily to changed conditions during delivery. Once Arbuckle Reservoir comes on line, water managers will have options to shorten delivery time by supplying water to growers directly from the reservoir or to capture water that is not needed to meet downstream needs. The increased efficiency of operations will create up to 90,000 acre-feet of additional reliable water supply for the LCRA system. “It’s going to be a very big help,” said Dick Ottis, president and CEO of Rice Belt Warehouse, which has dryers and warehouses in Bay City, Wharton, Edna and Ganada. During the drought, Bay City and Wharton were particularly hard hit, with volumes dropping by at least 30 percent. “If we use water (out of Arbuckle) and we don’t use a lot of water out of Highlands, then that may satisfy the upper-basin group to leave us alone down here farming rice and other things that we like to do.” The concept of an off-channel storage facility in the lower basin came about after the LCRA Board of Directors tasked authority staff in 2012 with finding 100,000 acre-feet more water within five years. “We had done other studies over the years that looked at onstream storage and off-stream storage, so there was a pretty good body of information,” says Gregor Forbes, LCRA chief construction manager. So they began looking at building a facility near Lane City that could produce at least 90,000 acre-feet annually along with a groundwater development project near Bastrop, southeast of Austin, that will yield an additional 10,000 acre-feet. Steve Balas, an Eagle Lake rice grower, is a current LCRA board member and served during the initial reservoir planning stages. As with any large project, he says some members of the public objected. “As the drought went along, it got easier,” Balas says. As a farmer, he sees Arbuckle helping particularly south of Wharton where saltwater intrusion into groundwater makes drilling wells infeasible. Location, location, location After completing siting and cost analyses studies, LCRA settled on eight contiguous tracks of land comprising 1,100 acres near Lane City. Fortunately, Forbes says, the authority was able to obtain all the land from willing sellers. Factoring into the location was its roughly half-mile proximity to the Colorado River. The site’s geology also lent itself, significantly reducing the amount of materials that needed to be trucked in to build structure embankments. Of the 8 million cubic yards of clay and sand needed, over 6 million were on site and just needed to be moved around. Through an arrangement with LCRA, the Texas Water Development Board issued $255 million worth of 30-year low-interest bonds to fund the project. LCRA is responsible for retiring the debt. As part of the project, five pumps and relifts can transfer water from the Colorado River through pipes and canals into the resTWITTER: @RICEFARMING

VICKY BOYD

Originally referred to as the Lane City Project, the name was changed to Arbuckle Reservoir in 2017 to recognize long-time LCRA board member J. Scott Arbuckle. 

ervoir. The reservoir will operate year-round, and LCRA water managers will continue to meet environmental flow obligations for the river and Matagorda Bay. Water rights also limit the amount the authority can divert. At the same time, water managers will be able to send water from the reservoir into the Colorado River. On the other side of the reservoir is an outlet to deliver water into an existing canal for transfer to other water users and customers. Project general contractor Phillips & Jordan of Nashville, Tennessee, began construction in earnest in early 2016, and Forbes says he’s expects the project will be operational by the end of 2018. Roughly shaped like a square, the reservoir is about 50 feet at its deepest and is designed to hold about 40 feet of water. Specially designed concrete wave walls at the top of the earthen embankments minimize erosion caused by lapping water. The project is designed to withstand a Category 5 hurricane. Making more efficient use of a natural resource Arbuckle is considered an off-channel facility, meaning no dams have backed up a waterway to create a lake. This reduced environmental impacts and allowed for more streamlined permitting, Forbes says. The location in the lower basin taps into the region’s historically higher rainfall than the Highlands Lakes region. The Wharton area receives about 50 inches of rain per year compared to the roughly 30 or so inches of annual rain received in Austin. “It was a missed opportunity to not have something here, so we’re really excited about creating storage in the lower part of the river basin and making more efficient use of a natural resource,” Forbes says. The reservoir itself will hold about 40,000 acre-feet, and water managers plan to fill it multiple times a year to create the 90,000 acre-feet of additional supply, thereby increasing LCRA’s overall supply by about 15 percent annually. The actual amount will depend on the weather. If it had been online last year, Forbes estimates it could have been filled and refilled four to five times. Arbuckle also marks the first water-supply facility built in the Colorado River basin in decades, Forbes says. It is intended to be operated solely for water supply storage and will not be for recreational or flood-control uses. Originally referred to as the Lane City Reservoir, the project was dedicated as the Arbuckle Reservoir in late 2017 to recognize former LCRA board member J. Scott Arbuckle, who was instrumental in getting the project built. JANUARY 2018

RICE FARMING

Consumer-focused approach Company with a stable of beneﬁcial microbes launches an identity-preserved quality-based rice program. By Vicky Boyd

Harnessing beneficial microbes Funded by more than $350 million in private equity ﬁnancing, Indigo is focused on endophytic microbes that help

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The rice program The five conventional and two Clearfield varieties available through Indigo will be licensed from other breeding programs, Allen says. Currently, only Southern long-grain varieties are involved. “Indigo is not a seed-breeding company,” he says. “We don’t create our own genetics — we license genetics from other providers.” As part of the program, participating growers will purchase seed from Indigo. This allows the company to maintain quality control and ensure that fungicidal seed treatments, which also will be applied, won’t reduce the efficacy of the microbial seed coatings. The company also will provide participating growers with agronomic services during the growing season. That won’t preclude a grower from using his or own consultant, Allen says. At harvest, the crop must be identity preserved and delivered to a partner re-

Improving Sustainability

plants better cope with stress. Endophytes, which include bacteria and fungi, occur naturally within plant cells. Through modern DNA fingerprinting techniques, Allen says Indigo has identified endophytes that have survived in stress-riddled plants and harnessed them for their commercial seed treatments. Based on company studies, Allen says the microbial treatments increased dry root biomass by 50 percent, increased dry shoot biomass by 35 percent, increased nitrogen use by 20 percent and increased the number of tillers by 50 percent. The measurements were taken in 7-week-old rice plants. Allen says he didn’t have specific yield figures comparing treated and untreated fields. But he did say, “Healthy plants yield better, fight off disease, fight off stress and produce more grain.”

Increasing Grower Profitability

oston-based Indigo Ag Inc., which launched an identity-preserved quality-based cotton program in 2016, plans to kick off a similar one for rice in 2018. Known as Indigo Rice, it will involve the company’s proprietary microbial seed treatment, company-provided agronomists, identity preservation and quality incentives of as much as 57 cents per hundredweight. The actual premium will depend on milling quality. Indigo already has thousands of acres of U.S. rice under contract, and the number continues to grow, says Ben Allen, Indigo head of food and ﬁber. The company is focusing exclusively on the Mid-South rice belt from Texas and Louisiana north to the Missouri Bootheel this season, but he says that could change in 2019. During a recent webinar, he discussed the company’s focus on giving consumers what they want, saying it wasn’t new and was following the likes of Whole Foods. “Unfortunately, there’s a disconnect between what agriculture grows and what the consumer wants,” Allen says. “At Indigo, we really like to start with consumer preferences and work back to our farmer partners.” He describes the current commodity marketing system as antiquated, saying it aggregates all of the grain and tends to lower quality as it blends to an average. As a result, producers aren’t rewarded for high quality. Consumer preference is but one of the company’s three pillars; the other two are increasing grower proﬁtability and improving sustainability.

Consumer Preference

Editor

ceiver, such as a dryer or warehouse. Indigo is still working to develop those relationships, he says. Premiums will be based on sample milling quality, with a 55/70 (head rice/ total rice) netting a 40 cents cwt bonus. The program tops out at 57 cents cwt. As part of the program, Indigo defers seed purchase payments, with zero percent interest, until after harvest. In addition, growers have two marketing options through Indigo Ag. They can either lock in a price during a marketing window or choose an average daily price during the window. When asked if consumers next year will be able to buy rice labeled, “Grown with the Indigo system,” Alley says he couldn’t speak to that at the moment. None of the university rice specialists contacted by Rice Farming had previous experience with Indigo Rice, but some indicated they will have it in trials this season. RICEFARMING.COM

RF0118 Layout_CF 11/13 template 12/27/17 11:55 AM Page 15

CEO Irrigation Expert Wildlife Manager Public Relations

Chief of Security

Deputy Dog

Des Woods knows rice and a whole lot more. He also knows he can trust his partners at RiceTec. Even farmers with decades of experience rely on their RiceTec ﬁeld reps from planting to harvest and beyond. We take pride in being a true partner when farmers like Des need our advice the most. Of course, we also take pride in oﬀering the highest-yielding long-grain rice in America.

XP yield advantage vs. Roy J ( years)

Gemini CL yield advantage vs. CL ( years)

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

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

2017 RICE OUTLOOK CONFERENCE RECAP

Betsy Ward, CEO of USA Rice, presented a scholarship for $4,000 to this year’s National Rice Month scholarship winner, Jared Fitton, of Santa Barbara, California. The contest is sponsored by Dow AgroSciences, represented here on the right by Zach Lopez.

California student nabs top honors for Rice Month video For years, USA Rice has partnered with Dow AgroSciences to present three scholarships to high school seniors in the six rice-producing states as part of National Rice Month promotions. Two years ago, the program evolved into having applicants make a short video to highlight some aspect of rice. The videos, posted on YouTube, are voted upon by viewers. This year, USA Rice received a record 68 video entries, up three-fold from 2016. Jared Fitton, a Santa Barbara High School Computer Science Academy senior, took top honors with a stop-motion video touting rice production and its environmental beneﬁts. The stars were grains of white rice that ﬂowed into different shapes, such as birds or words, as he narrated the video. He received a $4,000 scholarship. Although Fitton says he hasn’t decided where he will attend college, he does plan to go into computer science. “This will be immensely helpful with my college tuition,” Fitton said in receiving the honorary giant check. Second place and a $3,000 scholarship went to Olivia Davis of Shreveport, Louisiana. The third-place winner, Jessa Goodeaux of Lonsdale, Arkansas, will receive a $2,000 scholarship. View all the entries at http://www.thinkrice.com/scholarship/.

From left to right, Adam Famoso, Matthew Sligar, Brian McKenzie, Zach Urrutia, Zach Worrell and Brian Doyle. Not pictured is Scott Savage.

Seven selected for 2018-2020 leadership class The Rice Foundation selected ﬁve producers and two industry

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JANUARY 2018

representatives for the 2018-2020 Rice Leadership Development Program. The two-year class, which features four one-week sessions, is designed to provide participants with an overview of the rice industry as well as different production areas. In addition, it is intended to give them the skills they need to take on additional industry leadership positions. After applications are submitted in the fall, a committee of growers, industry representatives and leadership program graduates reviews them and whittles them down to eight producers and four industry candidates. They are then invited to individual panel interviews during the Rice Outlook Conference. “It was probably the biggest number of applicants this year, which makes it extra difﬁcult for us interviewers,” says Charley Matthews, a Northern California rice producer, chairman of The Rice Foundation and leadership graduate. The ﬁve producers selected were: Brad Doyle, Weiner, Arkansas; Brian McKenzie, Plumas Lake, California; Scott Savage, Bay City, Texas; Matthew Sligar, Gridley, California; and Zach Worrell, Homersville, Missouri. Named to the two industry positions are Dr. Adam Famoso, a Louisiana State University AgCenter rice breeder in Crowley, and Zach Urrutia with California Family Foods in Williams, California. The program is sponsored by the John Deere Co., RiceTec Inc. and American Commodity Co. through a grant to The Rice Foundation.

USA Rice recognizes two for conservation efforts Two rice industry leaders in conservation and sustainability were recently honored at the USA Rice Outlook Conference in San Antonio. Jim Whitaker, a rice producer from McGehee, Arkansas, received the inaugural USA Rice Sustainability Award. And Kirby Brown, a Ducks Unlimited conservation outreach biologist, received the eighth annual USA Rice Distinguished Conservation Achievement Award. In presenting the award to Whitaker, Jennifer James, a Newport, Arkansas, rice farmer and chairman of Leo LaGrande (left), a California rice the USA Rice Sustainabili- farmer and chairman of the USA ty Committee, said, “While Rice Farmers Conservation Committee, presented the eighth annual sustainability is becoming USA Rice Distinguished Conservaa buzzword in nearly every tion Achievement Award to Ducks industry, the rice industry Unlimited biologist Kirby Brown. has been incorporating it for years. And with the establishment of the USA Rice Sustainability Award, we have taken our rightful place at the forefront of the sustainability movement.” Whitaker was quick to acknowledge the role everyone in his family’s operation plays in their commitment to sustainable farming practices through use of precision land forming, ﬂood-control structures, on-farm water storage, and deployment of irrigation RICEFARMING.COM

2017 Rice Outlook Conference is in the books The USA Rice Outlook Conference wrapped up recently in San Antonio, Texas, with a renewed emphasis on education and more than 750 attendees. “We know asking people to leave their operation is signiﬁcant — whether it is a family farm, a mill, or another type of business — so we wanted to be sure we offered attendees useful information to take home with them,” says Betsy Ward, USA Rice president and CEO. Other educational breakout sessions focused on the overhauled Food Safety Modernization Act; crop insurance options for specialty, organic and non-organic rice farmers; tellling the “rice” story; and understanding and using the futures market in marketing plans. Trade and farm policy were also hot topics with sessions updating the U.S.-China phytosanitary agreement, the future of the North American Free Trade Agreement and the 2018 Farm Bill. University researchers from all six major rice-producing states provided state outlook and research reports, and an innovative group of California growers and their representatives provided tips for best communications practices. The 2018 Rice Outlook Conference will be held Dec. 5-7 in San Diego, California. TWITTER: @RICEFARMING

Newly Planted Rice Seed PHOTO COURTESY USA RICE

From left: Matthew Sligar, Nick Fox and Kurt Richter shared their experiences with using social media to connect to consumers. Sligar and Richter are California rice producers.

STOP Bird Damage to

not for sale in CA

technology and new irrigation techniques. The Whitaker operation also was an integral part of the group that sold the first-ever voluntary carbon credits generated from U.S. rice farmers. Whitaker currently is a member of the Arkansas Rice Farmers Board, the USA Rice Farmers Conservation Committee, the USA Rice Domestic Promotion Committee and the USA Rice Sustainability Committee. He is also a graduate of the 2010 USA Rice Leadership Program and was recently appointed to the Arkansas Rice Research and Promotion Board. Brown currently is a conservation outreach biologist at DU but also had distinguished careers at both the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and the Texas Wildlife Association. Leo LaGrande, a California rice farmer and chairman of the USA Rice Farmers Conservation Committee, says, “Kirby came to DU in 2012 to help address resource concerns related to water for rice agriculture, habitat for waterfowl and other wetland-dependent wildlife, and inflows for coastal estuaries. “He did so during a multi-year drought of record and in the face of rapid and unprecedented population growth. Kirby’s contributions to the rice industry’s conservation efforts have benefited natural resources and wildlife, and have also spurred growth and, in turn, a sense of well-being in our local, state and national communities.”

The rebate information and form can be found on our website: www.av-1011.com

A household name for an age-old problem Stop harmful bird species with AV-1011, the scientiﬁc rice seed treatment proven to be highly effective in deterring and repelling birds. Its bird-repelling action works around the clock through emergence. The results mean potentially greater yields, greater peace of mind and a lot fewer hassles. With any questions please contact Michael Brinkley at mikebrinkley43@yahoo.com or call 769-232-1580 JANUARY 2018

RICE FARMING

Industry News EPA OKs carbon dioxide fumigant for stored pests

California yield contest winners announced

The Environmental Protection Agency, along with several states, have registered a carbon dioxide fumigant from Inert Gas Injection LLC of Acampo, California, to control pests of stored food and wood products. In late December, the Washington State Department of Agriculture approved the CO2 fumigant for use on certified organic agricultural products. Carbon dioxide is found naturally in the atmosphere but at very low levels — about 0.04 percent or 400 parts per million. The CO2 Dentone markets, on the other hand, is 99.9 percent pure and is captured from ethanol fermentation. Because the CO2 is being used as a pesticide, suffocating its target and leaving no residue, it must be registered both federally and by states. The IGI CO2 is labeled for use to control beetles, moths and other An IGI canister of stored-product pests on a myriad of fruit, carbon dioxide dried fruit, nuts, grain and seeds. In addifumigant features a specimen organic tion, it is labeled for rail cars, silos, trucks label. The Washingand shipholds. ton State DepartUnlike other fumigants, such as methylment of Agriculture bromide or phosphine, CO2 is much safer recently approved to handle, Dentone says. For example, the it for organic use. IGI product is not restricted-use. Nevertheless, he says commercial applicators and other users will need to undergo training. The IGI CO2 is only half of his Eliminator fumigation system. As an inert gas, the CO2 must be confined so lethal concentrations can be maintained. Dentone also has an arrangement with Concord, Massachusetts-based GrainPro Inc. to be the exclusive Pacific Northwest seller of its patented TransSafeliner Gas-Hermetic Fumigation shipping container liners. The deal covers the firm’s G-HF Cocoon bagging system for on-site treatments of stacked boxes or pallets. For more information, visit https://eliminatorbyigi.com.

In 2015, University of California Cooperative Extension began the UCCE Rice Yield Contest as a pilot study in Butte County. Due to the success of the pilot, the contest in 2016 was expanded to include all of the Sacramento Valley. Due to possible yield potential differences, the valley was divided into four regions using Highway 20 and the Sacramento River as dividing lines. For these contests, harvest and weighing are closely monitored by UCCE personnel. Yields are determined from a minimum of 3 acres from a 10-acre test plot and reported at 14 percent moisture. In 2017, there were more than 20 yield contest entries; however, many contestants withdrew as overall yields were lower than they have been accustomed to. Indeed, many growers reported yields were about 10 to 15 percent lower than previous years. Similarly, the winning fields had yields that were lower than we saw in 2015 and 2016. That said, there were still some very respectable yields, says UC rice Extension specialist Bruce Linquist. The winners were Rodney Jenkins from Butte County (115.5 cwt per acre), Seth Fiack from Glenn County (105.5 cwt per acre) and Kim Gallagher from Yolo County (100.9 cwt per acre). Interestingly, all winning entries were the medium-grain variety M-209. Nitrogen rates ranged from 152 to 172 pounds nitrogen per acre. UCCE thanks the participants and Ag One Solutions, which provided the prizes for the winners — an aerial drone flight and images covering up to 200 acres of rice land, an $800 value.

The Environmental Protection Agency has registered Gambit, a premix from Yuma, Arizona-based Gowan USA comprising Permit and Peak. The active ingredients are halosulfuron and prosulfuron, respectively. The five Mid-South rice-producing states also have issued state registrations. Gambit is not registered for use in California. The premix provides growers with a flexible, wide application window. But Craig Sandoski, Gowan product development manager, says, “the earlier, the better to take advantage of the residual provided by prosulfuron. The real advantage is going to be the early post or pre-emerge applications.” Gambit can be used as a pre-plant burn down through post flood. It targets a broad array of sedges and broadleaf weeds. In fact, the new premix adds 50 additional broadleaves to what Permit Plus already controls. Both active ingredients are ALS herbicides that belong to the Weed Science Society of America’s Group 2.

RICE FARMING

JANUARY 2018

Arkion Life Sciences LLC is offering rice producers a rebate of about $2 per acre if they use its AV-1011 bird-repellent on rice seed this season. The actual amount of the rebate will depend on seeding rates, says Mike Brinkley of Arkion. The offer runs through May. Many producers in South Louisiana have seen first-hand the benefits of applying AVAV-1011 seed treatment doesn’t kill 1011 to their seed. The birds but instead coats rice seed with an product doesn’t kill ma- unpleasant taste that dissuades them rauding birds. Instead, from feeding on it. it coats the seed with an unpleasant taste that dissuades birds from feeding on newly planted fields. Without the treatment, many Gulf Coast growers have to endure the cost of replanting fields. “Mainly what this rebate is for is the grower who has bird problems and is on the fence about using AV-1011,” Brinkley says. But any grower, including previous users, can take advantage of the offer. AV-1011 can be applied to rice seed by the local agricultural chemical or seed dealer. He recommends placing orders early so the facility has enough time to treat the seed without being rushed. The seed treatment received a full Section 3 registration from the Environmental Protection Agency in 2016. RICEFARMING.COM

COURTESY LSU AGCENTER

EPA registers Gowan herbicide premix

Arkion offers rebate on bird-repellent seed treatment

Specialists Speaking

Spread out your risks: Vary Study university trials, farm planting dates, varieties data when selecting varieties DR. M.O. “MO” WAY TEXAS Rice Research Entomologist moway@aesrg.tamu.edu

I was recently talking with a very reputable Texas rice consultant, and he highly recommended spreading your planting date so all your rice does not mature at the same time. I recall in 2016 rice storage capacity in Texas reached its limit because a lot of rice was planted and harvested at the same time. Adding to this problem is the fact that newer combines have much higher capacities and can harvest more rice in less time. To avoid having to harvest all your rice at the same time, select varieties with different maturities. Plant early maturing varieties earlier and late-maturing varieties later. Do not put “all your eggs in one basket” by planting a single variety, particularly if you farm a lot of acres. I also recommend not planting all your fields to a single NEW variety. Try it out on part of your acreage and as you become familiar with it and if you like it, increase its acreage over time. I think we all remember the fiasco in Texas back in the early 1990s when Rosemont was released. This semi-dwarf variety had a very high yield potential, so farmers west of Houston went all out and planted this newly released variety on significant acreage. Well, the year of its release coincided with environmental conditions conducive to blast. Unfortunately, Rosemont was highly susceptible to blast, which drastically reduced field yields. At the time, there were no effective fungicides to control this blast epidemic. There is a definite trend in Texas to plant as early as possible to increase the chances of producing a good ratoon crop and to avoid inclement weather later in the season. We had a dry fall so a lot of Texas farmers took advantage of the weather to prep ground and get it in good shape for early planting this spring. More than 50 percent of Texas rice in 2017 was planted to hybrids — which, as you know, have low seeding rates. Thus, if you go with a hybrid early, you obviously want to plant into a good seedbed to achieve an adequate stand. I also recommend treating your seed with one of three insecticidal seed treatments: CruiserMaxx Rice, Dermacor X-100 or NipsIt INSIDE. Here is the link to the 2017 Texas Rice Crop Survey, which represents about 26,000 acres: https://beaumont.tamu.edu/Crop Survey/CropSurveyReport.aspx. This link gives you information on rice yields by variety in 2017. On a sad note, I want to mention the passing of Tommy Jeff coat, a long-time rice farmer in Jefferson County. Tommy always had a ready smile and was quite a basketball player in his youth. Tommy taught me the value of careful consideration of inputs, since the ultimate rice farmer objective is net, not gross, profit. RIP Tommy — you are missed. TWITTER: @RICEFARMING

DR. BOBBY GOLDEN MISSISSIPPI Extension Rice Specialist bgolden@drec.msstate.edu

With 2017 in the rearview mirror, we look forward to 2018 coming off the best yielding year we have had in Mississippi in the past few years. One of the first questions to ask is, “Do I plant the same varieties I did in 2017, or is there something new that may put my farm over the edge?” There are numerous excellent varieties available today for Mississippi producers for both the Clearfield and conventional management systems. 2018 will also mark the launch of the new Provisia Rice System that will be welcomed on some farms with hard-to-control weedy rice. With so many options, it’s often difficult to decide what to plant. Luckily, each state in the rice belt conducts variety trials at multiple locations and on different soil textures to aid producers in making variety selection decisions. Mississippi’s 2017 on-farm variety trials evaluated 34 entries at seven locations across the Mississippi Delta rice-growing area. Data collected from these trials is available at the Mississippi Crop Situation blog (http://www.Mississippi-crops.com) and on the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station variety trial website (http://mafes.msstate.edu/variety-trials/). The document contains all small-plot variety testing data from 2017 as well as disease-reaction ratings and nitrogen fertilization suggestions for varieties represented in the trials. When considering yields averaged across all testing locations, most cultivars evaluated performed well in 2017, with notable standouts among conventional inbred rice varieties being Diamond (235 bu/ac) and Thad (233 bu/ac) compared to our control variety Rex (227 bu/ac). Diamond and Thad where released by Arkansas and Mississippi, respectively, during 2017. Each of these varieties has looked really good in the first couple years on limited acreage. The newer rice hybrids — XL753, XL760 and RT 7311 CL —produced similar yields that were all at least 19 bu/ac greater than CLXL729. If red rice is an issue on a particular farm and a Clearfield variety is needed, CL151 (218 bu/ac) is hard to beat. But in 2017, the new CL153 (limited supply in 2016) performed well in plots for the second year and had a Mississippi yield average of 223 bu/ac. Among Clearfield hybrids, RT 7311 performed exceptionally well with average yields of 285 bu/ac in small-plot testing across seven locations. Keep in mind that incidence of ALS-resistant barnyardgrass and rice flatsedge have increased in Mississippi, and stewardship is of the utmost importance to keep this technology viable in the future. Also for 2018, we will see a limited launch of the Provisia Rice System. Early testing in Mississippi suggests that the Provisia JANUARY 2018

RICE FARMING

Specialists Speaking herbicide platform provides good control of numerous weed species and non-Provisia rice. A wealth of data is generated each year on varietal performance across the Mid-South by universities and industry, but do not overlook perhaps the most important data in selecting a variety, which is past performance on your farm. Remember no single variety is the silver bullet, and spreading risk with multiple varieties and production systems is a good practice.

DR. DUSTIN HARRELL LOUISIANA Extension Rice Specialist dharrell@agcenter.lsu.edu

Choosing the right rice varieties and hybrids to plant is one of the first, and debatably, the most important decisions a farm manager makes each year. Agronomics, economics and field-byfield dynamics all play a large role in the decision-making process. To help, the Louisiana State University AgCenter publishes the “Rice Varieties and Management Tips” publication each year. It includes a description of each rice variety and hybrid tested in the AgCenter’s variety evaluation program. The 2018 version is available on the LSU AgCenter’s website (http://bit.ly/2o19ekI). Rice growers will have a new variety, which contains the Provisia technology, to consider for the 2018 season. The variety, PVL01 marketed by Horizon Ag, is the first to be released for use in the Provisia rice system.

Aim for profitable year by selecting the best varieties SAM ATWELL

MISSOURI Agronomy Specialist atwells@missouri.edu Rice growers are focusing on making a profit in 2018, and variety selection is always at the forefront. Thanks to our farmers, industry and universities for our research. According to variety studies at University of Missouri, Portageville, at the Missouri Rice Research Marketing council’s research farm and other university trials, we have several rice varieties from which to choose. I suggest getting with your consultant and reviewing the strengths and weakness of each variety and how they may best fit into your operation.

RICE FARMING

JANUARY 2018

PVL01 is the first Provisia variety released for use with the Provisia Rice System.

VICKY BOYD

Rice varieties and hybrids to consider for 2018

Provisia herbicide from BASF and PVL01 make up the Provisia Rice System. The Provisia technology is a powerful new tool that will extend the life of the Clearfield technology and can be used to clean up rice fields infested with Newpath-resistant red and weedy rice. This is a rampant problem throughout Louisiana, and there is a tremendous need for this technology. In addition to the resistance to Provisia, PVL01 offers a very good grain appearance with very low chalk and a long slender grain that is more than 7 millimeters milled. Like the first Clearfield variety released more than 15 years ago, the first Provisia variety has some agronomic challenges. The biggest is the drag in yield potential, approximately 10 percent, compared to other currently grown varieties. It is also susceptible to blast and bacterial panicle blight and moderately susceptible to sheath blight. It will have to be grown with a minimum of one fungicide application to control blast and very likely two fungicide applications will be necessary.

Furrow-irrigated rice, also known as row rice, is gaining in interest for many reasons. Researchers at the University of Missouri Delta Center have been conducting trials on row rice since 1988, and variety testing has been at the forefront of that research. Southeast Missouri University researchers also have ongoing work at the rice council’s research farm. Furrow-irrigated rice will be featured at the upcoming University of Missouri Rice Production Conference, Feb. 8, at the Malden Community Center, Highway 25 Business, Malden, Missouri, starting at 8 a.m. Hybrids generally yield more and have a better disease package than non-hybrids. Some perform better than others under different situations, like furrow-irrigated rice. Special study may be needed to choose the best variety strengths for your operation. Soils, irrigation, diseases and insects all influence which variety is best. Consultants are great investments to assist with integrated pest management for a more profitable crop. After another dry fall, Missouri growers have smoothed fields and prepared for 2018 planting. A good start for a profitable year. RICEFARMING.COM

Specialists Speaking There is a tremendous economic value associated with cleaning up an infested field and resurrecting the ability to use the Clearfield technology again. Not only should a grower review the one-year economic outlook when considering the use of this technology on a problem field in 2018, but he or she should weigh the economic long-term potential and sustainability of the field. A field without a Newpath red or weedy rice resistance problem may not be the best fit for the first Provisia varietal release. Like we saw with the first Clearfield varieties, yield potential and disease resistance improved with subsequent releases, and rest assured that future Provisia releases will do the same. There are two hybrids — XP753 and XP760 — and seven conventional long grains that have been in our testing program and are recommended for Louisiana — Diamond, Catahoula, Cheniere, Cocodrie, LaKast, Mermentau and Roy J — for 2018. The hybrids XP753 and XP760 have a definite yield advantage over all the conventional varieties and are both rated resistant to blast and Cercospora and moderately resistant to sheath blight and bacterial panicle blight. The conventional varieties Cheniere and Mermentau will have the widest seed availability in Louisiana of all the conventional long grains. Both are semi-dwarfs, susceptible to sheath blight and reach 50 percent heading in about 80 days. Mermentau is susceptible to blast while Cheniere is considered moderately susceptible. Diamond and LaKast are early maturing conventional height varieties out of the Arkansas program that have shown good yield potential. There are three Clearfield long grains out of the Louisiana breeding program — CL111, CL151 and CL153 — and one out of the Arkansas breeding program — CL172 — recommended for production. CL111 was the most widely grown rice variety in Louisiana in 2017. Of the three Louisiana varieties, CL151 has historically shown the highest yield potential, and CL153 has performed on par with CL151. CL153 has significantly lower chalk compared to CL151. CL151 is very susceptible to blast and should only be grown when a fungicide is used to manage the disease. CL111 and CL153 are both moderately susceptible to blast. CL151 and CL153 are rated susceptible to sheath blight, while CL111 is rated very susceptible. All three lines have very good ratoon crop potential. Although CL172 is out of the Arkansas program, it is still a good fit in Louisiana. CL172 is a semi-dwarf, early maturing and has shown good ratoon potential. Clearfield long-grain hybrids tested in our program for a minimum of three years and recommended for Louisiana include CLXL745 and CLXL729. Both have shown superior first crop yield potential over the varieties. CLXL745 and CLXL729 are both resistant to blast. CLXL729 is rated as moderately susceptible to sheath blight, while CLXL745 is rated as moderately resistant. Both have also shown good ratooning potential; however, CLXL729 has shown to have a slight ratoon yield advantage over CLXL745 even though it matures a couple days later than CLXL745. Two conventional medium-grain varieties are recommended this year. Caffey and Jupiter are both short-stature lines averaging 36 inches in height at maturity. Both varieties have excellent TWITTER: @RICEFARMING

yield potential and good milling quality. Currently, Jupiter is the only Kellogg’s-approved medium-grain variety. Ratoon crop production is possible with these varieties but typically is not as consistent as observed with most long grains. Caffey is rated resistant to blast, while Jupiter is rated susceptible. Both are rated moderately susceptible to sheath blight. Titan is a new medium grain variety out of the Arkansas program. Titan has not met the minimum testing to be recommended in Louisiana; however, it has shown to have a very good yield potential and has improved blast resistance and is earlier maturing compared to Jupiter. CL272 is the lone Clearfield medium grain currently recommended for 2018. This variety is a semi-dwarf variety with good yield potential and grain quality. CL272 is moderately susceptible to blast and susceptible to sheath blight.

Consider variety selection carefully, use certified seed 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. Varietal selection is one of the first and most important decisions a rice grower will need to make each year. In doing so, consider the maturity class that fits into your farming operations and climatic zone. There are three maturity classes: Very early (M-104, M-105), early (M-202, M-205, M-206, M-208, M-209) and late maturing (M-401, M-402 — both premium medium grains). Broadly adapted varieties include M-105 and M-206 and can be grown across all regions due to their cold tolerance. In cooler areas south of Highway 20 and the Sacramento Delta region (perhaps the coolest area where rice is grown), these are good varieties to consider. M-205 and M-209 are not suitable for the cooler regions and should be grown north of Highway 20. In 2017, which was an unusual year due to late planting and warm growing season temperatures, M-209 performed well relative to other varieties. In the University of California Cooperative Extension Rice Yield Contest, the 2017 winners were all M-209. On average, M-105 heads a couple of days earlier than M-206, and M-209 and M-205 head five to six days later than M-206. Importantly, many of these newer varieties can be safely harvested at lower grain moisture content than the last generation of varieties, such as M-202, which ensures higher grain quality, may reduce drying costs and allow for greater flexibility in harvest operations. Due to weedy rice concerns, the California Cooperative Rice JANUARY 2018

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Specialists Speaking Research Foundation Board of Directors in 2016 passed a policy that only classes of certified seed (foundation, registered and certified) of CCRRF rice varieties may be planted. Beginning 2019, growers will be required to plant only certified seed classes or seed from an approved seed production system of any rice variety in California. While this policy will take effect in 2019, we strongly urge growers to plant certified seed in 2018 to limit spread of weedy rice.

Building on a successful season DR. JARROD HARDKE

ARKANSAS Asst. Professor/Rice Extension Agronomist University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service jhardke@uaex.edu It’s nice to see rice prices improved over this point last year. With that in mind, an increase in rice acres seems guaranteed— possibly a large increase. The success seen in 2017 points toward several viable planting options for 2018. Hybrid seed should be more available this season than last. But with increased demand likely, it’s difficult to know how far the increase will go. RT XP753 continues to be the highest yielding cultivar in our testing programs. It will be in high demand and likely occupy a large number of acres. RT CLXL745 has been planted on the largest amount of acreage for several years and likely will be again. RT Gemini 214 CL

was planted on limited acreage in 2017 but was very successful and should be a good option for growers looking to secure Clearfield hybrid seed and possibly improve grain yield and milling yield above RT CLXL745. For Clearfield varieties, 2017 was definitely a good year for CL151. Early planting combined with low disease pressure helped this variety to again do very well for growers. However, CL153 and CL172 are competitive and offer improved disease packages and resistance to lodging. These should help to provide some yield stability among Clearfield varieties. Conventional varieties should trend heavily toward Diamond. This variety saw a surge in acres in 2017, its first year of commercial availability. With its high yield potential and continued performance beyond that of Roy J, LaKast and older varieties, acres should further increase this year. Plenty of seed should be available, but again acreage increases may make seed supplies tighter. Medium-grain acreage will likely increase along with total acres in 2018. Titan performed extremely well and has shown to be a strong competitor with Jupiter. Titan is five to 10 days earlier in maturity and on average outyields Jupiter. Growers shifting to Titan should keep in mind that medium grains are more sensitive to head rice yield reductions when harvested at low moistures. Titan’s faster maturity means harvest cannot be delayed or milling may be impacted. Market opportunities exist, but Titan has yet to receive full approval by all markets. Continue to spread risk among various cultivars, and be aware of their advantages and disadvantages in specific situations. Place cultivars in fields where they have the greatest opportunity to succeed — don’t try to adapt the field to the cultivar. The included table presents the results for selected cultivars in the Arkansas Rice Performance Trials and on-farm testing from 2015-2017. Note that some cultivars have only been tested for two years and this affects their three-year average. Additional information can be found at http://www.uaex.edu/rice.

Performance of selected cultivars in the Arkansas Rice Performance Trials and on-farm testing, 2015-2017. Cultivar

Grain Type

50% Heading

Grain Yield (bushels/acre) 2015

2016

2017

Mean

RT XP753

223

236

231

230

RT Gemini 214 CL

227

218

223

RT 7311 CL

218

228

223

RT XP760

212

217

219

216

RT CLXL745

200

202

209

204

Diamond

193

199

209

200

Titan

175

204

216

199

Jupiter

167

194

207

189

LaKast

183

184

200

189

Roy J

175

189

195

186

CL151

172

179

197

183

CL153

170

181

192

181

CL172

154

176

188

173

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