Rice Farming March 2019 by One Grower Publishing

www.ricefarming.com

ONE GROWER PUBLISHING, LLC

PROFITABLE PRODUCTION STRATEGIES

MARCH 2020

Stay alert Keep eyes peeled for weedy rice UArk licenses 2 long-grain varieties to Erwin-Keith Current positive market offers pricing opportunity

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The Provisia Rice System is an excellent rotation partner for the Clearfield Production System for rice. A three-year rotation of these systems and soybeans helps control resistant weeds, including red rice, volunteer rice and annual grasses. That means more flexibility, more control and more sustainable rice-planting years on more acres. Get your rotation in order and get the cleaner fields that drive yields. Talk to your BASF rep or Authorized Retailer.

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In rice, it’s all about rotation, rotation, rotation.

March 2018 2020

COLUMNS

www.ricefarming.com

Vol. 52, 53, No. 4

COVER STORY

4 From the Editor

Rice's long Biennial meeting historyspurs bucksopen exchange 'what's hotofinresearch food' trends results

5 Guest USA Rice Update 6 Column

Sustainable practices help Rice and sustainability pave the way

8 USA Rice Update D PARTMENTS RiceE industry sets priorities for the next Farm Bill 18 Industry News Rice business scene

DEPARTMENTS 21 Specialists Speaking 19 Industry News weed Prevent and manage

10 8

Here to stay? Stay alert

Rice business scene resistance

20 Specialist Speaking

The California rice eyes industry prepares for what become fields. annual armyworm Continue to keep peeled for weedy rice may in California infestations.

Whitney Brim-DeForest is exploring ways to control weedy rice.

F E AT U R E S

Photo byCOVER: Vicky Boyd ON THE Armyworms once again plagued California rice growers in 2017.

9 6

ON THEherbicide COVER: University of CaliforEarly mistakes can nia Cooperative Extension adviser plague you all seasonricelong

Photo by Luis Espino, University of California Cooperative Extension

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Sign e-newsletter Sign up up for for the the monthly monthly e-newsletter at to have have exclusive exclusive atricefarming.com ricefarming.com to industry news and content delivered industry news and content delivered directly inbox. directly to to your your inbox.

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16 14 17

The yin and yang Tight stocks, current positive Shorter supplies shorn up the market offer ahave pricing opportunity

market, but increased 2018 planting projections cloud long-term outlook.

Giant invasive snail threatens the rice-crawfish rotation in southwest Outstanding in their field Louisiana. RTWG Awards Luncheon recognizes peers for exemplary work.

12 14

University of Arkansas licenses two long-grain varieties to Erwin-Keith Floods Inc. aid expansion

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University of Arkansas breeding D I Gprogram I T A L releases E X T R new A jasmine-type long grain. Check out the Rice Farming Facebook page to view photos from the 2019 18 Farm & Gin Show recapof the Year Rice Consultant Tight worldaward rice supplies mean any this reception honoring disruption could push markets higher. yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s winner, Cliff Mock of Alvin, Texas.

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14 18 MARCH MARCH2020 2018

RICE RICE FARMING FARMING

From The

Editor

Biennial rice meeting spurs open exchange of research info Every two years, rice researchers and allied industry representatives from around the United States and even the globe get together for a meeting of the minds at the Rice Technical Working Group. For two days, they share research results and discuss future studies focusing exclusively on rice. This year, more than 300 attended the 38th annual RTWG, which was hosted by Mississippi State University at Orange Beach, Alabama. The meeting also offers students opportunities to present their master’s or doctoral research. For some, it may be the first time they’ve spoken publicly about their work, says Vicky Boyd Wayne Ebelhar, an MSU specialist in soil ferEditor tility and crop production. “This is a learning experience,” he says. “A lot of these guys are in their degree programs, and it’s a great opportunity to meet everybody within our field — research people and industry people — all in one place. It’s a real opportunity for students to practice their trade.” As an added incentive, RTWG holds a poster contest as well as an oral presentation contest for the students, with the top three in each group receiving cash prizes and bragging rights. This year, 15 students entered posters while 29 made oral research presentations. Altogether, this year’s RTWG included 131 research papers and 95 posters covering nearly every facet of rice research, from genetics, crop protection and water management to fertility. Bruce Linquist, University of California Extension rice specialist and RTWG chairman, says much of the work presented at the conference ultimately benefits the farmer. “There aren’t many farmers who come here, but I think farmers would be interested because a lot of the research is generally applied research,” he says. “I think for the industry, it’s fantastic just to bring everybody from the U.S. together. It’s the only chance I think as a rice scientist to get together. I think it’s really neat that we attract a good number of international people as well.” Jason Bond, Mississippi State University Extension weed scientist and RTWG secretary, says the meeting promotes an open exchange of ideas and spark new views. “I may see a study that somebody else is doing, and it creates an idea that I can take back to Mississippi,” he says. “It helps the growers in our state because it may be something that we didn’t even think about yet.” The 39th RTWG is planned for 2022 in Hot Springs, Arkansas.

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

RICE FARMING

MARCH 2020

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

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ONE GROWER PUBLISHING, LLC Mike Lamensdorf President/Treasurer Lia Guthrie Publisher/Vice President ASSOCIATED PUBLICATIONS — One Grower Publishing LLC also publishes COTTON FARMING, THE PEANUT GROWER, SOYBEAN SOUTH and CORN SOUTH magazines. RICE FARMING (ISSN 0194- 0929) is published monthly January through May, and December, by One Grower Publishing LLC, 875 W. Poplar Ave., Suite 23, Box 305, Collierville, TN 38017. Periodicals postage paid at Memphis, 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

Sustainable practices help pave the way ahead

By Betsy Ward President and CEO USA Rice

t’s hard to believe it’s almost spring, and we’re charging forward into another crop year. No doubt as you have been preparing for planting season, you’ve been reflecting on the successes and challenges of previous seasons and applying those practical lessons on your farm. Sustainability goals help offer new solutions every year, saving farmers money, time and resources, and resonating with customers. New technologies and innovative practices allow you to be more efficient and sustainable, to increase your yields and to continually improve the way we grow the world’s staple crop.

technology, manages water more efficiently and can reduce water use by up to 50%. Alternate wetting and drying uses less water and minimizes greenhouse gasses, lowering the carbon footprint of rice farms. Yield increases through research and development have resulted in varieties that are more stress tolerant, require less water and have a shorter growing season. Multiple-inlet rice irrigation cuts back on water use and improves weed control and fertilizer efficiency. And tailwater recovery systems recycle the water that flows off the field, saving it for reuse and making rice farmers less dependent on groundwater, which is crucial when those drought years inevitably roll around. The pluses of row rice Another technique that is effective, though not available to everyone because of geographic differences, is row rice. Field prep is often difficult during particularly rainy seasons; row-rice practices reduce the amount of tillage, which preserves soil nutrients and decreases the number of passes over the field. It can also cut down on some of the prep that otherwise would be a hassle during heavy spring rains, making row rice both sustainable and practical for many farmers in wetter years. And of course, wet years aren’t always a bad thing — if the timing is right. Rain can decrease pumping time and the need to move water and replenish surface water storage and reservoirs.

Multiple-inlet rice irrigation, or MIRI, can reduce water use by up to 25%, according to university research. COURTESY MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY

TWITTER: @RICEFARMING

More crop per drop We all know how important water is to rice, and over the past decade, rice farmers have made incredible strides in water management practices. Advancements in irrigation techniques have made the process more efficient, both in terms of saving water and reducing energy use. Some farms are using high-tech automated water sensors that control pumps and monitor water levels 24 hours a day, ensuring that not a drop is wasted. Zero- and precision-grade land leveling, achieved by laser and GPS

Dealing with Mother Nature’s whims Overall, sustainability practices are helping farmers become less susceptible to the whims of the weather every year. Focusing on sustainability may not only save time and money and help the environment but may also give your operation the resilience and flexibility to cope with any kind of extended weather patterns that may come your way. I’m proud to work for a sector that is leading the entire agriculture industry in sustainability, and the innovation and ingenuity of rice famers is what keeps all of us moving forward. MARCH 2020

RICE FARMING

Tight stocks, positive market set the tone for this season By Kurt Guidry

he improvement in rice prices over the last half of 2019 and the start of 2020 certainly has created a great deal more optimism in the rice industry. While it likely took longer than most would have preferred, the reduction of available supplies with the smaller 2019 crop coupled with stronger export prices being seen in the market. In December 2019, long-grain cash prices in Louisiana were trading in the $20 to $20.50 per-barrel range ($12.35 to $12.65 per hundredweight). And while prices are typically stale in the ﬁrst few months of a calendar year, cash prices have surged higher and are now being reported at $22 per barrel ($13.58 cwt) and higher levels. This strong move in rice prices has likely been a result of buyers attempting to cover their needs with dwindling rice supplies. With the perception that most of the rice in the area has already been marketed, what small supplies remain have been reported to attract prices as high as $23 per barrel ($14.30 cwt). This shortage in available supplies will likely keep a strong tone to prices in the short term.

USDA projections The USDA released its ﬁrst glimpse of the potential supply and demand situation for the 2020/21 marketing year at its Agricultural Outlook Forum, Feb. 20 and 21. During that event, the USDA projected total rice acres in 2020 at 3.07 million acres, an increase of 530,000 acres from the previous year and the largest level since 2016. Long-grain acres are projected to increase by 570,000 acres to 2.35 million acres while medium- and short-grain acres are expected to fall by 20,000 acres from the previous year. Coupling those large increases in long-grain acres with a return to trendline yields in 2020 would leave total supplies more than 16% higher than 2019. Despite the USDA being very optimistic about demand for the 2020/21 marketing year, the large increase in projected supplies would push ending stocks for long-grain rice as well as all rice back to the levels seen during the 2018/19 marketing year. With USDA’s February 2020 projections for the 2020/21 marketing year, the marketing year average price for long-grain rice will likely be in the range of $17 to $19 per barrel ($10.50 to $11.75 cwt).

Tight stocks Despite revisions by the U.S. Department of Agriculture in its February report, the short-term supply and demand fundamentals remain very positive for this market. Even with the USDA increasing its expectations for total rice imports for the 2019/20 marketing year, ending stocks for the 2019/20 marketing year are still 33% lower than last year for all rice and are a whopping 56% lower for long-grain rice. The increase in expected rice imports likely reaffirms the general consensus in the market of tight domestic supplies. This looks to continue to support prices as long as there is no significant downturn in demand. While history would suggest that export demand in the last half of the 2019/20 marketing year may not be as strong as the first half, cumulative rice export sales continue to outpace last year’s level through the first two weeks in February. Long-grain rough rice exports are nearly 32% higher than last year while long-grain milled rice exports are nearly 12% higher. The longer that exports continue to outpace last year’s pace, the more potential for prices to remain supported and, more importantly, the more potential to continue to tighten supplies heading into the 2020 production year. Limiting the amount of rice carried into 2020 will be important because current expectations are for rice acreage and production to increase significantly.

What’s behind the price projections? While this is certainly a signiﬁcant discount to current prices and paints a much less optimistic picture, there are several factors that could change those projections moving forward. Much of those projections are based on the assumption of a sharp increase in acres in 2020. If anything, last year’s planting season and the excessive rainfall showed that those projections are far from a certainty. Without that signiﬁcant increase in planted acres, the supply and demand fundamentals are much more conducive to prices around current levels. Until the market has more certainty regarding 2020 acres and potential production, there should be support for prices. In addition, tight stocks should help offset some of the expected production increase and is often associated with more pricing opportunities. Tight stocks typically make markets more sensitive and reactive and can create pricing opportunities. So while the long-term prospects for prices are certainly at discounted levels, the positive tone currently in the market and tight stocks may provide producers with pricing opportunities for the 2020 crop at levels closer to those being seen now.

RICE FARMING

MARCH 2020

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

Take Proactive Stance Against Weeds Robb Dedman Ultimate Ag Consulting Inc. Rison, Arkansas

Last year, we struggled coming out of the gate with all the rainfall we experienced. It was a challenge to get a rice stand in some fields, which resulted in a lot of replanting. After we finally got the crop up, we battled weeds pretty hard. In our area, we have barnyardgrass, weedy rice and a lot of tighthead (Amazon) sprangletop. On the broadleaf side, we fight coffeebean and jointvetch. We may pick up a few smartweeds but are able to keep them under control pretty easily. I always say the best weed is the weed we never see, so we start out by overlapping residual herbicides. This program can be expensive, but that’s how we battle resistance. We come back with a pre-flood postemergence application of Loyant® herbicide to help clean up any escaped grasses, broadleaf weeds and sedges. We have a terrible issue with ALS-resistant annual sedge. After barnyardgrass and sprangletop, it’s our hardest weed to control. That’s where Loyant plays a big role in our program.

Consider the Production System I usually tank-mix Loyant with another herbicide, depending on the production system. In CLEARFIELD rice, I typically apply Loyant and Beyond herbicides. On Provisia rice, we apply a tank mix of Loyant and Provisia herbicides, which works really well. Loyant controls the sedges and broadleaf weeds, and Provisia takes care of the weedy rice and grasses. We apply RebelEX® herbicide postemergence to help control small sprangletop and aquatic weeds in our water-seeded rice. The mild, wet winter could have a slight negative effect, but not from a weed standpoint because all of my acres are zero-grade and stay flooded all winter. Water is our “cover crop” that helps decompose any leftover straw, provides a home for waterfowl and assists with weed control. After we take off the water, the fields are completely clean and ready to plant so we are able to no-till. We can apply our residual herbicides and then clean up any escapes with the postemergence products. I encourage my rice growers to be proactive instead of reactive. Scout hard, scout often and look for little weeds. While the weeds are small, we have the opportunity to kill them. Once weeds get any height to them, they are more difficult to control. There is going to be a lot of rice this year, and I am excited about the season. Remember that farmers feed America, so we have to produce the highest quality crops we possibly can. Farm first and let the good Lord take care of the rest.

• Worked as a rice scout for Jefferson County Extension Agent Dr. Nathan Slaton while attending high school in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. • B.S. degree in agronomy, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, 1995. • Established Ultimate Ag Consulting Inc. in 2002. • Consults on rice, soybeans, corn and wheat in the Delta area of southeast Arkansas — Desha, Chicot, Ashley and Drew counties. • Named 2017 Rice Consultant of the Year. • Wife: Jennifer. Two sons: Caleb Ryan (17) and Dylan Everett (13). • Enjoys spending time with family and friends, traveling and hunting and fishing in the fall and winter.

Recap: Proactive Stance Against Weeds

1. We start out by overlapping residual herbicides and come back with a pre-flood postemergence application of Loyant® herbicide to help clean up any escaped grasses, broadleaf weeds and sedges. 2. We have a terrible issue with ALS-resistant annual sedge. That’s where Loyant plays a big role in our program. 3. In CLEARFIELD rice, I typically apply Loyant and Beyond herbicides. In On Provisia rice, we apply a tank mix of Loyant and Provisia herbicides. Loyant controls the sedges and broadleaf weeds, and Provisia takes care of the weedy rice and grasses. 4. We apply RebelEX® herbicide postemergence to help control small sprangletop and aquatic weeds in water-seeded rice.

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™® Loyant and RebelEX are trademarks of Dow AgroSciences, DuPont or Pioneer, and their affiliated companies or their respective owners. ®CLEARFIELD is a trademark of BASF used under license. Loyant 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. © 2020 Corteva.

Stay alert COURTESY UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA

Continue to keep eyes peeled for weedy rice in California ﬁelds.

By Vicky Boyd Editor

A new biotype Although infested acres have remained relatively stable over the past few years, UC researchers did conﬁ rm three new infested sites and one new biotype or strain, dubbed Biotype 7, during 2019. Type 7 is straw hulled; has long, reddish awns; is about the

RICE FARMING

MARCH 2020

WHITNEY BRIM-DEFOREST

he amount of California rice ground infested with weedy rice hovers around 14,000 acres, leading experts to believe that pest control advisers and growers are carefully scouting for the pest. And they hope the diligence continues. “We had three new sites (in 2019), but the number of people who called us was way higher — maybe 20,” says Dr. Whitney Brim-DeForest, University of California Cooperative Extension rice and wild rice adviser for Yuba and Sutter counties. “We had a lot of submissions for testing, but most of them turned out to not be weedy rice, so I know they’re definitely looking for it. What we’ve told them is if they see anything that looks suspicious, they should give us a call.” In one field she visited, the PCA had found only a few plants that weren’t even visible from the field edge. “So folks are really, really looking for it,” Brim-DeForest says. “I’ve been surprised at how they found that weedy rice because I wouldn’t have been able to.” To help answer questions about potential yield losses tied to weedy rice, seed longevity in the soil and possible controls, she and UC colleagues have embarked on field and greenhouse studies.

UCCE rice adviser Luis Espino collects samples of suspected weedy rice plants from a commercial rice field.

same height as most other weedy rice types; and has no color on the nodes. For descriptions and images of all the biotypes, visit https://caweedyrice.com/. That brings the total weedy rice biotypes to seven in California, Brim-DeForest says. The finding was based on lab testing of seed samples sent by growers and PCAs suspecting weedy rice. Biotype 7, along with another biotype, was discovered in a field previously infested with two other biotypes. In addition, weedy rice was confirmed on three new sites in San Joaquin, Sutter and Placer counties during 2019. “The more we have weedy rice in the field and the longer we have it in the field, we’ll find more weedy rice types crossing RICEFARMING.COM

Cause for concern One of the main concerns with weedy rice is it competes for resources, such as sunlight, space and nutrients, with commercial rice cultivars. Based on preliminary research results, Brim-DeForest says it appears several of the biotypes are aggressive competitors, with two producing over twice the number of panicles and tillers than the widely grown commercial medium-grain variety, M-206. In addition, three weedy rice biotypes produced significantly greater fresh biomass than M-206, and two biotypes produced a dried root biomass more than twice that of M-206. As few as eight weedy rice plants per meter squared (roughly a yard squared) can reduce rice yields by up to 42%, according to preliminary trial results. Most of the weedy rice biotypes mature earlier than commercial rice, with their heads easily shattering and leaving seed on the ground. In addition, many of the biotypes have black or red kernels that can discolor white rice during milling. To add to the challenge, California proTWITTER: @RICEFARMING

WHITNEY BRIM-DEFOREST

between weedy rice types and with our varieties,” she told growers at a recent UCCE winter rice meeting. “That’s why we’re encouraging people to get rid of weedy rice if they have it or report it if they just found it.” Brim-DeForest bases her concerns on genetic fingerprint studies of the different biotypes. Type 1, for example, has genetic material from Type 5, meaning the two types have hybridized. Having more biotypes also may mean having additional visual characteristics to watch for when scouting fields. Identifying the biotype or biotypes in an infested field is important because seed dormancy varies. Types 1, 3 and 4 have high dormancy, whereas Types 2 and 5 have low dormancy. Biotypes with low dormancy tend to germinate in large numbers over a short time period. These biotypes lend themselves to management that involves a stale seedbed, flushing and applying a broad-spectrum herbicide to the young seedlings. Seeds from types with high dormancy, on the other hand, may remain dormant in the soil for several years before germinating, complicating management and lengthening eradication efforts.

UCCE rice adviser Whitney Brim-DeForest is conducting trials to determine seed dormancy and overwintering potential of different weedy rice biotypes using plastic wading pools.

ducers are handicapped in their weedy rice battle because there are no Clearfield or Provisia cultivars bred for the state. The herbicide partners for those systems also are not registered for use in California. Effects on water-seeded production Much of the data surrounding weedy rice is based on research conducted in the Mid-South. To determine how the biotypes found in California affect water-seeded production systems used in the state as well as find possible controls, Brim-DeForest began a number of research projects in 2018. They are being conducted in a secure location on the UC Davis campus away from commercial rice fields. One series of trials is examining three

cultural systems to determine whether they help reduce weedy rice populations. They are continuous rice under flood, a rice-sorghum rotation and a stale seedbed. The stale seedbed treatment involves two flushes followed by a glyphosate application before flooding. In 2018, Brim-DeForest established weedy rice plots using seed harvested from biotypes 1, 2, 3 and 5, since she didn’t have enough seed to plant biotypes 4 and 6. Type 7 hadn’t been discovered yet. In 2019, she began the treatments planting the short-maturity medium-grain, M-105, at 150 pounds per acre. Brim-DeForest plans to continue the trials this season but offers a few observations. “We had weedy rice come up through the flood,” she says. “We used to say that MARCH 2020

RICE FARMING

flood suppresses weedy rice, but that’s not so. Flood alone is not useful to suppress weedy rice.” Possible chemical controls Brim-DeForest also looked at a handful of herbicides to determine their potential in controlling weedy rice. The California Department of Pesticide Regulation denied a Section 18 emergency-use exemption for clethodim used as a spot-spray material, saying it didn’t agree the situation was an emergency. Glyphosate, which researchers had tested using rope wick application in the past, is not labeled for spot applications on weedy rice. The registrant is not interested in a Section 18. The Environmental Protection Agency also eliminated tolerances for glufosinate on rice, nixing any chance of obtaining a Section 24(c) special local needs registration for that herbicide. A quick field trial in Colusa County last season with an organic herbicide on Type 3 weedy rice found it burned the plants. Because the material is not a systemic, several panicles came through afterward and looked fine, Brim-DeForest says. Jim Cook, a researcher with Colusa County Farm Supply, con-

ducted the trial last season, and he theorizes the application was made too late. This season, he plans to look at earlier timings. “If you have a seed head forming, it’s not going to stop it,” he says. To optimize efficacy, Cook says you need to make the application with sufficient water. Using a hand-pump backpack sprayer, he says he typically would spot spray weeds with glyphosate for 3-5 seconds. With the organic herbicide, Cook says you need to drench the weeds by spot spraying 5-10 seconds. The spray tip also needs to be pointed down at a 90-degree angle so it shoots straight on the weedy rice clump. “You need to get a good pattern with a 15-inch diameter on top of the rice canopy so you’re making sure you’re covering all of the foliage of the weedy rice,” Cook says. The organic herbicide also needs to be paired with an organic surfactant, he says. The herbicide is not yet labeled for use on rice. Brim-DeForest also is looking at a handful of other herbicides not registered for rice to determine whether they might have a fit for weedy rice management.

JIM COOK, COLUSA COUNTY FARM SUPPLY

Hand roguing weedy rice from commercial fields is one way to prevent it from going to seed.

RICE FARMING

MARCH 2020

RICEFARMING.COM

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University of Arkansas licenses two long-grain varieties to Erwin-Keith Inc.

Renamed under Progeny Ag label Erwin-Keith Inc. will rename and market the rice seed under the Progeny Ag label, says Nathan Cook, general manager. “These will be the ﬁrst rice seed products we sell with our own brand,” he says. Progeny Ag is the seed brand for Erwin-Keith Inc., Cook says. The company has long offered its own brands of soybeans, corn and wheat. It also sells other brands of rice seed, including U of A public varieties. Erwin-Keith Inc./Progeny Ag was selected as the distributor for the commercially released varieties based on proposals submitted by several seed companies, Carlin says. The Division of Agriculture’s Foundation Seed Program will produce foundation

RICE FARMING

MARCH 2020

COURTESY UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS

he University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture has licensed two commercially released rice varieties to an Arkansas seed company that will market them to growers in time for the 2021 growing season. The long-grain rice varieties, RU1701081 and RU1701084, will be available from Erwin-Keith Inc./Progeny Ag, based in Wynne. “RU1701081 has traditional long-grain cooking quality, low chalk and can withstand the common rice blast races,” says Dr. Karen Moldenhauer, University of Arkansas rice breeder. “It has a very similar yield to LaKast.” RU1701081 was not released because it would have duplicated the advantages available from Jewel. “But it is still a good variety for which a lot of testing has occurred, so it’s being made available for those who might want it,” she says. RU1701084 is a very high-yielding variety but not very different from Diamond, which had just been released. “Again, it’s a very good variety with lots of data, and it is also being made available to those who might want it,” Moldenauer says. Some rice breeding lines are advanced right to the brink of release as public varieties, says John Carlin, director of the Arkansas Crop Variety Improvement Program. But like RU1701081 and RU1701084, they are not released because they perform similarly to existing public varieties. They remain in the breeding program where they may offer genomic contributions to other breeding lines but are otherwise shelved. Some of those lines, however, offer particular advantages for growers in some growing areas. “We’ve decided to offer some of these breeding lines as commercially released varieties, under exclusive license to a single company, for two reasons,” Carlin says. “They offer growers more options in some parts of the state, and offering them for license helps recoup some of the investment we’ve made in advancing them to this stage of development.” The division sells its public rice varieties at cost to many seed companies that, in turn, sell them to growers. Carlin says the Division of Agriculture receives no royalties from public varieties.

RU1701084 is a long-grain variety similar to Diamond.

seed annually for RU1701081 and RU1701084. Erwin-Keith Inc./ Progeny Ag will purchase the foundation seed and grow certified seed from it for sale to rice growers. Recovering development costs Developing rice varieties — which takes years of crossing, testing and advancing — is costly, Carlin says. Offering some advanced lines as commercial varieties to growers who can use them will help recover some of that cost. The royalties from the sale of RU1701081 and RU1701084 and other varieties that may be released later will be divided between the Division of Agriculture’s rice breeding and research program and the Arkansas Rice Research and Promotion Board, which helps fund rice breeding and research with rice check-off money. “Many years ago, the producer community realized the value of research,” says Roger Pohlner, ARRPB chairman. “They initiated the rice check-off program to fund research for better yields and more economical production practices as well as market promotion to enhance the price realized for their crops in the market place. “The Arkansas Rice Research and Promotion Board administers these check-off funds for both research and promotion. High on the list of priorities for this board is new variety development. The goal is to find higher-yielding varieties that can be produced more economically in an environmentally friendly manner.” Pohlner says the money the rice board receives from commercially released varieties will go right back into the program. “The Rice Research and Promotion Board intends to use these proceeds to fund additional research that accomplishes the objectives of the board and meets the needs of rice producers in the state of Arkansas,” he says. “The additional money from commercial varieties will help us to broaden the breeding and research programs. It will help us to bring more improved varieties into production to help rice farmers sustain both agriculture and profitability.” The University of Arkansas contributed this article. RICEFARMING.COM

Outstanding in their field RTWG Awards Luncheon recognizes peers for exemplary work.

very two years, rice researchers from around the United States and even the globe get together for the Rice Technical Working Group. This year, the two-day event was hosted by Mississippi State University and held recently in Orange Beach, Alabama. During the awards luncheon, researchers recognize peers who have made outstanding contributions to the industry. Here is a wrap-up of award recipients, which were chosen by the RTWG executive committee.

Distinguished Service Awards Dr. Don Groth, Louisiana State University AgCenter plant pathologist and resident coordinator of the H. Rouse Caffey Rice Research Station, was recognized for his decades of research into rice diseases and their control. More recently, he has been part of an effort to develop sheath blight-resistant breeding lines. In June 2019, Groth became the first recipiDr. Don Groth (left) receives ent of an endowed rice research his award from RTWG Secchair that the Louisiana Rice Reretary Jason Bond. search Board created with funds from the Colombia Free Trade Agreement. During her tenure as a University of Arkansas rice breeder, Dr. Karen Moldenhauer has led efforts to develop 33 rice varieties. The most recent releases are CLL16, a high-yielding Clearfield long grain; and the conventional long-grains Jewell and Diamond. Moldenhauer also helped identify a gene responsible for blast resistance, which has since been incorporated into many Dr. Karen Moldenhauer reof the newer rice releases from ceives her award from Bond. Mid-South breeding programs. Dr. Kent McKenzie, director of the California Rice Experiment Station, has spent 45 years developing rice varieties with a focus on grain quality. He has been part of teams that have released 20 varieties. More recently, McKenzie led efforts to develop a non-genetically modified herbicide-tolerant rice. The Dr. Kent McKenzie receives medium-grain, known as ROXY his award from Bond. TWITTER: @RICEFARMING

Distinguished Rice Research Team Award The Distinguished Rice Research Team Award was presented to Dr. Yulin Jia (from left), Ms. Melissa Jia, Drs. Jeremy Edwards, Anna McClung, Christine Bergman and Ming-Hsuan Chen by RTWG Secretary Jason Bond. Also involved in the work was the late Dr. Robert Fjellstrom. The researchers work at the U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service Dale Bumpers National Rice Research Center near Stuttgart, Arkansas, under center director McClung. They were recognized for research and technology transfer contributions toward “Genomic Tools for the Development and Deployment of Improved Varieties for the U.S. Rice Industry.” The results have helped university rice programs implement market-assisted breeding. Rice, is tolerant to oxyfluorfen herbicide. Prior to coming to California, he worked at the LSU AgCenter and was involved with developing Cypress long grain. Dr. Mo Way attended his first RTWG meeting as a graduate student in 1976. A Texas A&M AgriLife Research entomologist based at the university’s Beaumont Center, Way has conducted research into myriad insecticides and insect control measures over the years. He did much of the early work on rice water weevil seed treatments that are now the norm among rice producers. He Dr. Mo Way receives his also secured numerous Section award from Bond. 18 emergency-use permits for insecticides to control insect outbreaks. In addition to six-legged pests, Way worked on the tennis ball-sized channeled apple snail and blackbird control. MARCH 2020

RICE FARMING

From the ground up John Deere, Case IH show off new products designed with efficiency in mind at the World Ag Expo By Vicky Boyd Editor

John Deere Among Moline, Illinois-based Deere’s new offerings are the 8RX family of fixed-frame four-track tractors. “Everybody’s excited about the 8RX,” says Ken Rosckes, Deere senior marketing representative based in Waterloo, Iowa. “Clearly, customers like our twotrack 8RT because of its greater pull and power to the ground. It has lower compaction than a wheeled tractor but still drives like a wheeled.” Although Rosckes admits that wheeled tractors remain the best choice for many farming activities, track vehicles have their place. “This doesn’t fit everyone, but it’s just another option we’re adding to the portfolio,” he says of the 8RX. “It’s all about protecting the soil and helping the plants.” With 40% more ground contact than a wheeled tractor, the 8RX helps reduce compaction by spreading the unit’s weight over a much larger area. And because of the expansive contact with the ground, the four-track vehicle provides more traction under tough conditions. The 8RX was designed from the ground up with features, such as the more robust 1700 pivoting beam axles, to better handle the tracks. “It wasn’t just a bolt-on kit,” Rosckes says. “The whole back of the tractor is

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VICKY BOYD

ith acre upon acre of outdoor and indoor exhibits, the World Ag Expo near Tulare, California, offers growers three days to see manufacturers’ latest wares as well as proven products. John Deere and Case IH were two of the numerous exhibitors at the show, which attracted more than 106,000 visitors this year.

Ken Rosckes, Deere senior marketing representative, says the fixed-frame four-track 8RX was designed from the ground up to offer ease of use while reducing soil compaction.

nothing like our wheeled or two-track machines.” With the four-track units, the power comes directly from the transmission to the drive, creating more ground clearance. The four tracks operate independently, providing a tighter turning radius and allowing the machine to handle more like a wheeled vehicle. Following the two-track 8RT tractors last year, the 8RX has four-post cab suspension to reduce vibrations and offer more operator comfort. As with the 7 and 8 series tractors this year, Deere simplified the 8RX cabs, reducing the number of hydraulic and electrical connections. Inside, the frame is wider to allow for more visibility. The air conditioning and heating unit also

was moved behind the seat to create more driver headroom. The 8RX comes in multiple tread-spacing options ranging from 76- to 120-inch wide front axles. Three belt widths are available and include 18- and 24-inch wide front belts and 18-, 24- and 30-inch wide rear belts. The machines also come with a choice of 310-, 340-, 370- and 410-horsepower engines. Case IH Case IH acquired the Speed-Tiller high-speed disk as part of a deal when it purchased Australian manufacturer K-Line Ag in 2019. “We did a lot of research and interviews with customers and tried to find out RICEFARMING.COM

Nicholas Andrejuk, Case IH crop production and sprayer product specialist, says the Speed-Tiller is a robust implement designed to boost grower efficiency by completing two field activities with one pass. VICKY BOYD

what was the best product on the market for efficiency and something that was always reliable,” says Nicholas Andrejuk, Case crop production and sprayer product specialist. That led the Racine, Wisconsin, equipment company to K-Line, which developed machinery for tough Australian conditions. The blade mountings on the Speed-Tiller, for example, are 2-inch rubber, Andrejuk says. The frame is built of 4-inch square steel tubing. The Speed-Tiller helps boost grower efficiency by completing two field activities with one pass — it digs like a disk and finishes like a soil conditioner. The units also come with Case’s exclusive constant-level hitch, which offers improved weight distribution, reduced bounce and more uniform ground penetration — especially on the wings. In addition, disk gangs can be adjusted laterally to work the entire soil profile, eliminating compacted valleys and humps. Case offers two models: the 475 is a pull-type fixed width while the 468 is three-point mounted with a trailing configuration. The 468, which is a rigid frame, is available in widths from 6 to 18 feet. The 475 is available in three widths: 21 feet, 31 feet and 41 feet. The 21-foot model comes in two sections, while the 31- and 41-foot models are three-section machines, making for easier transport even in narrow situations. Both models can run either 22-inch shallow concavity blades or 24-inch standard concavity blades. TWITTER: @RICEFARMING

Depending on the time of year, the operator can set the Speed-Tiller to aggressively run 6 inches deep for crop residue incorporation under hard soil conditions in the fall. Or they can run it at a shallower depth in the spring, along with one of three soil conditioners, to prepare an optimum seed bed. The overall size of the tractor needed to

pull a Speed-Tiller will depend on the implement’s size, soil type, soil moisture level and tillage depth. But Andrejuk says typically growers will need at least 210 to 240 hp. “The bigger (width) you get, the more horsepower you’ll need,” he says. “The faster you want to go, the more horsepower you’ll need.”

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RICE FARMING

Brown rice variety packs antioxidant punch

High antioxidant levels Their investigation of GEDrew focused on a single gene mutation that results in kernels with enlarged, or “giant,” embryos. In addition to a higher proportion of bran to whole-kernel weight, the researchers observed the giant embryo trait also correlated to a three-fold increase in alpha-tocopherol and a 20% and 29% increase in total tocotrienols and gamma-oryzanol, respectively. Tocopherols and tocotrienols are forms of vitamin E with important biological activity in the human body. These may include helping prevent unstable molecules called free radicals from causing cellular damage and other associated harm, Chen says. Gamma-oryzanol, a mixture of antioxidant compounds in the bran’s oil fraction, is thought to play role in reducing blood cholesterol levels, among other health-promoting benefits, she says. Grain yield evaluations showed that GEDrew compared well to Drew and Cocodrie, two commercial varieties the researchers used for comparison in Texas and Arkansas trials. Even though GEDrew produced slightly smaller grains, it was unmatched in terms of its yield of bran, lipids and the three antioxidants. All are high-value ingredients for specialty uses ranging from edible oil for cooking and salad dressings to breakfast cereals, nutrition bars, beverages and skin-care products, McClung says. Setting the stage She credits the rice mutation breeding efforts of Rutger with setting the stage for their finding that the giant embryo trait leads to whole grain with increased gamma-oryzanol levels and vitamin E — especially alpha-tocopherol (the only form listed on the nutrition facts of food packaging labels).

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PHOTO COURTESY USDA-ARS

EDrew is a brown rice with an odd kernel trait that sidelined its commercial prospects. Now, Agricultural Research Service scientists’ reexamination of the trait and its link to increased antioxidant levels could give the rice variety a new commercial lease on life. GEDrew is the result of a mutagenesis rice breeding program conducted more than a decade ago by rice geneticist Neil Rutger (retired) at the ARS Dale Bumpers National Rice Research Center in Stuttgart, Arkansas. The variety, a genetic mutant, didn’t make the cut, and Rutger placed it in storage in the U.S. Department of Agriculture ARS World Rice Collection, a repository of more than 19,000 accessions and 12 species representing the genus Oryza. And there GEDrew might have remained today were it not for the follow-up investigations of ARS chemist Ming-Hsuan Chen and the center’s current director, Anna McClung. In 2007, they began reevaluating the collection’s specialty rice accessions for traits that could contribute to improved grain yield or nutritional content. Such collections, popularly known as gene banks, serve as a critical source of diversity in the face of emerging pest and disease threats, environmental change, market demands and other events.

At the time, “Rutger was looking for any agronomically useful traits in his mutation breeding program, like earlier flowering, male sterility, elongated internode and apomixis but had the most success with semi-dwarfism,” McClung says. “The giant embryo and a low phytic-acid mutant were examples of mutations that resulted in a change in grain traits.” In the case of GEDrew, additional laboratory and field work revealed value in what initially appeared to be a genetic kernel oddity. “This is the only study on a giant embryo rice mutant in the United States and one that’s a tropical japonica-type rice adapted to the U.S. growing conditions,” says Chen, who co-authored a paper on the finding in the November 2019 issue of Cereal Chemistry together with McClung. Chen says their research has a two-fold purpose: to broaden the market opportunities for U.S. growers and to enhance the nutritional value of rice, a staple food for more than half the world’s population. In its whole-grain (unrefined) form, rice can provide a key source of not only protein, vitamins and minerals but also insoluble fiber, essential fatty acids and bioactive compounds thought to contribute to dietary health. USDA ARS contributed this article. RICEFARMING.COM

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Specialists

Speaking

Optimize crop fertility with soil sampling, urease inhibitors DR. M.O. “MO” WAY

TEXAS Rice Research Entomologist moway@aesrg.tamu.edu Early season fertility is crucial to producing a profitable, sustainable rice crop. Of utmost importance is to take soil fertility samples as directed and send them to a reputable lab for analysis. If you have not done this, do it now. If you plan to ratoon crop, you must include this option in your overall fertility management program. You should also contact your university rice researchers/Extension scientists for fertility guidelines specific to your variety, soil type, planting date, location and irrigation method. Let me say from the outset that I’m an entomologist. When LSU AgCenter’s Don Groth and I did some experiments a few years ago, we found that increasing urea applied preflood or at panicle differentiation did not compensate for rice water weevil damage. So don’t apply urea to make up for weevil damage. The best option is to apply an insecticidal seed treatment. Now that I have said that, let me give you a little primer on nitrogen volatilization and how it relates to rice N management. When urea is applied to soil, microbes in the soil release an enzyme called urease, which catalyzes the breakdown of urea to ammonium. The ammonium is then converted to ammonia, which is a gas that escapes into the atmosphere. Thus, this volatilization process means your crop is losing N that you dearly paid for, and the escaped gas is polluting the atmosphere. Temperature, soil pH, soil moisture and soil type greatly affect volatilization. For instance, the higher the temperature and pH, the greater the loss of N to volatilization. Also, the wetter the soil (up to soil saturation), the greater the volatilization. What this means on a practical level for at-planting and preflood applications of urea is: 1. Apply urea to dry soil. 2. Incorporate urea by flushing or timely rain as soon after application as possible. 3. High pH soils increase volatilization. 4. Conservation or no-till soils tend to have more organic matter, which the urease-producing microbes like, resulting in greater volatilization. 5. High temperatures increase microbial activity, leading to more volatilization. If you have trouble getting water across your field after a urea application, consider applying a urease inhibitor to your urea — especially if the time between urea application and a flush or flood is greater than three days. I think most rice farmers in Texas use a urease inhibitor, and I think this a good practice because of Southeast Texas’ erratic weather. Another option is to apply urea by air over a period of

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time based on when paddies are projected to be flushed/flooded. Of course, this increases labor and possibly application costs. At any rate, efficient utilization of urea increases yields, saves money and helps the environment.

IDing seedling weeds is critical to early season weed control DR. DUSTIN HARRELL

LOUISIANA LSU AgCenter H. Rouse Caffey Rice Research Station dharrell@agcenter.lsu.edu General weed control programs are often decided on before the season begins and are based on past weed species present in a field and past success or failures. However, rice growers and consultants should always scout fields for weed species present and modify predetermined herbicide application plans depending on the species. Identification of early season seedling weeds is often difficult due to their small size and similarity at first glance. Upon closer inspection, there are identifying features of many of these weeds that we can use to differentiate the seedlings. There are a few tools I use to help me identify early season seedlings. They include a hand lens, the the publications “Schematic Diagram for Seedling Weed Identification in Rice” and “Rice Varieties and Management Tips.” “Schematic Diagram for Seedling Weed Identification in Rice” is available free on the LSU AgCenter’s website (https://bit. ly/38YtWVr). In addition, a free laminated copy is available at all rice-producing parish AgCenter Extension offices. The lamination helps make the document waterproof. The identification guide was put together by Dr. Eric Webster and his group, and it has been a tremendous tool for rice growers in all rice-producing states. By closely examining the seedling weeds present and following the publication’s decision tree, you can accurately determine the seedling weed. Once you’ve identified the seedling weeds, use the “Rice Variety and Management Tips” to determine available herbicides. The 2020 RVMT publication is available here (https://bit. ly/391XL7F). In the publication, “Table 10. Effectiveness of Selected Preplant and Preemergence Rice Herbicides on Certain Weeds,” can be used to see which herbicide combinations can be used to control the weed spectrum. This data table is updated each year by Webster. When it comes to early season weed control, accurate determination of weed species and identifying what herbicides will control the species is critical. Be sure to get your hands on both publications for the 2020 growing season. Keep them on the dash of your truck, and I promise they will be extremely valuable for you when it comes to weed control decisions in 2020. RICEFARMING.COM

Speaking

CHRIS EVANS, UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS, BUGWOOD.ORG

Specialists

Alligator weed, an invasive aquatic weed, can be spread vegetatively.

Be on the lookout for alligatorweed DR. WHITNEY BRIM-DEFOREST

CALIFORNIA University of California Cooperative Extension Rice Adviser Sutter, Yuba, Placer and Sacramento Counties wbrimdeforest@ucanr.edu Alligatorweed, known scientifically as Alternanthera philoxeroides (Mart.) Griseb.), was spotted in California rice-growing counties along the edge of the Feather River in 2019. Eleven different locations/populations were found in Butte County, and one location was identified in Sutter County. The exact locations for all of the populations of this aquatic weed can be found on Calflora.org. Prior to 2019, the farthest north alligatorweed had been found was in Sacramento County along the Sacramento River in 2017. There have been populations in Southern California for a number of years — Los Angeles County since the 1940s and in Tulare and Kings counties since the 1960s. Alligatorweed is commonly found throughout the southern United States, including in rice fields. It was introduced to the TWITTER: @RICEFARMING

South from South America in the early 1900s, presumably in a boat ballast. It is classified as a noxious weed in both California and Texas but is not federally listed as a noxious weed. There are two currently registered California rice herbicides that can control it: Regiment (bispyribac-sodium) and Grandstand (triclopyr). It is a labeled weed for both herbicides, and rates and timings for its control can be found on the respective labels. Alligatorweed grows well in shallow water in muddy areas. It can grow up to 3 feet tall and has hollow stems. The leaves are opposite on the stem, and the flowers are white and clover-like in appearance. It flowers during the summer (May-October). In the United States, it does not reproduce by seed but is spread vegetatively. This means that pieces of the plant have to float along waterways in order to spread. Boats are a likely mechanism of movement from waterway to waterway. Since it is an aquatic weed already known to infest rice fields in other parts of the United States, there is potential for it to move into rice fields in California. As of writing of this article, there have not been any plants found in California rice fields. Because the potential is there, however, it is a good idea to keep a lookout and be vigilant. If you suspect you have seen alligatorweed in your fields, please call your local pest control adviser or Cooperative Extension rice advisors. MARCH 2020

RICE FARMING

Specialists Speaking

Prevent and manage weed resistance DR. JARROD HARDKE

ARKANSAS Assoc. Professor/Rice Extension Agronomist University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service jhardke@uaex.edu Weed scientists with the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture have documented barnyardgrass populations with resistance to five herbicide modes of action. While this is not common, it does present an alarming development. These populations are resistant to Group 2 (Newpath, Grasp and Regiment); Group 13 (Command); Group 7 (Propanil); Group 1 (Clincher and Ricestar); and Group 4 (Facet and Loyant) herbicides. In these situations, only Group 3 (Prowl) and Group 8 (Bolero) herbicides remain effective. The goal moving forward on the majority of acres is to prevent resistance levels from reaching this point. The best way to control weeds in rice remains to prevent them from emerging in the first place. This means overlapping residual herbicides whenever possible. To achieve this, Command remains a foundational herbicide to be applied to virtually all acres. Other key residual herbicides include Facet applied either with Command or overlapped shortly after and Prowl plus Bolero applied delayed preemergence. Use Newpath or Preface in Clearfield or FullPage fields, respectively. Our postemergence herbicide options still remain effective in the majority of cases, but some resistance to at least one mode of action appears to be present in virtually all barnyardgrass populations. Post applications are expensive and can be greatly influenced by environmental conditions at the time of application — with lower control levels the result of weeds too large, inadequate soil moisture, or temperatures too high or low. The goal remains to focus on a strong residual herbicide program. The key is that they be successfully activated by rainfall or flushing within a few days after application. Overlapping residuals approximately every two to three weeks, depending on conditions, is key to avoiding costly escapes later. The earlier we can fertilize and flood, the less stress on our weed control program. In the situation of furrow-irrigated rice, the more frequent early season irrigations provide the opportunity to quickly activate and reactivate residual herbicides. Regardless of the system, the goal is to get rice fertilized and growing as early as possible to outcompete weeds. As we hope to soon emerge from another wet winter, we will be moving quickly to work fields and plant shortly thereafter. Be careful not to plant too far ahead of sprayers as residual herbicide programs and starting clean are vital to stay on top of rice weed management. A lesson learned from 2019 is that burndown applications

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need to be made days before working the soil to ensure the herbicides have time to work. The reemergence of a large weed not controlled before working the soil will be that much harder to control later.

Barnyardgrass control can’t start too early DR. BOBBY R. GOLDEN MISSISSIPPI Extension Rice Specialist bgolden@drec.msstate.edu

The landscape of rice production in Mississippi is dominated by the stale seedbed production system. This method of land preparation is chosen due to clay soils’ water-holding capacity where most of the state’s rice is grown. With minimal to no-till occurring in the spring on Mississippi rice fields, early season weed control prior to planting is paramount to starting clean and getting ahead of problematic grassy weeds. Dr. Jason Bond’s weed management program has dedicated immense time to develop strategies to combat these weeds early in the season to get our fields off to a great start. Beginning with burndown, if glyphosate-resistant ryegrass is an issue, he suggests clethodim (12 to 16 ounces of Select Max or 6 to 8 ounces of 2-pound clethodim formulation). The only other reliable postemergence herbicide option for Italian ryegrass control is paraquat applied twice. Similar to 2,4-D that we commonly use as a burndown to control broadleaf weeds, the rice-planting interval from application to seed in the ground is about 30 days for clethodim. The plant-back or preplant intervals should be adhered to as we always see a field or two every year with some injury because we got in the field a little too quickly after application. Barnyardgrass is the most problematic grassy weed in Mississippi and requires a constant, dedicated approach to keeping it at bay and limiting its yield-robbing potential. For barnyardgrass, Bond recommends starting clean and controlling it at planting. This can be achieved by using residual herbicides at planting and coming back with tankmixes of postemergence and residual herbicides with multiple modes of action. Mixtures containing different modes of action are also important to reduce the selection pressure on the limited chemistries available in rice that are active against barnyardgrass. In general, barnyardgrass control cannot occur too early. If we wait until grasses start to tiller before an application, we will be chasing them all year long. Well-timed, early season applications always provide the most consistent control. As a final note, don’t forget the flood is one of the main weed-control strategies that we impart in a rice field. If we can get to flood clean and maintain it at adequate depth, we will be well on our way to clean fields at harvest. RICEFARMING.COM

Industry

News

Agworld recently acquired all of the assets of Greenbook, a comprehensive database of crop protection labels and information, from Farm Journal. The move will allow Agworld to complement and expand its current offerings that provide collaborative farm management on a single platform. “This is going to be a core part of what we do and how we run the Agworld business and the value we provide our customers to power new innovative tools,” said Zach Sheely, president. Founded in 2009 by Doug Fitch and Matthew Powell, the company started with simple digital tools that allowed farmers, consultants and agronomists to collaboratively manage workflow and record keeping. Having grown up on a San Joaquin Valley farm that produced row crops, grapes and tree nuts, Sheely knew what types of farm management tools growers needed. From there, Australia-based Agworld expanded to offer the current suite of data management tools that will now include Greenbook’s pesticide label database. Currently, Greenbook allows users to look up and compare the labels of more than 10,000 crop protection materials through an online database. Sheely said they plan to beef up Greenbook’s offerings, particularly on the West Coast and in specialty crop markets because of ever-increasing regulations and compliance mandates. At the same time, Agworld doesn’t plan to ignore the crop protection data needs of commodity producers.

RiceTec renews support of USA Rice-DU Stewardship Partnership

RiceTec has renewed its support for the USA Rice-Ducks Unlimited Rice Stewardship Partnership with a commitment of $150,000 through 2022. “RiceTec and DU are both focused on solutions for producers that lead to greater on-farm profits and therefore a more sustainable rice industry,” Dr. Brian Ottis, diTWITTER: @RICEFARMING

BRUCE SCHULTZ, LSU AGCENTER

Agworld acquires Greenbook pesticide label database

LSU agriculture students (from left) Patrick Dean Jolly, Colt Hardee, Scott Lee and John Ontoy were awarded scholarships at the Louisiana Agricultural Consultants Association Conference.

Students receive scholarships at LACA conference Four Louisiana State University College of Agriculture students received scholarships during the recent 2020 Louisiana Agricultural Technology and Management Conference. Organized by the Louisiana Agricultural Consultants Association, the conference allowed companies to showcase their latest products and services. Experts from the LSU AgCenter and other universities also were on hand to discuss their research projects. Colt Hardee, an undergraduate student in agribusiness, received a scholarship from the Louisiana Land Bank. He has worked crawfish ponds, hauled rice and held several ag-related jobs on the LSU campus. He was named Undergraduate Student Leader of the Year. Patrick Dean Jolly received a scholarship from Grady and Barbara Coburn of Pest Management Enterprises. Jolly is an undergraduate student in agribusiness and has maintained a 3.9 grade point average. He has worked with a crop consultant, and he helps maintain the Baton Rouge Country Club golf course. John Ontoy received a scholarship from Ray and Dorothy Young. He completed his bachelor’s degree in plant pathology at the University of the Philippines Los Baños before continuing his education at LSU as a master’s student in plant pathology. He has worked on a study of salinity tolerance and disease resistance in rice. Scott Lee, an entomology doctoral student, received a scholarship from Belchim Crop Protection. He earned a bachelor’s degree at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and he worked with mosquito control efforts in Minnesota and Iowa. He currently is working on his doctoral dissertation on the resurgence of the soybean looper insect pest. rector of supply management for RiceTec, said in a news release. Special funding came from RiceTec’s owners, the Royal Family of Lichtenstein, and their Lichtenstein Global Trust Foundation. RiceTec’s service areas and DU’s priority conservation landscapes are aligned across the Gulf Coastal Prairies and the Mississippi Alluvial Valley, two of the most critical wintering areas for waterfowl on the continent. Along the Gulf Coast,

rice agriculture provides 42% of the food available to wintering dabbling ducks. “The overall advantage of RiceTec and Rice Stewardship working together is the increased staff capacity and breadth of knowledge for the actual rice producer,” MARCH 2020

RICE FARMING

Industry Scott Manley, DU director of conservation programs, said in the release. “Our focus on conservation planning, energy efﬁciencies for irrigation and maximizing participation in Farm Bill conservation programs, provides producers a full spectrum of solutions for conservation and greater proﬁts.” To date, more than 625,000 acres have been positively impacted by Rice Stewardship and close working partners like the Natural Resources Conservation Service and RiceTec.

Syngenta launches seed treatment with 4 MOAs

Syngenta has launched Vibrance RST rice seed treatment, which contains four different modes of action to control seedborne, soilborne and seedling diseases, according to a news release. The four active ingredients are:

News

 Azoxystrobin, a Group 11 fungicide, protects against Rhizoctonia and Pythium species and some soilborne and seedborne diseases, including rice blast.  Fludioxonil, a Group 12 fungicide, controls Fusarium and Rhizoctonia.  Mefenoxam, a Group 4 fungicide, brings a second mode of action for Pythium, which causes damping-off and seed rot.  Sedaxane, a Group 7 fungicide, delivers the second punch against Rhizoctonia, which causes seed decay, seedling blight and damping-off. “The uniqueness of this product is the four active ingredients that work to complement each other for disease and resistance management,” Syngenta Seedcare Specialist Anthony Crocker said in the release. “A good protection package gives rice growers the freedom to focus on the other things they need to do agronomically. “We need to get a stand up, then get the rice big enough so we can get the herbicides on it, get the fertilizer out, then get the ﬂood out there.”

EPA registers 2 Adama rice herbicides The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has registered two rice herbicides from Adama: Vopak 3ME and Zurax L. Vopak 3ME is a microencapsulated formulation of clomazone, which provides residual activity on grass and broadleaf weeds, according to a news release. It can be applied preplant through early postemergence and by ground or by air. Zurax L is a liquid formulation of quinclorac that controls annual grass and broadleaf weeds, including barnyardgrass and large crabgrass. It has a ﬂexible application window and can be foliar applied to dry- or water-seeded rice as well as soil applied before, during or after planting dry-seeded rice. The two new products join Adama’s Preface and Postscript herbicides that are paired with the FullPage rice-cropping system.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture plans to invest $56 million this year to help agricultural producers improve water quality in more than 300 high-priority watersheds across the country. USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service is continuing two of its successful efforts — the Mississippi River Basin Healthy Watersheds Initiative and National Water Quality Initiative, according to a news release. Through these initiatives, NRCS offers technical and ﬁnancial assistance to farmers and ranchers to implement practices that avoid, control and trap nutrients and sediment, which in high quantities negatively impact water quality. Practices include ﬁlter strips, cover crops and manure management, which promote soil health, reduce erosion and lesson nutrient runoff. As part of the Mississippi River initiative, NRCS will make available $17.5 million to producers in 13 states: Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, South Dakota, Tennessee

RICE FARMING

MARCH 2020

COURTESY NRCS

NRCS to invest $56 million in ag water quality improvements

An engineer checks a recently completed tailwater return pond in Lonoke County, Arkansas. The banks were seeded with rye for erosion control.

and Wisconsin. This initiative supports each state’s nutrient loss reduction strategy with overall goals of improving water quality, restoring wetlands and enhancing wildlife habitat while ensuring economic viability of agricultural lands along the nation’s largest river. Additionally, NRCS will make available $38.9 million this year through NWQI. The initiative is a partnership among NRCS, state water quality agen-

cies and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to identify and address impaired water bodies through voluntary conservation. NRCS accepts applications for conservation programs year-round, but applications are ranked and funded by enrollment periods that are set locally. Producers interested in technical and financial assistance should contact their local NRCS field office. RICEFARMING.COM

“RICETEC HAS BEEN A GREAT PARTNER, YEAR AFTER YEAR.” Harry Howarth – Cleveland, MS

RiceTec is committed to higher rice yields and grain quality through innovation. We’re also committed to partnering with farming families for the long haul. Our superior genetics along with outstanding service and support will help you stay on the profitable and sustainable side of rice production. Call your local RiceTec representative at 877.580.7423. Learn more at RiceTec.com.

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