Horizon Ag lowers 2027 prices on Clearfield rice varieties CLL16 and CLL19 for growers facing a hard market, plus an invite to the USA Rice Outlook Conference.

CLL16 and CLL19: Lower Prices for 2027

You didn’t cut rice acres this year because you wanted to.

Rice Farming interviews Horizon Ag CEO Dr. Tim Walker on trust, data and 25 years of partnership, plus the PVL06 soft launch across 20,000 Upper Delta acres.

Stand by the Data: The 25-Year Track Record of Horizon Ag

Rice Farming sat down with Horizon Ag CEO Dr. Tim Walker to talk about what keeps growers coming back year after year.

Harvest is moving fast across the Delta in hot, dry weather. Regional reports on PVL06, CLL18, CLL16 and CLL19 yields, plus drain timing guidance for growers.

Hot, Dry Weather Speeds Up Harvest Across the Delta

We’ve officially reached the ‘hurry up and wait’ part of our season.

Triple-digit heat is driving fast dry-down across the Mid-South. Drain timing guidance, early CLL19 harvest moistures and yields, plus FSA acreage surprises.

Feeling Hot, Hot, Hot!

Extreme heat, and the warnings that come with it, are what we’ve all been dealing with this summer, but Mother Nature cranked it up to 100°+ for most of us in the Mid-South the past couple of weeks.

Highlights from the 2026 Horizon Ag Arkansas Field Day: breeding pipeline updates on PVL06, CLL20, CLL21 and PVJ01, plus USA Rice market outlook and Provisia stewardship.

Thanks for Another Great Turnout at the 2026 Arkansas Field Day

Thank you to all the growers, researchers and industry partners from across the South who joined us for another great field day this year.

Heading Season and the Harvest Decisions That Follow

<p style="color:#70b543;"><strong>HORIZON AG REGIONAL REPORTS</strong></p>

<h1>Heading Season and the Harvest Decisions That Follow</h1>

<img class="adapt-img esdev-stretch-width"

src="https://images.prismic.io/horizon-ag/atLBThk-52octtCT_pvl06-near-kaplain-la.png?auto=format,compress"

style="display: block !important; width: 100%; max-width: 560px !important; height: auto !important; margin-bottom:10px !important;"

style="color: #70b543; text-decoration: underline !important; font-weight: bold;"

href="https://www.horizonseed.com/variety/pvl06">PVL06</a> near Kaplan, LA.</em></p>

      Everyone take a breath: we’ve made it to heading, and with it, the tense timing of agronomic decisions is behind

      us. Some of the earlier rice down on the Prairie will be evaluated this week to determine if the field can be

      drained ahead of harvest, and rice is starting to head all the way into the Bootheel of Missouri. Overall, the

      crop looks good. We have some areas where pre-emerge herbicides did not activate well enough for the cleanliness

      we want, and other spots where conventional cultivars are reminding growers and consultants why herbicide tolerant

      varieties earn their place on the farm. For growers with PVL06 on their farm for the first time: the variety shows

      a bronze color as panicles emerge. This has prompted a few calls from aerial applicators worried about drift, and

      consultants doing a double take. The color is normal, just a characteristic of the variety.

      As a reminder, the threshold for stink bugs has been changed to 10 bugs per 10 sweeps throughout the whole year,

      instead of the 5 per 10 during the first two weeks and 10 per 10 during the second two weeks. It is not

      recommended to tank mix your early fungicide applications with insecticide.

      Last year, prolonged nighttime temperatures above 74℉ for sixteen consecutive days contributed to yield loss

      across Northeast Arkansas and Missouri. Research shows grain yield can drop 7% for every 1℉ above 71℉ at night,

      and blank grains on panicles are the clearest sign of that stress. This year we’re running about 4.0℉ cooler than

      July 2025 based on Missouri weather station data, and Northeast Arkansas appears to be following the same trend.

      We’ll see a few 100℉ days ahead, but conditions should ease again soon, so I’m less concerned about heat related

      blanking than I was last year. Still, keep water moving through your paddies and furrow irrigated fields during

      My counterpart David Doise, who covers Texas and South Louisiana, provided the following update for his territory.

      “Unfortunately, the weather is against us down on the coast. Many growers are trying to get some rice out ahead of

      Tropical Depression Bertha, but getting the moisture to fall to harvestable levels has presented a challenge. The

      latest update is expecting the system to impact the New Orleans region by Thursday morning, Lake Charles by Friday

      morning, and Houston by Saturday morning. The region is less than 10% harvested at this point. Early yields are a

      mixed bag, but initial reports for PVL05 and PVL03 are good".

      Reach out to me with any concerns or questions. We’re grateful for the opportunity to walk alongside your rice

style="text-align: center; margin: 0px 75px 0px 75px; background-color: #e0f2fe; padding: 15px 20px 15px 20px; border-radius: 15px;">

<span style="color: #003863; font-weight: bold;">July 30th –</span> Rice Field Day, Northeast Rice Research &

        Extension Center, Harrisburg, AR.

<span style="color: #003863; font-weight: bold;">August 4th –</span> Horizon Ag Arkansas Field Day, Northeast

        Rice Research & Extension Center, Harrisburg, AR.

Everyone take a breath: we’ve made it to heading, and with it, the tense timing of agronomic decisions is behind us.

Horizon Ag's Louisiana Field Day previewed CLL20 Clearfield rice and PVJ01 Provisia Jasmine, plus new data on growing demand for U.S.-grown Jasmine rice.

Horizon Ag Field Day in Kaplan Highlights New Varieties and the Case for Domestic Aromatic Rice

<p style="color:#70b543;"><strong>For Immediate Release</strong></p>

<h1>Horizon Ag Field Day in Kaplan Highlights New Varieties and the Case for Domestic Aromatic Rice</h1>

<span style="font-weight: bold;">KAPLAN, La. (July 9, 2026) —</span> Rice growers and industry partners gathered

      last month at Richard Farms in Kaplan for Horizon Ag’s annual Louisiana Field Day, spending an evening reviewing

      the 2026 crop season, previewing upcoming variety releases and hearing directly from university and industry

      leaders on what is shaping the future of U.S. rice.

      CLL20, a new Clearfield<sup>®</sup> rice variety developed by LSU AgCenter, is targeted for commercial release

      in 2027. It is a semi-dwarf variety with strong ratoon potential and yield performance comparable to <a href="https://www.horizonseed.com/variety/cll18"

style="color: #70b543; text-decoration: underline !important;">CLL18</a>.

      “The milling on CLL20 is outstanding. It outperforms CLL18 and <a href="https://www.horizonseed.com/variety/cll19"

style="color: #70b543; text-decoration: underline !important;">CLL19</a> in most situations, even when conditions get

      tough. That consistency is what sets it apart,” said Dr. María Montiel, Rice Breeder, Horizon Ag.

      The field day also introduced PVJ01, a Provisia<sup>®</sup> Jasmine variety developed by LSU AgCenter, with

      commercial availability through Horizon Ag targeted for 2028. The variety addresses a growing constraint in the

      domestic Jasmine market. “The mills want to expand Jasmine production but they’re limited by how many clean acres

      are available,” said Dr. Adam Famoso, Rice Breeder at the LSU AgCenter. “PVJ01 gives growers a way to control

      weedy rice in Jasmine, which opens up ground that wasn’t an option before.”

      Cameron Jacobs, Vice President, Domestic Promotion, USA Rice, presented data on the domestic Jasmine market that

      reinforced the opportunity. Consumer demand for U.S.-grown Jasmine rice is growing, awareness is rising and the

      category is gaining ground on restaurant menus and in retail. <a href="https://www.horizonseed.com/variety/clj01"

style="color: #70b543; text-decoration: underline !important;">CLJ01</a> is already the dominant variety on domestic

      Jasmine acres, with more than 30,000 of the roughly 50,000 Jasmine acres in the southern U.S. planted to it this

      “The growth we’re seeing in the demand for Jasmine rice domestically is real, and it’s accelerating,” said Jacobs.

      “U.S. growers have a genuine opportunity to capture market share that has gone to imports for years.”

      “Our long grain export markets have been under pressure for a long time,” said Dr. Tim Walker, CEO of Horizon Ag.

      “At the same time, rice imports into the USA have increased exponentially. The domestic aromatic market is a real

      opportunity to maintain or grow rice acres at home, and we intend to be positioned to capture it.”

      Walker addressed the broader acreage situation directly. Combined U.S. rice acres may be approaching levels not

      seen since the early 1970s. The investment required to bring new herbicide systems, fungicides and varieties to

      market depends on growers having enough acres to justify it. Horizon Ag’s response is to keep investing

      regardless. The company’s breeding program is advancing lines developed directly by Horizon Ag, a milestone Walker

      said is closer than most in the industry expect.

      “We are committed to this industry for the long term,” Walker said. “That means putting resources into breeding,

      into partnerships and into varieties that give growers a reason to stay in rice. When our growers succeed, the

      Clearfield<sup>®</sup> and Provisia<sup>®</sup> are registered trademarks of BASF. All other trademarks are the

<span style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">Media Contact</span><br>

<a href="mailto:matt.salanik@brightonagency.com">matt.salanik@brightonagency.com</a>

Rice growers and industry partners gathered last month at Richard Farms in Kaplan for Horizon Ag’s annual Louisiana Field Day

Rice is heading during peak heat across the Mid-South. Horizon Ag field reps share fungicide timing, midseason nitrogen tips and harvest moisture targets.

Heat, Heading and What Your Crop Needs Between Now and Harvest

<h1>Heat, Heading and What Your Crop Needs Between Now and Harvest</h1>

src="https://images.prismic.io/horizon-ag/m-4z9QFDw3rPMfdH_CLL18rowriceinQuitmanCounty%2CMS.png?auto=format,compress"

<p style="font-size: 12px; text-align: center;"><em><a href="https://www.horizonseed.com/variety/cll18"

style="color: #70b543; text-decoration: underline !important;">CLL18</a> Row Rice in Quitman County</em></p>

      Rice in the Upper Delta has taken off as temperatures have climbed. A few fields have begun heading, but most of

      the crop in my territory is flag leaf emerging to mid-boot stage. With current forecasted conditions, rice will

      likely be heading and pollinating during the hottest stretch of the year. Wells will need to run for extended

      periods. Keeping water moving helps alleviate heat beneath the canopy, reducing plant stress and allowing the crop

      Now is the time to start scouting for blast and sheath blight. For growers planning a blanket fungicide

      application, I recommend waiting until flag leaf collar is visible to mid-boot stage. That window gives you the

      best chance to address potential disease pressure with a single application.

      We also have later-planted rice that is moving fast. Timely midseason fertilizer applications are critical in

      these conditions. Check your preflood fertilizer incorporation date and make sure you have given the crop adequate

      time before applying midseason nitrogen. Arkansas recommends waiting four weeks after preflood N is incorporated

      and being past panicle initiation / green ring. Overall the crop looks good so let's give it every chance to

      Thank you for your continued support and confidence in Horizon Ag.

<strong style="color: #003863;">Our Arkansas Field Day is August 4, 2026 at the Northeast Rice Research and

        Extension Center in Harrisburg, Arkansas</strong>. We hope to see you there. God Bless.

src="https://images.prismic.io/horizon-ag/aeABhJ1ZCF7ETOsC_chase-kagan.png?auto=format,compress"

style="display: block !important; width: 100%; max-width: 270px !important; height: auto !important; margin-bottom:10px !important;"

            District Field Representative<br>

<a href="mailto:ckagen@horizonseed.com" style="color: #70b543;">ckagen@horizonseed.com</a><br>

Rice in the Upper Delta has taken off as temperatures have climbed. A few fields have begun heading, but most of

      the crop in my territory is flag leaf emerging to mid-boot stage.

Thanks for a Great Night at Richard Farms

<h1>Thanks for a Great Night at Richard Farms</h1>

src="https://images.prismic.io/horizon-ag/ILv5yS2uCvGlIKpL_attendees-gather.jpeg?auto=format,compress"

alt="Attendees gather at the Horizon Ag Field Day."

<p style="font-size: 12px;"><em>Attendees gather at the Horizon Ag Field Day.</em></p>

      Thank you to everyone who joined us Tuesday evening at Richard Farms in Kaplan. A special thanks to Christian and

      Julie Richard for hosting, and to the Johnson Brothers for the music.

      Dr. María Montiel covered the latest performance data on CLL20, Horizon Ag's newest Clearfield<sup>®</sup>

      trial data shows strong milling performance and packaged rice appearance, two factors that matter more every year

      as U.S. rice competes for market position. Growers who hit whole milling targets consistently have more protection

src="https://images.prismic.io/horizon-ag/2eRhrXHwOYIge0eT_maria_img_5294_copy.jpeg?auto=format,compress"

alt="Dr. María Montiel talks about CLL20."

<p style="font-size: 12px;"><em>Dr. María Montiel talks about CLL20.</em></p>

src="https://images.prismic.io/horizon-ag/3Cq4c-UONJdpq3ff_adam_img_5295_copy_pxz.jpg?auto=format,compress"

alt="Dr. Adam Famoso speaks about an upcoming Provisia Jasmine variety."

<p style="font-size: 12px;"><em>Dr. Adam Famoso speaks about an upcoming Provisia Jasmine variety.</em></p>

      Attendees also heard updates on the Provisia<sup>&reg;</sup> Rice System pipeline, including current-season

      performance data on <a style="color: #70b543; text-decoration: underline !important; font-weight: bold;"

href="https://www.horizonseed.com/variety/pvl05">PVL05</a> and <a

href="https://www.horizonseed.com/variety/pvl06">PVL06</a>, both in limited launch this year.

      Presentations were rounded out by Dr. Adam Famoso, Rice Breeder at the LSU AgCenter, and Cameron Jacobs, Vice

      President, Domestic Promotion, with USA Rice. Dr. Famoso shared details on the first Provisia Jasmine-type

      variety, which Horizon Ag anticipates launching as PVJ01 in 2028. Jacobs presented data showing meaningful

      opportunity to grow domestic Jasmine-type rice production, a development that could help southern growers

      stabilize rice acres as export competition from South America continues to pressure the market.

      We also want to welcome David Doise, who joins Horizon Ag as the District Field Representative for South Louisiana

      and Texas. David brings more than 35 years of agricultural experience across seed, agronomy and retail development

      in Louisiana and Texas, most recently with Corteva Agriscience. Growers in South Louisiana and Texas can reach

      David directly at <span style="color: #70b543; font-weight: bold;">337-250-1898</span> or <a

style="color: #70b543; font-weight: bold;" href="mailto:ddoise@horizonseed.com">ddoise@horizonseed.com</a>.

      The <span style="color: #003863; font-weight: bold;">nomination deadline</span> for the 2026 RICE Awards is <span style="color: #003863; font-weight: bold;">July 15</span>. If you know someone who deserves

      recognition, now is the time to put their name in.

      The RICE Awards honor individuals who exemplify <span style="color: #003863; font-weight: bold;">Resilience,

Thank you to everyone who joined us Tuesday evening at Richard Farms in Kaplan.

A Strong Start to June Across the Delta and Gulf Coast

<h1>A Strong Start to June Across the Delta and Gulf Coast</h1>

  Northeast Arkansas pilots had a busy first week of June to kickoff the month. While the earlier rainfalls were

  welcomed, the extended days of cloudy, wet conditions intensified herbicide activity and delayed

  fertilizer/flooding plans. I suppose we can't have our cake and eat it too. The Provisia<sup>®</sup> varieties,

  such as <a href="https://www.horizonseed.com/variety/pvl04"

  style="color: #70b543; text-decoration: underline !important;">PVL04</a>

  and <a href="https://www.horizonseed.com/variety/pvl06"

  style="color: #70b543; text-decoration: underline !important;">PVL06</a>, continue to be positive topics of

  discussion. We are all looking forward to the end of year conversations about these varieties.

  src="https://images.prismic.io/horizon-ag/aisMnKlQnVZVEOi4_pvl04-puxico-mo.jpg?auto=format,compress"

  alt="PVL04 located near Puxico, Missouri."

  style="display: block !important; width: 100%; max-width: 560px !important; height: auto !important; margin-bottom:10px !important;"

  <p style="font-size: 12px; text-align: center;"><em>PVL04 located near Puxico, Missouri.</em></p>

<h3>Flashing rice with a little dash of salt</h3>

  The last week was spent looking at rice with lots of flashing due to ALS chemistries (such as Permit<sup>®</sup>,

  Permit Plus<sup>®</sup>, Newpath<sup>®</sup> and Ricestar<sup>®</sup>). This shouldn't come as a surprise with the amount

  of rain we've received over the last week and a half, which continues to activate the herbicides. Due to the lack

  of moisture at the beginning of the season, we are just now seeing the herbicides go to work for us. Rice

  cultivars that are being grown in fields that have sandy loam soil pockets or were recently graded can become

  stressed once the herbicides start activating. If you notice your rice is flashing severely, remove the flood to

  allow reintroduction of oxygen to the soil. After the rice starts to green back up, reapply the flood.

  Another abiotic stress factor we are seeing is salt sensitivity following previous soybean rows and in-row rice

  scenarios. Unfortunately, rice is most sensitive during the seedling stage (2-3 leaf), and there is not much we

  can do other than flush the rice with fresh water to encourage surface runoff or downward percolation. Why are we

  noticing salt intolerance in fields with no recent history? Mainly because of the drought we are currently in; the

  lack of rainfall during the fall and winter prevented salts from being leached deeper into the soil profile, as

  typically occurs under normal conditions.

  src="https://images.prismic.io/horizon-ag/aisMm6lQnVZVEOi1_rice-flashing-als-herbicide.jpg?auto=format,compress"

  alt="Rice expressing "flashing" due to ALS herbicide activity."

  <p style="font-size: 12px; text-align: center;"><em>Rice expressing "flashing" due to ALS herbicide activity.</em></p>

<h3>Making fertilizer decisions in suboptimal conditions</h3>

  In May of 2024, Dr. Jarrod Hardke discussed how to manage suboptimal fertilizer conditions. It's worth revisiting

IN THE NEWS

IN THE NEWS

Articles »

Horizon Ag Field Day in Kaplan Highlights New Varieties and the Case for Domestic Aromatic Rice

Horizon Ag to Host 2026 Louisiana Field Day

The Data Is Clear. The Path Forward Is Harder.

Industry »

Rice seed availability tightens even more for 2025

Horizon Ag launches new varieties, brings together grower advisory board

Horizon Ag: Ready To Meet Seed Demand

Newsletters »

CLL16 and CLL19: Lower Prices for 2027

Stand by the Data: The 25-Year Track Record of Horizon Ag

Hot, Dry Weather Speeds Up Harvest Across the Delta

Videos »

CLL19 Stand Out in Arkansas

CLL18 | High Yields and High Value

New CLL19 | Short Stature and Early Emergence Make a Great Fit on Any Farm

IN THE NEWS

IN THE NEWS

Articles »

Horizon Ag Field Day in Kaplan Highlights New Varieties and the Case for Domestic Aromatic Rice

Horizon Ag to Host 2026 Louisiana Field Day

The Data Is Clear. The Path Forward Is Harder.

Industry »

Rice seed availability tightens even more for 2025

Horizon Ag launches new varieties, brings together grower advisory board

Horizon Ag: Ready To Meet Seed Demand

Newsletters »

CLL16 and CLL19: Lower Prices for 2027

Stand by the Data: The 25-Year Track Record of Horizon Ag

Hot, Dry Weather Speeds Up Harvest Across the Delta

Videos »

CLL19 Stand Out in Arkansas

CLL18 | High Yields and High Value

New CLL19 | Short Stature and Early Emergence Make a Great Fit on Any Farm

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