REGIONAL CROP REPORT

As Harvesting Gains Momentum, All Eyes on Yields and Quality

SOUTH LOUISIANA AND TEXAS 

Harvest is wrapping up in south Louisiana and Texas. I estimate that south Louisiana is 85 to 90% complete, with the majority of the remaining acres located in the northern part of the region. The western Texas Rice Belt is 95% complete, and I estimate that the eastern region of Texas is 70% complete. 

Yields have dropped off some the later we advance into the harvest season. Yields have still been decent in both Texas and south Louisiana, overall, but as I have mentioned in past updates, quality appears to be lower than in years past. I believe that the hot, dry weather that has been favorable for harvest efficiency has also caused problems with milling.

It’s exciting to see that PVL03 is still one of the top millers in Louisiana, considering the significant acreage it was planted on this year.

The condition of the ratoon crop is a little all over the place. I have heard of some fields having quick regrowth and others that have not had it. Surface water availability and the possibility of salt intrusion in far south Louisiana has hampered the flooding of some of the later ratoon fields.

If you would like me to look at something or have any questions, please feel free to contact me.

Corey Conner
District Field Representative
337-249-9523

MISSISSIPPI AND NORTH LOUISIANA

Though some rice has been harvested, we are still a few days away from really getting going. The little bit of rice that has been harvested indicates we likely have a good yielding crop in the field.  

It is still too early to know about milling. I’ve received some calls about applying sodium chlorate. When I was with Mississippi State, I never recommended salting more than I could harvest in 3 days. The University of Arkansas says 5 days. The way I see it, especially early in the season, what you think you can harvest in 3 days usually takes a day or so longer anyway. Just be careful. 

Harvest efficiency is important, especially this year when multiple crops are finishing at the same time; however, milling is an important factor in the final price you receive. Some varieties hold head rice milling at lower moistures better than others. 

We strongly recommend harvesting CLL16 at moistures above 15% to capitalize on the best milling potential. PVL03 is a variety that seems to be more stable in milling across a wider range of harvest moisture.

Dr. Tim Walker
General Manager
901-590-9564

GRAND PRAIRIE AND SOUTH ARKANSAS

We are finally arriving at the end of the season.  Harvest has started on a small scale in my territory.  I think, however, it will be wide open next week.

Draining continues across the area and I believe we will have this crop fully drained by the first or second week in September. I have not heard any yield or milling reports to date but should be getting some yield reports in next.

We are in a hot, dry stretch and, according to the forecast, I would caution on draining too soon. We want to make sure that we have enough moisture in the field to finish the crop out in good condition. The dry weather is good for harvesting but we do not want to sacrifice some grain fill opportunity at this point in the year.

I hope everyone has a good and safe harvest season.  If you need anything, please let me know and I will help any way I can.

William "Hutch" Hutchens
District Field Representative
870-273-9291

NORTH CENTRAL ARKANSAS

Rainfall has been well above the average for the month of August. Most of the crop is at the grain fill stage and many of the fields are being drained this week. There was a little bit of rice salted this weekend and harvest will be fast approaching. 

Most of the rice will be ready to harvest after Labor Day. Both the CLL16 and CLL18 in my territory continues to look impressive. The CLL16 appears to be in position to have another steady year from a yield standpoint. The CLL18 continues to impress with a very large panicle size, which has many farmers hopeful for exceptional yields in these fields. 

The CLM04 looks very strong from a yield potential standpoint even though most of that variety was planted at or below 55 lbs/acre. As always, please refer to the Horizon Ag App for agronomic information on disease ratings of our products, or feel free to continue reaching out with any questions or concerns you may have. 

Thank you to everyone who attended our field day on August 17, 2023 at the University of Arkansas NERREC in Harrisburg. Thank you for your support of Horizon Ag.

Chase Kagen
District Field Representative
870-273-9283

NORTHEAST ARKANSAS AND MISSOURI BOOTHEEL

I do not have any yield reports from my territory as of now, but fully expect some rice to be harvested before the end of the month. By Labor Day weekend, I expect things to be running wide open. 

A substantial amount of rice has been drained and the number of drained fields increases daily. With the increases in temperature this week, it made some growers consider not pulling the plug prematurely, especially on lighter textured soils. That is the wisest decision at this point, plus the extended forecast looks to give us a great start to 2023 harvest.  

In conclusion, I would like to say thanks to all my growers, retail and industry partners that attended the Horizon Ag Arkansas field day last week. You have helped make 2023 a successful year. Let’s finish strong and please remember to be safe during this busy harvest season. If you have any questions or need help with anything, please give me a call.

Jason Satterfield
District Field Representative
870-273-9283

2023 ARKANSAS FIELD DAY

“Our strongest rice portfolio ever.”

That’s how Horizon Ag general manager Dr. Tim Walker described the Clearfield® and Provisia® rice varieties available to plant next season to more than 100 farmers, consultants and rice industry leaders who attended the company’s recent Arkansas Field Day in Harrisburg at the University of Arkansas Northeast Rice Research and Extension Center.

“It is exciting to talk about the products we have today that are being brought to market through Horizon Ag’s long-standing partnership with the outstanding breeding programs here in Arkansas and the southern rice region,” said Dr. Walker. “We strive every day to be a good partner with the industry and, most importantly, with farmers, by offering products that provide the best opportunity for them to be more profitable, and the U.S. rice industry to meet the needs of the domestic and export consumers.”

This season, Horizon Ag had a limited launch of CLL18, the newest Clearfield variety from University of Arkansas breeders, after it had consistently outyielded other elite rice varieties in multi-state, multi-year tests. In addition to providing farmers very high yield potential and good milling, CLL18 is a conventional statured rice with excellent straw strength and good tolerance to sheath blight. It is moderately susceptible to rice blast.

Joining CLL18 and proven performer CLL16 in the Horizon Ag lineup next season will be new CLL19, an outstanding semi-dwarf variety from the LSU AgCenter breeding program. CLL19 represents a significant step up over what it’s replacing – CLL17, another early maturing variety – in terms of yield potential and stalk strength, in addition to excellent blast resistance and milling quality.

PVL03, the number one variety planted in neighboring Louisiana in 2023, also is making inroads into the North Delta. Next season, PVL03 will be joined by PVL04, the latest variety released for the Provisia Rice System, and the first from the University of Arkansas breeding program.