HORIZON AG REGIONAL REPORTS

Field Conditions & Fungicide Outlook Across the Delta

North Central Arkansas

This growing season has brought its fair share of challenges, along with chances to learn and adjust our management approach. Erratic planting windows have led to a wide range of crop stages, from rice just beginning to head out, to fields still being flushed in order to establish a stand — and everything in between.

As we rapidly approach the end of the season for our earliest planted rice, I’ve had several conversations regarding fungicide applications. The most important factors to keep in mind are timing and canopy penetration, both of which are critical to maximizing effectiveness and return on investment. 

Many growers in the Upper Delta are looking for cost-effective ways to apply fungicides without sacrificing protection. One of the best strategies I’ve recommended for Clearfield® product lines is to delay fungicide application until late boot stage, unless earlier application is warranted due to sheath blight pressure. Targeting late boot allows us to get solid protection against blast, and if we include propiconazole, we can also effectively protect against smut. 

However, when it comes to the Provisia® system, our experience continues to show that a two-pass approach remains the most effective against stem Cercospora. This involves a first application of propiconazole at the 2–4″ panicle stage, followed by a traditional boot-stage application.

Later-planted rice is coming on quickly now. Thanks to better pre-flood fertilizer conditions, it’s catching up to earlier-planted fields, many of which had to be spoon-fed due to early weather issues. While these later fields were originally 4–6 weeks behind on the calendar, most have now received their mid-season fertilizer and are only about three weeks behind in actual development. That said, the latest planted rice in my territory has had a tough time establishing a good stand and, in many cases, is still being flushed to get there.

With such widespread planting dates, we’re hopeful that this variability will work in our favor by enabling a more staggered, timely harvest—ultimately helping us preserve grain quality across the board.

I’d also like to give you a friendly reminder to mark your calendars for our Annual Horizon Ag Arkansas Field Day, happening August 12, 2025, at the Northeast Rice Research and Extension Center (NERREC). We look forward to seeing you there. 

As always, please don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions or concerns. Thank you for your continued support of Horizon Ag.

Chase Kagen
District Field Representative
ckagen@horizonseed.com
(870) 273-9283

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Mississippi and North Louisiana

It has been a hot couple of weeks here in Mississippi. Well motors have been running non-stop to keep everything watered. We do have a favorable forecast this week calling for some rain almost every day until the end of the week. I hope we can catch some to give our farmers a much-needed breather. 

There is still some rice that has not gone to flood yet and farmers are doing everything they can to get it there. Fungicide applications have gone out on the early planted rice. I have not heard of any heavy disease signs yet or insect pressure, but we need to continue to be on the lookout. We do have some rice beginning to head and I anticipate some farmers should begin cutting samples around the middle of August. 

Overall, the rice crop is looking good considering what we have been through this year. Mississippi rice acres are down compared to last year. According to the USDA, planted rice acres in Mississippi are at 130,000, compared to 155,000 acres last year. 

North Louisiana has caught some favorable rains the past couple of weeks to keep from running wells too often. The rice is progressing nicely, and the majority of it is between early boot and full boot. The earliest planted rice is about 50-60% headed out.

There has been some disease pressure, and fungicides have gone out accordingly to keep it in check. I have seen some grass poking out, especially barnyard grass, but compared to how crazy the weather has been this year, we did the best we could do with weed control.

Some of the early planted rice will be drained at the end of July or beginning of August. We are looking at mid to late August before harvest ramps up.

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me at any time.

Garland Melton
District Field Representative
gmelton@horizonseed.com
(662) 671-2465

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Reminder: Rice Industry Awards Call for Nominations

Horizon Ag and USA Rice need your help to identify candidates worthy of being honored as recipients of the prestigious 2025 Rice Industry Awards at the Rice Outlook Conference in December 2025.

The awards for Rice Farmer of the Year, Rice Industry Award and Rice Lifetime Achievement Award recognize those rice leaders who have demonstrated dedication, determination and innovation to the industry.

More information about each award, nomination forms and instructions can be found at horizonseed.com/rice-awards.

The deadline for submitting nominations is July 15.

There’s An App For That!

The Horizon Ag Productivity app provides easy access to critical management recommendations and tools, including seeding rates, fertilizer recommendations and other suggested management practices to help you get the most out of our varieties. Updated for 2025, the app is available in the App Store and on Google Play.

Whether you are a long-time Horizon Ag customer or growing our Clearfield and Provisia varieties for the first time, the Horizon Ag Productivity App can be a valuable tool. Available in the App Store or Google Play.

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