HORIZON AG NEWS

Past Lessons Set Stage For Future Success

A good crowd attended the Past Lessons Set the Stage for Future Success with Provisia^® rice breakout sessions at the Conservation Systems Cotton and Rice Conferences and the recent Louisiana Best Management Practices webinar presented by Horizon Ag, BASF and LSU AgCenter rice experts. 

Dr. Tim Walker, Horizon Ag CEO, says the rapid adoption of the Provisia Rice System in some areas has provided several key learnings farmers can implement today, including how to best manage the newer varieties, weed control practices, potential weather impacts and stewardship requirements. 

“We’ve learned a lot about producing Provisia rice,” says Dr. Walker. “And that’s a good thing, because we are going to need the Provisia System to be around for a while. There’s no replacement technology on the immediate horizon. Fortunately, it is a very effective weed control system.” 

Plant Early – Varieties like PVL03, developed by LSU AgCenter breeders, and PVL04 from the University of Arkansas breeding program, have significantly raised the bar for yield potential in Provisia rice. PVL03 is the top choice for the Coastal Region of Louisiana and Texas, providing both first and second crop potential, while PVL04 has shown significantly higher yield potential in the north Delta. 

Both varieties should be planted early in the planting window to maximize yield potential and mitigate disease risk. The recommended seeding rate for both PVL03 and PVL04 is 55-60 lbs. per acre.

Start Clean, Stay Clean – Provisia herbicide is very effective on grasses, and farmers throughout Louisiana and the region often say their Provisia rice fields are the cleanest on their farms. That said, Dr. Walker says it is a mistake to take a “Roundup Ready^®” mentality when it comes to Provisia rice. 

“I once heard a weed scientist say that Provisia was such a good grass control material that it could kill a fence post, and a lot of farmers took that sentiment to heart early on with the system,” he says. “Instead, we need to use Provisia herbicide with the intent to control only weedy rice.”

Weed control best management practices include:

• Starting with a clean field, using tillage in the fall and limiting early competition by applying a residual burndown grass herbicide.

• Overlapping residual herbicides, applied at planting and with each Provisia application before flooding.

• Holding off on the first application of Provisia until the temperature is 60 degrees or above for three consecutive days, and rice is beyond the 2-leaf stage.

• Making three applications of Provisia herbicide at the 10-11 oz. application rate versus two at the higher labeled rate.

• Paying attention to spray volume, ideally using at least 7 gallons per acre by air and 10-15 gallons per acre by ground.

Watch the Weather – Farmers can minimize the risk of adverse crop response to Provisia herbicide by only applying it when the rice is actively growing, and air temperature is at or above 60 degrees F for three days prior to and after application. 

Dr. Connor Webster, LSU AgCenter weed scientist, says it’s not unusual for rice to experience some initial flashing from a Provisia herbicide application during periods of cool, cloudy weather, and the crop can recover quickly. Higher rate applications during those weather conditions, however, can result in more adverse, longer-lasting crop response. 

“Every call that I've ever been to regarding herbicide injury and weather conditions have been at the 13 oz. to 15 ½ oz. rate,” he says. “We’re not seeing any issues with those 10 oz. applications. When you're in a period of cloudy weather or low temperatures, think about backing down and using the three 10 oz. application program.”

Plant Health – Emphasizing plant health minimizes the risk of adverse impacts from the environment or herbicide antagonism in Provisia rice. Critical practices include using a recommended seed treatment, making timely fertilizer applications, and monitoring for disease to keep plants healthy from the start. 

Stewardship – From following proven crop rotation and weed management practices to preventing weedy rice escapes, awareness has grown regarding the importance of emphasizing good stewardship in the Provisia Rice System. 

Recommendations include cleaning up fields late-season and taking out any weedy rice present. This may mean using late-season herbicide applications, roguing or spot spraying. 

Also, do not plant Provisia rice in the year following Clearfield^® rice or where an imidazolinone herbicide was used the previous year due to the risk of carryover damage from the herbicide. And don’t plant Provisia rice after Provisia rice in the same field.

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Arkansas Best Practices Webinar

Join us for the Arkansas Rice in 2025: Resistance, Best Management Practices & Stewardship webinar on March 4. Horizon Ag, BASF and University of Arkansas rice specialists will share the latest management recommendation for Provisia and Clearfield rice ahead of the 2025 planting season. Attendees will receive CCA credit and gift for participating.

Click the image above or visit bit.ly/4gwAT2i to register.

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Updated for 2025

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 or Google Play. 

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