HORIZON AG REGIONAL REPORTS

Planting Progress Builds as the 2026 Rice Crop Takes Shape

North Central Arkansas

Rice planting began in late March, with strong progress through early April. About 30% of acres were planted in the early window, with the remaining acres expected to be completed by the end of this week. Overall, we’re approximately 75% planted across the territory, with the finish line in sight pending favorable weather.

Rice acres in Arkansas are expected to be down between 20% and 30% year over year. In core rice-growing areas, the decline is less pronounced — closer to 5–10 — while some regions are shifting more acres to soybeans where yield potential is favorable.

In Southeast Arkansas, planting is nearly complete at around 95%, with the Stuttgart area closer to 80%. In Missouri and Northeast Arkansas, progress is closer to 40%, with many growers waiting on moisture before finishing.

With the early planted rice, the forecast continues to be closely monitored. Many of those acres have had uneven emergence and will require rainfall or a flush to establish a uniform stand. Approximately 30% of early acres have emerged so far, with the remainder needing additional moisture. Some areas in southern Arkansas have already begun flushing to help establish an acceptable stand.

While not ideal, this does create an opportunity to apply a residual herbicide that can be activated by the water — a silver lining in a frustrating situation. With current economic pressures, some are considering cutting back on fertility programs; however, this remains one area where it is critical to stay the course.

As always, we sincerely appreciate your partnership and continued support of Horizon Ag — we truly couldn’t do what we do without you. To our growers, thank you for your trust and dedication.

If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

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Texas

On the west side of Houston, planting is approximately 85% complete, while the east side is closer to 80%. According to a recent USA Rice report, about 80% of Texas’s projected 100,000 rice acres are now in the ground.

Early in the season, several cool fronts and high winds slowed progress and caused the crop to remain stagnant for a period. However, recent showers and improved weather conditions have helped the crop respond well, and it is beginning to make a strong comeback.

Growers have made solid progress through late March and early April, covering a lot of ground planting, flushing and spraying fields. Some areas west of Houston began to lose moisture and would have benefited from earlier rainfall, but recent showers have helped stabilize those conditions. Overall, emergence has been good, and the crop is shaping up well at this point.

It has been a challenging year from an economic standpoint with increasing input costs, but growers continue to push forward. Recent rainfall ranged from 0–5 inches across parts of the west side, while the east side received less.

While additional moisture would still be beneficial in some areas, current conditions are allowing growers to stay in the field, finish planting and move closer to completion. We are hopeful for continued favorable weather conditions and look forward to seeing how our varieties perform as the season progresses.

Please feel free to reach out with any questions or concerns.

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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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