HORIZON AG REGIONAL REPORTS

Dry Fields, Delayed Stands and a Season Pressing Forward

North Central Arkansas

Rice planting has all but wrapped up in Arkansas. We are 95% planted in the Upper Delta, and according to my counterpart William Hutchens, his territory is essentially finished. Acreage appears to be lower than originally predicted and will likely land closer to 850,000 than 1,000,000 acres. Some areas are close to the norm, but others are down approximately 50%.

Several factors have made this a challenging season for growers. The biggest has been historically dry conditions. Early-planted rice struggled with stand establishment. The later planting window, however, is off to a much better start. Most of that rice is growing well and close to catching up to the early rice.

One agronomic concern for the early April planting window is the final nitrogen incorporation deadline. For many rice varieties, we are nearing the end of that window for rice that emerged early, while some plants in those same fields are just now at two-leaf stage. Managing these fields will require careful attention and will likely require growers to move to flood earlier than normal. It may not be ideal, but it could be necessary to preserve the highest yield potential. I expect most of the rice in the Upper Delta will be going to flood within the next 10 days.

Some of the cleanest fields this season, particularly in areas where dry conditions caused a lapse in residual herbicides, have been the Provisia offerings. We are seeing no significant difference in efficacy between the 10 oz/acre rate and the 15.5 oz/acre rate. As weather conditions become more favorable for herbicide application, we should be able to push for the 15.5 oz/acre rate. The Provisia technology has shown its value this year. Sporadic emergence allowed growers to wait and spray when the rice was large enough without sacrificing weed control.

As always, we sincerely appreciate your partnership and continued support of Horizon Ag. 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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South Central Louisiana

The 2026 rice crop is progressing nicely after an earlier-than-normal planting season. I expect some of the earliest-planted rice to begin heading in the next 7 to 10 days, especially in the southern part of the region. Even though the entire region started planting around the same time, cooler than normal temperatures this spring have slowed growth in the central to northern part of the region. We may have a few fields ready for harvest by July 1.

Conditions have been dry from planting until 10 to 14 days ago, when we finally received much-needed rain. The dry conditions required flushes to promote germination and soften the crusted soil surface that had locked in plants trying to emerge. In some instances, multiple flushes were needed to get the rice established. The result in some cases may be uneven stands. The smaller rice will often grow and catch up, but in some cases it is simply too far behind. In those instances, flooding may be more difficult or maturity may be uneven across the field.

As we progress further into the season, please stay as current as possible on information about the Rice Delphacid. The LSU AgCenter is your best source for up-to-date information on this insect. They are monitoring many fields with traps and conventional scouting methods to detect and track its migration.

As heading approaches, I also want to remind everyone to consult LSU AgCenter publications on fungicide products and application timing. Even with the early season and cooler temperatures, fungicide applications remain beneficial.

On a positive note, I have heard nothing but good reports on our new Provisia variety PVL05. Growers report that it emerged quickly and grew through cooler temperatures better than other nearby varieties. It has also shown good tolerance to Provisia herbicide applications. Horizon Ag is excited about the future of PVL05 as positive feedback continues to come in from the field.

Finally, please save the date for our Annual Horizon Ag Field Day on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, beginning at 5:30 p.m. at Richard Farms, 5632 Louisiana HWY 700, Kaplan, LA 70548.

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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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