REGIONAL REPORT

Rice Appears Set to Finish Strong in Many Areas

July 25, 2024

Drill-planted CLM04 in Rayville, LA.

TEXAS AND NORTH LOUISIANA

The 2024 rice harvest has begun and the majority of acres across the Texas region are currently being harvested or soon to be harvested. There are large amounts of acres ripe and ready to be cut, but the weather has not cooperated.

This region has incurred some strong winds and rainstorms, and just recently overcame Hurricane Beryl. As a result, we are seeing more down rice each day due to weather conditions. Although there are chances of rain throughout the rest of this week, I am praying that we start to shake free of these storms and get some sunshine.

I have received very little feedback on the yields due to the weather but the very few I have received were positive. I’m looking forward to receiving more yield data on our most popular varieties, CLL19 and PVL03.

North Louisiana faced many struggles with storms early in the season, resulting in extreme variations in the 2024 crop. The rice is progressing quickly and is roughly 30% headed out. It appears to be approaching an abundant harvest. I’m really excited about the CLM04 and CLL19 I have looked at thus far. The fields appear very uniform and clean. Growers will be letting water go in many fields throughout the next couple of weeks and harvest should begin in August.

I checked in with my good friend and co-worker across the river, Garland Melton, District Field Representative for Mississippi, and he provided me with some positive feedback about his territory. He says the rice in Mississippi is progressing quickly and is around 15-25% headed out. He expects growers will start draining fields of their earliest planted rice in the next week.

Please don’t hesitate to reach out to me with any questions or concerns that you may have. Thank you for all that you do, and I wish you all the best of luck with your 2024 rice harvest.

Hunter Brown
District Field Representative
(337) 546-7288

GRAND PRAIRIE AND SOUTH ARKANSAS

It seems like the crop is about 2-4 weeks ahead of normal this year and most growers are not complaining, as they are ready for combines to hit the field.

The rice crop is mostly in boot to heading now across the region. The later planted rice is around ¼-inch to 2-inch joint movement. Some of the earliest rice planted may be drained next week, but I think we are 10 days from beginning significant draining, with the majority starting in about a month. Harvest will probably begin around mid-August, with some very early fields being harvested around the first of August.

The weather pattern this week looks to be conducive to disease development, so we need to be diligent in scouting for disease in the crop. Remember that CLL16, PVL03, PVL04, and CLL19 have Pita and Piks genes for blast resistance, while CLL18 only has the Piks gene for blast. It is important, therefore, to scout for blast and consider a protective fungicide application for neck blast.

Overall, the rice crop looks good. You see some grass in the crop, but given the weather during planting season, we did well on weed control. Most growers are optimistic about having a good crop in the field and are eager to get to the end and start harvesting.

We have had phone calls praising CLL18 on how well it has grown and looks in the field this year. We are very excited about its performance so far and look forward to harvest.

As a reminder, Horizon Ag will be hosting our Arkansas Field Day on August 15, 2024, at the Northeast Rice Research and Extension Center in Harrisburg. I’m excited about the event and look forward to seeing you there. Please watch for details in your mailbox and inbox.

William “Hutch” Hutchens
District Field Representative
(870) 273-9291

SHOWING OFF U.S. RICE

Horizon Ag recently hosted a delegation from Adecoagro in Argentina. District Field Representatives Chase Kagen and Jason Satterfield gave the visitors a tour of the new Northeast Rice Research and Extension Center in Harrisburg, Ark., and visited Arkansas farmer Tyler Nutt’s great-looking field of CLL18 (shown here).

Northeast Rice Research and Extension Center in Harrisburg, Ark.

ARKANSAS FIELD DAY ON AUG. 15

It’s a big year for rice acres in the South, and the annual Horizon Ag Arkansas Field Day is a great time to hear how high-yielding varieties like CLL18 and CLL16 are doing this season, along with promising new lines like PVL04 and CLL19.

It’s also a chance to find out about Clearfield® and Provisia® varieties in the pipeline, like CLM05, a high-yielding medium grain variety from the University of Arkansas breeding program that will be available for planting in 2025.

The field day is set for August 15 at the Northeast Rice Research and Extension Center in Harrisburg, with registration beginning at 4:30 p.m. There will be presentations by Horizon Ag and university rice specialists Jarrod Hardke from Arkansas and Justin Chlapecka from Missouri. There also will be opportunities to view Horizon Ag varieties in the field and a great dinner with friends in the industry.

We have a lot of positives to talk about, in terms of what is happening in the field with our varieties and our ongoing efforts in support of growers and the U.S. rice industry. Demand for rice seed was extremely strong last winter and Horizon Ag rose to the challenge, supplying more rice growers with varieties offering excellent yield and milling quality potential. CLL18, CLL19 and CLL16 are all looking strong in many fields.

Attendees also will hear the latest on PVL04, a new Provisia variety that is giving farmers an effective tool to control resistant weedy rice and red rice, and better steward weed control technologies.

Save the date on your Gmail or Outlook calendars.

For more information about the Horizon Ag Arkansas Field Day, please call Horizon Ag at 866-237-6167.

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