Micronutrient Solutions In Rice

Presented by:  Dr. Irish Pabuayon, Rice Agronomist, LSU AgCenter
Presented by:  Matt Fryer, Agronomist, Koch Agronomic Services

Although essential micronutrients are needed by rice in smaller amounts compared to macronutrients, large problems can arise with limited access to these nutrients. Correcting zinc deficiencies is economically and environmentally inefficient due to delay in crop maturity and the extra irrigation and nitrogen inputs needed. Vital plant functions are dependent and catalyzed by micronutrients, and when these nutrients are limiting, so is plant growth and performance. Seed applied micronutrients and bulk fertilizer impregnation provide many agronomic and operational benefits for both the farmer and retailer.

Rice Market Outlook –The Swings In Supply And Demand

Presented by: Dennis DeLaughter, Market Analyst, VantageRM, LLC

The issue most concerning issue for the rice market outlook is demand. Certainly, supply is a factor but questions regarding the drought in China and India along with demand uncertainty from Iraq and Central America will dominate the marketing landscape near term, Longer-term the general farming economy will play into pricing for the 2023 crop. Then there will be questions of a recession and how high will operating interest rates go before the FED tames inflation? We will cover these issues and more in the swings of supply and demand for rice in 2023.

Weed Control In Rice

Presented by:  Dr. Hunter Bowman, Assistant Professor/Extension Rice Specialist, Mississippi State University
Presented by:  Dr. Richard Turner, Technical Agronomist, Lewis Hybrids

Using a layered residual herbicide strategy is important to maintain clean fields, especially in rice fields that have varying weed species. Hunter Bowman, Mississippi State University Extension specialist, and Dr. Richard Turner, Technical Agronomist, Lewis Hybrids, say growers who use a row rice production system might see differing weed pressures than traditional levy rice growers. This session will help growers identify the best way to combat weed pressures year to year.

Reduced Tillage Decreases Soil Losses And Increases Probability Of Planting On Time. “Early”

Presented by: Dr. Ronnie Levy, State Rice Specialist/Associate Professor, Agronomy, LSU AgCenter

Research shows that reducing tillage can reduce soil losses.  Preparing your seedbed in the fall will allow time for vegetative soil coverage (reducing soil loss) while allowing to have fields ready to plant when conditions are favorable.  Drill-seeding, dry broadcasting, or water-seeding can initiate early planting as soon as weather will allow.  Early planting usually results in higher yields, less insect and disease pressure, and better harvest weather.

My Experiences In Raising Provisio Rice

Presented by: Michael Fruge, Louisiana Farmer

Fruge has been growing Provisio rice since it first came out in 2018, raising as much as 400 acres at a time and as little as 40 acres. He uses it frugally, with an eye on preserving the longevity of the technology, to keep it around as long as possible. “We use it as a tool to clean up a high population of weedy rice,” he says. Where that problem does not exist, other chemistry is used.

He grew up on a farm and raised his first crop on his own in 2010. He received a bachelor’s degree in agronomy with a minor in ag business in 2005. His crops include rice, soybeans and crawfish.

How are Southern US Rice Breeders Addressing The Specific Needs Of Latin American Customers

Presented by: Dr. Steve Linscombe, Director-The Rice Foundation, USA Rice Federation

A high percentage of U.S. long grain rice exports are destined for customers in Latin American countries. In the last 10 plus years, U.S. exporters to these countries have received complaints about the quality of rice they are shipping. These complaints range from appearance quality (amount of chalk, uniformity of grain size, translucency, and color) to cooking quality (primarily that the U.S. rice cooks too sticky). U.S. breeders have adjusted their breeding programs to address these quality concerns and new varieties are forthcoming that will address these quality concerns.

LSU AgCenter Rice Breeding Update

Presented by: Dr. Adam Famoso, Associate Professor, LSU AgCenter

The LSU AgCenter Rice Breeding Program is focused on the development of new rice varieties for the Louisiana rice industry. This talk will provide an update on the new and pending varieties being developed and released. Information on some of the new breeding research methods and techniques being deployed within the breeding program will also be presented.

New Obstacles In South Louisiana Rice Production

Presented by: Dr. L. Connor Webster, Assistant Professor of Weed Science, LSU AgCenter

Over the past few growing seasons, the amount of inquiries concerning the control of Fimbristylis littoralis has grown exponentially. Fimbristylis is often times misidentified as rice flatsedge (Cyperus iria L.), which leaves many growers in a dilemma later in the growing season.  Both Fimbristylis and rice flatsedge belong to the cyperaceae (sedge) family; however, chemical control of these two weeds differ greatly.  An on-farm study was conducted in 2022 in Abbeville, Louisiana to determine the most effective control measures for Fimbristylis.

Southwest Louisiana Rice Production:  Major Issues, Variable Prices And Return On Investments

Presented by: Barrett Courville, Louisiana Consultant

Increasing production prices are making it difficult for Louisiana rice producers to make a profit. Many producers are making difficult decisions on how to cut output expenses and still make a profit growing rice. Courville will discuss common problems he has seen in recent years as a rice consultant in Southwest Louisiana and ways to maximize profits. He holds a master’s degree from Louisiana State University and a bachelor’s from McNeese State University. He spent 33 years as an LSU agricultural agent, 4 years as a consultant for Helena and 4 years with his own company, BC Rice Consulting.

Nitrogen Management Strategies And Timing In Flooded Rice

Presented by: Dr. Jarrod T. Hardke, Rice Extension Agronomist, University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture Rice Research & Extension Center

Nitrogen (N) management remains a primary focus for rice production.  The goal is to continue improving and refining N timing and rate strategies for rice.  Additionally, the release of new rice cultivars with different N needs necessitates continued evaluation of our management strategies.  Research-based recommendations for maximizing N management will be discussed.

Planting Considerations For The 2023 Rice Crop

Presented by: Dr. Justin Chlapecka, State Rice Extension Specialist, University of Missouri

Are new rice cultivars, in combination with the growing desire for early-planted soybean, challenging our past ideas of planting timing? While rice cultivars typically perform best when planted earlier, many cultivars maintain great potential moving as late as mid-to late-May planting. Then begs the question –if we choose to push the extremes on planting date, how does that affect our choice of seeding rate? Join this session to discuss planting date and seeding rate recommendations for the upper Mid-South moving into 2023.

“What Happens To Rice Trade In A Post Global Order World?”

Presented by: Milo Hamilton, CEO, Firstgrain, Inc.

The US Navy has guaranteed safe travel across oceans for all commodities, grain and ag inputs. We think all that is ending.  The massive trade benefits of the Global Order we have enjoyed for more than 70 years is coming to an end.

We live now in a post-Global Order world. So, we must ask now who wins and who loses in such a world?  The US wins and China and others fare less well.  China is the world’s largest rice producer and importer.

Best Management Practices For Alternative Rice Growing Techniques

Presented by: Dr. Hunter Bowman, Assistant Professor-Extension Rice Specialist, Mississippi State University

Historically rice produced in the United States (U.S.), has been grown in a flooded environment. This production practice requires zero-graded patties, contour levees, or straight levees in order to maintain flood depth in rice. Recently two new rice growing techniques have gained interest: alternate wetting and drying (AWD) and furrow-irrigated. These practices are intended to reduce water use, labor requirements, and field preparation work. However, reports of increased total nitrogen and herbicide application needs have been recorded. Therefore, research is needed to evaluate the best management practices in these techniques versus a traditional flooded environment.

30-Years Experience Farming Zero-Grade Rice

Presented by: Jim Whitaker, Arkansas Farmer, Whitaker Grain LLC/Trinity Farms Partnership LLC

Whitaker will look at the past while simultaneously keeping an eye on the future by presenting a picture of rice production from his point of view. Farming alongside his brother, Sam, with 30 years of experience producing rice, corn, soybeans, and cotton, he regularly explores additional avenues to increase the on-farm value. Whitaker will review conservation programs and what the future of those program holds, carbon credits, new opportunities and products, the challenges of creating profitability in rice production, and the opportunities and obstacles of creating SmartRice.

Controlling Insects In Conventional And Furrow-Irrigated Rice, And Changes In Rice Stink Bug Management

Presented by:  Nick Bateman, Extension Entomologist, University of Arkansas
Presented by:  Dr. Chase Floyd, Crop Protection Specialist, University of Missouri

Multiple studies were conducted to determine the efficacy of insecticides for rice water weevil in flooded rice, as well as rice billbug in furrow irrigated rice. These tests show that combinations of insecticide seed treatments were the most consistent control options for both of these pests. Assays were also conducted on rice stink bugs to determine tolerance levels to Lambda cyhalothrin along with multiple in-field efficacy trials, and how to manage potential resistance.

Rice Disease Management:  Challenges And Solutions

Presented by: Dr. Xin-Gen (Shane) Zhou, Professor of Plant Pathology, Texas A&M AgriLife Research Center
Presented by:  Cliff Mock, Texas Consultant/Rice Farmer, Cliff Mock Consulting

This session will discuss the challenges of disease management rice farmers face and the solutions developed from research and crop consultant’s experience. The topics will focus on using varietal resistance and fungicides for management of major and emerging rice diseases, including seedling diseases, sheath blight, narrow brown leaf spot, and kernel smut.

Mr. Mock graduated from Texas A & M in 1977. He has been doing consulting since 1981. He works primarily on rice and soybeans in Brazoria, Colorado, and Wharton counties on the Gulf Coast of Texas. He is also actively involved in a family farm partnership managed by his son, Wade, where they farm rice, soybeans, grain sorghum and wheat. He also serves on the Gulf Coast Water Authority as Vice President. He is past chairman of the industry panel for Texas Rice Research Foundation and former member of Texas Rice Improvement Association. He and his wife, Beth, have three children and two grandchildren.

Best Management Practices To Prevent Weedy Rice Outcrosses Developing To the ACCase-Inhibiting Herbicide Technology

Moderator:  Dr. Tim Walker, General Manager, Horizon Ag LLC
Participants:  Provisia Working Group Roundtable

Objective:  Discussing best management practices to steward the Provisia Rice System Technology into the future.
The Provisia® Rice System continues to prove it is the best system available today to control weedy rice, red rice, and resistant grasses. However, instances of weedy rice and resistant red rice outcrosses in Provisia rice, and where other ACCase-inhibiting herbicides were used, were reported in 2022. Representatives from the Provisia Working Group will discuss experiences and Best Management Practices to control the threat of weedy rice outcrosses developing to the ACCase-inhibiting herbicide technology.

Rogue® SC Herbicide: Best Management Practices and Herbicide Programs for Successful Weed Control in Southern Rice

Presented by:  Lance Schmidt, Technical Service Representative, Gowan USA

In 2022, Rogue® SC was sold for the first time commercially in the Southern USA rice producing region. It is a novel herbicidal chemistry (HPPD–inhibitor) for rice. Rogue® SC is a pro–herbicide and must be applied into a static, deep flood to convert to its herbicide active form. It is well suited for controlling many susceptible grasses, broadleaves, sedges, and aquatic weeds in a permanently flooded water– seeded or dry–seeded rice culture and enhanced when used with herbicide programs including Permit Plus®, Gambit®, and Ricestar® HT.

A Louisiana Perspective of Rogue® SC Weed Control in Rice

Presented by:  Rustin Gilder, Louisiana Consultant, Crowley Grain

Rogue® SC weed control performance was examined in Louisiana on a limited acreage basis for four years under an experimental use permit prior to its release in 2022. During these years, key learnings were developed for management in Louisiana rice production.

Herbicide Programs And Best Management Practices For FullPage And Max-Ace Rice Cropping Solutions

Presented by:  Hayden Hambrick, Tech Services Rep, RiceTec, Inc.
Presented by:  Jason Meier, Product Development Manager, ADAMA

In this session, we will discuss the potential for growers to achieve higher rice yields and manage grasses and broadleaf weeds including red/weedy rice with the FullPage and Max-Ace Rice Cropping Solutions. Additionally, we’ll talk about FullScript, the new advanced liquid herbicide formulation for the FullPage system and discuss rotational flexibility, best management practices and herbicide programs to leverage across both systems.