RiceTec Hybrid Rice Report - May 18, 2012
Flooding? Already?
We’re usually only about 80% planted at this point but this week it seems a good portion of the crop is ready for the permanent flood. Just a reminder, be sure and check out the website for the latest fertility recommendations going into the flood. With very high urea prices, the preflood application is more critical than ever. We can’t stress enough how important it is to get the preflood nitrogen right in order to maximize yield and profit. Nitrogen loss now is yield loss later that can’t be recovered, so get it right the first time. If you have any questions about preflood nitrogen fertilization, weed control, or insect management, don’t hesitate to contact your Technical Services Representative.
Crop Reports from our Sales and Services Team
District 1, SE Missouri - Barry Barnett (870) 273-4988
It is still very dry overall in Southeast Missouri. Some areas have not received any substantial rainfall in six weeks or more. Most rice has been flushed at least twice and some three or more times to achieve an adequate stand. Even where we have flushed with the wind being very bad lately it is no more than a couple days after shutting the pump off that the ground is already starting to crack open. I would say that we are about 90% emerged now. Quite a few fields have gone to flood the last week or so but we still have to flush across fields to keep it growing in order to get enough height out the rice so it will handle a permanent flood. I have seen a few cases of chinch bug damage in the last week or so but it doesn’t seem to be too widespread. I have two trials that are now going to flood and it won’t be long before a couple more will be at that point. If you would like to see any of these trials or have any questions or concerns please give me a call.
District 2, N Arkansas - Stewart Runsick (870) 571-6069
Over the past week, a lot of the rice has yellowed some and just does not have a good appearance. Growth and development slowed due mainly to cooler temperatures. Fields have crusted since the last rain. While a small percentage of the fields are being fertilized and flooded, many are being flushed one more time in an effort to get a few more plants up and to get the rice growing so it will get big enough to flood. It’s been a struggle to get a stand on the clay soils planted no-till due mainly to environmental conditions. Fluctuations in soil temperature and moisture are the main problems along with the wind. These fields are mainly in an area from O’kean to Delaplaine over to Stonewall and Marmaduke. None of the six replicated farm yield trials (RFYT) have gone to flood yet; however, the test at Light is ready and will be soon. Nitrogen requirements for RiceTec hybrids on most soils in N.E. AR are 120 units of N preflood followed by 30 units applied late boot. Feel free to give me a call if you have any questions.
District 3, NE Arkansas - Kurt Johns (870) 243-4696
Flush, flush, and repeat. This has been the routine so far. Thankfully, next week we should start seeing several fields start going to flood. The last ten days has really seen and improvement in the appearance of the crop. Hopefully we are turning the corner and building up steam. Once we get the flood on it should really take off. Getting herbicides out has been tough but maybe we're about to get it done. If you have any questions give me a call. If you'd like to see the trials in your area give me a call.
District 4, N Central Arkansas - William "Hutch" Hutchens (870) 273-9291
These past couples of weeks have moved along quickly and since we had the rain two weeks ago. The rice has perked up considerably. It helped out folks that were flushing and saved others from having to. The rain also helped everyone get some moisture to get fields sprayed. We have had some grass get big on us and we need to get on top of it again before they get completely out of control. I think we are 100% planted more or less, but I do know of one field that will be planted within a day or two. I think we are probably around 95% emerged at this point and around 20% flooded. I know some fields have gone to flood this week and expect much more to be flooded within the next week to 10 days. My Insecticide trial on Keith Watkins’ farm in Griffithville has gone to flood and my Large Conventional trial on Joe Christian’s farm will be going to flood within the next few days. I have walked a few fields this week that have had immature chinch bugs in them and there are some spots in the field that they had killed some plants. So, we need to be on the lookout for them as we are getting close to flooding. I spoke with Gus Lorenz about the chinch bugs when I found them and he said that I was the third call he had gotten that day about them. When your field is dry and you have chinch bugs they will lie in the cracks of the ground and feed on plants below the soil so you will have to flush them to move them up on plants and the levees and then you can spray the field with Karate Z or Mustang Max to kill them.
District 5, Central Arkansas - Whitney Jones (501) 516-6904
Everything is going pretty smooth in D5. With the exception of a few fields here and there, the rice is growing well. I have a field or two that was banged up a little by herbicide applications but seem to be doing much better now that the warm weather is back. I had a guy call me Thursday about a field that the chinch bugs have apparently killed a large portion. He was replanting the dead areas as we spoke and said that he had a corn field right next to the rice field that the bugs came out of. I am also seeing a lot of water weevil scaring right now and with the warm winter that we had, I expect to see a lot of damage from these pests this year. I would estimate D5 to have around 20% of the total rice acres flooded and will be around 40% flooded by the middle of next week. Temperatures in the upper 80s combined with good soil moisture are just what we need to help this rice grow and also help the herbicides do their thing. My trial on Randall Snider and my trial on Greenwalt’s both went to flood this week and are looking great. It’s hard to believe that midseason is just a couple weeks away on this early-planted rice.
District 6, Eastern Arkansas - Garrison Hardke (501) 772-1715
Rice planting in the district is finished, save for a few leveled fields and a little spot planting. Emergence is at 95% with a large portion getting ready for permanent flood in the next week. Since last report, almost everyone in the district has received some rainfall. Totals have ranged from near 1 inch to over 7 inches. Many fields that received a large rain need to be flushed again, as the rain came quickly and it has now been 10 days of dry weather. It is easy to be lulled to sleep after a big rain, but it is important to maintain adequate moisture. Heavy rain can really pack the soil and cause hard crusting when it dries, making it difficult for late emerging seedlings to push through. As you are beginning to think about permanent flood and preflood nitrogen, be sure to follow RiceTec recommendations that are available on our website. These recommendations are backed by multi-year data and are proven in the field. Any adjustment to total nitrogen rates should be made on the pre-flood application and should be made based on specific field conditions. Please give me a call if you have any questions regarding specific recommendations.
District 7, SE Arkansas - Jeff Branson (870) 578-8436
Cooler than normal temperatures 2 weeks ago slowed the progress of the rice crop, but over the last few days the rice has started growing again. Approximately 99 % of the rice crop in D7 has been planted and 85 % of those acres have emerged. Much of the early planted rice is being flooded and around 60% of the 2012 rice crop will have the permanent flood established within the next 7 days.
Command, Clearpath and Newpath have all done an excellent job controlling grasses this year. I have not seen any fields where these herbicides have failed. This year appears to be one of the cleanest crops we have had in several years. Crop response to Newpath has been minimal across the district south of Arkansas County. A few fields in Arkansas County, where multiple ALS herbicides were applied, did show symptoms of ALS herbicide injury. These fields should make a full recovery and the yield should not be affected. Overall the rice crop across D7 is in good shape and off to an excellent start.
District 8, Mississippi and N Louisiana – Jay Burchfield (662) 402.2781
I still know of a few guys that are planting, but we are pretty much done at this point. Some wheat is being harvested now and there are a few guys planning to sew a little rice behind wheat, but that will not be very much acreage. Once again areas of the district got a pretty good rain last weekend, but the majority did not get any. We are dry in most areas. We are flushing a lot of rice and many growers have to run water across fields just to obtain moisture to plant beans. The rice crop is really looking good this year across the district. Chinch bugs have shown up in a couple areas and we are trying to get them addressed now, but we have to go back and spot plant those areas. More and more rice is going to flood. I estimate we will be around 30% – 40% flooded by the end of the week. We did add one more RFYT this week. It is a Clearfield trial and is located on Litton Road south of Cleveland, MS.
District 9, S Louisiana - Cullen Minter (337) 499-6498
The vast majority of farmers in South and Central Louisiana are finished planting their rice, with 90% of the acres past stand establishment. Stands are looking good overall throughout the area. Insect pressure remains on the light side so far. The pest that has been most prevalent to date has been adult water weevils. It’s a good thing that most farmers are now using insecticide seed treatments, because it looks like the adult population is as high as ever. Most of the earliest planted rice is now under permanent flood. With high urea prices, we have been receiving quite a few calls from farmers and reps about fields that received low preflood nitrogen rates. Once the preflood nitrogen is applied and the flood is established, trying to figure out how much to add after the fact becomes more of a guessing game and a balancing act between potential lodging and maintaining yields. So we recommend trying to stick close to the recommended nitrogen rate of 120 units preflood and 30 units at late boot for optimum hybrid yields. The crop is moving along nicely with the warm weather we are experiencing.
I have added a picture of a trial at Ross Hebert’s farm near Kaplan, La taken on May 11, 2012. The picture includes CL XL745 on the left and CL152 on the right.
District 10, Texas – Derrol Grymes, (281) 381-9371
The Texas Gulf Coast Hybrid rice crop is looking good at this time. A majority of the area received between 1 and 9 inches of rain in the past week, which provided some much needed relief for the irrigation systems. Along with the rain, came cloudy, cooler weather that slowed the crop down slightly and prohibited some fields from recovering from herbicide applications as quickly as anticipated. With the rain passing and high pressure setting in, the warm sunshine should now help these fields recover and catch up.
With a majority of the crop going to flood soon, fertility questions are once again popping up. When fertilizing your hybrid acres, remember that the hybrids need 120 units of nitrogen on heavy soils and 90 units on your lighter ground just prior to establishing permanent flood. The next application will be 30 to 60 units of nitrogen at late boot. Utilize the 60 unit rate if you are planning to ratoon crop. Please steer away from fertilizing your hybrid crop at panicle differentiation, as this timing will tend to make the hybrid taller and more prone to lodging.
Overall, the crop appears to be off to an excellent start, and if Mother Nature continues to cooperate, we have the potential for a rewarding harvest.
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As always, if you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact us or give us a call at 877.580.7423.