Rice Farming

Growers who tried two new hybrids from RiceTec Inc. last season were heartened by the improvements they saw over the original hybrid that the Alvin, Texas-based company released just two seasons ago.

“With their technology, I can’t imagine that it won’t get better and better,” says Jay Coker, who grows rice near Stuttgart, Ark., and has been growing hybrids for three years. “I will continue to look at [hybrids] because this may be something in a year or two when they get the bugs and the kinks out I think will be great.”

For the 2002 season, RiceTec plans to have about a half dozen new hybrids in pilot seed production, including two medium grains, says Robin Andrews, RiceTec president and chief executive officer in Alvin. Depending on how those perform, they could be put through farmer trials in 2003, much as the two new hybrids were in 2001.

RiceTec also is working with BASF Corp. to develop a Clearfield hybrid that will be resistant to imidazolinone herbicide, which controls grassy weeds, including red rice.

An improvement over XL6
The two newcomers, XL7 and XL8, have better milling quality and better straw strength than XL6, which was commercially introduced in 2000, says Jim Thompson, RiceTec national sales manager in Jonesboro, Ark.

Both XL7 and XL8 can move into conventional grain channels, whereas RiceTec recommends that XL6 go to the parboiled market.

Like XL6, XL7 and XL8 have excellent tillering and are planted at only 30 pounds of seed per acre. They also are sensitive to molinate-based herbicides, such as Ordram and Arrosolo.

Unlike XL6, which requires much less nitrogen, the two newcomers require about the same amount as conventional varieties. Where they differ is in application timing.

To obtain maximum yield potential, RiceTec officials recommend applying 90 units of nitrogen preflood followed by 60 units at late boot to 5 percent heading for XL7. For XL8, they recommend 120 units preflood followed by 60 units at late boot to 5 percent heading. Many of the newer conventional varieties perform best when most of the nitrogen is applied preflood.

To help manage lodging, RiceTec officials recommend having 50 units of available potassium.

Very early maturity
XL7, formerly called XP1015, is very early maturing, running about six days earlier than Cocodrie, Thompson says. Based on side-by-side farmer trials conducted in Arkansas, Mississippi and Missouri during 2001, XL7 yielded 27 bushels per acre—or about 7 percent—more than participating growers’ conventional varieties.

Milling quality was similar to LaGrue, with a 52/69 in 2001. During the same year, Cocodrie had a 58/68 milling yield while Wells had a 57/69, according to industry data.

Because of the way hybrids are developed, the seed typically costs more than conventional open pollinated varieties to produce. XL7 seed will cost about $70 per acre.

Nevertheless, Thompson says RiceTec and university data for 2001 show growers could earn $36 per acre more with the hybrid because of the yield advantage.

Jim Tackett, who farms near Schlater, Miss., didn’t see quite as much yield differential between his 20 acres of XL7 and his Cocodrie. Nevertheless, he believes RiceTec is on the right path.

“It’s worth planting,” Tackett says. “It’s good rice and those guys are really onto something. For this part of the country, I think they will have the rice varieties that will be planted in the future.”

His XL7 yielded slightly more than 200 bushels per acre compared to about 190 bushels per acre for his Cocodrie.

The hybrid stood up well, even though it received the same fertilizer rates as the neighboring Cocodrie.
The hybrid’s earliness also appealed to Tackett, who says it could help better manage harvest.

“With six or seven days, you can get a week’s worth of cutting in, and that makes a lot of difference,” Tackett says.

A Wells’ competitor
XL8, formerly known as XP1003, matures about a day later than Cocodrie. In both company and university trials conducted in 2001 throughout the Mid-South, the hybrid outyielded conventional varieties by an average of 31 bushels, or 9 percent, per acre.

In 2001 field trials, the hybrid had milling yields of 55/68 compared to 57/69 for Wells and 58/68 for Cocodrie, according to RiceTec reports.

Even with the higher seed costs—about $80 per acre—RiceTec Seed general manager John Nelsen believes growers should earn about $42 more per acre over conventional varieties because of XL8’s higher yields.

Coker had XL6, XL7 and XL8 in strip trials during the 2001 season. Although the XL6 went down after a heavy rain in September, the two new comers as well as his conventional Cocodrie continued to stand. Even a second rain didn’t lodge the Cocodrie, XL7 and XL8.

Coker followed the RiceTec fertility recommendation of putting all the fertilizer on in one application pre-flood. The practice differs from the split applications he typically uses on his ground, which is all zero-grade. Based on trials conducted during 2001, RiceTec officials have modified their fertility recommendations for the 2002 season.

Field yields for the two new hybrids in Coker’s strip trials were about 5 percent to 10 percent—or about 10 to 15 bushels per acre—better than the neighboring Cocodrie.

Although his milling yield of 51 percent total head rice for XL7 and XL8 was higher than the 43 percent total head for XL6, Coker says milling quality is something RiceTec needs to continue to address.
“They’re an improvement over XL6,” Coker says. “They’re definitely a step in the right direction, but there are still some steps that need to be taken.

“What’s very important to the grower is stability, not only in yield potential but also quality. Take LaGrue—we don’t like to grow 180 bushels of 55 one year and grow 170 bushels with only a 45 milling the next. We can’t handle surprises any more.”

Coker believes the studies RiceTec is conducting on fertility and other nutrients will help address some of his concerns.

2002 season plans
RiceTec will have enough XL7 and XL8 seed available in 2002 to plant a total of about 25,000 acres, Nelsen says. The company plans to market them in Arkansas, Missouri and Mississippi with a limited introduction in Louisiana and Texas.

The company will still have XL6 available, although they wont’ be promoting it heavily. Instead, they will recommend it for newly cut ground where the hybrid will provide growers with the most profitable option.
Because of the learning experience associated with the hybrids, Nelsen says the company recommends growers plant no more than 10 percent of their total acres to them.

Contact Vicky Boyd at (209) 571-0414 or vlboyd@att.net.

New and improved Two hybrids feature high yields but better straw strength, milling than earlier release
By Vicky Boyd Editor
Growers who tried two new hybrids from RiceTec Inc. last season were heartened by the improvements they saw over the original hybrid that the Alvin, Texas-based company released just two seasons ago. “With their technology, I can’t imagine that it won’t get better and better,” says Jay Coker, who grows rice near Stuttgart, Ark., and has been growing hybrids for three years. “I will continue to look at [hybrids] because this may be something in a year or two when they get the bugs and the kinks out I think will be great.” For the 2002 season, RiceTec plans to have about a half dozen new hybrids in pilot seed production, including two medium grains, says Robin Andrews, RiceTec president and chief executive officer in Alvin. Depending on how those perform, they could be put through farmer trials in 2003, much as the two new hybrids were in 2001. RiceTec also is working with BASF Corp. to develop a Clearfield hybrid that will be resistant to imidazolinone herbicide, which controls grassy weeds, including red rice. An improvement over XL6 The two newcomers, XL7 and XL8, have better milling quality and better straw strength than XL6, which was commercially introduced in 2000, says Jim Thompson, RiceTec national sales manager in Jonesboro, Ark. Both XL7 and XL8 can move into conventional grain channels, whereas RiceTec recommends that XL6 go to the parboiled market. Like XL6, XL7 and XL8 have excellent tillering and are planted at only 30 pounds of seed per acre. They also are sensitive to molinate-based herbicides, such as Ordram and Arrosolo. Unlike XL6, which requires much less nitrogen, the two newcomers require about the same amount as conventional varieties. Where they differ is in application timing. To obtain maximum yield potential, RiceTec officials recommend applying 90 units of nitrogen preflood followed by 60 units at late boot to 5 percent heading for XL7. For XL8, they recommend 120 units preflood followed by 60 units at late boot to 5 percent heading. Many of the newer conventional varieties perform best when most of the nitrogen is applied preflood. To help manage lodging, RiceTec officials recommend having 50 units of available potassium. Very early maturity XL7, formerly called XP1015, is very early maturing, running about six days earlier than Cocodrie, Thompson says. Based on side-by-side farmer trials conducted in Arkansas, Mississippi and Missouri during 2001, XL7 yielded 27 bushels per acre—or about 7 percent—more than participating growers’ conventional varieties. Milling quality was similar to LaGrue, with a 52/69 in 2001. During the same year, Cocodrie had a 58/68 milling yield while Wells had a 57/69, according to industry data. Because of the way hybrids are developed, the seed typically costs more than conventional open pollinated varieties to produce. XL7 seed will cost about $70 per acre. Nevertheless, Thompson says RiceTec and university data for 2001 show growers could earn $36 per acre more with the hybrid because of the yield advantage. Jim Tackett, who farms near Schlater, Miss., didn’t see quite as much yield differential between his 20 acres of XL7 and his Cocodrie. Nevertheless, he believes RiceTec is on the right path. “It’s worth planting,” Tackett says. “It’s good rice and those guys are really onto something. For this part of the country, I think they will have the rice varieties that will be planted in the future.” His XL7 yielded slightly more than 200 bushels per acre compared to about 190 bushels per acre for his Cocodrie. The hybrid stood up well, even though it received the same fertilizer rates as the neighboring Cocodrie. The hybrid’s earliness also appealed to Tackett, who says it could help better manage harvest. “With six or seven days, you can get a week’s worth of cutting in, and that makes a lot of difference,” Tackett says. A Wells’ competitor XL8, formerly known as XP1003, matures about a day later than Cocodrie. In both company and university trials conducted in 2001 throughout the Mid-South, the hybrid outyielded conventional varieties by an average of 31 bushels, or 9 percent, per acre. In 2001 field trials, the hybrid had milling yields of 55/68 compared to 57/69 for Wells and 58/68 for Cocodrie, according to RiceTec reports. Even with the higher seed costs—about $80 per acre—RiceTec Seed general manager John Nelsen believes growers should earn about $42 more per acre over conventional varieties because of XL8’s higher yields. Coker had XL6, XL7 and XL8 in strip trials during the 2001 season. Although the XL6 went down after a heavy rain in September, the two new comers as well as his conventional Cocodrie continued to stand. Even a second rain didn’t lodge the Cocodrie, XL7 and XL8. Coker followed the RiceTec fertility recommendation of putting all the fertilizer on in one application pre-flood. The practice differs from the split applications he typically uses on his ground, which is all zero-grade. Based on trials conducted during 2001, RiceTec officials have modified their fertility recommendations for the 2002 season. Field yields for the two new hybrids in Coker’s strip trials were about 5 percent to 10 percent—or about 10 to 15 bushels per acre—better than the neighboring Cocodrie. Although his milling yield of 51 percent total head rice for XL7 and XL8 was higher than the 43 percent total head for XL6, Coker says milling quality is something RiceTec needs to continue to address. “They’re an improvement over XL6,” Coker says. “They’re definitely a step in the right direction, but there are still some steps that need to be taken. “What’s very important to the grower is stability, not only in yield potential but also quality. Take LaGrue—we don’t like to grow 180 bushels of 55 one year and grow 170 bushels with only a 45 milling the next. We can’t handle surprises any more.” Coker believes the studies RiceTec is conducting on fertility and other nutrients will help address some of his concerns. 2002 season plans RiceTec will have enough XL7 and XL8 seed available in 2002 to plant a total of about 25,000 acres, Nelsen says. The company plans to market them in Arkansas, Missouri and Mississippi with a limited introduction in Louisiana and Texas. The company will still have XL6 available, although they wont’ be promoting it heavily. Instead, they will recommend it for newly cut ground where the hybrid will provide growers with the most profitable option. Because of the learning experience associated with the hybrids, Nelsen says the company recommends growers plant no more than 10 percent of their total acres to them. Contact Vicky Boyd at (209) 571-0414 or vlboyd@att.net.
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