Rice Farming

Much like an old reliable blue chip stock that provides steady dividends, Ahrent—a new rice variety from the University of Arkansas’ breeding program—appears to have consistently strong yields.

And like blue chips, Ahrent probably will not be the top yielder under most conditions. But it also won’t have as many wild yield fluctuations as some volatile technology stocks or other rice varieties, either.

“If you take the average yields of LaGrue and Wells, Ahrent will be right in there,” says Karen Moldenhauer, a UA agronomy professor and rice breeder in Stuttgart. “But it’s much more consistent.”
Under some growing conditions, it may even by the top yielder, she says.

Brad Koen, a UA area Extension agronomist in Stuttgart, agrees. “It’s not going to be the top yielder, but all of our top yielders have baggage such as disease problems or milling problems. This is going to be one of the safer varieties.”

John Alter, owner of Alter Seed in DeWitt, Ark., planted 60 acres of the new variety in 2001 for registered seed.

As a registered seed producer, Alter tries to stretch his foundation seed and drilled Ahrent at 17 pounds per acre. Nevertheless, the field yielded 171.5 bushels per acre dry, a number Alter says he is “extremely pleased” with.

“There were places where you could see a rabbit run in front of yourself on the ground. It scared me to death when I started harvesting,” Alter says. “It turns out, the yields were really outrageous.”

He was equally excited about three bins he had milled by Cormier Rice Milling Co. in DeWitt, Ark. The rice graded out to 63-69 (percent head and percent whole rice, respectively) and had excellent color, excellent chalk and low peck damage, according to the miller.

The 14 seed producers growing Ahrent who responded to UA rice Extension specialist Chuck Wilson’s survey said they averaged 162 bushels per acre dry.

The 14 respondents represented 483 acres and used an average seeding rate of 35 pounds per acre.
Of the 14, three had milling tests conducted, and they averaged 57-68.

UA released the variety as foundation seed in 2001 for registered seed production. During 2002, seed producers will be growing the variety for certified seed.

An eventual Drew replacement
Moldenhauer views it as an eventual replacement for Drew because Ahrent is about 4 to 5 inches shorter than Drew and only about an inch taller than Cocodrie, the most widely planted variety in 2001. The newcomer also has good lodging resistance.

Based on small-scale trials, Ahrent appears to have better milling quality than Cocodrie and is comparable to Kaybonnet, Moldenhauer says.

During 1999 and 2000 in the uniform regional nurseries in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Arkansas, Ahrent averaged 200 bushels per acre. The newcomer bested Maybelle and Jefferson by about 30 bushels per acre, making it the variety with the best yield potential in the very early to early-maturing class. Ahrent matures in 110 to 115 days or about five days earlier than Wells and Drew.

Ahrent is resistant to all of the blast races found in Arkansas, including 1b49. It is susceptible to sheath blight but not as much so as Cypress or Cocodrie.

In his field, Alter says he found no blast and only a trace of sheath blight, but not enough worth treating.

Apply most N up front
Koen, who coordinates UA’s rice verification trials, says Ahrent responds best when most of the nitrogen is applied preflood. Then growers should use the plant area board at the beginning of internode elongation to ensure they’ve applied enough nitrogen.

“If you go in the field and put on enough fertilizer up front, you measure that field with the plant board and you should only need 30 units or less,” Koen says. If the plant area board shows you need more nitrogen than that at the beginning of internode elongation, then you’ve missed maximizing the crop’s yield potential.
Development of Ahrent, as well as other rice varieties, is funded through grower check-off dollars from the Arkansas Rice Research and Promotion Board.

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

A safe bet New Arkansas variety offers consistently high yields, good disease package
By Vicky Boyd Editor
Much like an old reliable blue chip stock that provides steady dividends, Ahrent—a new rice variety from the University of Arkansas’ breeding program—appears to have consistently strong yields. And like blue chips, Ahrent probably will not be the top yielder under most conditions. But it also won’t have as many wild yield fluctuations as some volatile technology stocks or other rice varieties, either. “If you take the average yields of LaGrue and Wells, Ahrent will be right in there,” says Karen Moldenhauer, a UA agronomy professor and rice breeder in Stuttgart. “But it’s much more consistent.” Under some growing conditions, it may even by the top yielder, she says. Brad Koen, a UA area Extension agronomist in Stuttgart, agrees. “It’s not going to be the top yielder, but all of our top yielders have baggage such as disease problems or milling problems. This is going to be one of the safer varieties.” John Alter, owner of Alter Seed in DeWitt, Ark., planted 60 acres of the new variety in 2001 for registered seed. As a registered seed producer, Alter tries to stretch his foundation seed and drilled Ahrent at 17 pounds per acre. Nevertheless, the field yielded 171.5 bushels per acre dry, a number Alter says he is “extremely pleased” with. “There were places where you could see a rabbit run in front of yourself on the ground. It scared me to death when I started harvesting,” Alter says. “It turns out, the yields were really outrageous.” He was equally excited about three bins he had milled by Cormier Rice Milling Co. in DeWitt, Ark. The rice graded out to 63-69 (percent head and percent whole rice, respectively) and had excellent color, excellent chalk and low peck damage, according to the miller. The 14 seed producers growing Ahrent who responded to UA rice Extension specialist Chuck Wilson’s survey said they averaged 162 bushels per acre dry. The 14 respondents represented 483 acres and used an average seeding rate of 35 pounds per acre. Of the 14, three had milling tests conducted, and they averaged 57-68. UA released the variety as foundation seed in 2001 for registered seed production. During 2002, seed producers will be growing the variety for certified seed. An eventual Drew replacement Moldenhauer views it as an eventual replacement for Drew because Ahrent is about 4 to 5 inches shorter than Drew and only about an inch taller than Cocodrie, the most widely planted variety in 2001. The newcomer also has good lodging resistance. Based on small-scale trials, Ahrent appears to have better milling quality than Cocodrie and is comparable to Kaybonnet, Moldenhauer says. During 1999 and 2000 in the uniform regional nurseries in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Arkansas, Ahrent averaged 200 bushels per acre. The newcomer bested Maybelle and Jefferson by about 30 bushels per acre, making it the variety with the best yield potential in the very early to early-maturing class. Ahrent matures in 110 to 115 days or about five days earlier than Wells and Drew. Ahrent is resistant to all of the blast races found in Arkansas, including 1b49. It is susceptible to sheath blight but not as much so as Cypress or Cocodrie. In his field, Alter says he found no blast and only a trace of sheath blight, but not enough worth treating. Apply most N up front Koen, who coordinates UA’s rice verification trials, says Ahrent responds best when most of the nitrogen is applied preflood. Then growers should use the plant area board at the beginning of internode elongation to ensure they’ve applied enough nitrogen. “If you go in the field and put on enough fertilizer up front, you measure that field with the plant board and you should only need 30 units or less,” Koen says. If the plant area board shows you need more nitrogen than that at the beginning of internode elongation, then you’ve missed maximizing the crop’s yield potential. Development of Ahrent, as well as other rice varieties, is funded through grower check-off dollars from the Arkansas Rice Research and Promotion Board. Contact Vicky Boyd at (209) 571-0414 or vlboyd@att.net.
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