Rice Farming

Although all of the small-plot and farmer strip trial results indicate RiceTec has two more high-yielding hybrids, the Alvin, Texas-based company has decided to wait another year before introducing them commercially.

The additional time will allow the company to work with millers and other end-users to further evaluate the hybrids’ grain characteristics, says Jim Thompson, RiceTec national sales manager in Jonesboro, Ark.

The hybrids, XP 710 and XP 712, will continued to be called by their experimental numbers and will be available in very limited supplies for the 2004 season on a special-order basis. After harvest, growers will have to agree to channel the hybrids to a group of millers and users that are working with RiceTec on the evaluations.

The program is targeting growers with on-farm storage, Thompson says.

“We want to make sure the farmer does have a home for the grain,” Thompson says of the channeling arrangements. “With those folks, we know they have an avenue for channeling for sending it on throughout the industry, and there’s no possibility of a shipping hindrance.”

XP710, a new long grain
XP 710 is a long-grain hybrid with a high yield potential. It could be an eventual replacement for XL8, depending on how the grain evaluations turn out, Thompson says.

In 17 replicated strip trials conducted by RiceTec throughout the Mid-South rice belt in 2003, XP 710 had an average yield advantage of 17 bushels over Wells.

In 15 locations with strip trials, the hybrid had an average yield advantage of 18 bushels over Cocodrie. And in 15 locations, it had an average yield advantage of 9 bushels over Francis, the new high-yielding introduction from the University of Arkansas.

In the past, RiceTec has conducted economic analyses to determine the hybrids’ return on investments compared to conventional varieties.

This year the company changed the economic analyses slightly and is now showing how much of a yield increase a grower would have to experience to pay for the more costly hybrid seed.

In the case of XP710, a grower would have to harvest about 12 to 13 bushels per acre more rice than his conventional fields to offset the cost of the hybrid seed. The projection is based on $4-per-bushel rice and assumes the grower has taken advantage of all of RiceTec’s seed discount programs.

Strong tillering helps weak stand recover
Sam Tarkington, who farms with his father, John Ed, and brother, Will, near Almyra, Ark., had about 18 acres of XP710 in 2003. Although less-than-desirable seed germination produced a stand count of only 3.1 plants per square foot, Tarkington still harvested 240 bushels per acre green at 20 percent moisture.

In some of his other fields, Cocodrie yielded 220 bushels per acre green at 15 percent moisture.

Tarkington applied a fungicide to control sheath blight on the Cocodrie that he didn’t have to on the hybrid.
Based on what he called an “experiment,” Tarkington says he sees a potential fit for the hybrid on his farm.

“I think I’d put it possibly on some of the poorer ground, because I know what we can do on my good ground with the university varieties, like Cocodrie and Wells,” Tarkington says.

They plan to plant another small field of XP710 this year as well as some Clearfield XL8, a version of the hybrid XL8 that tolerates Newpath herbicide.

XP712, a new medium grain
XP 712 is a medium-grain hybrid with a high yield potential. It also appears to ratoon well.

“Louisiana and Texas are becoming interested in getting back into the medium-grain business, based on what 712 has done down there,” Thompson says.

Both XP710 and XP712 have strong disease packages, while the medium-grain hybrid also has tolerance to bacterial panicle blight.

As with 710, XP712 is undergoing further grain evaluations with downstream users.

“XP712 has a kernel that’s a tad more bold than Bengal,” Thompson says.

In 16 small-plot trials conducted by University of Arkansas Extension plant pathologist Rick Cartwright throughout Arkansas in 2003, XP712 had an average yield advantage of 23 bushels per acre over Bengal. The hybrid averaged 195 bushels per acre whereas Bengal averaged 172 bushels per acre. In one plot, the hybrid had a maximum yield of 237 bushels per acre. On the low end, the hybrid yielded 141 bushels per acre.

Cartwright, who was evaluating the varieties strictly on disease susceptibility, had one plot where Bengal yielded 220 bushels per acre. In another plot, Bengal yielded 105 bushels per acre.

Darryl Hoffpauir, who farms medium-grain with his brother, Dennis, had about 20 acres of XP712 and was satisfied with the yields, particularly the second crop potential.

A solid ratoon potential
The Crowley, La., producer water-seeded the hybrid at the recommended 30 pounds per acre. Although Hoffpauir admits it probably isn’t the most desirable method at the low seeding rates, he and other southern Louisiana farmers are forced to water seed to control red rice.

He applied the same amount of nitrogen to the hybrids as well as the conventional varieties—150 units per acre—although the timing was different.

The hybrid seed is more expensive than conventional seed, but the hybrids don’t typically require a fungicide treatment. With his Bengal, he had to apply a fungicide for blast at a cost of about $30 per acre.

The first crop of XP712 cut 51 barrels, or about 8,262 pounds per acre. But that wasn’t much more than the 50 barrels, or about 8,100 pounds, per acre that his Bengal yielded.

Head rice from both the hybrid and Bengal were comparable—about 104 pounds per barrel or about 64 pounds per hundredweight. If he would have had an opportunity to store and temper the rice, Hoffpauir believes he would have had higher milling yields.

Based on just the first crop costs and yields, Hoffpauir says the hybrid and Bengal are comparable economically.

Where Hoffpauir sees the hybrid providing an economic advantage for growers is with the ratoon crop. He cut 26 barrels per acre, or about 4,200 pounds, from his second crop of XP712.

“Bengal is almost a zero ratoon for us,” Hoffpauir says. “We’ve gotten hammered on it with early frosts, so we’ve discontinued ratooning it.”

Hoffpauir plans to plant another small field of XP712 this season.

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

Raising the bar New experimental hybrids push yields higher, but grain traits need more review
By Vicky Boyd Editor
Although all of the small-plot and farmer strip trial results indicate RiceTec has two more high-yielding hybrids, the Alvin, Texas-based company has decided to wait another year before introducing them commercially. The additional time will allow the company to work with millers and other end-users to further evaluate the hybrids’ grain characteristics, says Jim Thompson, RiceTec national sales manager in Jonesboro, Ark. The hybrids, XP 710 and XP 712, will continued to be called by their experimental numbers and will be available in very limited supplies for the 2004 season on a special-order basis. After harvest, growers will have to agree to channel the hybrids to a group of millers and users that are working with RiceTec on the evaluations. The program is targeting growers with on-farm storage, Thompson says. “We want to make sure the farmer does have a home for the grain,” Thompson says of the channeling arrangements. “With those folks, we know they have an avenue for channeling for sending it on throughout the industry, and there’s no possibility of a shipping hindrance.” XP710, a new long grain XP 710 is a long-grain hybrid with a high yield potential. It could be an eventual replacement for XL8, depending on how the grain evaluations turn out, Thompson says. In 17 replicated strip trials conducted by RiceTec throughout the Mid-South rice belt in 2003, XP 710 had an average yield advantage of 17 bushels over Wells. In 15 locations with strip trials, the hybrid had an average yield advantage of 18 bushels over Cocodrie. And in 15 locations, it had an average yield advantage of 9 bushels over Francis, the new high-yielding introduction from the University of Arkansas. In the past, RiceTec has conducted economic analyses to determine the hybrids’ return on investments compared to conventional varieties. This year the company changed the economic analyses slightly and is now showing how much of a yield increase a grower would have to experience to pay for the more costly hybrid seed. In the case of XP710, a grower would have to harvest about 12 to 13 bushels per acre more rice than his conventional fields to offset the cost of the hybrid seed. The projection is based on $4-per-bushel rice and assumes the grower has taken advantage of all of RiceTec’s seed discount programs. Strong tillering helps weak stand recover Sam Tarkington, who farms with his father, John Ed, and brother, Will, near Almyra, Ark., had about 18 acres of XP710 in 2003. Although less-than-desirable seed germination produced a stand count of only 3.1 plants per square foot, Tarkington still harvested 240 bushels per acre green at 20 percent moisture. In some of his other fields, Cocodrie yielded 220 bushels per acre green at 15 percent moisture. Tarkington applied a fungicide to control sheath blight on the Cocodrie that he didn’t have to on the hybrid. Based on what he called an “experiment,” Tarkington says he sees a potential fit for the hybrid on his farm. “I think I’d put it possibly on some of the poorer ground, because I know what we can do on my good ground with the university varieties, like Cocodrie and Wells,” Tarkington says. They plan to plant another small field of XP710 this year as well as some Clearfield XL8, a version of the hybrid XL8 that tolerates Newpath herbicide. XP712, a new medium grain XP 712 is a medium-grain hybrid with a high yield potential. It also appears to ratoon well. “Louisiana and Texas are becoming interested in getting back into the medium-grain business, based on what 712 has done down there,” Thompson says. Both XP710 and XP712 have strong disease packages, while the medium-grain hybrid also has tolerance to bacterial panicle blight. As with 710, XP712 is undergoing further grain evaluations with downstream users. “XP712 has a kernel that’s a tad more bold than Bengal,” Thompson says. In 16 small-plot trials conducted by University of Arkansas Extension plant pathologist Rick Cartwright throughout Arkansas in 2003, XP712 had an average yield advantage of 23 bushels per acre over Bengal. The hybrid averaged 195 bushels per acre whereas Bengal averaged 172 bushels per acre. In one plot, the hybrid had a maximum yield of 237 bushels per acre. On the low end, the hybrid yielded 141 bushels per acre. Cartwright, who was evaluating the varieties strictly on disease susceptibility, had one plot where Bengal yielded 220 bushels per acre. In another plot, Bengal yielded 105 bushels per acre. Darryl Hoffpauir, who farms medium-grain with his brother, Dennis, had about 20 acres of XP712 and was satisfied with the yields, particularly the second crop potential. A solid ratoon potential The Crowley, La., producer water-seeded the hybrid at the recommended 30 pounds per acre. Although Hoffpauir admits it probably isn’t the most desirable method at the low seeding rates, he and other southern Louisiana farmers are forced to water seed to control red rice. He applied the same amount of nitrogen to the hybrids as well as the conventional varieties—150 units per acre—although the timing was different. The hybrid seed is more expensive than conventional seed, but the hybrids don’t typically require a fungicide treatment. With his Bengal, he had to apply a fungicide for blast at a cost of about $30 per acre. The first crop of XP712 cut 51 barrels, or about 8,262 pounds per acre. But that wasn’t much more than the 50 barrels, or about 8,100 pounds, per acre that his Bengal yielded. Head rice from both the hybrid and Bengal were comparable—about 104 pounds per barrel or about 64 pounds per hundredweight. If he would have had an opportunity to store and temper the rice, Hoffpauir believes he would have had higher milling yields. Based on just the first crop costs and yields, Hoffpauir says the hybrid and Bengal are comparable economically. Where Hoffpauir sees the hybrid providing an economic advantage for growers is with the ratoon crop. He cut 26 barrels per acre, or about 4,200 pounds, from his second crop of XP712. “Bengal is almost a zero ratoon for us,” Hoffpauir says. “We’ve gotten hammered on it with early frosts, so we’ve discontinued ratooning it.” Hoffpauir plans to plant another small field of XP712 this season. Contact Vicky Boyd at (209) 571-0414 or vlboyd@att.net.
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