CARROLL SMITH CONTRIBUTING EDITOR As a child, fifth-generation rice farmer Mark Pousson grew up on the family farm in Jefferson Davis Parish in the Acadiana region of Louisiana. On a typical day, he could be found kicking the dirt and...

MOLLIE LANDERS BUCKLER KATY, TEXAS At an event a couple of weeks ago, someone asked how long I’d been working for the US Rice Producers Association. I gave my usual answer – five years this summer – and mentioned my family’s...

RICHARD E. HICKS OCEAN SPRINGS, MISSISSIPPI Well, at this writing we see a radical change in the geopolitical situation in the world and this, of course, has a commensurate impact on the marketplace. War is usually good for commodity prices and...

PETER BACHMANN ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA I recently had the honor of testifying before the House Ways & Means Subcommittee on Trade, and I’ll tell you what I told them: American rice farmers are getting a raw deal, and it has nothing...

ELSA HAHNE BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA In the heart of Cajun country, Allen Mclain farms about 3,000 acres of rice together with his wife, father, and two younger brothers. Much of their crop, all south of LA-14, is under threat. Saltwater...

BY MATT SALANIK BRIGHTON AGENCY The U.S. rice industry has never struggled to produce volume. What’s becoming harder is ensuring the volume consistently meet market expectations. According to Dr. Tim Walker, CEO of Horizon Ag, that distinction is forcing growers to...

JOHN LOVETT FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS Even though farmers have been dealing with rice stink bugs as pests since the 1880s, entomologists are still getting to know them at the genetic level. A first-of-its-kind study published on the genetics of rice stink bugs...

SCOTT STILES HARRISBURG, ARKANSAS These days you look for good news wherever you can find it.  September rice futures have pushed higher over the past month, rallying about $1.15/cwt. from the February lows.  That’s about where the good news ends. ...

JOHN LOVETT FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS For vegans and people who are allergic to dairy, nuts or gluten, rice is a surprising source to make a hypoallergenic alternative cheese. As a bonus, the protein sources in rice are considered byproducts of white rice...

SARAH FULLER COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS Despite a slow start, Texas crawfish production remains steady, and consumers can expect an average season amid ongoing demand, according to Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service experts. Todd Sink, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension aquaculture specialist and director of the Texas A&M AgriLife Aquatic...

Best Practices For Early Season Weed Control In California Rice Specialists Speaking Dr. Whitney Brim-Deforest CALIFORNIA Early season weed control is vital to keeping yield potential high in California rice. Most of our yield potential is lost to weed competition in the...

Specialists Speaking Dr. Will Eubank MISSISSIPPI I think just about everyone in the ag world knows that when it comes to weed control, it’s best to “start clean and stay clean.” However, with the economic situation being as dire as it...

Early And Often Specialists Speaking Dr. Jarrod T. Hardke ARKANSAS Let’s talk less about specific products and more about specific mindset. In a year where everypenny counts more than any in recent memory, it’s important we have a deliberate plan for weed control and...

Get Ahead, Stay Ahead Specialists Speaking Dr. Sam Rustom TEXAS Planting 2026 is upon us, and with that comes early season herbicide recommendations. Regardless of crop, controlling weeds early in the growing season is where it matters most. Early season weeds simply...

MICHAEL FRUGE RICE FARMING In any career field, the talent search is always on. In sports that’s especially true. The Canadian hockey icon Wayne Gretzky was first noticed by north of the border media, when he scored 378 goals during the...