Specialists Speaking

Tadpole shrimp problems seem to be on the upswing in California rice fields. Read More »

Most rice cultivated in the Mid-South is produced using the direct-seeded, delayed-flood production method. In this system, a continuous flood is maintained from five-leaf growth stage until a few weeks prior to harvest. Read More »

Vicky wanted me to talk a little about early season nutrient management. Since this is not my area of expertise, I turned to Toni Spencer with M&J Fertilizer in Winnie, Texas. Read More »

TEXAS Dr. M.O. “Mo” Way Rice Research Entomologist moway@aesrg.tamu.edu It was an ugly year Rice was planted on about 165,000 acres in 2016 compared to about 130,000 in 2015, according to the Texas Rice Crop Survey. This increase was due to release of water to farmers along the Colorado and Brazos Rivers following a wet winter, which helped fill upstream ... Read More »

Aim for efficiency Dr. Jarrod Hardke Arkansas Rice Research Entomologist, University of Arkansas, Cooperative Extension Service jhardke@uaex.edu Repeat after me — when I look to cut costs this year, I will not cut my fertility program. Again, I will not … you get the idea. The first nutrient the plant starts to run out of is the one that is ... Read More »

Select Hybrids, Varieties for Profitability Dr. Jarrod Hardke Arkansas Rice Research Entomologist, University of Arkansas, Cooperative Extension Service jhardke@uaex.edu Given current economic conditions, each decision has a major impact on having a positive return for the season, and it all starts with rice cultivar selection. While minimizing risk, we also need to maximize our profit potential. Plant several different cultivars ... Read More »

Dr. Jarrod T. Hardke Arkansas Rice Extension Agronomist University of Arkansas, Cooperative Extension Service jradke@uaex.edu If I had told growers in January that they should plant their rice in May to achieve the best yields and that mid-April would be terrible, I’d have been laughed out of every room. But I would’ve been right. Against long-term trends that say “the ... Read More »

Dr. Jarrod Hardke Arkansas Rice Research Entomologist, University of Arkansas, Cooperative Extension Service jhardke@uaex.edu Later planting increases disease risk A wet spring leading to delayed planting results in plenty of issues in rice. Beyond the concerns of potential yield reductions and a late harvest, later planting typically increases the chances of running into increased disease problems. Late planting increases the ... Read More »

Dr. M.O. “MO” Way Texas Rice Research Entomologist moway@aesrg.tamu.edu Control 6-legged pests When I discuss topics other than insects, I get a little nervous, but, finally, this month, I get to talk about six-legged critters! For starters, let me emphasize the importance of scouting and explicitly following pesticide label instructions. If you do not hire a crop consultant, you must ... Read More »

Dr. M.O. “MO” Way Texas Rice Research Entomologist moway@aesrg.tamu.edu Serious Weed Pests Weeds typically are the most serious and consistent pests of rice production. Failure to control weeds in rice leads to significant and often devastating yield losses. Last year, I observed firsthand the total loss of rice production in organic fields infested with hemp sesbania and rough jointvetch. These ... Read More »