Specialists Speaking

Kernel smut in rice seemed to be more prevalent in southwest Louisiana last year than it has been historically. Typically, kernel smut pressure in southwest Louisiana is much lower than in the northeastern Louisiana rice-production area. Because of this, management...

Tadpole shrimp problems seem to be on the upswing in California rice fields. By Luis Espino Tadpole shrimp (TPS) is a problem that seems to be on the upswing. During our winter meetings, I conducted a clicker survey and asked attendees about...

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. Currently, there is emphasis being placed on alternative...

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. Virtually all her rice farmers apply products that contain...

TEXAS Dr. M.O. "Mo" Way Rice Research Entomologist [email protected] 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...

Aim for efficiency Dr. Jarrod Hardke Arkansas Rice Research Entomologist, University of Arkansas, Cooperative Extension Service [email protected] 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....

Select Hybrids, Varieties for Profitability Dr. Jarrod Hardke Arkansas Rice Research Entomologist, University of Arkansas, Cooperative Extension Service [email protected] 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....

Dr. Jarrod T. Hardke Arkansas Rice Extension Agronomist University of Arkansas, Cooperative Extension Service [email protected] 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...

Dr. Jarrod Hardke Arkansas Rice Research Entomologist, University of Arkansas, Cooperative Extension Service [email protected] 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...

Dr. M.O. “MO” Way Texas Rice Research Entomologist [email protected] 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...

Dr. M.O. “MO” Way Texas Rice Research Entomologist [email protected] 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...

Dr. Bruce Linquist California UCCE Rice Specialist [email protected] Application of the four Rs (right rate, right source, right timing and right placement) helps ensure high fertilizer use efficiency. Last year we discussed the four Rs of fertilizer N; this year I will touch...

LOUISIANA Dr. Dustin Harrell Extension Rice Specialist [email protected] You could not ask for two consecutive rice production seasons better than we have seen in the past two years in Louisiana! Record yields were achieved in 2013, and 2014 yields were not far behind. The...

Dr. Jarrod T. Hardke Arkansas Rice Extension Agronomist University of Arkansas, Cooperative Extension Service [email protected] Strange is the New Normal Arkansas rice farming in 2014 was a lot like a line heard often about playing cards: it wasn't necessarily a matter of holding good cards,...

Dr. John Saichuck Louisiana Extension Rice Specialst [email protected] In 2012, we dealt with the worst episode of blast in rice that many of us have seen in our careers. The researchers took advantage of it to eliminate many of the susceptible lines in...