SAM RUSTOM \ EAGLE LAKE, TEXAS
In Texas, most of our commercial acreage is dedicated to hybrid rice production. Financially, it just makes more sense when our input costs tend to be higher than all our neighboring states in the southern US. In short, higher input costs must be met with higher yields to stay in business. Our work in 2025 suggested that Texas rice producers need to be producing around 12,000 pounds of rice per acre (ratoon included) and sell it for around $14/cwt to remain comfortably profitable.
Figure 1 highlights our commercial hybrid rice performance trial from 2025. When compared with Figure 2, you will notice that our highest-yielding inbred line performed similarly to our lowest-yielding hybrid. One hybrid that surprised me this year was RT7331MA. Although it was just a few hundred pounds per acre short of the other hybrids, this variety consistently performed well in several trials across the station. In addition, the Max-Ace hybrids, like RT7331, are tolerant to Highcard herbicide (quizalofop), which provides an exceptional tool to manage tough-to-control grasses and weedy rice. I have also been a fan of RT7302 since I got to Texas, and the yield results in Figure 1 show you why.
Figure 1. Main Crop Yield (pounds per acre) for Hybrid Rice Varieties in Eagle Lake, Texas
The tradeoff with so much hybrid across the state is quality. Under more favorable market conditions, inbred varieties are certainly an option in Texas because of superior grain quality. Our inbred variety trial highlights almost the exact yield trends reported by growers from around the state in 2025 (Figure 2).
Figure 2. Main Crop Yield (pounds per acre) for Commercial Inbred Rice Varieties in Eagle Lake, Texas
For all intents and purposes, CL153 acreage was replaced with CLL19 in 2025, which proved to be a great upgrade, especially regarding yield. Sticking to the Horizon Ag theme, we can also see increased yield performance with PVL05 and PVL06, a much needed improvement from PVL04. Like the MaxAce hybrids, the Provisia lineup is an outstanding choice for growers with grass issues, particularly barnyardgrass and weedy rice.
A newer variety that kind of took us by surprise in 2025 is DG245. Although it was on limited acreage across the state, performance was exceptional when compared with the other inbreds. According to our test results, DG245 was the best milling variety, tied for highest in grain yield, and reports from our consultants suggested that it is least susceptible to bacterial panicle blight out of all the commercial inbreds grown in the state. Bacterial panicle blight has become a pretty big issue for our commercial inbred lines, but that’s a story for another day. ∆
SAM RUSTOM \ EAGLE LAKE, TEXAS
TEXAS A & M