After graduating from Louisiana State University, I moved back home to Crowville, La., and worked for a seed and chemical retailer for about five years. In 2010, some friends and I started a consulting business, and then I ventured out on my own to form Peters Crop Consulting.
In 2016, our area experienced historic rain and flooding in March, followed by more rain and high nighttime temperatures during pollination. Consequently, overall yield and quality were down for some farmers last season.
Stick To Your Weed Control Plan
When it comes to controlling weeds, our goal is to start clean and stay clean. Right now, rice farmers are doing tillage work to prepare their fields or applying a burndown to achieve some residual, pre-emerge weed control. If you start the season with a weedy field, you are going to spend a lot of money and not be satisfied in the end.
At burndown, our problem weeds are glyphosate-resistant ryegrass, marestail and pigweed. In-season pests include barnyardgrass, sprangletop and ALS-resistant rice flatsedge. We always have problems with a wide array of grasses and broadleaves, and certain species are worse than others in some spots. Depending on the weed spectrum, we rotate herbicide modes of action in an effort to avoid resistance.
We typically apply clomazone immediately after planting or soon after the rice emerges. In a Clearfield system, we tankmix propanil with the first shot of Newpath. In our conventional rice, I like to apply RebelEX right before establishing permanent flood to get residual control of key grasses and any aquatics that are present. From that point forward, we don’t see many grass or aquatic escapes coming through the canopy. Depending on the weed spectrum, we may tankmix RebelEX with another herbicide based on field-by-field inspections.
We also are looking forward to Loyant — a broad-spectrum herbicide with Rinskor active ingredient from Dow AgroSciences. Loyant will provide activity on sedges, grasses and broadleaves; help with resistance; and extend the life of some herbicides we are already using.
Our farmers are committed to rice, and with all the new technoIogy on the horizon to add to our toolbox, I encourage them to stay positive. Although rice yields were not great last year and the price is not great this year, it’s still important to develop a weed control plan, stick with it and make timely applications. Your herbicide program is the last place to try to cut back.
Ashley Peters
Peters Crop Consulting
Crowville, La.
- B.S., agronomy, minor in ag business; M.S., entomology, Louisiana State University
- Consults on rice, cotton, sweet potatoes, corn, soybeans, grain sorghum and wheat. Offers soil sampling services
- President of Louisiana Agricultural Consultants Association (LACA)
- Member of the Louisiana Cotton and Grain Association
- Graduate and board member of the LSU AgCenter Agricultural Leadership Development Program
- Serves as commissioner on the Tensas Basin Levee District
- Involved with the LSU College of Agriculture Alumni Association
- Married to wife, Amy, for 14 years. Two sons: Nathan, 7, and Caleb, 3
- Coaches soccer and Little League baseball. Enjoys hunting, fishing, gardening, following LSU sports and being outside with the family