Tuesday, March 24, 2026

scouting

Rice stink bugs — so far, so good

• By Gus Lorenz, Nick Bateman and Ben Thrash • Rice stink bugs have been relatively quite so far this year. We are still seeing a large number of rice stink bugs, although mainly nymphs, on turn rows feeding on...

BASF, Nutrien team on scouting app

BASF and Nutrien Ag Solutions are collaborating on a scouting application that enables growers and agronomists to instantly identify weeds and diseases within their fields. The Xarvio Scouting app is offered within the Nutrien Ag Solutions Customer Portal, according...

Moisture fuels a blast epidemic: Plan to scout for leaf blast

• By Yeshi Wamishe • There is already dew in the mornings and rain is in the forecast. Even with planting being later this year, it may still be time to start scouting for leaf blast in susceptible rice, particularly...

Scout for rice growth stage when you scout for rice diseases

• By Yeshi Wamishe • Preventative measures including land preparation, variety selection, seed treatment, timing for planting, nutrient and water management are key to suppressing most rice diseases. Implementing best cultural practices typically results in a healthy, flourishing crop. Under...

Influx of insect pests complicates Mid-South growing season

As if Mid-South producers don't have enough on their minds with rutted fields, flooding and late planting, now an influx of insect pests has made their lives even more difficult. And it's not limited to just one crop, either. Cotton “This...

2018 Rice Consultant of the Year

‘‘Growing up on a farm in Northeast Louisiana, I was always interested in agriculture,” says rice consultant Richard Costello. “I like watching the crops grow and progress. It gets in your blood. During my advanced postdoctoral training at Louisiana...

Keep eyes peeled for armyworms and planthoppers

Here in Texas, we’re off to a cold, rather wet spring, which creates a challenge for stand establishment. I hope the weather warms soon. This month, I want to talk about mid-season insect pest control for Texas rice farmers. If...

Single pre-flood N application sets plant up for high yields

Due to a long dry fall, Missouri growers have leveled and prepared their fields and are ready to plant. Recent rains have saturated our soils, so early seeding has been delayed, which is OK because we still have time...

Fungicide timing critical for smut management

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...

Early water management is critical for optimizing yield

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...

Eye in the sky

Drones help scout fields, saving time and giving a different perspective. By Vicky Boyd Editor Timothy Gertson readily admits that flying a drone is cool. But the producer of row crops near Lissie, Texas, is quick to point out that his...

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