Delta Area Rice Grower Meeting

Fifty-three people attended the Delta Area Rice Grower Meeting in Cleveland on Thursday, Nov. 21st.  In spite of the good number, many growers remained in the fields to take advantage of what is probably the last chance to get fall prep work done for a while with the heavy rainfall that most have received in the Delta beginning Thursday evening.

There was an overall positive tone to rice production in the meeting.  This was well received as rice has not looked as promising the past few years relative to other crops.  Based on responses from the growers and industry, I believe rice acreage will increase substantially compared to 2012 and 2013 planted acres; however, I am not ready to put an actual estimate out at this time.

Some of the highlights from the meeting included the following:  1)  Rice producers harvested record yields; 2)  Glyphosate drift continues to be a concern, especially in adverse growing conditions; 3)  Growers have to pay attention to the products they are applying in other crops for pigweed control, as some can adversely impact rice in the following year; 4)  Insecticide seed treatments are beneficial and cost effective in our production environment; 5)  Stink bugs are causing more yield loss than has been acknowledged, so thresholds will change for 2014; 6) Strobilurin-resistant sheath blight has not been found in Mississippi;  7)  The price and outlook for rice is favorable economically; 8)  At current costs, it will take about 18 bushels more per acre for hybrid rice to net the same as pure line varieties; 9)  Adjustments in water management practices can substantially save water without decreasing grain yields; and 10) The N-STaR (Nitrogen Soil Test for Rice) works well on silt loam or other coarse textured soils in Mississippi, but has failed on clays.  All of this information, including a spreadsheet to make various economic comparisons can be accessed at http://www.rice.msstate.edu/meetings_presentations.html.

If you have any specific questions, please don’t hesitate to contact your rice research and extension team.  We enjoy working for you and with you.