December 2014 rice farming

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www.ricefarming.com

ONE GROWER PUBLISHING, LLC

PROFITABLE PRODUCTION STRATEGIES

DECEMBER 2014

Yorktown Planting Co. Arkansans find recipe for success

CRC facilitates ecosystem services Rice market update

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The World Demands,

You Deliver.

In an industry that demands qual y, you deliver. Horizon Ag Clearfield® rice varie es get you started by giving you high-yielding seed that yields qual y grain. Consistently delivering the excellent in-field performance you need – and the qual y the world demands.

Clearfield® is a registered trademark of BASF Corporation. ©2014 Horizon Ag, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

HORIZ-14014-RF-YouDeliver-1214

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December 2014

Vol. 49, No. 1

www.ricefarming.com

COVER STORY

COLUMNS From The Editor

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Louisiana legacy

USA Rice Federation

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Your voice in the market

Rice Producers Forum

21

U.S. rice – an eye on markets

DEPARTMENTS Specialists Speaking

26

2014 Crop Review

Industry News

30

Rice business scene

Calendar

Yorktown Planting Co. Arkansas rice farmers Gil, left, and Paul Dreher share their recipe for successs.

FEATURES 30

ON THE COVER: Gil Dreher, left, and his father, Paul, stand in a field of Clearfield rice on their farm located near Yorktown, Ark.

2014 Rice Awards See page 13

Look for the Soybean South supplement following page 28 in the Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Missouri versions of Rice Farming.

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Ecosystem Services CRC partnerships help fuel conservation in rice fields.

22

Rice Market Update LSU AgCenter ag economist analyzes the rice market.

Variety/Hybrid 2015 Roster

24

Outstanding lineup offered for upcoming growing season.

RICE FARMING • DECEMBER 2014

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RICEFARMING

FROM THE EDITOR

EDITORIAL/PRODUCTION Editor Carroll Smith csmith@onegrower.com Copy Editor Amanda Huber ahuber@onegrower.com Art Director Carol Watson cwatson@onegrower.com

ADMINISTRATION Publisher/Vice President Lia Guthrie (901) 497-3689 lguthrie@onegrower.com Associate Publisher Carroll Smith (901) 326-4443 Sales Manager Scott Emerson (386) 462-1532 semerson@onegrower.com Editorial Director Tommy Horton (901) 767-4020 thorton@onegrower.com Circulation Manager Janet Owens (229) 386-8809 Production Manager Kathy Killingsworth (800) 888-9784 kkillingsworth@onegrower.com For circulation changes or change of address, call (800) 888-9784

ONE GROWER PUBLISHING, LLC Mike Lamensdorf PRESIDENT/TREASURER Lia Guthrie PUBLISHER/VICE PRESIDENT ASSOCIATED PUBLICATIONS – One Grower Publishing LLC also publishes COTTON FARMING, THE PEANUT GROWER, SOYBEAN SOUTH and CORN SOUTH magazines.

RICE FARMING (ISSN 0194-0929) is published monthly January through May, and December, for $25.00 per year by One Grower Publishing LLC, 1010 June Road, Suite 102, Memphis, TN 38119.

Periodicals postage paid at Memphis, TN. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to SUNBELT FULLFILLMENT SERVICES, 307 SOUTHGATE COURT, Brentwood, TN 37027-7987. International rates are $55.00 Canada/Mexico, $90.00 all other countries for Air-Speeded Delivery. (Surface delivery not available due to problems in reliability.) $5.00 single copy.

All statements, including product claims, are those of the person or organization making the statement or claim. The publisher does not adopt any such statement or claims as its own and any such statement or claim does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the publisher. RICE FARMING is a registered trademark of One Grower Publishing LLC, which reserves all rights granted by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office in association with its registration.

© Copyright 2014

One Grower Publishing, LLC 1010 June Road, Suite 102, Memphis, Tennessee, 38119 Phone: 901-767-4020

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Louisiana legacy Years ago, when I became editor of Rice Farming magazine, I knew I had a lot to learn in order to do a good job of communicating the mission of “profitable production strategies” to our readership.

The best way to do this was to get out in the field, get familiar with the crop and ask questions.

Dr. Johnny Saichuk, who was the Louisiana Extension rice specialist, was kind enough to take a greenhorn ag journalist to visit successful rice farms in his state. One of the places we visited was David LaCour’s rice operation in Vermilion Parish. I learned a lot from Johnny and David that day, but one thing that made a real impression on me was the “wildlife” that I saw from the cab of the truck as we drove along a narrow levee road with a large drainage ditch to the side of it.

I was terrified when I saw the abundance of alligators sunning themselves on the ditch bank. I had seen the occasional small gator in the lakes near my home, but never anything this prolific! I had visions of the truck falling into the water where we would all be eaten alive. I think Johnny and David got a good laugh out of it, but I have to admit, I was glad when we got back to the farm shop.

Through the years, Johnny continued to keep me abreast of the latest innovations in rice farming practices and introduce me to innovative farmers like David, who shared their knowledge and helped further my rice education. Dr. Saichuk is retiring in January, and others in the industry shared some thoughts about him that I would like to share with you now.

His Texas colleague, Dr. Mo Way, says, “Johnny’s verification trials have had a huge impact on Louisiana rice farmers. They can observe firsthand the results of various management practices that he coordinates and investigates.

Johnny is one of the best communicators I know. His presentations are clear, informative and humorous, and he is an excellent photographer.”

Dr. Dustin Harrell, who will take over the rice specialist position, notes that Johnny has a wealth of knowledge about all aspects of rice production and the rice industry.

“He also has an easy-going personality, which makes him a joy to be around,” Harrell says. “To me, Johnny was a colleague, a mentor and most of all a friend. To the rice industry, he is a legend!”

Louisiana rice farmer, Fred Zaunbrecher, says he and Johnny first met at USL (now the University of Louisiana at Lafayette) as teacher and student. “‘Johnny,’ which took me a while to say because, to me, he was always ‘Dr. Saichuk,’ has served Louisiana and the rice industry with pride, dignity and an unwavering pursuit to provide the Louisiana rice farmer with the tools they needed to stay above the curve and remain competitive in a global market. I am honored to call him a true friend.”

Johnny, or Dr. Saichuk, on behalf of the entire rice industry, we thank you for your professional and personal contributions throughout your career and hope that you thoroughly enjoy the next chapter of your life with family and friends. You will be missed.

Send your comments to: Editor, Rice Farming Magazine, 1010 June Road, Suite 102, Memphis, Tenn., 38119. Call (901) 767-4020 or e-mail csmith@onegrower.com.

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“We’ve taken a long-term approach, establishing a protocol to evaluate potential new U.S. rice varieties, looking at parameters such as bran streaks, chalk, kernel color, uniformity of length and overall appearance.”

– Dow Brantley

RICE

QUALITY MATTERS Dow Brantley Rice producer, Chairman of USA Rice Federation England, Ark. In the case where the rice customer is the beholder, then as the old Ford slogan once proclaimed – “Quality is Job One.” An emphasis must be placed on quality by every segment of the marketing chain. The world market is not static, and dramatic changes are affecting markets at our doorstep. The best example is our top market – Mexico. The U.S. share of the Mexican market was 99 percent as late as 2010, but we have fallen to just 78 percent in the first nine months of 2014. Thankfully, the U.S. industry is addressing the problem to find and implement solutions.

We’ve taken a long-term approach, establishing a protocol to evaluate potential new U.S. rice varieties, looking at parameters such as bran streaks, chalk, kernel color, uniformity of length and overall appearance. The parameters are graded by mills on a number scale that will prevent substandard varieties from making it to market. While the program is voluntary, I would encourage all plant breeders developing new rice varieties to participate in the protocol for maximum impact. And, of course, we’re putting great emphasis on rice research to provide growers with high yield varieties that meet the quality demands of the customers.

ricequalitymatters.com

Quality Is In The Eye Of The Beholder We also work directly in the marketplace to help pave the way for those varieties and ensure end users feel good about the U.S. rice supply and the price they’re paying. We are able to trade on the United States’ unrivaled reputation for reliability, belief in the sanctity of contracts and having the most robust food safety controls in the world. And finally, the U.S. can supply the type and form of rice the customers desire without limitation.

We’re rolling all of this progress up in Mexico with a new authenticity seal that will drive customers to us, while also putting pressure on cheap imitators and unscrupulous individuals who try to blend high-quality U.S. rice with lesser quality origins.

We have significant challenges, but we have a real plan, like the Seed Plan of a few years ago, that I am confident will deliver and restore the U.S. rice industry’s reputation as the global leader in quality and food safety.

FROM SEED TO SHIPPING • The world market is not static, and dramatic changes are affecting markets, such as Mexico, at our doorstep.

• We have a plan to deliver and restore the U.S. rice industry’s reputation as the global leader in quality and food safety.

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Ecosystem Services CRC partnerships help fuel conservation in rice fields

By Paul Buttner Environmental Affairs Manager California Rice Commission

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his was another eventful year as the California Rice Commission (CRC) successfully helped deliver programs to growers who willingly engage in wildlife conservation. It was especially gratifying that, in this third year of drought, our partnerships with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and other conservation groups facilitated ecosystem services that proved workable for wildlife protection and for our rice growers.

Here is a rundown of some of the year’s conservation activities:

such as the Central Valley, part of what NRCS calls Critical Conservation Areas (CCAs). The CCA that includes California rice fields is called the California Bay-Delta CCA, which includes the Pacific Flyway

into the RCPP. We are currently in year two of the BirdReturns program, with 8,000 acres of early fall flooded habitat and plans for another 6,000 acres of spring wildlife habitat in 2015. We appreciate our BirdReturns partnership with The Nature Conservancy and its private donors who understand the great conservation value Sacramento Valley rice fields provide for wildlife habitat. This program complements WHEP well by attracting applicants that won’t or can’t participate in WHEP but want to implement similar conservation program options.

New Winter Flooding Program

The WHEP is a special initiative created from the ground up by California NRCS, in coordination with the CRC and three of our key conservation partners – Audubon California, Point Blue Conservation Science and The Nature Conservancy. It provides costshare incentives for key practices that enhance the value of rice fields in production, including special water management, nesting islands and dedicated habitat areas.

The CRC just released our latest wildlife publication titled Bird-Friendly Farming in California Rice Fields. This document chronicles the tremendous success of WHEP – made possible through the tremendous support of the NRCS, which has provided approximately $12 million in WHEP support since 2011.

Efforts to renew contracts in this program hit a programmatic challenge. To address this, the CRC worked to promote the creation of a new conservation program framework in the Farm Bill called the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP), with the goal of expanding and continuing WHEP-type practices over a longer term.

Regional Conservation Partnership Program The RCPP designates conservation funding to certain specially designated regions,

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LESLIE MORRIS PHOTOGRAPHY

Waterbird Habitat Enhancement Program (WHEP)

Black-necked Stilt in rice country.

where the migration of millions of birds occurs each year.

In addition to expansion and refinement of WHEP practices, our recently submitted RCPP proposal would include the development of a new waterfowl nesting component.

This element would require many technical and policy issues to be addressed to become a reality. We welcome this opportunity to add significant amounts of rotational uplands nesting habitat to our wildlife resume.

We propose folding in an exciting new conservation program called “BirdReturns”

We are delighted to have the NRCS working with us in an expedited fashion to accommodate the large numbers of waterfowl expected to be traveling through the Pacific Flyway this winter. Experts indicate that northern nesting habitat conditions have been excellent even while California continues its drought conditions. Therefore, it appears there will be greater numbers of birds coming to find reduced wintering habitat in California. The rice industry, normally flooding 250,000 to 300,000 acres in the winter, could be down to as little as 50,000, creating a “perfect storm” for waterbirds in the Valley.

Thankfully, NRCS took this threat seriously and has helped the situation for the benefit of waterbirds. The CRC hosted a recent workshop to promote this program, which is expected to increase the amount of flooded rice in the 2014-15 winter season by up to 10,000 acres.

The CRC continues to search for ways to provide proper incentives for conservation in rice fields. We have a tremendous environmental story to tell and benefit from the foresight of the NRCS and strong partnerships with conservation groups, including The Nature Conservancy, Audubon California, Point Blue Conservation Science, Ducks Unlimited and California Waterfowl.

Contact Paul Buttner, pbuttner@calrice.org.

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Rice Consultant’s Corner

Focus For 2015: Return On Investment Danny May Southeast Coop Qulin, Mo. I remember that the first rice field I ever scouted as a college intern was north of Marks, Miss. Later, I spent time scouting in northeast Louisiana, North Carolina and Kentucky. In 2009, Mike Galloway hired me to work for Southeast Coop, a farmer-owned business since 1957, in the Missouri Bootheel. Today, I scout between 10,000 and 15,000 acres of rice, depending on my growers’ rotations.

This past season was unseasonably cold and wet, so not being able to flood in a timely manner was our biggest challenge. We were late pulling levees, so we spoonfed the rice by flying on an extra application of ammonium sulfate before we could get in there with our big shot of urea. However, in spite of timing issues and a lot of panicle blast, the yields have been fine.

The most troublesome weeds we have to contend with in our area are barnyardgrass, sprangletop and indigo. The backbone of my herbicide program in both conventional and Clearfield rice is Grasp, Regiment, Command and Facet L. I’m big on ALS chemistry because we have a lot of propanil-resistant barnyardgrass.

On the front end of the Clearfield rice, we come in with a true preemerge tankmix of Command and glyphosate. We typically follow this application with six ounces of Newpath and either 2.5 ounces of Grasp SC or 0.5 ounce of Regiment. On conventional rice, we go with a pre-emerge shot of Command, a delayed pre- of Prowl 3.3 EC and usually come back with a quart of Facet L and 2.5 ounces of Grasp SC or 0.5 ounce of Regiment. In 2014, smallflower umbrella sedge showed up in our fields for the first time. Luckily, we were able to keep it under control with 2.8 ounces of Grasp SC and a deep flood.

In the insect arena, we treat for stink bugs every year by adding two ounces of Karate in with our fungicides. That takes care of the stink bug issues. Another important part of our production strategy is the use of NipsIt SUITE – a premium seed treatment. Since we have taken seeding rates down to all time lows, everything that is planted needs to come up. As for fertility, nitrogen is a no-brainer. I focus on potash and ammonium sulfate. The sulfur in ammonium sulfate helps drive tillering, and the potassium in potash helps plant health and builds stalk strength. And standing rice is always easier to cut than lodged rice.

For 2015, our commodity prices are going to be lower than they have been in a while. With this in mind, pick varieties that have been yielding and working for you. Focus on timeliness. Go with a more specific herbicide program instead of a blanket treatment to help control expenses. On a final note, as you are managing your rice crop during the upcoming year, remember that it is always about ROI – return on investment.

• B.S. degree in agricultural economics – Mississippi State University • Joined Southeast Coop – farmer-owned since 1957 – in 2009 • Scouts rice in Clay County, Ark., and Butler, Stoddard, Dunklin and Scott Counties in Missouri • Consults on rice, soybeans and corn • Has consulted for 18 years • Married to wife, Tonya, for three years • Enjoys competitive barbecue cooking and turkey hunting

Recap: Focus For 2015: Return On Investment

▼

1.Due to unseasonably cold and wet weather, not being able to flood in a timely manner was our biggest challenge.

2.The most troublesome weeds we have to contend with in our area are barnyardgrass, sprangletop and indigo. The backbone of my herbicide program in both conventional and Clearfield rice is Grasp, Regiment, Command and Facet L. 3.On the front end of the Clearfield rice, we come in with a true pre-emerge tankmix of Command and glyphosate. We typically follow this application with six ounces of Newpath and either 2.5 ounces of Grasp SC or 0.5 ounce of Regiment.

4.On conventional rice, we go with a pre-emerge shot of Command, a delayed pre- of Prowl 3.3 EC and usually come back with a quart of Facet L and 2.5 ounces of Grasp SC or 0.5 ounce of Regiment.

5.In the insect arena, we treat for stink bugs every year by adding two ounces of Karate in with our fungicides.

6. Another important part of our production strategy is the use of NipsIt SUITE – a premium seed treatment.

7.In 2015, go with a more specific herbicide program instead of a blanket treatment to help control expenses.

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RICE FEDERATION

UPDATE

Your voice in the market USA Rice works to keep existing markets open and free of barriers as well as find new ones for U.S. rice.

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By Betsy Ward President and CEO USA Rice Federation

ll indicators are pointing to a robust rice crop this year despite the devastating drought gripping parts of rice country.

According to the National Agricultural Statistic Service (NASS), total planted rice acres are up about 18 percent. Many believe the passage of the Farm Bill and the stability it is offering could lead to increased acreage next year as well.

The bottom line is, more acres mean more rice, and this could be the start of a trend. So what now? That’s where we come in, your national trade association.

It’s our job to keep existing markets for U.S. rice open and free of barriers and to find new markets and homes for your rice.

Sales Start At Home

The bottom line is, more acres mean more rice, and this could be the start of a trend.That’s where we come in, your national trade association. It’s our job to keep existing markets for U.S. rice open and free of barriers and to find new markets and homes for your rice.

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In the domestic market, we work in the foodservice and retail sectors to stimulate U.S. rice consumption, but we also promote public policy designed to increase rice use there as well.

You may be familiar with the government’s nutrition guideline slogan, “Make half your grains whole!” Rice fits in perfectly, and we make certain rice is included as a solution for government nutrition programs, and particularly in America’s schools where we’ve seen brown rice use increase more than 200 percent since 2010 as a result of our efforts.

In the foodservice sector, we provide marketing and cooking information to encourage rice use, specifically urging the use of U.S.-grown rice. Whether it’s working with a restaurant chain that already uses rice, such as Chipotle to ensure they know U.S. rice is the way to go to reduce food miles, guarantee a high-quality product and support the U.S. economy; or reaching out to new potential end users to foster greater rice use with the same messages, USA Rice is front and center.

We communicate directly to consumers through our website, newly enhanced social media programs and by partnering

with supermarkets to effectively deliver tested messages about rice we know they want to hear: “U.S. rice is gluten free, GMO free, locally grown, safe and nutritious.” We add messaging about environmental stewardship, conservation and sustainability, which are important drivers in some consumer decision making.

Over There, Over There!

The enhanced quality of the new crop, more competitive long-grain prices and exciting positive developments in food aid programs we’ve been fighting for will help us open more doors for your rice overseas in the coming year. From advising U.S. government trade negotiators, to bringing foreign delegations to the United States to see how our industry works like we did earlier this year with the Iraq Grain Board, we are constantly working to improve market access, while running robust promotion programs in key markets.

We recognize that in many markets – even our own – we are not always competing on a level playing field. As one California grower recently said, “We’re not growers here competing with growers there; we’re competing against an entire system that has been rigged from top to bottom to push us out of the market.”

He made those comments to investigators from the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) during a meeting we set up, and I was glad he did. The USITC investigation into global rice markets is quite welcome, and we look forward to the findings (due next Spring) to help us further improve market access.

All of this is but a small sample of what we’re doing to make sure safe, delicious, high-quality and abundant U.S.-grown rice makes its way to plates here and around the world. We thank you for what you do, and for having the faith in us to help you in whatever way we can.

To learn more, visit www.usarice.com.

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CONFIDENTLY GROW RICE WITH MODERN IRRIGATION. www.valleyirrigation.com/Rice

GROWERS SW WHO KNOW W BETTER B GROW RICE RIC CE WITH WITH VALLEY VA Y. ®

Yo know it’s time You e for f a chang flood to center pivot irrigation. could grow before e. Using cent costs, adds anothe er crop to yo Valley in conservin ing resources

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Yorktown Planting Co. Arkansas farmers share their recipe for success

By Carroll Smith Editor

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he main ingredients for their operation’s success, according to fifth- and sixth-generation Arkansas rice farmers Paul and Gil Dreher, include choosing the right varieties, investing in a grain management system, managing their water wisely and hiring a conscientious rice consultant.

“My grandfather, my dad and my uncle settled in Grady, Ark., in the early 1940s, where they later invested in a coop cotton gin and a farm near Round Lake,” says Paul Dreher. “That’s where our home place is now. Later, I farmed with my dad and uncle for about 13 years before I went out on my own in 2002. That’s when I established Yorktown Planting Co. Today, my son, Gil, and I farm 3,000 acres of

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rice, soybeans, corn and cotton.”

When asked how he got in the farming business, Paul’s son, Gil, says, “It’s all my family has ever done and all that I have ever done.

This is my first full year back on the farm after graduating from the University of Arkansas at Monticello. My biggest responsibility in 2014 was to water all of the rice, part of the soybeans and do whatever else needed to be done to keep the operation going.”

Clearfield Technology Pays Off In 2014, the Drehers planted about 800 acres of CL151 and CL142.

Dreher likes CL151 because this variety doesn’t get too tall so there

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is less chance of lodging and a lot less straw to deal with at the end of the season.

“It mills well,” he says. “We are making fewer bushels than we did with other rice, but we are making up for that by drawing a premium on the milling. Plus, the way we dry our rice now gives us a little better quality.”

Dreher says he was glad to see the Clearfield technology and Newpath come along because he had a red rice problem that was escalating from year to year.

“We raised some conventional varieties, but the red rice was taking over,” he explains. “We also tried to water-seed, but that practice was too labor-intensive. The Clearfield varieties and Newpath herbicide work much better for us. Today, more farmers are planting Group 4 soybeans and cotton in April where we used to not plant those crops until late May. Newpath is easy to spray, and we don’t have to worry about killing our neighbor’s soybeans, if not our own.

We try to do as much as we can with a ground rig, but sometimes we have to use a plane.”

Field-By-Field Weed Control Strategy In addition to red rice, the Drehers have to control barnyardgrass and morningglories, but other than that, their farm is clean. To control pigweed, they switched to LibertyLink soybeans, which they rotate with corn. They also spray 2,4-D on the rice levees if pigweed happens to show Grain Management up there. However, most of their land is level, so they don’t have many rice levees around to attract the pest.

“Justin Hensley, our rice consultant, determines what weed spectrum we have and what product will fit best on what acre,” Paul says. “He checks field-by-field and doesn’t just make a blanket application.

Justin is real conscientious about looking at

System Provides Peace Of Mind Before Paul Dreher installed the OPI-Integris computerized grain management system about three years ago, he literally had to go by his bins every day and climb to the top to try to detect hot spots.

“In the past, if I had a problem with a hot spot, or stack burn, I had to run the stir augers to get rid of it. Now, the OPI system anticipates a hot spot before it comes in, puts air on it and cools the grain down before it gets to that point.

It has more than paid for itself.

“This system saves me so much time,” he says. “In the morning, I can sit here at my computer before everybody comes to work, and it will tell me if I have a problem or not. I don’t have to drive to the bins, which are 15 minutes from the office.

“Also, if I am probing out of the top of the bin, I can’t anticipate when the grain will be dry,” he adds. “Whereas, this system reads the moisture and the temperature all the way through.”

Dreher says the system gives him peace of mind. If everything is not running as it should, it lets him know. For example, if a fan doesn’t come on or there is a temperature problem, the system sends his OPI representative an email. Then the representative contacts Paul, so he can send someone to go take a look.

“Before I installed this system, I may not have even known that I had a problem,” he says.

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each field on its own. You might see his truck parked somewhere, but he may be looking at several hundred acres from one parking spot. I’m real impressed with him.”

Rice Consultant, Justin Hensley, Helps Guide The Drehers Through The Season

On-Farm Drying And Storage “We have 225,000-bushel capacity on-farm drying and storage, and we try to keep our varieties separate, if possible,” Dreher notes.

“From the time the rice is dried until the time it is picked up, Riceland pays me 10 cents a bushel storage. Then Riceland pays for the trucking. I can’t haul my rice to Stuttgart for what they haul it for. It’s a winwin for me, and they don’t have to handle it but one time. I also do some business with Oakley Grain, and they will arrange a pick up as well.”

Dreher says one of the best investments he has made is a computerized grain storage management system.

“The OPI-Integris system that we installed in our newer bins has cut my drying time to almost half, and the grain quality is more consistent from the top to the bottom,” he says. “While the grain is drying, the air is at optimum temperature. It doesn’t overdry the grain.

With this system, we don’t have to use stir augers anymore. We were seeing some milling problems with those. With this system, the rice quality is more uniform.”

Surface Water Provides Cost Savings When it comes to irrigation, the Drehers are fortunate to have access to some surface water.

“We try to use all the warm water that we can to lessen the amount of cold-water rice,” Paul says. “It’s cheaper to pump surface water than it is to run a well. Electricity is expensive, so pumping surface water has been a big cost savings in that respect.

“High pH and salt problems spurred us to move away from well water,” he explains. “We’re The OPI-Integris trying to get into a tailwater recovery system to take care system that we of that situation. Once the installed in our newer water filters through the sysbins has cut my tem, we feel like we lose the high pH and salt. drying time to almost “Our landlord has invested half, and the grain in 15-inch underground pipe quality is more and re-lifts, so we have all underground irrigation. The consistent from the water can either come out of top to the bottom. the well or out of the tailwater recovery system. It goes from the bottom to the top. Every field is tied together.”

When they go to flood, the Drehers run polypipe around the edges of the field in a side-inlet irrigation set-up and punch holes in every paddy. Paul says they have realized considerable savings and pumping time by using this irrigation method.

“Water is not an issue here,” Paul says. “That’s one thing we have really enjoyed as rice farmers. We can get to flood so much quicker.

It doesn’t take us a week to get a field flooded. We can flood in about three days. That means we are not losing any herbicide to the ground cracking. When it’s time to flood, the way we have things set up, we can turn on the well plus the re-lift and put water out quickly.

This helps us a lot with our grass control, and we don’t lose as much nitrogen fertilizer either.”

As these farmers have realized, the right ingredients are key to creating a profitable recipe for Arkansas rice production.

12 RICE FARMING • DECEMBER 2014

Both Paul and his son, Gil, will confirm that one of the important ingredients in their recipe for a successful rice operation is their rice consultant, Justin Hensley, who operates Arkansas Ag Specialists, LLC, based out of Dumas, Ark. “2014 was my first year with the Drehers, and it was nice to see the three generations working together,” Hensley says. “Paul’s dad has been in farming for many years, so it’s in his blood and has been passed down from generation to generation.

“I look at their rice on a weekly basis and advise them on things they may want to consider as far as fertilizer, fungicides, insecticides, herbicides and so on,” he explains. “They know their fields better than I do because they have been farming for years, so they let me know what they think will work best for them.

“During the winter, we discuss what they are going to plant in the upcoming season. We go over variety selection, and I take soil samples in January and February,” Hensley says. “These samples give us an idea of what we need to do as far as fertilizer is concerned.”

This past season, the Arkansas consultant said the Drehers had a few fields that experienced a salt problem. According to Hensley, there is a strip of heavy, buckshot clay ground that runs through the Grady/Gould area. This particular land has some salt problems and is low in phosphorus. But if everything is managed correctly, he says, it’s pretty good rice ground.

“We had to watch those fields during the year when it got dry to make sure we kept water on them to keep the salt flushed out,” Hensley says.

“It was Gil’s first year back on the farm after college, so it was his first year as the sole ‘watering man.’ I was really proud of him. He did an excellent job of watering rice on his own.”

Hensley says his responsibility is to guide the Drehers through the year, give advice and let them decide what they want to do.

“They have a good operation,” he says. “They manage their crops really well and keep the fields clean. They are diversified farmers who grow some of everything – rice, beans, corn and cotton. They also started getting into cattle this year.

“Another thing that impresses me is that Gil went to the University of Arkansas, then came back to the farm, so that they are able to maintain a family farming operation.”

Pictured above are Gil Dreher, left, and rice consultant, Justin Hensley.

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2014 Rice Awards

Horizon Ag, Rice Farming magazine and the USA Rice Federation are proud to bring you the recipients of the 2014 Rice Awards.

The program highlights three honorees for their contributions to the success of the rice industry through the Rice Farmer of the Year, the Rice Industry Award and the Rice Lifetime Achievement Award.

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Fred Zaunbrecher

RICE FARMER OF THE YEAR

N

icholas Zaunbrecher, Fred Zaunbrecher’s great-great-grandfather came to America from Germany in 1880, settled in Acadia Parish and began farming rice.

“My great-grandfather, Henry, was involved in one of the first water well drilling services in the area for irrigating rice,” Zaunbrecher says. “My brothers and I represent the fifth generation of rice farmers and are still farming some of the same property that my grandfather farmed. My dad, Glenn, worked at the Rice Research Station in Crowley as an ag engineer before he started farming on his own. From the time I was nine years old, I began helping him out on the farm.

“I started farming full-time after graduating from LSU with a master’s degree in agronomy,” he says. “When my dad passed away in 1989, I took on the responsibility of keeping the farm going since I was the oldest of nine children.”

Today, Fred and his three brothers – Philip, Paul and Bill – operate GF&P Zaunbrecher Farms. They grow 2,000 acres of rice, 1,600 acres of soybeans and 1,000 acres of crawfish. His mother, Margaret, still owns land, a water well and a portion of the drying system.

“We were always taught that if you were going to do something, do it right or don’t do it at all,” Zaunbrecher says. “Sometimes this involves taking a few extra steps.

Dad used to tell us to stop the combine and pull any weeds that we saw in the field so they wouldn’t go into the machine. We also used pinpoint flooding, which was time-consuming, but it helped keep the fields clean.

“Today, with the Clearfield technology, we don’t have to do that anymore,” he says. “Plus, technology keeps us in business in the midst of a volatile market. For the last few years, our rice quality has really been good. We invested in a grain management system that sets drying parameters and monitors the drying through a computer. This takes out a lot of the guesswork and allows us to dry rice more efficiently.”

The Zaunbrechers have 15 on-farm grain bins and identity preserve (IP) all of their first crop rice.

“One way to reduce the variability associated with quality is to avoid putting two different varieties in one bin,” he explains. “One variety is not going to mill exactly like the other one.”

Dr. Steve Linscombe, Director and Breeder at the Rice Research Station in Crowley, says, “The farming operation of this group of brothers is one of the most progressive in the region. They are early adopters of

new technology and work very closely with research, Extension and industry in demonstration and research endeavors that benefit not only their operation but the entire area.

“In spite of all the time that is necessary to insure the success of his agricultural enterprises, Fred is one of the most active rice industry leaders in Louisiana,” he adds.

“Mr. Zaunbrecher is also a devoted husband and father and readily acknowledges the contributions of his wife, Candee, to the success of his agricultural operation. He understands that the success of his operation is dependent on the contributions and hard work of all the individuals within his group.”

Bobby Hanks, CEO of Louisiana Rice Mill in Crowley, notes, “Fred’s determination to persevere through many tough years, which included hurricanes, drought and GMO, has made his farming operation a model for others to follow. Other farmers also take note of the innovative ways that Fred and his brothers approach farming.”

Zaunbrecher acknowledges that farming is big business, and every generation is faced with challenges.

“I really admire the young people who are coming up in the industry,” he says. “I am very proud of them. I also appreciate my wife, Candee, who has been very supportive of everything that I do. It takes a special person to live with a farmer and help the operation move forward.”

Congratulations to Fred Zaunbrecher, an outstanding rice producer, tireless volunteer in the U.S. rice industry, a dedicated family man and the 2014 Rice Farmer of the Year.

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Fred Zaunbrecher Duson, Louisiana • Past president of Acadia Parish and Louisiana Rice Growers Associations • Member of the Louisiana Rice Research Board • Chairman of the USA Rice Council • USA Rice Federation Domestic Promotion Committee Chairman • Member of USA Rice Federation Sustainability, Viability, International Promotion and International Trade Policy Committees • Rice Leadership Development Program – Class of 2003 • 2006 International Rice Festival Farmer of the Year • Long-time member, St. Peter and Paul Catholic Church • Married to wife, Candee. Two children: Tim (wife, Nicole) and Emily (husband, Jake) • Three grandchildren: Brice, 7; Mia, 4; and Paige, 6 months

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Dr. Kent McKenzie RICE INDUSTRY AWARD

I

n looking back over the years, it seems as if a career in the U.S. rice industry was Dr. Kent McKenzie’s destiny. In 1953, the year in which Kent was born, his father and grandfather formed a partnership, began growing rice and put up $50 to buy stock in the nonprofit, grower-owned California Cooperative Rice Research Foundation, Inc. (CCRRF).

After receiving a degree in biology from a small liberal arts college in Oregon, he entered graduate school at UC Davis in the midst of “The Green Revolution” in rice. The breeders were developing semidwarf varieties, and rice productivity was increasing tremendously.

“There was a large group of graduate students present, and I studied under geneticist Neil Rutger, who developed Calrose 76, and UC professors Maurice Peterson and Duane Mickelson,” McKenzie says. “I was fortunate to be there and have been in rice ever since.”

Rutger notes that Kent thrived on grain quality work, so research on grain quality characters became a common thread in his subsequent positions.

The native Californian began his career at the University of Arkansas Rice Research and Extension Center in Stuttgart. While there, Kent learned about variety testing and Southern rice production from the mentoring of professor Bob Wells and others like Ted Johnson, Bobby Huey and Roy Smith. Within a year, his research potential was recognized by the LSU AgCenter Rice Research Station in Crowley, which recruited him to head up their rice-breeding program.

“The LSU AgCenter Rice Research Station brought together a dynamic, young, enthusiastic group of researchers, creating a synergy for the station and propelling research forward to what it is today,” McKenzie says. “This included Marlin Brandon, Pat Bollich, Tim and Sue Croughan, Don Groth, Steve Linscombe, Farman Jodari, Richard Dunand and John Robinson from USDA. Administrative support from Duke Falkner and Joe Musick was also a major contribution.”

In 1988, Kent came full circle and returned to California as plant breeder at the CCRRF in Biggs.

“At the Rice Experiment Station, I joined a mature and very productive program with experienced breeders in ST Tseng, Carl Johnson and staff,” he says. “There, UC researchers included Jim Hill, Robert Webster, Al Grigarick and experienced farm advisors. In more recent years, there is a fresh, new generation of breeders

and scientists here providing another boost to my growth and experience.”

“In his personal research at Biggs, Kent developed the variety S-102 in 1997 and the premium medium grain M-402 in 2001,” Rutger says. “Both of these are still in production, which is remarkable in this age of fast turnover of new varieties. He also developed Calhikari201 in 2001, Calamylow-201 in 2006 and Calhikari-202 in 2012. The increased focus on milling and grain quality was adopted in the medium grain project, resulting in significant head rice yield and stability improvements in the release by his colleagues of M-206 and M-105.”

After Dr. Marlin Brandon passed away, Dr. McKenzie was appointed CCRRF Rice Experiment Station (RES) Director and Plant Breeder in 2000.

“Dr. Brandon had been a mentor for me as well,” McKenzie recalls. “I learned a lot about growing rice in the California system from him. One of his favorite sayings was, ‘Rice loves water. If you take the water away, it’s not going to be as happy.’”

In reflecting on his career in the U.S. rice industry, Kent says, “In all places, and especially in my position now at RES, I have truly enjoyed, benefited from and been impressed with the growers who have committed their time, talents and dollars to support rice research. I view them as ‘rice relatives.’”

It is with great respect and appreciation to name Dr. Kent McKenzie as the recipient of the 2014 Rice Industry Award.

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Dr. Kent McKenzie Biggs, California • B.A., Biology, Willamette University • M.S., Agronomy, University of California-Davis • Ph.D., Genetics with a minor in Plant Physiology, University of California-Davis • Currently the Director and Plant Breeder at CCRRF-Rice Research Station in Biggs, Calif.

• Member of the Crop Science Society of America, American Society of Agronomy, American Association of Cereal Chemists and Rice Technical Working Group • Serves on the California Rice Certification Committee and the Research and Technology Committee for the California Rice Commission • Serves on several committees and task forces for the USA Rice Federation • Active participant – Temperate Rice Research Consortium • Married to wife, Kathryn, DVM. Two sons: Lt. Douglas McKenzie USN (wife, Elizabeth) and John Ross McKenzie

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Marvin Baden

RICE LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

I

n 1958, at the age of 17, Marvin “Butch” Baden entered the work force as an office boy at Arkansas Rice Growers Cooperative Association, now Riceland Foods Inc., in Stuttgart, Ark. At the time, he was too young to even be allowed to ride the freight elevator to carry out his tasks around the farmer-owned rice marketing cooperative.

Over the next few years, he became a credit manager and was encouraged by Riceland’s Bill Knoll to try his hand at sales in the newly formed export sales department at Riceland.

In 1978, Baden joined Producers Rice Mill Inc., another farmer-owned rice marketing cooperative, which had just built a brand new parboiled facility in Stuttgart.

“Producers hired me to develop its export sales division because, at the time, most sales for Producers were domestic,” Baden says. “With my accounting background, I knew when we sold something that we were making money. I have enjoyed the export sales aspect of the rice industry all these years and never looked back.”

Keith Glover, President and CEO of Producers Rice Mill, notes, “During his six decades within the industry, Marvin has witnessed firsthand many setbacks and challenges for U.S. rice. Many of the industry’s greatest heartbreaks occurred when large U.S. rice export markets were lost primarily due to political reasons. Marvin was one of the leaders among rice marketers that would work tirelessly and travel the world to find new export markets to replace the ones lost. In all, he has logged more than eight million air miles on behalf of the U.S. rice industry.”

Glover adds that Marvin’s determination to overcome unprecedented circumstances was once again evident in 2006 when a trace amount of a genetically modified organism (GMO) event was found in some commercial U.S. long-grain rice varieties.

“During the crisis, Marvin was on the front lines, expressing the importance and necessity in cleaning up the U.S. rice crop from GMO,” he says. “Within three years, the U.S. rice industry was once again GMO-free.

Because of his leadership and knowledge of the

European Union (EU) market, Marvin is the chairman of the EU subcommittee and makes numerous visits each year to Europe, meeting with the EU Commission, USTR, FAS and USDA officials, with the objective of restoring the European market for U.S. rice to its pre-GMO levels of about 400,000 metric tons per year.”

In addition to his responsibilities at Producers, Marvin takes an interest in the young leaders who are emerging in the rice industry.

“It gives me a lot of pleasure to work alongside these young people,” he says. “You never know who you might be mentoring. I have enjoyed my career, and we have all worked hard, but I know we have good leadership coming up through the ranks.

“I think U.S. rice is on the right road,” Baden adds.

“We continue to improve our varieties and address the challenges we encounter with our competitors in other countries. I believe the U.S. rice market will continue to grow, but we’ve got to keep fighting to regain those huge markets that we have lost over the years. I’ve always been an optimist, but I believe rice is one of those commodities that will be there for us every day.”

For his dedication, determination and innovative contributions to the U.S. rice industry, it is a pleasure to honor Marvin “Butch” Baden as the recipient of the 2014 Rice Lifetime Achievement Award.

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Marvin Baden Stuttgart, Arkansas • Currently the Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Producers Rice Mill, Inc. in Stuttgart, Ark. • Was elected as a Director on the inaugural USA Rice Federation Board of Directors and still serves as a Director today • Serves on the Board of the USA Rice Foundation • Chairman of the USA Rice Federation EU Trade Policy Subcommittee • Was presented with the RMA Distinguished Service Award by the USA Rice Millers Association in June 2014 • Served as Chairman of the USA Rice Millers Association in 1992-93 • Active member of the First United Methodist Church in Stuttgart, Ark. • Serves on the Fund-Raising Committee for Easter Seals Arkansas • A Bronze Sponsor of Ducks Unlimited for many years • Marvin and his wife, Kaye, recently celebrated their 52nd wedding anniversary.

Two sons: Wesley Baden (wife, Amy) and Dr. Greg Baden (wife, Roseanne) • Seven grandchildren

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2014 Rice Awards T

he U.S. rice industry is an important supplier of high-quality rice grain to the world. Our industry’s success is driven by the passionate people that represent a spirit of deep commitment and service to the trade. While it is difficult to formally recognize in any given year the many professionals who strive for the improvement of U.S. rice production, those exemplifying a high level of service and contributions are singled out for special recognition by their peers.

The Rice Industry Award honors the person who has proven to be innovative in his or her role in this industry. The Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes the person who has dedicated his or her life to the viability of the U.S. rice industry. The Rice Farmer of the Year Award honors a producer who has shown determination, innovation or dedication to growing the crop.

We received many outstanding nominations, and naming three individuals most deserving of these distinguished awards was a challenge. Please take a moment to review the accomplishments of each of these recipients that set them apart as leaders in the U.S. rice industry.

Horizon Ag is honored to support these awards recognizing significant contributions to the industry. Growers have learned to depend on Horizon Ag Clearfield varieties in the field to maximize production and profit potential, while mills, exporters and end-users of U.S. rice know they can depend on Horizon Ag varieties for excellent quality. Horizon Ag is committed to working closely with our partners in Extension to demonstrate the advantages of planting high-performing, superior-quality Clearfield rice varieties. We are also dedicated to working with our partners in university breeding programs to develop varieties that meet the demands of both domestic and foreign end-users in order to help preserve and boost the U.S. rice industry’s reputation as the unmatched leader.

As the leading provider of Clearfield rice seed and over a decade of success bringing outstanding products to market, we are very proud to honor the 2014 award winners. For more information on Horizon products, please contact your local seed retailer or visit www.horizonseed.com Tim Walker General Manager, Horizon Ag

Clearfield® is a registered trademark of BASF Corporation. ©2014 Horizon Ag, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Horizon Ag would like to recognize past Rice Awards recipients.

1992 Dennis Leonards, Crowley, La. 1993 Jacko Garrett, Jr., Danbury, Texas 1994 Nolen Canon, Tunica, Miss.

1995 Duane Gaither, Walnut Ridge, Ark. 1996 Leroy & Chris Isbell, England, Ark. 1997 Charles Berry, Tunica, Miss.

John Denison, Iowa, La. Paul Haidusek, Devers, Texas Errol Lounsberry, Vermilion Parish, La. Charley Mathews, Jr., Marysville, Calif.

Patrick Mullen, Des Arc, Ark. Fred Tanner, Bernie, Mo. 1998 Tommy Andrus, Moorhead, Miss.

Don Bransford, Colusa, Calif.

Larry Devillier, Jr., Winnie, Texas Dennis Robison, Poplar Bluff, Mo. Gary Sebree, Stuttgart, Ark. Linda Zaunbrecher, Gueydon, La. 1999 Ken Collins, Biggs, Calif.

James Hoppe, Fenton, La. Charles Parker Johnson, Neelyville, Mo. Abbott Myers, Dundee, Miss.

Lowell George “L.G.” Raun, Jr., El Campo, Texas Martin Walt, Jr., Dumas, Ark. 2000 John B. Alter, DeWitt, Ark. R. Ernest Girouard, Jr., Kaplan, La. Bill Griffith, Boyle, Miss.

Ken Minton, Dexter, Mo. Michael Rue, Marysville, Calif.

J.D. “Des” Woods, Katy, Texas 2001 Rice Farmer of the Year: Larry and Candice Davis, Bolivar County, Miss.

Rice Industry Award: Jack Williams, UC Cooperative Extension Rice Lifetime Achievement Award: David LaCour, Vermilion Parish, La. 2002 Rice Farmer of the Year: Tommy Ray Oliver, Stuttgart, Ark. Rice Industry Award: Howard Cormier, LSU AgCenter, Abbeville, La. Rice Lifetime Achievement Award: Leland L. Carle, Stuttgart, Ark. 2003 Rice Farmer of the Year: David Monroe Smith, Jr., Jonesboro, Ark. Rice Industry Award: Dr. Johnny Saichuk, LSU AgCenter, Crowley, La. Rice Lifetime Achievement Award: Lundberg Brothers, Richvale, Calif.

2004 Rice Farmer of the Year: Dane Hebert, Maurice, La. Rice Industry Award: Dr. M.O. “Mo” Way, Texas A&M, Beaumont, Texas Rice Lifetime Achievement Award: Dr. Joseph Musick, LSU AgCenter, Crowley, La.

2005 Rice Farmer of the Year: John Greer, Jonesboro, Ark. Rice Industry Award: Charles “Eddie” Eskew, Jennings, La. Rice Lifetime Achievement Award: Donald Bransford, Colusa, Calif.

2006 Rice Farmer of the Year: Gibb Steele, Hollandale, Miss.

Rice Industry Award: Chuck Wilson, DeWitt, Ark. Rice Lifetime Achievement Award: John Denison, Iowa, La. 2007 Rice Farmer of the Year: Clarence Berken, Lake Arthur, La. Rice Industry Award: Dr. Joe Street, Stoneville, Miss.

Rice Lifetime Achievement Award: Dr. Steve Linscombe, Crowley, La. 2008 Rice Farmer of the Year: Milton LaMalfa, Richvale, Calif.

Rice Industry Award: John Cummings, Fort Collins, Colo.

Rice Lifetime Achievement Award: Martin Ahrent, Corning, Ark. 2009 Rice Farmer of the Year: Curtis Berry, Robinsonville, Miss.

Rice Industry Award: John E. Broussard, Jr., Fairfax, Va. Rice Lifetime Achievement Award: Carl Wayne Brothers, Stuttgart, Ark. 2010 Rice Farmer of the Year: Greg, C.J. and Jeff Durand, St. Martinville, La. Rice Industry Award: Dr. Richard J. Norman, Fayetteville, Ark. Rice Lifetime Achievement Award: Dr. Elaine T. Champagne, New Orleans, La. 2011 Rice Farmer of the Year: Mark Wimpy, Jonesboro, Ark. Rice Industry Award: Dr. Rick Cartwright, Little Rock, Ark. Rice Lifetime Achievement Award: Jacko Garrett, Jr., Danbury, Texas 2012 Rice Farmer of the Year: Jim Whitaker, McGehee, Ark. Rice Industry Award: Dr. Donald Groth, Rayne, La. Rice Lifetime Achievement Award: Jim Erdman, Colusa, Calif.

2013 Rice Farmer of the Year: Joe Aguzzi, Cleveland, Miss.

Rice Industry Award: Dr. Eric Webster, Baton Rouge, La. Rice Lifetime Achievement Award: Elton Kennedy, Mer Rouge, La. 2014 Rice Farmer of the Year: Fred Zaunbrecher, Duson, La. Rice Industry Award: Dr. Kent McKenzie, Biggs, Calif.

Rice Lifetime Achievement Award: Marvin Baden, Stuttgart, Ark.

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RICE PRODUCERS

FORUM

U.S. rice – an eye on markets On its anniversary, USRPA looks back at 2014 and ahead to 2015.

D

By Dwight Roberts President and Chief Executive Officer USRPA

ecember marks the 17th anniversary of the US Rice Producers Association, or USRPA. Today, it remains the only national rice organization comprised of rice farmers, elected by rice farmers and representing rice farmers in all six rice-producing states with support from U.S. and foreign rice businesses. Let’s look back at the past 12 months.

farmers and a great example of what the USRPA is all about: promoting, developing market alternatives and helping farmers sell directly to buyers.

Still in its infant stages, the SLRF with USRPA assistance is becoming an important source for Mexico’s rice mills. The ability to ship identity-preserved rice has become a big plus for what is the most efficient, modern rough rail loading facility in the industry.

Rice Market/Technology Convention The strength of the USRPA’s work throughout the Americas is evident in what has become the largest and most significant rice business conference in the Western Hemisphere. Hosted this year in Costa Rica, attendees called it the best ever, and, more importantly, U.S. rice was sold to a number of key long-grain markets. This event is the largest gathering of buyers in the most important markets for long-grain rice, and U.S. participation is at its highest.

In 2015, RMTC is going to Cancun, Mexico, June 2-4.

Don’t miss out on what will be a memorable experience.

Visit www.ricemtconvention.com.

Mexico, Not Just A Good Neighbor Despite competition in our largest market for long-grain rice, one has to be positive about Mexico. The USRPA is working with loyal long-time customers on the renovation of four rice mills. Population growth in Mexico is creating more demand. USRPA customer service efforts have never been so important with the Mexican Rice Council, independent mills and packers, Mexico’s National Rice Producers Association and the Mexican federal government in dealing with challenges.

Home Away From Home More than 12 years ago, the process known as CAFTA started a relationship between the Central American Rice Federation (FECARROZ) and the USRPA that continues to benefit U.S. rice farmers today. 2014 was a continuation of joint efforts to highlight and resolve obstacles for these important buyers of U.S. rice. No one has focused more intently on the need to provide identity-preserved rice shipments to the Central American buyers than the USRPA. We want to sell the customers what they want, right?

China Market: Isn’t It About Time?

Initiated by the USRPA several years ago, an effort to access the Chinese market for high-quality U.S. rice continues to move forward. Despite stifling bureaucracy on both sides of the Pacific and the ongoing China-U.S. phytosanitary debate, the USRPA continues to conduct activities in China that expose and quantify an appetite for U.S. rice.

The Great New American Farm Bill

South Louisiana Rail Facility

A lot of farmers’ hair turned gray during new Farm Bill negotiations. We do have some real champions on Capitol Hill, but it’s obvious they were outnumbered.

Again, the new Farm Bill is “as fine a piece of sausage as could be devised,” but it was an expensive lesson.

The South Louisiana Rail Facility (SLRF) is a true success story for local rice

For more, visit www.usriceproducers.com.

RICE FARMING • DECEMBER 2014

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Market Update

By Dr. Kurt Guidry Ag Economist, LSU AgCenter

W

hile there is always a chance of a few surprises, it appears that 2014 was a good production year with aboveaverage yields and good to very good quality being reported. Now the focus will be on finding enough demand for rice supplies that are estimated at nearly 10 percent higher than the previous year.

Based on USDA’s October 2014 supply and demand estimates, demand is expected to increase by seven percent for the 2014/15 marketing year. While positive, this increase isn’t expected to be enough to keep ending stocks from experiencing a sharp increase – nearly nine million hundredweights (cwts), a 27 percent increase from last year and five percent above the five-year average.

While domestic rice usage and total rice exports are expected to increase during the 2014/15 marketing year, the slow start to export sales has placed a cloud over the market. The reported good quality of the 2014 crop and the current lower prices should help continue to support domestic demand.

The struggle with demand has been in the export market. To this point, total rice exports are down 13 percent from a year ago. With exports for the 2014/15 marketing year expected to be up by 10 percent, this market will need to see a significant improvement in export business moving forward to meet those expectations. And while it is still very early in the marketing year, the slow start is concerning. This is especially true for longgrain milled rice exports, which are currently running 27 percent behind last year’s pace.

Without some improvement in export business, there seems little to entice mills from moving from current price levels.

A good quality crop, lower prices and reduced production in major rice-exporting countries all provide hope that exports will strengthen as we continue to move through the 2014/15 marketing year.

Prices for long-grain rice in south Louisiana have fallen from pre-harvest levels around $21/barrel ($12.96/cwt) to around $20/barrel ($12.35/cwt). While downside risk for prices seems limited, it may not be

22 RICE FARMING • DECEMBER 2014

until after the first of the year before the market experiences enough demand improvement to warrant higher prices.

For prices to make a significant move above that level will likely take some betterthan-expected export numbers. Without that, the next best chance to see higher prices may be as a result of lower planted acreage in 2015, particularly in rice production regions

with multiple crop planting options.

Email Guidry at kmguidry@agcenter.lsu.edu.

Projected PLC And ARC Program Payments With the lower rice prices being faced by producers, the amount of safety net protection offered in the 2014 Farm Bill will likely be critical for many farming operations. To provide a glimpse of the amount of safety net offered under the two new programs, projected program payments were calculated. Producers will have the opportunity to choose between two programs, the Price Loss Coverage (PLC) or the Agricultural Risk Coverage (ARC) programs. In addition, producers have the option of selecting the ARC program at either the county level (ARC-CO) or the individual farm level (ARC-IC).

For the PLC program, payments are triggered if the national marketing year average price falls below a reference price. If a payment is triggered, payments are paid on the farm’s program payment yield (PLC payment yield) and 85 percent of the farm’s base acres. Using the Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute (FAPRI) price projections shows that national marketing year average long-grain rice prices are expected to range from a low of $12.35 to a high of $12.97/cwt for 2014 through 2018.

With a reference price of $14.00/cwt for both long-grain and medium grain rice, FAPRI’s price projections would result in a PLC program payment in each of the five years. Program payment rates would range from $1.03 to $1.65/cwt. Assuming a program payment yield set at the 2008 to 2012 state average yield 5,578 pounds, these payment rates result in annual program payments ranging from $48 to $78 per long-grain rice base acre and a fiveyear total of $342 per base acre.

For medium grain rice, FAPRI projects prices ranging from $13.73 to $14.72/cwt from 2014 through 2018. Since medium grain also has a reference price of $14.00/cwt, these projections only result in a PLC program payment in three of the five years with total payments over the entire five years of $28 per base acre.

For the ARC-CO program, payments are

triggered if the actual county level revenue falls below a guaranteed county revenue level. The guaranteed county level revenue is calculated as the most recent five-year Olympic average of national average marketing year prices times the five-year Olympic average of county level yields. The actual county revenue value is calculated as the county average yield times the marketing year average price. USDA estimates of national marketing year prices and state average yields during the previous five years were used to develop a projection for the guaranteed county level revenue.

Projections for actual county level revenue were developed using FAPRI’s price projections for 2014 through 2018 and estimates for yields.

The yield for the 2014 year was assumed to be USDA’s current projection for average rice yields in 2014 for Louisiana of 7,100 lb/A. For 201518, yields were held constant at the 10-year average state yield of 6,656 pounds. These price and yield projections result in guaranteed county revenue estimates ranging from $724 to $828 per acre. Actual county revenue projections ranged from $822 to $920 per acre. Given that the actual county revenue projections were higher than the projected guaranteed county revenue estimates, the ARC-CO would not trigger a payment in any of the five years. Even with low prices projected over the next several years, the lack of extreme variability in yields typically experienced in rice production would likely limit the level and frequency of payments under the ARC-CO program.

This example shows how, in general, the safety nets would compare. The current projections for prices and the relative stable nature of rice yields suggest that the PLC program will be a more favorable choice for rice base acres.

However, producers should analyze these programs for their own individual operation to make the most informed and educated decision possible.

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Sign up for our E-News You’re already a long-time reader of Rice Farming magazine. In fact, you’ve been a loyal reader for many years. So, how else can you stay informed on the latest developments in the rice industry?

Subscribe today to the Rice Farming monthly E-News. You’ll find a recap of important stories, Calendar of Events, YouTube videos, historic rice photos and quick, informative updates.

It’s easy staying informed on everything happening in the world of rice.

Rice Farming E-News will help keep you plugged in.

Sign up Go to www.ricefarming.com and look for the Rice Farming E-News link in the upper right corner of the home page.

It's quick and easy.

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Variety/Hybrid

2015 Roster

I

t goes without saying that variety/hybrid selection is one of the most important decisions that a rice farmer has to make during the winter planning time. Following are quite a few offerings for 2015. Consider your farm field-by-field when making choices for the upcoming season. The following information about these rice varieties/hybrids and their characteristics was provided by Horizon Ag, LLC and RiceTec. The charts were provided by Horizon Ag.

Clearfield Variety Characteristics and Suggested Management Practices Maturity2 Variety

CL111 CL151 CL152 CL271

(days)

Suggested Seeding Rate3 (lb seed/A)

Suggested Nitrogen Rate4 (lb N/A)

77 81 83 89

50-70 50-65 50-65 60-75

120-160 90-150 120-160 120-160

Height1 (inches)

Emergence to 50% heading

39 39 39 38

1 Height will vary with plant density and environmental conditions.

2 Maturity varies with geographical region and environmental conditions in a given year.

3 Optimal seeding rate varies depending on soil characteristics, seedbed condition and environmental conditions at time of planting.

4 Optimal nitrogen rate varies from field to field. The high end should be reserved for heavy clay soils and fields where rice is followed by rice. Using the high end of the nitrogen and seeding rate recommendations may increase the incidence of disease.

Please scout and treat the Clearfield varieties accordingly. The NSt*R program is recommended where applicable and has been shown to decrease incidence of disease and lodging. Please contact your local Cooperative Extension office for more information.

2015 Clearfield Disease Ratings

Variety

Sheath Blight

Blast*

Narrow Bacterial Brown Straight Panicle Leaf Head Blight Spot

CL111 CL151 CL152 CL271

VS S S S

MS VS S MR

S VS MR

VS VS MR MS

S S MR MR

Kernel Smut

False Smut

Lodging

S S VS -

S S S -

MS S MR MR

VS = Very Susceptible S = Susceptible MS = Moderately Susceptible MR = Moderately Resistant R = Resistant * Reactions may differ due to variability of strains among pathogens.

24 RICE FARMING • DECEMBER 2014

For Best Variety Performance: Clearfield varieties have excellent vigor and tolerate full rates of Newpath even in cool, wet conditions. To optimize returns on your farm, it is Horizon Ag’s recommendation to plant Clearfield varieties in the earliest part of the planting window for the given location and year.

Implement Horizon’s “Premium Seed Treatment” recommendation by using the manufacturers’ recommended minimum rate of Release or an equivalent gibberellic acid (GA3) plant growth regulator, plus labeled rates of the following rice fungicide and insecticide products: • CruiserMaxx Rice • Or combinations of Maxim plus Apron and Dermacor or NipsIt INSIDE

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Horizon Ag, LLC 2015 Clearfield Varieties: CL111 • Earliest maturity of any Clearfield variety • Excellent vigor with high yield potential • Outstanding grain quality and milling • Ideal for early planting and to stagger harvest timing • Kellogg’s preferred long grain CL151 • Highest-yielding inbred variety on the market • Susceptible to blast: not recommended for fields with a history of blast or water issues • CL151 uses N very efficiently. The NSt*R program is recommended where available and may help reduce nitrogen input costs, improve disease control and minimize lodging CL152 • Superior lodging resistance • Good grain quality and milling • Good seedling vigor and tillering CL271 • Semi-dwarf Clearfield medium grain • Improved agronomics over CL261, including blast and lodging resistance • Excellent yield potential

RiceTec 2015 Conventional Hybrids: XP760 • First introduced in 2014 • Similar to XL723 with improved grain retention • Great milling yield XP4523 • Very early maturity • Excellent lodging resistance due to short stature • Yield similar to XL723 XL723 • Workhorse conventional hybrid released in 2005 • Best option for straighthead-prone fields • Excellent choice for ratoon production • Superior milling yield

XL753 • Highest-yielding hybrid available • Winner of Mississippi State and University of Arkansas 2013 and 2014 yield trials • Excellent disease tolerance XP754 • Later-maturing hybrid • Good choice for spreading out harvest time • Improved grain retention of XL723 • Improved sheath blight tolerance

RiceTec 2015 CLEARFIELD Hybrids: CLEARFIELD XP4534 • Highest-yielding Clearfield available • Very early maturity • Excellent lodging resistance CLEARFIELD XL729 • Workhorse Clearfield hybrid • Best performance on clay soils • Excellent ratoon potential • Great disease package CLEARFIELD XL745 • “4 x 4” of the Clearfield lineup • Most widely grown long-grain rice • Above-average milling yields • Superior performance on all soil types • Improved grain retention over Clearfield XL729 CLEARFIELD XP756 • Similar yield potential to Clearfield XL729 • Five to seven days later than Clearfield XL729 to help spread out harvest • Improved grain retention • Best available disease package

For more information about Horizon Ag Clearfield varieties, please visit: www.horizonseed.com.

For more information about RiceTec hybrids, please visit www.ricetec.com.

Outstanding lineup offered for upcoming growing season RICE FARMING • DECEMBER 2014

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SPECIALISTS SPEAKING DR. JARROD HARDKE

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, but sometimes, playing a poor hand well. Luck also played a large role.

2014 was an environmental rollercoaster for the Arkansas rice crop. Favorable prices led to an increase in the forecasted acreage for the state – projected at 1.52 million acres.

After the cool, wet conditions of 2013, many were prepared for a return to drier, warmer conditions for 2014.

Instead, conditions for 2014 turned out to be even colder and wetter than the previous year. While the state still ended up with 1.47 million acres of rice, an additional 100,000 acres were reported as prevented planting.

Unlike most years, it seemed like this year we would Pilots fill the sky taking advantage of a rare calm, dry day to apply fertilizer and never warm up and dry out. Well, at least not at a time herbicides to rice just ahead of flooding. when preflood nitrogen (N) applications could be made properly on dry ground at the appropriate timing (research has shown moist/muddy soil or “spoonfed” directly into floodwater. Delayed N applications often occurred in an attempt to apply urea onto dry proper N applications set rice yield).

Many acres received N applications in a less efficient manner – on ground, but the delays were too long and may have led to reduced

Strange is the ‘new normal’

Another good crop SAM ATWELL MISSOURI Agronomy Specialist atwells@missouri.edu The 2014 Missouri rice crop is 95 percent harvested, with mostly average or above yields. Although we don’t have the final yield data, we have been blessed with another good crop. It was a “normal year” of ups and downs. The extended cool spring and a cool snap in late summer caused a delay in maturity. However, 2014 was a bit earlier than 2013.

There seemed to be more cold water spots this year, but they were tiny. We had the usual herbicide drift problems even though wind speeds were less than the past two years. Insects were low to normal with stink bugs mounting late. Diseases were low except for sheath blight on some varieties along the southeast side of the Bootheel. Blast was primarily on CL151 on the southwest side. Blast was more prevalent in a couple of bedded-row rice fields due to lack of water. Fertility issues and lodging seemed to be less than past years. I contribute this to our growers paying closer attention to their nitrogen program with many of them following the University of Arkansas N-St*R program and others.

Missouri farmers planted 216,000 acres of rice in 2014 – 210,000 acres of long grain and 6,000 acres of medium grain.

They have good reasons for needing diverse varieties that fit their

26 RICE FARMING • DECEMBER 2014

specific conditions and situations in 10 Missouri counties. Some growers want short, some tall, some early and some later. Some want disease resistance; some want the Clearfield system, while others want less expensive seed so they can plant thicker stands.

Their variety selections were divided among 10 varieties. About 50 percent of Missouri farmers choose hybrid rice for silt soils because they often see a yield increase over conventional varieties and like the disease package. Others prefer varieties that tend to stand and grade better, which gives them a premium price.

Since southeast Missouri is the beginning of the Mississippi Delta, our soils vary like those below us from coarse sand to Sharkey clay. About 70 percent of our soils are silt with a clay base and about 25 percent heavy clay with only five percent sandy.

Over 90 percent of our rice is in a conventional flood system, but, with these soil differences, we have some successful bedded-row rice and less than one percent pivot-irrigated rice.

Rice farmers in Missouri have increased interest in growing rice on beds, a system referred to as “bedded-row rice.” University of Missouri has been researching the bedded-row rice project since the early 1980s. With the introduction of new technology, new varieties and herbicides for weed control, farmers are now seeking benefits from the rotational bedded-row option. Unlike conventional flooding rice production systems, bedded-row rice is a natural fit for rotation and cover crops. The ease in rotating to other bedded crops such as corn, soybeans and cotton provides a significant economic advantage to producers. The challenges lamented by producers are weed control difficulty, irrigation management and the lack of information on the system.

DR. JARROD HARDKE, UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS

ARKANSAS Rice Extension Agronomist University of Arkansas, Cooperative Extension Service jhardke@uaex.edu

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SPECIALISTS SPEAKING yield potential early on. When N applications were made on time, but onto muddy soil or into water, some fields still did not receive enough extra N to offset the loss caused by the less efficient manner of application. Part of the reason for the delays in N application was the wind – persistent high winds led to delays in herbicide applications that needed to be made at the same time as N applications. The preferred routine of “spray, fertilize, flood” was thrown completely out of sync by both the wind and the rain.

Temperature was an issue as well – the month of July was one of the coolest on record, and it was the lowest on record in some locations. Stressful weather conditions at the internode elongation stage can lead to a reduced number of panicle branches and fewer grains per panicle. Excessive cool snaps during key reproductive developmental stages have been proposed (by me) as being at least partially to blame for less than expected yields. In a majority of the lowyielding fields that we looked at, the grain simply wasn’t there. That is, heads were small, and grain positions were few.

Weed control was largely successful despite the difficult conditions encountered when trying to make applications. The one advantage of the cool conditions and continual rainfall was that early season herbicide applications remained active for long periods of time. In some instances, this was considered a problem because the herbicide activity also seemed to be delaying rice development. A routine complaint, herbicide drift, was a problem all season long, especially with soybeans being replanted late. However, given the difficult conditions in making these applications, there was less drift than feared, but still far more than we like to see.

The cooler, wet conditions were also very favorable for disease development. Sheath blight was a concern throughout the year and aggressive enough that fewer were willing to try and “outrun” it.

For the first time in about a decade, it was a year for significant blast development.

In most situations with blast-susceptible cultivars, fungicide applications were made in a timely manner, and the disease was effectively managed (less than 5-10 percent blank panicles). In some fields ideal for blast development, growers attempted to get by with only one fungicide application and experienced more severe losses. In rare instances, fungicide applications were not made at all, resulting in some fields that were near total losses.

Rice stink bug seems to be a cyclical pest, and this year seems to be the start of a downturn in that cycle. Plenty of acres received at least one insecticide application for stink bug control, but few were treated more than once, which is a big change from recent seasons. A few very late-planted fields did have extremely high numbers as the remainder of rice in the area advanced past preferred feeding stages.

Right now, Arkansas is forecast to achieve a state average yield of 167 bushels per acre in 2014 (compared to the record of 168 bu/A set in 2013). That would make 2012-2014 (166, 168, 167, respectively) easily the greatest three-year yield average in state history. With the high state yield predicted for this year, it makes one wonder just how high the average could have been with a little more favorable conditions at certain critical times.

Once again, the success of our rice crop is the result of the hard work of our growers and their ability to manage a difficult-to-manage crop in a difficult-to-manage growing season – that is, many growers played a poor hand well.

Maybe next year we’ll get better cards.

A year of drought and warm weather DR. BRUCE LINQUIST CALIFORNIA UCCE Rice Specialist balinquist@ucdavis.edu California has had drought-like conditions for the past three years; however, this last winter was extremely severe, resulting in low water reserves in the reservoirs that supply irrigation for rice and other crops. The result of these conditions was that rice acreage was down (estimated to be about 430,000 acres) and roughly 20 to 25 percent less than normal. The amount of water available to growers depended on irrigation district.

In many areas, farmers were limited in the amount of water they received, resulting in no-spill water management. In areas affected by salinity, this may have a negative impact on yields. This year also saw more growers using well water than normal. The growing season was warmer than usual. Temperatures were warmer than average, especially early (May and June) and late (September) during the growing season.

As of this writing, the crop has mostly been harvested, but the impact of these factors on rice yields and quality is not yet known. As winter approaches, the effects of the drought are still being felt. Normally, rice fields are flooded during the winter for straw decomposition. However, this year there is limited water for straw decomposition. In many areas, water is being supplied for decomposition but only to fill the fields.

After November 1, there will be no further guarantee of water.

Growers are being encouraged to continue incorporating their straw, flood (if possible) and board their fields to store winter rainfall in order to best facilitate winter straw decomposition.

Another effect of the drought is that hay (i.e. alfalfa and wheat) prices have increased due to limited supply. Higher prices have made rice straw more attractive. This year it appears that more rice straw was baled than in previous years.

In-field variability affects decisions DR. M.O. “MO” WAY TEXAS Rice Research Entomologist moway@aesrg.tamu.edu In 2014, Texas rice acreage was about 147,000. For the third straight year, minimal water was given to rice farmers on the Lower Colorado River. Some of our farmers along this river drilled or are drilling wells to water their rice crop. According to the Texas Rice Crop Survey (represents about 77 percent of total Texas rice acreage), RICE FARMING • DECEMBER 2014

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SPECIALISTS SPEAKING the top five varieties, in terms of acreage, were XL723, CLXL745, Presidio, CL152 and Jupiter. We experienced an unusually cool spring, which delayed planting and early rice growth. As a result, rice stands were not optimal and the crop was not as uniform as desired. This in-field variability made decisions to apply pesticides/fertilizers/growth regulators at the appropriate times more difficult than normal. In addition, our ratoon crop is later than usual. I still do not have solid yield and quality data, but crop consultants tell me main crop yields and quality are very good – maybe not a record, but close. They also think the ratoon crop is looking very good. In general, weather during main and ratoon crop harvests has been ideal. We did not suffer through a hurricane or devastating storms this season, so lodging has not been a factor.

Disease pressure in 2014 across the Texas Rice Belt was relatively low due to weather conditions generally unfavorable for the development of most diseases. However, damage caused by rice blast, sheath blight and narrow brown leaf spot occurred in localized areas.

Outbreaks of leaf and neck blast took place in Chambers (east of Houston) and Victoria (southwest of Houston) Counties, respectively. This is the first time in recent years that rice blast has attacked rice in the western part of the Texas Rice Belt. In addition, early season cold weather induced the occurrence of seedling diseases that caused a significant stand loss in some early plantings. Yield losses caused by straighthead occurred in localized fields across Texas.

Other diseases causing minor damage to rice include brown spot, sheath rot, kernel smut and false smut.

Water hemp continues to be a troublesome weed. Rice water weevil, rice stink bug and stalk borer activity were relatively normal. I estimate about 80 percent of Texas rice acreage is planted with insecticide-treated seed. This percentage continues to increase yearly as farmers realize the benefits of this technology.

The most unusual insect problem this year was an outbreak of fall armyworm, particularly bad on organic rice. Many organic rice farmers applied Dipel, which contains Bacillus thuringiensis. I received fairly positive reports concerning the efficacy of Dipel against fall armyworm. However, some fields were eaten down to the water line by fall armyworm, delaying rice development and releasing weeds such as hemp sesbania and rough jointvetch. I know portions of some of these fields were not harvested due to excessive growth of these aggressive weeds. Organic rice acreage in Texas continues to grow.

I recently heard Texas organic rice producers are receiving $29/cwt,

Fall armyworm

28 RICE FARMING • DECEMBER 2014

which is obviously driving the increase in organic rice acreage.

One last comment: in my last Rice Farming article this past summer, I mentioned Dr. Garry McCauley’s retirement (By the way, Garry and Ruth are enjoying the good life). But, I failed to recognize Dr. Arlen Klosterboer who served admirably as the Texas Rice Specialist for many years. Basically, Garry took over many of Arlen’s duties, particularly on the west side of the Texas Rice Belt, when Arlen retired. My apologies to both Arlen and Garry for this omission.

2014: wet and humid DR. JOHN SAICHUK LOUISIANA Extension Rice Specialist jsaichuk@agcenter.lsu.edu

Last year, when I wrote the December Specialists Speaking article summarizing the crop of 2013, I began by reflecting on the beginning of the season and the ultimate results. Yields for 2013 set records in rice and several other crops. To expect a successive record year is asking a lot of Mother Nature, and while yields this year were good, the state average is expected to be 300 to 500 pounds per acre lower than last year. In last year’s article, I referred to comments in the May 10, 2013, edition of Field Notes in which I stated that if we had a mild, dry June, yields would be good, but if we had a wet June, they would be disappointing.

June and most of July of this year were wet and humid with temperatures that could be considered a little lower than normal even though the “comfort level” was in the red zone because of the high humidity. Wet means rain, and rain means cloud cover. The lower temperature was a plus, while the cloud cover was negative. Under the lower temperature regime, pollination was not affected even though less sunshine meant less photosynthesis. Overall, less sunlight was overcome by lower temperatures, and yields were surprisingly good.

This is affirmed by reports of later-maturing rice that flowered in late July and August when temperatures had risen and poor grain fill was reported in several fields.

At this writing, ratoon crop rice has not been harvested, so total production is not exact. However, Louisiana’s acreage increased by about 50,000 acres. If the final tally is the 7,000 pounds per acre we anticipate, then we will produce about 1.5 million hundredweights more than last year.

The medium grain acreage increased dramatically from around 18,000 acres in 2013 to a little over 65,000 acres this year. Most of that was planted to the variety Jupiter. The drought in California and short water supplies there worked to our benefit here because the anticipated smaller California medium grain crop caused a bump in the price of medium grain rice in the South. A number of contracts were offered prior to or near planting, especially in northeast Louisiana where the largest acreage increase occurred.

In contrast, the special purpose rice market fell apart causing a dramatic drop from around 41,000 acres in 2013 to 5,300 this year.

Most of the decrease was in the Jazzman and Jazzman 2 varieties.

Limited acreage of Hidalgo and Sabine continues to be grown mostly in northeast Louisiana and Milagro in south Louisiana.

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SPECIALISTS SPEAKING The late first crop translated into a reduction in ratoon or second crop rice from last year to this year. Acreage declined from 131,000 to 129,000 acres from 2013 to 2014 and is very late. What is in the field looks good to very good, and weather in October and early November will be critical to the success of the crop.

Clearly, prices and Farm Bill legislation will have a significant impact on rice acreage in 2015. A lot of farmers I have spoken with are hoping to have contracts for special purpose and medium grain rice to relieve some of the pressure. Where others have the option of planting soybeans, they may switch, especially if lenders do not feel that rice can cash flow as well as soybeans.

Most of you are already aware that I will retire at the end of this year, making this my last Specialists Speaking column. I have tried to write in a manner that is understandable and provide useful information with occasional attempts at humor to keep it interesting. I hope I have achieved at least some of those goals. My best to you in 2015 and all the years ahead.

Persistent pest problems noted DR. BOBBY GOLDEN MISSISSIPPI Extension Rice Specialist bgolden@drec.msstate.edu

received preflood nitrogen in less-than-ideal conditions due to the extremely wet, early growing season in the Delta. In many instances, we were left with no choice but to fertilize on wet ground or into the water because we were simply running out of time.

Persistent pest problems also plagued the 2014 growing season, with many fields containing big grasses that were treated post-flood due to the wet conditions, which we all know is not an ideal situation.

Armyworms seemed to dominate the landscape throughout the growing season with many border acres treated and some full fields sprayed. Probably the greatest concern in Mississippi in 2014 was rice leaf blast. Historically, Mississippi doesn’t have a great deal of blast pressure, but environmental conditions throughout the season coupled with susceptible host cultivars proved troublesome for many. Most of the acres affected with blast were treated before the disease could cause substantial economic loss; however, it was the hottest topic at the coffee shop for rice producers this year.

The middle of summer was met with milder than normal temperatures. Average daily high and low temperatures for July averaged approximately four degrees cooler than the 85-year Stoneville average. This helped reduce the negative influence of high temperatures on pollen and more than likely helped offset some of the issues faced throughout the early growing season. All in all, with the many setbacks we faced throughout 2014, our producers were very resilient and showed just how great they are by overcoming the early season setbacks and producing an estimated yield of 7,000 lb/acre that is in line with the long-term state average.

First, let me begin by saying it was great to get back in a rice field this year. After being out of rice for the last five years, it was a welcome return. It took a little while to get my rice legs back under me, but after the first month of running up and down the road diagnosing issues, I felt comfortable and back at home.

The USDA estimates of 190,000 acres harvested in Mississippi was up approximately 1.5 times more than the low acreage of 124,000 acres harvested in 2013 (the lowest acreage since 1977). Once again, Bolivar County led the charge with the most acreage dedicated to rice in the state, with Tunica County coming in second. In 2014, most of the rice acreage was cultivated north of highway 82 with rice seeded in approximately 16 of the 19 Delta counties. Yield estimates are slightly lower than the state record yield of 7,400 lb/acre set last year. This is partly because of a lot of late rice due to inclement weather in late March and early April. Rainfall recorded at Stoneville for the month of April was almost double that of the 100-year average. However, we did get a great amount of acreage planted in what could be considered the normal time frame.

Shortly after rice emergence, the herbicide drift bug reared its ugly head once again in the Delta with many calls coming in. In contrast to years past, most of the complaints were not glyphosate, but paraquat, and just about anything you can tankmix with it. It seems that this is a perpetual problem in the Delta and was probably worse this year with a late-emerging rice crop and soybean burndown applications coinciding. Most of the calls we received this year made a turnaround, and the affected areas grew out of the drift issues.

Just as soon as we turned the corner on drift, Mother Nature threw us a curveball with preflood nitrogen applications. Most of our acreage RICE FARMING • DECEMBER 2014

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INDUSTRY NEWS Winner, Winner!

Cannon Cummings, son of Marc and Ashley Cummings, was the proud winner of a $25 Academy Sports + Outdoors gift certificate at the 2014 RiceTec Field Day in Harrisburg, Ark. Congratulations, Cannon!

Marc is a rice consultant in northeast Arkansas and southeast Missouri.

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30 RICE FARMING â&#x20AC;˘ DECEMBER 2014

Louisiana Rice Promotion and Research Board In August, the USA Rice Federation reported that Governor Bobby Jindal has made appointments to the 11-member Louisiana Rice Promotion Board that oversees the annual allocation of rice promotion check-off funds and the 15-member Louisiana Rice Research Board.

Recently passed legislation corrected constitutional issues in the stateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s rice promotion and research check-off statutes. The legislation, which had industry-wide support, passed without opposition in the legislature and was signed into law by Governor Jindal.

As a result, a seat was added on both boards for the Commissioner of Agriculture or his designee, along with one additional seat. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I want to thank Governor Jindal for making appointments expeditiously and welcome each appointee,â&#x20AC;? said Louisiana Rice Promotion Board Chairman Kevin Berken, a rice farmer from Lake Arthur. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I look forward to our work together on behalf of Louisianaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s rice industry.â&#x20AC;?

Ben Mosely Joins USA Rice Federation as Vice President of Government Affairs

tal in getting the 2014 Farm Bill drafted and passed, including strong advocacy for rice industry priorities. Prior to his work on the Agriculture Committee, Ben worked on agriculture issues for Senator Saxby Chambliss (R-GA) and served on the Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Benâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s arrival is perfectly situated: after passage of the Farm Bill, but during the crucial implementation stage,â&#x20AC;? said Betsy Ward, USA Riceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s president and CEO. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Benâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s deep understanding of the Farm Bill, and his strong conservation credentials, make him a great asset to our organization and our members. I know they join me in welcoming Ben.â&#x20AC;?

Mosely is a native of Donalsonville, Ga., and he fully appreciates the impact federal farm policy has on rural communities. Ben also enjoys duck hunting, fishing and golf.

Valley Irrigation Honored Valley University, the training organization of Valley Irrigation, has received an esteemed Learning in Practice Award from Chief Learning Officer magazine. During the recent Chief Learning Officer symposium in Carlsbad, Calif., the Valley University team won a Global Learning Award for accomplishments in delivering effective learning and development to a global workforce.

Patrick Angel, director of global learning for Valley Irrigation, said the award is independent validation that Valley is focused on the right things.

CALENDAR

The USA Rice Federation is pleased to welcome Ben Mosely as the new Vice President of Government Affairs. Mosely comes to USA Rice from the U.S. Senate where he was most recently a senior staff member for the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry. In that role, Ben advised the ranking Republican member, Senator Thad Cochran (R-MS), on commodity and risk management programs, including cotton, rice, soybeans, corn, peanuts and crop insurance. Mosely was instrumen-

â&#x20AC;˘ Jan. 14-16: 2015 Conservation Systems Cotton & Rice Conference, Crowne Plaza, Baton Rouge, La. Corn, soybean and precision ag topics also will be covered. Call (573) 547-2244 or visit www.mafg.net. â&#x20AC;˘ Feb. 27-28: 63rd Annual Mid-South Farm & Gin Show, Memphis Cook Convention Center, Memphis, Tenn. Call (901) 947-3104.

Please send any calendar announcements to csmith@onegrower.com.

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