The weather this spring has allowed rice to be planted across most of the state at record pace. As of May 23, farmers had planted an estimated 98% of the rice acreage. This compares to 97% last week and only 79% this time last year. It is also ahead of the 5-year average of 92% for this week. The USDA estimates that 95% of the rice acreage has emerged. This compares to 65% last year at this time and 81% for the 5-year average. Our planting progress is 2-3 weeks ahead of the 5-year average and a month ahead of last year. As of May 23, 16% of the crop is reported to be in excellent condition, 52% good, 27% fair, and 5% poor.
Average temperatures were near normal ranging from 1 degrees below normal at Conway to 3 degrees above normal at Monticello and Little Rock for the week ending May 23. Low temperatures ranged from 48 degrees at Calico Rock to a high of 94 degrees at Brinkley and Little Rock. Rainfall for the week ending May 23 ranged from a low of a trace at West Memphis to a high of 3.4 inches at Morrilton. Overall, soil moisture supplies were 6% short, 67% adequate, and 27% surplus.
Much of the rice is reaching the stage for flood establishment and several thousand acres have already been flooded. Remember to wait until the soil dries to apply preflood nitrogen fertilizer and then apply a shallow flood as quickly as possible.
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
PREFLOOD UREA CRITICAL TO HIGH YIELDS
Most growers know the importance of nitrogen fertilizer on their rice crop. However, it is important to remember that the preflood nitrogen sets the yield potential for the crop. Midseason nitrogen may help the crop when the nitrogen has “run out”. However, midseason nitrogen usually cannot make up for mis-managed preflood nitrogen. Because of this, it is always a good idea to refresh our memory of how management decisions can impact the rice crop’s ability to get the most of the fertilizer.
Urea needs to be applied to dry soil to prevent loss. Even when it seems that it is not possible to get the soils dry, patience is king. The loss from fields where urea has been applied to early tillering rice in muddy or flooded soils can approach 50-60%. Even with Agrotain, the loss on muddy soil can approach 25%. Application of Agrotain-treated urea to dry soil results in less than less than 5-10% loss. Since less nitrogen is lost, rice uptake is more efficient.
Agrotain is worth the investment for most producers. If you can flood in 2 days or less, you probably don’t need Agrotain. Otherwise, Agrotain is recommended. There are other products being promoted as “Agrotain alternatives”, “generic Agrotain”, or “Agrotain replacements”. We have tested N-Zone, X-tend, Nutrisphrere, and Upgrade and found that Agrotain is the only product that reduces ammonia volatilization losses.
How dry is dry? That is often the question when I recommend that urea should be applied to dry soils. In general terms, if the soil is wet enough to leave tracks when you walk, it is too wet to apply fertilizer. Also remember to think about your levee ditches. If you have several levees and can’t afford to lose that rice, the levee ditches need to be dry also.
Urea needs to be applied to dry soil to prevent loss. Even when it seems that it is not possible to get the soils dry, patience is king. The loss from fields where urea has been applied to early tillering rice in muddy or flooded soils can approach 50-60%. Even with Agrotain, the loss on muddy soil can approach 25%. Application of Agrotain-treated urea to dry soil results in less than less than 5-10% loss. Since less nitrogen is lost, rice uptake is more efficient.
Agrotain is worth the investment for most producers. If you can flood in 2 days or less, you probably don’t need Agrotain. Otherwise, Agrotain is recommended. There are other products being promoted as “Agrotain alternatives”, “generic Agrotain”, or “Agrotain replacements”. We have tested N-Zone, X-tend, Nutrisphrere, and Upgrade and found that Agrotain is the only product that reduces ammonia volatilization losses.
How dry is dry? That is often the question when I recommend that urea should be applied to dry soils. In general terms, if the soil is wet enough to leave tracks when you walk, it is too wet to apply fertilizer. Also remember to think about your levee ditches. If you have several levees and can’t afford to lose that rice, the levee ditches need to be dry also.
Monday, May 24, 2010
PREFLOOD CONTROL OF LARGE BARNYARDGRASS
Many calls are coming in right now on preflood grass control. This is a time when many turn to RiceStar HT to take out larger grass or grass that is resistant to propanil, Facet or both. The federal label for RiceStar HT goes up to 17 oz/A, however, in Arkansas we have a State 24C label for rates as high as 24 oz per acre. When do you need the higher rate? Pretty simple, the larger the grass the higher the rate. On small grass, 2-3 lf, 17-18 oz of RiceStar will do the trick. As barnyardgrass and other grass gets bigger, I up the rate. At 2-3 tiller grass I pull the trigger on the 24 oz rate. I may also suggest some Facet to help out.
What about Clincher. I think that Clincher can perform about as good as RiceStar HT on most grass weeds if they are small. I like Clincher early in the season tank-mixed with a residual product on 1-3 lf grass. I like the higher rates of RiceStar HT on larger grass preflood, especially if conditions get dryer. Once we get to post-flood, I think Clincher has performed a little better than RiceStar HT. One exception to this is fall Panicum, I usually recommend 15 oz/A of Clincher, regardless of timing.
If it is a true pre-flood timing, that is your going to flood now, I say apply the RiceStar HT and flood. However, often we may be another week to 10 days from flood. If this is case, add a residual grass material to extend the weed control until you get a flood on. Command (8oz), Prowl H2O (2 pints), or Facet (0.33 to 0.5 lb/A) will usually do the trick.
On Clearfield rice preflood applications, it often takes a leap of faith to apply Newpath and flood. Often there is grass present that is sick, but not dead. Also, for whatever reason, the grass may not be sick at all. If it is below the 3 leaf stage Newpath should do the trick. If it has reached the 4 leaf to 1 tiller stage I add Facet or RiceStar HT to help clean it up. Usually barnyardgrass that is sick will not survive a second shot of Newpath and the flood. Newpath is weak postemergence on sprangletop and fall panicum. I have not seen an advantage from increasing the Newpath rate from 4 to 6 oz/A.
It is often necessary to add some Permit or another broadleaf product to RiceStar HT when applied pre-flood. I am OK with most tank-mixtures, however, the liquid Aim formulation has caused some problems it terms of antagonizing grass control with RiceStar HT. The new product Broadhead (quinclorc + Aim premix) contains a DG formulation of Aim. We are looking at this one this year to test for antagonism. We have reason to believe it will not be as antagonistic as the liquid form.
Another preflood option that I turn to a lot on bigger grass is Regiment. Since we discovered what a little UAN can do in an adjuvant like Dyne-A-PAK, Regiment has become a much more consistent option for Barnyardgrass. It also controls a host of broadleaves. It weakness at this timing is a lack of control of all other grass weeds.
I left out a bunch of stuff, for many propanil or propanil combinations with other products work great. I usually don’t get calls about these fields. There are many other options for broadleaves and stradegies for grass, can’t cover them all here.
What about Clincher. I think that Clincher can perform about as good as RiceStar HT on most grass weeds if they are small. I like Clincher early in the season tank-mixed with a residual product on 1-3 lf grass. I like the higher rates of RiceStar HT on larger grass preflood, especially if conditions get dryer. Once we get to post-flood, I think Clincher has performed a little better than RiceStar HT. One exception to this is fall Panicum, I usually recommend 15 oz/A of Clincher, regardless of timing.
If it is a true pre-flood timing, that is your going to flood now, I say apply the RiceStar HT and flood. However, often we may be another week to 10 days from flood. If this is case, add a residual grass material to extend the weed control until you get a flood on. Command (8oz), Prowl H2O (2 pints), or Facet (0.33 to 0.5 lb/A) will usually do the trick.
On Clearfield rice preflood applications, it often takes a leap of faith to apply Newpath and flood. Often there is grass present that is sick, but not dead. Also, for whatever reason, the grass may not be sick at all. If it is below the 3 leaf stage Newpath should do the trick. If it has reached the 4 leaf to 1 tiller stage I add Facet or RiceStar HT to help clean it up. Usually barnyardgrass that is sick will not survive a second shot of Newpath and the flood. Newpath is weak postemergence on sprangletop and fall panicum. I have not seen an advantage from increasing the Newpath rate from 4 to 6 oz/A.
It is often necessary to add some Permit or another broadleaf product to RiceStar HT when applied pre-flood. I am OK with most tank-mixtures, however, the liquid Aim formulation has caused some problems it terms of antagonizing grass control with RiceStar HT. The new product Broadhead (quinclorc + Aim premix) contains a DG formulation of Aim. We are looking at this one this year to test for antagonism. We have reason to believe it will not be as antagonistic as the liquid form.
Another preflood option that I turn to a lot on bigger grass is Regiment. Since we discovered what a little UAN can do in an adjuvant like Dyne-A-PAK, Regiment has become a much more consistent option for Barnyardgrass. It also controls a host of broadleaves. It weakness at this timing is a lack of control of all other grass weeds.
I left out a bunch of stuff, for many propanil or propanil combinations with other products work great. I usually don’t get calls about these fields. There are many other options for broadleaves and stradegies for grass, can’t cover them all here.
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
May 17 Rice Condition and Progress
The weather this spring has allowed rice to be planted across most of the state at record pace. As of May 16, farmers had planted an estimated 97% of the rice acreage. This compares to 95% last week and only 68% this time last year. It is also well ahead of the 5-year average of 84% for this week. The USDA estimates that 90% of the rice acreage has emerged. This compares to 55% last year at this time and 69% for the 5-year average. Our planting progress is 2-3 weeks ahead of the 5-year average and a month ahead of last year. As of May 16, 14% of the crop is reported to be in excellent condition, 53% good, 29% fair, and 4% poor.
Average temperatures were near normal ranging from 1 degrees below normal at Newport to 7 degrees above normal at Monticello for the week ending May 16. Low temperatures ranged from 43 degrees at Marianna to a high of 92 degrees at Stuttgart. Rainfall for the week ending May 16 ranged from a low of 0.08 inches at Warren to a high of 4.2 inches at Fayetteville. Overall, soil moisture supplies were 13% short, 56% adequate, and 31% surplus.
Much of the rice is reaching the stage for flood establishment and several thousand acres have already been flooded. Remember to wait until the soil dries to apply preflood nitrogen fertilizer and then apply a shallow flood as quickly as possible.
Very early estimates suggest that CL 151 is the most widely planted variety so far (about 23% of the acreage). The next most widely planted varieties are Wells (16%), Rice Tec CL XL 745 (16%) and Jupiter (12%). These numbers are preliminary and may change as we get more information available.
Average temperatures were near normal ranging from 1 degrees below normal at Newport to 7 degrees above normal at Monticello for the week ending May 16. Low temperatures ranged from 43 degrees at Marianna to a high of 92 degrees at Stuttgart. Rainfall for the week ending May 16 ranged from a low of 0.08 inches at Warren to a high of 4.2 inches at Fayetteville. Overall, soil moisture supplies were 13% short, 56% adequate, and 31% surplus.
Much of the rice is reaching the stage for flood establishment and several thousand acres have already been flooded. Remember to wait until the soil dries to apply preflood nitrogen fertilizer and then apply a shallow flood as quickly as possible.
Very early estimates suggest that CL 151 is the most widely planted variety so far (about 23% of the acreage). The next most widely planted varieties are Wells (16%), Rice Tec CL XL 745 (16%) and Jupiter (12%). These numbers are preliminary and may change as we get more information available.
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
MANAGING FOR STRAIGHTHEAD STARTS EARLY
It seems the flood has just been established and now it is time to drain and dry the field for straighthead control.
Straighthead is one of the oldest reported rice diseases in Arkansas, observed since the early 1900s when rice was first grown, and was especially a problem on newly cleared rice ground and lighter soil types. It has historically been associated with old cotton fields, where arsenical pesticides were once used, and arsenic has been shown to produce straighthead symptoms, however arsenic is apparently not the only cause of the problem.
Fields that favor straighthead are permanent, that is, each time rice is planted, straighthead will develop at some level if the flood is not drained and the soil aerated at the appropriate time. Historically, it is unlikely to observe straighthead on clay soils.
Straighthead symptoms include darker green plants in the paddies, followed by blanked or blanked and distorted panicles (See photo above). Medium and short grain varieties tend to have the most kernel distortion symptoms while many modern long grain varieties mostly blank out, without much noticeable distortion. Glyphosate drift during midseason can result in heavily distorted or partially blanked panicles that can be confused with straighthead. However, glyphosate injury usually affects the upper developing leaves, especially the flag leaf size, shape and texture, and can be observed in paddy rice and on levee rice. Straighthead does not noticeably affect anything except the panicle on rice and only occurs in flooded paddies. Note the photo below illustrates the deformed kernels but also a stunted flag leaf, indicative of herbicide injury.
Straighthead is a serious disease with yield losses approaching 100% if a highly susceptible variety is planted on a severe straighthead soil and not drained and dried prior to panicle initiation. Each year, we list the straighthead reactions of most varieties grown in Arkansas in the annual Rice ARPT report, available through the local County Extension office or on the Internet at http://arkansasvarietytesting.org.
If a susceptible variety is mistakenly planted on a straighthead field, the disease can be prevented by “draining and drying”. Typically, this has to be done after the field has been permanently flooded but completed before internode elongation starts. The best way to time draining and drying is by using the University of Arkansas DD50 Program, available through the County Extension Office or on the Internet at http://dd50.uaex.edu/dd50Logon.asp . This program will predict the best straighthead drain period for each field entered. If draining and drying is done improperly, you may not get the best straighthead control, or you may hurt rice yields by drying too long.
Some growers worry that draining and drying will increase the chance of neck blast developing later. While this may be true in some circumstances, it is not a certainty, and straighthead damage is much more certain on fields with straighthead history. In order to avoid this conundrum, plant varieties that are less susceptible in known straighthead fields. If you mess up and plant a blast susceptible type, you must still drain and dry, then flood as deep as possible afterwards to minimize blast.
Straighthead is one of the oldest reported rice diseases in Arkansas, observed since the early 1900s when rice was first grown, and was especially a problem on newly cleared rice ground and lighter soil types. It has historically been associated with old cotton fields, where arsenical pesticides were once used, and arsenic has been shown to produce straighthead symptoms, however arsenic is apparently not the only cause of the problem.
Fields that favor straighthead are permanent, that is, each time rice is planted, straighthead will develop at some level if the flood is not drained and the soil aerated at the appropriate time. Historically, it is unlikely to observe straighthead on clay soils.
Straighthead symptoms include darker green plants in the paddies, followed by blanked or blanked and distorted panicles (See photo above). Medium and short grain varieties tend to have the most kernel distortion symptoms while many modern long grain varieties mostly blank out, without much noticeable distortion. Glyphosate drift during midseason can result in heavily distorted or partially blanked panicles that can be confused with straighthead. However, glyphosate injury usually affects the upper developing leaves, especially the flag leaf size, shape and texture, and can be observed in paddy rice and on levee rice. Straighthead does not noticeably affect anything except the panicle on rice and only occurs in flooded paddies. Note the photo below illustrates the deformed kernels but also a stunted flag leaf, indicative of herbicide injury.
If a susceptible variety is mistakenly planted on a straighthead field, the disease can be prevented by “draining and drying”. Typically, this has to be done after the field has been permanently flooded but completed before internode elongation starts. The best way to time draining and drying is by using the University of Arkansas DD50 Program, available through the County Extension Office or on the Internet at http://dd50.uaex.edu/dd50Logon.asp . This program will predict the best straighthead drain period for each field entered. If draining and drying is done improperly, you may not get the best straighthead control, or you may hurt rice yields by drying too long.
Some growers worry that draining and drying will increase the chance of neck blast developing later. While this may be true in some circumstances, it is not a certainty, and straighthead damage is much more certain on fields with straighthead history. In order to avoid this conundrum, plant varieties that are less susceptible in known straighthead fields. If you mess up and plant a blast susceptible type, you must still drain and dry, then flood as deep as possible afterwards to minimize blast.
Monday, May 10, 2010
May 10 Rice Crop Condition
The weather this spring has allowed rice to be planted across most of the state at record pace. As of May 9, farmers had planted an estimated 95% of the rice acreage. This compares to 90% last week and only 66% this time last year. It is also well ahead of the 5-year average of 79% for this week. The USDA estimates that 82% of the rice acreage has emerged. This compares to 46% last year at this time and 57% for the 5-year average. Our planting progress is 2-3 weeks ahead of the 5-year average and a month ahead of last year. As of May 9, 16% of the crop is reported to be in excellent condition, 45% good, 35% fair, and 4% poor.
Average temperatures were near normal ranging from 2 degrees below normal at Gibert to 6 degrees above normal at Eudora for the week ending May 9. Low temperatures ranged from 39 degrees at Fayetteville to a high of 92 degrees at Stuttgart, Rohwer, and Eudora. Rainfall for the week ending May 9 ranged from a low of 0.02 inches at Eudora to a high of 2.1 inches at Morrilton. Overall, soil moisture supplies were 18% short, 67% adequate, and 15% surplus.
The water is still receding from the flooding that occurred last week. It is still unknown at this time how much of that rice will need to be replanted. Much of the rice is reaching the statge for flood establishment. Remember to wait until the soil dries to apply preflood nitrogen fertilizer and then apply a shallow flood as quickly as possible.
Very early estimates suggest that CL 151 is the most widely planted variety so far (about 24% of the acreage). The next most widely planted varieties are Wells (15%), Rice Tec CL XL 745 (14%) and Jupiter (13%). These numbers are preliminary and may change as we get more information available.
Average temperatures were near normal ranging from 2 degrees below normal at Gibert to 6 degrees above normal at Eudora for the week ending May 9. Low temperatures ranged from 39 degrees at Fayetteville to a high of 92 degrees at Stuttgart, Rohwer, and Eudora. Rainfall for the week ending May 9 ranged from a low of 0.02 inches at Eudora to a high of 2.1 inches at Morrilton. Overall, soil moisture supplies were 18% short, 67% adequate, and 15% surplus.
The water is still receding from the flooding that occurred last week. It is still unknown at this time how much of that rice will need to be replanted. Much of the rice is reaching the statge for flood establishment. Remember to wait until the soil dries to apply preflood nitrogen fertilizer and then apply a shallow flood as quickly as possible.
Very early estimates suggest that CL 151 is the most widely planted variety so far (about 24% of the acreage). The next most widely planted varieties are Wells (15%), Rice Tec CL XL 745 (14%) and Jupiter (13%). These numbers are preliminary and may change as we get more information available.
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
PREFLOOD NITROGEN TIME - ALREADY?
It’s only the first week of May and the earliest fields are now approaching time for preflood fertilizer. The rain can create some problems for growers as it becomes time for preflood fertilizer but we have experienced good drying conditions between rains so far this spring. Urea should be applied to rice onto dry soil prior to establishing the permanent flood. Agrotain should be used with the urea to reduce volatilization losses unless the field can be flooded in less than 2 days.
If the fields are wet when the preflood urea needs to be applied, the best option is to wait until the soil dries. A delay of up to 10 days after the last DD50 recommended date is better than applying the urea into muddy soil or directly into the floodwater. If it becomes necessary to apply the urea to muddy soil, apply Agrotain-treated urea to the soil and flood up as soon as possible. The least effective method of applying preflood nitrogen is directly into the flood, even if Agrotain is used. While several growers have made excellent rice by spoon-feeding into the flood, this is the least efficient method and generally requires more urea to maximize yields. The recommended fertilizer rates and timings for the most commonly available rice varieties in Arkansas are listed below.
These recommended rates are for rice following soybeans in rotation. For other rotations, consider the following:
1. Increase early N rate by 30 lbs/A if rice is grown on clay soils.
2. Increase early N rate by 20 lbs/A if: i) rice follows RICE in rotation or ii) the stand density if < 10 plants per sq. ft.
3. Increase early N rate by 10 lbs/A if rice follows GRAIN SORGHUM, WHEAT, CORN, or COTTON in rotation
4. Decrease early N rate by 10 lbs/A if rice follows SETASIDE or FALLOW that is not continuously tilled in rotation
5. Omit early N rate if rice follows FISH, LONG-TERM PATURE, or FIRST YEAR AFTER CLEARING in rotation.
Management of preflood nitrogen is most important for determining overall yield potential. If this application is not managed as well as possible, it is very difficult to make up for the mistake at midseason.
These recommended rates are for rice following soybeans in rotation. For other rotations, consider the following:
1. Increase early N rate by 30 lbs/A if rice is grown on clay soils.
2. Increase early N rate by 20 lbs/A if: i) rice follows RICE in rotation or ii) the stand density if < 10 plants per sq. ft.
3. Increase early N rate by 10 lbs/A if rice follows GRAIN SORGHUM, WHEAT, CORN, or COTTON in rotation
4. Decrease early N rate by 10 lbs/A if rice follows SETASIDE or FALLOW that is not continuously tilled in rotation
5. Omit early N rate if rice follows FISH, LONG-TERM PATURE, or FIRST YEAR AFTER CLEARING in rotation.
Management of preflood nitrogen is most important for determining overall yield potential. If this application is not managed as well as possible, it is very difficult to make up for the mistake at midseason.
May 6 Rice Crop Conditions
CROP CONDITION AND STATUS – The weather this spring has allowed rice to be planted across most of the state at record pace. As of May 2, farmers had planted an estimated 90% of the rice acreage. This compares to 81% last week and only 60% this time last year. It is also well ahead of the 5-year average of 70% for this week. The USDA estimates that 61% of the rice acreage has emerged. This compares to 27% last year at this time and 39% for the 5-year average. Our planting progress is 2-3 weeks ahead of the 5-year average and a month ahead of last year. As of May 2, 16% of the crop is reported to be in excellent condition, 45% good, 35% fair, and 4% poor.
Severe storms and rainfall pounded the rice-growing region of Arkansas over the weekend. Rainfall over the weekend ranged from as little as 0.25 inches in Southeast Arkansas to as much as 11 inches in parts of Northeast Arkansas. Levees are washed out and floods are as much as 8-10 feet deep in some fields in river bottom lowlands. Time will tell the impact this has on the crop and the need for re-planting.
Average temperatures were near normal ranging from 5 degrees below normal at Booneville to 2 degrees above normal at several locations for the week ending May 2. Low temperatures ranged from 35 degrees at Fayetteville to a high of 89 degrees at Camden and El Dorado. Rainfall for the week ending May 2 ranged from a low of 0.1 inches at Fort Smith to a high of 8.4 inches at West Memphis. Overall, soil moisture supplies were 7% short, 69% adequate, and 24% surplus.
The USDA planting intentions report that was released at the end of March shows that rice acreage is expected to increase by 10% from 2009. The anticipated acreage of 1.631 million acres is the largest acreage since 2005 when we planted an estimated record 1.635 million acres. Medium grain rice for Arkansas is estimated at 200,000 acres, a decrease of 60,000 acres from 2009.
Severe storms and rainfall pounded the rice-growing region of Arkansas over the weekend. Rainfall over the weekend ranged from as little as 0.25 inches in Southeast Arkansas to as much as 11 inches in parts of Northeast Arkansas. Levees are washed out and floods are as much as 8-10 feet deep in some fields in river bottom lowlands. Time will tell the impact this has on the crop and the need for re-planting.
Average temperatures were near normal ranging from 5 degrees below normal at Booneville to 2 degrees above normal at several locations for the week ending May 2. Low temperatures ranged from 35 degrees at Fayetteville to a high of 89 degrees at Camden and El Dorado. Rainfall for the week ending May 2 ranged from a low of 0.1 inches at Fort Smith to a high of 8.4 inches at West Memphis. Overall, soil moisture supplies were 7% short, 69% adequate, and 24% surplus.
The USDA planting intentions report that was released at the end of March shows that rice acreage is expected to increase by 10% from 2009. The anticipated acreage of 1.631 million acres is the largest acreage since 2005 when we planted an estimated record 1.635 million acres. Medium grain rice for Arkansas is estimated at 200,000 acres, a decrease of 60,000 acres from 2009.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)