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Field Notes
Johnny Saichuk
Louisiana State University
August 5, 2008 - I do not have any pictures this week. The only things we saw worth photographing last
week were a couple of repeat subjects that just presented an opportunity to take some better
photographs for the files.
We have started harvesting our verification fields while still checking a couple which
makes for an interesting schedule. One of the things we do in our verification fields is to take
paired moisture samples. One of the samples is a simple grab sample taken from the combine as
it unloads. A second sample is taken by hand from standing rice. We simple cut several
handfuls of plants, beat the heads into a bucket, remove the largest pieces of debris then measure
the moisture. read more...
Arkansas Rice
Dr. Chuck Wilson, Dr. Rick Cartwright, and Dr. Gus Lorenz
July 29, 2008 - CROP CONDITION AND STATUS – As we are now in the middle of July, the crop is progressing although somewhat behind normal. As of July 7, 63% of the crop is in good or excellent condition. Because of the weather conditions prior to flooding, grass control has been less than great for several fields. read more...
Field Notes
Johnny Saichuk
Louisiana State University
July 7, 2008 - Last week was the last week we expected to find rice with panicles as small as the one at
right in our verification fields. The panicle shown here is about 3/8 to 1⁄2 inch long or afew days past panicle differentiation (PD). read more...
Field Notes
Johnny Saichuk
Louisiana State University
June 9, 2008 - Last week we were called to a field to diagnose and recommend a course of action to control a grass. It was the first time I have seen a rice field completely infested with the grass shown in these photographs. The massive rhizomes in the photo at right are very diagnostic. The panicles shown in the lower right hand photo confirm its identity. The individual plant shown below is so general in appearance as to be confused with several species. The grass is Torpedograss. It can take on many forms. I have seen it in rice on occasion, but only in scattered areas where it can be as tall as rice. It is a perennial problem in turf even on golf greens mowed to extremely short heights. We do not have a current recommendation for this pest because we have not been able to evaluate it. We’ll tell you if what we tried works. read more...
Field Notes
Johnny Saichuk
Louisiana State University
May 19, 2008 - Over the past few days I have had more calls about “slow moving rice” than anything else. In our verification program we have been dealing with the same problem for the past few weeks. Last week fields started to respond to starter nitrogen applications we had tried to avoid, but finally recommended as much out of frustration as anything else. Then several of the fields were completely flooded by from 3 to 10 inches of rain last Wednesday and Thursday. Today we checked a couple of these fields and were surprised to see them looking OK. read more...
Arkansas Rice
Dr. Chuck Wilson, Dr. Bob Scott, and Dr. Rick Cartwright
May 22, 2008 - Because of the extensive rain and flooding, rice planting is a couple of weeks behind normal. As of May 19, farmers had planted an estimated 75% of the rice acreage. This compares to 68% last week but we had planted 92% by this time in 2007, and 5-year average of 94%. An estimated 55% of the crop has emerged. This compares to 42% last week, 83% in 2007, and 5-year average of 85%. read more...
Field Notes
Johnny Saichuk
Louisiana State University
May 12, 2008 - In both photographs at the right and below are struggling seedlings. At the right the seed were flown into a flooded field where the water was allowed to stand for about 48 hours then drained. Seeds germinated successfully, but when the field began to dry and required flushing many seedlings were uprooted because the farmer was unable to properly prepare the seed bed. This same field produced 60 barrels (216 bushels) per acre last year. Before the farmer could prepare the field for this year it was flooded for duck hunting. The wet spring prevented him from working it dry and heavy clay soils do not lend themselves to working in the water. He tried. The seedling below is from the field in Madison parish we mentioned last week where either rainfall or flushing would be necessary for successful emergence. He got the rain, barely in time and the field has an excellent stand. read more...
Arkansas Rice
Dr. Chuck Wilson, Dr. Bob Scott, and Dr. Rick Cartwright
May 14, 2008 - Because of the extensive rain and flooding, rice planting is a couple of weeks behind normal. As of May 12, farmers had planted an estimated 68% of the rice acreage. This compares to 55% last week but we had planted 86% by this time in 2007, and 5-year average of 90%. An estimated 42% of the crop has emerged. This compares to 21% last week, 69% in 2007, and 5-year average of 74%. Read more...
Arkansas Rice
Dr. Chuck Wilson, Dr. Bob Scott, and Dr. Rick Cartwright
July 9, 2008 - As we are now in the middle of July, the crop is progressing although somewhat behind normal. As of July 7, 63% of the crop is in good or excellent condition. Because of the weather conditions prior to flooding, grass control has been less than great for several fields. Read more...
Rice Research Station News, Louisiana State University
May 1, 2008 - Salvage Treatments and Controlling Late Emerging Weeds in Rice - Salvage treatments are like death and taxes; they occur on a regular basis. No one should start the growing season planning for
a late-season, or salvage treatment. It is much easier to control weeds early in the growing season when they are small and actively
growing. But on many occasions, late-season applications cannot be avoided. Following is some information to help guide
producers through these late-season applications. read more...
Field Notes
Johnny Saichuk
Louisiana State University
April 25, 2008 - The photographs below tell the story of the effects of rising temperatures over the last week. The field in Jeff Davis parish where we were concerned about zinc deficiency really changed as you can see in the left hand photograph. read his notes
Rice Graphics and Commentary
Bobby Coats, University of Arkansas
April 18, 2008 - Why are rice prices so high and why are rice consumers from parts of the Caribbean, to Asia, to Africa angry and/or even rioting over rising rice prices? read more...