Arkansas Rice Update 6-28-24

by Jarrod Hardke, Rice Extension Agronomist - June 28, 2024

Arkansas Rice Update 2024-13

June 28, 2024

Jarrod Hardke, Camila Nicolli, Bob Scott, and Scott Stiles

“And I feel so much depends on the weather.”

Early Doldrums

From can’t dodge a rain to can’t beg one, go figure.  We seem to be reaching that time of year where the frenzy slows down for rice and we’re mostly chasing water (which can get frenzied if no rain help).  Monitoring for disease continues and some heading has started on a limited basis up and down the state, so we may shift gears quickly.

If things seem early by the calendar, it’s because they are!  Not only did we plant fast, but this crop is roughly 10 days or more ahead of the 30-year average (update your DD50 reports – if you get texts from the program it’s already keeping you on track).

Looking back at DD50 unit accumulations over the past 30 years (using Stuttgart as the example because of reliable historical weather data):

April – most DD50 units accumulated since 2017

May – most DD50 units accumulated since 2018

April and May combined – most DD50 units accumulated since 2012

April thru June 15 – most DD50 units accumulated since 2010

In other words, we’ve accumulated a lot of DD50 units this year very consistently.  Most of that increased accumulation has been mild, averaging a couple degrees above normal throughout March, April, and May.  Now we wait to see what the rest of the summer holds with some extreme heat mixed with moderate summer temps in the current extended forecast.

More on growth staging, diseases, weeds, and drift in this week’s update.  And join me in welcoming the triumphant return of Scott Stiles to the Rice Update as he takes us through the June Acreage report released today.

Let us know if we can help.

Fig. 1.  NOAA 7-day precipitation forecast.

Rice Growth Staging

Jarrod Hardke

Most cultivars take 28-40 days to progress from Beginning Internode Elongation (BIE / green ring) to reach 50% heading.  For simplicity, let’s use a 36-day example (differs for all cultivars).

Generalization of Days:

Day 0 – Green Ring (BIE; R0)

Day 9 – ½” Internode Elongation (R1)

Day 18 – Early / Mid Boot (flag leaf “points”)

Day 27 – Late Boot (flag leaf collar visible, R2)

Day 36 – 50% heading (half of panicles emerging above flag leaf collar, R3)

**Remember this is generalized – each cultivar varies in these timings and DD50 program can help**

Panicle Length and Boot Stages:

Once we pass ½” internode elongation and you can begin to see the panicle, we’re headed toward the boot stages.  While each cultivar is different in their ultimate panicle size and length, and affected by management, here are some general ideas.

Early boot – panicle is typically less than 2 inches in length; flag leaf may have begun exserting.

Mid boot – panicle is 2 to 4 inches in length; flag leaf is exserting (“point”).

Late boot – panicle is greater than 5 inches in length; flag leaf fully exserted and leaf collar visible.

Rice Disease Update

Camila Nicolli and Jarrod Hardke

Sheath blight:

• Scouting should begin at ½” IE.

• Threshold is 35% positive stops for VS/S cultivars, or 50% positive stops for MS cultivars.

• If we exceed these positive stops AND sheath blight is threatening the upper canopy leaves, then we can consider treatment.

• Fungicide rate is dependent on the amount of time to suppress sheath blight. Research has shown that 8 oz of Quadris provides suppression for 14 days, 10 oz for 21 days, and 12 oz for 28 days.  Under intense pressure (as in 2023) suppression may not last that long.  If we reach 50% heading and upper canopy leaves are clean, we have successfully outrun the disease and yield will not be improved by making a fungicide application.

• Occasionally, intense sheath blight pressure near 50% heading could justify a fungicide application to protect rice standability. NOTE:  you cannot apply propiconazole-containing fungicides after heading.

Kernel Smut / False Smut:

• Field history, susceptible cultivar, late planting date, excessive nitrogen rate are all factors that increase the chances of a fungicide application being beneficial for smut prevention.

• Apply a minimum of 6 oz/acre of Tilt (or equivalent) for adequate suppression of smuts.

• Higher water volumes are preferred to increase plant coverage.

• Mid-morning or late evening applications may be best.

• Rice growth stage timing – mid boot to the beginning of late boot. As we get too close to boot split, our efficacy declines.

Blast:

• Fungicide applications to prevent neck and panicle blast should not be made before late boot.

• If making two fungicide applications to VS/S cultivars, the first application should be made in the window of late boot to beginning heading, and the second application when panicles are halfway out of the boot but necks still in the boot.

• If making a single fungicide application to MS cultivars, split the difference with the application made around boot split to when panicles are 1/3 out of the boot (necks still in the boot).

Bobbing and Weeding

Bob Scott

Scattered thoughts on weed control.

Getting a few calls on late applications for grass, post-flood.  I have made a lot of Ricestar recommendations leading up to the flood.  I have always switched to Clincher post-flood and had better luck.  I like to tank mix with Facet if conditions allow and use a good crop oil.

As mentioned in previous newsletters be aware of cutoff dates for these products.

I am always a little nervous this time of year as rice starts to head out.  Roundup (glyphosate) drift can be the silent killer, often drift on to tillering rice goes unnoticed or does not create much outward symptomology.  However, when the heads come out there is no mistaking what has happened.  Mis-shaped seedheads combined with small flag-leaves can only be caused by glyphosate applied or drifted post green ring.

I am not as worried about late drift events involving: Dicamba, 2,4-D or Liberty.  While these products can cause significant damage if applied too late at high rates, usually drift will not affect yield.  This is even true for very visual burn or necrotic effects of Liberty.

Rice Market Update

Scott Stiles

A few observations from NASS’ June Acreage survey.  In my view it was a little surprising to see lower long-grain acreage compared to March.  From NASS’ June survey work, they found long-grain acres to be 40,000 acres below grower’s March intentions.  Historically, the June Acreage number will be higher if planting progresses relatively fast.  This year, seed availability likely played a key role in limiting rice acres.  Do note in the graph below, that planting outpaced last year and the 5-year average each week and hit 90% complete by the first week of May.  Bottom line, NASS does see Arkansas long-grain acres up 100,000 over last year to a total of 1.32 million.  This is the highest long-grain acreage since 2020 and exceeds our 5-year average of 1.119 million.

Arkansas Rice Acreage by Class.

Source: USDA NASS, June 2024 Acreage.

Looking further ahead, USDA will begin using the results of the June Acreage in the July 12 WASDE (i.e., supply/demand report).  Considering today’s adjustments to rice acreage, what impact could that have on long-grain production?  From the June Acreage, NASS estimates total long-grain acres to be 2.278 million.  This is down 22,000 acres from the 2.3 million in the March intentions.  Lower acres imply lower production, if yield is held constant.  Assuming no changes to yield in July, we could see 2024 long-grain production revised 1.6 million cwt. Lower.  Whether this translates to a reduction in ending stocks will depend on adjustments to old crop carry-over and new crop demand.  Lots of moving parts.

U.S. Rice Acreage by Class.

Source: USDA NASS, June 2024 Acreage.

The rice market’s reaction to today’s report was fairly muted, with new crop September trading in a 13-cent range, and closing 5 ½ cents lower at $15.39.  One trouble spot in today’s trade was the close below the 50-dya moving average (red line), which has held as reliable support since June 5.  The next layer of nearby support becomes $15.30; the June 12^th and 13^th lows.

As for CME grain trading next week, July 3^rd is a normal session.  Markets will be closed July 4^th.  Trading resumes July 5^th at 8:30 a.m. central time.

DD50 Rice Management Program is Live

The DD50 Rice Management Program is live and ready for fields to be enrolled for the 2024 season.  All log-in and producer information has been retained from the 2023 season, so if you used the program last year you can log in just as you did last year.  Log in and enroll fields here:  https://dd50.uada.edu.

Use the Arkansas Rice Advisor Internet App!

The Arkansas Rice Advisor site https://riceadvisor.uada.edu functions like an app on your mobile device.  There you can readily access the DD50 program, rice seeding rate calculator, drill calibration, fertilizer and N rate calculators, publications, and more.

Additional Information

Arkansas Rice Updates are published periodically to provide timely information and recommendations for rice production in Arkansas.  If you would like to be added to this email list, please send your request to rice@uada.edu.

This information will also be posted to the Arkansas Row Crops blog (http://www.arkansas-crops.com/) where additional information from Extension specialists can be found.

More information on rice production, including access to all publications and reports, can be found at http://www.uaex.uada.edu/rice.

Acknowledgements

We sincerely appreciate the support for this publication provided by the rice farmers of Arkansas and administered by the Arkansas Rice Research and Promotion Board.

The authors greatly appreciate the feedback and contributions of all growers, county agents, consultants, and rice industry stakeholders.