Arkansas Rice Update 7-22-23

by Jarrod Hardke, Rice Extension Agronomist - July 22, 2023

Arkansas Rice Update 2023-18

July 22, 2023

Jarrod Hardke

“They call me The Seeker, I've been searching low and high, I won't get to get what I'm after."

Late Summer Ride

A gentle weekend will be immediately followed by a return to the oven. Heat, sun, and no rain may not be the worst thing. Once we approach heading, or get all the way  into it, warm and dry(er) can be the right move. We've had enough rain this summer that we should be comfortable managing this crop the rest of the way out.

Essentially, once heading begins, the saying goes that only bad things can happen. That's true. So warmer temps should stave off some disease pressure, and we can smooth out the irrigation from here.

There has now been some rice drained, so there is real potential for early August harvest for at least some rice out there. The majority will more likely be kicking off middle to the third week of August. Temperature and humidity are the unknown variables that time of year that we can't outguess.

Let us know if we can help.

Fig. 1.  NOAA 7-day precipitation forecast.

Upcoming Field Days

2023 RREC Rice Field Day is Aug. 3

The 2023 Rice Field Day at the Rice Research & Extension Center at Stuttgart will be held Thursday, Aug. 3. For more info: https://aaes.uada.edu/news/rice-field-day-2023/

2023 Pine Tree Field Day is Aug. 10

The 2023 Pine Tree Field Day at the Pine Tree Research Station near Colt will be held Thursday, Aug. 10 covering rice and soybean. More info will be forthcoming.

2023 Rice College is Aug. 16

The 2023 Rice College will be held Aug. 16, 2023, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. (tentatively) at the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture’s Rice Research and Extension Center near Stuttgart.  The station address is 2900 Hwy. 130 E., Stuttgart, AR 72160.

Crop consultants, industry personnel, and producers will see current research on many of the production challenges Arkansas rice producers are experiencing today.  Attendees will participate in field presentations from UA Division of Agriculture personnel and have the opportunity to take part in hands-on (boots on!) demonstrations.  CEUs will be available and lunch will be provided.

The program is still being finalized but plans include agronomy, fertility, weed science, entomology, irrigation, and pathology tours.

Cost of attendance is $100 and you must register by Aug. 10 at the following link:  https://uada.formstack.com/forms/2023_rice_college

DD50 Rice Management Program is Live

The DD50 Rice Management Program is live and ready for fields to be enrolled for the 2023 season.  All log-in and producer information has been retained from the 2022 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.