AgFax Rice - Louisiana

By AgFax Media LLC, AgFax.com

OVERVIEW

Harvest progressed only slightly in the coastal rice belt since our last report. Combines gnawed off a small percentage of the crop in Texas and southwest Louisiana. Rainy weather this week put harvest on hold in south Louisiana. See comments from Dustin Harrell for initial yield reports in southwest Louisiana.

Midsouth growers are draining more of the earliest fields.

Stink bug treatments continue in parts of the Midsouth and also in Texas. Billbugs are taking a bite out of row rice in Arkansas, something that also has been happening in Mississippi.

LOUISIANA CROP REPORTS

Richard Griffing, Griffing Consulting, LLC, Monterey, Louisiana:

"I've drained about 20% of my rice acres, and the crop is moving along nicely. We've dealt with high stink bug numbers and sprayed, but we haven't had to retreat."

Dustin Harrell, Louisiana Rice Extension Specialist, LSU Rice Research Station, Crowley:

"Initial yield reports seem off a little for the early rice, which tends to be our best rice. A few reports came in in the mid-30s (barrels/acre), although the bulk is in the mid-40s. I'd like to see the general pattern closer to 50. A couple of people reported non-hybrids at 49 and 50, but most are lower. 

"All of this is from a small sample size from early varieties and a little hybrid harvested last week. Until harvest gains momentum, we lack enough information to get a good handle on yield trends.

"It's rained frequently enough in southwest and central Louisiana that things are at a standstill. Quite a bit of rain has fallen where rice is ready, so I can't say how much progress growers can make right away."