Leaders Come Together to Address Weedy Rice Outcrosses

Unified by their commitment to helping southern rice farmers manage and steward the Provisia Rice System, a group of industry leaders met recently at the H. Rouse Caffey Rice Research Station to discuss Best Management Practices (BMP) to minimize the threat of weedy rice outcrosses developing to the ACCase-inhibiting herbicide technology.

The Provisia Working Group consists of representatives from Horizon Ag, BASF, leading rice industry retailers and the LSU Cooperative Extension Service, all of whom have experience with rice, herbicide resistance and the Provisia Rice System. Its goal is to analyze and discuss what is happening in fields across the region with ACCase-inhibiting herbicides and develop recommended management approaches that can be communicated to farmers, who are on the frontline of managing herbicide resistance.

“The Provisia Rice System continues to prove it is the best system available today to control weedy rice, red rice and resistant grasses,” says Dr. Tim Walker, General Manager of Horizon Ag, who markets Provisia variety PVL03. “That was confirmed by the experiences shared by members of the working group. This season, however, we’ve seen instances of weedy rice and resistant red rice outcrosses in Provisia rice, that need to be addressed. Horizon Ag is proud to be working with our industry and university partners and farmers to steward this important technology and keep it a viable tool for rice farmers for years to come.”

“We appreciate our rice industry partners coming together to form the Provisia Working Group,” adds Frank Hardimon, Licensing Account Manager, BASF Seeds and Traits North America. “The outcome from this meeting is essential to promote best management practices for the stewardship of the Provisia Rice System.”

Based on initial feedback from the Provisia Working Group, several management areas and cropping approaches can play an important role in helping prevent outcrosses from becoming more of an issue. For example, it is critical for farmers to “start clean and stay clean” with their fields, relying on other proven grass and broadleaf herbicides in addition to using Provisia herbicide to control weedy rice.

Other management areas under discussion include:

  • Considering water seeding as a management tool in cases of documented resistance

  • Following herbicide application best practices

  • Optimizing in-season Provisia applications based on label options, rice plant size, weedy rice stage and timing

  • Eliminating any weedy rice escapes with practices like spot spraying, use of a wick bar applicator or roguing

  • Cleaning applicator and harvesting equipment to minimize the risk of contamination

  • Identifying crawfish production best practices

  • Managing fallow field to reduce the weed seed bank

  • Exploring best crop rotation options and herbicide options with different modes of action

From the initial meeting and ongoing discussions, the Provisia Working Group will use its experience and knowledge of the technology to create specific BMP recommendations. These will be made available to farmers ahead of planning for the 2023 production season through retail locations, extension service communications and at regional and industry-wide meetings.

Another goal of the group is to help farmers understand the differences in ACCase technologies, including the advantages of the Provisia herbicide over competitors when it comes to providing superior control of weedy rice, herbicide tolerance, managing resistance and overall performance potential.

Dr. Adam Famoso, LSU AgCenter Rice Breeder, describes the meeting as “very productive and timely, based on what we saw this year with outcrosses in Provisia rice.”

“It’s encouraging to see a group of rice industry leaders come together like this to recommend solutions to address this challenge,” he added. “This is not a BASF or Horizon Ag problem,” adds Famoso. “This is a rice industry issue, and it’s right for the industry to come together, share information, and do everything we can to prolong this technology.”

Dr. Connor Webster, LSU Extension weed scientist, says it is particularly impressive to see the years of rice industry experience represented and being brought to bear by the Provisia Working Group.

“This is not a situation where one person is going to solve the issue,” says Dr. Webster. “These are academics, researchers, company representatives, consultants and ag retailers coming together to support our farmers, to make sure we are stewarding this technology the best that we can.”

Specific recommendations from the Provisia Working Group will be available this fall. More information about Provisia rice and Horizon Ag elite Provisia and Clearfield varieties is available at www.horizonseed.com.