Micrograph of Burkholderia glumae stained with safari red.

Prepared by Don Groth, Professor, LSU AgCenter Rice Research Station, Crowley, LA and Clayton Hollier, Professor, LSU AgCenter, Department of Plant Pathology and Crop Physiology, Baton Rouge LA.

Prepared by Don Groth, Professor, LSU AgCenter Rice Research Station, Crowley, LA and Clayton Hollier, Professor, LSU AgCenter, Department of Plant Pathology and Crop Physiology, Baton Rouge LA.

White tip nematode damage to rice leaf tip (Note shredded tissues).

Prepared by Don Groth, Professor, LSU AgCenter Rice Research Station, Crowley, LA and Clayton Hollier, Professor, LSU AgCenter, Department of Plant Pathology and Crop Physiology, Baton Rouge LA.

Prepared by Don Groth, Professor, LSU AgCenter Rice Research Station, Crowley, LA and Clayton Hollier, Professor, LSU AgCenter, Department of Plant Pathology and Crop Physiology, Baton Rouge LA.

Prepared by Don Groth, Professor, LSU AgCenter Rice Research Station, Crowley, LA and Clayton Hollier, Professor, LSU AgCenter, Department of Plant Pathology and Crop Physiology, Baton Rouge LA.

Arial view of sheath blight damage in a rice field showing windblown distribution of floating inoculum early in the season.

Prepared by Don Groth, Professor, LSU AgCenter Rice Research Station, Crowley, LA and Clayton Hollier, Professor, LSU AgCenter, Department of Plant Pathology and Crop Physiology, Baton Rouge LA.

Prepared by Don Groth, Professor, LSU AgCenter Rice Research Station, Crowley, LA and Clayton Hollier, Professor, LSU AgCenter, Department of Plant Pathology and Crop Physiology, Baton Rouge LA.

Sclerotial development on sheath blight lesion.

This publication includes keys to identification of water paspalum, brook paspalum, knotgrass and perennial barnyardgrass. (PDF Format Only)

This publication includes keys to identification of water paspalum, brook paspalum, knotgrass and perennial barnyardgrass. (PDF Format Only)

Prepared by Don Groth, Professor, LSU AgCenter Rice Research Station, Crowley, LA and Clayton Hollier, Professor, LSU AgCenter, Department of Plant Pathology and Crop Physiology, Baton Rouge LA.

This report presents estimates of projected costs for rice production in Louisiana for the 2012 crop year. Cost estimates are included for typical rice production systems, including conventional tillage and stale seedbed, as well as production of conventional, Clearfield and hybrid rice varieties. Production cost estimates are also included for soybeans, wheat and sorghum production in southwest Louisiana.

The following maps consist of sites that were sampled, analyzed and then ranked, post Hurricane Rita.

The data provided is from the sites that were sampled in the Salt Water Intrusion Maps. Each site is numbered the same as it is on the maps that are provided.

Early water-soaked sheath blight lesions on rice stems.

Rhizoctonia solani mycelium growing in agar (Note right angle branching pattern).

Severe rice seedling blight symptoms.

Screening for leaf blast resistance in an upland nursery showing dead susceptible plants to undamaged resistant plant symptoms

Single white leaf streak lesions on rice leaves.

Multiple white leaf streak lesions on rice leaves.

Typical white leaf streak symptoms.

Water mold-infected and uninfected rice seeds.

Mycelium causing wet areas around rice seeds infected with water molds.

Typical signs and symptoms of water molds on water-seeded rice.

(Video, 0:15) Complete video gallery of the rice White Tip disease photographs.

Mycelium and wet areas around rice seeds infected with water mold.

Course mycelium radiating out from water mold-infected seeds.

Deformed and discolored sterile grain caused by rice straighthead disorder.

Curved palea and lemma symptoms on rice grain called parrot beak due to the straighthead disorder.

Upright heads with sterile grain due to the straighthead disorder.

Rice grains severely affected by straighthead disorder.

Curved palea and lemma called parrot beaks symptom of rice grain due to the straighthead disorder.

Close up of rice stubble sheath showing sclerotia imbedded in tissues.

Rice sheath and stem showing severe stem rot symptoms, including withered stem and sclerotia (signs) imbedded in sheath tissues.

Rice sheath and stem showing stem rot symptoms and sclerotia (signs) imbedded in sheath tissues.

Severe rice sheath and stem infection symptoms of stem rot.

Moderately severe rice stem rot.

Healthy vs. stem rot infected rice stems.

Stem rot sheath infection symptoms (Note black angular lesions).

(Video, 0:15) Complete video gallery of the rice White Leaf Streak disease photographs.

Single Alternaria leaf spot rice leaf lesion.

Atypical Alternaria leaf spot lesions on rice.

Older Alternaria leaf spot lesions on rice leaves.

Rice leaves with stackburn (Alternaria leaf spot) symptoms.

Broader lesion boarders on Alternaria leaf spot lesions.

Rice leaf showing symptoms and signs (sclerotia) of Alternaria leaf spot.

(Video, 0:21) Complete video gallery of the rice Water Mold disease photographs.

Rice leaf sheath spot symptoms.

Rice leaf sheath with symptoms of sheath spot.

Rice stem with symptoms of sheath spot.

(Video, 0:21) Complete video gallery of the rice Straighthead disorder photographs.

Grain discoloration associated with sheath rot infection.

Severe sheath rot and grain symptoms.

Rice sheath rot infection symptoms.

Sheath and head infection symptoms.

Severe grain damage due to sheath rot infection (Note the head did not completely exert from the leaf sheath).

Rice flag leaf sheath and grain sheath rot symptoms.

Typical symptoms of rice sheath rot.

(Video, 0:27) Complete video gallery of the rice Stem Rot disease photographs.

Older sheath blight leaf lesion with early stage sclerotial development.

Sheath blight damage to rice flag leaf sheath and head with sclerotia development.

Sheath blight damage to rice head.

Typical sheath blight symptoms on rice leaves with sclerotia development.

Severe sheath blight damage to rice.

Typical snake skin-like lesion symptoms on rice leaves.

Sheath blight lesion development showing early and late lesion development on rice leaves.

Severe sheath blight damage on rice stems.

Severe sheath blight lesions on rice leaves at maturity.

Late-season sheath blight damage to rice plants.

Typical damage to rice leaves from sheath blight infection.

Older dried sheath blight lesions on rice stems.

Old culture of Rhizoctonia solani grown on potato dextrose agar showing darker mycelium and extensive sclerotia formation.

Lodging caused by sheath blight damage to the rice stems.

Rhizoctonia solani mycelium grown on agar-coated microscope slides stained with cotton blue (Note right angle branching pattern).

Electron micrograph of Rhizoctonia solani mycelium on a rice leaf showing mycelium growth and infection cushion formation.

Rhizoctonia solani mycelium growing from a sheath blight lesion allowing leaf-to-leaf and plant-to-plant movement in the field.

(Video, 0:27) Complete video gallery of the rice Sheath Rot disease photographs.

Rice roots showing rotting and discolored symptoms.

Rice roots showing symptoms of rot by several fungal pathogens.

Fine roots of rice rotted by various fungal pathogens (also called feeder root necrosis).

Severe panicle blast.

Rice heads showing symptoms of rotten neck, neck, and collar blast infections.

Small panicle branches infected with blast.

Neck and panicle blast symptoms on rice heads.

Left to right - very susceptible, susceptible, and moderately resistant reactions to neck blast.

Close up view of neck blast showing tissue damage.

Neck blast (right and center) versus rotten neck blast (right).

Severe blast infection on rice leaf collar.

Rice nodes with blast infection symptoms

Rice neck blast.

Rice flag leaf collars symptomatic of infection with the rice blast pathogen

Blast leaf lesions on resistant (top leaf) and susceptible (lower leaf) varieties (Note smaller and darker lesions on resistant leaves)

Dark shriveled rice stem nodes symptomatic of infection with the rice blast pathogen

Older dried rice blast leaf lesions

Early blast lesion formation on rice leaves

Pyricularia oryzae spore germination and early infection cushion formation on a rice leaf

A longer type blast leaf lesions

Typical Pyricularia oryzae spores produced on the rice plant showing conidia forming on conidiophores

Lemon-shaped Pyricularia oryzae spores produced on agar culture

(Video, 1:21) Complete video gallery of the rice Sheath Blight disease photographs.

Rice stems showing leaf smut signs and symptoms.

Rice leaves showing signs and symptoms of infection with leaf smut (Note desiccation on leaf tips.

Rice leaves showing signs and severe leaf smut symptoms.

Moderate leaf smut infection.

Light leaf smut infection.

Close up view of severe leaf smut infection.

Back-lighted rice leaf showing leaf smut signs and symptoms.

Rice leaves showing tan-type symptoms of leaf scald infection.

Rice leaves showing tan-type symptoms of leaf scald infection (Note yellow lesion boarders).

Rice leaves with chevron leaf scald symptoms starting from the leaf tip.

Rice leaf with chevron leaf scald symptoms starting from leaf edge.

(Video, 0:09) Complete video gallery of the rice Seedling Blight disease photographs.

Kernel smut infected rice showing spores oozing from grain.

Comparison of kernel smut-infected and healthy milled rice.

Kernel smut infected rice grains.

Kernel smut infected rice grains.

Close up of kernel smut infected rice showing spores oozing from grain.

Up close view of heavily infected pecky rice.

Severe peck on brown rice.

Symptoms of pecky rice grain compared with healthy rice.

(Video, 1:09) Complete video gallery of the rice Blast disease photographs.

(Video, 0:27) Complete video gallery of the rice Leaf Smut disease photographs.

(Video, 0:22) Complete video gallery of the rice Leaf Scald disease photographs.

(Video, 0:22) Complete video gallery of the rice Kernel Smut disease photographs.

(Video, 0:34) Complete video gallery of the rice False Smut disease photographs.

(Video, 0:19) Complete video gallery of the rice Crown Sheath Rot disease photographs.

(Video, 0:58) Complete video gallery of the rice Rice Cercospora, including Narrow Brown Leaf Spot, disease photographs.

(Video, 0:27) Complete video gallery of the rice Brown Spot disease photographs.

(Video, 1:00) Complete video gallery of the rice Bacterial Panicle Blight disease photographs.

(Video, 0:21) Complete video gallery of the rice Grain Spotting and Peck disease photographs.

Peck-infected milled rice grain showing areas of discolored rotting endosperm.

Rice stink bug feeding scar symptoms on rice grain.

False smut galls removed by a dockage machine from rice grain.

Rice grain replaced by false smut fungal spores and sclerotia.

Up close of a rice grain replaced by a mass of false smut spores.

Later darker symptoms and signs of false smut infection.

Severe infection of rice grain by false smut.

Rice grain showing false smut symptoms and signs of infection.

Rice seedhead showing symptoms and signs of infection with false smut.

Early symptoms and signs of false smut infection (Note silver cover over spores).

Very early symptoms and signs of false smut infection.

Mat of Gaeumannomyces graminis mycelium growing on the inside of the rice leaf sheath.

Rice crown sheath rot symptoms.

Rice crown sheath rot symptoms.

Rice plant showing symptoms of crown sheath rot infection.

Rice leaves showing later symptoms caused by the white tip nematode.

Rice leaves showing early symptoms caused by the white tip nematode .

Very early infection by the bacterial panicle blight pathogen of rice grain showing water soaked discoloration on the lower part of the grain.

Rice panicle showing symptoms of panicle branches infected by Cercospora.

Rice plant death and lodging caused by crown rot.

Dead rice plants in the field due to crown rot.

Severe stem and root damage due to crown rot infection.

Rice infected with crown rot bacteria.

Rice head showing internodal stem infection by Cercospora.

Field view of severe infection by Cercospora on a very susceptible variety (right) compared with less damage on a moderately resistant variety (left).

Rice head showing intermodal stem infection by Cercospora.

Riceleaf sheath showing discolored veins; a typical symptom of Cercospora net blotch, second view.

Rice leaf sheath infection showing moderate Cercospora sheath rot.

Rice leaf sheath infection showing moderate Cercospora sheath rot.

Rice leaf sheath infection showing severe Cercospora sheath rot.

Rice flag leaf sheath infection showing Cercospora sheath rot.

Rice leaf showing Cercospora infection on midrib.

Rice leaves showing severe signs of infection with narrow brown leaf spot.

Rice leaves showing severe signs of infection with narrow brown leaf spot.

Rice leaves showing light signs of infection with narrow brown leaf spot.

Rice leaves showing moderate signs of infection with narrow brown leaf spot.

Rice head showing internodal stem infection by Cercospora

Cercospora janseana sporulation on a rice stem.

Rice leaf sheath showing discolored veins; a typical symptom of Cercospora net blotch.

Rice leaf sheath showing discolored veins; a typical symptom of Cercospora net blotch.

Rice leaf showing severe brown spot leaf symptoms.

Rice leaf showing severe brown spot leaf symptoms.

Rice leaf showing moderate severity brown spot leaf symptoms.

Rice leaf showing light brown spot leaf symptoms.

Rice leaf with light brown spot infection symptoms.

Close-up view of rice leaf with brown spot.

Close-up view of rice leaf with brown spot.

Infected rice grain showing signs and symptoms of black kernel.

Infected rice grain showing signs and symptoms of black kernel

Close up of infected rice grain showing signs of black spores and symptoms of black kernel.

Bacterial panicle blight on resistant and susceptible rice varieties in an inoculated disease nursery.

Bacterial panicle blight infection of rice heads showing upright discolored heads compared to healthy heads.

Severe bacterial panicle blight infection of rice heads in the field.

Bacterial panicle blight infection of rice heads in the field showing a cluster of upright discolored heads.

Bacterial panicle blight late head infection compared with a healthy head.

Late symptoms of bacterial panicle blight infection of rice heads showing secondary fungal infection.

Rice heads with symptoms of bacterial panicle blight infection on the grain.

Rice heads with symptoms of bacterial panicle blight infection on the grain.

Comparison of bacterial panicle blight resistant (left) and susceptible (right) rice varieties inoculated with Burkholderia glumae in the field.

Severe rice leaf sheath rot symptoms caused the bacterial panicle blight pathogen .

Rice leaf sheath rot symptoms caused the bacterial panicle blight pathogen.

Rice with early symptoms of bacterial panicle blight infection on the grain.

Rice leaf sheath rot symptoms caused the bacterial panicle blight pathogen.

Bacterial panicle blight infection showing upright discolored heads and green stems.

Bacterial panicle blight infection of rice grain showing characteristic two tone discoloration symptom.

Bacterial panicle blight infection of rice grain showing characteristic two tone discoloration symptom.

Early bacterial panicle blight infection of rice grain showing characteristic two tone discoloration symptom and green stems.

(Video, 0:27) Complete video gallery of the rice Stackburn (Alternaria leaf spot) disease photographs.

(Video, 0:15) Complete video gallery of the rice Sheath Spot disease photographs.

This report presents estimates of projected production costs for rice production in Louisiana for the 2010 crop year. Cost estimates are included for typical rice production systems, including conventional tillage, stale seedbed, production in rotation and fallow, as well as production of conventional and herbicide-resistant varieties. Production cost estimates are also included for soybeans, wheat and sorghum production in southwest Louisiana.

The 2010 Projected Rice Cash Flow Model is an Excel spreadsheet-based, producer-decision tool that allows rice producers in Louisiana to project rice income and expenses for their operation for the 2010 crop year.

(Video, 0:15) Complete video gallery of the rice Root Rot disease photographs.

(Video, 0:15) Complete video gallery of the rice Black Kernel disease photographs.

A presentation on rice variety recommendations for 2011.

A presentation on weeds and weed control recommendations for 2011.

A review of selected diseases of rice with recommendations for their control.

Presention given at producer meetings in January 2011 outlining effects of heat and outcrossing on the crop with recommendations for 2011.

Summaries of Louisiana rice acreage by variety and by parish.

Links to important information about rice fungicide.

The 2012 Projected Rice Cash Flow Model is an Excel spreadsheet model that allows rice producers in Louisiana to project rice income and expenses for their operation for the 2012 crop year.

Photographs of Hedge Hyssop plants.

Summaries of Louisiana rice acreage by variety and by parish.

Photographs of Texasweed a.k.a. Mexicanweed, Birdeye

Photographs of alligatorweed and its parts.

Photographs of Jointvetch (Aeschynomene sp.) and its parts.

The 2008 Projected Rice Cash Flow Model is an Excel spreadsheet model which allows rice producers in Louisiana to project rice income and expenses for their operation for the 2008 crop year.

Copy of the 2007 Louisiana Rice Research Verification Program Report. These recommendations included, but were not limited to: Fertilization, weed control, disease control, insect control and water management to a limited degree. The fields were followed from planting to harvest.

The Louisiana Rice Share Rent Evaluation Model was developed to assist rice producers in the evaluation of producer and landlord returns for share rent arrangements on their rice farming operations. The model is an Excel spreadsheet which allows for the estimation of net returns per planted acre for both grower and landlord / waterlord for alternative rental arrangments.

This report presents estimates of projected production costs for rice production in Louisiana for the 2008 crop year. Cost estimate are included for typical rice produciton systems, including conventional tillage, stale seedbed, production in rotation and fallow, as well as produciton of conventional and herbicide-resistant varieties. Production cost estimates are also included for soybeans, wheat and sorghum in Southwest Louisiana.

Rice farmers whose fields have high salt levels from Hurricane Rita’s storm surge should avoid plowing their fields, according to experts with the LSU AgCenter.

This report presents estimates of expected production cost differences in Clearfield hybrid rice production in Louisiana compared with production of conventional Clearfield varieties. Analysis compares differences between production of varities CLXL729 and CLXL745 to CL151. Estimates of breakeven rice yield increases required to cover increased production costs as well as impacts of milling yield on rough rice market price are also presented.

The 2009 Projected Rice Cash Flow Model is an Excel spreadsheet model which allows rice producers in Louisiana to project rice income and expenses for their operation for the 2009 crop year.

This report presents estimates of projected production costs for rice production in Louisiana for the 2009 crop year. Cost estimates are included for typical rice production systems, including conventional tillage, stale seedbed, production in rotation and fallow, as well as production of conventional and herbicide-resistant varieties. Production cost estimates are also included for soybeans, wheat and sorghum production in southwest Louisiana.

Crown rot of rice is believed to be caused by a bacterial infection – although this disease is rarely observed. Symptoms first appear during tillering. (PDF Format Only)

Brown spot is also called Helminthosporium leaf spot. It is one of the most prevalent rice diseases in Louisiana. (PDF Format Only)

Summaries of Louisiana rice acreage by variety and by parish.

Distribution maps of Louisiana rice acreage by parish and variety.

Developing disease-resistant varieties is the best approach to help farmers fight diseases that afflict rice, said Don Groth, LSU AgCenter plant pathologist at the Rice Research Station in Crowley.

Summaries of Louisiana rice acreage by variety and by parish.

Summaries of Louisiana rice acreage by variety and by parish.

Distribution maps of Louisiana rice acreage by parish and variety.

2012 recommendations for rice varieties and management tips for them. Decisions about rice varieties are some of the most critical you will make, and those deicisions have to be made early each year. The information in this publication will help you decide which rice varieties are best suited to your particular growing conditions. (PDF Format Only)

2012 recommendations for rice varieties and management tips for them. Decisions about rice varieties are some of the most critical you will make, and those deicisions have to be made early each year. The information in this publication will help you decide which rice varieties are best suited to your particular growing conditions. (PDF Format Only)

2012 recommendations for rice varieties and management tips for them. Decisions about rice varieties are some of the most critical you will make, and those deicisions have to be made early each year. The information in this publication will help you decide which rice varieties are best suited to your particular growing conditions. (PDF Format Only)

Distribution maps of Louisiana rice acreage by parish and variety.

A series of tables reporting long grain, medium grain, rice of all types, and ratoon crop acreage by parish and variety for 2010.

Louisiana state maps showing the distribution of rice acreage by parish for 2010.

A series of tables reporting long grain, medium grain, and rice of all types by parish and variety for 2009. Also includes a table of ratoon crop by parish for 2009.

Louisiana map showing the distribution of ratoon crop acreage by parish for 2009.

Louisiana map showing the distribution of medium-grain rice acreage for 2009.

Distribution maps of Louisiana rice acreage by parish and variety.

Summaries of Louisiana rice acreage by variety and by parish.

Louisiana maps showing the distribution of rice acreage by types and parishes for 2009.

Distribution maps of Louisiana rice acreage by parish and variety.

Summaries of Louisiana Rice Acreage by variety and by Parish.

Distribution maps of Louisiana rice acreage by parish and variety.

Distribution maps of Louisiana rice acreage by parish and variety.

2004 rice research program included breeding, biotechnology, variety testing, production and distribution of foundation seed, fertilization, soil and water management, cultural practices, weed control, insect control, disease investigations, rice drying, bird control in rice, and physiology studies. The aquaculture research program places emphasis upon production practices, forages, and multi-cropping of crawfish with agronomic crops

Summaries of Louisiana rice acreage by variety and by parish.

Tables reporting long grain, medium grain, all grain types, Clearfield and hybrid, and ratoon acreage by parish for 2011.

A series of maps indicating rice acreage by parish by grain type and cultural practices.

Presentations given at the 3rd LSU AgCenter Advanced Entomology Training. This workshop focused on Mexican rice borer biology and management options in Louisiana rice. Speakers: Natalie Hummel (Dept. of Entomology, LSU AgCenter), M. O. Way (Dept. of Entomology, Texas A&M AgriLife Research Center at Beaumont, TX), Julien Beuzelin (Dept. of Entomology, LSU AgCenter), Mike Stout (Dept. of Entomology, LSU AgCenter), Tad Hardy (LDAF – quarantine program).

Distribution maps of Louisiana rice acreage by parish and variety.

Article that provides instructions of how to prevent and treat insects infesting stored rice.

Useful information about rice crops from 2011. Topics include aerial seeding, temperature monitoring, various weed, disease, and insect problems, physiological problems, salt water issues, and other timely topics.

Information about rice diseases, rice disease identification, rice disease management, rice disease photo galleries, rice diseasse articles, and rice fungicide links.

Summaries of Louisiana rice acreage by variety and by parish.

Rice stink bugs (Oebalus pugnax) are the most important insect pest of headed rice in Louisiana.

Information about rice disease identification, rice production handbook, rice diseases of Louisiana, rice disease fact sheets.

The panicle rice mite is a pest of commercial rice, Oryza sativa L., and also completes its development on the invasive plant Oryza latifolia Desv. During the summer of 2007, breeding facility greenhouses and fields in Arkansas, Louisiana, Texas and New York were found to be infested by PRM.

Collection of pages related to the Acadia demonstration sites.

This article summarizes in a few bullet points recommended management practices for Mexican rice borer in Louisiana rice.

Rice leaves showing typical symptoms of Alternaria leaf spot (Note double or kissing lesions on upper leaf).

Photographs of sheath blight symptoms on rice.

A series of PowerPoint slides presenting data on the effect of date of planting on yield and milling of selected rice varieties. Data are based on Dr. Steve Linscombe's date of planting studies at the Rice Research Station.

A series of PowerPoint slides explaining several aspects of soil testing, analysis and interpretation of results.

This study was designed to examine the biological and economic efficacy of relaying crawfish into a growing rice crop in an intercropping manner. (PDF format only)

This week I’ve received a few calls from consultants about high rice stink bug counts in late-planted rice and second crop. With advances in variety yield potential and improvements in second-crop management, the second crop has become important enough to warrant protection (in most situations).

A tiny pest called the “panicle rice mite” has been found in the southern United States, including the LSU AgCenter’s Rice Research Station at Crowley.

Solving the whodunit mystery of insect damage in a rice crop will be easier with a new online program developed by the LSU AgCenter.

On Monday, Johnny Saichuk (rice specialist), Donna Lee (county agent – East Caroll Parish) and I headed over to Beaumont, Texas for the annual Mexican Rice Borer (MRB) Site Visit. This meeting is held annually to share the latest results of a long-running cooperative research effort between Texas A&M and the LSU AgCenter.

If you are wondering why I’ve been a little quiet lately, it’s because we’ve been busy cutting test plots and gathering harvest data. After long days in this horrendous heat, it’s hard to find a desire to sit at a computer and write. I’ll wait until all the numbers are in to make any comments about the effect of treatments on yields. In the meantime, I thought you might like to see some equipment in action. The best part of harvest is that it really is a gathering of friends.

Here is a summary of the blog for 2010. Thanks to everyone who followed the content. We hope to make more improvements in 2011. If you have suggestions to improve the content, please send them to me. Happy New Year!

I recently assembled a list of iPhone apps that have some utility in agriculture or entomology. If you use an iPhone you might be able to use some of these apps in your agricultural endeavors. I’d be curious to know if you have any favorite agriculturally related apps. Also, if you know of any other agricultural apps that are not in my table, please post a comment or e-mail to me: nhummel@agcenter.lsu.edu

The Mexican rice borer, a threat to sugarcane and rice, has moved eastward from Texas extending farther into Louisiana. On Nov. 22, 2010, four male adults were found in a pheromone trap about six miles southwest of Sulphur, according to Gene Reagan, LSU AgCenter entomologist. Chris Carlton, director of the Louisiana State Arthropod Museum, confirmed that these trap catches were Mexican rice borers.

On Feb 7, 2011, US EPA granted the Experimental Use Permit (EUP) for NipsIt INSIDE® Insecticide for seed treatment use in rice. The EUP is for the states of AR, LA, MS and TX for a total of 40,000 acres for 2011. This includes 5,000 acres in Louisiana. Rice water weevil and grape colaspis are target pests on the label. According to the EUP, use of this product is restricted to dry-seeded rice in drill-planters. The seeding rate cannot exceed 15

This week the House of Representatives will debate H.R. 1, the Full Year Continuing Resolution (CR), to fund federal departments, agencies, and programs through Sept. 30, 2011. As reported last week, the CR would reduce the topline number for the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA is the USDA agency that supports Land-grant research and extension) by $217.056 million compared to FY 2010.

About a week ago Calcasieu Parish County Agent Jimmy Meaux e-mailed me a picture of a borer larva in rice that he suspected was the Mexican rice borer (MRB). This was a highly suspect sample due to a combination of the morphology of the larva and where it was found – which was in the same area where LDAF caught the first adult MRBs in pheromone traps in Louisiana.

In the 2011 production season, Louisiana rice producers will have a variety of options for seed treatment in dry-seeded production systems. This article should help make the decision about which seed treatment you may want to consider.

I’m pleased to announce the release of the Louisiana Online Rice Pest Identification Guide. The purpose of this guide is to improve identification of arthropods (insects and mites) that damage rice in Louisiana. Once the arthropod is properly identified, a link to the Louisiana pest management guidelines is provided. Although the arthropods featured infest rice in Louisiana, this online guide should be a useful tool in other Southern rice producing states.

Anna and I have been working together to summarize the 2009 Louisiana rice insects survey data, and the graphs are now starting to take shape. We observed some interesting trends. Over the next couple of weeks, I’ll post a series of blogs that will summarize some of the highlights of our findings.

This blog posting presents pictures of the stand at the St. Landry Parish rice water weevil demonstration site. I also discuss ongoing early-season problems with chinch bugs, rice levee bill bugs and colaspis.

This morning I admired the moon setting over University Lakes on my way into campus. Wait a minute, I was biking into campus by moonlight? Yep, a sure sign of field season – early mornings and long (but exciting) days. Today we headed down to Jefferson Davis Parish to scout a couple of fields that were suffering from stand loss due to an unknown cause. In one location we are still trying to determine the cause. In the second field we scouted we confirmed a fairly severe colaspis infestation.

On the same day, next we looked at a field with the most severe infestation of chinch bugs I have ever witnessed.

On March 16, 2011 we planted the Acadia parish demo test site. This blog posting includes a description of the treatments, field maps and plans for gathering data this season.

Last week we planted the rice water weevil demonstration test sites in Evangeline and St. Landry parishes. Both locations are the hybrid variety XL745. At each location we will be comparing the seed treatments CruiserMaxx, Dermacor X-100 and NipsitInside to an untreated check.

On Friday, I headed out to scout rice in Jeff Davis Parish with County Agent Barrett Courville and consultant Rustin Gilder. We scouted a field where Rustin had found a single colaspis larva. We also discussed rice water weevil management. Rice water weevils are already out and infesting fields in southwest Louisiana. You can watch our scouting videos on colapis and rice water weevil for a refresher on how to scout for these pests of rice.

Today Anna and I met with County Agent Barrett Courville and crop consultant Rustin Gilder at the Acadia Parish demo site, which is farmed by Glen and Wes Simon. We were pleased to find a healthy, rigorous stand of rice. Much of the field is already at tillering stage just two weeks after seedling emergence! This location was planted with XL745 at #25 seeding rate.

Notes from the LATMC conference and tips on various media deliveries and new media tools.

We scouted fields in St. Landry Parish for colaspis larvae.

This morning I received another call about chinch bugs infesting seedling rice – this is the fourth call I’ve had this season, so I want to remind field scouts to be on the lookout for this pest. So far they have been reported in Jeff Davis, Evangeline and St. Landry parishes. In this blog posting I also provide a reminder about which insects are controlled by the different seed treatments.

A new online forum for the rice community has been created by Kevin Reis (www.firstgrain.com) called RiceLoop. I set up my account last week and posted one comment “Hey Rice Community – is anyone out there using blogging or social media to interact with their rice producers?” Within 12 hours I had 5 comments from three different individuals.

A Section 18 request has been approved by EPA for the use of Tenchu 20SG on up to 50,000 acres of Louisiana rice. This product will provide an alternative mode of action to the pyrethroids that are currently registered for use in Louisiana. The exemption expires October 31, 2011.

Time to start scouting for rice stink bugs in headed rice, although it does seem to be coming a little bit earlier than usual. This is probably a result of very early planting of rice in some parts of south Louisiana. Unfortunately, field conditions are favoring a bad year for stink bugs. The drought conditions have killed off grasses that would normally serve as a host/reservoir for stink bugs, so there is a chance they will move more readily into heading rice.

Topics and speakers from the Louisiana rice growers meeting – excellent speakers. I really enjoyed the joint meeting of the Louisiana Rice Council and Louisiana Rice Growers Association in Crowley, La last night. The food, fellowship, and speakers were wonderful.

Today we scouted fields in Calcasieu Parish, which were infested with rice levee bill bugs and chinch bugs.

I didn’t set out yesterday knowing the day would play out like it did, but in honor of Cinco de Mayo, we wound up with five insects to discuss. All of which we found in rice fields on Cinco de Mayo. Numero Uno I’ve continued to get a lot of calls about some strange injury in rice – [...]

The southern green stink bug (Nezara viridula) has one of the widest host ranges of any insect pest. Not surprisingly then, it is occasionally a pest of rice.

The Mexican rice borer (MRB) has now been found near Lake Charles, La. It is important that you learn to identify this pest and distinguish it from other borers that can be found in rice or cane. You can study up on the pest by downloading LSU AgCenter numbered pubs which are linked to this blog posting. If you find a larvae in rice or cane and suspect that it is MRB, please call me and we can arrange to pick up the sample.

Set-up for Cruiser and Dermacor seed treatments

We had an excellent crowd at the final stop of the LSU AgCenter south farm tour in Crowley, La., this morning. For those of you that could not attend, here is what was discussed.

Yesterday, at the Simon field site tour stop, Mr. Eddie Eskew told me about a field of rice that was suffering from a severe infestation of armyworms. Up to this point in the season, I’ve had a few calls about armyworms, but nothing out of the ordinary. We wanted to collect caterpillars to add to our lab colonies on campus, so we headed to the field today.

More reports of chinch bugs, bill bugs, colaspis and sugarcane beetles in rice. An update on our rice water weevil demonstration test. Also, the summer field meeting schedule is starting to shape up.

On Friday, Nick and I made the trek to West Carroll Parish in north Louisiana to scout a rice field that Richard Costello had called me about on Thursday. We scouted a hybrid rice CruiserMaxx-treated field that is suffering from a thrips infestation. On our drive home, we observed the Morganza Spillway and some of the cropland being effected by the high water levels this year.

It’s almost that time of year again. Today Anna and I met with County Agent Keith Fontenot and Evangeline Parish farmer Kenneth LaHaye to discuss plans for the 2011 rice water weevil demonstration test. The field we will plant had some weedy passes, where a nozzle was accidentally turned off on the boom. This is a good example of why properly timed burndown herbicides are so important.

This week we have had calls about chinch bugs and thrips in rice. We also took stand count observations at the Evangeline Parish test site yesterday. This blog posting discusses chinch bugs, aphids, thrips and some natural enemies (fire ants and ladybugs).

Continued.....

This video will teach you how to scout for the panicle rice mite in a rice field.

Harvest equipment represents a major crop production expense for most rice farming operations. This report presents information on estimating rice combine harvest cost as well as a users' guide to the related Excel-based rice combine harvest cost producer decision tool.

The rice water weevil (RWW) is the most important early-season insect pest of rice in Louisiana. Adults of this insect emerge from overwintering sites beginning in early April in southern Louisiana (later in northern Louisiana) and fly to rice fields, where they feed on young rice leaves. Egg-laying commences when standing water is present in fields. This video will train you to scout for RWW larvae & adults in your rice field. (Runtime: 7:16)

For several years Arkansas rice farmers have had to deal with grape colaspis, a small beetle, whose larvae feed on the roots of rice. Rice drilled into soybean stubble is particularly susceptible to damage from this insect. Larval feeding can cause more than 50 percent reduction in stand. This season colaspis has caused stand reductions in a few rice fields in Acadia, Evangeline and St. Landry parishes. This short video will train you to scout for colaspis in rice. (Runtime: 3:58)

The adult rice water weevil is small (about 1/8 inch or 3mm long). It resembles the cotton boll weevil and other snout beetles.

The agents are your local contact for all rice-related information produced by the LSU AgCenter.

A list of extension and research faculty to whom questions about rice may be addressed.

A list of extension and research faculty to whom questions about rice may be addressed.

On May 10, 2011, Dr. Gene Reagan (LSU AgCenter) and a team of scientists from Oklahoma State University; USDA-ARS Center for Grain and Animal Health Research, Kansas; Arkansas State University; University of Arkansas; and Texas A&M AgriLife Research conducted a USDA-RAMP Project Workshop titled: “Rice Mill Insect Pest Management – Optimizing Insect Control and Grain Quality”. The workshop handout can be accessed at this website.

Photographs of mannagrass (Glyeria declinata) and some of its parts.

The LSU AgCenter has approved the release of two new Clearfield lines for the 2010 growing season, according to Dr. Steve Linscombe, LSU AgCenter rice breeder.The first Clearfield medium-grain (CL261) will be available in the spring for seed and limited commercial production. The line has good yield potential and very good milling and grain quality.Linscombe said work will continue on more medium-grain Clearfield lines..

Improvements in methods and technology for rice farming have been dramatic during the past century of the Rice Research Station’s existence.

Rice farming in 2009 was much easier and less stressful than the previous year for one main reason – no hurricanes. But bad weather plagued north Louisiana producers, nevertheless.

The LSU AgCenter’s Rice Research Station has launched a hybrid rice program, but it could be several years before any results are available for farmers.

The Rice Research Board has provided monies for an AgCenter Communications project to develop a research report highlighting board-funded projects. This publication serves as a report to rice producers about the results from LSU AgCenter projects that their check-off dollars funded. It also serves as a marketing piece for the board and rice industry.

Dr. Xueyan Sha knows that as a rice breeder, his current projects are more interesting to farmers than his past accomplishments.

Research by LSU AgCenter rice researcher Dr. Ida Wenefrida has found multiple benefits from her work aimed at increasing the protein level of rice.

LSU AgCenter plant pathologist Dr. Jong Hyun Ham is working on a project to map genes resistant to major rice diseases, including sheath blight and bacterial panicle blight.

Has the cause of the mystery malady been solved? LSU AgCenter agronomist Dr. Dustin Harrell has a suspect in the form of zinc deficiency. But the jury is still out.

An experimental rice line has to undergo screening for resistance to several diseases before it is considered for advancement in the LSU AgCenter’s rice breeding program.

Rice farmers will have an additional weapon to fight rice water weevils this year.

Rice farmers will have to learn to get along without molinate, popularly known as Arrosolo, an effective herbicide on sprangletop.

Revised Rice Production Handbook available

The Rice Research Board has provided monies for an AgCenter Communications project to develop a research report highlighting board-funded projects. This publication serves as a report to rice producers about the results from LSU AgCenter projects that their check-off dollars funded. It also serves as a marketing piece for the board and rice industry.

When he came to Louisiana in 1970, Dr. Chuck Rush started his LSU AgCenter career conducting rice research, and 39 years later he’s still searching for answers.

The Rice Research Board has provided monies for an AgCenter Communications project to develop a research report highlighting board-funded projects. This publication serves as a report to rice producers about the results from LSU AgCenter projects that their check-off dollars funded. It also serves as a marketing piece for the board and rice industry.

The Rice Research Board has provided monies for an AgCenter Communications project to develop a research report highlighting board-funded projects. This publication serves as a report to rice producers about the results from LSU AgCenter projects that their check-off dollars funded. It also serves as a marketing piece for the board and rice industry.

Eclipta is a member of the Sunflower family, Asteraceae. Its flowers are numerous in a tight head.

The threat of Cercospora will remain a slight possibility for the 2009 crop, even though it hasn’t been a widespread problem since 2006, according to Dr. Don Groth, LSU AgCenter pathologist at the Rice Research Station.

LSU AgCenter molecular biologist Dr. Herry Utomo is on a mission to find genes of interest to improve rice varieties.

After 12 years of development by the LSU AgCenter, an experimental line of an aromatic Jasmine-type rice is a likely candidate for release for the 2009 growing season.

Members of the Louisiana Rice Research Board

We just completed another usual unusual year. It seems each crop year is unique in its own way. We look to this next one in 2009 and we see uncertainty even more than ever. As Donald Rumsfeld once said, “We have a list of known unknowns.”

This 2011 guide was compiled by LSU AgCenter experts and includes regulations, precautions and suggestions for pest control in Louisiana. Detailed topics include drift of pesticides, hazards of pesticides to beneficial insects and wildlife, phytotoxicity and use of beneficial insects to control pest populations. A section on organic gardening also is included.

The new federal farm bill passed recently by Congress has increased the level of complexity faced by farmers.

LSU AgCenter Communications has been actively supporting the efforts of the Louisiana Rice Research Board, rice growers across the state and AgCenter faculty members involved in rice research for more than eight years.

Improvements in rice varieties are likely from the RiceCAP project, a collaboration involving the LSU AgCenter, eight other universities and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

LSU AgCenter rice breeder Dr. Xueyan Sha makes a cross by using a flowering rice plant from the greenhouse.

Dr. Johnny Saichuk, LSU AgCenter Extension rice specialist, has become a traveling correspondent, relaying observations and thoughts in his weekly “Field Notes.”

LSU AgCenter entomologist Dr. Mike Stout is continuing his work to help farmers with their No. 1 insect pest, the rice water weevil.

Broadleaf weeds and sedges have become more problematic in recent years in North Louisiana rice fields, probably because of the increased use of Command and other herbicides with limited broadleaf and sedge activity, according to Dr. Bill Williams, an LSU AgCenter weed management specialist at its Scott Research, Extension and Education Center.

Rice Research Report Masthead

The new and continued projects funded by the Louisiana Rice Research Board

Photogaphs of red ludwigia or waterpurslane.

Severe white leaf streak damage on rice leaves.

Early rice leaf tip discoloration caused by the white tip nematode.

Rice seed infected with water mold showing pathogen hyphae radiating out into the water.

Early symptoms of rice stem rot (Note black angular lesions).

Curved deformed palea and lemma of rice grain, parrot beak symptom.

Sheath spot symptoms on rice leaf sheaths.

Close up view of sheath rot lesion (Note lack of interveinal discoloration unlike Cercospora infection).

Young culture of Rhizoctonia solani grown on potato dextrose agar showing mycelium and sclerotia formation.

Rice seedlings with symptoms of seedling blight.

Fine roots of rice rotted by various fungal pathogens (also called feeder root necrosis).

Ten-day old Pyricularia grisea colony on rice leaf agar showing fungal mycelium and spore formation (blue gray area)

Close up view of rice leaf showing signs and symptoms of infection with leaf smut.

Rice leaf with chevron leaf scald symptoms (Note light and dark bands).

Tilletia barclayana spores from rice grain.

Various fungi growing out of spotted and pecky rice grain onto potato dextrose agar.

Ustilaginoidea virens spores from infected rice grain.

Gaeumannomyces graminis mycelium growing on a rice stem.

Bacterial infection causing foot rot symptoms of the rice crown.

Micrograph of spores produced on a rice leaf.

Spores of the rice brown spot pathogen Cochliobolus miyabeanus.

Fungal spores of the black kernel pathogen Curvularia lunata

Burkholderia glumae colony on King’s medium B medium (Note yellow green toxin production in agar).

Other names for this disease include brown sheath rot, Arkansas foot rot and black sheath rot. Crown sheath rot has been considered a minor disease of rice, but reports from Texas suggest severe damage can occur.

False smut is a minor grain disease of rice in Louisiana – although it occasionally develops to epidemic levels in certain areas and is more common on rice grown in the northern parts of the state. (PDF Format Only)

Many fungi infect developing grain and cause spots and discoloration on the hulls or kernels. Kernels discolored by fungal infections or insect damage commonly are called pecky rice or peck. (PDF Format Only)

Kernel smut of rice normally is a minor disease in Louisiana but can become epidemic in local areas, especially the farther north the rice is grown. (PDF Format Only)

Leaf scald is present in the southern rice-growing areas of the United States and in Louisiana each year. The disease affects leaves, panicles and seedlings, and its pathogen is seed-borne and survives between crops on infected seeds. (PDF Format Only)

Narrow brown leaf spot of rice varies in severity from year to year and is more severe as rice plants approach maturity. (PDF Format Only)

Root rots are probably among the most common but misdiagnosed diseases of rice. Symptoms can be noted as early as emergence. (PDF Format Only)

Seedling blight, or damping off, is a disease complex caused by several seed-borne and soil-borne fungi. Environmental conditions are important in disease development. Cold, wet weather is most favorable to disease development. (PD Format Only)

Sheath blight has been the most economically significant disease of rice in Louisiana since the early 1970s. Sheath blight is characterized by large oval spots on the leaf sheaths and irregular spots on leaf blades. (PDF Format Only)

Sheath rot of rice symptoms are most severe on the uppermost leaf sheaths that enclose the young panicle during the boot stage. Lesions are oblong or irregular oval spots with gray or light brown centers and a dark reddish-brown diffuse margin. (PDF Format Only)

The disease resembles sheath blight but usually is less severe and has dark brown lesion borders. This disease favors high nitrogen levels but usually is minor on Louisiana rice. No control practices are recommended. (PDF Format Only)

It is common on rice around the world. The disease is present in all rice fields in Louisiana. Only occasional incidences are observed, but the disease may be more severe in restricted areas of a field. (PDF Format Only)

Stem rot occurs erratically on Louisiana rice. The disease typically appears late in the season when control practices are ineffective or prohibited. Infection tends to cause lodging, making harvesting difficult, and seed sterility. (PDF Format Only)

When using the water-seeding method of planting rice, it is difficult to obtain uniform stands of sufficient density to obtain maximum yields. (PDF Format Only)

The symptoms are similar to the narrow brown leaf spot symptoms except that the lesions are slightly wider with white centers. (PDF Format Only)

Characteristic symptoms appear after tillering. Leaf tips change from green to yellow and eventually to white. The tip withers above the white area, becoming brown or tan and tattered. (PDF Format Only)

This is a collection of rice disease photographs to help diagnose and understand rice diseases found in Louisiana.

Leaf smut is a widely distributed, but somewhat minor, disease of rice. The fungus produces slightly raised, angular, black spots (sori) on both sides of the leaves. Although rare, it also can produce spots on leaf sheaths. (PDF Format Only)

Blast is the most important disease of rice worldwide and the second most important in Louisiana. Yield losses as high as 75 to 90 percent have been observed in Louisiana due to this disease. (PDF Format Only)

The fungus causes severe grain discoloration, and after milling, the kernels appear black. (PDF format only)

Bacterial panicle blight is a major disease of rice that tends to develop during hot, dry weather. Losses include reduced yield and milling. Losses reported in commercial rice fields vary from a trace to as high as 70 percent. (PDF Format Only)

A presentation based on a publication by a similar name describing the effects of salt water on rice.

A presentation on fertilizer recommendations and fertility research on rice.

Rice is one of the world’s most important cereal crops. Rice and wheat together make up the majority of the world’s source of calories. They feed the world. Information on general agronomic guidelines, varieties, soils, plant nutrition, fertilization, rice drying, economics and weed, disease and pest management. (Individual chapter pdfs are located at the bottom of the page.)

The following slide shows will be presented at the second annual LSU AgCenter rice entomology training. Date: March 2, 2011, Time 9:00 a.m.-noon,Location: LSU AgCenter Rice Research Station Auditorium – Crowley, La. "Insect infestations relation to rice crop phenology" -- Michale J. Stout; “Rice stink bug management” – Michael J. Stout, Natalie A. Hummel; “Identification of immature stages of insects that attack rice" – Richard N. Story

This report presents estimates of projected production costs for rice production in Louisiana for the 2011 crop year. Cost estimates are included for typical rice production systems, including conventional tillage, stale seedbed, as well as production of conventional, Clearfield and hybrid varieties. Production cost estimates are also included for soybeans, wheat and sorghum production in southwest Louisiana.

Riceleaf sheath showing discolored veins; a typical symptom of Cercospora net blotch.

The 2011 Projected Rice Cash Flow Model is an Excel spreadsheet model which allows rice producers in Louisiana to project rice income and expenses for their operation for the 2011 crop year.

Identification and scouting information for rice water weevils, rice stink bugs, panicle rice mites, rice leafminers and rice stem borers. (PDF format only)

Distribution maps of Louisiana rice acreage by parish and variety.

Useful information about rice crops from 2010. Topics include heat units, soil crusting, seed midge, weed problems, volunteer hybrid rice, insects, diseases, herbicide injury, nutrient deficiencies and toxicities, the impact of high temperatures on the 2010 crop and other topics.

Summaries of Louisiana rice acreage by variety and by parish.

Useful information about rice crops from 2009. Topics include: Grain Culture, Nealley Sprangletop and Narrowleaf Aster, Cold Injury and Seed Midge Damage, Drift, Stretched Rice, and Spergula, Volunteer Rice, Weeds, and Ricestar Ht, Unknown Rice Disease, and Hail Damage.

Useful information about rice crops from 2008. Topics include: Bronzing, Chipping, and Herbicide Activity, Weed Seedlings and Chinch Bugs Rice Water Weevils, Fall Panicum, Eclipta, and Bent Seedlings, Red Rice, Seedlings, and Stubble, Chinch Bugs, Lightning Wheat, and Phosphorus Deficiency Memorial Day Edition, and Fungicide Table and Rice Nutrient Problems.

Useful information about rice crops from 2007. Topics include: Drill Calibration, Seed Midge, Murdannia, Black Widow, Black Birds, Weed Seedlings, Alligatorweed, Yellow Rice, Rice Blanks, Sugarcane Borer and Herbicide Injury.

Useful information about rice crops from 2006. Topics include: Water Weevils, Localized Decline, Newpath injury, Lightning Injury, Horsepower To Pump Water, Torpedograss In Rice, Hydrogen Sulfide, Rice Blast , and Sugarcane Borer.

Useful information about rice crops from 2005. Topics include: Internode Elongation (Green Ring), Localized Decline, Black Rice Bugs, South American Rice Miner, Localized Decline, Scouting for Disease, Rice Stink Bug Eggs and Nymphs, Sheath Blight, and Blast.

Herbicide drift symptoms may appear as irregular patterns through a field, uniformly across the entire field or on just one side of a field. Symptoms may be as obvious as dead or dying plants or as subtle as shortened plant internode length. Use this publciation as a photographic guide to assist in identifying a potential herbicide drift event occuring in rice. (PDF format only)

A photograph of a labeled grass spikelet. By definition a grass spikelet is the unit of the inflorscence of a grass, a member of the Poaceae or Gramineae family of plants. It consists of two glumes and one or more florets.

Both adult and nymph chinch bugs will feed on rice.

Photographs of pickerelweed and its parts.

A series of PowerPoint images illustrating the identifying characteristcs of the European corn borer, the rice stalk borer and the sugarcane borer in rice.

A series of PowerPoint slides illustrating the biology, life cycle of the rice stink bug and the injury it causes to rice.

This publication provides general information on rice drying as an aid to the producer who desires to store and dry on his farm.

Photographs of red rice (Oryza sativa) and its various forms.

Photographs of water starwort (Callitriche heterophylla).

Blast is the most important disease of rice worldwide and the second most important in Louisiana. Yield losses as high as 75 to 90 percent have been observed in Louisiana due to this disease. Use this fact sheet to help you identify and manage rice blast. (PDF Format Only)

A series of photographs depicting key growth stages in the development of rice before heading. Some of these are important in rice managment.

Salt water can become a problem in rice production, especially in some areas in dry years. This table can be used as a guide for tolerance of rice to salt water.

Copy of the 1999 Louisiana Rice Research Verification Program Report. These recommendations included, but were not limited to: Fertilization, weed control, disease control, insect control and water management to a limited degree. The fields were followed from planting to harvest.

Copy of the 2001 Louisiana Rice Research Verification Program Report. These recommendations included, but were not limited to: Fertilization, weed control, disease control, insect control and water management to a limited degree. The fields were followed from planting to harvest.

Copy of the 2000 Louisiana Rice Research Verification Program Report. These recommendations included, but were not limited to: Fertilization, weed control, disease control, insect control and water management to a limited degree. The fields were followed from planting to harvest.

Copy of the 1998 Louisiana Rice Research Verification Program Report. These recommendations included, but were not limited to: Fertilization, weed control, disease control, insect control and water management to a limited degree. The fields were followed from planting to harvest.

Both nymphs and adults cause damage by feeding with their piercing mouthparts.

Photographs of arrowhead or duck-potato (Sagittaria sp.)

Photographs of brook paspalum and its distinguishing features.

The use of poultry litter on unproductive areas has increased rice productivity levels in many cases above those realized prior to precision leveling. The use of litter in conjunction with inorganic fertilizers also has been reported to improve yields above those found when using inorganic fertilizers alone. Information on the nutrient content, litter sampling, litter sources and general recommendations are included. (PDF format only)

(Distributed 03/19/03) Wet weather rather than climbing fuel and fertilizer costs is keeping Louisiana farmers from planting corn, according to an expert with the LSU AgCenter.

This guide for 2010 contains suggestions for management of the most important or more prevalent diseases of Louisiana plants. It includes information on fungicides, bactericides and nematicides, as well as safety precautions for using them.

Links to other LSU AgCenter Web pages, university Web pages, rice organization Web pages, governmental Web pages and other pages pertinent to rice.

This publication describes the major rice diseases in Louisiana and the southern United States rice-growing region. Detailed color images of bacterial panicle blight, blast, grain smuts, narrow brown leaf spot, shealth blight, sheath rot, stem rot, water mold and stem rot are included. (PDF format only)

This publication describes the major rice diseases in Louisiana and the southern United States rice-growing region. Detailed color images of bacterial panicle blight, blast, grain smuts, narrow brown leaf spot, shealth blight, sheath rot, stem rot, water mold and stem rot are included. (PDF format only)

(Distributed 09/05/08) Rice is among the many Louisiana agricultural commodities hurt by Hurricane Gustav, although the majority of the crop had been harvested in the southwest Louisiana rice belt before the storm came through.

(Distributed 09/09/08) WHITEVILLE – Farmer Jeffrey Sylvester gazed over a field that looked more suited for water-skiing than growing rice. “There’s a rice crop under that water,” he said. “That’s all standing rice.”

This guide includes helpful information on identifying weeds in Louisiana rice. The publication contains a schematic guide to help with proper identification of weeds based on specific characteristics of each plant. It also contains photos of each weed listed in the schematic as well as examples showing key characteristics.

Research continues into the benefits of gibberellic acid, or GA, in rice farming. Treated varieties like Clearfield require less seeding per acre and can stand up cold weather.

This guide for 2010 contains suggestions for management of the most important or more prevalent diseases of Louisiana plants. It includes information on fungicides, bactericides and nematicides, as well as safety precautions for using them.

A description of how biomass is being used for energy in Louisiana with an emphasis on the potential for expansion in the industry. (PDF format only)

Irrigation ponds can irrigate fields during the summer without resorting to pumping water from wells.

Recent rains have drenched Louisiana, and the outlook is not good for the state’s rice crop. Corn and wheat also have taken a beating – but specialists believe the Louisiana cotton crop may have weathered the storm. Double-digit rainfall was recorded in many areas of the state over the past couple of weeks, and totals exceeding 20 inches were seen in some places. Observers even reported as much as 24-27 inches in spots.

(Distributed03/27/03) Rice planting has begun in South Louisiana, but many farmers in the central and northern parts of the state are looking for options because they’ve been delayed by persistent rains and wet field conditions. That’s where the state’s aerial applicators – pilots with specially equipped aircraft – come in. And many of those aerial applicators take advantage of LSU AgCenter services that help them check their equipment.

The salt water that washed over coastal areas in Southwestern Louisiana during Hurricane Rita could greatly affect next year’s rice crop. LSU AgCenter agronomist Dr. Gary Breitenbeck says the high salinity levels in rice fields could lead to decreased yields. (Radio News 12/12/05)

Grooving is a technique for planting rice. Seeds fall fall into shallow grooves seven inches apart, which keeping them in place even in windy conditions.

Beyond, made by BASF, is intended for an early post-emergence application between tillering and panicle initiation to control red rice not killed by two applications of Newpath herbicide. Beyond, intended to be used only on Clearfield 161 and XL8 varieties, is in the same chemical family as Newpath.

Great prices and good weather have generated plenty of optimism.

Excessive moisture from heavy rainfall has set the stage for disease problems in rice fields. Conditions will be prime for fungal diseases, principally sheath blight and blast.

Louisiana farmers will plant more acreage in rice, soybeans and cotton but less in corn.

(Distributed 03/21/03) Robert Thevis calls himself a rice farmer, but the 2003 Louisiana Farmer of the Year grows much more than rice. Thevis farms nearly 2,000 acres in Avoyelles Parish – raising soybeans, corn, milo and, when the weather allows, winter wheat. As a reward for his efforts, he received the state's farmer of the year award Friday evening (March 21).

Applied properly, Newpath herbicide is an effective remedy for red rice and grasses in Clearfield rice. It's important to spray insecticide after finding rice water weevils because the only pesticides authorized for use after planting are for adults only.

Clearfield 161 tolerates Newpath extremely well, allowing more flexibility for the application timing. With the early versions of the seed, farmers had to spray before emergence and then wait until the plants reached the 4-leaf stage. But 161 allows farmers to apply Newpath after emergence and before the 4-leaf stage, which allows for better red rice control.

(Distributed 04/23/04) LSU AgCenter entomologist Dr. Michael Stout is studying three chemicals that could be used as seed treatment replacements for Icon to fight rice water weevils. Stout is also studying two proposed granular chemicals.

The project combined construction of a new administration building and remodeling the remainder of the old structure, which was built in 1954. The new facilities are symbolic of the top-notch effort under way to help the state’s rice farmers.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently approved gamma cyhalothrin for use in field, vegetable, tree and vine crops. It will be sold as Proaxis and in a higher-concentrated form called Prolex.

Cocodrie, a rice variety released by the LSU AgCenter in the late 1990s, remained king of the rice paddy in Louisiana this year, but AgCenter researchers say they’re tinkering with a number of new rice lines that could give farmers more options at planting time within a couple of years.Among those are new medium-grain experimental lines and improved Clearfield rice lines that soon will be evaluated in winter plots at a Puerto Rican nursery that the LSU AgCenter shares with other universities.