AgFax Rice - Louisiana

By AgFax Media LLC, AgFax.com

OVERVIEW  

Rice harvest has gained momentum in Arkansas and Mississippi. Early yield reports from southeast Arkansas are quite good. A small amount of cutting has even started in northeast Arkansas. See comments by Jarrod Hardke.

Much of the first crop in Texas and southeast Louisiana is out of the field.

Hurricane Harvey could potentially affect rice in northeast Louisiana and both Arkansas and Mississippi. While the storm's projected track has shifted several times since Monday, most models predict multiple inches of rain in the ArkLaMiss.

Farmers are juggling a lot of balls ahead of the hurricane. In parts of the Midsouth, they are still trying to finish corn and also cut the earliest soybeans. Every day without rain ahead of Harvey will be a good day.

Paraquat injury on rice has become apparent in Mississippi.

LOUISIANA CROP REPORTS

Ashley Peters, Peters Crop Consulting, Crowville, Louisiana

"Some of our rice is ready to cut, although I'm not sure if any of my growers have started. In one case, the farmer's rice is ready but he was still cutting corn and his neighbor is harvesting his soybeans that are ready. A lot of rice will probably be drained this week and next week.

"We'll have to see what this hurricane (Harvey) finally does. It's already showered around the area and then we have a 50% chance of rain tomorrow (8/23). After that, we'll see what the storm does. The last I saw, we were in a band that could receive 5 to 10 inches of rain."

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

"Most of our main-crop rice in southwest Louisiana has been harvested and growers are just getting started in northeast Louisiana.

"Most rice in the northeastern parishes looks very good. All the yield reports so far have been over 200 bu/acre green. Hopefully, this storm (Harvey) won't drop too much rain and hurt the crop up there. Those growers are really pressed to get their corn out, even if they have rice ready or nearly to the point they could start harvesting it.

"Our ratoon crop in southwest Louisiana is coming on strong. Hopefully, we'll have some good ratoon yields this year that will make up for the disappointing averages in our first crop. Statewide, 30% of the crop is typically ratooned, but south of Interstate 10 it's usually 50%. That percentage probably will hold this year."