TEXAS & SW LOUISIANA RICE COUNTRY – The Gulf Coast region was busy getting the 2024 U.S. rice crop off to a quick and early start, but is now taking a break with the recent untimely rains over the past two weeks, also ushering in the inevitable cool spell, but not too cool to appear a threat to the young emerging rice.
Planting got off to an early start in both the Texas and southwest Louisiana regions, with ideal weather conditions prompting growers to take advantage and get a portion of their crop planted ahead of the rains as we near the end of March, although a few were able to get all of their crop in the ground.
While touring the Gulf Coast region this week, the Rice Leadership Development Class got to see The Rice Foundation Chair and Texas rice farmer Tim Gertson's earliest planted rice, drill seeded on February 26.
"This is the earliest rice I've ever planted," Gertson told the group. "And other than what the birds took from us, it's off to a pretty good start.”
Similar issues with birds also came up while visiting with USA Rice Farmers Chair LG Raun and others who typically haven’t seen significant bird pressure. Allen Anderson, a grower from East Bernard, Texas, and member of this year’s class, said, “We’ve finished planting on our farm, but I know the seed rice growers are just getting started, so there’s still more to be done in south Texas!”
In SWLA, some growers are finished planting as well, or very close, especially along the region of Interstate 10 and south. John McLain, a grower from Abbeville, Louisiana, along with Cole Reiners, from Mowata, both members of this year’s class, echoed Anderson.
McLain said, “We’re wrapping up planting in our area, but the rains this week will have the last few acres waiting for drier conditions to get back in the field.”
Similarly, Reiners noted, “We finished planting too, but I know a few guys who throttled back, hoping to create some harvesting and drying separation time.”
Seed availability has been a topic of discussion by many, but so far it has not caused growers a major interruption in progress. While some have not been able to get everything they wanted, they have been able to get everything they needed to keep the rice planting moving.
As we approach April, and the threat of a snap frost diminishes, anxious growers in north Louisiana into south Arkansas are gearing up and getting ready to take their turn at beginning the 2024 rice crop, but all eyes will remain on Mother Nature for the inevitable surprises we have come to expect as rice farmers.