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More than half of the main crop in Texas cut
Staff Report
August 15, 2008 - More
than half of the main Texas rice crop has been harvested, according to an
update today on the Texas Rice Crop Survey web site.
 An
estimated 55% of the crop has been cut, based on reports from Extension
personnel in rice-production counties. This compares to 41% for the same
period in 2007 and 76% for the same period in 2006.
More rice probably would have been cut by now, but rain
developed across parts of the state’s rice belt this week when a cold front
pushed down from the north.
Wet conditions and/or heavy rain were reported by
Extension personnel in a number of counties in the main production areas in
south Texas. Growers in Liberty County also were dealing with some downed
rice after tropical storm Edouard moved through the area a couple of weeks
ago. Several agents also indicated hot conditions in their counties.
Stuart Gauthier, Extension Agent in Vermilion Parish,
Louisiana, reported today that the yield he’s hearing vary, “but the average
seems to be in the upper 30s and low 40s (barrels/acre).”
So far, the highest-yielding field in the state’s rice
research verification program was in Vermilion, a field of CLXL745 that
averaged 66 barrels/acre on 52 acres. The field, which was in the Kaplan
area, is farmed by Durel Romaine, Gauthier reported.
“This week, I received calls about panicle blight,
sheath rot, stem bores and Newpath-resistant red rice,” Gauthier added.
“Some fields are having significant yield loses from panicle
blight. Unfortunately, we have no weapon against this yield-limiting
bacterial disease.”
More rice was being drained in the Midsouth this week,
according to Friday’s RiceTec Hybrid Rice Report.
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