Pu

bli

sh

ed

fo

r t

he

cu

sto

me

rs

of

Ric

eT

ec

, In

c.

Pla

nti

ng

20

14

Leadership and Innovation Within the Field of Rice

Also available on our website: WWW.RICETEC.COM

Check our website for

the latest news,

economic models, and

yield forecasts.

To sign up for the

RiceTec podcast, email

Dr. Brian Ottis at

bottis@ricetec.com

Planting Dates and Seeding Rates Garrison Hardke Don’t

forge

t to bo

ok

your R

iceTec

Levee

Seed

As we are emerging from a long and cold winter, thoughts are quickly turning to rice planting. The

two questions that growers ask the most every planting season are “when should I plant?” and “how

much should I plant?”. At RiceTec, we love research and we love to share our data with growers, but

farmers are busy and most just want the answer so they can get on with business. To the point, here

are the research backed answers to the questions of planting dates and seeding rates.

The typical rule of thumb to begin planting rice is March 15th for the Gulf Coast region and April 1st

for the Mid-South region. The true answer is that planting should begin when soil reaches 60 degrees

at a 4 inch depth for 2-3 days. This means that the planting window can vary some, so check your

soil temperature and look at the 10 day

forecast. If it’s March 25th, the soil

temperature is right, and the forecast is warm,

you’re probably safe to plant. By the same

token, if the soil doesn’t reach 60 degrees until

April 5th, your seed is safer in the bag because

it’s too cold to germinate. As the planting date

chart to the right shows, April planting dates

are the highest yielding, while late March and

early May planting dates show similar yields.

Late May and early June planting dates remain

profitable with RiceTec hybrids, but specific

conditions must be taken into account. As this

data was taken from small plot research, the

specific yields are less important than the

pattern itself.

While seeding rates are important, they

are simply a means to an end.

Optimum stand density is the primary

goal, so seeding rate should be

determined by how many seeds it takes

to achieve the proper number of plants.

The short answer for current RiceTec

hybrids is that you need at least 4 plants

per sq/ft to have maximum yield

potential. In the chart to the right, stand

density at about 4 plants per sq/ft and

greater shows no statistical difference

across 2 years and 17 locations. Noted

in the bottom right corner, even a

seeding rate of 300,000 seeds per acre,

with stand density of 3.8 plants per sq/

ft, demonstrated a 21 bushel/acre

advantage over the variety CL151.

The most popular seeding rate is 450,000 seeds per acre (about 22 lbs). This equates to 10.3 seeds

per sq/ft, and is generally sufficient to reach the desired stand density. Under tougher conditions

(rough seedbed, no-till, broadcast, or heavy clay soils), it may sometimes be wise to increase the

seeding rate to compensate for those factors. Although the 600,000 seeding rate (7.9 plants sq/ft) in

the chart achieved the highest yield, the 2.3 bushel advantage did not justify the additional seed cost.

8154b 8309ab 8318ab 8317ab 8420a

3.8 5.0 5.9 6.7 7.9

71 71 71 71 70

60 59 60 58 59

0.0

10.0

20.0

30.0

40.0

50.0

60.0

70.0

80.0

90.0

100.0

0

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

6000

7000

8000

9000

10000

300,000 400,000 450,000 500,000 600,000

Seeding Rate (seeds/ac)

CLXL745 2012-2013 Large Scale Seeding Rate Trials

Yield (lbs/ac)

Stand/sq.ft.

Total milling

Whole milling

17 locations

YieldLSD 131.2CV 2.26

CL151 results7,192lbs 60/69

17 locations

YieldLSD 131.2CV 2.26

CL151 results7,192lbs 60/69

These data are not a guarantee of performance, nor do they constitute a warranty of fitness for a particular use.

These data are not a guarantee of performance, nor do they constitute a warranty of fitness for a particular use.

1147111952

11147

9135

0

2000

4000

6000

8000

10000

12000

14000

March April May June

Yie

ld (

lbs/

ac)

2012-2013

Average Yield/Planting DateData from RiceTec- Harrisburg, AR Station

PLANTING 2014

2

Drill Calibration Garrison Hardke

Achieving your desired seeding rate begins with proper grain

drill calibration. Begin with the starting points listed on these

charts and adjust from there using the instructions below.

Instructional videos and interactive calibration worksheets can

be found at www.ricetec.com or on the RiceTec apps, available

for iPhone and iPad.

Contact your RiceTec representative for further assistance.

Measuring flutes on feeder cups below the drill

provide a more accurate setting than simply using the

numbers on the handle or notch setting.

Drill calibration is a service provided by RiceTec and is not a guarantee of achieving target seeding rate. It is

the responsibility of the customer to routinely check behind the drill for proper seeding rate.

1. Use the slowest possible drive setting.

2. Set the drill according to the recommended starting point.

3. Fine-tune calibration in each 10 foot section of the drill by:

▪ Recording circumference of the drive wheel and row width.

▪ Priming seed cups:

1. Pour enough seed to cover 5 cups.

2. Remove seed tubes from the bottom of the hopper box.

Make sure that the seed tubes removed correlates with the

cups that are covered with seed.

3. Turn drive wheels enough to prime the seed cups. It is very

important that seed is coming out of each open seed cup. Be

sure that there is always seed covering the cup.

▪ Calibrating drill to suggested seed count per row foot:

1. Turn the wheel a minimum of 15 revolutions while

catching the seed from the 5 open cups.

2. Weigh the seed caught and figure a preliminary number of

seeds per row foot as indicated in the drill calibration

worksheet.

3. If calibration is within one seed per row foot of target,

count the seed and calculate final calibration by seed count.

4. Verify calibration in the field!

Number of cups (5 recom. per section) (A)

Drive wheel

Circumference (inches/12) (B) feet

Number of turns (minimum of 15) (C)

Distance covered (D) feet

(AxBxC)=D

Calibration by Weight:

Weight of seed caught (grams/454) (E) Lbs

Seeds/lb of lot used (F)*

Row width (inches/12) (G) feet

Number of seeds per:

Foot of Row (ExF)/D =

Square Foot (ExF)/(DxG) =

Calibration by Seed Count

Number of seeds caught (H)

Number of seed/row foot H/D =

*Indicated on seed bag

Drill Calibration Calculation Worksheet

PLANTING 2014

3

Rice Grain Identity Preservation Stewart Runsick

Clearfield® Stewardship

Seed Supply Update Garrison Hardke

RiceTec still has a limited supply of our most popular hybrids available for 2014 planting. In Clearfield® technology, CLXL745 and

Silver Brand CL are still available. CLXL745 is the most widely planted long-grain rice in America. Silver Brand CL offers similar

performance at a more economical price, perfect for those looking to increase seeding rates. In conventional hybrid, XL753 is still

available, along with a very small supply of XP760. XL753 is the highest yielding long grain rice on the market, while XP760 is a

new RiceTec product similar to the long popular XL723, but with improved grain retention. All other commercial hybrids are

currently sold out at this time.

If you have not booked your RiceTec levee seed at this point, now is the time to do so. These products are available in both

Clearfield® and conventional offerings. RiceTec levee products offer a great advantage in yield and disease resistance over varieties

planted on levees, and are priced favorably to varieties. These products are in short supply and will not last through planting season.

As rice acres seem to be making a late push this year, RiceTec is in the process of positioning additional seed supply at local

warehouses throughout each district. This will enable us to better service our customer’s needs on short notice during the hectic

planting season. Seed may be picked up or delivered directly to your farm from these locations. For locations and availability,

contact your local RiceTec representative.

Identity preservation (IP) of grains is not a new concept. It has been in practice in its simplest form since the beginning of

agriculture. IP refers to a system of production, handling, and marketing practices that maintain the integrity and purity of

agricultural commodities. The diversity of crops with unique traits has increased the demand for IP programs. This system is in

demand in the rice industry as well. Making news recently was an article entitled Identity-preserved hybrid rice making its way into

export markets. If you haven’t already, I would encourage you to read the article. It can be found on our homepage at

www.ricetec.com and explains how identity-preserved hybrid rice grain is making a positive impact on sales into the United States’

largest export market.

The goal of IP is to separate individual hybrids/varieties during storage to try and eliminate co-mingling of lines for higher

consistency of quality and create greater consumer confidence. Why is this important? Milling and processing performance of rice

is different due to different physical and chemical properties among cultivars. Some hybrids tend to mill more quickly due to a

thinner bran layer. Grain size, grain maturity, and moisture content at harvest all have an effect on milling yield and quality.

Keeping these factors as consistent as possible allows for the highest possible milling yields and processing performance.

A successful IP program does not begin at harvest. It starts with proper planning and must be in place throughout the entire

production process. The following are things to consider when deciding to IP: plant rice seed only in fields in which rice was not

grown the previous year, only plant seed of the same hybrid on the levees, do not plant other rice hybrids or varieties in the same

field, clean and inspect all equipment used in connection with planting and harvesting the grain, store rice in clean bins separate from

other rice grain, and do not co-mingle or mix grain.

RiceTec is committed to quality and is aggressively pushing to establish a system of IP after harvest. Hybrid rice has many

advantages over other cultivars that are appealing to certain companies, such as better water use, more efficient nitrogen use, higher

per capita yields, and lower methane emissions. We are pursuing and strengthening relationships with processors and industry users

that place an importance in these characteristics to develop more markets for hybrid rice grain and our customers. For more

information on Identity Preservation, contact your local RiceTec Technical Services Representative.

Utilizing Clearfield® technology is an investment in your farm. Preserve the technology and make your investment pay off by using

these stewardship guidelines.

Start clean by applying a burndown herbicide at planting. Apply a residual herbicide, delayed pre-emergence, to increase grass

control. Apply two applications of Newpath® as labeled or one application of Newpath® followed by one application of Clearpath®

or vice versa. Clearpath® may only be substituted for one application of Newpath®, but not both. Beyond® may be applied as a

second application only after an initial application of Newpath® or Clearpath®.

Other tips include:

Flush within 2 days of first application

Initiate flood within 2 days of 2nd application

Maintain weed-free levees and red-rice-free turnrows

Control red-rice escapes with Beyond®

Rogue for red-rice escapes

DO NOT ratoon if red-rice present at harvest

RiceTec, Inc.

P.O. Box 1305

1925 FM 2917

Alvin, TX 77511

15847 Highway 1

Harrisburg, AR 72432

877-580-7423

Fax 877-588-7423

Email addresses for RiceTec representatives available at www.RiceTec.com

Technical Services Contacts

District 1 Whitney Blake 870-273-4988

District 2 Nick Ragsdell 870-878-1554

District 3 Hunter Jones 870-273-9289

District 4 William Hutchens 870-273-9291

District 5 Whitney Jones 501-516-6904

District 6 Garrison Hardke 501-772-1715

District 7 Jeff Branson 870-578-8436

District 8 Jay Burchfield 662-402-2781

District 9 Nicky Miller 337-207-6572

District 10 Cullen Minter 337-499-6498

District 11 Derrol Grymes 281-381-9371

Sales Contacts

Districts 1 - 2 DJ Shipman 870-273-9286

Districts 3 - 4 Kurt Johns 870-243-4696

Districts 5 - 6 Jeff Reeves 870-919-6944

District 7 Wes Long 870-830-0160

District 8 Jeff Mosley 662-719-1034

Districts 9-10 Mike Worthington 337-263-4297

District 11 Mark Spilman 281-389-3527

Customer Services Contact

Toll-Free Carla Sullins 877-580-7423

4

RiceTec Newsletter

Planting 2014

Planting Dates and Seeding Rates

Drill Calibration

Rice Grain Identity Preservation

Clearfield® Stewardship

Seed Supply Update