Evangeline Ag News
News and information for our parish’s agricultural producers and dealers
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April 2013
E-MAIL LIST UPDATING
If you have an e-mail address, please call our
office at 337-363-5646, or send an E-mail to me at
(kfontenot@agctr.lsu.edu) or my secretary, Maggie
Dupre at (mdupre@agcenter.lsu.edu). We will put
you on our electronic mail list to receive this
newsletter as well as other informational crop
situation bullets that we receive during the year.
You may also visit the LSU AgCenter home
page at (www.lsuagcenter.com) where you may find
information on many different and varied topics.
For rice-specific information, go to
www.lsuagcenter.com/en/crops_livestock/crops/rice
where you will find current information dealing
with many facets of rice production and the industry
itself.
2013 RICE TEST PLOTS RECENTLY
PLANTED
Pictured is Dr. Dustin Harrell, Associate professor
at the Rice Research Station, working with
agronomy & soil fertility and chemistry, and his
research associate James Leonards, planting test
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plots on the Joey Hebert Farm. This test plot was
made possible by the cooperation of producer
Kenneth LaHaye, who did the land prep work for
the plots.
There are several different plots generally looking at
soil fertility and timing of fertilizer applications for
maximum utilization by the plant. Tests Include:
#1 potassium rate trial to determine the optimum
rate of K for the main crop and ratoon crop when
surface broadcast immediately after planting.
#2 timing of application trial for application of K
fertilizer (0-0-60) for both main and ratoon crops
#3 & #4 Looks at the same type tests only using the
application of phosphorus fertilizers in main and
ratoon crop.
#5 Optimum rate of zinc when applied as zinc
sulfate.
#6 evaluates the effectiveness of other zinc fertilizer
sources in comparison to zinc sulfate.
#7 & #8 evaluate commercially available and
experimental phosphorus and zinc composite
fertilizers like MESZ, compared to traditional P and
Zn fertilizers.
#9 evaluates the potential fertilizer value of using a
calcium silicate slag material in rice.
This test plot location, along with the plots at Kody
Biebers, will probably be included on our Parish
Rice Field Tour to be held in May. This location is
due West of Kody’s off the Bieber Rd. and
Daugeraux rd.
Pictured is James Leonards, Dr. Harrells’ research
associate, planting test plots at the Fontenot Farm in
cooperation with Richard and Neal Fontenot. This
location is right off the Platin rd.
Tests at this location will look at Variety
performance at different Nitrogen application rates
based on N-Star validation and calibration trials.
The second test will evaluate commercial available
and experimental phosphorus and Zinc composite
fertilizers like MESZ compared to traditional P and
Zn fertilizers.
Pictured is Dr. Linscombe planting the off
station Rice Variety plots at Bieber Farms in
Evangeline Parish, just off Bieber Road near Kody’s
Bins.
This Site at Kody’s has Dr. Linscombes
commercial/advanced yield trial which includes 60
experimental lines, as well as a preliminary yield
test with 57 Clearfield experimental lines.
Included in these plots is a Rice Water
Weevil susceptibility study focusing on Clearfield
and Non-Clearfield lines for Dr. Mike Stout,
Entomologist with the LSU AgCenter.
Additional plots also contain studies for Dr.
Herry Utomo, associate professor, at the Rice
Research Station dealing with Rice Breeding and
Genetics, which include measuring Blast
Resistance potential of the test lines.
Also included are plots for Dr. Ida
Wenefreda, assistant professor, working with rice
grain quality enhancement at the Rice Research
Station, which will look at measured Protein levels
in several of the test lines.
2013 LRRVP (La. Rice Research
Verification Field)
This year the Evangeline verification field is located
in the Duralde area. Our farmer/cooperator is Mr.
Jeremy Craton. The field was drill planted to Cl111 on Wednesday March 20, at the rate of 54 #’s to
the acre. Command was incorporated on the field
for pre-emerge weed control. On the second field
visit on April 3, the rain gauge registered 5.13
inches.
The two pictures above show the emerged
seedlings, as well as the development of the
seedling root and shoot. With the rain we had this
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field as several others had some of the lower cuts
holding water, due to backed up ditches and canals
as can be seen in the picture below.
Tale of Two Years
Don Groth
LSU AgCenter Rice Research Station
2006 and 2012 were very similar disease
years in southwest Louisiana rice. Both years were
preceded by warm winters that allowed rice, planted
the previous year, to overwinter and several rice
diseases to survive and multiply on these plants.
These lesions produce spores earlier and in higher
amounts than normal. This inoculum allowed
disease to start attacking the rice crop earlier and to
build up to higher levels than ever seen before.
In 2006, infection by the fungus Cercospora
janseana caused extensive damage to rice sheaths,
leaves and heads causing premature ripening, lower
yields and poor milling. The disease was so severe
and caused so much tissue death that many fields
looked like they had a harvest aid applied to them.
Disease severity was worsened because two of the
most popular rice varieties that year, CL131 and
Cheniere, were both susceptible, allowing inoculum
to pass from field to field and multiply quickly.
2006 also had long periods of warm, moist weather,
which produced a favorable disease environment.
Adding to the problem was that the fungicide
Quadris, the most common fungicide applied that
year, is not effective against this fungus, and an
epidemic was inevitable.
In 2007, several disease management
practices were adopted by rice growers that greatly
reduced Cercospora disease development. The
growers reduced CL131 and Cheniere acreage and
made extensive use of propiconazole-containing
fungicides, which are effective at inhibiting
Cercospora infections. The fungicide was applied at
early boot growth stage to prevent infection, which
is the correct timing. Cercospora has remained a
minor disease since 2008 in south Louisiana, except
in the second crop where fungicides cannot be used,
even though CL131, Cheniere and other Cercospora
susceptible varieties continue to be grown.
In 2012, infection by the overwintering
fungus Pyricularia oryzae caused earlier blast
development and more extensive damage on the rice
crop than normal in south Louisiana. This, in turn,
caused significant yield and milling reductions.
2013 CORN VARIETY TEST PLOTS PLANTED
Pictured is Mr. Mike Dischler planting the 2013
corn variety test plots on his farm near Centerville.
Mr. Dischler uses a 6 row planter on 38 inch
spacings for planting both corn and soybeans.
There are 17 different varieties in the corn test for
this year. These are all stacked varieties. These test
plots were planted on March 27th. Later this month
we will plant the Soybean variety tests as
well. We will keep you informed as to their progress
and also have harvest yield data as well.
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Again, disease development was worsened because
the most popular rice varieties, including CL151
and CL261, were very susceptible to blast. The
weather was again warm and moist providing a
favorable environment for disease development, and
blast-effective fungicides were either not used or
not applied at the most effective growth stage,
which is 50 percent to 70 percent heading.
In 2013, it is anticipated that rice producers
will shift from susceptible varieties, select the
correct fungicide and apply it at the best timing.
They also need to use cultural management
practices that reduce blast severity. These practices
include early planting, maintaining adequate flood
levels, and avoiding excessive nitrogen fertility
levels, which should limit blast in 2013. An
aggressive approach is encouraged in managing
blast, including using a diversity of resistant
varieties, effective scouting through the season, and
the timely initiation of cultural and disease
management practices.
Cold weather and rice diseases
The cold temperatures we are currently
experiencing will increase the incidence and
severity of several rice seed and seedling diseases.
In water-seeded systems, water molds (Figures 1
and 2) can become severe, killing seedlings and
significantly reducing stands. In drill-seeded
systems water molds can occur, but seeding blights
(Figure 3) are more common. Both diseases are
caused by infection by pathogenic fungi that attack
either the seed’s starch or the seedling tissues. The
cool periods slow down seedling growth allowing
these fungi to damage the developing seedling or
consume the stored food supply in the seed causing
poor vigor or death. During warm weather
conducive to rice growth, actively growing
seedlings can outgrow these diseases. Seed
protectant fungicides can reduce seed and seedling
diseases but not completely eliminate them.
Figure 1. Water mold on rice seeds.
Figure 2. Water mold on rice seeds and seedlings
Figure 3. Rice seedling blights.
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SOYBEAN PLANTING AND MATURITY
DATES
Soybean varieties in Maturity Groups IV-V
are recommended for Louisiana because they
consistently outperform other maturity
groups in quality and yield per acre. The
early indeterminate varieties have been
grown successfully in certain parts of
Louisiana, but poor seed quality and excess
shattering can be a problem with them if
weather conditions before harvest are warm
and wet.
Maturity
There is a certain amount of overlap in
maturity between
groups within the state. Environmental
conditions,
especially drought, can cause variation in
maturity. In the
southern region of Louisiana, varieties may
mature five
to 10 days later than in the northern region.
Most varieties
within a group mature in the following range
when
planted at recommended times:
• Very early maturity — Aug. 10-Aug. 19
• Early maturity — Aug. 20-Sept. 10
• Early medium maturity — Sept. 11-Oct. 1
Dates of Seeding
Because weather conditions are different
from year to year, seeding dates can be
affected by environmental conditions. Early
or late planting can cause reduction in plant
height in many varieties.
Generally, late plantings have less chance of
success
unless irrigation is available or optimal
weather and
timely rains occur throughout the growing
season. A general rule is that a half bushel
per day is lost for every day planting is
delayed past the first week of June. Optimal
seeding dates for each maturity group
planted in Louisiana are:
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EVANGELINE PARISH CATTLEMAN’S
ASSOCIATION ACTIVITIES
Blood Drives
Also a Beef Month activity, Blood drives will be
conducted across the state by many of the parish
cattleman’s associations. In Evangeline Parish we
currently have two blood drives scheduled as
follows:
Ranch Tour
At the last Associaiton Board meeting held in
March , the group discussed the possibility of a
Tour for all parish members of , The Branch
Ranch. This is a Purebred Brangus operation
located near Mansfield, La. Owned by Mr. Tommie
Rogers and his family. This ranch has been a
seedstock source for many Brangus Bulls used on
commercial and purebred herds in and around our
area, as well as across the country. Due to the
distance this would be an all-day event, tentatively
set for Saturday , June 15. The tour will include
viewing of all the cattle, including all the coming 2
yr. old bulls that will be offered for sale in the Fall,
as well as other cattle and the pasture and hay
operation. A lunch will be served as well. To assist
in planning and preparing for travel and food, we
will mail a letter asking members if they wish to
participate or not and sending a reply to the
extension office for a head count. We will try to
group travel to save on expenses.
Saturday, June 8, Jude Landreneau’s Grocery in
Pine Prairie
Thursday, June 13, Wal Mart parking lot in
Ville Platte, 10am-3pm
Please encourage family and friends if possible to
donate on these days. Donors will receive a T-Shirt,
Hamburger, chips and cold drink that association
members will be cooking and serving on the spot
when donors exit the bus. We encourage everyone
to come out and donate blood and get a nutritious,
blood building all beef hamburger, and other
goodies.
If you have any questions, contact me at
363-5646, 230 Court Street in Ville Platte.
June is Beef Month
During the month of June several Beef Month
activities are planned including a signing of the beef
month proclamation by the Police Jury President,
and the mayors of several local townships and Ville
Platte. Also in June look for the “Beef Banners” to
be displayed by several local businesses who
purchased these to promote the beef month activity.
Keith A. Fontenot
County Agent
Evangeline Parish
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April 2013
Evangeline Ag News
News and information for our parish’s agricultural producers and dealers
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