Mississippi is one of the major rice producing states, ranking behind Arkansas, Louisiana, Texas, and California. Modern commercial rice production in Mississippi had its start in 1948 when Mr. Rex Kimbrell produced approximately 300 acres just south of Greenville in Washington County. Harvested acres increased to 5000 the next year. Acreage increased rapidly for the next five years to about 77,000 acres in 1954.In recent years, rice acreage has been increasing and was more than 300,000 in 1999.
Rice production in Mississippi has been confined almost entirely to the Mississippi-Yazoo Delta, with only very limited production outside this area. Bolivar, Washington, and Sunflower counties in the center of the Delta have been the leading counties in rice production. The clay soils, large flat fields, quality water availability, and favorable climate are excellent for rice growth.
Cultivated rice is generally considered a semiaquatic annual grass, although in the tropics it can survive as a perennial, producing new tillers from nodes after harvest (ratooning). At maturity the rice plant has a main stem and a number of tillers. Each productive tiller bears a terminal flowering head or panicle. Plant height varies by variety and environmental conditions, ranging from approximately 0.4 m to over 5 m in some floating rices. The morphology of rice is divided into the vegetative phases (including germination, seedling, and tillering stages) and the reproductive phases (including panicle initiation and heading stages).
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» Information came from the Mississippi Rice Growers Guide and the RiceWeb. |
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Greetings. This post begins the first crop reporting by members of the Mississippi Agricultural Consultants Association for the 2013 season. Each Tuesday and Friday throughout the growing season, expect to find up-to-date comments from consultants concerning various crops, insects, weeds, diseases, and more. You will be notified by email whenever new comments or photos are posted to this site by clicking “profile” in the right hand corner of the home page under “Subscribe” and following the directions.
Reporting from the South Delta is Kevin Corban, Rolling Fork
Not much field work going on this week, still wet. About 90+ % corn planted, some will be replanted. The corn that was planted in early March is looking good. A few soybeans were planted last week, but I haven’t seen any up as of Tuesday.
Reporting from South Mississippi is Trey Bullock, Hattiesburg
Wheat crop is 70% headed and looks fair to great. Had to treat several fields in early March for powdery mildew. Rust is present in most fields at low levels.
Corn is 50% planted. Some growers have not planted an acre of corn due to wet conditions and in the last week have received 4+ inches.
Peanut planting will begin as soon as temps and soil conditions allow.
Reporting from East Mississippi is Burt Falkner, West Point
Last week my area received from 1” to 5” of rain and a lot of wind. Tornadoes in the Noxubee County area damaged equipment, farm shops, grain bins and homes.
Still burning down in some places using Roundup plus 2,4-D, Roundup plus Valor and we’ve had good results from Sharpen plus Roundup. Ryegrass resistance to SU herbicides has been confirmed.
Corn is from 0 – 50% planted with the most acres planted in Noxubee County. It’s taking corn 3 – 4 weeks to come up to a stand. Corn planted March 18th, as of yesterday, is @ V1 growth stage. We’ll plant irrigated corn up until May 1st. Planting on dry land acres will end sooner.
Wheat looks really good, especially for the weather conditions it’s had. With most having a fungicide treatment, disease pressure remains light – a little Septoria that is staying low in the plant. Nitrogen issues in some areas because of the wet weather. Growth stage is from flag leaf to boot.
Some acre shifting going on – corn to cotton or milo. At present my cotton acres will be about the same as 2012.