Reminder: Friday’s rice field day offers peek into new hybrid varieties, furrow-irrigation trails and more
By Ryan McGeeney
U of A System Division of Agriculture
July 31, 2019
Fast facts:
- Aug. 2 field day starts early – first tour leaves at 7:30 a.m.
- Two tours, each lasts about two hours, each starts at Foundation Seed Center.
- For info, contact the Rice Research and Extension Center at 870-673-2661
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STUTTGART, Ark. – Producers, consultants and other agriculture industry professionals will be offered a first look this Friday into the latest in rice-related research and more from the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.
The annual rice field day, held at the Division of Agriculture’s Rice Research and Extension Center in Stuttgart, will feature two simultaneous tours across the facility beginning at 7:30 a.m., which will be offered again at 9:30 a.m.
Experts and agronomists with the Division of Agriculture will be on hand to discuss the latest research in the fields of soil fertility, weed management, the use of drones in agriculture, multiple-inlet irrigation and more.
Find the right variety for your farm
Bob Scott, director of the rice station, said several points of innovation will likely prove of particular interest to growers, including several new Clearfield rice varieties.
“Any time there’s a new release, that’s a potential for someone to find one that has a good fit on their farm, which can raise profits a little bit,” Scott said.
“We’re also now in the process of developing a number of hybrid varieties,” he said. “Through the hybridization process, you see increased yield, disease resistance, straw strength and standability.
“There’s not really been any university hybrid releases before, so getting one or two into the observation bay is a big step for us toward eventually releasing a university-bred hybrid rice,” Scott said. “One thing we think will be different with our hybrids is that they’re bred with the university lines, rather than lines that came from all over the world — so these lines are actually bred with adapted varieties for Arkansas.”
Also making its debut, research plots dedicated to furrow-irrigated rice, which has steadily grown in popularity in areas of the state.
“There’s been an increase in furrow-irrigated acres, so we’ve established a research location on the station, to start generating some really solid recommendations,” Scott said.
Doors open at 7 a.m. There is no cost to attend, and lunch will be served after the final tours. The Rice Research and Extension Center is located at 2900 Arkansas Highway 130. For more information, contact the center at 870-673-2661.
To learn more about Division of Agriculture research, visit the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station website: https://aaes.uark.edu. Follow us on Twitter at @ArkAgResearch and Instagram at ArkAgResearch.
To learn more about rice production, contact your county extension office, or visit www.uaex.uada.edu. Follow us on Twitter at @UAEX_edu.
About the Division of Agriculture
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture’s mission is to strengthen agriculture, communities, and families by connecting trusted research to the adoption of best practices. Through the Agricultural Experiment Station and the Cooperative Extension Service, the Division of Agriculture conducts research and extension work within the nation’s historic land grant education system.
The Division of Agriculture is one of 20 entities within the University of Arkansas System. It has offices in all 75 counties in Arkansas and faculty on five system campuses.
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture is an equal opportunity/equal access/affirmative action institution. If you require a reasonable accommodation to participate or need materials in another format, please contact the station at 870-673-266 as soon as possible. Dial 711 for Arkansas Relay.
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Media Contact: Ryan McGeeney
Communication Services
U of A System Division of Agriculture
Cooperative Extension Service
(501) 671-2120
rmcgeeney@uada.edu