How rice growers have been impacted by the rain

Jonesboro, Arkansas – A few farmers have already treated their crops with specific pesticides and planted the seed.

Rain or flush is required for the majority of pesticides sprayed early in the rice crop’s life cycle.
Rice producers will benefit from the pesticides’ ability to be triggered by rainfall, as flushing will increase their costs.

“The chemicals must be activated by rainfall or a flush but no one wants to flush this early in the season. Anytime we can get our chemicals out before rainfall and get it activated is a plus,” said Branon Thiesse a Craighead County extension agent.

Farmers find themselves having to pump to keep the ground moist when there is not enough rain. If there is too much, the crops may flood. According to crop specialist Tyler Hydrick, there is an ideal rainfall range.

“We are kind of in a sweet spot right now where we just need an inch and we don’t need six inches and we don’t need a tenth of an inch,” said Hydrick.

Rice seeds do little environmental harm. Hybrid seeds are used by most farmers, although they are scarce this planting season.

“When they make hybrid seeds the seeds sometimes don’t make and this year was a pretty unsuccessful hybrid year,” said Hydrick.

Given how prices are shaping up for this season, rice growers may be able to earn a few extra dollars. According to Hydrick, this increases demand for a good that doesn’t exist.

“With that being the case, you have an increase in rice acres and a lower seed production and that leads to a seed shortage,” said Hydrick.