Profit starts with selecting a rice variety that balances yield, value and risk.

1. High yield means more total income from more bushels per acre. Some varieties, especially the newer varieties, will yield much more than the older varieties can possibly yield. But high yield is only economical if you can produce rice of relatively high quality and without undue risk.
2. High value means greater income from each bushel sold. Value comes from high milling yield (head rice) and high quality (milled rice). Value is also determined by the mill's demand for specific rice types -- long-grain of parboil quality, medium-grain, short-grain, aromatic or waxy.
3. Minimum risk means guaranteed yield and quality. Varieties vary greatly from year to year in yield, quality or both, even with good management. Certain diseases (blast and straighthead) and lodging can be disastrous for susceptible varieties. Sheath blight, kernel smut and other diseases, and pecky rice (from stink bug feeding) can reduce both yields and quality without being disastrous. The costs of preventing such problems or catastrophes (scouting and timely fungicide application, field draining or prescribed nitrogen) can be excessive. Resistant varieties often are not the highest yielding varieties, but the limited risks, reduced production costs and higher milling quality may offset the lower grain yields.

After selecting a variety follow up with the scouting and management specified for the variety. University of Arkansas Rice Information sheets are available for each variety. They contain detailed information on recommended planting dates and seeding rates, fertilization, disease control and other specifics for the variety. These sheets are available at the University Extension offices in Poplar Bluff (573-686-8064) and Bloomfield (573-568-3344).

Long-Grain Varieties:

Mid-Season:

Cypress was the variety grown on the most acres in Missouri in 1996. It is a mid-season variety with one of the highest long grain milling yields. It is an early mid-season variety. Though it may ripen slowly at the end of the season, it has been a quite consistent high yielder even when planted as late as the beginning of June. Its good field resistance to blast and its lodging resistance are important assets. Excellent seedling vigor make it a good choice for broadcast seeding and for water seeding. The recommended rate of N for Cypress is 150 pounds per acre in a 90-30-30 split.

Lemont has been the most popular variety in Missouri for several years. Its popularity has been declining significantly the past couple of years in favor of Cypress. Lemont's yields have declined relative to Cypress, LaGrue, Kaybonnet and other newer varieties. Lemont's high nitrogen requirement (180 pounds per acre in a 120-30-30 split) and its extreme susceptibility to sheath blight have worked in its disfavor.

Drew, available in limited supply as registered seed in 1997, has blast resistance similar to Kaybonnet. In the last three years in the Missouri trial it has yielded seven bushels more than Kaybonnet but with a couple of points lower head rice yield. Drew is over three days later maturing than Kaybonnet.

Litton, just released from Mississippi, is a long-grain semi-dwarf similar to Lemont in plant height and maturity. However, it has lower grain and milling yields than Lemont.

Short Season:

Kaybonnet, a newer short-season long grain rice, may surpass Cypress in acreage in Missouri in 1997. It has performed well in Missouri farmers' fields for two years. It has had higher yields in many farmers' fields than indicated by university performance trials. It appears to yield very well even when planted as late as early June. Its high milling yield and quality and high level of blast resistance give it exceptional value to growers. Many acres of Kaybonnet lodged in 1996. Growers may be applying more than the recommended 135 pounds of nitrogen. They may need to use the plant area board at mid season to gauge nitrogen demand more accurately.

LaGrue has been the highest-yielding variety in Missouri's variety performance trial for the past three years, but its head rice yield has been five points lower than Kaybonnet and Cypress. LaGrue is of short season maturity. Apply 135 pounds of nitrogen in a 75-30-30 three-way split.

Jodon is an early maturing sister line of Cypress. It cooks softer than other southern long-grain varieties and may need a special market outlet. It is very susceptible to straighthead, accounting for low yields and milling quality in the Missouri rice variety performance trial.

Very Short Season:

Adair has been the second highest-yielding variety in the Missouri rice variety performance trial over the past three years -- after Drew. Adair's head rice yield and straw strength have been lower than for Alan. To prevent lodging it is important to apply no more than the total 120 pounds nitrogen/acre, in a 60-30-30 three-way split.

Alan has been the variety most popular for late planting due to its very early maturity. It has been losing popularity in the last three years on account of blast susceptibility, limited grain yield and lower milling quality. Do not permit Alan fields to lose water during the season and do not over fertilize. The recommended N rate is 135 pounds total, in a 75-30-30 split.

Millie, a very short season variety, has consistently had the highest head rice yields, but its yield has been lower than the other varieties in the very short season maturity group. Apply 135 pounds total nitrogen, in a 75-30-30 split.

Jefferson was the highest-yielding very short season variety in the 1996 trial. It has moderately low milling yield. Just released from the Texas breeding program, Jefferson is a semi-dwarf with good lodging resistance, moderately poor seedling vigor but good tillering ability. Though resistant to most blast races, it is susceptible to Race IB-49, the race most common in Arkansas and Missouri. It is susceptible to sheath blight. This variety needs more observation before it will be recommended for Missouri growers.

L-204 is a very short season long-grain variety from California with good grain and milling yields. However, its extreme susceptibility to blast puts it in extreme risk of catastrophic low grain yield and poor milling quality. It is not recommended in Missouri.

Medium Grain Varieties:

Bengal is a short season medium-grain variety with very high grain yield and milling quality especially desirable for the cereal industry. Farmers have experienced pecky rice, susceptibility to rice water weevil larvae injury and serious reaction to low potassium in the soil. Apply a total of 135 pounds of nitrogen to Bengal in a 75-30-30 split.

Lafitte is a short season medium-grain variety just released from Louisiana. Though it does not yield better than Bengal, its head rice is slightly higher. Its smaller grain size makes it less desirable than Bengal for the cereal industry.

M-202 is a very short season medium-grain California variety with high yields. It is extremely susceptible to blast when blast is present, which lowers milling quality and may be catastrophic to its yield. It lodges readily in mid-South conditions.

University Extension Center
Courthouse Basement
Poplar Bluff, MO 63901
Phone (573) 686-8064
Internet address BeckB@missouri.edu