Rice yields affected by recent rounds of wet weather

Todd Fontenot, Evangeline Parish County Agent, shed some insight into the problem of recent wet weather affecting rice yields for local farmers.
“Rice farmers have experienced adverse weather conditions throughout the growing season this year,” said Fontenot. “The growing season started cool and wet, without much sunshine. Several producers were affected by high rainfalls which caused excessive flooding numerous times. In some cases, it resulted in complete yield loss.”
Fontenot continued, “As the season progressed, wet conditions also affected applications of herbicides and fertilizer. Some were not applied at the proper time. Later in the season, rains also affected the pollination process and the wet conditions, along with hot temperatures, increased disease pressure.”
Fontenot also said rains have caused delays to the harvest. This can affect the quality of the grain. He added that muddy conditions make harvest more difficult and more costly.
According to the website, www.thinkrice.com, “Louisiana grows rice on approximately 400,000 acres each year, and the annual crop is valued around $360 million. Rice production and processing both play important roles in the state, generating annual economic activity of almost $200 million and accounting for thousands of jobs. Rice is the state’s top agricultural export.”