Signing up for a full slate of informative programming
Aug 22, 2024
HARRISBURG, AR – Farmers, consultants, and industry experts gathered on August 15 at the new Northeast Rice Research and Extension Center in Harrisburg, Arkansas, for the annual Horizon Ag Arkansas Field Day. This year’s event included updates on the new rice station, row rice in Clearfield, state reports, introduction to Horizon’s new breeding program, staff presentations on the success of high-yielding rice varieties like CLL18 and CLL16, along with updates on the strong performance of new lines PVL04 & CLL19.
Dr. María Guadalupe Montiel was introduced as the new rice breeder for Horizon’s independent lab located at Louisiana State University (LSU) AgCenter Rice Research Station at Crowley. The position was created as part of a recent partnership between Horizon Ag and the LSU AgCenter.
“Our exciting new breeding program is a win-win, for all involved,” said Horizon Ag CEO Dr. Tim Walker. “What we will now be able to do, as opposed to coming in and competing with the University of Arkansas, or competing with LSU, we’ll actually be able to be an extension of those programs.”
The slate of presenters, including DeValls Bluff grower Darren Walker and university rice specialists Jarrod Hardke and Justin Chlapecka, were emblematic of Horizon Ag’s focus on collaboration throughout the rice industry.
“We are a partnership company,” Walker said. “Partnership is in our core values, and as long as I’m in charge of Horizon Ag, we will never move away from that. We in agriculture need each other, and especially in rice.”
The especially warm evening wrapped up with an air-conditioned dinner that brought the rice community together to discuss the future of U.S. rice production while enjoying the impressive new research facility.
As Walker concluded, “Good work by the state of Arkansas and the Arkansas Rice Research & Promotion Board for taking advantage of the opportunities and putting this building here. I am just so thankful to say that we are partnered with you and support your research and extension efforts here.”