MEMPHIS, TN – USA Rice participated in The Pest Management Strategic Plan (PMSP) for Rice in the Southern Region Workshop here on Tuesday and Wednesday this week. The workshop was organized by the
Southern Integrated Pest Management Center to outline priorities for research, regulation, and outreach to guide activities related to solving pest management issues.
The development of a new PMSP of rice is important since the most recent version (2004) is critically out of date as practices and pests have changed since that time. Rice growers, consultants, and research and extension scientists from Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, and Texas participated to update this important document.
One of the main objectives of the workshop was to have the experts rank the insect, disease, weed, and wildlife pests for rice and discuss which have adequate methods of control and which are sorely needing additional control options. Discussions during the workshop made it apparent that while there are needs for additional crop protectant products for all rice pests, the need for new fungicides and insecticides is critical.
“It was critically important to express the specific needs for crop protection for my production area in the Bootheel of Missouri,” said Rance Daniels, a rice farmer and active USA Rice member from Hornersville, Missouri, who participated in the workshop. “It was also very interesting to learn how specific needs vary across the different rice production regions of the southern United States.”