EL CAMPO & BEAUMONT, TX – The Nutrien Ag Solutions Texas Rice Field Day was held yesterday at their research station south of El Campo. General Rice Business Manager Randy Ouzts welcomed attendees and provided an overview of Nutrien’s rice breeding activities, and rice breeder Nanyen Chou explained the various steps in pure line rice variety development.
Dr. Steve Linscombe, director of The Rice Foundation, was there to talk about ongoing USA Rice activities as well as the
Rice Leadership Development Program, which is currently accepting applications.
Out in the research fields, Drs. Felipe Dalla Lana and Young-Ki Jo, rice pathologists from Louisiana State University (LSU) and Texas A&M, respectively, discussed the status of rice diseases and available fungicides. Ouzts then explained, in layman’s terms, the variety field testing program necessary before making a decision to release a new variety. Scott Greenwalt, regional rice agronomist, and Kyle Cranek, research farm manager, discussed the new Nutrien rice varieties as well as potential new releases in the next few years.
A recurring theme throughout the day was the focus on milling yield, grain dimensions, and ratooning characteristics, important topics in the Texas and southwest Louisiana rice production regions. Of particular interest is DG273L, a conventional long grain that displays excellent yield potential, a longer milled rice grain, and very high amylose that is in foundation seed production in Missouri and is a good candidate for release in 2026. Senior Rice Breeder Dr. Qiming Shao also talked about a potential new Provisia variety that is earlier and appears to have superior ratoon potential to what is being offered now.
Back at the farm shop, discussions focused on the proper combine settings to maximize harvest efficiency and milling quality of Nurtien’s varieties, and prior to lunch, attendees tasted cooked samples of most of the new varieties and experimental lines.
Today was the 77th Annual Rice Field Day at the Texas A&M Rice Research Center, located just west of Beaumont. Last year, the field day was held on the heels of Hurricane Beryl’s visit to the area so this year’s gathering already had a better crop outlook.
The event started in the field with attendees viewing plots and getting updates from researchers on a variety of topics from specialty rice breeding and digital rice to entomology, diseases, and nutrient and weed management.
“It was great to see growers in a more optimistic mood,” said Raul Villareal, a rice specialist with the USA Rice/Ducks Unlimited Partnership who was in attendance. “Last year, many were uncertain about how things would turn out following Beryl, but this year, everyone is focused on the upcoming harvest.”
The theme for the 77th field day was “Empowering Texas Rice Producers for Marketability and Competitiveness,” with presentations by Station Director Dr. Mithila Jugulam (
The Road Ahead for the AgriLife Beaumont Center & Our Rice Producers), Dr. Brad Watkins (
Factors Affecting the U.S. Rice Industry), Dr. Kurt Guidry (
The Basics of Crawfish Production & Economics) and Todd Fontenot from the LSU Rice Research Station in Crowley, Louisiana.
USA Rice Director of Field Services Kane Webb was on hand to talk with growers and industry representatives about current crop conditions and get their assessment of the region’s 2025 harvest season.
“Most growers felt they were 10 to 14 days out from getting in the field for harvest,” said Webb. “Overall, many are thinking yields will be close to average but are hoping conditions over the growing season would lead to better milling and grain quality compared to last year’s crop that experienced a major weather event.”