Most Texas rice acreage is in good ratooning varieties, thus inconsistent ratoon stand is due to an interaction of environment and physiology. A low cutting height of the main crop along with pulverization of the straw can increase ratoon yield by a) decreasing shading of the developing ratoon tillers, b) increasing photosynthetic capacity of the developing ratoon crop, c) removing inhibition due to the presence of upper growth, and d) optimizing the proportion of basal tillers that have good supporting resources and a longer developmental period. In addition to unraveling the above effects, leading to improved management schemes, we are developing the application of gibberellin at several days post-flowering to stimulate early ratoon tiller growth and ratoon stand establishment starting about one week post-treatment. Gibberellin at 4 g a.i./A significantly increased ratoon yields of 1) XL-7 at Eagle Lake in 2003 from 4,671 to 4,995 lbs/A (and combined yield from 12,936 to 13,378 lbs/A), 2) XL-7 at Beaumont in 2003 from 3,022 to 3,761 lbs/A (and combined yield from 10,239 to 11,044 lbs/A), and 3) XL-8 at Beaumont from 2,671 to 3,121 lbs/A (and combined yield from 9,378 to 9,568 lbs/A). These ratoon yield gains of 300 to 700 lbs/A are typical of the average gains of about 500 lbs/A for Cocodrie seen during 2001 and 2002. These result in a net benefit of about $25-30/A or more when the treatment is combined with other treatments (e.g., insecticidal) commonly applied about that time. Yields of other varieties were not significantly increased by the gibberellin treatment this season. Neither yield nor quality has been adversely affected by this treatment. This research is generously funded by the Texas Rice Research Foundation. For more information contact Dr. Lee Tarpley at 409-752-2741 ext. 2235 or email ltarpley@tamu.edu