2026 Acres, Courier Section 18, AgPro Grant Program, and Understanding People Behind the Fields
Sam Rustom, Ph.D. // David Kerns, Ph.D. // Corrie Bowen // Gitta Pap, Ph.D.
A strong start for Texas rice planting
Texas is off to a fantastic start for rice planting in 2026. The March planting window was about as good as it gets down here with excellent planting moisture across the rice belt. We received around an inch and a half of rain in the middle of the month here at the Wintermann Station in Eagle Lake, which came at the perfect time to replenish the soil moisture we were quickly losing from earlier rains in February and early March.
Unfortunately, that mid-March rain was followed by light frost and sandblasting across a large portion of the Texas rice belt. This is a fairly common occurrence for our growers down here that prefer to plant early. Luckily, if the growing point is insulated beneath the soil surface and soil temps don’t drop below freezing, rice typically recovers with no lasting damage.
We received a much needed rain across the rice belt this past weekend (April 4-5). Like clockwork, it happened as soon as a large portion of growers had just finished flushing. It is probably a good thing that everyone flushed around Eagle Lake, Garwood, and El Campo, considering we only got around a half-inch of rain in most of these areas west of Houston and things were rapidly getting dry. To quote our neighbors in Louisiana, you could call this early-April rain “lagniappe”.
2026 Acreage
It’s no secret that rice acres are going to be down in 2026. The question is how much?
On March 31, the USDA released its 2026 Prospective Plantings Report and has Texas pegged at 125,000 acres – 120,000 acres in long-grain and the remainder medium-grain. This will mark the lowest Texas rice acreage since official record keeping began in 1929. Personally, I think this is estimate is generous for the state given our current economic conditions and pressure from rice delphacid. I believe that when the dust settles, statewide planted acres will likely be 90,000 to 105,000.
Looking at the state’s acreage history, it will be crucial for growers to hold on to the acres they still have. Since 1980, Texas rice acreage has declined from approximately 600,000 acres to around 142,000 acres in 2025, with even less expected in 2026. If the past 45-year history tells us anything, it’s that once we lose rice acres, they are oftentimes gone for good.
Nationally, USDA projects rice plantings at 2.32 million acres, an 18% decrease from 2025. Long-grain acreage is expected to drop 22% year-over-year. According to the report, this would mark the lowest long-grain rice acreage nationally since 1983. I personally believe this will be a best-case scenario. After speaking with experts from other rice producing states, it appears that actual acreage could end up lower than the USDA’s prospective numbers suggest, just like we are expecting in Texas. Dr. Jarrod Hardke, my counterpart in Arkansas, suggests that Arkansas’ total rice acreage could be around 850,000 in 2026, compared with 1 million acres cited in the USDA Prospective Planting Report.
Courier® SC Insecticide
In just a couple of months – which felt like an eternity for the Texas rice industry – the Section 18 Emergency Exemption for Courier® insecticide use in rice has been approved by EPA. Research conducted in Texas, Louisiana, and Arkansas in 2025 showed that Courier® clearly stood out among the many insecticides tested across all three states. However, remember that buprofezin (Courier’s active ingredient) is an insect growth regular that only has activity on nymphs, so we still have work to do developing new management strategies. I view Courier® as a fantastic short-term tool that will help bridge the gap until these long-term solutions for managing both nymphs and adults are developed.
The label for Courier SC® Insect Growth Regulator can be accessed using this link. The approved rate range will be 9 to 13.6 fluid ounces per acre. Application timing research is still ongoing, but our best recommendation for 2025 is to spray at first detection of nymphs.
What You Should Know About Courier® SC Insecticide
We are fortunate to have Dr. David Kerns’ (Professor, Extension Entomologist, Associate Department Head of Entomology, and Statewide IPM Director) help with the rice delphacid project.
His wise words regarding Courier use in Texas:
Courier SC, buprofezin, is an insect growth regulator that is highly active on a number of soft-bodied insects such as rice delphacid. Unlike most broad-spectrum insecticides it has some unique properties you should be aware of:
- It is a chitin synthesis inhibitor which kills the insect when it molts. Thus, it will only kill the nymphs and not the adults.
- Depending on the age and reproductive status of the female adults, some will become reproductively sterilized.
- Do not expect rapid activity. It takes time for the insects to molt and die which may not be evident for 5-7 days.
- Buprofezin has a very low vapor pressure and will fume, which will allow the product to reach deep in the rice canopy. Thus, it is not sensitive to coverage.
- It is translaminar, meaning it can move across leaf tissue. This makes it less sensitive to coverage, and it becomes rainfast in 3 to 6 hours.
- It is not highly systemic, so it will not move out of the leaf and move to other plant tissue.
- It has very good residual activity and may provide control for 3 to 4 weeks depending on the application rate and environmental conditions.
- It should not have extensive impact on predators and parasitoids which we wish to preserve to aid in rice delphacid control.
- Application timing:
- Research needs to be conducted to better understand best practices on application timing but my thoughts are:
- Target populations when the presence of nymphs is evident. This will maximize control on the susceptible stage of the insect, and the residual activity should pick up hatching over the next few weeks.
- If there are many adult rice delphacid present at application, the addition of an insecticide, such as Endigo ZCX, that kills the adults is recommended.
- If an influx of adult rice delphacid comes into a field within 2 weeks of a Courier SC application, it may be wise to target those adults with an adulticide, but the residual activity of the Courier SC should hold.
- Research needs to be conducted to better understand best practices on application timing but my thoughts are:
If you have any questions, you are free to call my cell 318-439-4844.
Thank you
David Kerns
AgPro Grant Program – Now Open– April 1, 2026
Corrie Bowen, County Extension Agent, Wharton County
During the 89th Texas Legislative Session, House Bill 43 was passed, creating the Texas Agricultural Grant Program. This program modifies the Young Farmer Grant Program to expand the program’s ability to support Texas agriculture. The Texas Agriculture Grant expands financial assistance programs under the Texas Agricultural Finance Authority.
What does the Texas Agriculture Grant Offer? It offers availability of low-interest loans and grants that will help more farmers and ranchers weather economic challenges and grow their operations. It also strengthens rural communities by supporting ag-related businesses that are essential to agriculture in our state.
Now that the rules have been written, we now know a little more about the Texas Agriculture Grant. The portion of the Texas Agriculture Grant that will provide financial assistance to agriculture producers who are engaged in creating or expanding an agricultural operation in Texas is referred to by TDA as The Agriculture Production Resource Opportunity (AgPRO). This program is intended to support agricultural producers across the state of Texas.
The Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA), on behalf of the Texas Agricultural Finance Authority (TAFA), is pleased to announce that the Agricultural Production Resource Opportunity (AgPro) Grant Program is now open for applications.
AgPro provides financial assistance to eligible agricultural producers to support the creation, expansion, and long-term sustainability of agricultural operations in Texas.
Application Timeline
- Application Opens: April 1, 2026
- Application Deadline: May 14, 2026 at 5:00 PM Central Time
Funding Overview
- Award amounts range from $5,000 to $500,000
- Grant Applications are competitive
- Cost share (match) is required and varies by award amount
- $100,000 or less: 10% match
- $100,000.01 – $250,000.00: 20% match
- $250,000.01 – $500,000.00: 30% match
- Funding is provided on a cost-reimbursement basis
Who May Apply
Eligible applicants must be agricultural producers directly engaged in production (such as farming, ranching, forestry, aquaculture, or nursery operations) and must be domiciled in Texas. Additional eligibility requirements apply and are detailed in the RFGA.
Applications must be submitted through TDA’s online grants system (TDA-GO). Applicants are encouraged to begin early to allow sufficient time to complete all required components.
Please note that applications must be fully submitted by the deadline. The system will automatically close at 5:00 PM CT, and late submissions cannot be accepted.
The full Request for Grant Applications (RFGA), including detailed eligibility, requirements, and evaluation criteria, is available on the TDA website.
If you have questions regarding this opportunity, please contact the TDA Grants Office at Grants@TexasAgriculture.gov or 833-380-8282.
Understanding the People Behind the Rice Fields
Switching gears, we are happy to have Dr. Gitta Pap on the newsletter this month to promote her portion of a project we are working on at Texas A&M AgriLife. Dr. Pap holds a doctorate in Urban and Regional Sciences (TAMU ’21) and Master’s of Arts in Environmental Planning (University of Georgia). She has a firm belief that the best approach to work with communities is to listen to the people who remained and fought for their settlements by seeking common understanding within the community first.
Since communities evolve with their land, they have strong ties and identify with their landscape. Representation of the will of communities and communicating/mapping their needs for decision-making entities is lacking under current pressures of urbanization. Disappearance of farmlands, loss of integrity of historic neighborhoods, and fast paced changes leave citizens unprepared to have a cohesive strategy, or to step up and into the planning process. Communities often lack knowledge of how to initiate change within the community and with the city/administrative body. More often than not “progress” can overwhelm a community with character and roots.
Texas Rice Research: Your Voice, Your Future
Progress has been defined in many ways. But what does it mean in Rice Country? Should it respect history, culture, and ways of life?
When we think about farming, we often think about crops, water, equipment, and markets. But there is another important part: farmers. Farmers are part of families and communities, and they are closely connected to the land.
Why does this matter?
Over time, the rice industry helped build small settlements that grew into strong communities and cities. Rice farmers have shaped the land for generations.
Today, farmers face many challenges, including:
- Growing cities
- Loss of farmland
- Drought and pests
- Population growth
- A loss of connection to the land
Responding with research: A new project focusing on people and rice improvement
Our research project aims to improve rice farming while protecting natural resources, especially water. It uses science and real farming experience to find better ways to grow rice without lowering how much farmers produce or earn. Just as important, the project focuses on people. It looks at how farming decisions affect families, communities, and local jobs. Farmers, leaders, and experts work together to find real solutions. Rice farming is changing in complex ways. This project makes sure farmers are part of the conversation—and part of the solution.
What Are Researchers Doing?
Researchers in this project are:
- Studying smarter water practices, like alternate wetting and drying
- Exploring ways to reduce methane and improve soil and crop health
- Working directly with farmers to test what works best in real conditions
Just as important, they are listening—learning what farmers need and what challenges they face. This work focuses on real solutions that are practical, effective, and long-lasting, while also supporting strong communities and local economies.
Why Should You Get Involved?
This is your chance to move from being affected by change to helping lead it.
Agriculture is not just about growing crops—it is about building strong communities. Rice farming is more than a job—it is a way of life built on land, water, family, and tradition.
What you can do by getting involved
- Share your experiences and concerns
- Help guide research that affects your land and community
- Be part of decisions about land, water, and local economies
- Connect with others facing similar challenges
- Make sure farmers’ voices are heard in future policies
Your voice helps shape the future.
Become a part of the research project: Reaching out to Timsel27
Who is Timsel27?
Timsel27 LLC is an Aggie-owned (class of ’21) research consulting small business working with Texas A&M AgriLife.
They focus on the people side of agriculture by:
- Working directly with farmers and communities
- Gathering input and listen to concerns
- Studying how farming changes affect people and local economies
- Bringing people together to find solutions
- Turn community input into real action
They make sure this project reflects real experiences—not just data.
What are the benefits of getting involved?
When farmers take part, everyone benefits. This project aims to:
- Improve communication between farmers and decision-makers
- Support long-term success for rice farming communities
- Build a shared vision for the future
- Identify new innovative ways to incorporate ways of life (rice farming) in changing economic, social and urban landscapes
Learn more and join our upcoming events
We’ll be visiting dryers, mills, feed stores, farmers markets, and other local spots. Rice farming is built on hard work, tradition, and community. This research is your opportunity to help protect all three.
We will launch a survey, conduct interviews you can take part in, visit farms, and observe daily life in action. We will also announce joint stakeholder engagement events with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension researchers that you can take part in.
Participants needed
Texas Rice Growers & Community Stakeholders
Ethnographic Field Observation & Interview
Researchers from Texas A&M University and Timsel27 LLC, an approved independent research consulting business, are inviting rice growers and community stakeholders to participate in a research study about rice cultivation, water stewardship, and community experiences connected to Texas rice production.
Who Can Participate?
You may be eligible if you are:
- A rice grower or landowner
- A current or former producer or tenant
- A rice industry professional (miller, consultant, drier, etc.)
- A stakeholder involved in water or natural resources
- A community member with personal or family ties to rice farming
Participants must be 18 years or older.
What Participation Involves
- A one-on-one interview (about 45–90 minutes)
- Optional ethnographic field observation during normal
farming activities
Interviews may be conducted in person or online using
Microsoft Teams. No video recording or photography will be collected.
Your Choice
Participation is voluntary.
- You may skip any question
- You may stop at any time
- You decide what you are comfortable sharing
Privacy & Risk
This study is minimal risk. Identifying information will be
removed and data will be stored securely.
Compensation
There is no payment for participation.
Interested or Have Questions?
Dr. Margit Pap, Co-Principal Investigator
Timsel27 LLC
texasriceresearch@timsel27.com
Phone 979-286-3225
Dr. Jake Mowrer, Principal Investigator
Texas A&M University
Jake.mowrer@ag.tamu.edu
Phone: 979-321-5916
Questions About Your Rights as a Research Participant?
Texas A&M University Human
Research Protection Program (HRPP)
Phone: (979) 458-4067
irb@tamu.edu
This recruitment material has been approved by the Texas A&M University Human Research Protection Program
This material is based upon work supported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, under agreement
number NR247442XXXXG003. USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.
Learn more about rice Extension at the Texas A&M University Department of Soil and Crop Sciences
Sam Rustom, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor and Extension Agronomist
2963 FM 102, Eagle Lake, TX 77434
@samrustomjr
Educational programs of the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service are open to all people without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, sexual orientation, or gender identity.
The information given herein is for educational purposes only. Reference to commercial products or trade names is made with the understanding that no discrimination is intended and no endorsement by the Texas AgriLife Extension Service is implied.
