Rice Extension Agronomy Newsletter, May 2026

Sam Rustom, Ph.D. // Connor Webster, Ph.D.

USDA-WASDE (April and May)

Last month’s USDA World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report  (released April 9) projected a bearish outlook for 2026 with steady supplies, lower domestic use, reduced exports, and higher ending stocks. This is largely driven by weaker demand and slow shipments, especially in Western Hemisphere markets. The report also suggests long-grain rice prices will be slightly reduced, reflecting oversupply conditions and sluggish market activity. However, in the weeks following the April 9 WASDE report, we saw a slight increase in rough rice futures trading, from $10.91/cwt on April 9 to $12.17/cwt on May 7.

Similar trends are suggested in the most recent USDA-WASDE report, released on May 12. The U.S. rice outlook for 2026/27 projects lower supplies, exports, domestic use, and ending stocks compared with 2025/26. The good news is a meaningful increase in the season-average farm price, now projected at $13.50 per cwt for 2026/27, versus $12.20 per cwt in 2025/26. These developments stem largely from higher global fertilizer costs and tightening world stocks, driven by reduced global production, with India posting the largest decline worldwide. Although rice futures have trended upwards in recent weeks, offering some relief for producers, prices still have room to climb before returning to more typical, long-term levels.

Planting and Crop Progress

The latest USDA Crop Progress Report, published May 11,  has Texas rice at 95% planted, slightly higher than previous 5-year average of 92%. For all intents and purposes, we are done planting rice in the state. After speaking with growers, consultants, and industry representatives from across the Texas rice belt, I personally estimate that we are around 99% planted for the year as of May 12. The report also pegs Texas rice at 84% emerged, but I would estimate that number is closer to 90%+.

Aside from a light frost in mid-March, it was a great month for most of our rice producers in Texas. April has been a different story, especially at the David R. Wintermann Rice Research Station in Eagle Lake and on the Garwood prairie. Luckily, we got all of our agronomic trials, where yield and milling are critical data points, planted in March. However, planting our weed trials that we save for late-March or early-April has been a challenge due to much higher-than-average rainfall. We were near a foot of rain in the month of April at the station. In Nada, where we intend to plant several weed management trials, it rained over a foot from April 1 through the first week of May and remained under water for a large portion of the month.

Most of the rice in the state has surpassed the tillering growth stages, with most approaching green ring or panicle initiation. Some rice around the state is at panicle differentiation, some is even in the boot stage. Thus, most of the rice in the state is flooded, or will be very soon.

Given the amount of rain we are receiving in some areas, I would encourage growers to consider using a urease inhibitor coated on their preflood urea in areas where they may be applying in muddy conditions, especially when it might take several days to get fields flooded. Urease inhibitors, like Agrotain, help mitigate nitrogen loss under muddy conditions. These products also work to mitigate losses in dry fields where flooding might be delayed. As much as nitrogen costs this year, we are going to want to mitigate nitrogen losses as much as possible.

Rice Flatsedge

Rice flatsedge (Cyperus iria), also known as annual sedge, is climbing the ladder with regard to the most difficult to control weeds in Texas rice. Historically, we have controlled this weed using ALS-inhibiting herbicides like Permit (halosulfuron), League (imazosulfuron), Regiment (bispyribac), and Grasp (penoxsulam). Unfortunately, ALS-herbicide resistant rice flatsedge populations are on the rise in Texas, so prepare to make adjustments if your usual herbicides are not working.

Alternative modes of action will be necessary to control these ALS-resistant rice flatsedge populations. Here’s what I recommend:

Loyant (florpyrauxifen-benzyl) applied at 12-16 fluid ounces per acre plus methylated seed oil at 0.5 pints per acre:

• Floypyrauxifen-benzyl is a slow-acting herbicide on this particular weed that uses auxin mimicry at the growing point. In days to weeks following application, rice flatsedge stems will often snap or break near the soil line.
• Has to undergo enzymatic hydrolysis to be active; thus, the more available soil moisture, the better it will work
• Great option when alligatoweed (Alternanthera philoxeroides) is present. Oftentimes, these wetland plants will be in fields together during wet years like 2026.

Basagran (bentazon) applied at 1.5 to 2.5 pints per acre plus crop oil concentrate at 1% volume/volume:

• Bentazon is a Photosystem II inhibiting herbicide with activity only where it makes contact with the plant, so make sure to use appropriate nozzles and carrier volumes (10-15+ GPA) to maximize coverage.
• For best results, apply when rice flatsedge is no greater than 4 to 5 inches tall.
• Add propanil to the tank at 3 to 4 quarts per acre for increased activity, especially in severe cases.

Rogue SC (benzobicyclon) applied at 10 to 12.6 ounces per acre plus methylated seed oil at 1% volume/volume:

• Only works under flooded conditions.  Apply to fields with a 3-5 inch static permanent flood established. The longer the flood is held, the better the herbicide will perform.
• Avoid adding water to fields for at least 5 days without losing the flood. Apply right after fields have been “topped off”.
• Also works great on Amazon sprangletop (Leptochloa paniciodes).
• Cannot be applied within 10 months of chicken litter application.

Bolero (thiobencarb) applied at 4 pints per acre prior to rice flatsedge emergence:

• Good option in fields with a known history of rice flatsedge issues.
• Works best applied prior to weed emergence.
• Must be applied after rice has germinated at the delayed preemergence timing or later.
• RiceBeaux (propanil plus thiobencarb) is another solid option, especially in a sequential application program with Basagran.

Rice Flatsedge vs Yellow Nutsedge

Rice flatsedge (Cyperus iria) and yellow nutsedge (Cyperus esculentus) are both members of the Cyperaceae family that are the two most common sedges that interfere with Texas rice. More times than not, you will find both occurring in the same rice fields. Sometimes, identifying them can be challenging for the untrained eye. Here is a link  to a University of Arkansas Research and Extension publication highlighting the different sedges they encounter in rice. Note that the management information is a little dated, but the background information, identification, and photos are great.  

Table 1. Summary of the most common identifying characteristics to distinguish rice flatsedge from yellow nutsedge in the field.

Phenotypic Trait	Rice Flatsedge (Cyperus iria)	Yellow Nutsedge (Cyperus esculentus)
Life Cycle	Annual	Perennial
Growth Habit in Fields	Very dense populations	Solitary to moderately dense
Root system/Reproduction	Fibrous roots only, no tubers or rhizomes, reproduces from seed	Produces underground rhizomes and tubers
Seedling Stems	Thinner, low vigor compared with other sedges	Thicker, more vigorous
Seedling Leaves	Narrow leaves, less vigorous	Broader leaves, taper gradually from base to sharp point at tip
Mature Leaves	Narrower, flat leaves; rough on margins	Shiny, yellow-green, V-shaped in cross section
Leaf Aroma When Crushed	Strong cedar aroma when the base of the plant is crushed	No distinctive aroma
Inflorescence/Seed Heads	Narrower and shorter, greenish yellow to brown	Loose, long-branched, yellow to golden brown
Typical Height	2-24 inches	8-30 inches

Managing Injury and Weed Control in ACCase-resistant Rice

Dr. Connor Webster, Louisiana State University Agricultural Center

As ACCase-resistant varieties (Provisia^®) and hybrids (Max-Ace^®) continue to improve, so does the adoption rate of these technologies. Provisia and later Max-Ace adoption in south Louisiana occurred earlier than neighboring states due to our red rice pressure. This has allowed us to work out some of the kinks in these systems, and hopefully I can share some insights to minimize mistakes.

Although both technologies are ACCase-resistant and quizalofop is labelled for use in both, there are differences in these technologies. The biggest difference is their tolerance to quizalofop, with Provisia having a higher level of tolerance to quizalofop than Max-Ace does. For this reason, Highcard, the herbicide labelled for use in Max-Ace rice, is formulated with a safener for crop safety. Not only is it illegal to apply any other form of quizalofop than Highcard to Max-Ace rice, but you also run the risk of severe injury and in some cases total losses as seen in photo 1.

Injury has always been a concern with both technologies and probably always will be. Even though we have seen better tolerance as newer lines are developed, there is always a chance for injury with these technologies. I can’t stress enough how important the environmental conditions are when spraying either Provisia or Max-Ace rice. The rice needs to be actively growing to metabolize the quizalofop to reduce crop injury. Last year I wrote an article in Sam’s newsletter in April (Issue #4) where I discussed in detail some of the research that my program has conducted regarding overcast weather and Provisia applications. If you are interested in the details of that study, you can always refer to that newsletter.

The main takeaway was that we observed injury with overcast weather simulated before and after a Provisia application, but it was slightly more severe with overcast weather after the application. Through personal observations, I think sunlight is more important than temperature when it comes to minimizing injury in Provisia and Max-Ace rice but overcast weather and cold temperatures can be compounding conditions. I have observed minimal crop response during cold stretches if we have had good sunlight. In addition to monitoring weather forecasts, reducing your Provisia rate to 10 oz/A from 15.5 oz/A has proven successful in reducing crop injury in Provisia rice. However, due to the safener in Highcard I do not recommend going lower than 13 oz/A for the purposes of weed control.

Although the safener in Highcard does help with crop injury in Max-Ace rice, it can cause issues with weed control. Timing is critical in the Max-Ace system when it comes to grass control whether that’s barnyardgrass or red rice. In previous studies targeting multiple grass sizes with Highcard I observed a 60% reduction in control of barnyardgrass and red rice when I treated 1-2 tiller grasses (Photo 2) compared to 2-3 leaf grasses (Picture 3). For successful grass control in the Max-Ace system, timing is critical and Highcard needs to be used before grasses begin tillering for optimal control. Moisture is also key when it comes to the activity of quizalofop as well as all other ACCase inhibiting herbicides. Some ACCase inhibitors, such as Clincher, are more reliant on soil moisture/flooded conditions, but moisture is still important for Provisia and Highcard. They do not necessarily require a flood like Clincher.

One other weed to watch out for with Highcard is fall panicum. I have received numerous reports of Highcard failures for the control of fall panicum over the past couple of years. Fall panicum is already a very difficult grass to control and when you throw a safener in the mix it becomes even more difficult. If you know you have a history of fall panicum and are planning to use the Max-Ace system, be sure to be aggressive up front with residual herbicides such as Command and Prowl. In some cases, you may need to resort to other herbicide options for the control of fall panicum in Max-Ace rice.

While we are on the topic of weed control, don’t forget about antagonism when mixing other herbicides with either Provisia or Highcard. Do not mix either herbicide with Stam, 2,4-D, Regiment, Grasp, or Grandstand. If you are mixing an approved mixture partner (see respective labels) only mix when targeting small grasses. As grass increases in size so does your chance of antagonism.

Dr. Don Renchie

We are saddened to hear of the passing of Dr. Don Renchie, Professor, Extension Program Leader, and Pesticide Safety Education Program Coordinator in College Station. Renchie served AgriLife Extension for over 32 years, where he became widely recognized across Texas and nationally for his leadership in pesticide safety education, licensing, and regulatory training. For the Texas rice farmer, Dr. Renchie played a critical role in pursuing the Section 18 Emergency Use Exemption for Courier Insect Growth Regulator in Texas. He will be missed dearly.

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.