Horizon Ag Celebrated Elite Product Line At Arkansas Field Day
HARRISBURG, ARKANSAS
A major player in Rice Country celebrated its elite product line, industry partnerships and strong commitment to farmer success at its Arkansas Field Day in late summer.
The annual Horizon Ag event was held at the Northeast Rice Research & Extension Center in Harrisburg, Arkansas. It was a time for the rice seed company to put its best foot forward, as it reported on the performance of its Clearfield CLL16 and CLL18 brands, as well as newcomers CLL19 and Provisia variety PVL04.
Dr. Tim Walker, Horizon Ag CEO, spoke to MAFG about his excitement regarding the day’s events and the big crowd in attendance.
“To begin with, we are thrilled to be having our field day in this beautiful new facility,” he said. “It is a much-welcomed, much-needed addition to this area, which is focused on rice and its production. We’re also reminding our guests about Horizon Ag’s close relationship with the University of Arkansas, one that has brought about so much good for the rice community and our company.”
Over the years, Horizon Ag has had a strong partnership with land-grant universities in rice-growing states. As the exclusive seed marketer for university-developed Clearfield and Provisia rice varieties, it invests research dollars for variety development and defining best management practices for those varieties.
Walker spoke about the fact that during the field day, Horizon Ag had the opportunity to showcase the recent results of its relationship with the University of Arkansas.
“Two of the rice varieties we’re showcasing for those attending today are the result of the efforts of the University of Arkansas,” he said. “First is CLL18. It’s a very high-performing variety, and we’ve had tremendous success with it since it launched in 2023. It was the number one Clearfield long grain that we sold this year.”
Walker went on to add that CLL18 has had tremendous success in its home base of Arkansas, as well as in south Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri and Texas.
University of Arkansas rice breeder, Dr. Xueyan Sha, also developed Horizon Ag’s newest Provisia rice variety, PVL04.
“It was planted on approximately 20,000 acres in 2024,” said Walker. “We have been encouraged by early reports of its yield and weed control performance. It’s done very well.”
He emphasized the value of his company’s close connections to the top ag universities in Rice Country. “One thing I hope everyone attending today would take home is the fact that we’ve really doubled down on our partnerships,” he says. We’ve sent the message that we are here to make relationships and contribute to a positive synergy within the rice industry, creating a cooperative effort that will result in grower success over the long term.”
An example of that commitment is Horizon Ag’s sponsorship of a silo meeting room at the new Northeast Rice Research & Extension Center. “We wanted to have a visible sign of our support as we actively work with the team here on new seed advancements,” he said.
Horizon Ag also recently initiated a partnership with a breeding effort to develop new lines that will be suited for production throughout the South.
“We’ve initiated our own rice breeding program and have signed an agreement with LSU, and through this project, we’ve brought on board our first rice breeder – Dr. Maria Guadalupe Montiel,” he said. “A lot of universities have experienced cutbacks in their rice breeding research budgets. This was a chance for us to come alongside a university partner for the good of rice growers across the region.”
Looking ahead to the coming season and the challenges farmers face from lower commodity prices, many farmers are going to take a hard look at planting rice, as opposed to corn or soybeans, said Walker. But then he added a note of caution.
“Remember we’ve got a full winter see how things play out,” he said. “But we always look to take advantage of the opportunities out there. This past year, our seed sales were up 20% compared to 2023. There were shortages of rice seed in many areas, but our annual production always allows us the opportunity to expand beyond our loyal customer base to meet the needs of new farmer-customers.”
Asked why growers should do business with Horizon Ag, he said, “Number One: We are a reliable supplier. You don’t have to wait right up until planting time to know if you’ll have a seed supply with us. Number Two: Our current varieties have greater and more stable performance across a wide array of geographic and climatic environments. CLL16 is a good example. It has been planted in several different environments, and it’s consistently hung in there and performed exceptionally well.
THE VIEW FROM THE FIELD
When farmers step up and volunteer why they think your company is a pretty good bet to do business with, it’s worth hearing what they have to say.
Darren Walker (no relation to the CEO) is from the Grand Prairie region in Arkansas. He and his wife, two sons and a daughter live on the farm he manages. Most everyone works on the farm, whether in the field or doing paperwork. He knows it well; he grew up on that farm when his dad worked it decades ago. He spoke to MAFG at the Horizon Ag Field Day and told us that farming is not a job…it’s a life.
He begins: “Dad worked for the owners. Since I could walk, I’ve been in rice fields. I’m a rice farmer forced to grow corn and soybeans,” he says with a grin.
He got his degree in agronomy at Arkansas State University and was a crop consultant for over two years. And then he went back home and eventually took over the “family farm.” “Our rice operation is totally seed production. Everything we grow is seed rice. And I feel we’ve had a good year,” he said.
And they grow Horizon Ag rice. Darren went on to say, “We’ve got a good history with Horizon. They’ve cleaned up our ground, we like them,” he said, adding “We’ve got a motto, we’re clean and let’s stay clean. And we get up to 208 bushels an acre with Horizon CLL18. It’s an extraordinary yield.”
Darren talked about his early days in farm management. “When I started, the seed business was a small part of our operation. For the last two or three years, rice seed production has been at the top of the operation. I grew up with rice, I love the rice industry. It’s had its issues, but I think it’s back on the right track.”
He recalls how he became a Horizon Ag believer. “I went into this at first with a personal agenda. I was going to use Horizon Ag Clearfield varieties to clean up my fields, and then look at going with another company. As time went on, we expanded the farm and our use of Horizon varieties. As I sit here now, Horizon Ag’s Clearfield lines (CLL16 and CLL18) have been my top yielders for three years. The question now is: How do I not go 100% Horizon Ag?” he wondered, smiling.
LEADING WITH CONFIDENCE
The competition for rice acres is fierce. You must get out there and explain to rice farmers why they should do business with you.
If you ask Dr. Walker why Horizon Ag should get the business of U.S. rice growers, he doesn’t miss a beat.
“Our varieties have tremendous vigor, early season,” he said. “It’s good for farmers to go out there, plant their seed and have confidence that whether cool or wet, they can have a stand of rice that will set the bar for a high-performing crop. And they can do that cost-effectively. When you look at some of the other options out there, especially when the farm economy is difficult like now, farmers can be confident when they grow Horizon Ag.”
Enough said. ∆
HORIZON AG