Row Rice Requires Farmer Vigilence
Dr. Michael Aide, chairman of the Department of Agriculture at Southeast
Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau, Mo., explained how furrow
irrigated and row rice are beneficial to saving water.
Photo by John LaRose Jr.
BETTY VALLE GEGG-NAEGER
MidAmerica Farmer Grower
MALDEN, MO.
Dr. Michael Aide, chairman of the Department of Agriculture at Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau, Mo., gave the opening statement at the recent rice meeting in Malden, Mo.
“The greatness about furrow irrigated rice, or row rice, is it uses less water,” he said. “Places in Arkansas are having water issues so it’s a perfect fit there. We have now moved row rice research to the state where the yields are comparable to the delay flood traditional systems. We have also found that we have virtually eliminated any arsenic uptake with no other ill side effects.”
Furrow irrigated rice requires that the farmer must maintain a good vigilance on the water supply down those furrows. denitrification of the nitrogen can happen, and weeds can sprout up, because water is great in spurring growth. However, furrow irrigated rice produces comparable yields and the system is an exciting new practice that improves farmers’ profitability.
Presentations about new herbicides that can control new weeds like umbrella sedge were given. The University of Missouri Delta Center has an extensive program on weed science, and new varieties are being developed. There’s good news around the corner for rice growers.
“We’re seeing trade opening up with Cuba and other countries. The US Rice Producers are trying to maintain market share in rice across the Caribbean, which will be more difficult with the emergence of Thailand and Vietnamese rice into the western hemisphere. So there are challenges but there’s also a great future ahead.” ∆
BETTY VALLE GEGG-NAEGER: Senior Staff Writer, MidAmerica Farmer Grower