Managing Horizon Ag Elite Varieties for High-Yield Potential

As we start moving into planting time in Louisiana and Texas, we want to always be a good seed partner and provide you the latest information and management recommendations we’ve learned to maximize the performance potential of high-yielding Horizon Ag varieties. 

For example, CLL17, a high-yielding, semi-dwarf Clearfield® variety developed by the LSU AgCenter has gone out on a lot of acres in South Louisiana since its commercial launch in 2021. Although it has performed well in many fields since that time, it’s a variety that needs to be managed appropriately to ensure it can achieve its full potential.

In some instances, there have been reports of issues with yield stability with CLL17. Since its launch, we have learned that this variety has very high, top-end yield potential when planted in the earliest part of the planting window (Mid-February to Late March) in that region. 

Additionally, this variety is extremely efficient in utilizing nitrogen (N) for grain yield. In other words, less applied N is needed to achieve similar yield potential as other varieties, which can be a big advantage with high fertilizer prices. Our recommendation is to apply 90-135 lb of N per acre, depending on soil type and field history of lodging. When higher N rates are used, the variety is susceptible to lodging.

Finally, sheath blight will limit yield potential on CLL17 more than some other popular varieties that are grown. Two fungicide applications with high carrier volume may be needed if sheath blight is present and conditions promote development.

CLL17 has very high yield potential and is very early in maturity.  It is still a good choice to lead the season off, but it is important to know and manage for its limitations. 

PVL03 also has performed the best from a yield standpoint when planted earlier in the season. In 2022, PVL03 rice that wasn’t ready to harvest prior to the set-in of daily rains, suffered in some cases substantial yield loss due to Cercospora on the stems of the rice plants. Much conversation has been had in the winter meetings and as we approach the timing for fungicide applications, you’ll hear more from Horizon Ag about rates and application timings of propiconazole for protection against Cercospora.

However, in addition to fungicides, potassium must be supplied according to soil test recommendations. In years where fertilizer prices are high, the tendency is to cut costs and sometimes P and K fertilizers are reduced or omitted. Cutting plant nutrition usually costs more in the long run than the amount of dollars saved. For all varieties, make sure soil analyses are up to date and recommendations followed.

Overall, though, farmers report PVL03 has proven to have excellent yield potential, milling and grain appearance. It is the highest yielding of the Provisia® varieties and is very competitive with Clearfield and conventional varieties.

CLL16 is another elite Clearfield variety offered by Horizon Ag that has picked up more and more acreage since its launch in 2021. This variety is later in maturity than CLL17, but its yield is much more stable in the Coastal region’s later planting windows of April and May, where a single crop with high yields is important. CLL16 also produces good stubble for crawfish production.

Horizon Ag has created a mobile app that will be a valuable resource for rice farmers as you begin planning for variety selection and planting. 

The Horizon Ag Productivity App provides easy access to seeding rate information, a drill calibration tool and other decision-making features for 2023 Horizon Ag Clearfield and Provisia varieties. This app also makes it easy to connect with retailers in your area who sell top-performing Horizon Ag varieties.

The app is available by searching “Horizon Ag” in the App Store or Google Play.

Best Management Practices for Provisia Rice

The Provisia® Rice System with Horizon Ag PVL03 is expected to go out on significantly more acres in 2023 throughout the southern rice production region, based on comments and farmer engagement at the recent 26th annual National Conservation Systems Cotton & Rice Conference in Baton Rouge.

That means it is more important than ever to learn from early mistakes made with the system that contributed to instances of weedy rice outcrosses and to implement recommended Best Management Practices (BMPs) to better steward the technology.

Dr. Ronnie Levy, LSU AgCenter Rice Specialist, told conference attendees that PVL03 acres will likely double in Louisiana alone this season after the strong performance of the variety and Provisia technology in 2022, producing good yields and quality while enabling many farmers to begin to control weedy rice.

At the same time, after about 15 instances of outcrosses to the ACCase inhibitor herbicide system were confirmed in 2022, the threat of resistance is a serious concern, spurring industry leaders, consultants and farmers to gather around a common cause — using proven management practices to help keep the technology viable for as many seasons as possible.

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Dr. Tim Walker, Horizon Ag general manager, led discussions with farmers and consultants from South Louisiana and the North Delta sharing their experiences with Provisia and PVL03.
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The Provisia Working Group, made up of representatives from Horizon Ag, BASF, rice industry dealers and distributors, and Louisiana State University AgCenter research and extension faculty, met last fall to refine BMPs for the system. Since then, its recommendations have been broadly communicated to farmers and consultants in agricultural meetings across the region. Those BMPs were the topic of two packed panel sessions during the recent Conservation Systems conference, with participants sharing early experiences with Provisia and recommendations moving forward.

“When we were first alerted to the issue and confirmed the outcrosses, our approach was to hit it head on, not stick our heads in the sand,” said Dr. Tim Walker, Horizon Ag general manager. “This is a great technology. It is, right now, the only technology we have to combat the weedy rice problem that is a huge issue in many areas. That’s why such a broad spectrum of industry and university representatives, even competitors, came together quickly to address the issue. The goal is to minimize the development of outcrossing so we can prolong the effectiveness of the Provisia Rice System as long as we can.” 

Dr. Connor Webster, LSU AgCenter weed scientist and one of the panelists at the conference, said the development of outcrosses to the technology in some fields after only five seasons of availability wasn’t necessarily a surprise, based on some of the initial application practices.  

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Panel participants included Dr. Connor Webster, LSU Agcenter; Dr. Brad Guice, BASF; BD Fontenot, Nutrien Ag Solutions; and Michael Fruge, Louisiana rice farmer.
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“The biggest issue is people using Provisia as a silver bullet for grass control and kicking residuals out of their program,” said Dr. Webster. “We need to still be using residual herbicides. Provisia is very effective, but farmers should be using Provisia herbicide to control weedy rice or red rice and using residuals to get ahead of other grass and broadleaf weeds.”

That thought was echoed by BD Fontenot, a crop consultant with Nutrien Ag Solutions in Elton, Louisiana. “Some of the problems we had in South Louisiana last year were brought on when we could not get coverage because there were too many weeds in the field,” said Fontenot. “Farmers assumed that Provisia herbicide was a magic grass product that would take care of everything. The better way to approach it is to treat it like we would any other rice. Start with a clean seed bed. Spray when weeds are small and actively growing, and then overlap with residual herbicides. That way, you are able to target the undesirable rice with Provisia. If other weed complexes are in the field, you are not going to get coverage, and you are going to have escapes.”

Dr. Webster noted that farmers should let the size and population of weedy rice dictate follow- up applications. Rather than relying on a strict calendar day schedule between sprays, there needs to be a sufficient amount of weedy rice or red rice present when making the second and third Provisia applications. Knowing the history of the infestation in a particular field is beneficial when making decisions about follow-up applications.

He also recommended using higher carrier volumes of 10-15 GPA by ground and by air to ensure good Provisia contact and coverage and only tank mixing when weedy rice and grasses are small.

Use recommended residual herbicides.
Command®, Prowl® and Facet® herbicides with grass activity control grass so that maximum coverage can occur with Provisia herbicide onto the weedy rice. Using residual herbicides for broadleaf activity PRE or DPRE (Sharpen®, Prowl, Facet, or Gambit® herbicides) will also reduce the need to tank mix with the Provisia herbicide.


Be cautious of tank mixing herbicides that might lead to antagonism with your Provisia application.
Make at least one application of Provisia herbicide alone or two applications alone in a three-pass system. The size and population of weedy rice should always dictate follow-up applications.


Know which herbicides to mix and which not to mix.
ALS-inhibiting herbicides can antagonize Provisia herbicide, although a second Provisia herbicide application 28 days after initial treatment can overcome much of the antagonism. Grasp® and Regiment® herbicides should be avoided for a tank mix, while sulfonylurea herbicides are better choices. For contact herbicides, Stam® herbicide severely antagonized Provisia herbicide activity, so propanil mixtures should be avoided. Basagran® and Sharpen herbicides antagonized Provisia herbicide activity at 14 days after treatment but were not antagonistic at 28 days.


Be diligent and clean fields up late-season.
If weedy rice is present, it needs to be taken out. This may mean using late-season herbicide applications, roguing or spot spraying.


Consider crop rotation for success with Provisia rice.
Do not plant in the year following Clearfield® rice or where an imidazolinone herbicide was used the previous year due to the risk of carryover damage from the herbicide. Do not plant Provisia rice after Provisia rice in the same field.


Be aggressive in fallow ground and soybeans.
Use tillage and Roundup® herbicide with residuals to increase the time between applications.

BASF has developed a Technical Bulletin with specific recommendations for managing Provisia herbicide. These include:


Use only Provisia herbicide over the top of Provisia rice.


Start clean, with burndown and/or tillage.


Let the size and population of weedy rice dictate follow-up applications.


Use residuals like grass and broadleaf herbicides for broad-spectrum control.


Do not mix Provisia herbicide with herbicides that have the potential to be antagonistic.


Apply to actively growing grasses, red rice and volunteer rice.


Make at least two (but no more than three) Provisia herbicide applications no later than panicle initiation.


Use proper carrier volumes of 10–15 GPA by ground and by air.


Don’t allow Provisia rice to go to seed in crawfish production.


Don’t allow Provisia rice to go to seed in a non-rice year, including fallow or crawfish fields.


Control weedy rice and red rice at pond edges with glyphosate or other chemical or cultural methods.


Avoid using Provisia rice for green rice/crawfish forage production.

Missouri Farmer Feels Best Thing He Can Leave On Farm Is Footprint

New Article

Tanner Seed Farms in Southeast Missouri is at the north end of the Mississippi Delta.

   “We farm approximately 7,000 acres of soybeans, rice, and popcorn,” said Zach Tanner. “Our family started producing seed in the ‘70s and popcorn in the ‘80s.  We specialize in parent seed production.  We also are certified seed producers for various seed companies including Horizon Ag and different universities. We produce new varieties and get to see these varieties at an early stage. 

  "We grew the Provisia PVLO3, Clearfield CLL18 and CLL16 for Horizon Ag this year.  They all have good yields and great milling quality. We had a really low seed rate with PVLO3 in 2021 because we were trying to increase this new variety. We had a really good yield considering the seed rate. Our CLL16 is one of our go to varieties for any additional acreage we have because it yields so consistently well.

   “We are blessed to have all our farm irrigated. This year from late May through early August we didn’t receive any rain. Our entire crop was brought to fruition with irrigation.  Most of our rice is paddy rice, but we do grow some furrow irrigated rice. The CLL16 does lend itself extremely well to the furrow irrigated rice.  We currently use moisture sensors on some farms that are scattered so we can get a handle on our current soil moisture. We are about two-third diesel and one-third electric on our energy source on our power units. We have an excellent crew and we are very thankful for that.  We could not farm and keep all our pumps going without them.

   “My family has a small popcorn business, Fancy Farm Popcorn Co, and we produce popcorn for them. We have a facility that processes and packages the popcorn. We’re SQF 2 rated with a 99 out of 100 score, just a really nice clean small popcorn company. We produce soybean seed for various companies, primarily for Local Seed Company. We produce Group IV soybeans and we try to focus on indeterminate Group IVs that are excluders. 

   “We do all the scouting ourselves. I feel the best thing a farmer can apply to his field is a footprint. We look at every field every couple of days. We have started using drones this last year. My son, Zachary, in particular has used a drone just to speed things up. We can see if the irrigation has ran through, if there is a break, or if we need to start a rice well. The drone can go to the far end of the field really quick. We also just started using a drone service that does a custom spray application in our test plots.

   “My wife, Beckie, and I have three children, Zachary, Kayli, and Luke. Beckie does the accounting and our sons work with me on the farm. Kayli is currently working on her master’s degree in speech pathology. Working with family is a blessing and a challenge.

   “I don’t always handle it properly, but I’m trying,” he said with a chuckle.

   “Horizon Ag has always been focused on high quality seed. With the right seed rate, varietal yields can be as good as hybrid. Between the quality, the ease on equipment and the yields, I think a farmer might be making a mistake by not trying these new Clearfield varieties,” he summed. ∆

BETTY VALLEY-GEGG NAEGER: MidAmerica Farmer Senior Staff Writer

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(From left to right) Zachary, Zach and Luke. Not pictured is Beckie and daughter Kayli

As Louisiana rice farmers take stock of 2022 variety performance and start planning for 2023, there are a lot of reasons to consider elite-performing varieties from Horizon Ag, from outstanding yield potential to grain quality and return on investment. The following are five important reasons to consider Horizon Ag varieties for your farm.

Top-Performing Horizon Ag Varieties for 2023 Season

With two out of the top three rice lines planted in Louisiana in 2022, Horizon Ag varieties continue to be a staple for rice farmers in the state looking for elite genetics that provide higher yield potential, desirable quality, preferred agronomics and overall consistent performance.

Horizon Ag Provisiaâ variety PVL03 was the most planted rice seed line in 2022 in Louisiana, going on 19% of the state’s rice acreage, according to the recently released 2023 Louisiana Rice Research Board Annual Report. Clearfieldâ variety CLL17 was a close third, with 10 percent of the state’s rice acreage. 

Those percentages could climb even higher in 2023, with the Provisia Rice System proving to be the superior ACCase inhibitor herbicide system available and PVL03 performing very well in its first year of full commercial availability.

“We’ve heard from farmers across South Louisiana who said that PVL03 did what it needed to do, in terms of high yields, and actually exceeded expectations by providing good milling quality in a year where millings, in general, were erratic,” says Dr. Tim Walker, Horizon Ag general manager. “PVL03 is the Provisia variety many in the industry had been waiting for, and it was planted on a lot of acres this past year. The proof of its value is in the results farmers saw in their fields. For that reason, it is already proving to be in strong demand for 2023.”

Although there is another ACCase inhibitor herbicide system available for rice, it is important to understand it is not the same as the Provisia Rice System.

“PVL03 has good tolerance of Provisia herbicide, and the herbicide doesn’t need a safener,” says Dr. Walker. “It’s the best system available today for weedy rice. Farmers have heard all the stories out there about performance and issues with other technologies. The bottom line is we can’t afford to be safe on weeds.”

The 2023 Louisiana Rice Varieties and Management Tips publication describes PVL03 as a long grain variety with excellent yield potential, milling and grain appearance. The grain length is greater than 7 millimeters. It is the highest yielding of the Provisia varieties and is very competitive with Clearfield and conventional varieties. It offers a significant improvement in disease resistance compared to PVL01 and PVL02. PVL03 contains the Pita gene that confers resistance to the blast races common to the southern USA.   It also contains the CRSP2.1 gene and is resistant to narrow brown leaf spot but is susceptible to Cercospora infection on the stem, especially in later plantings. PVL03 is similar in height to PVL01 and CL153 and has a similar maturity to Mermentau and CL153.

Other top-performing Horizon Ag lines from the 2023 Louisiana Rice Varieties and Management Tips that continue to generate interest include:

CLL16: A long grain, Clearfield rice variety with excellent yield potential and vigor. CLL16 is a few inches taller than typical Clearfield varieties but is rated moderately resistant to lodging. Milling yields are observed to be lower than other Clearfield varieties. CLL16 contains the Pita blast resistance gene and is rated moderately resistant to blast. It also contains the CRSP2.1 gene and is resistant to narrow brown leaf spot and moderately susceptible to Cercospora infection on the stem. It is moderately susceptible to sheath blight and bacterial panicle blight. 



CLL17: An early, long-grain, Clearfield rice variety with excellent yield potential and vigor. It is a couple of inches taller and one to two days earlier than CL153. CLL17 should be planted early, as yields can decrease when planted outside of the recommended planting window. It is susceptible to lodging, especially with higher nitrogen levels — Horizon Ag recommends  90-130 units of nitrogen. CLL17 contains the Pita blast resistance gene and is rated moderately resistant to blast. It also contains the CRSP2.1 gene and is resistant to narrow brown leaf spot and moderately susceptible to Cercospora infection on the stem. It is susceptible to sheath blight and moderately resistant to bacterial panicle blight.

CLJ01: A Clearfield, aromatic, long grain Jasmine type with low gel temp and low amylose. It has low chalk and very good milling. It is short, early maturing and offers good yield potential for a specialty variety. It is agronomically similar to CL153 and CL151. Moderately resistant to blast and Cercospora, moderately susceptible to sheath blight and susceptible to bacterial panicle blight. 

CLM04: A Clearfield, short-stature, medium grain rice variety with very good yield potential, having yielded comparably to Jupiter and CL272. The variety is 2 to 3 inches taller than Jupiter and has shown very good milling and grain quality. CLM04 is similar to Jupiter in days to 50% heading and is one week later than Titan.

In addition, proven performers like CL111, CL151 and CL153 are available for farmers who have years of experience successfully managing these mature lines in their fields. 

CLL18, a new, excellent-yielding variety from the University of Arkansas breeding program, will be offered in a very limited launch this season. Meanwhile, CLL19, a promising line developed by Dr. Adam Famoso at the LSU AgCenter, will be in seed increase this year ahead of a commercial launch planned in 2024.

“We’re excited to bring our strongest seed portfolio to date to Louisiana farmers in 2023,” says Dr. Walker. “More than ever, they need varieties they can count on for consistent performance while providing the weed control they need for outstanding yields and a better return on investment.” 

More information about Horizon Ag Clearfield and Provisia varieties is available at www.Horizonseed.com.

An Important Conference Invitation and Our 2023 Varieties Overview

Provisia Working Group Roundtable Sessions

You’re invited to the Provisia® Working Group Roundtable Sessions at the 2023 Conservation Systems Cotton & Rice Conference, where rice industry leaders, consultants and LSU AgCenter specialists will present “Best Management Practices to Prevent Weedy Rice Outcrosses Developing to the ACCase-Inhibiting Herbicide Technology.”

The Roundtable will be presented during two breakout sessions on Tuesday, Jan. 31, at the conference, which is being held this year at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

The first Roundtable Session is scheduled from 10:15 a.m.-11:01 a.m. and will be repeated from 4:50 p.m.- 5:36 p.m. Both sessions are in Meeting Room 5 at the conference.

After the Provisia Rice System experienced isolated instances of weedy rice outcrosses in some areas in South Louisiana, industry leaders, consultants and farmers formed the Provisia Working Group to develop strategies to steward and keep this important technology viable for years to come. “The Provisia Rice System is the only thing we have right now for controlling weedy rice that has outcrossed with Clearfield® rice,” says Dr. Connor Webster, weed scientist at the LSU AgCenter and a member of the Provisia Working Group.

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HorizonAg General Manager Tim Walker (left) and Louisiana rice grower Paul O. Johnson discuss the latest developments in rice seed offerings at the 2022 USA Rice Outlook Conferenc held in Austin, Texas Dec. 7-9. (Derek Albert, LSU AgCenter)
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Horizon Ag is committed to stewarding the Provisia Rice System because of the tremendous value it is bringing farmers. We hope to see you at the important industry event and at the Horizon Ag booth at the conference tradeshow.

Now that we’ve flipped the calendar page on last year, the countdown to 2023 planting is beginning in earnest. To that end, we want to provide the latest information and support to help you make the right rice seed selection for your farm based on real data and proven performance.

Early on, we’re seeing strong interest in elite Horizon Ag Clearfield and Provisia varieties like CLL16, CLL17 and PVL03, varieties that have stood out on many farms, providing high yield potential, superior milling quality and industry-leading disease packages.

A long grain, Clearfield rice variety with excellent yield potential and vigor.CLL16 is a few inches taller than typical Clearfield varieties but is rated moderately resistant to lodging. Milling yields are observed to be lower than other Clearfield varieties.

CLL16 contains the Pita blast resistance gene and is rated moderately resistant to blast. It also contains the CRSP2.1 gene and is resistant to narrow brown leaf spot and moderately susceptible to Cercospora infection on the stem. It is moderately susceptible to sheath blight and bacterial panicle blight.

An early, long grain, Clearfield rice variety with excellent yield potential and vigor. It is a couple of inches taller and one to two days earlier than CL153. CLL17 should be planted early, as yields can decrease when planted outside of the recommended planting window.

It is susceptible to lodging, especially with higher nitrogen levels —we recommend 90-130 units of nitrogen. CLL17 contains the Pita blast resistance gene and is rated moderately resistant to blast. It also contains the CRSP2.1 gene and is resistant to narrow brown leaf spot and moderately susceptible to Cercospora infection on the stem. It is susceptible to sheath blight and moderately resistant to bacterial panicle blight.

A long grain variety with excellent yield potential, milling and grain appearance. It’s the highest yielding Provisia variety and is very competitive with Clearfield and conventional varieties. It offers a significant improvement in disease resistance compared to PVL01 and PVL02. 

PVL03 contains the Pita gene that confers resistance to the blast races common to the southern USA. It also contains the CRSP2.1 gene and is resistant to narrow brown leaf spot but is susceptible to Cercospora infection on the stem, especially in later plantings. PVL03 is similar in height to PVL01 and CL153 and has a similar maturity to Mermentau and CL153.

In addition, proven performers like CL111, CL151 and CL153 are still available for those who have years of experience successfully managing these mature lines, as is CLM04, a short-stature, medium grain rice variety with very good yield potential, milling and grain quality. On the specialty rice side, there’s CLHA02, a high amylose, early-maturing semi-dwarf rice with IP potential, and CLJ01, an in-demand jasmine-type rice.

CLL18, a new, excellent-yielding variety from the University of Arkansas breeding program, will be offered in a very limited launch this season. Meanwhile, CLL19, a promising line developed at the LSU AgCenter, will be in seed increase this year ahead of a commercial launch planned in 2024.

For more information about these and other Horizon Ag varieties, see your Horizon Ag District Field Representative or seed retailer, or visit HorizonSeed.com.

We’ve also created a mobile app that will be a valuable resource as you begin planning variety selection and planting. 

The Horizon Ag Productivity App provides easy access to seeding rate information, a drill calibration tool and other decision-making features. The app also makes it easy to connect with retailers in your area who sell top-performing Horizon Ag varieties. The app is available by searching “Horizon Ag” in the App Store or Google Play.  

You’re invited to the Provisia® Working Group Roundtable Sessions at the 2023 Conservation Systems Cotton & Rice Conference, where rice industry leaders, consultants and LSU AgCenter specialists will present“Best Management Practices to Prevent Weedy Rice Outcrosses Developing to the ACCase-Inhibiting Herbicide Technology.”

Louisiana represented at 2022 USA Rice Outlook Conference

The state of Louisiana was well represented the 2022 USA Rice Outlook Conference

Derek Albert, LSU AgCenter | Jan 09, 2023

Tim Walker may not be from Louisiana, but he certainly has some vested interests in the Pelican State’s rice industry. As general manager of HorizonAg, his company has championed the Clearfield, then, subsequently, the Provisia systems that have proven to be vital to Louisiana’s rice industry. He touted these offerings from the HorizonAg display booth at the 2022 U.S.A. Rice Outlook Conference held Dec. 7-9.

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HorizonAg General Manager Tim Walker (left) and Louisiana rice grower Paul O. Johnson discuss the latest developments in rice seed offerimgs at the 2022 USA Rice Outlook Conferenc held in Austin, Texas Dec. 7-9. (Derek Albert, LSU AgCenter)
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The Outlook Conference is the premier national rice event that connect rice producers, millers, merchants, university and private-sector researchers and other industry professionals The wide array of regional rice industry representatives gathers to network, participate in educational programming, and plan for the coming crop year.

The annual event’s leading offering is the trade show which hosts dozens of agricultural companies and organizations who all have one goal—to help the U.S. rice industry prosper on a global scale.

Walker took the reins at HorizonAg in 2014 after 14 years working as a rice breeder and agronomist at Mississippi State University’s Delta Research and Extension Center in Stoneville, Miss. Since then, he has navigated one of the nation’s leading rice seed distributors through the release of multiple rice varieties developed by the LSU AgCenter, like CL153, CL272, CLJ01, CLL17 and the latest Provisia variety-- PVL03.

The COVID-19 pandemic had halted the Rice Outlook Conference for a brief period, so Walker says it is refreshing to have the event in-person again.

“Even though we met last year in New Orleans, I’m still hearing people say that they are enjoying being back together to renew old relationships face-to-face,” Walker said.

Walker was joined at the HorizonAg event booth by Scott McClure, senior vice president of the Brighton Agency—a St. Louis-based marketing firm that represents HorizonAg and other agricultural companies. McClure explained why the annual Rice Outlook Conference is important to the agricultural products provider.

“We think of the Rice Outlook Conference as the kickoff to the new season,” McClure said. “This is a chance for HorizonAg to talk about what’s new, in terms of new varieties—what’s standing out like (CLL)16 and PVL03 because of the concern over weedy rice.”

Walker, and HorizonAg representatives, joined in on the conference’s Rice Quality Symposium which McClure said HorizonAg has been a big part of this year.

“The Quality Symposium id important because of the need for U.S. rice to be more competitive globally,” McClure said. “Tim and HorizonAg have championed that.”

2922 was the launch year for the third Provisia variety offering, PVL03, that was developed at the LSU AgCenter’s H. Rouse Caffey Rice Research Station under the guidance of Rice Breeder Adam Famoso. Walker said this variety, which was planted on approximately 79,000 acres in Louisiana this year, has lived up to expectations in yields and grain quality.

“It did exactly what we wanted, or needed, it to do out in farmers’ fields this year,” Walker said. It is the new industry standard for the new ACC-ase technology. “That variety for South Louisiana is extremely hot and popular.”

Walker said Louisiana has attained the largest market share of HorizonAg’s rice product offerings. Louisiana rice producers planted roughly 140,000 acres of HorizonAg-distributed varieties in 2022.

“Louisiana is extremely important,” he said. “A lot of that is due to the support of South Louisiana acreage. Our varieties are very popular down there and have been since the release of the Clearfield varieties 20 years ago.”

The success of the HorizonAg varieties is due largely, in part to the LSU AgCenter, Walker explained. With the progression of the H. Rouse Caffey Rice Research Station’s Rice Breeding Program from Steve Linscombe to Adam Famoso, the AgCenter has provided the lion’s share of varieties to HorizonAg.

“Since the beginning of HorizonAg, well over 80% that we have marketed have been developed at the LSU AgCenter there in Crowley,” Walker said. “LSU (AgCenter) has always done a very good job at releasing varieties that have broad adaptability and seem to fit very closely to what the end users are using, as well.”

Conference attendees were able to hear the status of Louisiana’s rice industry from AgCenter Rice Specialist Ronnie Levy. He explained to the growers and industry professionals from across the nation how Louisiana’s 415,000 acres of rice planted this year fared amid a late-spring and early-summer drought and how producers struggled through a soggy late-August deluge that delayed harvests and injured grain quality.

“Last year, we had optimum growing conditions,” Levy recalled to the audience. “We had clear, sunny days. We had no rain, and the temperatures were not extreme at that time of year. We had tremendous early yields in rice, but then it started raining. It rained every day, or every other day, for about three weeks in Louisiana.”

Levy explained that the summer rains caused lodging and disease to proliferate among acres that were delayed in harvesting causing a yield loss of close to 20% across the industry. Even with those harvest time calamities, Levy said yields were “pretty good.”

“What we anticipated were going to be record yields weren’t quite record yields, but were good when looking at the overall state,” Levy said. “We had somewhere around 154.4 bushels, or 42.5 barrels (per acre).”

For the upcoming growing season—that starts with planting in mid- February--Levy said he expects an slight increase in acreage. He said there may possibly be an increase of about 15,000 acres for 2023, but that depends on prices—the prices of inputs and the market prices offered for other commodities, as well.

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Welsh, La. rice producer Paul O. Johnson was recognized for his work in the state’s rice and waterfowl enterprises at the Rice Outlook Conference with the 2022 U.S.A. Rice Farmer of the Year Award. (Derek Albert, LSU AgCenter)
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The conference’s awards luncheon, sponsored by HorizonAg and Rice farming magazine, gave special recognition to a couple Louisiana rice industry standouts. First, Welsh rice producer Paul Johnson was recognized as the 2022 U.S.A. Rice Farmer of the Year. He was recognized for his conservation efforts of hir rice farming operation as well as managing nearly 9,000 acres of waterfowl habitat.

“I really cannot imagine anything better than receiving an award and being recognized by your peers such as I am with this award,” Johnson told the audience in his acceptance speech. “I don’t think there’s a better commodity out there than rice. I enjoy being a rice farmer and just appreciate all the selflessness that each of you give to our industry.”

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On behalf of the Morehouse Parish-based Kennedy Rice Mill, Meryl Kennedy accepted the 2022 U.S.A. Rice Sustainability Award at the Rice Outlook Conference in Austin. This marks the second consecutive year a Louisiana organization has earned this accolade as the Powell Group of Lake Charles was recognized as the 2021 recipient. (Derek Albert, LSU AgCenter)
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Next, the 2022 U.S.A. Rice Sustainability award was presented to managers of the Kennedy Rice Mill. The company’s motto: “Our mission is to take a small grain and make a big difference, “was highlighted among the list of accolades earning the operation this award.

“Sustainability has been a journey and is a journey for all of us in this room,” said Meryl Kennedy in her acceptance speech on behalf of the Morehouse Parish company. “It’s really something we’ve been focusing on throughout the history of our company, but in recent years, we began to tell that story to our consumers…because consumers really care about the planet right now.”

Besides the dozens of Louisiana rice producers and millers in attendance at this year’s conference, other faces from Louisiana showed up to help represent the state’s rice industry. AgCenter rice breeders Adam Famoso and Brijesh Anjira attended to share the latest developments in the Rice Research Station’s Breeding Program. AgCenter Rice Agronomist Manoch Kongchum was on hand sharing his latest work in his study of greenhouse gases that are emitted during the growing season.

Michael Deliberto and Brian Hilbun, who represent the AgCenter’s Department of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness, were listening in closely to the conference’s general session where USDA Chief Economist Seth Meyers outlined economic trends that have shaped the industry markets in 2022.

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United States Department of Agriculture Chief Economist Seth Meyers shared the latest domestic and global rice market trends during the 2022 Rice Outlook Conference. (Derek Albert, LSU AgCenter)
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Local dignitaries such as International Rice Festival Queens Sadie Zaunbrecher and Kathryn Shea Duncan were on hand to introduce speakers and share the story of the Louisiana rice industry. Former LSU AgCenter Rice Specialist Steve Linscombe was an integral part of the conference as he hosted speakers and presentations on behalf of the Rice Foundation, which he oversees.

For the 2023 USA Rice Outlook Conference, Louisiana producers will have to travel a bit further to connect face-to-face with their national rice colleagues as the event is set for the same time next year in Palm Springs, Calif.

Walker tied together his opinion of the Louisiana rice industry with more than the ethereal market shares or rice seed volume figures that Louisiana rice producers are responsible for as they strive to improve their own operations. He explained that there is another component his company’s success in the industry throughout the state.

“The culture around rice in South Louisiana is second to none,” he said. “We certainly call a Louisiana rice farmer a friend, and we hope that they would say the same.”

Get 0% APR Financing From Horizon Ag

With rising interest rates significantly impacting borrowing costs, Southern rice growers can take advantage of 0% APR1,2 financing for their Horizon Ag rice seed and BASF crop protection purchases through partnerships with either John Deere Financial or Rabo AgriFinance for the 2023 crop. 

“These are the times, when interest rates and other costs are on the rise, that taking advantage of 0% financing can give farmers a significant edge when it comes to managing their finances and cash flow,” says Dr. Tim Walker, Horizon Ag general manager. “For years, Horizon Ag has worked with BASF to bring new technologies to market that give rice farmers more options, flexibility and opportunities to improve profitability. This season, we are again excited to work with both leading ag financing partners to provide options to help our customers be more successful.”

The interest rate offer is good for top performing Horizon Ag rice varieties, like CLL17, CLL17 and PVL03, as well as other proven performers in the Horizon Ag portfolio.

Both programs are available through September 30, 2023, with a maturity date of December 31, 2023. Contact your BASF Authorized Retailer or Horizon Ag Authorized Retailer for more information about these special offers.

Horizon Ag has created a mobile app that   will be a valuable resource for rice farmers as you begin planning for   variety selection and planting.  

The Horizon Ag Productivity App provides   easy access to seeding rate information, a drill calibration tool, a   calculator and other decision-making features for 2023 Horizon Ag Clearfield   and Provisia varieties. 

The app is available by   searching “Horizon Ag” in the App Store or Google Play.

If you have any questions about Horizon Ag   varieties, please contact your Horizon Ag District Field Representative or   rice seed retailer. Additional information for elite Clearfield and Provisia   varieties is available at HorizonSeed.com.

With rising interest rates significantly impacting borrowing costs, Southern rice growers can take advantage of 0% APR1,2 financing for their Horizon Ag rice seed and BASF crop protection purchases through partnerships with either John Deere Financial or Rabo AgriFinance for the 2023 crop. 

Five Reasons to Plant Horizon Ag Varieties in Louisiana in 2023

As Louisiana rice farmers take stock of 2022 variety performance and start planning for 2023, there are a lot of reasons to consider elite-performing varieties from Horizon Ag, from outstanding yield potential to grain quality and return on investment. The following are five important reasons to consider Horizon Ag varieties for your farm. 

1.     PVL03 in the Provisia® Rice System Is the Best Choice for Controlling Weedy Rice.

Coming off a strong performance year in 2022, PVL03 in the Provisia Rice System clearly stood apart from the other ACCase-inhibitor herbicide system available, showing better herbicide tolerance without a safener, better weedy rice control and better overall performance.

At last summer’s Horizon Ag Louisiana Field Day, LSU AgCenter weed scientist Dr. Connor Webster told attendees that the Max-Aceä system with Highcardä herbicide faced challenges. He noted that, unlike Provisia herbicide, Highcard herbicide has to have a safener since Max-Acre rice doesn’t have the same level of tolerance as Provisia rice. 

“Even with the safener, we are picking up a good bit of injury,” said Dr. Webster. “With a safener in the system, a big question early on was, ‘Is it going to safen on the weed spectrum?’ and the quick answer is yes, to some degree. In my plots, looking at 3, 6, 9, 12 and 15 ounces of Highcard on Max-Ace side-by-side with Provisia rice, the general number is about a 10% difference in control. I am having some misses with Highcard in my Max-Ace rice compared to my Provisia rice.”

“PVL03 has good tolerance of Provisia herbicide, and the herbicide doesn’t need a safener,” adds Dr. Tim Walker, Horizon Ag general manager. “It’s the best system available today for weedy rice. Farmers have heard all the stories out there this year about performance and issues with other technologies. The bottom line is we can’t afford to be safe on weeds.”

Overall, PVL03 was a standout variety in 2022 in terms of high yields and providing good milling quality. “PVL03 is the Provisia variety many in the industry were waiting for, and it was planted on a lot of acres this year,” says Dr. Walker. “All indications are it will be in strong demand in 2023.”

Horizon Ag elite Clearfield® variety CLL16 again showed why it has earned a place on a large acreage across the South, reinforcing its reputation as the “complete package” for yields, quality and consistent performance.

Among the comments about CLL16 from some of the farmers in Horizon Ag 2022 Demo Surveys: 

“(This was) my first time to use CLL16. I was very pleased with the stand. It tillered out well and grew out well. Weight at harvest was good, and I was pleased with the quality of the grain. I am planning on putting CLL16 into my rotation for 2023.”



“It was the best-looking rice I had on the farm. I had some sheath blight that needed spraying, but that was pretty much the only issue.”



“There was nothing about the variety I did not like.”

“This is a variety yielding 200-plus bushels per acre consistently across a wide range of geographies while offering the advantages of a Clearfield variety at a lower seed cost than hybrids,” says Dr. Walker. “Our goal is to constantly improve, and we continually strive to be better, but CLL16 is as close to the complete package as we’ve seen in a pure-line variety. It’s got high yield potential, good milling package quality and rice export quality, good disease tolerance, good standability, good early season vigor and herbicide tolerance.

CLL16 will be in high demand next season, especially since it has shown it is broadly adapted to perform across the southern rice region, from the Missouri Bootheel to the rice production areas west of Houston, Texas. Its performance last year in Louisiana, in particular, generated some attention.

“There is a lot of interest from farmers in my area about CLL16 availability and its fit for their farms,” says Corey Conner, Horizon Ag District Field Representative in south Louisiana. “It’s a little later maturing, so it may not be a good fit for ratooning, but, that being said, it has proven to be a very strong performer where we are only cutting one crop.”

3.     0% Financing for Seed and Crop Protection Materials

With rising interest rates expected to significantly impact borrowing costs, Southern rice growers have an opportunity to take advantage of 0% APR1,2 financing for their Horizon Ag rice seed and BASF crop protection purchases through partnerships with either John Deere Financial or Rabo AgriFinance for the 2023 crop. 

“These are the times, when interest rates and other costs are on the rise, that taking advantage of 0% financing can give farmers a significant edge when it comes to managing their finances and cash flow,” says Dr. Walker. “For years, Horizon Ag has worked with BASF to bring new technologies to market that give rice farmers more options, flexibility and opportunities to improve profitability. This season, we are again excited to work with both leading ag financing partners to provide options to help our customers be more successful.”

You can contact your BASF Authorized Retailer or Horizon Ag Authorized Retailer for more information about these special offers.

Horizon Ag varieties like CL111, CL151, CLL17, CLHA02 and CLJ01 have won a place on many farms in the South because of their performance potential year after year. Over the seasons, farmers have learned how to manage these reliable lines and have confidence in their ability to achieve maximum results. 

For instance, CLL17 offers outstanding potential when it is planted early in the planting window and nitrogen recommendations are followed. With these varieties, farmers can get the proven effectiveness of the Clearfield system, many at a price point below many newer seed lines.

5.     The Horizon Ag Productivity App Helps With Decision Making.

Horizon Ag has created a mobile app that will be a valuable resource for rice farmers as they begin planning, variety selection and planting. 

The Horizon Ag Productivity App provides easy access to seeding rate information, a drill calibration tool and other decision-making features for 2023 Horizon Ag Clearfield and Provisia varieties. 

This app also makes it easy to connect with retailers in your area who sell top-performing Horizon Ag varieties like CLL16, CLL17 and PVL03. The app is available by searching for “Horizon Ag” in the App Store or Google Play.

For more information about Horizon Ag elite varieties, contract your Regional Horizon Ag District Field Representative or go to www.Horizonseed.com.

1 Offer valid on qualifying purchases made between October 1, 2022, and September 30, 2023. Offer limited to Multi-Use Account Agricultural customers with an available Special Terms limit. Subject to the Multi-Use Account credit agreement and approval. Fixed 0% APR from the date of purchase, which may be prior to delivery, until December 2023, when the entire transaction amount is due in full. Regular Multi-Use Account rates will apply after that date. Offer is subject to change without prior notice due to unpredicted changes in market conditions. Changes to offer will not impact previously posted transactions. Offer may be limited to qualifying products. $5,000 minimum purchase required. Subject to merchant participation, see your local merchant for complete details. Multi-Use Accounts are a service of John Deere Financial, f.s.b. Always read and follow label directions. 

2 Other limitations may apply. See full program terms and conditions for further details. Credit subject to Rabo AgriFinance approval, terms and conditions. Must be a Rabo AgriFinance authorized retailer. Qualifying transactions must be submitted for payment by the program dates noted above in order to receive the incentive interest rate. 

Rice Outlook Conference, Grain Quality and 2023 Offers and Tools

With the Rice Outlook Conference in Austin, Texas, less than a week away, we hope you’ll make plans to stop by the Horizon Ag booth (#16) at the tradeshow and meet our team there.

We’ll have the latest from the Provisia Working Group on Best Management Practices for PVL03 and the Provisia Rice System. We’ll also have the latest information about elite Clearfield® varieties like CLL16, which will be in high demand next season, especially since it has shown it is broadly adapted to perform across the southern rice region, from the Missouri Bootheel to the rice production areas west of Houston, Texas.

Other varieties of particular interest include CLL17, an early maturing variety from Louisiana that offers outstanding potential when it is planted early in the planting window and nitrogen recommendations are followed; and new CLL18, a high-yielding Arkansas-bred variety that will have a very limited launch in 2023.

We’ll also have information on proven Horizon Ag varieties like CL111, CL151, CLHA02 and CLJ01, which have won a place on many farms in the South because of their performance potential year after year. Over the seasons, farmers have learned how to manage these reliable lines and have confidence in their ability to achieve consistent results and return on their investment.

While Horizon Ag is at the Rice Outlook Conference, we’re looking forward to showing off the desirable grain characteristics of our varieties PVL03 and CLHA02 to rice buyers from key markets for our crop. 

We’ll be cooking these varieties, alongside ones from rice breeding partner Louisiana State University, to showcase the attention we’re placing on offering the quality of rice desired by important Latin American markets — long grain rice that meets their expected parameters for grain appearance and final cooked texture.

Dr. Tim Walker, Horizon Ag general manager, participated in the recent International Rice Leadership Development Trip to Costa Rica and Panama and came away with a renewed commitment to championing what it will take for the southern United States to again become the preferred provider of quality rice to these markets.

“Maintaining rice acres in the USA is important, so we can’t continue to turn a blind eye to the concerns of our customers,” says Dr. Walker. “I’ve been fortunate to be part of many efforts to understand the problems and offer parts of the solution. Continuing down the same path that we’ve been on for the last 10 to 15 years hoping that something will change is costing our industry from the standpoint of long-term viability. I long to see the day when we’ve answered the call as an industry and implemented practices and procedures to return the USA to its status of providing the Western Hemisphere and other parts of the world with an abundant, safe supply of rice that is desired by existing and new customers.”

If you are coming to Austin, please stop by and visit with us!

With rising interest rates casting an ominous shadow over borrowing costs, Southern rice growers can take advantage of 0% APR1,2 financing for their Horizon Ag rice seed and BASF crop protection purchases through partnerships with either John Deere Financial or Rabo AgriFinance for the 2023 crop. 

“These are the times, when interest rates and other costs are on the rise, that taking advantage of 0% financing can give farmers a significant edge when it comes to managing their finances and cash flow,” says Dr. Tim Walker, Horizon Ag general manager. “For years, Horizon Ag has worked with BASF to bring new technologies to market that give rice farmers more options, flexibility and opportunities to improve profitability. This season, we are again excited to work with both leading ag financing partners to provide options to help our customers be more successful.”

The Horizon Ag Productivity App provides easy access to seeding rate information, a drill calibration tool, a calculator and other decision-making features for 2023 Horizon Ag Clearfield and Provisia varieties. 

This app also makes it easy to connect with retailers in your area who sell top-performing Horizon Ag varieties like CLL16, CLL17 and PVL03.

The app is available by searching “Horizon Ag” in the App Store or Google Play.

If you have any questions about Horizon Ag varieties, please contact your Horizon Ag District Field Representative or rice seed retailer. Additional information for elite Clearfield and Provisia varieties is available at HorizonSeed.com.

IN THE NEWS

IN THE NEWS

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Top-Performing Horizon Ag Varieties for 2023 Season

Get 0% APR Financing From Horizon Ag

Newsletters »

Managing Horizon Ag Elite Varieties for High-Yield Potential

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An Important Conference Invitation and Our 2023 Varieties Overview

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Clearfield and Provisia Varieties for 2022

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