Texas rice outlook still questionable after Hurricane Beryl

Rice prospects were good before Hurricane Beryl, but there are lingering questions about yield and quality losses after the storm, according to Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service experts.

Texas rice yields reached nearly 8,500 pounds per acre a year ago helping overall rice production statewide rank fifth nationally.

“Things were looking good prior to Hurricane Beryl, but right now it’s anybody’s guess as to what the yield will be,” said Ted Wilson, Ph.D., director of the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Beaumont.

“Rice that was still in permanent flood fared well (following Beryl), so there will probably be minimal effects on the rice crop,” said Greg Baker, AgriLife Extension agriculture and natural resources agent for Matagorda County, one of the counties that caught the brunt of the storm.

Storm’s timing causes less damage

Sam Rustom, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension agronomist, Eagle Lake, and assistant professor in the Texas A&M College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, said from Victoria to Beaumont the 2024 crop “was looking fantastic” until the hurricane.

“The upper Gulf Coast as a whole had big expectations for all crops this year,” he said. “The drought in 2022 and 2023 had us pretty pessimistic going into 2024; however, by the middle of this year, we were all cautiously optimistic about what we were seeing in the field. Rain makes grain, and the rains caught prior to flooding this year were typically in the right amount, at the right place, and usually the right time.”

The Eagle Lake Station received an inch of rain almost every week between late April, May and June, he said.

“Since Beryl decided to show up so early, most of our rice was still flooded,” Rustom said. “This is key because most of our crop wasn’t at peak harvest maturity where we typically see more damage due to increased panicle weights and rice drying down for harvest.”

Rustom said had Beryl hit a few weeks later, “we would have seen exponentially more lodging.

“That being said, we still do have some pockets of rice across the state that’s blown over, mostly in Wharton, Brazoria, Matagorda, Colorado and Fort Bend counties.”

Quality still in question

Wilson said rice grain quality is another concern. With lesser grain quality comes price discounts. Last year, Texas rice hit record yields, but it was the worst year on record in terms of quality due to heat and drought.

Rutting can also impact the second rice crop, or ratoon crop, Rustom said. Ruts prevent rice from being cut at the optimal height – 8-10 inches, and volunteer rice plants from shattered grain seeds can severely impact ratoon crop development.

“Subsequent rains have increased the likelihood of a muddy rice harvest,” he said. “When fields are rutted from combines and grain carts harvesting the main crop, ratoon crop yields can be reduced up to 80%.”

Challenges for Texas growers

Rice production contributes more than $200 million to the Texas economy and when calculating production sale, resale and associated industries, the total value is near $550 million. Texas rice yields reached nearly 8,500 pounds per acre in 2023 helping overall rice production statewide rank fifth nationally.

Texas grows predominantly long grain rice. With lesser grain quality also comes price discounts. However, last year’s higher yields help offset lesser grain quality. Discounts came in just under a dollar per hundredweight.

“That’s still a lot of money, but the varieties that yield the best are also the lowest quality,” Wilson said. “That extra yield, though, pays for more than the quality loss in dollars per hundredweight. Right now, quality is more an international issue than a national issue.”

Quality remains one of the biggest challenges for Texas rice growers.

“But that’s no more than other states excluding California,” Wilson said. “Our growers for large part identity preserve their grain. With almost every shipment you know what field it came from, and you know what variety it came from.

“The Gulf Coast states don’t do that; you could get a mixture with increases in variation and quality.”

Overall, crop prospects will suffer yield losses due to Beryl’s impact.

“The bottom line is we are going to end up suffering some first crop yield losses from either shattering or disrupted pollination,” Rustom said. “The question is how much, and we won’t know that true number until the combines leave the field.”

AgriLife Extension district reporters compiled the following summaries:

Central

The district received a few scattered showers in the middle of last week, and the cooler temperatures were a nice break. Unfortunately, hotter temperatures are expected this week and for weeks to come. Fields were in good to fair condition but were beginning to show some drought stress with high grasshopper populations. The rain hindered some producers from harvesting corn and sorghum but helped stressed cotton. The very first harvested corn fields on the eastern Blacklands had very high yields despite damage from high winds and some minor hail events. Producers in some areas also were preparing the land to plant winter grazing crops for stocker cattle. Livestock and cattle markets were in good condition and sheep and goat markets were strong.

Rolling Plains

The district experienced another hot and dry week and producers were needing rain for crops and livestock. Soil moisture levels were deteriorating, but the cotton crop looked good. There were numerous reports of grasshoppers reported districtwide and livestock water sources were low.

Coastal Bend

Rain in the district stopped most corn and sorghum harvesting, which allowed grass and weeds to take over fields not harvested. The rain was beneficial, but it also halted hay, corn and rice harvest. The rain since Hurricane Beryl’s landfall caused some crop damage, including stalling corn and sorghum harvests and causing sprouting in some sorghum plants. The corn harvest should be complete as soon as fields dry out. Range and pasture conditions were good, and producers have reported the best production so far. Cattle remained in excellent condition, and market prices were high. 

East

The rain continued to fall district wide, and producers had to delay or stop harvesting in many areas due to the saturated ground. Gardens and grasses were growing and greening well with pasture and rangeland conditions looking good. There were widespread armyworm infestations reported and producers were beginning to spray for the pests. Feral hogs also were a problem. Cattle markets were strong and livestock conditions were good.

Southeast

The district received more rainfall last week that ranged from 3-11 inches. The rain delayed harvest of hay and corn in a few areas. Sorghum was ready to harvest, though, but most fields were wet, and wind had laid over some sorghum in one county with some plants beyond recovery. Early rice was beginning to be harvested in Chambers County while wet weather was preventing harvest in Jefferson County. Kernel smut was reported in fields in both Jefferson and Chambers counties, which was reducing rice quality. Corn was ready to be harvested and cotton crops were good in Burleson County, while the continued delay of harvesting was causing crop quality to decrease in Waller County. Rangeland and pasture conditions varied from very poor to excellent. Soil moisture levels were adequate to surplus in most areas. Cattle prices were strong, except for heifers, which had dropped since the previous week.

South Plains

The district received little to no rain, and rain was needed. The forecast did not show any relief in the hot and dry temperatures for the foreseeable future. Producers in most areas were fighting weeds from sporadic rains, but cotton was in mid to full bloom. Late planted corn crops were beginning to pollinate, and cucumbers were being cultivated with full irrigation. The peanut crop was in good condition. Livestock were also reported to be in good condition.

Panhandle

The district experienced hot and dry conditions, which dried out soil. Rain was needed to improve dryland crop harvests and rangelands. Irrigation continued for corn, sorghum and cotton crops, and spraying was ongoing for preplant tillage. Producers in some areas were reporting a progression in disease in grain and sorghum crops. Grasshoppers also were a problem in all crops. Producers supplemented livestock with protein to better utilize the dry forage. Overall soil moisture was reported to be very short to adequate with pasture and range conditions reported as very poor to fair. Overall crops ranged from poor to good.

North

The district received much needed rainfall, with most areas averaging up to 5 inches. Corn matured rapidly and harvest began in some areas. Sorghum was maturing and close to harvest, and soybeans were being baled for hay. The ground for wheat was being prepared and tilled, and okra was being planted. Figs were expected to mature within three to four weeks. Armyworms and mosquitoes were becoming an issue in some counties. Pasture and range conditions ranged from poor to good. Topsoil and subsoil were adequate to short with a few counties reporting adequate to surplus. Livestock were in good condition. No major disease outbreaks were reported.

Far West

The district saw cooler temperatures along with some rain showers reported last weekend. The rain had helped cotton that was still left in the field after insurance adjustments. Most fields had begun to bloom on time and producers were reporting better yield potential than in previous weeks. Although cotton was still not a great crop this year, growers and gins should still have a better year than last year. Corn and sorghum continued making progress and were drying down. Melon harvest continued and yields were still good. Alfalfa continued to yield higher this year due to good water and weather. Pecans looked very good and had a decent harvest. Pastures still needed more moisture, but conditions should improve with the recent rains. Livestock were reported in fair condition.

West Central

The district received rainfall amounts that ranged from 0.5-1.5 inches in most areas and experienced cooler temperatures in the upper 80s to low 90s. However, temperatures were expected to reach the triple digits again over the next week, which will increase the chance of drought conditions. Producers were cutting and baling hay, and corn and sorghum harvest was beginning, with low yields expected due to the lack of rain. Cotton looked decent, and some dryland crops were flowering out at the top. Pasture and range conditions varied from fair to good but weed and insect pressure continued to be an issue, with grasshopper populations very high. Livestock and cattle conditions were good, and market prices were strong.

Southwest

The district reported rainfall that ranged from 1-4 inches in most areas, except in Kinney County, which received up to 7 inches. Several roads were closed in some areas due to high water, but the much-needed rain came at a good time as producers were concluding spraying mesquite trees. Corn and sorghum were being harvested while other crops were delayed due to rain. Producers reported average to above-average yields. Range, pasture and hay conditions improved but there were reports of increasing fungal infections in trees, as well as insect pest pressure on pastures. Livestock were reported in fair to good condition and grazing was occurring with minimal forage supplement.

South

The district received varying amounts of rainfall ranging from 0.5-5 inches and experienced cooler temperatures, which improved pastures and other crops in most areas. Corn harvest continued while sorghum was reaching maturity and was expected to be harvested this week. A few areas where rain fell the hardest halted harvest, but producers will begin again as soon as the fields dry. Sunflower, peanut and sesame crop conditions were good, and watermelon harvest was complete in some areas. Cotton crops overall were in good condition and harvest was in progress, except in a few counties that were halted due to rains. Producers were reporting some rust mite damage in citrus, but crops looked fair overall. Hay fields continued to be cut and baled in most areas. Pasture and rangeland conditions were good. Cattle were reported in good condition, and cattle markets were still very strong.