Rice steams ahead

22 Sep 2016

With the rice season set for a stellar start following impressive spring rain, growers now have access to the latest information to support their management decisions with the release of three new NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) rice production guides.

DPI research agronomist, David Troldahl, said rice variety, crop protection and growing guides for the 2016-2017 rice season were available from DPI, Local Land Service (LLS) and Ricegrowers’ Association of Australia (RGA) offices and online.

“The DPI rice team worked with Murray LLS and RGA Rice Extension to deliver new information on critical sowing times for current varieties,” Mr Troldahl said.

“Given the success of delayed permanent water crops last season, new herbicide strategies are available to extend weed control until permanent water is applied in mid-December.

“The crop protection guide alerts growers to plant back guidelines they should be aware of for new winter crop chemicals.

“And a welcome feature in the new guide includes images to aid identification of pests and weeds.”

Mr Troldahl said growers could use new variety guide information for Topaz, Koshihikari, YRM70 and YRK5 to fine-tune agronomy and nitrogen management.

“Growers should take advantage of the free NIR Tissue Testing Service at panicle initiation to determine nitrogen fertiliser requirements for topdressing,” he said.

“We recommend growers consider using imagery, yield maps or cut and fill maps to target sampling in different zones of their crops.

“Feedback from growers is welcome to inform and improve variety and production information.”

RGA Rice Extension, funded by the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation, DPI and LLS will continue to work with rice growers and advisers to deliver up-to-date advice.

A new compilation of rice growing DPI Primefacts will be distributed at field days.

Photographs available from bernadette.york@dpi.nsw.gov.au

Media contact: Bernadette York (02) 6938 1664, 0427 773 785