USA
February 1, 2018

Planting Horizon Ag Clearfield® rice varieties early in the planting window is an important management step to maximize your whole-farm return on investment.

A uniform plant stand with an optimum density (15 plants per square foot) and excellent weed control are critical ingredients to obtaining the most genetic yield potential. Because of their outstanding seedling vigor and industry-leading tolerance to herbicides, especially in cool, damp conditions, you should go to the field first with Horizon Ag Clearfield varieties. 

University planting date studies conducted over 10-plus years show yield advantages for hybrids are greater the later you plant in the season. In order to optimize farm profit potential, if hybrids are being planted, they should be planted in combination with high-performing varieties like our Clearfield rice varieties and the new Provisia™ Rice System variety PVL01. By planting Clearfield and Provisia rice varieties earlier and hybrids later in the planting season, you will capitalize on the strengths of both varieties and hybrids and maximize the profit on each rice acre of your farm.

With PVL01, the first variety available with tolerance to the new Provisia herbicide, you can expect excellent seedling vigor and tillering ability, allowing you to plant in the earliest part of the planting window and reach an optimum plant density with less seed planted per acre. Additionally, yield potential was best for PVL01 when planted early, reaching a field yield of 170 bushels per acre in seed production and up to 200 bushels per acre in small-plot studies.

Determining Seeding Rates of Horizon Ag Varieties

Horizon Ag publishes a suggested seeding rate range that is based on numerous seeding rate trials conducted each year. The rate range allows for less seed to be planted in more optimal soil planting conditions and more seed to be planted in less optimal soil planting conditions. Ultimately, the target planting rate should result in approximately 15 healthy plants per square foot with uniform spacing. We advocate using a proven insecticide/fungicide seed treatment; therefore, our recommended rates are for treated seed. 

Some factors where one should consider increasing the seed rate up to 10 pounds per acre are listed below:

• planting in very cool conditions
• planting into a field with salt issues that could contribute to stand loss
• planting into heavy soil with a rice monoculture
• planting into a field with a history of stand establishment problems
• planting untreated seed

Website: http://www.horizonseed.com

Published: February 1, 2018