Horizon Ag is further extending its portfolio with two new Provisia rice varieties and expects a limited launch of PVL05 and PVL06 in 2026. Tim Walker, Horizon Ag CEO, recently discussed the development of the new varieties along with what farmers can expect in terms of production and potential.
These releases are a culmination of collaborative efforts between Horizon Ag and land-grant university research teams across the Midsouth in recent years.
Both PVL05 and PVL06 show promise for farmers across the southern U.S. rice belt, and each variety has been thoroughly tested across all five rice-producing states in the region, giving confidence in the newest Provisia options.
“Just like all new varieties, once PVL05 and PVL06 are released into the farmer’s hands, they encounter different environments and what Mother Nature has to throw at us in a launch year,” Walker said.
Additionally, Zack Tanner farmer and owner of Tanner Seed in Bernie, Mo., shared growing characteristics of PVL06 and his experience with production of the variety on their farm in 2025.
PVL05 improves upon PVL03
PVL05 was developed at the Louisiana State University Ag Center. This variety represents an incremental improvement over the PVL03 variety. PVL05 has undergone extensive testing with over 100 head-to-head comparisons across all five rice-growing states, consistently demonstrating good performance over PVL03.
While PVL05 may not offer a dramatic step change over PVL03, it consistently outperforms its contender in yield tests across multiple growing environments.
“PVL05 characteristics are a typical south Louisiana semi-dwarf variety that is early maturing, resistant to blast and good milling quality,” Walker said.
Seed production of PVL05 was increased in Puerto Rico at Horizon’s rice nursery during winter 2024-25, with approximately 100 acres planted in 2025. Harvest at that location is complete, and a second crop to generate additional seed for a limited launch in 2026 is underway.
Field performance data suggests that PVL05 offers a 3% to 5% yield improvement over PVL03. Milling quality of PVL05 is to be determined, but rice growers should not expect PVL05 to match the milling quality of PVL03 or classic high-quality varieties such as Cypress.
PVL05 does demonstrate great ratoon capability, which is an extremely valuable characteristic to rice farmers in southern Louisiana.
PVL06 shows significant yield advancement
PVL06 was developed at the University of Arkansas under the program of Xueyan Sha, professor of plant rice and genetics at the Rice Research and Extension Center in Stuttgart.
PVL06 shows a step change in yield performance compared to earlier Provisia varieties like PVL04, with a more substantial advancement in the Provisia rice lineup.
“PVL06 is outperforming. We are anxious to see this year’s data in the northern Delta,” Walker said. “PVL06 is the first across the board to rival the yield potential of our most elite Clearfield varieties like CLL16 and CLL18. It has that type of yield performance.”
PVL06 features a slightly earlier maturity than other Arkansas-developed varieties and shows a potential for ratoon capability in more southern Delta regions that could match or exceed PVL03’s ratoon performance. This could possibly expand the geography to grow PVL06 successfully.
The primary cautions with PVL06 are a somewhat lower milling quality compared to PVL03 and PVL04. Furthermore, PVL06 resistance includes only the PIKS gene rather than the more protective PITA gene, and the variety may require more fungicide protection under blast-favorable conditions.
Like PVL05, PVL06’s launch will be limited in 2026. Walker believes PVL06’s superior yield performance could accelerate adoption of ACC-ACE technology in the Upper Delta regions (Arkansas, Mississippi, Missouri), where adoption has been slower than in Louisiana.
“The field performance of PVL06 gives farmers more confidence to adopt this technology, and we need the technology to be implemented in the Upper Delta,” Walker said. “The sooner we can adopt the ACC-ACE technology to control weedy rice and red rice, the better.”
Overall, the Provisia line provides better weed control options and improved long-term stewardship of herbicide-tolerant rice systems.
Farmer experience with PVL06
Tanner Seed Co. has produced rice seed for Horizon Ag for over 20 years. This year PVL06 was planted on the operation, to be harvested and marketed as seed for the 2026 growing season. Tanner and his younger son Luke reported their experience with the variety.
The variety was planted March 25. Tanner reported unfavorable weather conditions that dumped over a foot of rainfall within a matter of days shortly after the field was planted.
“Where we are standing, the field was sealed in,” Tanner said. “It is hard to convey that to someone. But it is minorly miraculous that this field looks like this.”
Tanner reported notable growing characteristics of PVL06 that include a traditional plant height, its ability to stand in a high wind, a larger grain-head size, and a darker color during the growing season.
He mentioned that weed control was not a problem, since the Provisia line, overall, provides better weed control for grasses in addition to improved long-term stewardship of herbicide-tolerant rice systems.
By Aug. 30, Tanner and his son were a week out from harvesting this rice crop.
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