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LITTLE ROCK — The Arkansas Rice Research and Promotion Board approved $3,080,000 in funding for 34 research projects at its Feb. 25, 2026, meeting. The approved projects will support the growth and market development of Arkansas’s rice industry.

“To improve profitability and long-term sustainability, investments in research are critical to Arkansas’s rice industry,” said Jim Whitaker, Arkansas Rice Research and Promotion Board Chair. “Rice assessment collections should be utilized to fund the best research and practical tools available for Arkansas rice farmers. The Arkansas Rice Research and Promotion Board plays a critical role in assessing research project proposals presented for the benefit of our state’s farmers.”

The board received 49 total proposals requesting more than $4.2 million in funding. The request for proposals was open from Dec. 5, 2025, to Jan. 9, 2026. On February 4, the board approved $2.86 million in funding for five promotion projects. All funding decisions are made by board members at open public meetings.

Research projects selected for funding include:

• G & H Associates – Rice Milling Quality Studies – $60,000
• Evaluates grain yield, grain moisture, and milling quality across multiple harvest dates and production environments, including fungicide, insecticide, and biostimulant treatments.
• USDA‑ARS – Impact of Water Management and Measurement Technique on Regenerative Metrics – $18,309.15
• Compares trace gas measurement methods and evaluates irrigation practices that reduce emissions in rice production.

The board approved $2,893,932.22 in funding for the following research projects from the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. This funding is contingent upon assessment collections.

• Optimizing Rice Irrigation Efficiency Using Advanced Field Measurement Technologies
• Improves irrigation design and water‑use efficiency using precision mapping and multiple-inlet rice irrigation systems.
• Puerto Rico Winter Nursery
• Supports off‑season breeding nurseries to accelerate development of improved rice varieties.
• Analysis of Federal Farm Policy Programs and Competitiveness of Arkansas and U.S. Rice
• Evaluates policy changes and trade dynamics affecting rice competitiveness using economic modeling.
• Rice Enterprise Budgets and Production Economic Analysis
• Develops flexible enterprise budgets reflecting current production practices and input costs.
• Economic Analysis of Arkansas Rice Farms
• Assesses profitability, resource constraints, and long‑term economic viability of representative rice farms.
• Improving Grain Chalkiness and Grain Yield Traits Through Clustered Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR)
• Uses gene editing to improve heat‑tolerance traits and reduce chalkiness in elite cultivars.
• Quality Analysis for Rice Breeding and Genetics
• Analyzes grain quality traits—including chalkiness, amylose, and milling characteristics—for Arkansas Rice Variety Advancement Trial and Arkansas Rice Performance Trial samples.
• Developing Blast‑Resistant, Water‑Smart Rice Varieties
• Integrates genomic prediction and marker‑assisted selection to accelerate development of blast‑resistant, water‑efficient cultivars.
• Breeding Superior Rice Varieties for Arkansas
• Supports long‑term breeding efforts to develop high‑yielding, high‑quality varieties across grain types.
• A Team Approach to Improved Weed Management in Rice
• Conducts statewide weed control trials, herbicide resistance screening, and evaluation of new chemistries.
• Nitrogen Management Tools for Arkansas Rice Producers
• Develops decision‑support tools using tissue sampling, imagery, and yield data to refine nitrogen recommendations.
• Irrigation Technology Delivery for Rice
• Tests and promotes irrigation technologies, mobile tools, and hardware to improve water‑use efficiency.
• Validation of In‑Season Tissue Sampling for Nutrient Management
• Evaluates tissue‑based fertilizer recommendations for nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium.
• Rice Research Verification Program
• Conducts on‑farm trials to validate research‑based recommendations and improve producer profitability.
• Nitrogen Recommendations for New Rice Cultivars
• Develops cultivar‑specific nitrogen response curves for Arkansas soils.
• DD50 Thermal Unit Thresholds and Seeding Date Effects
• Updates the DD50 program database with new cultivars and planting date research.
• Agronomic Production Practices for Rice
• Evaluates seeding rates, stand establishment, crop management, and water management practices.
• Arkansas Rice Variety Advancement Trials
• Provides unbiased performance data for advanced experimental lines.
• Arkansas Rice Performance Trials
• Evaluates commercial cultivars across diverse environments and production systems.
• Fine‑Tuning Phosphorus and Potassium Management
• Continues long‑term nutrient management trials for both flood‑ and furrow‑irrigated systems.
• Rice Breeding & Extension Pathology Technical Support
• Supports statewide disease screening and pathology research for breeding programs.
• Incorporating Genetic Tolerance to Reduced Irrigation
• Evaluates breeding lines under reduced irrigation to identify traits supporting water‑limited production.
• Drone Applications in Integrated Pest Management
• Tests spray drone applications for fertility, weed, insect, and disease management.
• Improving Management of Furrow‑Irrigated Rice
• Refines seeding rate and nitrogen management recommendations for furrow‑irrigated systems.
• Development, Evaluation, and Production of Agricultural Biologicals
• Develops Arkansas‑specific microbial biofertilizers and biopesticides.
• Managing Insects in Arkansas Rice
• Evaluates management strategies for rice delphacid, stink bug, and water weevil.
• Impact of Specific Agronomic and Postharvest Factors on Rice Quality
• Studies how agronomic practices and postharvest handling influence milling quality and fissure resistance.
• Profitability‑Focused Assessment of Rice Straw Management
• Evaluates economic and agronomic outcomes of straw management strategies.
• How Agricultural Practices Shape Rice Quality for Value‑Added Uses
• Examines how nitrogen, harvest moisture, and storage affect aroma, starch properties, and brewing quality.
• Establishing a Long‑Term Rotational Study (contingent upon approval by Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board)
• Implements multi‑year rotation trials to evaluate yield, soil health, pest dynamics, and economics.
• Revising the Prevalence and Stability of Rice Blast Races in Arkansas – (USDA-ARS)
• Identifies pathogen races and evaluates resistance genes to support breeding of blast‑resistant varieties.
• Determining the Role of Fissure Resistance and Chalkiness in Head Rice Yield – (USDA-ARS)
• Determines genetic and environmental factors influencing chalkiness and fissure resistance to improve milling yield.

Board activities are funded through an assessment of 1.35 cents-per-bushel paid by the buyer at the first point of sale on rice grown within the state or at the point the rice enters into the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) loan program. Producers also pay an assessment of 1.35 cents-per-bushel of rice grown. The assessments paid by buyers must be used for market development and promotion. The assessments paid by producers must be used for rice extension and research.

The board consists of nine Arkansas rice producers appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate. Four members must be designated representatives of the Arkansas rice merchant and milling industry. Members serve two-year terms.

Source : stuttgartdailyleader