Rice Crop Harvest Continues As Rice Delphacid Infestations Remain Low

BLAIR FANNIN

COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS

Texas rice crop harvest continues with steady yields and relatively mild insect pressure, according to Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service experts.

Going into the crop season, challenges such as insect pressure and market prices were concerns, but producers are optimistic as harvest rolls on, said Sam Rustom, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension agronomist and assistant professor in the Department of Soil and Crop Sciences.

Southeast Texas rice harvest 

Rustom said rice harvest is in full swing across southeast Texas. On the south and west sides of Houston, approximately 70% of the rice is harvested, with several growers reporting excellent regrowth for this year’s ratoon crop. 

“On the east side of Houston, approximately 15% of rice is harvested, which is normal considering rice is often planted a little later over there and often not ratooned unless it is for crawfish production,” he said.

Rustom also notes a timely rally in the rice market, with the U.S. Department of Agriculture raising its 2026-2027 season-average farm price to $14.90 per hundredweight in its July outlook.

“For reference, this number was approximately $11.80 per hundredweight in June,” he said. “This is obviously great news for our producers and rice industry, but a little more rallying would make a big difference for the overall industry in Texas, especially regarding planted acres going into 2027.”

Statewide, Rustom said yields are down approximately 5% to 15% compared to 2025. 

“Last year, rice delphacid was mostly to blame for our statewide yield reduction; however, this year’s yield reduction can be attributed to increased rainfall and cloudy weather during pollination,” he said. “As with a lot of the other major crops, rainfall during rice pollination increases the likelihood of spikelet sterility and unfilled grain at harvest.”

Rice delphacid reports low

Rustom said rice delphacid numbers remain low across the Texas Rice Belt. There has been no evidence of widespread economically damaging infestations so far. 

Despite those low rice delphacid infestation numbers, Rustom advises farmers to continue to scout fields. He said localized delphacid activity was increasing as harvest progressed. 

“Continued field scouting remains important for early detection, particularly in fields entering the ratoon stage,” he said.

Rice delphacid was a big concern following the 2025 crop season, but field scouting and research monitoring have detected only a slight increase in activity at a few harvest locations.

“I think we are doing a much better job staying ahead of the pest this year,” Rustom said. “Farmers are not allowing populations to build, and pyrethroids have been removed from stink bug applications to prevent rice delphacid flaring. The goal now is to stay ahead of the pest and get this ratoon crop finished, which could be a challenge if populations continue to increase.”

Farmers do have Section 18 Emergency Use Exemption for Courier available this year, Rustom noted.

Research continues to inform producer options

Meanwhile, Texas A&M AgriLife Research plots have also been scouted for rice delphacid.  

“While populations remain low across most monitored fields, localized increases were observed in one research field in Wharton County, where adults and nymphs were detected through our monitoring efforts,” said Lina Bernaola, Ph.D., AgriLife Research entomologist and assistant professor in the Department of Entomology. “Low numbers were also detected in one monitored field in Liberty County, while only a few individuals were observed in the Beaumont research field. No rice delphacids were detected in the monitored fields in Chambers or Waller counties.”

Bernaola said as harvest continues west of Houston, researchers are “beginning to observe changes in where rice delphacids occur.”

She said in one harvested field in Wharton County, no rice delphacid were found within the field following harvest, but numerous were observed along the field margins. 

“These observations suggest that vegetation surrounding harvested fields may serve as temporary refuge for rice delphacid and other insects until ratoon rice begins to regrow,” Bernaola said. “However,  additional observations are needed to better understand these post-harvest movements.”   ∆

BLAIR FANNIN

TEXAS AGRILIFE