Rice Farming

1996 Rice Farmers Of The Year

Leroy Isbell first learned about rice farming in the GI school classes he attended after leaving the Navy. He started with about 40 acres at a place called Snake Island in Lonoke County, Arkansas, and made his first crop on his $91 GI bill paycheck. By 1959, he was able to buy 900 acres of land about four miles away, which he converted from fish into rice production.

One of those fields has been in rice since that purchase - and no, it's not overrun with red rice. Isbell's secret? He has water seeded his rice since he started farming, and began leveling all his rice farm to zero grade- with no levees - in 1977. As far as he knows, Isbell is the first one in Arkansas to plant rice zero grade. Water seeding is also relatively uncommon in the state.

"Just because your daddy did something a certain way, doesn't mean it's right!" he laughs. "Maybe you can do better."

Isbell's son and farming partner, Chris, admits the idea of going to zero grade, no-levee production took getting used to. But although he may not realize it, Chris inherited his father's innovative spirit. Six years ago, Chris took a production risk when he began planting a portion of their acreage to Japanese varieties.

Upon receiving an industry award several years ago, Chris pointed out that it's easy to look big when you're standing on your father's shoulders. The editors at Rice Farming happen to think that together the two men are even stronger.

They've faithfully upheld a philosophy of always looking around the corner instead of looking back, and still maintained high quality and good yields.

Because they so clearly exemplify the open mindedness and willingness to experiment that will keep rice farming viable in the future, we're proud to name Leroy and Chris Isbell our 1996 Rice Farmers Of The Year.

Zero Grade

Leroy Isbell knew that leveling their land to zero grade would greatly improve water management.

"A flat field will always drain better because your water is running off the field in four directions," he explains."And instead of levees, we put a ditch all the way around the field."

"Most rice farmers around here rotate with soybeans, so they don't go zero grade because they think it won't drain," Chris adds. "But with our heavy buckshot soil, we spent just as much as we made growing soybeans. Zero grade continuous rice works best for us."

Word spread about the Isbell's success with zero grade, no-levee rice production, and farmers in Arkansas, other states and other countries have visited the farm to see how it works.

"I was recently invited to Panama and Costa Rica to teach farmers there about the practice," Chris adds.

Water seeding

Propanil wasn't available when Leroy Isbell started farming in the '50s, so water seed was not only a way to get rid of red rice, it helped him control the grasses too - while letting him grow rice continuously. The Isbells started pre-sprouting seed 15 years ago, which gives them a better stand and often allows them to leave the water on until harvest.

"Even when Liberty rice comes out for red rice control, we will still water seed," Chris says. "We believe the first key to getting a good crop is a good, strong stand, and pre-germinating and water seeding gives us the best chance to ensure that."

California Rice

In 1996, the Isbells raised 100 acres of M-7, a high-yielding medium grain from California with the good seedling vigor that is a key for water seeding.

"My dad loves M-7," Chris says. " We first grew it in the '80s, but California discontinued it because it takes longer to mature than the earlier varieties developed there. But it works really well in Arkansas, so I got some seed from the Experiment station and increased it, and gave it to dad as a present."

Japanese Rice

The Isbells also planted 600 acres of two Japanese varieties: Koshihikari and Akitakomachi.

"We were the first in the United States to grow a Japanese variety," Chris says. "Now, we have six to seven tours of Japanese farmers and companies come through every year who are interested in what we're doing."

While a good yield on their conventional M-7 rice is anywhere from 150-200 bushels per acre, yields of the Japanese variety average only a little better than half that. The advantage comes in price premium. Production costs are about the same as for conventional varieties, though Isbell says the aggravation factor is higher.

"You have to really monitor the plant and grow for the taste - the quality," says Chris. "You don't just go out and try to make mega-bushels. The protein content of the grain is a real big factor in that, so it takes some finesse with your fertilization to get it just right. We do weekly tissue tests now on all our rice - to save money on fertilization and improve quality."

Weed Control

In water seeding, the Isbells have traded grass problems for aquatics. They often rely on Londax-Ordram combination for good control.

"Ordram doesn't claim any big effect on aquatics, but we feel it strengthens the control power of Londax. And if you have to take the water off, a Londax-Arrosolo tank mix works really well on some aquatics and nutsedge."

Equipment

The Isbells build most of their equipment thanks to what Chris describes as his father's "natural gift for engineering." They dismantled a 20' Sweco header to use as a pattern to build their own. They also built their own farm shop and their grain bins, which can store 200,000 bushels. They no-till as much as possible, so to avoid rutting up a field in the fall, they use track equipment at harvest. One unique piece of equipment is a Sweco self-propelled tracked grain cart from California.

Marketing

The Isbells began growing Japanese varieties before GATT opened the door to trade with that country.

"We always hoped we could sell there eventually," Chris says. "At the time, several Japanese companies here were buying California rice, so we just figured that if we grew it, they would come. We sold our first crop to a Japanese trading company in Los Angeles with whom we still do business.

"The remainder of our Japanese yield is contracted through Itochu - a company which has partnered with Itochu to produce rice bran oil. We have to meet their qualifications - #1 brown with no paddy rice. Our rice also has to undergo tests for numerous chemicals, and be packaged in 50-kilo bags. But while Japanese companies are very particular about what they want, every organization we've dealt with has been wonderful. When they tell you they'll do something they do that and more."

The Isbells sell the rest of their rice directly to mills. It has been years since they had to borrow money from the bank to make a crop. They do use the government's marketing loan program; consequently, they are somewhat apprehensive of how changes in the Farm Bill will affect their future.

"Without any price support, it's too much of a gamble to put the money in that you have to put in," says Leroy. "We have to pinch pennies sometimes the way every farmer does, and when we're a little short, we do our borrowing by putting some rice in the loan. We use that tool a lot. That's why it will be harder to make it without the program."

"We can maintain with prices like are now, but if they drop.. we'll have no protection," says Chris. "But we're hoping for the best."