Texas rice producers are entering the 2026 growing season with cautious optimism as strong crop conditions are tempered by low market prices, declining acreage and ongoing concerns about rice delphacid infestations, according to Texas A&M AgriLife experts.

Sam Rustom, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service agronomist and assistant professor in the Texas A&M College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Department of Soil and Crop Science, said the state's rice crop has benefited from early planting despite wet conditions that narrowed planting opportunities later in the spring.

Most Texas rice producers planted in March before heavy rainfall in April and early May limited field access, and crop conditions currently appear favorable across the state, Rustom said.

Despite the positive outlook for crop development, rice acreage continues to decline. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has estimated 125,000 planted rice acres in Texas, but Rustom said final figures could fall closer to 100,000 acres.

The decline mirrors trends in other rice-producing states. Arkansas is expected to plant about 850,000 acres, compared with a historical average of 1.4 million acres, while Mississippi is projected at roughly 50,000 acres compared with a historical average of 137,000 acres.

Rustom attributed the reductions to low market prices driven by global oversupply and increased competition from major rice-exporting regions, including India, Thailand and South America.

Along with market challenges, growers remain focused on the threat posed by rice delphacid, an invasive planthopper that caused significant problems in Texas rice fields during the 2025 season.

The insect feeds on rice plants by extracting sap, reducing the availability of nutrients and causing damage known as hopper burn, which is characterized by yellowing leaves and scarring on leaf blades. Rice delphacids also produce honeydew, a sugary substance that promotes sooty mold growth. Severe infestations can result in plant dieback, stunted growth and substantial yield losses.

Rustom said rice delphacid has become a major concern for Texas rice producers during the past two years, prompting extensive scouting efforts across the state's rice-growing regions.

Lina Bernaola, Texas A&M AgriLife Research entomologist in the Texas A&M Department of Entomology, said monitoring efforts in Wharton, Waller, Liberty, Chambers and Jefferson counties have so far shown relatively low insect pressure.

Rice delphacids have not been detected in monitored fields, and no widespread insect outbreaks have been observed. Most rice fields are currently in the early- to late-tillering stages, Bernaola said.

Localized infestations of chinch bugs and fall armyworms have been reported in some areas but generally have remained below economically significant levels.

Bernaola said continued scouting remains important because rice delphacid populations can increase rapidly when conditions become favorable. Early detection remains critical as the crop advances through later growth stages.

To help manage the pest, Courier Insect Growth Regulator received a Section 18 Emergency Use Exemption earlier this year and is expected to serve as the primary control product.

Rustom said growers should remember that insect growth regulators target molting nymphs and may need to be paired with an adulticide when adult populations are high. He added that Courier can provide residual activity for two to four weeks following application.

As the season progresses, producers will continue balancing favorable crop conditions against market uncertainty and the potential for pest pressure later in the growing cycle.

Source: Texas A&M AgriLife, "Texas rice planted acres on decline; threat of rice delphacid looms"