Posted 1/16/2026 07:30 (#11512086 - in reply to #11511992) Subject: RE: burning fields
Crawfordsville, Arkansas
John Smith - 1/16/2026 05:06
Rice straw is rather??? What do I want to say? Tough Thick Abrasive Seems like, Rice Straw is probably the most difficult crop residue to deal with. At least it may be the most challenging crop to run through the combine. What do I know? I have never even walked into a Rice Field.
There’s lots of it. It won’t really rot overwinter a lot. Rice is usually pretty green when it’s harvested also and tends to regrow. Imagine 200 bushel wheat straw but it’s green and wet.
I’ve tried to disk right behind the combine. More often than not the disk isn’t even going in the ground, just rolls over the straw. Most guys now take a Kelly diamond harrow and lay the straw down, wait a few days then burn.
You can stubble roll it during the winter. Needs to be wet in order for the roller to stick the straw in the ground though. Best days to stubble roll are the worst days to do anything else. Spring time it will need to be worked a few times to get it back to plantable shape. With burning you are left with a pretty smooth surface to do a little tillage and be ready for next year.
Row rice is taking a foothold too. Raised on irrigation beds. If you time it right you can cut it dry, burn and plant beans on the beds next year and do nothing to it other than flick a match to it.
burning fields
