Farmers in one of coastal prairie areas where I hunt have begun to plow rice under as soon as they get it cut.It,s hurting the goose hunting and to a lesser extent the duck hunting.Anyone else seeing the same?

Had some insane hunts in the plowed stuff. I don't think it matters.

Yep. Hunters are the least of farmers concern.

Except for mr elder of course

Plowing up a rice field mid season can be the ticket. The geese love it. But I agree, doing it first thing after harvest is not ideal. Also, if it's going to be a wet year, the rice field unplowed will be huntable when the plowed is not.

I have not seen any rice harvested on the prairie yet. It is kind of early. You sure they are plowing harvested rice fields?

Of course the rice has,nt been cut yet,I,m talking about the farmers on some of our places who are saying they,re going to plow after they cut it. And when I mean plow it they turn it to dust,you can,t even tell there was crop in it.

There are several factors going into this:

First and foremost, farmers LOVE to plow.

I think it mostly has to do with the drought. It doesn't take much rain to discourage farmers from plowing the stubble. Also, with row crop prices the way they are, lots of rice ground is going into row crop the next year instead of sitting fallow.

I've had decent hunts in plowed stubble, but its really more a product of how much rice is left behind when they plow. Snow geese have no qualms about digging around for seed.

plowing is like sex to a farmer.but as brad said it is all about how much grain is in a field and then how wet the field is . wet equals green green equals food.

No water from LCRA = no rice to plow.

http://stateimpact.npr.org/texas/2013/06...-central-texas/

Except for Garwood

And the farms with wells. Lots of new wells going in with the prolonged drought.

True dat