Rice Delphacid Pressure Eases as Texas Harvest Progresses

Texas rice producers are breathing easier this harvest season. After battling significant yield losses to rice delphacid infestations last year, the 2026 crop is showing markedly milder insect pressure as combines roll across Southeast Texas fields.

According to Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service experts, approximately 90 percent of rice on the south and west sides of Houston has been harvested, with several growers reporting excellent regrowth for ratoon crops. On the east side of Houston, where planting typically occurs later, roughly 25 percent of fields have been harvested—right on schedule for the region.

"Last year, rice delphacid was mostly to blame for our statewide yield reduction," said Sam Rustom, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension agronomist and assistant professor in the Department of Soil and Crop Sciences. "This year's yield variation can be attributed more to increased rainfall and cloudy weather during pollination rather than insect pressure."

A Quiet Season for a Persistent Pest

The rice delphacid, a planthopper species that feeds on rice plants and transmits viruses, emerged as a major threat to Texas rice production in recent growing seasons. These tiny insects pierce plant tissue to suck sap, weakening plants and potentially spreading harmful pathogens that can devastate entire fields.

While the pest hasn't disappeared entirely, its population levels this season have remained low enough that most producers haven't needed aggressive intervention. For an industry that saw significant losses to delphacid damage in 2025, the reprieve comes as welcome news.

Statewide yields for the earliest-planted rice in March are down approximately 5 to 15 percent compared to historical averages. However, growers who planted in late March and early April are reporting slight yield and milling improvements, suggesting that planting timing may play a crucial role in managing both weather and pest pressures.

Market Momentum Builds

Adding to the cautious optimism, Texas rice producers have seen a modest but welcome rally in market prices. After hovering in the low-to-mid $13 range per hundredweight during early summer, prices climbed to nearly $14.44 by late July and have held steady in the $14 range since.

For an industry facing persistent production challenges—from variable weather to invasive pests—the combination of manageable insect pressure and improved commodity prices offers a brighter outlook than many had anticipated at the season's start.

Vigilance Remains Essential

While this season's delphacid pressure has been relatively mild, agricultural experts emphasize that the pest hasn't gone away. Rice delphacid populations can rebound quickly under favorable conditions, and ongoing monitoring will be essential for protecting future crops.

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension continues to work with producers on integrated pest management strategies that balance effective control with sustainable practices. As harvest wraps up across the state, researchers will be analyzing this season's data to better understand what factors kept delphacid populations in check—and how producers might replicate those conditions in future growing seasons.

For now, Texas rice farmers can focus on bringing this year's crop to market with a bit less worry about the tiny insects that caused so much trouble just one season ago.