Rice Planting Dates in Louisiana

Usual rice planting and harvest periods in Louisiana, shown as ranges with their source. Use them to frame a plan, then adjust for your own frost dates and soil temperature.

Rice dates in Louisiana
Activity	Window	Source	Last verified
Planting	Mar 20 to May 15 usual (most active Mar 28 to May 1)	source	2026-11-11
Harvest	Jul 27 to Sep 28 usual (most active Aug 4 to Sep 15)	source	2026-11-11

Rice calendar for Louisiana
Item	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Planting			Planting window, most active in March	Planting window, most active in April	Planting window, most active in May
Harvest							Harvest window in July	Harvest window, most active in August	Harvest window, most active in September

What these dates mean in Louisiana

Planting usually runs about 57 days, from Mar 20 to May 15.

That start date is about 17 days earlier than the middle of the 6 places in this data set that report rice planting dates (Apr 6).

Harvest usually runs about 64 days, from Jul 27 to Sep 28.

From the start of the planting window to the start of the harvest window is about 129 days in Louisiana, a rough guide to how long the crop occupies the bed or field.

Frost-date caveat: these are published ranges for Louisiana. A northern or high-elevation site will run later than a southern or low one, and a cold wet spring can push planting past the window. Frost dates and local conditions vary; NASS state-level usual dates from 20-year progress data (Oct 2010 edition), begin ~5% and end ~95% complete. Check your last spring frost and soil temperature, and confirm with your county extension office.

Related guides

Rice Planting Calendar by Region

Rice dates in other places

Other crops in Louisiana

Last reviewed: November 2026. Source: USDA NASS, Field Crops Usual Planting and Harvesting Dates (October 2010 edition, copy hosted by Cornell University Mann Library). Dates are the usual start and end of the period when about 5% to 95% of the crop is planted or harvested, from long-run state progress data. They are historic averages, not a forecast.