Technical Abstract: The Arkansas rice breeding program has as ongoing goals the development of new long-grain cultivars as well as specialty cultivars like quality Japanese short-grains and aromatics. Cultivars are evaluated and selected for desirable characteristics. Those which require further improvement are utilized as parents in future crosses. Important components of this program include: pest and disease resistance, high- yield potential, excellent milling yields, improved plant type (i.e. short stature, earliness, erect leaves), and superior grain quality (i.e. cooking, processing, and eating). New cultivars are continually being released to rice producers for the traditional southern U.S. long-grain markets as well as for the emerging specialty markets.