It is critical to efficient production of rice to drain in such a way that (1) yield and quality are maintained; (2) water is conserved (without reducing yield or quality); and (3) harvesting and land preparation are facilitated. An objective system for expressing rice development has been produced. This system allows the stages of rice development to be determined independently so that confusion about stages of development are reduced and communication is facilitated. Rice producers in Arkansas wish to have know when rice can be safely drained for harvest. This system consists of a spreadsheet which computes the safe stage for draining rice based on the crop rooting depth in the soil, soil water holding capacity, maximum water use per day by the rice crop at different reproductive developmental stages, and timing between the rice developmental stages. Working backward from the final stage of development, the amount of water used by the crop is matched to the water available to the crop after draining the rice field. Utilizing this model can potentially save water and reduce tillage costs in many rice production situations.