Field studies were conducted from 2005 through 2007 to determine the response of three rice cultivars (‘Cocodrie’, ‘Wells’, and ‘Lemont’) to three application timings and two formulations of pendimethalin in a stale seedbed rice production system. Pendimethalin formulated as an emulsifiable concentrate and capsule suspension was applied to rice 0, 3, and 7 d after planting. No visual injury was detected for any cultivar. Seedling density, days to 50% heading, and rice yield were not affected by pendimethalin formulation or application timing. The practice of planting cultivars with excellent seedling vigor into nondisturbed soils with greater available moisture could provide an opportunity to use pendimethalin as a preemergence herbicide for rice production.