Kernel smut, Tilletia barclayana (Bref.) Sacc. and Syd. of rice (Oryza sativa L.) is considered a minor disease that can reduce grain yield and quality in Arkansas. Our objectives were to evaluate the effect of seeding date and rice cultivar on the incidence and severity of kernel smut in Arkansas. In 2003 and 2004, six long-grain rice cultivars ranging from highly to moderately susceptible to kernel smut were seeded in a Dewitt silt loam (Stuttgart, AR) and a Sharkey clay (Keiser, AR). Each experiment was a randomized complete block design with a split-plot treatment structure. Grain yields were usually greatest when rice was seeded from early April through early May and declined for later seeding dates. Seeding date had little to no consistent influence on the incidence and severity of kernel smut among the four site-year combinations. In 2003, kernel smut tended to increase as seeding was delayed, however in 2004 the disease was relatively uniform across seeding dates. Cultivars rated as highly susceptible tended to have higher kernel smut incidence and severity ratings compared with less susceptible cultivars, especially on seeding dates with the highest levels of kernel smut. Environmental conditions must be conducive for disease development regardless of seeding date. Environmental conditions favorable for infection may occur more frequently on late-seeded rice when air temperatures decline, dew periods are extended, precipitation increases, and plant growth from anthesis to maturity is slowed. Selecting less susceptible cultivars and avoiding excessive N fertilization help reduce economic losses attributed to kernel smut. Use of fungicides to reduce kernel smut appears warranted only on highly susceptible cultivars.