Cotton Farming March 2022

Cotton Farming

®

ONE GROWER PUBLISHING, LLC

PROFITABLE PRODUCTION STRATEGIES

MARCH 2022

www.cottonfarming.com

TONY WILLIAMS Texas Native Devotes His Career To The Ginning Industry

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Vol. 66 No. 3

Cotton Farming PROFITABLE PRODUCTION STRATEGIES

MARCH 2022

www.cottonfarming.com

FE ATURES

6 10 20

DRONES AND DATA Virginia researchers make their mark in precision agriculture by using advanced technologies and collecting data to be analyzed on the ground.

SELECT WITH CONFIDENCE Steve M. Brown, Alabama Cooperative Extension cotton agronomist, offers guidance on steps to finding the right variety mix.

GINNERS MARKETPLACE

the official publication of the ginning industry J. Kelley Green, TCGA director of technical services, discusses how OSHA and Wage And Hour inspections increased in 2021.

T C G A A N N UA L M EETING AND TRA DE SHOW

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Tony Williams

Tony Williams has dedicated himself to helping cotton gins be safer and more profitable. That work has strengthened the cotton industry by fostering a robust business environment in the ginning industry. In April 2022, he will retire as executive vice president of the Texas Cotton Ginners’ Association. “I am thankful for the ginners and the opportunity they gave me at such a young age to run this organization,” he says.

DEPARTMENTS & COLUMNS

4 5 13

Editor’s Note Cotton’s Agenda Mid-South Report

14 16 22

Industry News Specialists Speaking My Turn

ON THE COVER: Tony Williams has served as TCGA executive vice president for more than three decades. Cover photo by David Oefinger.

TEXAS COTTON GINNERS' ASSOCIATION

CASHING IN

ON TE X AS COT TO N

Look for the 2022 TCGA Annual Meeting and Trade Show program following page 12 in the Texas and Oklahoma editions of Cotton Farming.

MARCH 31 – APRI L 1, 2022

||

LUBBOCK , TE X AS

WEB EXCLUSIVE Texas A&M AgriLife Research-Amarillo advances its research capabilities with new scientists. An entomologist, a ruminant nutritionist and a soil scientist join the research teams. Go to www.cottonfarming.com for this Web Exclusive report.

Weed Management

CornSouth ONE GROWER PUBLISHING, LLC

Southern Production & Marketing Strategies

A Supplement to Cotton Farming and The Peanut Grower Magazines

March 2022

SUPPLEMENT Look for Corn South following page 12 in the Mid-South and Southeast editions of Cotton Farming.

To have industry news and content delivered directly to your inbox, sign up for the monthly e-newsletter at www.cornsouth.com.

COTTON FARMING (ISSN 0746-8385) is published monthly January through December by One Grower Publishing LLC, 875 W. Poplar Ave., Suite 23, Box 305, Collierville, TN 38017. Periodicals postage paid at Memphis, Tennessee, and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Omeda Communications, Customer Service Department, P.O. Box 1388, Northbrook, IL 60065-1388 (Phone: 847-559-7578) (Fax: 847-564-9453). Annual subscriptions are $40. International rates are $55 in Canada/Mexico, $90 in all other countries for air-speeded delivery. Surface delivery not available due to problems in reliability.

TWITTER: @COTTONFARMING

MARCH 2022 | COTTON FARMING

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Editor’s Note

Cotton Farming

Carroll Smith

EDITORIAL/PRODUCTION Editor-In-Chief Carroll Smith csmith@onegrower.com Southeast Editor Amanda Huber ahuber@onegrower.com

T

Use Technology To Improve Productivity

echnology continues to move the agricultural industry forward and make a tough job like farming a little easier. For those who have been in the farming business for a while, one of the first technological conveniences you may recall is cell phones replacing truck radios. Once the towers went up and signal coverage improved, communication became a whole lot easier. Farmers could talk to each other and to their consultants and retailers almost instantly. This was a great benefit, especially when quick decisions needed to be made or farm inputs ordered.

On page 16, Georgia cotton specialist, Camp Hand, shares a great resource for tuning up your planter. The Row Crop Planter Checklist, which can be found at https://bit.ly/3oZicMJ, was developed by University of Georgia precision ag specialists Drs. Wes Porter and Simer Virk. With one click, you can see illustrated instructions about what to do to get your planter field-ready.

“If we can’t get a good stand and get the crop off to a good start, then all the money spent on fertilizer won’t do any good,” Hand says.

Virginia researchers are stepping up their game by using drones in the sky to collect data to be analyzed on the ground.

“An exciting part of this research is that we can take the data that we generate from the cameras and try to correspond that data to other factors, one of them being irrigation,” says Virginia researcher Emmanuel Torres Quezada.

He says the ultimate goal is to deliver this technology to growers.

“I want to make the production systems that we have in place more accessible and efficient for growers in the sense of an increase in yields and a decrease in costs,” he says.

Read more about drones and data and their potential to improve your operation’s productivity in the article on page 6.

And as we stand on the cusp of spring, variety selection and breeding traits have been the main topics of conversation in cotton circles. In “Select Varieties With Confidence” on page 10, one of the strategies discussed is the AU Variety Selection Platform (https://auburn.medius.re/) that was created from a partnership between Auburn University and Medius Ag. It’s really a toolbox with multiple tools that allows users to search for varieties based on various criteria.

Put technology to work on your farm in 2022 to save time, increase efficiency and be more productive and profitable.

Carroll If you have comments, please send them to: Cotton Farming Magazine, 7201 Eastern Ave., Germantown, TN 38138.

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COTTON FARMING | MARCH 2022

Assistant Editor Cassidy Nemec cnemec@onegrower.com Digital Content Editor Katie Guthrie Art Director Ashley Kumpe ADMINISTRATION Publisher/Vice President Lia Guthrie (901) 497-3689 lguthrie@onegrower.com Associate Publisher/Editor-In-Chief Carroll Smith (901) 326-4443 Associate Publisher/Sales Scott Emerson (386) 462-1532 semerson@onegrower.com Production Manager David Boyd dboyd@onegrower.com Audience Services Kate Thomas (847) 559-7514 For subscription changes or change of address, call (847) 559-7578 or email cottonfarming@omeda.com EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD David Burns – North Carolina David Lynch – South Carolina Bob McLendon – Georgia Larkin Martin – Alabama Mike Sturdivant Jr. – Mississippi Charles Parker – Missouri Jimmy Hargett – Tennessee Allen Helms – Arkansas Jay Hardwick – Louisiana Ronnie Hopper – Texas Ron Rayner – Arizona John Pucheu – California

ONE GROWER PUBLISHING, LLC Mike Lamensdorf President/Treasurer Lia Guthrie Publisher/Vice President ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COOPERATION: Cooperating with COTTON FARMING are various cotton producer organizations across the Cotton Belt. Many representatives of producer organizations serve on COTTON FARMING’s editorial advisory board. Opinions expressed and conclusions reached by contributors are not necessarily those of the cooperating organizations or the editors.

All statements, including product claims, are those of the person or organization making the statement or claim. The publisher does not adopt any such statement or claims as its own and any such statement or claim does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the publisher.

Copyright 2022 © ASSOCIATED PUBLICATIONS – One Grower Publishing, LLC also publishes RICE FARMING, THE PEANUT GROWER, SOYBEAN SOUTH and CORN SOUTH.

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COTTONFARMING.COM

Cotton’s Agenda Gary Adams

A Hazy Forecast U.S. cotton’s economic outlook is being clouded by factors ranging from supply chain disruptions to rising inflation.

How is 2022 starting?

■ The lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandem-

ic’s shock to global trade have created an unprecedented level of stress and disruption on the entire supply chain, from transportation costs to labor availability. Thus, National Cotton Council economists say projections for the U.S./global economies in the coming year should be viewed with caution given the COVID-19 pandemic’s continued impacts.

2022 crop year. Preserving important Western Hemisphere trading arrangements is a key factor allowing the U.S. industry to remain competitive while investing in new technology. Although U.S. export sales have been very strong thus far in the 2021 marketing year, weekly shipments are lagging well behind the five-year average. For the 2022 marketing year, the NCC does see U.S. exports increasing to 15.8 million bales. When combined with U.S. mill use, total U.S. offtake would exceed expected production with ending stocks projected to fall to 3.1 million bales. If realized, that would represent one of the lowest U.S. stock levels in the past 20 years.

NCC economists see world production increasing to 122.6 million bales in 2022 due to higher acreage. World mill use is projected to increase to 125.9 million bales for the 2022 marketing year, which represents an all-time high for cotton demand.

With expanded consumption in key importing countries, world trade is projected to increase to 48.3 million bales. World ending stocks are projected to decline by 3.4 million bales in the 2022 marketing year to 81.6 million bales, resulting in a stocks-to-use ratio of 64.8%.

NCC economists provided a 2022 detailed economic outlook for the organization’s annual meeting delegates in mid-February.

What about 2022 production/offtake and prices?

■ The NCC projects 2022 U.S. cotton acreage to be 12.0 million acres, 7.3% more than 2021. However, significant input cost increases are expected, largely due to higher fertilizer, fuel and chemical costs.

Based on the state-level 10-year average abandonment rates and five-year average yields, 2022 harvested area is estimated to be 9.8 million acres. With an average yield of 850 pounds per acre, U.S. production is estimated to be 17.3 million bales (16.8 million upland and 438,000 extra-long staple).

Regarding offtake, the NCC is projecting an increase to 2.7 million bales of U.S. mill cotton use in the

There is a bullish sentiment for cotton prices in 2022. Prices are at the highest in a decade due to a tighter U.S. balance sheet, supply chain disruptions, speculative money flow, overall increases in commodity prices, and recent strong world cotton demand. However, more COVID-19 restrictions, a slow-down in world economic activity, and low man-made fiber prices could put downward pressure on cotton prices. Regardless of market developments, the NCC will continue to vigorously pursue effective farm policies/programs and trade agreements while opposing unworkable regulations to bolster U.S. cotton industry members’ competitiveness in the global marketplace.

The NCC’s 2022 Cotton Economic Outlook at www. cotton.org/econ/reports/annual-outlook.cfm offers more details on the global and cotton economies.

Gary Adams is president/CEO of the National Cotton Council of America.

TWITTER: @COTTONFARMING

MARCH 2022 | COTTON FARMING

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TRAIT STEWARDSHIP RESPONSIBILITIES NOTICE TO FARMERS

Bayer Company is a member of Excellence Through Stewardship® (ETS). Bayer products are commercialized in accordance with ETS Product Launch Stewardship Guidance, and in compliance with Bayer’s Policy for Commercialization of Biotechnology-Derived Plant Products in Commodity Crops. This product has been approved for import into key export markets with functioning regulatory systems. Any crop or material produced from this product can only be exported to, or used, processed or sold in countries where all necessary regulatory approvals have been granted. It is a violation of national and international law to move material containing biotech traits across boundaries into nations where import is not permitted. Growers should talk to their grain handler or product purchaser to confirm their buying position for this product.

ALWAYS READ AND FOLLOW PESTICIDE LABEL DIRECTIONS. It is a violation of federal and state law to use any pesticide product other than in accordance with its labeling. NOT ALL formulations of dicamba, glyphosate or glufosinate are approved for in-crop use with XtendFlex® Cotton. ONLY USE FORMULATIONS THAT ARE SPECIFICALLY LABELED FOR SUCH USES AND APPROVED FOR SUCH USE IN THE STATE OF APPLICATION. Contact the U.S. EPA and your state pesticide regulatory agency with any questions about the approval status of dicamba herbicide products for in-crop use with XtendFlex® Cotton. B.t. products may not yet be registered in all states. Check with your representative for the registration status in your state.

Products with XtendFlex® Technology contains genes that confer tolerance to glyphosate, glufosinate and dicamba. Glyphosate will kill crops that are not tolerant to glyphosate. Glufosinate will kill crops that are not tolerant to glufosinate. Dicamba will kill crops that are not tolerant to dicamba. Contact your seed brand dealer or refer to the Bayer Technology Use Guide for recommended weed control programs. Insect control technology provided by Vip3A is utilized under license from Syngenta Crop Protection AG. Bollgard®, Respect the Refuge and Cotton Design®, Roundup Ready Flex® and XtendFlex® are registered trademarks of Bayer Group.

LibertyLink® and the Water Droplet Design® are registered trademarks of BASF. Agrisure Viptera® is a registered trademark of Syngenta Group Company.

Excellence Through Stewardship® is a registered trademark of Excellence Through Stewardship. All other products, company names and trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Before opening a bag of seed, be sure to read, understand and accept the stewardship requirements, including applicable refuge requirements for insect resistance management, for the biotechnology traits expressed in the seed as set forth in the Technology/Stewardship Agreement that you sign. By opening and using a bag of seed, you are reaffirming your obligation to comply with the most recent stewardship requirements.

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COTTON FARMING | MARCH 2022

Drones And Data Virginia Researchers Make Their Mark In Precision Agriculture

BY MARY HARDBARGER

O

n the E astern Shore of Virginia, drones hover in the sky collecting data to be analyzed on the ground. The results are tools growers can use to tackle pests and manage the nutrients that help them thrive.

Students and faculty stationed at the Eastern Shore Agricultural Research and Extension Center, situated on a 220-acre farm in Painter, Virginia, use advanced technologies to improve the practices of large- and small-scale farming operations, which face the ongoing challenges of water and pest management.

Though founded in 1956, the Eastern Shore facility has evolved into a stateof-the-art station, where researchers — using groundbreaking drone and data analytic applications — are making their distinct mark in precision agriculture to ensure the Eastern Shore remains a leader in commercial agriculture production.

‘Sky-Level’ Water Management

A dry summer sends the Eastern Shore into a drought. Crops are stressed and in desperate need of water.

Exactly how much water does the farmer need to deliver? What water requirements rest below?

Emmanuel Torres Quezada is trying to answer that question from above.

Quezada is a horticultural cropping systems Virginia Cooperative Extension specialist and an assistant professor of horticulture stationed at the Eastern Shore facility. Most of his research is focused on innovative cultural practices, such as irrigation management. During his first few years at the center, he will work to identify crop water requirements in the Eastern Shore.

Adhering to his innovative approach, he is using drones as his “eyes” in the sky to assist in this research.

One of the technologies the researchers use is remote sensing, meaning using multispectral cameras to identify crop stress. From the indexes that collected

from cameras mounted on drones, the researchers can make decisions about the crops below.

“An exciting part of this research is that we can take the data that we generate from the cameras and try to correspond that data to other factors, one of them being irrigation,” Quezada said.

“This results in different methods that we can use to estimate the water requirement for different plants using cameras instead of having to measure the water in the soil or measuring the water on the plants.”

Over time, Quezada said, the ultimate goal is to deliver this technology to growers.

“I want to make the production systems that we have in place more accessible and efficient for growers in the sense of an increase in yields and a decrease in costs,” he says.

Tracking Pests

An Eastern Shore farmer inspects a hard-labored cornfield and finds the crop overcome with cutworms, a common corn insect pest. An obvious approach to ridding the rows of bugs is the use of pesticides.

However, there are other options to consider.

These alternative practices are what Lorena Lopez, an entomologist and postdoctoral student at the Eastern Shore Agricultural Research and Extension Center, is currently exploring.

Lopez specializes in integrated pest management, a practice better known as IPM. “IPM is using an ecologically-based approach to manage pests,” Lopez says.

“It includes different combinations of pest management techniques, such as cultural practices, biological control, habitat manipulation and the use of chemicals.”

Lopez tests this approach on vegetables and small fruits, such as strawberries and blueberries.

Continued on page 12 COTTONFARMING.COM

COVER STORY

TONY WILLIAMS Texas Native Devotes His Career To Serving The Ginning Industry

BY AUBRY HEINRICH

PLAINS COTTON COOPERATIVE ASSOCIATION

F

or more than three decades, Tony Williams has dedicated himself to helping cotton gins be safer and more profitable. That work has strengthened the cotton industry by fostering a robust business environment in the ginning segment of the supply chain. In April 2022, he will retire as executive vice president of the Texas Cotton Ginners’ Association.

Born and raised in West Texas, Williams considers himself a Lubbock native. When he was only 15 years old, his father passed away. During this pivotal point in his life, Williams turned toward agriculture education to help fill the void left from a significant loss. He credits his love for agriculture to his high school FFA program and advisor at Lubbock-Coronado High School.

Williams stayed in Lubbock for college, graduating from Texas Tech University in 1984 with a Bachelor of Science in agricultural and applied economics. He went to work for Monsanto in eastern Washington state shortly after graduating college. His work there remained in the agriculture production industry, focusing mainly on small grain wheat and barley.

Williams began working for the National Cotton Council when he returned to West Texas in early 1986 to be closer to his mother and sisters. In August 1988, Williams joined the Texas Cotton Ginners Association. About a month afterward, he became executive vice president of the organization he would lead for the next 33 years.

“I really had to hit the ground running and had to learn quickly,” Williams says. “I am thankful for the ginners and the opportunity they gave me at such a young age to run this organization.”

He married his wife, Lagina, in 2017 and became stepfather to her two children, Jayna and Jaxon. Jayna is currently following in Williams’ footsteps and attending Texas Tech University to obtain her Bachelor of Science in agricultural communications.

Jaxon will soon graduate high school in Corpus Christi, Texas.

The Ginners Voice

Williams and his coworkers are “representing the cotton ginning industry and cooperating with other organizations throughout Texas and the United States to maintain the economic vitality and security of agriculture,” according to the TCGA website.

As TCGA represents its members on both the state and national levels, Williams is at the forefront of making sure members have a voice in the Texas state capitol and Washington D.C. He works tirelessly to represent his members well and lobby for the overall benefit of the cotton ginning industry.

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COTTON FARMING | MARCH 2022

Tony Williams and his wife, Lagina, pictured in a cotton field near their home in Corpus Christi, Texas.

Williams’ career and love of agriculture came full circle when the Texas FFA Foundation asked him to serve on its Advisory Committee. Williams has also represented his members through several boards and organizations, including the National Cotton Ginners Association and the Texas Agricultural Council. Throughout it all, he does his best to make sure he has the most up-to-date agricultural information to benefit TCGA’s ginning members.

An Eye On Safety

Under Williams’ leadership, TCGA has been working to solve industry problems for Texas gins while also advocating for them in legislation. Focusing on safety and regulatory compliance, COTTONFARMING.COM

Tony Williams (third from right) is joined by his four sisters and three of his brothers-in-law after he received the National Cotton Ginners’ Association Distinguished Service Award in 2009. From left are Ronnie Lee, Carmen McIntyre, Ginger Lee, Wayne McIntyre, Sonya Duke, Cindy Burleson and Toby Burleson. they work to remove barriers and support members so they can gin each year’s crop efficiently and safely.

“I work with some great employees that make accomplishing this task for the industry possible,” Williams says. “When I got involved back in 1988, the big issue was safety, so we developed a very comprehensive safety program and hired people to work in the field with us on safety. We took it a step further, and in 1994 we developed the Texas Cotton Ginners’ Trust, a self-funded workers’ compensation insurance program for cotton gins and other agricultural operations.”

Gin safety is not a passive issue for TCGA and TCGT. They have been working diligently to help solve these problems and assist their members through training, quality equipment, education and more.

“These organizations take seriously their responsibility in helping their gin members address important safety issues.

Gin plants incorporate machinery to process cotton. Like any highly mechanized process, it requires well-trained workers and well-guarded equipment. TCGA and TCGT help gin managers address safety issues through ongoing education and being an advocate for changes in the industry that improve worker safety,” according to the TCGA website.

Williams is proud of how far TCGA has come as an organization and for helping its ginner members become compliant with employee safety regulations, labor laws and pollution and emission laws and regulations.

“Prior to us getting involved and hiring an engineer, our members were fearful of environmental regulation,” Williams says. “They feared the agency. They feared the regulations. They weren’t in compliance. We bridged that. I am very proud of bringing our members up to compliance today.”

Career Highlight

While making compliance with regulations easier for TCGA members is a big victory, Williams also considers establishing the TWITTER: @COTTONFARMING

“Honest, hard-working ginners in the industry are what motivated me to continue to work hard and push forward for TCGA members every day.”

Texas Cotton Ginners’ Trust as a benchmark in his career.

“TCGT was born from within Texas Cotton Ginners’ Association,” he explains. “It is a stand-alone entity now, and I’m very proud of that. It has paid back more than $50 million in dividends to the cotton industry. Though I am not the manager of it day-to-day, it was born from the association, and I am very proud to have been a part of that.”

‘One Big Family’

Williams describes the cotton industry’s hard-working people to be like “one big family.” He says they are friendly, dedicated and working for the good of the industry.

“Honest, hard-working ginners in the industry are what motivated me to continue to work hard and push forward for TCGA members every day,” he says.

Making a difference in ginners’ and farmers’ lives motivated Williams’ work at TCGA for 33 years. He would like to thank the TCGA members and the cotton industry for their support and encouragement through this time.

“Thank you for the opportunity to work in this industry, to work on behalf of the ginners,” Williams says. “I am thankful for the ginners and the opportunity they gave me at such a young age to run this organization. I am very dedicated and loyal to them for giving me that opportunity and trusting in me to do the job and work for TCGA.” This article was first published in Field & Fiber, a PCCA publication.

MARCH 2022 | COTTON FARMING

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Select Varieties With Confidence Follow These Steps To Finding The Right Variety Mix

BY AMANDA HUBER SOUTHEAST EDITOR

Start With Solid Performers

Brown suggests that 80% of the farm should be in familiar varieties that are solid performers.

“The goal is to make cotton, but we also don’t want to put all our eggs in one basket. Reserve a portion of acres to explore new varieties and maybe even new technologies.”

This is where producers can diversify. Variety choices can be made based on planting date, genetics, maturity or other factors.

“In the lower Southeast, stress tolerance and endurance are more valuable traits than maturity,” he says.

Use Data To Find New Varieties

Auburn University has partnered with Medius Ag to create a variety selection tool for cotton and peanuts.

“The end result is not just a tool, but a toolbox with multiple tools that will allow users to look at small plot variety trial data and large plot on-farm data in one location,” says Henry Jordan, AU variety testing manager.

The platform allows users to search for varieties based on various criteria. You can view individual or multiple trials at once, and data can be averaged and compared across locations and years. Varieties can also be compared side by side.

“Analytics is a powerful tool that helps users visually evaluate the data, and the data center, a tool available to users that create a login, allows users to build charts and tables with the data,” Jordan says.

Know Your Boundaries

Study the data and look at what’s rising to the top in terms of performance, Brown says. “Look within your technology

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COTTON FARMING | MARCH 2022

Factors In Variety Selection:  Preferred herbicide technology.  Crops planted in addition to cotton.  Diversify based on planting date, genetics and maturity.  Look at agronomic factors, such as seedling vigor and ease of defoliation.  Plant primarily known performers.  Study the data to find new ones to try.

PHOTO COURTESY OF AUBURN UNIVERSITY

S

electing varieties for the coming season is not an easy process. First, seed is an expensive input. Once planted, there is no changing your mind about the variety. Many factors affect this important decision and resources abound to help you in the process. But where do you begin?

Steve M. Brown, Alabama Cooperative Extension cotton agronomist, offers guidance on how to get started, how many varieties to select and what decisions need to be made. In the end, producers should be confident in their selections.

“When we make variety choices, we are deciding on agronomic potential, but we are also making investments in terms of pest management options,” Brown says. “The first fork in the road is which weed technology you are going to use: will it be Enlist or Xtend?”

This decision may depend on whether the farmer is the one doing the spraying and what equipment is available on the farm.

“Can you accommodate both technologies or will it be limited to one? Is the choice defensive? What are my neighbors planting?” he says. “Only you know your set up and situation to make the decision of variety selection.”

boundaries and compare several years. Consider the agronomic factors — seedling vigor, plant growth regulator management, ease of defoliation and harvest.”

Browns says to look at the data, and also factor in experience to guide variety selection.

“Experience is valuable in this process as well,” he says. “The more local, the better. Custom harvesters have a lot of local knowledge and experience with varieties in different situations.

Gins are also a possible source of information about fiber quality if farmers regularly report what varieties they are delivering in their modules.

“Certainly, consider pest results on your own farm, and you probably will have some brand considerations and loyalties. It’s all about confidence that I’ve got a good mix that will produce good yield in a normal crop year. I use the data to make new entries,” Brown says.

Neighboring States’ Data

If you farm near the state line or a neighboring state’s research station has soils similar to that on your farm, then study data from that state as well. Such is the case for producers in the Panhandle of Florida or southern Alabama and Georgia.

Libbie Johnson, Extension agent for field crops in Escambia County, Florida, says producers across the Panhandle have the option to look at Florida, Alabama and even Georgia’s data to make their variety selections.

“To aid in your decision making, there’s 2021 cotton trials completed across the Panhandle. Also look at Auburn’s information from Brewton, Fairhope and the Wiregrass. The University of Georgia does many trials across the state both on dryland and irrigated,” Johnson says.

In the end, Brown says it’s good to settle on three to five varieties. “The AU Variety Selection Platform is a tool that takes time to figure out how to use proficiently, but that time and effort will be rewarded with a wealth of information.”

COTTONFARMING.COM

THRIVING IN COTTON

Farming For The Future In West Texas

M

“

y grandfather, Will Harris, originally farmed cotton in East Texas,” says West Texas cotton producer Stacy Smith. “He eventually moved to the New Home, Texas, area and farmed the land I live on today. After receiving a marketing degree from Texas Tech University, I had the opportunity to come home and farm on my own. Also, my father-in-law is from a multi-generational farm family. After he retired, I had the privilege of stepping into his operation that furthered mine.”

Today, Smith and his wife operate as S&A Smith Farms in Lynn County, Texas. They primarily grow cotton but also raise grain sorghum, corn and wheat. The cotton acres are about 50-50 dryland to irrigated.

Variety Selection Includes The ‘Entire Package’ In 2021, they planted PhytoGen® brand varieties that included PHY 332 W3FE and PHY 443 W3FE. This season, the West Texas farmer says he will plant these same two varieties and also is considering the new PHY 411 W3FE. “When making variety choices, I look at the benefits of the entire package,” Smith says. “Vigor is very important, especially in West Texas. We need a strong, early start to endure some of the weather conditions we have at that time of year.

“The biggest challenge in my area is reniform nematode, so I am looking for reniform resistance in a variety. This trait allows me to continue growing cotton in upcoming years and reduce my nematode populations, too.

“I strongly believe in crop rotation for soil health. But on some of our drip irrigated fields, reniform-resistant varieties allow me to plant cotton in successive years.”

Smith says the PhytoGen team helps with his variety choices at the beginning of the season, and they also follow up with him throughout the year to answer questions and provide tips for maximum production.

“The PhytoGen team follows up with me multiple times during the season. It’s encouraging that they come walk the fields with me. We’ll also check on the test plot. They care about how the new varieties perform on my farm.”

Sustainability And The Benefits Of Science In terms of sustainability, Smith says farmers want to make their farms better and preserve the land for future generations.

The key to solving some of the issues that he faces today is the new traits and the science behind them that allows cotton farmers to go forward, he adds.

™®

PhytoGen, the PhytoGen Logo are trademarks of Corteva Agriscience and its affiliated companies.

Stacy Smith primarily farms cotton in Lynn County, Texas, where he says PhytoGen® W3FE varieties provide what he needs to thrive in West Texas.

“On my operation, for example, the primary focus has been the reniform nematode, and PhytoGen was on the forefront of that,” Smith says. “The bacterial blight resistance, root-knot nematode resistance and Verticillium wilt tolerance are also important. I can’t stress enough the science that is behind all this. Because of the traits in the PhytoGen varieties, I have acres that will continue to be in cotton that otherwise would have gone to other crops.”

Water availability is another concern in West Texas. Farmers depend on rainfall for their dryland acres and source their irrigation water from the Ogallala Aquifer and private wells.

“We are becoming more efficient with our water in the best ways we can,” Smith says. “It’s important in West Texas to consider how we can go forward with the irrigation water that we have.”

Looking To The Future When asked what keeps him motivated every day, Smith says farming is his passion.

“The key is to love farming enough to do it for free during a devasting year and then look forward to doing it again,” he says. “I believe American farmers are doing everything they can to keep the land available and sustainable for the children who want to do it as well.”

Students and faculty stationed at the Eastern Shore Agricultural Research and Extension Center in Painter, Virginia, use advanced technologies, such as drones, to improve the practices of large- and small-scale farming operations.

Continued from page 6

“What I’ve done is evaluate these practices to make the cropping system more resilient, more sustainable, and to also reduce the use of pesticides,” Lopez says. “We’re not necessarily trying to eliminate the use of pesticides, but we are trying to make their use more compatible with other types of pest management.”

More recently, Lopez is using data analytics and machine learning to study and predict the spatial (space) and temporal (time) distribution patterns of pests and natural enemies — the arthropods that feed on pests, such as parasitoid wasps, predatory insects, predatory mites and spiders.

“I’ve released predatory mites, for example, on squash plants, and then I collect samples in the field,” Lopez says. “After I sample them, I make maps that show where these pests and natural enemies are distributed in the area of the crop and how they relate.”

The use of predatory mites as biological control agents in pest management programs has become a common practice in specialty crops in the last few decades to suppress small and soft-bodied insect and mite pests. This technique is very common in some fruit and vegetable crops, as well as some ornamental crops.

From this data, Lopez hopes she, and, eventually, farmers will be able to better predict the number of pests and natural enemies at different locations to target, control and prevent them.

From Point A To Point B

Researchers at the Agricultural Research and Extension Centers are constantly considering the needs of farmers in their region.

This summer, Lopez worked on a distribution map of spider

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COTTON FARMING | MARCH 2022

mites in tomato crops, a common commodity of Eastern Shore farms.

“It’s exciting to let the farmers know that we have this technology,” Lopez said. “We can see where the spider mites go, where they are coming from, “It’s exciting to let and how they are going to move around over time. the farmers know But, how can I make these that we have this models useful for growers?

I can produce these modtechnology.” els, but how can I provide them this tool and make it easy for them to use in their everyday lives? It’s a very challenging and complicated concept — one that is hard to move from point A to point B. But, it’s also very rewarding to know that eventually, we’re going to find a way.”

Stakeholders’ feedback is also valuable, he says.

“That’s the part of this job that is very rewarding to me,” Quezada says. “You get a grower that says, ‘This is a great idea.

Let me use it.’”

Lopez and Quezada agree that solving these complex problems is a never-ending cycle but so is the learning component.

“We learn something new every day, whether it’s from other researchers, growers or any line of information that comes in,” Quezada says. “That keeps things moving and challenging.”

Aside from their passion for research and the Eastern Shore Agricultural Research and Extension Center, Lopez and Quezada also share an affinity for one another — the talented pair of researchers recently married.

Mary Hardbarger is a public relations writer at Radford University.

COTTONFARMING.COM

MID-SOUTH REPORT

Arkansas farmer Jesse Flye discusses specific ways cover crops can be beneficial to cotton producers.

Cover Crops Can Decrease Input Costs

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Among the benefits of cover crop recently attended the Conservation farming in cotton is the decreased Systems Cotton and Rice Conference need for insecticides, giving farmers an in Jonesboro, Arkansas. One of the advantage in terms of labor costs. Overmost discussed cotton issues was the spraying insecticides can eradicate both rising cost of inputs. It is no secret that the helpful and harmful pests living in inputs, such as fuel and fertilizer, will be fields. The ecosystem created by a cover at an all-time high for many farmers in crop allows beneficial insects to survive. the United States.

With higher costs on the horizon, Dr. Cover Crops And Water Bill Roberston, University of Arkansas Finally, Robertson and Flye’s presenResearch and Extension, and cotton proBY GRANT SAUM tations highlighted how planting a cover ducer Jesse Flye of Jonesboro, Arkansas, UNION CITY, TENNESSEE crop prevents water depletion in the soil presented at the conference addressing profile, specifically in times of drought. strategies to improve cotton profitability.

Robertson, with funding from Cotton Incorporated, has studied Biodiversity created from the cover crop in the soil allows for the use of cover crops to protect and improve soil health for better water infiltration, thus combatting erosion and pooling in the fields. The water penetrates the ground, generating minimal years. But what does all that research mean for the farmer? runoff and leading to more efficient field irrigation overall.

Cover Crops, Weeds, Insects “We have data showing an increase in water infiltration by Arkansas cotton producer Jesse Flye started his presentation four or five times when a cover crop is used, compared to infilby posing a question on many farmers’ minds, “Can cover crops tration rates without cover,” Robertson says. “We also see cover decrease inputs and increase soil health?” Flye surmised that crops as a way to prevent soil compaction because of the comcover crop farming could be beneficial in three main categories: plex root systems they can develop.”

The takeaway from all this information is that each of these weed suppression, insect pressure and irrigation efficiency.

A potential shortage of herbicides and crop protection prod- cover crop benefits directly correlates to reducing input costs. ucts combined with growing weed resistance in row crop fields I’m sure producers will be cautious coming into spring planting could make this season particularly challenging for weed control. and are considering many approaches to help protect against “There are several things that cover crops will do, including rising input costs.

Thanks to research funded by Cotton Incorporated and coninhibiting germination of other plants,” Flye says. “With less ducted by the University of Arkansas, Mid-South cotton progermination, you’ll see less emergence of unwanted weeds.”

Planting a well-seeded cover crop before the first freeze ducers have access to proven cover crop strategies that can help allows the resulting biomass to outcompete weeds and the farm- protect their bottom line. er to lay the groundwork for a successful spring crop. Following termination of the cover crop, residue can block sunlight and Grant Saum is the Mid-South Regional Communications Manager reduce germination. for The Cotton Board. Email him at gsaum@cottonboard.org.

TWITTER: @COTTONFARMING

MARCH 2022 | COTTON FARMING

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Industry News University of Missouri Names New Cotton Specialist U. S. Cotton Trust Protocol Enrollment Deadline Nears Enrollment for the 2021 crop in the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol is open until March 31. Producers should enroll their 2021 crop information by that deadline to be eligible for any revenue sharing that may be available in 2022.

As supply chain membership grows, please encourage producers you know to join this sustainability initiative now to help ensure there is enough cotton in the system to meet demand.

A video, which can be found at https://trustuscotton.org/member-ben efits/growers/, provides interested producers step-by-step directions for complete enrollment. For additional assistance, please contact the Trust Protocol office at 901-274-9030.

More details on the Trust Protocol are at www.TrustUSCotton.org, and questions can be directed to the Grower Helpdesk at growers@trustuscotton.org.

Other program updates can be followed on Facebook at www.facebook.com/trustuscotton and on Instagram at www.instagram.com/trustuscotton/.

USDA Offers Cover Crop Insurance Premium Benefit Agricultural producers who have coverage under most crop insurance policies are eligible for a premium benef it f rom U SDA if t he y pl ante d cover crops in the 2022 crop year. To receive this year’s Pandemic Cover Crop Program benefit, producers must report cover crop acreage by March 15.

The PCCP provides premium support to producers who insured their crop with most insurance policies and planted a qualifying cover crop during the 2022 crop year. The premium support is $5 per acre, but no more than the full premium amount owed.

Go to https://bit.ly/3BfMz6m for more details about the Pandemic Cover Crop Program.

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COTTON FARMING | MARCH 2022

Bradley Wilson joined the University of Missouri College of Agriculture, Fo o d a n d Nat u r a l Resources as an assistant research professor at the Fisher Delta Research, Extension and Education Center Jan. 2. In this role, he will focus on developBradley ing, funding and conWilson ducting field experiments that improve cotton production practices in southeast Missouri.

Wilson’s research and Extension program will focus on agronomics for Missouri cotton producers. The goal for his program is to provide timely, research-based information for cotton producers that can be used as a decision-making tool in their operation.

“I am excited to be with the University of Missouri and thankful for this opportunity,” Wilson says. “The cotton program in 2022 will focus on establishing on-farm variety testing trials and evaluating management strategies that can potentially contribute to increases in profit margins for cotton producers.”

Wilson earned his PhD in crop science from Oklahoma State University.

As a PhD student, Wilson led field data collection and analysis of a number of collaborative projects with Texas A&M AgriLife Research. He evaluated cover crop species and termination timing for dryland cotton production, drip irrigation management in the panhandle and southwestern regions of Oklahoma and statewide on-farm variety trials.

Ted Schneider To Lead NCC Ted Schneider, a Lake Providence, Louisiana, producer, was elected National Cotton Council chairman for 2022 during the organization’s annual meeting in Houston, Texas.

Shawn Holladay, a Ted Lubbock producer, was Schneider elected to the position of vice chairman for 2022.

Before serving as the NCC’s vice chair-

man in 2020 and 2021, Schneider was a NCC director. He has served on and led multiple NCC committees. He previously chaired the NCC’s Committee for the Advancement of Cotton and currently chairs its Sustainability Task Force and Budget Committee.

In 2018 and 2019, Schneider served as president of the NCC’s export promotions arm, Cotton Council International.

He has been an active leader in the NCC’s American Cotton Producers, is a past board member of Cotton Incorporated and is board chairman of the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol. He also is a past president of the Louisiana Cotton and Grain Association.

Since 1984, Schneider has been the owner/operator of a Lake Providencebased 3,600-acre diversified farming operation in northeast Louisiana and southeast Arkansas. Dedicated to sustainable, responsible agricultural production, his primary crops are cotton, corn, soybeans, rice, wheat and grain sorghum. Schneider earned a B.S. in Business Administration from Louisiana State University. He and his wife, Renee, have three children.

Elected as a NCC vice president was Sammy Wright, a Tifton, Ga., cottonseed processor.

Re-elected as NCC vice presidents were: Jordan Lea, a Greenville, S.C., merchant; Robin Perkins, a Sanford, N.C., textile manufacturer; Kirk Gilkey, a Corcoran, Calif., ginner; Jay Cowart, an Altus, Okla., warehouser; and Kevin Brinkley, marketing cooperative executive. Elected as secretary-treasurer is Mark McKean, a producer from Riverdale, California.

Re-elected as NCC staff officers were: Gary Adams, president and chief executive officer; Marjory Walker, vice president, Operations; Jody Campiche, vice president, Economics and Policy Analysis; Reece Langley, vice president, Washington Operations; John Gibson, vice president, Member Ser vices; Don Parker, vice president, Technical Services; Tas Smith, vice president, Producer Affairs; and Harrison Ashley, vice president, Ginner Services.

COTTONFARMING.COM

Georgia’s Top Cotton Producers Honored For 2021 Crop

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he 2021 G eorgia Quality Cotton Awards were presented at the 2022 Georgia Cotton Commission Annual Meeting in Tifton, Georgia.

The Georgia Cotton Commission and Bayer Crop Science/Deltapine co-sponsor the awards, which are administered by the University of Georgia Cotton Team. Yangxuan Liu with the UGA Cotton Team conducted the analysis and presented the 2021 Georgia Quality Cotton awards at the annual meeting.

The purpose of the awards is to recognize producers and ginners of high-quality cotton fiber and to identify their production practices to help other growers improve their yields.

The winning producers and their gins received a plaque, and the winning producers received $500 cash. The UGA County Extension agent for each winner was also recognized as they work closely with the farmers during the growing season.

And The Winners Are…

The awards are given in three cotton acreage categories: 1) less than 500 acres, 2) 500 to 1,000 acres, and 3) greater than 1,000 acres within the four regions of the state.

Winners are determined by the loan value and premiums of their cotton. The winners’ excellent achievements are due largely to their management practices and expertise.

Congratulations to the following regional winners: Region 1 – West Georgia

Less than 500 acres: Grower – Cole Thompson, Pulaski County; Ginner – Arabi Gin Co., Arabi; Extension Agent – Jay Porter.

500-1,000 acres: Grower – Eddie Luke Farms, Crisp County; Ginner – Arabi Gin Co., Arabi; Extension Agent – Joshua Grant.

1,000+ acres: Grower – Scotty Raines Farms, Turner County ; Ginner – Sconyers Gin and Warehouse, Sycamore; Extension Agent – Guy Hancock.

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Cole Thompson (center) was presented with the overall Best Cotton Award at the Georgia Cotton Commission Annual Meeting in Tifton, Georgia. Joining him from left are Craig Huckaby, Arabi Gin Co.; Jay Porter, University of Georgia Extension; Dave Albers, Bayer CropScience; and Taylor Sills, Georgia Cotton Commission.

Region 2 – East Georgia

Less than 500 acres: Grower – Alton Walker, Burke County; Ginner – Bryant’s Gin, Bartow; Extension Agent – Peyton Sapp.

500-1,000 acres: Grower – Robert & Richard McElmurray, Burke County; Ginner – Farmers Gin & Storage, Wadley; Extension Agent – Peyton Sapp.

1,000+ acres: Grower – S & M Farms Partnership, Jefferson County; Ginner – Farmers Gin & Storage, Wadley; Extension Agent – Pamela Sapp Region 3 – Lower Southeast Georgia

Less than 500 acres: Grower – Bert Ponder, Tift County; Ginner – Omega Gin, Omega; Extension Agent – Justin Hand.

500-1,000 acres: Grower – Millirons Farms, Lowndes County; Ginner — BCT Gin Co., Inc., Quitman; Extension Agent – Joshua Dawson.

1,000+ acres: Grower – Herbert Price Farms, Brooks County; Ginner – BCT Gin Co. Inc., Quitman; Extension Agent – Michasia Dowdy.

Region 4 – Lower Southwest Georgia

Less than 500 acres: Grower – John

Bulloch, Thomas County; Ginner – Boston Gin Co., Boston; Extension Agent – Sydni Barwick.

500-1,000 acres: Grower – Mourning Dove Farms, Miller County; Ginner – Clover Leaf Gin, Inc., Donalsonville; Extension Agent – Cindy Meadows.

1,000+ acres: Grower – Heard Family Farms, Decatur County; Ginner – Clover Leaf Gin Inc., Donalsonville; Extension Agent – Cindy Meadows.

The final award presented was the overall Best Cotton Award. This was given to the Georgia cotton producer with the highest loan value and premium. The 2021 Best Cotton Award went to Pulaski County’s Cole Thompson with a loan value of 57.70 cents per pound and a premium of 5.70 cents per pound.

Thompson says he had three fields of NG 4936 B3XF that produced these high numbers.

“We were really wet last year,” he says.

“The cotton didn’t look that great, but it graded well. The quality was good.”

The Georgia Cotton Commission contributed information for this article.

MARCH 2022 | COTTON FARMING

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Specialists Speaking

Be Prepared For Potential Challenges FLORIDA David Wright

The plans for the 2022 cotton season are well underway. Many good Bollgard 3 varieties are available with many other technologies to help growers against nematodes, weeds and insects. Choosing the best varieties can increase profit by $50-200 per acre.

Growers are finding fertilizer prices up as much as double since last year and cheaper nitrogen sources are still being shopped around.

Since two-thirds of our cotton is grown without irrigation, the current La Niña weather phase is of concern. Those who use cover crops should consider an earlier kill to keep drying the soil prior to planting.

Weather is important throughout the season but harvest may be the most important time. The past two years in parts of the Panhandle had wet conditions, resulting in boll rot and hard lock. Recent years had cotton yields of nearly 900 lbs. per acre with good harvest conditions.

In 2021, our state yield averaged about 700 lbs. per acre of lint due to wet conditions at harvest.

Late-planted cotton did better the past two years since it was not open in late August when early planted cotton started opening under wet conditions. It is difficult to guess what the weather will be like at harvest and where hurricanes will land. wright@ufl.edu

GEORGIA Camp Hand

It is hard to believe it is already time to start thinking about planting for the 2022 growing season. For my friends in Georgia, I hope we have turned the page on 2021 and are preparing for 2022.

The No. 1 thing at the forefront of everyone’s minds is input costs. Although many are looking for ways to cut some costs, one thing we don’t need to do is overlook the small stuff. For example, take time before you get to the field to make sure your planter is operating correctly, and everything is tuned up. With margins being razor thin this season, the last thing we need to do is have something go wrong right out the gate with stand establishment.

Make sure to control the things you can. One great resource for tuning up your planter is the Row Crop Planter Checklist from our precision ag specialists here at the University of Georgia — Drs. Wes Porter and Simer Virk. The checklist can be found here: https://bit.ly/3sMdPpn. If we can’t get a good stand and get the crop off to a good start, then all the money spent on fertilizer won’t do much good.

Another issue many are thinking about relative to input costs is increased price of chemicals because of shortages. In cotton, this would mainly be glyphosate and glufosinate. It’s never a good idea to cut residual herbicides out of a weed management program. But with the anticipated shortages this year, now isn’t the time to rely solely on post-emergence herbicides for weed control.

The good news is, as I write this Feb. 10, cotton prices are good. According to our UGA economists Dr. Yangxuan Liu and Amanda Smith, we can still make money planting cotton in Georgia.

For those who have had us in your county this winter for production meetings, we have thoroughly enjoyed being back on the road and seeing everyone in person. If we haven’t been to your county yet, we look forward to seeing you over the next two weeks! As always, your local UGA county Extension agent and specialists are here to help! Reach out if you have any questions. camphand@uga.edu

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NORTH CAROLINA Guy Collins

As I write this on Feb. 3, attendance at our winter cotton county production meetings — thus far — has been noticeably high. This is indicative of heightened interest in cotton for 2022, as well as pandemic fatigue that prohibited us from meeting in-person last year.

Regardless, it has been nice to renew our winter meetings with excellent attendance, especially coming out of 2021 with one of the best cotton years (in general) that we’ve had in recent history.

March is a great time to evaluate tillage practices to determine if any changes are necessary. Particularly on sandier textured soils, we often observe the effect of a hardpan formation in fields that have been in long-term no-till. In many/most cases, we often see a shallow-rooted and/or a J-rooted crop resulting from a shallow hardpan that exists well above the E-horizon or clay layer.

In most cases, the potential problems associated with a shallow-rooted crop often go unnoticed due to a lack of a comparison “check” in the same field. A shallow-rooted crop can still result in high yields but is heavily reliant on very timely rains throughout the season. Any interruption in rainfall — especially when temperatures are high — will commonly result in premature wilting due to reduced root access to subsoil moisture, as well as drought tolerance, poor nutrient uptake and reduced yields.

Therefore, in sandier-textured soils — if such a hardpan exists — growers may want to consider running a strip-till rig to “reset the clock”, so to speak, to allow for better root development, improved drought tolerance and uptake of nutrients and improved yields when droughty situations occur. guy_collins@ncsu.edu

ALABAMA Steve M. Brown

This season comes with challenges of high input costs, product shortages, market volatility and political uncertainties. At least we have strong prices … currently. Obvious questions: Are there places to cut input costs? How can we wisely reduce risks?

Here are a few thoughts, some obvious and cliché-like, others requiring careful assessment of individual operations and fields.

We must PRODUCE. We need strong yields to cover costs. And we need to secure a good price. On this date, Dec ’22 futures opened at $106.11. Contracting a portion of expected bales at this price ranges seems prudent. What happens if Russia invades Ukraine? Good yields with good prices keep us profitable.

Proper TIMING maximizes the efficacy and value of each and every input. Think about the results from timely applications for thrips or Palmer amaranth versus those delayed a few days. Same costs, vastly different outcomes.

Research encourages a consideration of REDUCED SEEDING RATES. A 2019 global review of cotton seeding rate experiments determined that a final plant population of just over 14,000 plants per acre is sufficient for normal yields. Arkansas researchers recently described their work with variable seeding rates and concluded that a threshold of slightly more than 1 plant per foot was adequate for maximum yields.

This is not to suggest you plant less than 2 seeds per foot, but if your rates exceed 33,000 per acre, you might consider a reduction of a couCOTTONFARMING.COM

Specialists Speaking ple of thousand seed per acre. Typical establishment rates (seeding rate versus actual stand) are often between 70% and 90 percent. Many growers could save a few dollars on seed.

FERTILIZE WISELY, JUDICIOUSLY. Soil scientists preach the 4 R’s: Right product (source), Right rate, Right placement, Right timing. Nitrogen is of particular concern, given its cost and importance in growth and productivity. Excessive N rates not only waste money, but also create problems with foliar diseases, hard lock, boll rot, crop maturity and defoliation.

On-going research continues to support an N rate of 90 lbs. Making the most of applied N also involves considerations about application procedures and additives to minimize volatilization and/or leaching. cottonbrown@auburn.edu

MISSISSIPPI Brian Pieralisi

With planting season a few short months away, it is time to consider a few last-minute items to get primed for planting.

January and February have been a little different this year than most with more time spent contemplating burndown applications due to supply shortages of certain herbicides.

Implementing a solid fertility management plan is essential due to increases in fertilizer costs. Soil tests are important under these circumstances to make informed application decisions. It’s wise to consider reduced rates of phosphorus and potassium fertilizers as long as soil test values are medium to medium-high. Some growers may choose not to apply fertilizer at all depending on the cash flow needed to float their budget. In terms of fertility, crop removal is constant so it will play into the equation at some point. There are resources available to help with cotton fertility decisions and BMP. Visit www.mississip pi-crops.com to find a wealth of information.

Equipment parts like buster sweeps, disc pans and bearings are a bit harder to come by than in years past. Anticipate the necessary parts to keep the daily field activities running smoothly, and have these supplies handy. Given the short planting windows we have had lately, it would be unfortunate to miss out due to a supply shortage.

Variety selection has become an increasingly difficult task affecting cotton producers. More varieties are becoming available with new technologies at an alarming rate. Many of these varieties have somewhat limiting data regarding yield and fiber quality characteristics. In Mississippi, there is a trend towards adopting three-gene Bt cotton.

For more information on Mississippi cotton variety performance data, visit www.mississippi-crops.com/cotton. bkp4@msstate.edu

TENNESSEE Tyson Raper

High fertilizer costs have been a hot topic over the past several months.

There are several obvious steps to help capitalize on every cent spent— relying on soil tests, properly managing soil pH and properly timing each application with the proper rate, the best source and the best placement — just to name a few.

One practice you may not be considering but should be is using is an in-season dry fertilizer application as a carrier for residual herbicides you might not otherwise be able to apply over the top in cotton. Dr. Larry Steckel has been evaluating the practice with Zidua and found excellent results; when applied at labeled rates to dry foliage, no injury was observed.

Timing can line up well with nitrogen, sulfur and/or potassium applications.

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This may alter your standard fertilizer application timings, but it is a worthwhile practice to incorporate a valuable product in the system. traper@utk.edu

LOUISIANA Matt Foster

Cotton acreage in Louisiana is expected to increase substantially this year. Now is a great time to review a few key recommendations to ensure the 2022 season gets off to a great start.

In Louisiana, cotton is generally planted in midApril to mid-May, but planting decisions should be based on soil temperature, not the calendar. Early planting is a key component of successful cotton production; however, if planted too early, yield potential can be reduced. Before deciding to plant, it is important to consider factors such as soil temperature and heat units (DD60s).

Soil temperature is the main factor influencing seedling growth rate.

Cool soils (below 50 degrees Fahrenheit) can cause chilling injury to germinating plants. Chilling injury can reduce vigor and increase the likelihood of seedling disease issues. Good germination and emergence can be expected once the soil temperature at a four-inch depth is 65 degrees Fahrenheit or greater at 8 a.m. for at least three consecutive days, with a good five-day forecast following planting.

Once soil temperature is optimal, it is important to calculate the number of DD60s for the next five days to determine if conditions are optimal for planting. Emergence generally occurs after the accumulation of 50 to 80 DD60s after planting. If the five-day forecast after planting predicts the accumulation of less than 26 DD60s, planting should be postponed. Also, the low temperature for the next five days should remain above 50 degrees Fahrenheit.

Creating a weed-free seedbed is essential in avoiding problems from certain insect pests. Pre-plant, burndown herbicide applications should be made at least four weeks prior to planting to ensure no green vegetation is in the field for insect pests to survive on. It is also important to control weedy host plants on field borders to reduce the chance of insect pests moving into adjacent cotton fields later in the season. With some herbicides in short supply this year, it will be imperative to make every application count.

The Louisiana Weed Management and Insect Management Guides are available at https://bit.ly/3gPEtrK. Best of luck during the upcoming season. mfoster@agcenter.lsu.edu

ARKANSAS Bill Robertson

Planting intentions for 2022 are still up in the air as everyone is following the markets for grain and cotton.

Current and predicted weather patterns will also play into the equation.

The most recent planting intention survey released by the National Cotton Council mid-February indicated cotton plantings in Arkansas at 555,000 acres, up 15.7% from last year. One of the major limitations of significant acreage expansion in Arkansas is our picker capacity. Our current picker capacity is stretched thin.

Regardless of what we plant, we must be smart to get the most out of our inputs. We need to watch our costs but provide necessary inputs to protect yield potential.

Variety selection for yield and quality is an important first step in establishing our yield potential. Matching nutrient applications to the crop requirements, utilizing all IPM tools to manage pests and using tools like the Pipe Planner irrigation program can represent real savings in cost, preserve yield potential and help improve our efficiency MARCH 2022 | COTTON FARMING

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Specialists Speaking and conserve natural resources.

Burndown programs will hopefully be put in motion soon. Those who planted a cover crop likely did so with the objective of improving soil health and helping with pigweed control. A thin or skippy stand of cover crops will often open the door for weeds and other problems.

Early termination of broadleaf weeds in February or March in our grass-based covers is recommended if they are present. Termination of straight cereal rye cover crops ahead of cotton should be considered in early April to avoid potential issues. Diverse blends of cover crops are more suited for those who want to plant cotton in green standing cover.

Our immediate goal for the 2022 crop is to start with a good stand of healthy, fast-growing cotton plants. Contact your local county Extension agent for more information. brobertson@uada.edu

OKLAHOMA Seth Byrd

There are likely more uncertainties as we enter the 2022 season than we’ve had in several years. While prices continue to be strong, concerns over fertilizer and pesticide availability are on the forefront of everyone’s mind. And while there are numerous things one must consider, I’ve attempted to narrow it down to my top three for 2022 (in no particular order):  As always, variety selection will be key. Whether cutting back on fertilizer to mitigate increased costs, crop protection due to lack of supply — or both — plant a variety that is known for vigorous growth to increase its competitiveness with weeds and minimize the amount of time it’s in susceptible windows for insect damage. It may also be of benefit to spend more time focusing on selecting varieties that have tolerance to pathogens prevalent in your production environment.  By this point, the issues surrounding the supply (or lack) of crop protection products is widely known. The latest news, at least as of mid-February, is there will be an even shorter than anticipated supply of glyphosate. Beyond the typical recommendations of checking generics and purchasing chemical early, it may also be beneficial to dig back into some of the older recommendations from years past, specifically for herbicides. There are several products labeled for cotton that have fallen out of popularity with new traits and formulations. Assuming these are in supply and still on label, these “older” products will increase your flexibility and can still provide optimal weed control when used appropriately.  Budget for soil tests if you haven’t already. I’ve heard from many producers who are ramping up their soil testing programs this year.

While this may seem counter-intuitive, the more accurately we can determine nutrient requirements and residual supply, the more efficient we can be with investing in fertility this year, and the more profitable we can be with strong prices.

While there are countless other factors that should be considered this and every other year, these three seem to be the ones that are constantly popping up in recent conversations.

On a local note, a decent rain or two in Oklahoma over the next few weeks would ease a lot of concerns. seth.byrd@okstate.edu

TEXAS Ben McKnight

As I write this on Feb. 14, producers in the Lower Rio Grande Valley are currently making any final adjustments prior to getting the 2022 cotton crop in the ground. Historically, this growing region usually begins planting cotton in late February, and growers in the Coastal Bend will be close to planting if they haven’t already started by the time this is published in March.

It’s been a somewhat wild intermission between harvesting of the 2021

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COTTON FARMING | MARCH 2022

crop and preparing for the 2022 cotton crop. Product availabilities and input cost increases continue to remain on everyone’s mind going into the next year. These issues —like the weather— are out of our hands, and I anticipate growers will have to make some adjustments to their normal production practices. When speaking at winter extension meetings, I often say that it’s imperative to be a master at controlling the things you can control in your growing operation. This begins with developing a sound management plan prior to planting. That will play an instrumental part in maximizing the efficiency of available input resources.

Insect and disease pressure can vary considerably from year to year, but we generally have a good idea of commonly-occurring or troublesome weed species that we manage in the same production fields every year. I encourage producers to take full advantage of available residual herbicide products as a component to an early-season weed management program. Several of these products have been around for many years and continue to provide consistent weed control, especially on some of our glyphosate-resistant weed populations. By reducing early-season weed pressure 70% to 90% with pre-emergence residual products, we are reducing the pressure we are putting on our post-emergence products applied later in the year.

Overlaying residual herbicides can often stretch weed control even further. It can potentially minimize the reliance of commonly applied post-emergence products or save us an extra herbicide application later in the year. With looming glyphosate product shortages, residual products may help us fill in some of the gaps in our weed management programs for 2022. It is essential to thoroughly read the herbicide label prior to applying to make sure that we are covering all requirements for maximum product activity. This includes — but is not limited to — appropriate rainfall or irrigation amounts for product activation, soil characteristics, and application rates and timings. bmcknight@tamu.edu

ARIZONA Randy Norton

Since the summer of 2012, when glyphosate-resistant pigweed was first detected in the state of Arizona — in the west valley of Phoenix — we have seen a steady increase in the number of fields across the state that contain populations of herbicide-resistant pigweed. This is the case not only in cotton fields, but in crops such as alfalfa, corn and other summer crops.

Complicating the management of these resistant populations is the fact that during monsoons and rainy times, we can get an explosion of Palmer amaranth pigweed in non-crop areas across the state. A recent survey conducted by the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension, along with the Arizona Cotton Research and Protection Council, has found that there are still less than 10% of cotton production fields across the state that have unmanaged populations of pigweed. This means the majority of our growers are doing an excellent job of managing weeds in their production systems. However, it is still incumbent upon all of us to be vigilant to ensure these populations do not spread.

One of the most important things that a grower can do from a herbicide management perspective is to utilize multiple modes of action in their herbicide program. Utilizing pre-emergence herbicides and herbicides with soil residual characteristics will go a long way in reducing weed pressure. This gives post-emergence herbicides a much better chance of being successful in managing problem weeds.

We have a new member of our UArizona Extension team that started January of this year. Dr. Jose Diaz is our new Extension Weed Specialist with UArizona. You will begin to see him out and about attending meetings and presenting on topics related to weed management. We welcome him wholeheartedly to the team and look forward to his expertise being shared with all of us in the agricultural industry moving forward. rnorton@cals.arizona.edu COTTONFARMING.COM

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Ginners Marketplace COTTON

COTTON FARMING IS THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE GINNING INDUSTRY.

OSHA And Wage And Hour Inspections Increased In 2021 As we discussed a few months ago, inspections from the U.S. Department of Labor were expected to increase during this past ginning season, and it has certainly come to pass. On the Wage and Hour side, there has been a significant increase in the number of inspections in Texas, as well as in the Southeast.

From what we can tell, the emphasis of the Wage and Hour inspections has not changed significantly. They are looking at daily and weekly overtime calculations for H-2A and non-H-2A employees alike. It is important to be sure your payroll folks are very familiar with the overtime rules and how they work.

The most common problems we see in this area deal with the proper payment of daily overtime during the 48-hour overtime weeks. If you are experiencing longer ginning seasons, it is important to keep track of how many 48-hour weeks you have used. The limit is 14 weeks each year.

We have also seen continuing problems with having the proper information on pay stubs. The Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act has specific requirements for the information that must be shown on each pay stub. The two items that seem to give gins the most problems are the employer address and Employer Identification Number. Some of the common payroll programs available to small businesses have a hard time displaying these two items on the paystub.

You can get them included, but it may take a few phone calls with the software help desk. It is important to understand that they are required. If your paystubs do not currently include this information, it would be a good idea to get this issue corrected before you see an inspector. You also need to be sure the last four digits of the employee Social Security number is on each pay stub. This is generally less of a problem for most payroll programs, but worth double checking on your payroll.

Cotton Ginners Marketplace

OSHA In-Person Inspections We are seeing more in-person inspections by Occupational Safety and Health Administration this year, after a few years of mostly virtual inspections. As with Wage and Hour inspections, the subject of the inspections has not really changed.

Almost all our inspections are in response to an accident.

Make sure you have all the proper safety policies in place, and that you train all your workers in these policies. Be sure to document every training session, and have each worker sign an attendance sheet for each training session. This gets harder to do as the ginning season drags out and as you have to replace workers in the middle of the season.

If you do get inspected, these types of documents are critical to your ability to show that each and every worker is properly trained. Your ginners association has a full set of policies and training materials available for their members. Be sure you are using these documents in your training efforts.

COVID Emergency Temporary Standard COVID continues to be a major workplace issue. The CDC has released new recommendations that can be found at https://bit.ly/3GKE6t9. They have shortened the quarantine

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COTTON FARMING | MARCH 2022

period to five days, and in some cases exposed workers do not have to quarantine. While the quarantine time has been shortened, they have also complicated the guidelines. They now have different recommendations depending on whether you are vaccinated, boosted or neither. If you have not checked these recommendations in a few months, it would be good to refamiliarize yourself with these guidelines.

As I write this, the OSHA COVID Emergency Temporary Standard is in place but being reviewed by the Supreme Court. The ETS currently affects employers with more than 100 workers, so most cotton gins will not be affected by the standard. If you do have over 100 workers, the standard is currently in place, but stay tuned for changes. If this rule goes forward, we believe implementation will be extremely difficult. The two biggest issues will be workers who do not want to be vaccinated and a likely shortage of testing materials for unvaccinated workers. In addition, the logistics of tracking and reporting will be a significant challenge.

Regardless of whether the Supreme Court issues a stay to the rule, we probably will be dealing with a proposed permanent OSHA standard for COVID soon. This work is already beginning, and the main thing we will be watching for is the final threshold for employees. If OSHA proposes lowering the employee threshold, this could be a major problem for small employers.

The Supreme Court ruling will probably have a significant effect on the final standard in addition to the ETS. The effect on the final standard will depend on the substance of the Supreme Court ruling. If, for example, the Supreme Court rules that OSHA has over-stepped its authority by regulating COVID in the workplace, that could be a major setback for the ETS and any final rule. If they merely rule that the stay must remain in place while the lower courts look at the ETS, then that will stop the ETS, but the effect on the final rule may be minimal.

As expected, the DOL continues to increase enforcement and develop additional new rules. As a ginners’ association, we are keeping a close eye on these and other rules as they make their way through the process. We will keep you all informed as things change.

J. Kelley Green, TCGA director of technical services, contributed this article. Contact him at kelley@tcga.org.

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MARCH 2022 | COTTON FARMING

21

My Turn Green Peaches

T

here it is, the old home Fred and Sandra looked at each other in horror. place. Sitting at a curve Instantly, they didn’t feel well at all. In fact, there were huge of the dirt road up on knots in their stomachs. They ran through the screen door the crest of the hill, to Grandma for help. There in her usual place, lying on waiting to catch the summer her bed, was Grandma. Except to cook, this was where she breeze before air conditioning spent most of her time anymore, just resting. They crawled was even thought about. Oh, what up in the bed with her and lay down across the end. stories it could tell if it could talk!

By this time, they were moaning, just knowing they The fourth generation now were about to die. They felt their foreheads to see if works the field that comes right they were feverish. They rolled and groaned. They got up to the back porch. Going up Grandma’s spit can from beside the bed because she came Janice and down those rows, you have from the era of grandmas who dipped snuff. They hacked Smith plenty of time to think of stories and spit, all to no avail. “We are dying, Grandma. Oh, told about times gone by. This we’re dying!” They hacked and spit harder. one happened to my husband Fred, as a boy….

All the while, Grandma just listened and watched.

Grandpa and Grandma were the babysitters of choice She had raised nine children of her own. This wasn’t her growing up. Fred and his sister, Sandra, were not quite old first rodeo; she was a very wise woman. She knew that enough to work in the field. While their parents and older Grandpa hoarded his bottled Cokes in the smokehouse. brother were working, they spent their days at Grandpa’s He loved those bottled Cokes even better than peaches house. and drank one at 10 and 4 every day. He was very precise Today, Grandpa’s brother had come for a rare visit. The about the time. If you were there with him, you got one, old-timers sat on the front porch, trying to catch a breeze, too. But if you were late, you missed that Coke for the day. rocking and swapping stoFred and Sandra meanries. It was early summer, a “They were moaning, just knowing while are telling Grandma great day to be alive! that today is the day they they were about to die.”

Fred and Sandra decided are going to die. They can to go play behind the house, just feel they are bound for over by the peach tree. Grandpa was especially fond of the glory world beyond. They discuss how sad the funeral his peaches. He had repeatedly warned the grandkids to will be, while wiping their feverish brows with wet wash leave the green peaches alone so they can get ripe. Besides cloths. Grandma just listened, ’til finally she had heard fighting birds and bugs and blight, he had to fight pesky enough. grandchildren for his lovely peaches.

“You know, I think I remember a cure for eating green But now, with Grandpa busy talking to Uncle Will on peaches,” she said. the front porch, this would be the perfect time to sneak a “You do!?! Oh, Grandma, do you? Tell us quick!!” peach. After all, kids like peaches, too. And who cares if Grandma said, “If you sneak out there to the smokethey’re still a little green. Grandpa would never know if a house and get one of Grandpa’s bottled Cokes and drink couple went missing. it all up, every last drop, then you will be cured. And you So, Fred and Sandra had just finished eating a big, won’t die.” hard green peach. They nonchalantly wandered back Like a shot, out the back door they ran. Straight to the to the front porch, doing a little eavesdropping as they smokehouse, where they opened the weathered old door went. That’s when they heard Uncle Will say, “Walter, did and grabbed the precious cure. Then back through the you hear about the children who died from eating green kitchen for the bottle opener, then back to Grandma. She peaches?” Two sets of ears perked straight up, and two helped them pop the caps off Grandpa’s hoarded Cokes. hearts skipped a beat.

And sure enough…instantly they were cured!

“No, I didn’t hear about that. You don’t say!” said Yes, Grandma was surely a very wise old woman.

Grandpa.

“Oh yeah, it was in our local paper, some young’uns died — Janice Smith from eating green peaches,” Uncle Will said. “It sure was a Wray, Georgia terrible tragedy. But you know how those green peaches are.” cowgranny10@gmail.com Cotton Farming’s back page is devoted to telling unusual “farm tales” or timely stories from across the Cotton Belt. Now it’s your turn. If you’ve got an interesting story to tell, send a short summary to csmith@onegrower.com. We look forward to hearing from you.

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COTTON FARMING | MARCH 2022

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CottonBoard.org The data referenced is from Cotton Incorporated’s Lifestyle Monitor™ survey and the 2016 Seal of Cotton survey. *Seal of Cotton™ introduced by Cotton Incorporated in 1973.

CB20-Logos-CottonFarmer Final.indd 1

2/25/21 11:16 AM

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