37 minute read
SELECT WITH CONFIDENCE
Select Varieties With Confidence
Follow These Steps To Finding The Right Variety Mix
BY AMANDA HUBER
SOUTHEAST EDITOR
Selecting 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.”
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 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.”
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.
THRIVING IN COTTON
Farming For The Future In West Texas
“My 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.
“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.”
Stacy Smith primarily farms cotton in Lynn County, Texas, where he says PhytoGen® W3FE varieties provide what he needs to thrive in West Texas.
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 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, and how they are going to move around over time. But, how can I make these models useful for growers? I can produce these models, 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.
Arkansas farmer Jesse Flye discusses specific ways cover crops can be beneficial to cotton producers.
Cover Crops Can Decrease Input Costs
Irecently attended the Conservation Systems Cotton and Rice Conference in Jonesboro, Arkansas. One of the most discussed cotton issues was the rising cost of inputs. It is no secret that inputs, such as fuel and fertilizer, will be at an all-time high for many farmers in the United States.
With higher costs on the horizon, Dr. Bill Roberston, University of Arkansas Research and Extension, and cotton producer Jesse Flye of Jonesboro, Arkansas, presented at the conference addressing strategies to improve cotton profitability. Robertson, with funding from Cotton Incorporated, has studied the use of cover crops to protect and improve soil health for years. But what does all that research mean for the farmer?
Cover Crops, Weeds, Insects
Arkansas cotton producer Jesse Flye started his presentation by posing a question on many farmers’ minds, “Can cover crops decrease inputs and increase soil health?” Flye surmised that cover crop farming could be beneficial in three main categories: weed suppression, insect pressure and irrigation efficiency.
A potential shortage of herbicides and crop protection products combined with growing weed resistance in row crop fields could make this season particularly challenging for weed control.
“There are several things that cover crops will do, including inhibiting germination of other plants,” Flye says. “With less germination, you’ll see less emergence of unwanted weeds.”
Planting a well-seeded cover crop before the first freeze allows the resulting biomass to outcompete weeds and the farmer to lay the groundwork for a successful spring crop. Following termination of the cover crop, residue can block sunlight and reduce germination.
Among the benefits of cover crop farming in cotton is the decreased need for insecticides, giving farmers an advantage in terms of labor costs. Overspraying insecticides can eradicate both the helpful and harmful pests living in fields. The ecosystem created by a cover crop allows beneficial insects to survive.
Cover Crops And Water
BY GRANT SAUM UNION CITY, TENNESSEE Finally, Robertson and Flye’s presentations highlighted how planting a cover crop prevents water depletion in the soil profile, specifically in times of drought. Biodiversity created from the cover crop in the soil allows for better water infiltration, thus combatting erosion and pooling in the fields. The water penetrates the ground, generating minimal runoff and leading to more efficient field irrigation overall. “We have data showing an increase in water infiltration by four or five times when a cover crop is used, compared to infiltration rates without cover,” Robertson says. “We also see cover crops as a way to prevent soil compaction because of the complex root systems they can develop.” The takeaway from all this information is that each of these cover crop benefits directly correlates to reducing input costs. I’m sure producers will be cautious coming into spring planting and are considering many approaches to help protect against rising input costs. Thanks to research funded by Cotton Incorporated and conducted by the University of Arkansas, Mid-South cotton producers have access to proven cover crop strategies that can help protect their bottom line. Grant Saum is the Mid-South Regional Communications Manager for The Cotton Board. Email him at gsaum@cottonboard.org.
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 benefit from USDA if they planted 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.
University of Missouri Names New Cotton Specialist
Bradley Wilson joined the University of Missouri College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources as an assistant research professor at the Fisher Delta Research, Extension and Education Center Jan. 2. In this role, he Bradley will focus on developWilson ing, funding and conducting 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 Lubbock producer, was 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, Ted vice president, Member Services; Schneider Don Parker, vice president, Technical Services; Tas Smith, vice president, Producer Affairs; and Harrison Ashley, vice president, Ginner Services.
Georgia’s Top Cotton Producers Honored For 2021 Crop
The 2021 Georgia 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. 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. 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.”
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
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 cou-
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.
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
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 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
OWN THE EARLY
