Cotton farming april 2018 by One Grower Publishing

Cotton Farming ONE GROWER PUBLISHING, LLC

PROFITABLE PRODUCTION STRATEGIES

APRIL 2018

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A Tribute To Paul V. Bush

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Texas A&M Studies Optimum Seeding Rates

It’s B-A-A-A-C-K Bacterial Blight Reappears In The Delta, Damaging Fields

CF0418 Layout_CF 11/13 template 3/21/18 4:02 PM Page 2

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®™ DOW Diamond, Colex-D, Enlist, Enlist Duo, the Enlist Logos and Enlist One are trademarks of The Dow Chemical Company (“Dow”) (“Dow”) or an afﬁliated company of Dow. ®PhytoGen PhytoGen is a trademark of PhytoGen Seed Company, LLC. PhytoGen P Seed Company is a joint venture between betw ween Mycogen Corporation, an afﬁliate of Dow w AgroSciences LLC, and the J.G. Boswell Company. Comp pany. The Enlist weed weed ® control system is owned and developed dev veloped by Dow AgroSciences LLC. Enlist Duo and Enlist One herbicides are not registered for f sale or use in all states or counties. Contact Contacct your state pesticide pesticide regulatory agency to determine if if a product is registered for sale or use in your area. a Enlist Duo and Enlist One herbicides are the the only 2,4-D products authorized for use on Enl Enlist list crops. Always read and follow label directions. ©2017 7 Dow D AgroSciences LLC E38-401-028 (10/17)) BR B 010-91311 DAAGNLST7089

Vol. 62 No. 4

Cotton Farming PROFITABLE PRODUCTION STRATEGIES

APRIL 2018

www.cottonfarming.com

F E AT U R E S

IS MORE BETTER?

DROP BY DROP

REMEMBERING PAUL BUSH

GINNING MARKETPLACE

Texas A&M studies examine optimum seeding rates to maximize boll development and yield.

Clemson University helps ensure the state’s vital natural resource — water.

Lubbock Electric Co.’s tribute tells how 100 years changed cotton ginning for the better.

THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE GINNING INDUSTRY

Texas Cotton Ginners’ Association Kelley Green discusses how the ginning industry continues to focus on OSHA issues.

It’s B-A-A-A-C-K

After a decades-long hiatus, bacterial blight reappeared in the Delta in 2011, stirring debate among researchers, consultants and growers about the cause. But they do agree that one of the best ways to manage this bacterial disease is through use of resistant varieties, since no antibiotics are registered for use on cotton.

SUPPLEMENTS TEXAS — WHERE

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APRIL 2018

Weed resists multiple herbicides Rotate effective modes of action to thwart new pigweed biotype

DEPARTMENTS & COLUMNS

4 Editor’s Note 10 Industry News 5 Cotton’s Agenda 12 Specialists Speaking 9 Research & Promotion 22 My Turn ON THE COVER: Bacterial blight reappears in the Delta, prompting calls for use of resistant varieties. Cover photo by Tom Allen.

TCGA ANNUAL MEETING AND TRADE SHOW | | APRIL 5-6, 2018 | | LUBBOCK, TEXAS

Look for the TCGA Annual Meeting and Trade Show program in the Southwest editions of Cotton Farming. Look for Soybean South in the Mid-South and Southeast editions after page 12.

WEB EXCLUSIVE Scott Stewart, University of Tennessee Integrated Pest Management Extension specialist, shares his comments about AgLogic (aldicarb) being labeled in Tennessee. The AgLogic label also is attached. Go to www.cottonfarming.com for this Web Exclusive report.

COTTON FARMING (ISSN 0746-8385) is published monthly January through December by One Grower Publishing LLC, 6515 Goodman Rd., Box 360, Olive Branch, MS 38654. Periodicals postage paid at Memphis, Tenn. 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.

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APRIL 2018 COTTON FARMING

Editor’s Note

Cotton Farming

Carroll Smith

EDITORIAL/PRODUCTION Editor Carroll Smith csmith@onegrower.com Managing Editor Vicky Boyd vlboyd@onegrower.com

A Seat At The Table

lthough you may not embrace her politics, Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) penned an interesting quote when she said, “If you don’t have a seat at the table, you’re probably on the menu.” Many people in the cotton industry may have felt they were being gobbled up like the main course after being cut out as a covered commodity in Title 1 of the Farm Bill. To add insult to injury, farmers were unable to offset their cotton ginning costs, which the U.S. Department of Agriculture-Farm Service Agency says, “is a prerequisite for marketing cotton lint and seed.” But then, a couple of good things happened. On Feb. 9, the National Cotton Council applauded Congress’ passage of a supplemental disaster bill that includes critically needed policy that restores eligibility for cotton in the Title I ARC/PLC programs of the Farm Bill. “This measure will provide cotton producers and lenders some certainty as they prepare for the 2018 growing season,” former NCC Chairman Ronnie Lee says. “The new policy will help ease the financial burden as producers struggle to cover total costs.” And then in early March, Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue stepped up to provide a Cotton Ginning Cost Share program. The NCC quickly shared this good news as well. Current NCC Chairman Ron Craft says, “The U.S. cotton industry strongly commends Secretary Perdue for his efforts to deliver much-needed marketing assistance for our nation’s cotton producers.” Although “having a seat at the table” typically is a figurative expression, it took on a more literal sense to me when I saw a tweet posted by Perdue on March 21. A photo was attached showing him and several other people seated at a large, formal conference table. The tweet said: “The snow outside may have shut down the federal government, but like farmers, we keep working at @USDA. Meeting w/@NCottonCouncil Emerging Leaders, talking trade, Farm Bill.” Yes, there was cotton, literally at the table sharing ideas, making decisions and participating in important conversations about American agriculture. It was a nice feeling to see our commodity in this position again rather than as an item on the menu. I think we have come a long way.

Carroll If you have comments, please send them to: Cotton Farming Magazine, 7201 Eastern Ave., Germantown, TN, 38138. Contact Carroll Smith via email at csmith@onegrower.com.

COTTON FARMING APRIL 2018

Southeast Editor Amanda Huber ahuber@onegrower.com Art Director Ashley Kumpe ADMINISTRATION Publisher/Vice President Lia Guthrie (901) 497-3689 lguthrie@onegrower.com Associate Publisher Carroll Smith (901) 326-4443 Sales Manager Scott Emerson (386) 462-1532 semerson@onegrower.com Production Manager Kathy Killingsworth (901) 767-4020 kkillingsworth@onegrower.com Circulation Manager Charlie Beek (847) 559-7324 For circulation changes or change of address, call (847) 559-7578 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 2018 © ASSOCIATED PUBLICATIONS – One Grower Publishing, LLC also publishes RICE FARMING, THE PEANUT GROWER, SOYBEAN SOUTH and CORN SOUTH.

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Cotton’s Agenda Gary Adams

Seeking Economic Stability Restoring economic stability for the U.S. cotton industry, which includes remaining active in the trade and regulatory arenas, continues to dominate the National Cotton Council’s agenda.

What about recent policy changes?

What are other NCC priorities?

n We were very pleased with Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue’s recent announcement that USDA will provide a Cotton Ginning Cost Share (CGCS) program that offsets a portion of a producer’s 2016 crop season ginning costs — like the previous CGCS program. Payments, which are capped at $40,000 per individual or entity and do not count against the 2014 farm law payment limitations, will be calculated based on a producer’s 2016 cotton acres reported to the Farm Service Agency.

n The NCC continues to secure funding for the industry’s needs in the annual appropriations process. We continue to address unfair trade practices, ranging from the NAFTA re-negotiation to access to international markets and cotton discussions within the World Trade Organization.

To be eligible, a producer must meet conservation compliance provisions, be actively engaged in farming and have adjusted gross incomes not exceeding $900,000. The program sign-up period ends on May 11, 2018. Regional per-acre payment rates and other information can be obtained by contacting the local FSA office or at www.fsa.usda.gov/ cgcs. The CGCS relief will help fill cotton producers’ safety net void until the new seed cotton PLC/ARC program (which I From left: NCC Chairman Ron Craft, 2017 NCC wrote about in my Chairman Ronnie Lee, and Agriculture Secretary M ar c h c ol um n) Sonny Perdue visit after Perdue’s announcement is implemented beginning with of a new ginning cost share program. the 2018 crop year. Monitoring this program’s implementation and advancing it are key NCC priorities. Other NCC recommendations for the 2018 farm bill include: maintaining the seed cotton program, improvements in operation of the marketing loan, cotton flow enhancements, more resources for the economic adjustment assistance for U.S. textile mills, and improvements for the “actively engaged” definition for program eligibility.

We remain very involved on numerous regulatory issues, including pollinator protection activities, the registration and re-registration of critically important crop protection products, and development of a new Waters of the U.S. rule. We are working closely with the National Cotton Ginners Association as well as state and regional gin associations to address the Food & Drug Administration’s animal feed rule that could affect certain gins and require costly assessments and controls to be put in place with respect to cottonseed. Through our Quality Task Force, the NCC is: 1) closely monitoring lint contamination incidences being reported by our textile customers, 2) developing contamination prevention educational programs and 3) identifying and providing support for research projects to detect/ remove contamination at the gin. Another priority is advancing our Sustainability Task Force’s goals for measurable and continual improvements in environmental stewardship, farm productivity and resource efficiency. At the direction of the NCC Board, we are continuing to evaluate ways to strengthen our sustainability message, including opportunities for increasing our producers’ involvement with farm-level assessment tools. This new effort should help expand major textile brands and retailers’ acceptance that U.S. cotton not only is responsibly produced but that our producers continue to work to shrink their environmental footprint.

Gary Adams is president/CEO of the National Cotton Council of America. He and other NCC leaders contribute columns on this Cotton Farming magazine page. Twitter: @CottonFarming

APRIL 2018 COTTON FARMING

COVER STORY

Characteristic symptoms of bacterial blight of cotton on bracts and bolls.

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s B-A-A-A-C-K Bacterial Blight Reappears In The Delta, Damaging Fields And Prompting Repeated Calls For Use Of Resistant Varieties. BY VICKY BOYD MANAGING EDITOR

ince bacterial blight reappeared in the Mississippi Delta in 2011 after a decadeslong hiatus, researchers and consultants continue to debate the cause. But one thing they agree upon is one of the best ways to manage this bacterial disease is through use of resistant varieties, since no antibiotics are registered for use on cotton. That may be easier said than done because some varieties bred for the Delta that also have desirable herbicide, worm and disease traits are in limited supply. Although researchers and consultants also are promoting deep tillage as a way to reduce the potential

COTTON FARMING APRIL 2018

source of overwintering inoculum that carries over from season to season on plant residue, at least a few say the practice is impractical because growers have adopted reduced tillage or no-till. Rotation out of cotton for a year also can help reduce the likelihood bacterial blight in subsequent seasons. But cotton prices, rather than disease pressures, often dictate producersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; actions. Why The Disease Resurgence? Tom Allen, Mississippi State University Extension and Research plant pathologist based at the Delta Research and Education Center in Stoneville, has

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“I’m not so sure I didn’t see it before, but I didn’t know what I was looking at. I remember seeing it in 2011. It was bad, and there was nothing we could do about it.” ANDY GRAVES, Graves Agronomy Consulting

“I’m not so sure I didn’t see it before, but I didn’t know what I was looking at,” he says. “I remember seeing it in 2011. It was bad, and there was nothing we could do about it.” But Graves says he doesn’t agree with the seedborne theory. He had two seed growers plant the same variety from the same lot in side-by-side fields. One Twitter: @CottonFarming

PHOTOS BY TOM ALLEN, MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY

been promoting bacterial blight awareness for the past several seasons. He most recently spoke on the subject at the 2018 Beltwide Cotton Conferences in San Antonio, Texas. For those who haven’t heeded his past advice to plant resistant varieties, Allen says he frequently ends up observing bacterial blight in field situations throughout Mississippi during the cotton season. Why the disease reappeared in the Delta in 2011, causing economic damage in many fields, has been the subject of debate. Calling it an “uncomfortable subject,” Allen says he has his own theories. “I think it’s clearly seedborne over a large percentage of the acres, especially in places where people had not planted cotton for a number of years,” he says. “Most of the calls I’ve looked at since 2011 have been field situations where cotton was not grown for several years. In these specific situations, where cotton has not been common in the rotation, the big question is where the bacterial blight came from. The bacterium does not move great distances on its own. The bacterium cannot survive in soil for a long time. Even though the organism can survive on residue between seasons, seed remains one of the more important sources of inoculum.” Mike Robinson, eastern U.S. breeding manager for Bayer CropScience in Leland, Mississippi, says he suspects the organism may have been in the Delta since the previous outbreaks of the 1970s. But pathogen levels were so low they didn’t cause attention-grabbing damage. Changes in production practices, including varieties with different genetics, as well as the weather may have created the so-called “perfect storm” for the pathogen. “I don’t think it’s here to stay, Robinson says. “I think it’s always been here. I think it’s a combination of factors that allowed it to explode in the manner it has.” Andy Graves, owner of Graves Agronomy Consulting in Clarksdale, Mississippi, described the fields he walked in 2011 as “ground zero” for the bacterial blight outbreak.

Bacterial blight starts as small, water-soaked lesions on the leaf underside. As it progresses, the lesions become angular leaf spots with red to brown borders. developed bacterial blight; the other didn’t. If it were seedborne, he says he would have expected both fields to become infected. Breeding For Blight Resistance Although many seed companies for some time have had blight-resistant varieties suited to West Texas, where the disease was troublesome, they didn’t have nearly as many suited to the Mid-South. That changed with the 2011 outbreak. “I think every seed company is working to have blight resistance in their lines,” Robinson says. “Before 2011, it wasn’t an issue in this part of the Cotton Belt. Bayer, for example, already had blight resistance in many of its FiberMax varieties for West Texas, he says. Breeders were able to take that resistance and cross it with Stoneville varieties for the Mid-South to incorporate in the trait. Within the past three years, Bayer has released a handful Stoneville varieties for the Mid-South with bacterial blight resistance, says Andy White, Bayer principle agronomist in Holcomb, Mississippi. And more are in the pipeline. Nevertheless, choosing a variety with bacterial blight resistance may not be a high priority for growers, Allen says. Robinson says he believes the level of bacterial blight damage in a field may influence a grower choosing to stick with a tried-and-true variety rather than a newer one with bacterial blight resistance. “If a grower has blight on whatever percent of their acres but he doesn’t see damage or any other issues, is he going to look for a resistant variety to plant this year or just say, ‘This isn’t that bad?’” he says. APRIL 2018 COTTON FARMING

Become Familiar With Bacterial Blight Bacterial blight, also called angular leaf spot, is caused by the Xanthomonas citri pv. malvacearum. In seed infections, the pathogen enters the chalaza, or round end of the seed, where it can subsequently enter the embryo. The bacterium also can contaminate the seed surface or attached lint. As a result, seed companies began using an acid delinting process in the 1970s to reduce the presence of the bacterium on the seed surface. But acid delinting does not eradicate the organism from the outside of the seed and does nothing to reduce the presence of the bacterium in the embryo. The bacterium also can hitchhike in on equipment used previously in infested fields. Once a primary inoculum source is established in a field, the pathogen enters cotton plants through natural openings such as stomates or through injuries created by equipment, personnel or wind. All of these are secondary sources of infection. Bacterial blight starts as small, water-soaked lesions on the leaf underside. As it progresses, the lesions become angular leaf spots with red to brown borders. Under conducive conditions of prolonged leaf wetness and temperatures in the 80s, the spots increase in size and numbers, eventually coalescing. Eventually, petioles and stems may become infected. Severe leaf and petiole infection can lead to premature defoliation. Bolls also may become infected, resulting in water-soaked crater-like depressions that may result in boll rot from

Note the angular appearance of the lesions on the underside of this leaf. The water-soaked appearance around the lesion is a diagnostic characteristic early in the morning. The Criteria Behind Variety Selection MSU conducts OVTs, or Official Variety Trails, each year that involve dozens of different varieties at nine different locations in the state. Researchers rate each one on a number of factors, including yield, lint quality and loan value. Although Allen says the varieties are a broad representation of the genetics available, most growers select only from among the very top yield-producing performers. Graves agrees and says new herbicide traits also rank high in selection criteria. Adding in other variables, such as bacterial blight resistance, significantly reduces the pool from which growers can choose. Having walked fields devastated by bacterial blight, he says he wished growers placed more importance on resistance. “I don’t care what type of insect trait it has in it,” Graves says. “I don’t care what type of herbicide trait it

COTTON FARMING APRIL 2018

Boll rot caused by bacterial blight at the base of a boll. bacterial blight or from a secondary fungal infection. As with many bacterial diseases, the earlier in the growth stage the plant becomes infected, the more severe the disease is likely to become. How much yield reduction it causes remains unanswered. Because the causal organism is a bacterium, fungicides are ineffective against bacterial blight, says Tom Allen, Mississippi State University Extension and Research plant pathologist. As such, one of the main ways to minimize the disease is to plant varieties resistant to the pathogen. has in it. I’ve seen bacterial blight hurt cotton that badly. I’ve seen a crop like we push it come up with a 200-400 pound loss. I’ve seen worse, too. “ Tim Roberts, a consultant and partner in TennArk Crop Service in Dyersberg, Tennessee, says last season he saw bacterial blight in West Tennessee fields and even worse outbreaks in the Missouri Bootheel. “We were looking really hard for target spot,” Roberts says. “We saw lesions that looked like target spot, but when we got it identified, it was bacterial blight. It was on the bottom most mature leaves and when it moved up three nodes, it was getting really scary.” Then the rainy, cool weather turned hot and dry, shutting off further bacterial blight development. “We got lucky,” he says, adding the solution is bacterial blight-resistant varieties. Roberts says he also has recommended deep tillage to his growers, not just for bacterial blight management but also to break up compaction. But he says they typically don’t follow through.

“We saw lesions that looked like target spot, but when we got it identified, it was bacterial blight. It was on the bottom most mature leaves and when it moved up three nodes, it was getting really scary.” TIM ROBERTS, TennArk Crop Service

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RESEARCH & PROMOTION

Bollworm Resistance In Dual-Gene Bt Cotton BY STACEY GORMAN COTTON BOARD DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS

otton is susceptible to a wide range of pests, so it’s only natural that insect management is one of the highest variable costs associated with producing the crop. This year, as growers prepare for the upcoming cotton growing season, entomologists across the Cotton Belt are calling attention to an emerging pest issue — bollworm resistance in dual-gene Bt cotton. Cotton Incorporated’s resident entomologist Dr. Ryan Kurtz spearheads the company’s insect management research effort. “Bollworm resistance in Bt cotton was pretty wide spread last year,” he says. “Therefore, we can reasonably expect this pest to be an issue again in 2018.” Although it is too early to tell what the extent of bollworm resistance will be in dual-gene Bt cotton this year, there are signs to watch for in other crops. Bollworms feed on a variety of hosts, and thus could potentially be exposed to Bt throughout the year. “If we see a large number of bollworms successfully come through Bt corn this year, we can assume these moths are tolerant to Bt toxins. This will likely mean we will see a greater survival rate of bollworms in the most commonly planted dual-gene cotton varieties,” Kurtz says. Bollworms have always been a known pest of cotton but have not been the major pest of concern for some time. Dr. Dominic Reisig, associate professor, North Carolina State University, says, “The caterpillar pest of most concern to cotton has typically been the tobacco budworm.” Bt cotton was commercialized in 1996 and was extremely effective in managing tobacco budworm. “In fact, 20 years later, dual-gene Twitter: @CottonFarming

Bollworms can be a serious cotton pest, especially in southern cotton-growing areas. Bt cotton is still very effective in managing tobacco budworm,” Reisig says. Efforts To Monitor Resistance However, bollworms have always been more tolerant of Bt toxins than tobacco budworms, so Cotton Incorporated has been watching bollworm resistance closely for many years. Cotton Incorporated has invested in a myriad of projects to address this resistance issue and ultimately boost growers’ bottom line. Some of the projects focus on techniques to improve resistance monitoring. “Once we identify resistant populations, we try to dig deeper and

understand the characteristics specific to that population so we can better control it,” Kurtz says. Because of the increased resistance, cotton growers saw significantly more damage from bollworms in their 2017 crop. In response, a group of Mid-South and Southeast entomologists have been working to refine thresholds, so they can better inform growers when to spray their dual-gene Bt cotton. Current thresholds are available in each state’s annual insect control guide. Another Cotton Incorporated project done in conjunction with Mississippi State University is looking at computer modeling to simulate scenarios for resistance development to the newer three-gene Bt cotton and corn. “The new three-gene Bt cotton varieties add the Vip3A gene, which increases bollworm control and improves resistance management,” Kurtz says. “We need the seed companies to completely switch to threegene varieties as quickly as possible to slow the spread of resistance.” Stay Vigilant In 2018 Since bollworm resistance is expected again this year, cotton growers should enter the season with a plan and be prepared to scout and spray dual-gene Bt cotton if they reach threshold to prevent yield loss. “Timing of foliar applications will be critical,” Kurtz says. “Growers should follow university Extension Service recommendations to ensure proper selection of insecticides, rates, and timings to maximize control with foliar insecticides.” To learn more, please email Gorman at sgorman@cottonboard.org. APRIL 2018 COTTON FARMING

Industry News SCGA Honors Tensas Parish Farmers Hardwick Planting Co. in partnership with the LSU AgCenter received the Southern Cotton Ginners Association Ag Achievement Award at the annual meeting held March 1 at the Peabody Hotel in Memphis. Te n s a s P a r i s h f a r m e r J a y Hardwick and sons, Marshall and Mead, were honored along with the AgCenter for the development and adoption of agriculture research promoting innovation, efficiency, quality, safety and conservation practices. Marshall and Mead Hardwick accepted the award on behalf of their father, along with LSU AgCenter Associate Vice President Rogers Leonard. The Hardwick Planting Co. is located at Somerset Plantation in northern Tensas Parish and consists of 12,000 acres of certified farm land. Jay Hardwick, who has partnered with the AgCenter for more than 30 years, operates a model farm and is an avid supporter of the Louisiana Master Farmer program. Both Marshall and Mead have completed phase two of the Louisiana Master Farmer program and are working to complete the final stage.

PhytoGen Announces Full Portfolio Of W3FE Varieties As cotton growers look toward spring planting, PhytoGen announces five new varieties with WideStrike 3 Insect Protection and the Enlist cotton trait. PhytoGen is the only cottonseed company to offer varieties with the Enlist cotton trait, giving producers tolerance to three herbicide modes of action — 2,4-D choline, glyphosate and glufosinate. All PhytoGen varieties with the Enlist cotton trait include WideStrike 3 for improved bollworm control. All PhytoGen W3FE varieties have excellent seedling vigor ratings and include PhytoGen breeding traits for bacterial blight resistance. Many new W3FE varieties are additionally tolerant to Verticillium wilt and resistant to root-knot nematodes. PHY 230 W3FE and PHY 250 W3FE — These two new, early maturing PhytoGen brand varieties offer excellent, consistent yield and fiber quality. Selected for the

COTTON FARMING APRIL 2018

Texan Paul Pilsner Named 2017 Cotton Consultant Of The Year Paul Pilsner, an independent crop consultant from Wharton, Texas, was recently named the 2017 Cotton Consultant of the Year during an awards banquet at the Peabody Hotel in Memphis, Tennessee. Pilsner is the 36th recipient of the award, sponsored by Syngenta and Cotton Farming magazine. To read more about Pilsner, go to www.cottonfarming.com and click on the Cotton Consultant of the Year icon. “When Tony Driver, my Syngenta rep, gave me the news about the award, it was an honor to know the guys I’ve always considered icons of the industry had voted for me,” Pilsner says. “I am humbled to say the least.” Joining Pilsner at the special awards reception are, from left, Danny Moore, 2007 CCOY; Harold Lambert, 2001 CCOY; Tucker Miller, 2004 CCOY; Scott Tefteller, Head Southern and East Coast Commercial Unit, Syngenta; Tim Roberts, 2016 CCOY; Paul Pilsner; Yolanda Pilsner; Joe Townsend, 2009 CCOY; Virgil King III, 2011 CCOY; and Jep Gates, 1982 CCOY. Northern High Plains, these smooth leaf, shorter-stature varieties are best suited to areas with moderate to good water and medium to heavy soils. Both are storm-tolerant and carry the PhytoGen breeding trait for excellent Verticillium wilt tolerance. The three new 400-series PhytoGen brand varieties are PHY 430 W3FE, PHY 440 W3FE and PHY 480 W3FE. They feature the W3FE trait platform and have the PhytoGen breeding trait for bacterial blight resistance. As the U.S. leader in Pima and Acala cottonseed, PhytoGen premieres PHY 888 RF — a full-season and full-statured Pima variety with the PhytoGen breeding trait for improved tolerance to Fusarium Race 4. The company also will offer the popular PhytoGen brand Acala variety PHY 764 WRF and Pimas PHY 841 RF and PHY 881 RF. For more information, visit PhytoGen.com.

New App Available To Help Apply XtendiMax Herbicide Monsanto Co. has launched a free mobile app to help growers and applicators successfully apply XtendiMax Herbicide with VaporGrip Technology. The RRXtend Spray App is a grower- and applicator-focused digital tool that provides location-specific weather forecasts, digital record keeping capabilities and educational resources related to the Roundup Ready Xtend Crop System. Growers can download the free app from the Apple App Store and from Google Play. The app includes three main features. The weather forecast tool helps growers and applicators plan their applications by predicting weather conditions and inversion risks for their fields. It provides field-level location-specific hourly forecasts of temperature, relative humidity, wind COTTONFARMING.COM

Industry News speed, and direction and inversion risk. The inversion-risk forecast shows the probability (in percent) of an inversion occurring at a specific location. The weather forecasts leverage both publicly available weather data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and unique models by Climate Corp. weather scientists. Growers must confirm compliant conditions according to the label before spraying. The record-keeping feature gives applicators an easy way to comply with mandatory dicamba record keeping requirements when applying XtendiMax. App users can save and export multiple field records and store them on a mobile device. The educational resource section connects growers to key resources including training information, materials on approved tankmixes and nozzles and educational videos featuring insights on methods used in the forecast tool. For more information, visit http:// www.roundupreadyxtend.com.

Rachel Walters (right), Bayer market manager for seed growth, insecticides and nematicides, presents Laura and John Bixler of Matthews, Missouri, with the award for achieving the highest yield of all 2018 Stoneville Legacy Club inductees.

THRIVING IN COTTON Mike Goss, pictured here with his son, Lane, farms both dryland and irrigated cotton in the Texas Panhandle. Here, he recounts his 2017 experience with PhytoGen® brand PHY 300 W3FE and PHY 490 W3FE. Goss says his most challenging weeds are glyphosate-resistant Palmer pigweed and marestail, so his herbicide program included Enlist Duo® herbicide and Enlist One™ herbicide that he applied on a trial basis.

Stoneville Legacy Club Fetes Top Delta Growers Bayer recently honored 45 Delta cotton growers by inducting them into the 2018 Stoneville Legacy Club. To qualify for the Legacy Club, growers had to harvest a block of at least 20 acres planted purely to at least one Stoneville cotton variety. The eligible geography included Louisiana, Mississippi, Arkansas, Tennessee and the Bootheel of Missouri. Of the recent Legacy Club inductees, three received special recognition. John and Laura Bixler of Matthews, Missouri, were named “top dog” for the highest 2017 yield of 1,624 pounds of lint per acre with Stoneville 5020GLT and ST 4949GLT. Rusty and Sheila Carter of Marianna, Arkansas, had the most acres with qualifying yield. They harvested an average of 1,100 pounds per acre on 1,200 acres planted to ST 4946GLB2 and ST 4949GLT. And Justin and Tonya Linig of New Madrid, Missouri, were recognized for having the most varieties on qualifying acres. They averaged 1,452 pounds per acre with ST 5020GLT, ST 4949GLT and ST 4946GLB2. Twitter: @CottonFarming

‘Whole Package’ Drew Me to PhytoGen

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n 2015, I agreed to do a PhytoGen variety trial on my farm, but I wasn’t familiar with the company. I did some research and found out that PhytoGen is the leader in the Pima and Acala markets. That was an eye-opener for me. I liked what I saw in 2015, so I planted PHY 333 WRF Upland on some irrigated acres in 2016. Since that variety did well, too, I doubled my PhytoGen acres in 2017. Although adverse weather affected quality across the board for all companies, the pounds on the PhytoGen varieties were where they should be. They were good. “Because we battle glyphosate-resistant Palmer pigweed and marestail along with the kochias, or ironweed, I went with two Enlist varieties — PHY 300 W3FE and PHY 490 W3FE. Last year was the ﬁrst year I ran Enlist Duo, and I was very pleased with the results. It worked as advertised. I also tried Enlist One tank mixed with glufosinate, and it worked extremely well, too. I am excited about the freedom I will have with Enlist One to apply multiple effective modes of action in one pass. “As we’ve converted acres to no-till and cover crop production systems, cold germ has been an issue. But even with our fairly small planting date window, we’ve been able to get a good stand with the PhytoGen varieties. I like the PhytoGen genetics, the germination, the weed control and the hands-on sales team. The whole package drew me to PhytoGen. I was stuck in a rut and made the switch on faith. It worked out for me.” MIKE GOSS

Cotton farmer Swisher County, Texas

PhytoGen and the PhytoGen Logo are trademarks of PhytoGen Seed Company, LLC. ®™Enlist, the Enlist Logo and Enlist One are trademarks of The Dow Chemical Company (“Dow”) or an affiliated company of Dow. The Enlist weed control system is owned and developed by Dow AgroSciences LLC. Enlist Duo and Enlist One herbicides are not registered for sale or use in all states or counties. Contact your state pesticide agency to determine if a product is registered for sale or use in your area. Enlist Duo and Enlist One herbicides are the only 2,4-D products authorized for use in Enlist crops. Always read and follow label directions. PhytoGen Seed Company is a joint venture between Mycogen Corporation, an affiliate of Dow AgroSciences LLC, and the J.G. Boswell Company. ®

APRIL 2018 COTTON FARMING

Specialists Speaking Follow Planting Guidelines NORTH CAROLINA Guy Collins As we move into spring, there appears to be widespread optimism for cotton in North Carolina. The 2017 season was successful for most growers, and with the new program and higher prices, the outlook for cotton is strong. With that said, we all remember the lessons learned from the challenges of recent years, one of which is how to plant and manage cotton through difficult planting weather. Although most of our cotton is planted in May, a few folks always seem to get itchy and begin planting in late April if conditions are somewhat suitable. As I write this on March 8, we have no idea how planting conditions will be yet, but there are a few important considerations to keep in mind if they are less than ideal. First, it is always wise to document information about your seed. Keep a record of the lot number, seed size (number of seeds per pound), where it was grown, the specific seed treatment, warm germ and most importantly, cool germ. Cool germ is not printed on the bag; therefore, your local dealer and/or the seed company can provide that information. Additionally, it is wise to save a sample of each lot number of seed you purchase in case additional testing is warranted. Newsletters that provide planting guidance as it relates to heat unit accumulation will be provided on the North Carolina State University cotton portal website (cotton.ces.ncsu.edu). Remember the importance of planting in ideal conditions (>35 DD60s accumulated within the first five days after planting) and into adequate moisture. Temperatures are especially important within the first two to three days following planting. We don’t always have the luxury of forseeing heavy rains in the forecast, but try to avoid planting when they are expected, regardless of temperatures. If you are forced to plant cotton in less-than-ideal conditions, consider increasing the seeding rate to 45,000-47,000 seeds per acre. Be sure to plant shallow (no more than 0.5 inch deep as long as you achieve good soil coverage), plant your larger seed lots with the highest cool germ ratings, avoid planting in soils that tend to crust or where you have a field history of seedling disease, and possibly hill-dropping. Also, it is important to avoid other factors that might negatively impact seed germination, such as applying starter fertilizers in-furrow. guy_collins@ncsu.edu

TENNESSEE Tyson Raper Along the northern edge of the Cotton Belt, we are often forced to plant in less-than-ideal conditions; the delay associated with waiting for “perfect” conditions may cut short heat unit accumulation at the end of the season and subsequently reduce yields. When planting in stressful environmental conditions, seed quality is extremely important. Good cool-germination rates can help, but slight differences in seedling vigor can be the difference in a profitable and unprofitable stand. Several of my colleagues and I rate early season vigor in commercial lines, and we occasionally cover these ratings during our county meetings. But there are other ways to gauge vigor. One of the easiest methods is to look at seeds per pound reported for each variety. Fewer seeds per pound (4,000-5,000 per pound)

COTTON FARMING APRIL 2018

represent a relatively large seed. These varieties will typically have more energy stored in reserve and will be able to better cope with stress. Smaller-seeded varieties (>5,000 per pound) will have less energy stored and will be more sensitive to stress. For more information on seed size typically observed by variety, take a look at news.utcrops.com. Also, read Dr. Guy Collins’ and Dr. Keith Edmisten’s article titled, “Tips for Successful Cotton Planting” posted on the North Carolina State University blog April 13, 2017. traper@utk.edu

MISSOURI Mike Milam As we approach planting season, we have finally had enough rain to get out of the abnormally dry to moderate drought. This certainly bodes well for producers. We do have rainfall forecast over the next several weeks, but it does not appear to put us into the surplus moisture situation. The planting intentions survey shows a 3.8 percent acreage increase. I have talked with producers and dealers who think that it will be higher than that. Looking back, the U.S Cotton and Wool Outlook has kept last year’s yield at 1,172 pounds per acre. This easily surpasses the 1,117 pounds per acre achieved in 2014. Although producers ran out of time to get all of their cotton planted due to rainfall, they had a phenomenal year related to temperatures, rainfall and sunlight. Harvest season was also better than usual. Going into 2018, producers are optimistic. We have tools to control resistant weeds, adequate fertility recommendations and better varieties than we had even five years ago. We will probably have 80 to 85 percent ExtendFlex varieties planted as we did last year. Many producers who grew ExtendFlex did not use any dicamba. They planted for the sole purpose to prevent injury from drift or volatilization. All of the in-person dicamba training sessions have been completed. However, anyone using dicamba can still take the training on-line. You can register at https://extension2.missouri.edu/ courses/synthetic-auxin-herbicide-applicator-training-program. milammr@missouri.edu

ARKANSAS Bill Robertson The first step toward a successful season is establishing a healthy stand. Cotton does not tolerate difficulties encountered during its first weeks of growth nearly as well as most of our insect pests and weeds. Variety selection and seed quality have a lasting effect on the crop’s early season vigor and on overall plant health, which is critical in establishing high yield potentials. For the past two years, we have seen our later-planted cotton do better than the early crop, but history tells us that generally the earlier we plant, the better we do. Optimum conditions for planting include a mid-morning 68-degree soil temperature at 2 inches for three consecutive days, and a favorable five-day forecast. It is important to start with the best quality seed to increase the chances of getting a good uniform stand if conditions are less than optimum. Remember that as seed size decreases, the importance of having good soil temperatures increases. COTTONFARMING.COM

Specialists Speaking Regardless of the calendar date, park the planter if heat unit accumulation (DD60s) is predicted to be 15 or less for the five-day period after planting. Good results are often seen with 25 or more heat units being accumulated during the five-day period after planting. There are many signals or signs that people use to indicate the right time to plant. Regardless of your method, it is important to remember that planting early does not ensure earliness. Getting off to a good, quick start will pay dividends all season long if we do it right the first time. brobertson@uaex.edu

ARIZONA Randy Norton There are several different techniques for deciding on the best planting date for a specific area and how to best optimize planting given a certain set of conditions. Last month, I discussed the importance of monitoring soil temperatures and short-term weather forecasts for determining an optimum planting date. The technique I would like to discuss this month is tracking heat units (HU 86/55 degrees F thresholds) for determining an optimum planting window, and then using this information to help guide variety maturity selection. The use of HU accumulated since Jan. 1 (HU/1 Jan) serves as an excellent measure of current conditions leading to an optimal planting window. Planting too early may lead to increased disease pressure, poor vigor stands and slow early season growth. All of these factors may have a negative impact on final yield. Conversely, planting too late will often result in a crop that has excessive vegetative growth, delayed maturity and is lower yielding. A trial conducted in southeastern Arizona in 2017 showed significant yield decline as the planting date moved from April 10 to May 10 through four successive planting dates. The same variety was planted on all four dates, so selection of a more determinate (short-season) variety as planting windows move further into the spring will help reduce this yield loss response. At least 300 to 400 HU/1 Jan are needed to adequately warm soils to an acceptable range for planting. The range of 400-700 HU/1 Jan is an optimum window for full-season varieties. The range of 700-800 HU/1 Jan is an optimum window for medium-maturity varieties. For anything past 800 HU/1 Jan, a short-season, determinate variety should be planted to avoid the issues described above. Heat unit accumulations for various locations in the cotton-producing regions of Arizona can be found at the AZMET weather website http://cals.arizona.edu/azmet. Follow the Crop Reports link and then the Cotton link to find the weekly cotton advisories and additional weather-related information for cotton. rnorton@cals.arizona.edu

Here are some of the weekly cotton weather advisories found at http://cals.arizona.edu/azmet. T Twitter witter:: @C @Cotton ottonF Farming arming

TEXAS Seth Byrd Another dry month has passed, and as cotton planting gets closer on the High Plains concerns over lack of moisture are growing. As I write this in mid-March, there is still plenty of time for much-needed rains to arrive and provide planting moisture. But rain now would greatly aid in tillage operations so that yellow herbicides can by more effectively incorporated. Seeding rates have been a popular topic as of late, likely spurred by the increase in seed costs for many of the new varieties and traits. Although lowering seeding rates below what is typically thought of as the conventional amount needed is an easy way to lower input costs, take care to avoid ending up with too thin of a stand. This is particularly true early in the season as cool weather may inhibit germination and emergence to a greater extent than later in the planting window. Seed treatments also should be considered and used where they can provide the most benefit. In fields with a history of early season disease and/or insect pressure, these treatments can aid in the survival and growth of seedlings. As with most things in agriculture, weather will impact the severity of early season stresses, so seed treatments alone may not provide full protection. For example, in areas where thrips are an issue, such as Plainview north into the Panhandle, cotton producers may want to keep an eye out for early injury and be ready to make an insecticide application. It should target the first true leaf stage to provide protection until the plants have reached the four- to five-leaf stage and are out of the sensitive window to thrips feeding. Planting in cooler conditions, herbicide injury early in the season or other situations that slow early season growth will exacerbate the detrimental effect of thrips feeding by leaving cotton in the sensitive growth stage window for a longer period of time. Avoid compounding stresses early in the season to allow cotton to get established and escape that sensitive period between cotyledon and the four- to fiveleaf stage more rapidly. seth.byrd@ag.tamu.edu

TEXAS Gaylon Morgan The earliest planted cotton in the Lower Rio Grande Valley is at the three- to five-leaf stage as of mid-March. Many growers have just wrapped up grain planting and are now planting cotton in full swing. The Upper Gulf Coast region is just getting started with about 5 percent planted as of mid-March and with good soil moisture across the region. The Blacklands have not started planting and are in fairly good shape on soil moisture for stand establishment. As South and East Texas have begun or are on the brink of planting cotton, there are several factors growers should consider to get the crop started strong. First, cotton planting should begin when soil temperatures have been steady at 60 degrees Fahrenheit at 4 inches and a favorable five-day forecast. Seed with a high cool:warm vigor index (over 160) has been directly associated with higher yields. This is especially important when planting under adverse conditions, such as cooler temperatures. Additional information on the cool:warm vigor test can be found at cotton.tamu.edu, or ask your seed company or distributor to obtain the cool:warm vigor test values for a particular seed lot. If growers are pushing the lower limits on plant populations, seed quality will become more important, and fungicide and insecticide seed treatments will likely have more value as well. Seed size is another important factor to consider when setting planting depth. Although smallerseeded varieties can be less forgiving for obtaining an adequate stand MARCH APRIL 2018 2018 COTTON COTTON FARMING FARMING

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Specialists Speaking and should be planted more shallow, their yield potential is just as good as larger-seeded varieties. If Topguard Terra is going to be applied for cotton root rot control, remember to minimize the contact between the fungicide and seed to minimize phytotoxicity that can result in reduced or delayed seedling emergence. Insecticide and nematicide seed treatments or in-furrow nematicides have proven to provide a positive return on investment when moderate to high pest pressure is expected. In addition, cotton seedlings are poor competitors with early season weeds. It is critically important to start the season weed free to obtain adequate control and minimize yield loss to weed competition. Planting season is hectic for everyone, but taking a little time in advance of planting to know your seed quality, seed size, pesticide and herbicide labels, and ensure planters and sprayers are functioning properly can help minimize mistakes and avoid potential replants. gdmorgan@tamu.edu

FLORIDA David Wright With La NiĂąa still in the forecast for early spring through planting season, it is important to kill cover crops three to four weeks ahead of planting in non-irrigated fields so that planting moisture will not be depleted. We have seen cutworm and other insects can be worse in green cover crops versus those killed a few weeks ahead of planting. Many growers using strip tillage kill the cover crop early and strip rows to warm up the soil for cotton planting a few weeks later. Soil insecticides are often necessary with covers that are green at planting to prevent insect damage. Most modern planters have row cleaners that clear a path through debris for exact seed placement. Many growers plant no more than two to three seeds per foot of row and many plant two seeds every 14 inches in the row. This seems to be adequate for 3 bale cotton or better if irrigated or if weather is favorable. Seed treatments can help if conditions are cool and damp at planting, and the cotton is emerging slowly. These treatments are often cheap compared to seed costs and may be cost effective. Try different seed treatments on your farm to see how effective they are under your management conditions. wright@ufl.edu

MISSISSIPPI Darrin Dodds April has not been conducive to planting cotton in Mississippi over the past several years. Although there have been a few exceptions to this, many growers have been forced by the weather to wait until May to put a planter in the field. Fortunately, we have had relatively good harvest weather in the fall over this time period that has resulted in some of the best yields on record. Seed treatments have been heavily discussed through a number of forums this spring. Essentially, any upstream treated seed in 2018 will have imidacloprid for thrips control. We have advocated for overtreatment with acephate to further mitigate issues with thrips. Although nothing can guarantee you won't have to make a foliar spray for this pest, overtreatment with acephate gives you the best chance. There have been several other seed treatments being suggested to growers this year. Unless these products contain a known product such as imidacloprid, etc., ask to see reputable data with respect to these products. Side-by-side comparisons or split-field data should never substitute for replicated, multi-location data that is proven over time. In addition, be very wary of claims of increased yield or other

COTTON FARMING APRIL 2018

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Essentially, any upstream treated seed in 2018 will have imidacloprid for thrips control,â&#x20AC;? says Mississippi cotton specialist Darrin Dodds. inherent benefits that are not supported by reputable research. Although we have made big crops over the past six years, they have been expensive. Unless demonstrated positive return on investment can be shown for these products, you may make more money by spending less money. dmd76@pss.msstate.edu

LOUISIANA Dan Fromme Louisiana cotton acres are expected to be slightly down compared to last year. As we proceed into planting, cotton growers have experienced abundant rainfall and wet soil conditions during the month of March. The trend in reduced seeding rates continues and reflects using more precise planters and the desire to manage high-value seed costs by reducing the number of seeds per acre. An efficient and well-timed planting operation can result in a 10 to 25 percent savings in seed cost and technology fees. Plant 2.75 to 3.25 uniformly spaced plants (drilled or hill-drop) with good seed-to-soil contact, warm soil temperatures and adequate soil moisture. Plant on the high side of these recommended rates when planting early into cooler soils. The minimum plant population in the final stand should be about two plants per foot or about 30,000 plants per acre. Planting less than 2.5 seeds per foot can significantly delay maturity. Once planting is completed and cotton seedlings have emerged from the ground, producers will want to concentrate on managing the cotton plant from the first- through fifth-leaf stage. Reaching the fifth true leaf stage as quickly as possible and unscathed from thrips is important in producing good cotton yields at the end of the season. In Louisiana, yields can be reduced by 200-300 pounds of lint per acre from severe thrips damage. Seed treatments for controlling early season insect pests through the fifth true leaf stage play a viable part in getting off to fast start. Depending on environmental conditions, seed treatments may last anywhere from 14-22 days. Oftentimes, under cool spring conditions reaching the fifth true leaf stage is delayed and seed treatments no longer offer protection. Under these conditions, foliar sprays are needed even though a seed treatment was used at planting. Make sure economic thresholds are exceeded before applying a foliar application for thrips control. Avoid automatic or convenience applications if economic thresholds have not been reached. Such practices can create pest problems, particularly from spider mites. dfromme@agcenter.lsu.edu COTTONFARMING.COM

SPECIAL REPORT

Is More Better? Two Texas A&M Studies Examine Optimum Seeding Rates To Maximize Boll Development And Yield BY KAY LEDBETTER

ew and returning cotton producers may want to carefully consider row spacing and seeding rates when they get ready to plant during the next few months, according to two Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service agronomists. Drs. Jourdan Bell in Amarillo and Emi Kimura in Vernon recently released the results of two cotton trials dealing with row spacing and seeding rates. Bell conducted a row-spacing trial with AgriLife Extension agents Kristy Slough, Hutchinson County, and Andrew Sprague, Hansford County, to look at new early maturing cotton varieties, which are yielding greater than the more determinant varieties planted in the High Plains. “We have producers inquiring about continuing the practice of planting on narrow, 20-inch row spacing as a strategy to enhance maturity and yield with newer varieties,” Bell says. On average, northern High Plains producers plant cotton using a seeding rate of 2.5 to 3.5 seeds per row-foot on 30-inch rows, she says. To maintain the recommended seeding rate per row-foot, planting populations increase as row spacing decreases. Increased seeding rates can result in increased inter-row competition that could affect boll and fiber development. Hutchinson County Results The Hutchinson County cotton row-spacing trial evaluated the lint production and fiber quality of FiberMax 1320 and Stoneville 4747 on three row spacings – 20, 30 and 40 inches. It demonstrated significant variety and row spacing interactions. Stoneville 4747 yielded greater on all row spacings, with the greatest lint production being on 30-inch rows. The 40-inch row spacing yielded the lowest for both varieties. Bell says although yields were lowest on the 40-inch rows, there were no significant differences between the final four-week plant stands on the 30- and 40-inch rows. This suggested differences were not the result of a greater number of fruit-bearing plants on the 30-inch spacing. She says the trial will be repeated in 2018 and 2019 to obtain a three-year dataset necessary for evaluation of a management practice under varying environmental conditions. Results of the Hutchinson County row-spacing trial can be found on Page 41 of the 2017 Replicated Agronomic Cotton Evaluation, or RACE, trial results at http://bit.ly/2C7fDRD. Rolling Plains Results Kimura planted her seeding rate trial in 2016 and 2017, Twitter: @CottonFarming

Stem diameter differences are shown among the lightest and heaviest, 1.7 seeds per foot (top) and 5.6 seeds per foot, planting rates in the cotton trial conducted by Dr. Emi Kimura. with the most recent crop harvested Nov. 17. She says traditionally, cotton producers in the Rolling Plains plant 2-2.5 seeds per foot for dryland conditions and 3-4 seeds per foot in irrigated cotton. The study was conducted to determine the best seeding rate for lint yield and values, comparing rates of 22,216, 44,431, 57,499 and 73,181 seeds per acre on 40-inch spacings, Kimura says. “We found the lower seeding rates seemed to produce the same amount of lint yield under favorable environmental conditions,” she says. Over the two years, there were no differences among all seeding rates in the irrigated trial, but net dollars per acre were the highest at 22,216 seeds per acre in the dryland trial, Kimura says. Although the low seeding rates may perform as well as higher seeding rates, she cautions they may be more susceptible to harsh environments such as hail, sandstorms and dry conditions. Results of Kimura’s trial can be found at http://bit.ly/2EEr5BR. Kay Ledbetter is an associate editor/communication specialist for Texas AgriLife Research and Texas AgriLife Extension Service in Amarillo and Vernon. APRIL 2018 COTTON FARMING

Drop By Drop, Clemson Helps Ensure The State’s Vital Natural Resource — Water BY STEVEN BRADLEY CLEMSON UNIVERSITY

ater is a driving force behind virtually every facet of life in South Carolina — from agriculture, recreation and tourism to essential needs like food and drink. But water is among both the Palmetto State’s greatest assets and biggest challenges. A December 2016 study by Clemson University professors found natural resource-based sectors contribute $33.4 billion in economic activity annually to the state’s economy. Of the six sectors analyzed, four of them — fishing, hunting and wildlife viewing ($2.7 billion); coastal tourism ($9 billion); commercial fisheries ($42 million); and the boat industry ($1 billion) — rely intrinsically on the state’s water to keep them afloat. There has been a precipitous rise in extreme weather — droughts in 2015 that caused 35 counties to be declared primary natural disaster areas followed a month later by floods that caused more than $375 million in economic losses to the agribusiness industry. This threatens to diminish the state’s capacity to provide water to homes, power plants and recreation. “Do we have the tools, do we have the information to make decisions, small and large, in the face of weather extremes we have recently witnessed?” says Calvin Sawyer, associate professor in Clemson’s Department of Agricultural Sciences and Clemson Extension water resources specialist. “In December, it was snowing here in South Carolina while on the other side of the country it was burning. What Clemson is trying to do is develop those tools and equip the citizens, policymakers and growers with information they can use to adapt to a changing climate.” Clemson Public Service and Agriculture stands uniquely poised to secure and shape the future of this vital natural resource in the state. Farmers On The Front Line Among the voices calling for further understanding of South Carolina’s water resources are the state’s farmers. For the farmers, who saw a dry heat wave in summer 2017 followed by a record cold spell in January, extreme weather like this further muddies the water picture. John Long, owner of Overbridge Farm in Newberry, says water and its availability make all the difference for the state’s farmers between a successful year and an unsuccessful one.

“I get the feeling over the years that we’re getting less rainfall at the critical times when we need it,” he says. “And when we do get the rainfall, it’s really more than we need. I don’t know if that’s just my feeling or if there actually is some science to that, so anything that Clemson could do to help us understand that better would be very helpful on the farm.” Water As Science Having a sound science-based report that can support the decision-making process for agencies such as the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources and Department of Health and Environmental Control is key to helping balance water demand. As the state’s primary land-grant institution — with a clear mission of teaching, research and outreach — Clemson has a plan in place to do just that. As part of that plan, the university is proposing a new water resource research, management and technology program as well as a statewide Water Resources Center, which would establish a base for comprehensive water programs and create a Southeastern regional hub for conducting analytical water-related research. The program’s goal would be to provide South Carolina greater “resiliency in the face of the unknown,” says Jeff Allen, director of Clemson’s South Carolina Water Resources Center. Technology, Sustainable Farming The day-to-day work of Clemson Extension with the state’s farmers is — and will continue to be — a big part of the state’s success when it comes to managing water resources by combining science with in-the-field use With the potential for a state water crisis looming, and a lack of appropriate data to combat it, Clemson’s vision is to evolve into a more complete resource for state agencies charged with natural resources management, regulation and protection. Making these advances while water is still plentiful will ensure that South Carolina’s most vital natural resource is sustainably managed to meet the needs of future generations — both for farmers and the residents of the state nourished by the food they grow. To read this article in its entirety, go to http://newsstand. clemson.edu/category/feature/. CLEMSON UNIVERSITY RELATIONS

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100 Years

That Changed Cotton Ginning For The Better REMEMBERING THE LIFE AND WORK OF PAUL V. BUSH

Humble Beginnings Paul Bush was born in Indianapolis, Indiana, on March 29, 1917, but he didn’t live there long. His father suffered from tuberculosis, which forced the family to move to the dry climate of Roswell, New Mexico, and later to Lubbock, Texas. “Since he was the oldest child, Paul felt it was his duty to help support the family,” recalls Steve Moffett, current president of Lubbock Electric Co. and son-in-law to Bush. “Somehow, he managed to buy an old, used pickup. He would drive it to New Mexico, fill it with fresh fruits and vegetables, and return to sell them on Broadway after school.” Following graduation, Bush got his start at Anderson Young Electric where he repaired electric motors and generators. In 1944, he launched Lubbock Electric Co. with one service truck and five employees. From day one, his motor repair and field troubleshooting services would be available to cotton gins 24/7 every day of the year. Rocky Carey remembers why his father, O.R. Carey, superintendent of Community Gin at Claytonville, could count on Bush during gin season. “He could call both Paul Bush and G.E. Jones Electric out of Plainview (which was closer) and Lubbock Electric would always get there first.” A Problem Solver Bush was a master of all things electrical, but he did not stop at motors and controls. As he encountered challenges he could not solve, he added service departments. “If a gin had an ongoing problem, it would eat him up,” says Jessie Perez, an employee with a 37-year tenure at Lubbock Electric. “Paul would visit the gin himself, even in his later years. He applied his experience and deep knowledge to analyze the issue. Ninety-five percent of the time he could solve it right there. The other 5 percent of the time, Paul would bring in an employee to help figure it out. No matter what, he was going to resolve the problem.” Many gin managers remember Bush’s “house visits.” David Foster, manager of D & J Gin in Lockney, Texas, attended Bush’s funeral to pay his respects. TWITTER: @COTTONFARMING

COURTESY LUBBOCK ELECTRIC CO.

ach of us receives a limited time on this Earth. We might get 80 years if we are lucky. What can even be accomplished in one lifetime? Paul Vernon Bush, founder of Lubbock Electric Co., passed away Feb. 24, but his life serves as a testament to the difference that one person can make. Mr. Bush took an extraordinary 100 years of life and changed the face of cotton ginning in West Texas and beyond.

Paul Vernon Bush, far left, started Lubbock Electric Co. in 1944 with one service truck and five employees. Here he is pictured with the greatly expanded LECO employee lineup 10 years later. “There was no way that I would miss it!” he says. Foster recalled that Bush would continue to visit before retiring at 92 years old. “He would always say, ‘If we can help you, we’re going to help you. Let’s see if we can’t fix this and make it better.’” A Pioneer Bush made numerous contributions that improved gin operations. For one, he pioneered single-drive setups. Master electrician Carey says that gins used to have one engine or slip-ring motor driving all of the machinery with a line shaft. This setup posed a danger to the safety of ginners, and it also exposed gins to a single point of failure. “If that motor went down, the whole gin would go down,” Carey says. “By driving each gin line with its own motor, we could keep the cotton flowing even when one goes down.” Another contribution was Bush’s popular double-hopper seed scale design, which is still in use today. Johnny Davis, who has dealt in cotton gin parts for 46 years, remembers how Bush helped gins financially. “He would carry their bills on ‘fall terms,’ which means that gins could purchase as many products and services as they needed to make it through gin season, and they wouldn’t have to pay until they received their revenue. In this way, he probably helped hundreds of gins stay afloat.” Lubbbock Electric Co. contributed this article. APRIL 2018 COTTON FARMING

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Ginners Marketplace COTTON FARMING IS THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE GINNING INDUSTRY.

Ginning Industry Continues To Focus On OSHA Issues

Looking to boost speed in your hydraulic lines? Book your project early to make it happen this year!

We discussed the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s rule to improve tracking of workplace injuries and illnesses as it progressed last year. The ﬁrst reporting deadline for 2016 data was Dec. 1, 2017. It was moved back several times as industry pushed to get the rule repealed. But ultimately OSHA refused, and the rule did go into effect. For 2017 data, the deadline is July 1, 2018, but you may want to get this done now. The ﬁrst question is, “What data needs to be submitted?” For cotton gins, it is data contained on the OSHA 300A form. For many years, gins have been required to enter each work-related injury or illness on this form. At the end of the year, it must be totaled out, and the summary information added to the OSHA 300A form. For 2017, you should have already completed this process. For 2018, you should be keeping a new OSHA 300 form.

Cotton Ginners Marketplace

Enter Data And Post Forms The 2017 OSHA 300A form should be completed at this point and must be posted in your workplace from Feb. 1 until April 30. If it is not, go to https://www.osha.gov/recordkeeping/ RKforms.html to access the form and read the instructions for posting it. The OSHA 300 and 300A system has been in place for many years. The new part of the rule requires data from the OSHA 300A form to be entered into the OSHA database. The good news is that for small businesses like cotton gins, it is only the 300A data. Larger businesses must enter all data from the OSHA 300 form, which is signiﬁcantly more. Since your OSHA 300A form is on the wall, now would be a good time to enter the data. The OSHA reporting website is https://www.osha.gov/injuryreporting/. With the OSHA Injury Reporting Rule in place, we are seeing a higher rate of agency inspections. OSHA inspectors typically collect the OSHA 300 and 300A forms during each inspection. At this point, we don’t know if they are comparing the forms to the entries in the database, but it is probably safe to assume they will begin doing so at some point. If they see you have not entered your data in the system, then that would be a separate violation. This is a fairly simple system to navigate, so

800-692-4474 • lubbockelectric.com 18 18 COTTON COTTON FARMING FARMING APRIL APRIL 20182018

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Samuel P600, 2001 Model, AB Servos, RR ceramic valves, Xtra heads and parts (2 weld, 1 feed) $27,500 www Sheffer brand tramper cyl (Lummus Dorless), Model #5HHA156, 5½” bore, 120” stroke - $2,000 www Two (2) Milwaukee pusher cyl (Continental 800), Model #06766, 2½” bore, 54” stroke - $1,000/ea www Two (2) - used Gear Pumps, Model #P816684 - $500/ea www One (1) - almost new and one (1) rebuilt Milwaukee Air Cyl (Lummus System), Model #B-18756, 6” bore, 42” stroke - $500/ea CROCKETT GIN COMPANY Call Rob: 731-225-4116 Email: rmann2310@gmail.com

TO ADVERTISE: 386-462-1532 • semerson@onegrower.com

FOR SALE

MODULE FEEDERS

CHANNEL SAWS

COTTON GIN BRUSHES

BATS & BRUSHES

VERTICAL COMBO DRYER

ROUND MODULE MACHINERY

RAM MANUFACTURING COMPANY 1333 E. 44th. ST. Lubbock, TX 79404 806-745-5552 Fax: 806-745-5582 rammfgco@rammfg.net www.rammfg.net

Lummus Corporation has available the following quality, high-capacity used gin machinery. All machinery is offered “as is, where is” (unless noted otherwise) and is subject to prior sale. “As is” machinery can be repaired/reconditioned for an additional charge. 1 – Consolidated 96” R-5000 Stick Machine* 2 – Consolidated 120” R-5000 Stick Machines* 1 – Lummus 60” overshot Standard Battery Condenser* 1 – Consolidated 72” undershot Standard Battery Condenser* 1 – Consolidated 72” undershot MC Battery Condenser* 1 – Belt-Wide 75-HP Flooded-Suction Hydraulic Booster Pumping Unit

1 – Lummus Bale Handling System for up-packing press 1 – Lot, miscellaneous Burner and Moisture Unit components (contact us for details) * - does not include any Steel Supports or Platforms

Physical Address: 225 Bourne Boulevard • Savannah, Georgia 31408-9586 USA Mailing Address: P.O. Box 929 • Pooler, Georgia 31322-0929 USA Phone: (912) 447-9000 • Fax: (912) 447-9250 Toll Free (USA Only): 1-800-4LUMMUS (1-800-458-6687) Web Site: www.lummus.com • E-mail: lummus.sales@lummus.com

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APRIL APRIL 2018 2018 COTTON COTTON FARMING FARMING

Cotton Ginners Marketplace

1 – Lubbock Electric Hydraulic Pumping Unit for Gin Dor-Les® or E.E. Dor-Les® Press (single reservoir with multiple motor/pump groups)

1 - Complete 2/141 Gin Plant consisting of: Unloading System with 15” diameter single-lane Powered Telescope, Rock Trap with Trash Vacuum, 72” Unloading Separator/Feed Control with Vacuum Wheel and Flight-Saver, and No. 50 Unloading Fan; First-Stage Drying/Precleaning System with Continental 3 MBTU Burner and No. 40 Push Fan, 54” Tower Dryer, 96” Continental Inclined Cleaner with Vacuum Wheel over 96” Horn 3-Saw Stick Machine (with double 96” x 24” Vacuum Wheels), Second-Stage Drying/Precleaning System with Continental 3 MBTU Burner and No. 40 Push Fan, 54” Tower Dryer, 96” Continental Inclined Cleaner with Vacuum Wheel over 96” Continental 2-Saw Stick Machine; Distribution/Overflow System with Continental 2-Stand Conveyor Distributor and 72” Automatic Overflow Hopper with Breaker Cylinder; Feeding/Ginning System with two (2) Continental 141-Saw Gins (converted) and 96” Comet Supreme Feeders; Lint Cleaning System with four (4) 66” wide Continental 16-D Lint Cleaners (two tandem arrangements); Condensing/Pressing System with 50” Moss Battery Condenser, 20” x 54” Continental Bespress, and Bale Handling System with Bale Push Cart (manual) and Bagger (powered); five (5) Smith 35/40 Centrifugal Fans (only one season of operation)

take a few minutes while you are thinking about it to enter your information into their system. Kelley Green, director of technical services for the Texas Cotton Ginners’ Association, contributed this article.

* * * * *

Is Your Permit Up To Date? 13 template 3/7/14 3:26 PM PageDo 1 You Have Enough Bales? After a big year like the 2017/2018 season, many gins processed a record crop. With the new emission factors, your permit has a limit on bales, and it is not dependent on the type of cotton you ginned. If you are not sure of your permit limits, give us a call or send us an email, and we will check it out for you. If you need to adjust your bales upward, now is the best time to do it. If your permit has not already been converted to the new factors, you may have to go through public notice to it completely updated. This is generally a straightforward process, but it does take extra time. After a big year, we typically see a lot of new equipment going into the gins. If you are making any sort of changes to your facility, be sure to let us know. Some things that seem major are actually very simple from a permitting standpoint. Other things that seem very minor are actually much more complicated from the permitting standpoint. Let us know what you are doing, and we’ll figure out a plan to get your permit updated. We typically put the machinery upgrades and the increases in bales per year into the same package and get it all done at once. Permit times can be af-

fected by a lot of issues. One of the main ones is how many other permits are submitted to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. The TCEQ staff must process permits from many different industries. To be sure yours is reviewed in a timely manner, get it into the agency sooner rather than later.

Cotton Gin Renewals Some ginners want to wait until their permit is renewed to get it updated. There are two problems with this plan. First of all, in most cases a permit update has to be handled separately from a renewal. You can do both at the same time, but they are two separate steps. In some ways, it may be simpler to do them separately. The second issue is timing. By waiting until the renewal comes around, you may get into problems with the TCEQ for not reporting changes in a timely manner. Take a few minutes to check your permit to be sure it is up to date. If you need help locating your permit or any of your permit documents, we’ll be glad to email you a copy. The Texas Cotton Ginners’ Association contributed this article.

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Lubbock: 806-795-5218 Mid-South: 662-809-9730 Southeast: 425-244-0285 Oklahoma: 214-695-0158

WWW.NORTHERNLUCUS.COM 1116 Slaton Hwy. Lubbock, TX

FOR SALE: 2 – 158 GIN STANDS WITH CONTROLS MANUFACTURER OF HI-CAPACITY LINT CLEANING SYSTEMS IN 86” to 110” WIDTHS NEW 60” & 72” OVERSHOT BATTERY CONDENSERS

Cotton Ginners Marketplace

96” TO 144” INCLINE CLEANERS, STICK MACHINES & AIRLINE SEPARATORS HIGH CAPACITY VACUUMS USED & FACTORY REBUILT GIN MACHINERY BALE HANDLING SYSTEMS COMPLETE LINE OF REPAIR PARTS FOR MURRAY, MITCHELL, H.E., CONSOLIDATED, CONTINENTAL, MOSS, LUMMUS, HORN & CMI 806-745-8156 1-800-776-8182 FAX 806-745-0564 E-MAIL: NORTHERNLUCUS@YAHOO.COM WWW.NORTHERNLUCUS.COM

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My Turn A Cotton-Pickin’ Exciting Time

As we rounded the corner to our house, cotton ike many kids growing up in flew into a nearby bean field, setting part of it on the Missouri fire. My older daughter ran out of the house with Bootheel, cot- wet blankets to put it out. My younger daughter ton was the center of who was with me in the cotton field told me she our lives. It drew the had gotten cold, had some matches in her pocket w h o l e c o m m u n i t y and decided to light a small pile of cotton on fire together. From every- to keep her hands warm. She told us later the fire day lunches at the just went “phophf!,” and she knew right away it Francis & Sally local grocery store to was the wrong thing to do. After my older daughter put out the fire in the “cotton tales” so memHulshof orable they have lived bean field, she asked, “How did the cotton ever catch on fire?” And I responded, “I don’t know. on through the years. Francis Hulshof: In 1942, I was in the eighth Maybe you need to ask your sister about that one.” grade. Cotton was picked by hand and hauled Sheepishly, the younger daughter shared what she to the gin with a one-bale wagon and a team of had done. The story was repeated for years and is mules. It would take eight good pickers to pick one still told today. Sally Hulshof: When I was around 10 or 12 bale of cotton a day. That continued until 1950. years old, the owner of When I was younger, the field where we were on Saturdays we would “The horse took off, and the working had a truck haul our last bale of cotton flew everywhere!” that picked us up. We cotton for the week to would ride in the back, town and park the team and wagon in the back of the grocery store. We and that was so exciting for me. If you could get always told the butcher the same thing: “I would 100 pounds a day, that was considered wonderful. like 10 cents worth of bologna and throw in some We got 3 cents a pound, and we liked to make crackers with it.” Back then, a quarter-inch slice money. Afterward, the owner stopped at a little of bologna would fit on the four-square crackers grocery store and paid us. I knew right away what we had, and you could get two or three slices for 10 I wanted to buy — Dentyne gum. I loved that. We cents. We would sit on our wagons with others and didn’t have the opportunity much to buy gum with our own money. have a feast. One day the trailer wasn’t there when our cotLater on, there was tromping cotton. The trompers climbed up into the trailer after the cotton ton sacks were full. My sister, Betty, said, “I’m not was dropped in from the basket and walked and gonna carry this heavy cotton sack all of the way stomped back and forth. They spread it around home.” Betty was known to take opportunities evenly and walked in circles until the next load when she could. So she lifted her cotton sack onto came and then repeated the process. After school, the horse’s back. She was going to get on, too, but my kids would find out where I was and get there the horse took off, and the cotton flew everywhere! as soon as they could to help tromp down the cot- Boy, was she in trouble. My dad said, “Betty, you need to go and pick up all of that cotton.” We all ton so my trailers could hold more. One day they got home from school close to dark. had a good laugh, but we still went out to help her. We will never forget these stories and enjoy The pickup truck was hooked up to the trailer. I remember driving the cotton picker down the row retelling them over and over. Back then, cotton knowing somehow there was an issue with a fire in was our heart and soul and is still our heart and the cotton trailer. I parked the picker and jumped soul today. into the truck with my younger daughter and – Francis and Sally Hulshof headed to the house so we could get to the pump Portageville, Missouri to wet it down. We didn’t have 1,000-gallon water kamasterson@icloud.com trailers in the field that farmers do now.

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.

COTTON FARMING APRIL 2018

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