Cotton Farming April 2019

Cotton Farming ONE GROWER PUBLISHING, LLC

PROFITABLE PRODUCTION STRATEGIES

APRIL 2019

www.cottonfarming.com

Cotton acreage continues to climb in northern Texas Panhandle

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Vol. 63 No. 4

Cotton Farming PROFITABLE PRODUCTION STRATEGIES

APRIL 2019

www.cottonfarming.com

F E AT U R E S

6

‘FOREVER COTTON’ DEBUTS

12

BROILER LITTER FERTILIZER

17

GINNING MARKETPLACE

The Cotton Board’s new campaign shows what cotton means for producers, consumers and the families who make this industry possible.

Here are highlights of research that has been conducted with poultry litter as a nutrient source for row crops within Mississippi.

THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE GINNING INDUSTRY

The National Cotton Ginners’ Association honors Dr. Ed Barnes for his distinguished service to the U.S. ginning industry.

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Texas Acres Swell

Cotton acreage has almost tripled in the past five years in the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service District 1, which covers the 22 northernmost counties in the Panhandle. This beautiful landscape fits the well-known slogan, “Don’t Mess With Texas.” As acreage and infrastructure continue to grow, farmers’ commitment to cotton appears to remain strong in the Lone Star state.

DEPARTMENTS & COLUMNS

4 Editor’s Note 10 Industry News 5 Cotton’s Agenda 13 Specialists Speaking 6 Research & Promotion 22 My Turn ON THE COVER: This beautiful field on Shawn Holladay’s farm in Dawson County is a good example of what farmers are capable of growing across the state of Texas.

Cover photo by Mary Jane Buerkle

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APRIL 2019

A deep-rooted commitment TCGA ANNUAL MEETING AND TRADE SHOW || APRIL 4-5, 2019, LUBBOCK, TEXAS

Producers embrace cover crops to boost soil health, profitability

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 After the abnormally wet, hurricane-ridden and drawn-out harvest season, North Carolina State University Extension weed specialists Charlie Cahoon and Wes Everman discuss field repair and the potential effects on weeds. They offer a few things to consider “while you are out erasing ruts from last year.” 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, 875 W. Poplar Ave., Suite 23, Box 305, Collierville, TN 38017. 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.

TWITTER: @COTTONFARMING

APRIL 2019 | COTTON FARMING

3

Editor’s Note

Cotton Farming

Carroll Smith

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

Texas Cotton Remains In The Spotlight

S

ometimes it’s fun to look back 10 years to see where we stand in relation to that time. In March 2009, former Cotton Farming editor Tommy Horton’s cover story was titled “Don’t Mess With Texas: Lone Start State Proudly Delivers Majority Of Crop.”

He says, “The indicators are that more than half of the cotton planted in the United States this year will be in Texas.” Going by the National Cotton Council’s planting intentions survey, Horton says more than 4.5 million acres are estimated to be planted in the state. The year before, “Texas planted 5 million acres out of an overall total of 9.4 million acres in the country.”

Carl Anderson, retired Texas A&M cotton marketing specialist, admitted that “when he began his career more than 30 years ago, he never thought he would see Texas become known as the leader in both acreage and cotton quality by such wide margins.”

Yes, “The eyes of the world are on Texas,” Horton says, and he probably would not be surprised to see that the state’s cotton industry is still in the spotlight today. As a nod to his 2009 observations, we brought back a portion of his headline in the cover story, titled “Don’t Mess With Texas: Cotton Acreage Continues To Climb In The Northern Panhandle.”

Kay Ledbetter, Texas A&M AgriLife communications specialist, reports on page 8 that “Cotton acreage has almost tripled in the past five years in the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service District 1, which covers the 22 northernmost counties in the Panhandle.”

And just last month, Cotton Farming managing editor Vicky Boyd described how the cotton ginning infrastructure was stepping up to support Texas farmers’ commitment to the crop that has become ingrained in the state’s landscape.

“The number and sheer size of cotton gins in the north Texas High Plains continues to grow, fueled by burgeoning cotton acres,” she says.

Ross Rutherford, vice president of product management and marketing for Lummus Corp., credits a new generation of ginning machinery for the explosion of new plants and the expansion of existing gins. One of the infrastructure success stories is Adobe Walls Gin in Spearman, Texas, “billed as the largest ginning point in the United States and perhaps the world.”

In a modern twist to the famous song lyrics, “the eyes of Texas are upon you,” I think it’s safe to say, “the eyes of Texas farmers are on cotton.” And all indications are it is destined to stay that 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.

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COTTON FARMING | APRIL 2019

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 2019 © ASSOCIATED PUBLICATIONS – One Grower Publishing, LLC also publishes RICE FARMING, THE PEANUT GROWER, SOYBEAN SOUTH and CORN SOUTH.

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COTTONFARMING.COM

Cotton’s Agenda Gary Adams

Laying Down The Law The National Cotton Council is communicating to the U.S. Department of Agriculture the importance of timely and appropriate implementation of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018.

How have U.S. cotton’s priorities been conveyed?

n At a recent USDA listening session, the NCC shared the industry’s needs for implementation of 2018 farm law programs administered by the Farm Service Agency, Risk Management Agency and Natural Resources Conservation Service. NCC staff ’s input included acknowledging the timely guidance that FSA and RMA issued regarding producer options for STAX or SCO coverage relative to seed cotton base acre enrollment in ARC/PLC. The NCC also submitted detailed comments to USDA regarding this and other important changes in farm law. The comments at www. cotton.org/issues/2019/agact. cfm noted, for example, that because the ARC/PLC program for cotton is only available for those farms with seed cotton base acres (formerly generic base/Upland cotton base), there will be The NCC is seeking timely and situations where producappropriate implementation of ers may choose to purchase the 2018 farm law.

STAX crop insurance on their planted cotton acres.

The basis for this decision is because there are no seed cotton base acres on the farm or STAX may offer better revenue protection than ARC/ PLC under certain price expectations.

We also urged FSA and the National Agricultural Statistics Service to work with the cotton industry to ensure the necessary marketing year average price data is compiled in time for USDA to issue ARC/PLC payments as soon as possible after Oct. 1 following completion of each marketing year. In addition, the NCC asked USDA to “consider planted” those base acres enrolled in a Conservation Reserve

Program contract that expired between 20092016 (timeframe used for determining unplanted base under the Bipartisan Budget Act).

Our remarks emphasized the strong and time-sensitive need to make the required change in the formula used to calculate whether the Extra Long Staple Competitiveness Payment Program will be triggered. Specifically, USDA was urged to incorporate price quotes for comparable quality cotton of other origins that compete with our nation’s ELS cotton in the export market.

The NCC’s comments also reminded USDA that the new farm law’s report language asks that the agency make changes to the Cotton Storage Agreement and provider agreements for warehouse receipts to modernize the requirements for improving the timely shipment of cotton to end users. The NCC also reminded the agency to modify the foreign price quotes used in determining the adjusted world price for Upland cotton by using the three lowest foreign price quotes rather than the current five lowest quotes. The final request to USDA was to continue with its recent practice of determining the annual “costs to market” adjustment to the adjusted world price by fully accounting for all costs related to the movement of cotton from a warehouse to a major export market.

What about farm law education? n The NCC joined other agricultural organizations in an early March letter to Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue emphasizing that producers need to know how the new farm programs will affect their operation. The Secretary was urged to quickly allocate funding for training and updating risk management resources. These resources will assist U.S. producers with program election and enrollment decisions, including determinations about crop insurance eligibility and preferences.

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

Twitter: @CottonFarming

APRIL 2019 | COTTON FARMING

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RESEARCH & PROMOTION

‘Forever Cotton’ Campaign Debuts

BY STACEY GORMAN COTTON BOARD DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS

F

“

orever Cotton” is The Cotton Board’s new, multi-faceted communication campaign aimed at cotton producers. The campaign demonstrates the many ways the Cotton Research and Promotion Program works on behalf of U.S. Upland cotton growers to bridge the gap between cotton on their farm and cotton in the following areas: cotton as a performance fabric; cottonseed oil as a trusted food source; and production practices for sustainability and stability on the farm.

Based in Memphis, Tennessee, The Cotton Board is the oversight and administrative arm of the Cotton Research and Promotion Program, representing Upland cotton. The board is responsible for providing the program with strategic leadership and oversight.

To fund the program, The Cotton Board collects a perbale assessment on all U.S. Upland cotton harvested and ginned. It also gathers an assessment on the cotton content of all Upland cotton products imported into the United States. The board contracts with Cotton Incorporated to carry out the actual research and promotion activities for U.S. producers and cotton importers.

Inform Farmers And Importers Cotton Incorporated is consumer and trade focused. The Cotton Board’s communication mission is to keep U.S. cotton producers and importers informed about the research and promotion done on their behalf to help increase the demand for and profitability of cotton.

A few years ago when the cotton market and acreage were down, the board ran the “Renew Your Faith in Cotton” campaign. This campaign highlighted cotton’s versatility in the marketplace and reminded the cotton growing community that the program was built for tough times and was working hard on their behalf.

In the years that followed, the market and acreage started increasing again, which is a testament to the resolve of both the fiber and the people who grow it. That campaign is over, but the story of the value the program brings to cotton growers continues.

A New Campaign Is Born Forever Cotton is the next evolution of messaging from The Cotton Board to the cotton stakeholders who fund the program. It is a platform to illustrate what cotton means for producers, consumers and the families who make this industry possible.

This new campaign leads with stories, and the cotton industry has no shortage of amazing stories to tell. The Forever Cotton stories showcase the far-reaching effect the program has on everyday people by taking a deeper dive into those who wear cotton, cook with cottonseed oil

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COTTON FARMING | APRIL 2019

The ‘Forever Cotton’ campaign explores the lives of people who wear cotton, cook with cottonseed oil and grow cotton. and grow cotton. The campaign consists of videos, print ads, digital ads and social media content. Through these communication tactics, The Cotton Board is offering the cotton growing community a unique, entertaining and immersive experience that helps them forge a positive, memorable association with the program and what it stands for.

The campaign provides a foundation from which to build and expand these stories to continue showcasing new, innovative ways cotton is being used in the market. It also shows how demand is increasing as a result of all our combined efforts.

Please visit www.cottonboard.org/forevercotton to watch the campaign videos and learn more about what the program is doing on behalf of the U.S. cotton industry.

To learn more, email Gorman at sgorman@cottonboard.org.

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Don’t Mess With

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Cotton Acreage Continues To Climb In Northern Texas Panhandle

BY KAY LEDBETTER

Cotton strippers and white cotton fields have significantly increased across the northern Panhandle.

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COTTON FARMING | APRIL 2019

ed in 2018, Bell says. Of that 550,000-acre increase, 350,000 acres have been north of Amarillo.

Although cotton production increased in every county, the largest expansions appear to be in Dallam, Hartley, Hansford, Moore, Ochiltree, Sherman, Carson and Gray counties.

“Some of the increase is occurring where irrigation water is becoming more limited,” Bell says.

“But we are also seeing an increase where producers have irrigation capacity to achieve higher cotton yields as well as a shift in dryland acres from wheat and sorghum.”

KAY LEDBETTER/TEXAS A&M AGRILIFE

C

otton acreage has almost tripled in the past five years in the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service District 1, which covers the 22 northernmost counties in the Panhandle.

Dr. Jourdan Bell, AgriLife Extension agronomist in Amarillo, says the cropping picture has definitely changed as producers deal with declining irrigation capacities, variable weather and lower commodity prices.

In 2013, farmers in District 1 planted 300,000 acres of cotton, compared to the 850,000 acres plant-

COTTONFARMING.COM

CHARTS COURTESY OF DR. JOURDAN BELL

This graph shows a comparison of District I irrigated and dryland cotton acreage for 2013 and 2018.

This illustration shows the differences in cotton acres planted north of Amarillo in the past five years.

KAY LEDBETTER/TEXAS A&M AGRILIFE

Irrigation Considerations “Based on 2019 price and cost projections from Texas In 2013, less than a third of the cotton acres were irriPanhandle AgriLife Extension budgets, $4.15 per bushel gated, but in 2018 about half of the acres were planted corn will net around $300 per acre, while 68-cent-perunder irrigation. Cotton in this region is estimated to pound cotton will net almost $600 per acre, meaning cotton require 12-15 inches of total water to produce 2 bales per can be a very attractive crop to area producers,” Jones says. acre, so only about 8 inches of irrigation are required in She warns that cotton can be a riskier choice due to highmost years when soil moisture and in-season precipitation er potential expenses and lower insurance coverage. are average.

“Since cotton is relativeThe more drought-tolly new to this area, producerant cotton also provides ers do not have established producers an opportunity to insurance yield histories stretch irrigation capacities, that protect them during allowing them to water both times of crop losses,” Jones corn and cotton, Bell says. says.

It can be risky for producers “Also, cotton often to plant their full acreage to requires more chemical corn with limited irrigation applications than corn, so capacities due to variable the expenses can be higher.” weather patterns.

Bell adds that cotton “Because cotton is a markets are far from cerdrought-tolerant crop, tain. splitting irrigated acreage “Because a portion of the between cotton and corn current change in acreage provides producers the is due to economics and Cotton fields are replacing other commodities in the Texas opportunity to better manfluctuating commodity Panhandle landscape. age both crops during peak prices, there are questions water demand periods and maintain high yields,” she says. about the stability of current cotton acres,” she says.

While many farmers have added cotton to their rotation, they have not totally eliminated their grain acreage, Bell Committed To Cotton says. The grain crop enables weed management by rotating But both Jones and Bell believe the combination of herbicides, helps break disease cycles and adds residue — several factors — declining irrigation capacities providing a key component for minimizing evaporative losses and producers an opportunity to maintain the profitability improving soil quality. of low-water acreage, investments made in cotton equipment and increased ginning capacity — suggest a regionFactor In Economics al commitment to cotton acreage.

At current commodity prices, however, the decision to “Adobe Walls Gin in Spearman processed 276,000 bales plant cotton can be based more on economics. A producer in 2018, and they are building a new facility in Pampa can use the same amount of water typically used by a corn that goes online next year,” Jones says. crop and produce 4 bales of cotton per acre, and thus yield “That much investment indicates to me cotton is here to a greater net profit per inch of water. About 20 inches of stay.” irrigation will produce on average 230 bushels of corn per acre and 2,000 pounds of cotton per acre, says DeDe Jones, Kay Ledbetter is the Texas A&M AgriLife communication AgriLife Extension risk management specialist, Amarillo. specialist based in Amarillo.

Twitter: @CottonFarming

APRIL 2019 | COTTON FARMING

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Industry News Partnership Brings Real-Time Drone Mapping Onboard

Mark and Becky Landry (center) of Landry Farms in Knippa, Texas, received the award for highest yield using Stoneville cottonseed in the South Texas/Delta region with 2,276 pounds per acre. The award was presented at the annual Stoneville Legacy Club celebration in Destin, Florida, by Butch Roecker, BASF seed advisor and Rachel Walters, BASF cottonseed marketing manager.

Southeast, Delta and South Texas Farmers Honored Growers from the Southeast, Delta and South Texas regions were honored recently at the annual Stoneville Legacy Club celebration held in Destin, Florida. The club, now in its third year, recognizes cotton growers for their advanced knowledge and skill used to maximize yield and profit potential, as well as produce high-quality fiber.

Twenty growers earned membership in the Stoneville Legacy Club and were recognized for harvesting yields in the top 10 percent of their state.

“Stoneville has been around for nearly 100 years, and it’s a brand growers trust to consistently perform at high levels,” says Rachel Walters, BASF cottonseed marketing manager. “Stoneville Legacy Club growers pair our elite germplasm with their quality management to deliver high yields year in and year out. We’re honored to provide them with this recognition.”

Of those who qualified for the Stoneville Legacy Club, the following growers received special awards in their regions: SOUTH TEXAS/DELTA } Highest yield: Mark and Becky Landry, Landry Farms, 2,276 pounds per acre

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COTTON FARMING | APRIL 2019

} Most acres: Mark and Becky Landry, Landry Farms, 254 acres } M o s t v a r i e t i e s : L e a a n d Jody Calloway, Calloway Farm Partnership, ST 5471GLTP, ST 5517GLTP and ST 5122GLT SOUTHEAST } Highest yield: Bart Waller, H.B. Waller III, 1,360 pounds per acre } M o s t a c re s : M a t t R a n s o m , Ransom Farms, 920 acres } Most varieties: Matt Ransom, Ransom Farms, ST 4848GLT, ST 5020GLT, ST 6182GLT and ST 4946GLB2 Mark and Becky Landry of Landry Farms in Knippa, Texas, received the award for highest yield in the South Texas/Delta region. “We’ve been growing Stoneville for 30 years,” Landry says.

“We started out with 3-bale cotton yields in the ’80s, and as genetics and varieties have improved, we’re now achieving more than 4 1/2-bale yields.

This is a result of the new varieties that Stoneville has brought to the table for cotton farmers.”

To qualify for the Stoneville Legacy Club, growers must have planted 100 percent Stoneville cotton seed on at least 20 qualifying acres from Jan. 1-Dec. 31, 2018. To view a complete list of winners and learn more about how to qualify for the 2019 Stoneville Legacy Club, visit Stoneville.com/LC.

Corteva Agriscience, Agriculture Division of DowDuPont, has announced a global agreement with DroneDeploy to use DroneDeploy in its fleet of more than 400 DJI drones.

The agreement is across the company’s global seed production and supply chain, as well as its Pioneer strategic account management and agronomy teams in the United States, Canada, Brazil and Europe.

DroneDeploy provides commercial drone software and intelligence gathered via satellite and aerial photography for construction and agriculture.

“The field intelligence technology will enable our Pioneer agronomy and strategic account management teams to work with farmers to provide real-time aerial views of their operation,” says Jeremy Groeteke, Corteva Agriscience U.S. digital agriculture lead.

UAV operators can survey a 160acre field in less than 15 minutes, quickly spotting variations in plant and soil health. Every operator will be trained on how best to harness the power of the aerial technology and will be certified according to local aviation regulations.

USDA Designates Natural Disaster Areas For Louisiana Louisiana Agriculture and Forestry Commissioner Mike Strain, D.V.M., says the U.S. Department of Agriculture designated 17 parishes as primary natural disaster areas because of excessive rain and flooding from Aug. 25 through Nov. 16, 2018.

As a result, some Louisiana farmers could be eligible for assistance.

Farmers in Acadia, Allen, Ascension, Assumption, Avoyelles, Beauregard, Calcasieu, Cameron, Catahoula, Jefferson Davis, Lafourche, St. Charles, St. James, St. John the Baptist, St. Landry, Terrebonne and Vermilion parishes are eligible for lowinterest emergency loans from USDA’s Farm Service Agency provided eligibility requirements are met.

Farmers in eligible areas have eight months from the date of the declaration to apply for loans to help cover part of their actual losses. FSA Continued on page 15 COTTONFARMING.COM

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2/13/19 10:36 AM

SPECIAL REPORT

Researchers Examine Broiler Litter As Fertilizer For Row Crops

BY LARRY OLDHAM Editor’s note: Here are highlights of Larry Oldham’s broiler litter article. To see the complete report, go to https://bit. ly/2TTx6X1.

E

xtensive research has been conducted with poultry litter as a nutrient source for row crops within Mississippi. Here are several considerations about including poultry litter in the nutrient program.

} How much is it worth and what equipment is needed?

The nutrient content of litter varies from integrator to integrator (about seven operate in Mississippi) due to different bird growing management techniques.

Litter is a relatively light material (31 pounds per cubic foot) compared to inorganic fertilizers (46 to 70 pounds per cubic foot).

Therefore, transport expense can be high.

Proper spreading equipment is necessary and should be calibrated and maintained regularly.

The Mississippi State University guidance for “Calibrating Poultry Litter Spreading Equipment” was recently updated. } When should I apply litter for my cotton?

Litter is most effective when applied close to when the crop will use the nutrients. Conversion of nitrogen in the litter to plant available forms, whether nitrate or ammonium, will begin one to three weeks after application.

Litter is most efficient when applied a few days before planting row crops. Each year, only about 50 to 60 percent of N in spring-applied litter is used by plants. Research in north Mississippi found that with no actively growing cool-season crop, fall-spread litter provided no N to the next season cotton crop.

Significant amounts of the P in the litter applied in the spring and practically all the K in the litter is plant-available from spring applications. Phosphorus applied in excess of the amount used by plants will be stored in the soil. No carryover credit can be given for litter K to subsequent crops. } How much litter do I use?

The U.S. Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service in cooperation with MAFES conducted six studies using litter on cotton in 2002-2005. Yields were generally higher at five locations for poultry litter-based fertility programs. The only location that did not result

12

COTTON FARMING | APRIL 2019

in an advantage for broiler litter over standard inorganic nitrogen fertilizer was a Dubbs silt loam soil near Cruger, Mississippi, with a 3- to 4-bale yield potential for cotton.

The most effective application rate of litter as cotton fertilizer is 2 tons per acre applied a few days before planting, and then sidedressed with an additional 60 pounds of inorganic fertilizer N. This calculates to 180 pounds N applied per acre using average nutrient contents.

However, if about 120 pounds of N is added in the preplant litter application, half of that amount or 60 pounds of N is the plant available quantity in the course of the growing season. Another 60 pounds N should be sidedressed using inorganic fertilizers at layby, thus the net application rate is 120 pounds of N per acre from both sources that will be used during the growing season.

Further work has shown that because litter provides all nutrients, it can be difficult to decide which limiting nutrient was alleviated by the litter application.

However, as the Cruger location demonstrated, if no soil-based nutrients are limiting production, litter and inorganic nitrogen are roughly equal. Therefore, a sound soil testing program must be in place to make sure balanced plant nutrition is provided. } Application Rates With the fertilizer content of the litter and calibrated spreading equipment, application rates using litter can be calculated. Remember that only about 50 percent of the N in the litter will be available to growing plants during the application season of application. Zero will be available if fall-applied for next year’s crop. } Summary Six studies in Mississippi have shown that broiler litter can provide enough nutrients at 2 tons per acre applied shortly before planting cotton with supplemental sidedressing of 60 pounds nitrogen per acre at lay-by. Litter has distinct properties that must also be considered in the economics of transportation and application.

It is always best to have a recent nutrient analysis of actual litter to be applied. A sound soil test-based soil fertility management program is required to maximize the overall efficiency of litter used as fertilizer.

Larry Oldham is an Extension soils specialist at Mississippi State University.

COTTONFARMING.COM

Specialists Speaking Tips To Promote A Successful Stand TEXAS Murilo Maeda Harvest activities have come to an end in the Texas High Plains, and fieldwork has picked up. As we continue planning for the upcoming season, one of the most important decisions our growers have to make relates to variety choice. Fertility, insecticide and herbicide programs have some flexibility and can be adjusted during the growing season to address specific challenges as needed. But variety choice is usually a “one-time” decision that affects crop management and ultimately, yield potential for the season.

It is important to base variety selection on yield potential, fiber quality package, maturity, disease resistance/tolerance and technology traits needed (e.g. insect and herbicide). Seedling vigor, warm/cool germination values and overall seed quality affect the germination process and stand establishment. That information should be used to assist you in determining when to plant, not necessarily what to plant.

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Replicated Agronomic Cotton Evaluation (RACE) Trial results for the Southern High Plains and the Texas Panhandle are available at http://varietytesting.tamu.edu/cotton/.

Growers should take advantage of this information to help guide their decisions.

I also want to remind everyone about mandatory auxin training for 2019. If you have not attended a session, there is still time to do so.

AgriLife Extension is offering three auxin training sessions in the Texas High Plains — April 2, 10 and 12 in Perryton, Levelland and Lubbock, respectively. Be sure to get in touch with your local Extension office for more information. mmaeda@ag.tamu.edu

TEXAS Gaylon Morgan Despite a colder-than-normal early March, cotton emerged the first week of the month in the Lower Rio Grande Valley. Going into the second week of March, cotton planting was in full swing in the Coastal Bend.

At the time of this writing March 11, soil conditions in the Upper Gulf Coast remain wet. Any additional rainfall will definitely delay cotton planting for a large number of growers in this region where cotton acres are expected to increase considerably.

Farmers in the Blacklands typically start planting in early April. Soil conditions are slowly drying, which may allow seed to get in the ground in a timely manner. Throughout the Rolling Plains, deep soil moisture conditions are generally good, but a rain around planting time — early to mid-May — will definitely be needed.

XtendFlex and Enlist acres will be up again in 2019. Auxin training to apply the labeled dicamba and Enlist products, respectively, has been well attended. We should avoid over reliance on auxin herbicide technologies for weed control and continue to use multiple herbicide modes of action to delay development of herbicide resistance in cotton weed species.

Because of seed costs, shaving seeding rates remains a common theme. When shooting for lower seeding rates, growers need to gather as much information as possible. Pay attention to the cool and warm germination tests results from the seed company/distributor to better gauge the seed quality. Next, adjust the seeding rate accordingly while taking into account soil conditions and weather forecast Twitter: @CottonFarming

at planting time. There is much less margin of error when using low seeding rates. gdmorgan@tamu.edu

OKLAHOMA Seth Byrd As we enter April, planting is on everybody’s mind.

It’s likely there will be some cotton planted in parts of Oklahoma by the end of the month. And if you are planting in April, it’s probably because you grow cotton in areas of the state with a shorter growing season. Getting off to a good start is critical to avoid delays in maturity or the dreaded replant.

There are several factors to consider when planting to ensure a rapid start, including variety selection, soil and air temperature, and moisture. If starting early but conditions are not the best, or if in a historically difficult field, a more vigorous variety will typically have an advantage. Vigor is generally linked to seed size, which is reflective of seed oil content. Larger seeds typically have higher oil content and more “horsepower” to get out of the ground.

Temperature is also key so take into account the five- to eight-day forecast for highs and lows. If a multi-day cold snap is forecast three days out from planting, it may be best to hold off until favorable conditions over several days are likely. Moisture is important, particularly in the seedbed. Planting into moisture allows the seed to begin the germination process and emerge more rapidly.

We often have to compromise on at least one of these factors when planting, especially for dryland cotton. The moisture situation last year was a great example in many parts of Oklahoma of there being no good time to start. The Oklahoma Mesonet is a great resource for looking up conditions and forecasts across the state. It can be accessed at http://mesonet.org/. seth.byrd@okstate.edu

MISSOURI Calvin Meeks It appears the groundhog was incorrect, and the Bootheel will not have an early spring this year. The 2018 season was successful for most growers, and the hope of a trade deal has the outlook for cotton optimistic. As I write this on March 1, planting conditions are unknown. However, considering the cool and wet winter, fieldwork is behind schedule and fields are quite soggy.

When you do get ready to plant, here are a few important considerations to keep in mind if planting in less-than-ideal conditions.

For example, soil temperatures lower than 68 degrees Fahrenheit at mid-morning at the 2-inch depth are not optimal. Another example of less-than-ideal conditions is when fewer than 35 DD60s are forecast for five days.

Today’s technology has simplified calculating the DD60 forecast, and several free tools are available to producers. To access a Beltwide DD60 planting calculator that gives a county by county DD60 forecast, go to: https://bit.ly/2U9juTO. However, no Missouri weather stations are present in the Mesonet so you will have to manually input 2-inch soil temperatures.

North Carolina State University cotton specialists Drs. Guy Collins and Keith Edmisten developed another free tool. It is available at https://bit.ly/2HoW21p. The Cotton Planting Conditions Calculator was developed for North Carolina. But since it is based on Google APRIL 2019 | COTTON FARMING

13

Specialists Speaking Maps, you can zoom in to an individual field anywhere in the United States to get a DD60 planting forecast.

My recommendation if you are forced to plant cotton in lessthan-ideal conditions is to consider high-vigor varieties. The 2018 varieties are ranked in this PDF: https://bit.ly/2SUr96T. Lower vigor varieties should be planted later when conditions have improved.

It’s also advisable to increase seeding rates 10 to 15 percent and plant more shallow (½-inch) to ensure the best chance of getting a stand.

Planting larger-seeded varieties is advisable since they tend to have more energy reserves to cope with stress related to sub-optimal germination conditions. It also is a good idea to use seed treatments to help protect the young plants. Finally, consider applying in-furrow insecticides if cover crops have not been terminated before planting. meeksc@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.

Although we planted very few acres of cotton in April last year, above-average temperatures the entire month of May resulted in one of our fastest crops to reach first flower. History generally tells us the earlier we plant, the better we do. Just remember that early planting does not equal earliness.

Optimum planting conditions include a mid-morning 68-degree soil temperature at 2 inches for three consecutive days and a favorable five-day forecast. Regardless of the calendar date, park the planter if heat unit accumulation (DD60s) is predicted to be 15 or fewer for the five-day period after planting. We often see good results when 25 or more heat units accumulate during this time.

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. There are many signals or signs that people use to indicate the right time to plant. Getting off to a good, quick start will pay dividends all season long if we do it right the first time. brobertson@uaex.edu

LOUISIANA Dan Fromme Cotton planting is just around the corner in Louisiana, and now is a good time to review some key practices to get off to a great start in 2019. It is always best to plant according to soil temperature and not the calendar. If a field is planted too early, the cotton crop may suffer a stand loss and cold temperature stress, which reduces yield potential.

Germination can begin when mean daily temperature is 60 degrees Fahrenheit at seeding depths, but growth will be slow at this temperature. A soil temperature of 65 F at a depth of 4 inches for three consecutive days and a favorable five-day forecast following planting is best. Also, nighttime minimum temperatures should be forecast to be more than 50 F for the following five days. During the critical germination period, soil temperatures below 50 F can cause chilling injury to germinating cotton.

Emergence generally occurs after accumulating 50-80 DD60s — or heat units — after seed is in the ground. Planting should be delayed if the five-day forecast predicts the accumulation of fewer than 25 heat units after planting. The minimum plant population in the

14

COTTON FARMING | APRIL 2019

final plant stand should be no fewer than two healthy plants per foot.

It’s critical to create a pest-free seedbed to avoid problems from cutworms and spider mites. Pre-plant, burndown herbicide applications should be made at least four weeks prior to planting to ensure no green vegetation on which these pests can survive is in the field. It is equally important to eliminate weedy host plants on field borders to reduce insect problems later on that might move into adjacent cotton fields.

For additional information on when to plant cotton, visit www. lsuagcenter.com. Once you have reached the website, go to crops>cotton>agronomy.

Best of luck in 2019! dfromme@agcenter.lsu.edu

MISSISSIPPI Darrin Dodds Historically, Mississippi cotton growers started planting in mid- to late April. However, over the past six or seven years, weather conditions have not allowed a tremendous amount of planting prior to May. Weather has been a pressing issue since last fall.

Many fields still bear the ruts from harvest and will require a good deal of field preparation prior to planting the 2019 crop. To make matters worse, the forecast into May is predicting above-average precipitation.

Mississippi growers are predicted to plant the largest cotton acreage since 2006. Our farmers have produced the highest yields on record in our state over the past seven years. In some of those years, cotton was not planted until mid- to late May or even into June in some cases.

While we have fieldwork to complete in order to plant this crop, we are not pressed for time — yet. Everyone is feeling the pressure to complete fieldwork, and we get backed further into a corner with each thunderstorm that passes through. Above anything else — be safe this spring. We will get this crop in the ground, and nothing is worth you not being here to see it this fall. dmd76@pss.msstate.edu

GEORGIA Mark Freeman As we get closer to planting, there are several factors to consider for establishing a successful stand.

Early in the season, soil temperatures play a significant role. Low temperatures will negatively affect germination and seedling vigor and increase the risk of seedling diseases, which can affect final plant stands. The optimum planting date will vary year to year. It is best to wait until 4-inch soil temperatures reach at least 65 degrees Fahrenheit for three days and the forecast shows a trend for warmer weather.

Other important aspects that affect stand establishment are seeding rates and seed placement configurations. In Georgia, plant populations of at least 1.5 to 1.75 plants per foot are needed to maximize yields. In our soils, seeding rates as low as 2 to 2.5 seed per foot can be successful. However, seeding rates may need to be adjusted on a field-by-field basis to account for environmental circumstances that can affect germination and viability.

Hill-drop seeding can also affect stand establishment compared to singulated seeding in tough conditions. Research has shown that when equal plant populations occur, there is no yield difference between hill-dropped seed and singulated seed. However, in some soils and soil conditions, hill-dropped seed may increase germination and affect yields by ensuring plant populations reach those needed for maximum yields.

Continued on page 16 COTTONFARMING.COM

Industry News Continued from page 10

will consider each loan application on its own merits, taking into account the extent of losses, security available and repayment ability. FSA has a variety of programs — in addition to the emergency loan program — to help eligible farmers recover.

These 18 Louisiana parishes are designated contiguous disaster areas as a result of damages and losses because of the rain: Caldwell, Concordia, East Baton Rouge, Evangeline, Franklin, Iberia, Iberville, Jefferson, Lafayette, LaSalle, Livingston, Pointe Coupee, Rapides, St. Martin, St. Mary, Tangipahoa, Tensas and Vernon.

Local FSA offices can provide further information.

“This is required of public entities in Texas,” Frazier says. “Let’s hold private, for-profit corporations to the same standard.”

The bill also creates a disincentive for entities that make a low initial offer. “We see this as a mechanism to deter ridiculous offers and get landowners fair compensation without having to hire an attorney and be taken to court,” Frazier says.

Under current law, the only requirement for the initial offer is that it

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Eminent Domain Remains A Hot Topic In The Lone Star State Texas landowners often face an uphill battle in eminent domain cases, but Senate Bill 421 by Sen. Lois Kolkhorst aims to create a fair, transparent and accountable process. Texas Farm Bureau Secretary-Treasurer Scott Frazier testified in support of SB 421 at a hearing of the Senate State Affairs Committee.

The bill would mandate that all easement agreements used for pipelines or electric transmission lines include minimum protections for landowners.

“Requiring standard easement terms ensures landowners get basic protections for the use of their property.

Easement terms are held as leverage over the landowners,” Frazier says. “I can make headway with the company negotiating important protections into the company’s easement form. But if we can’t agree on fair compensation, I risk losing those easement terms.

“If I’m taken to court, the easement is written exclusively by the company and filed with the condemnation petition. I have to accept whatever terms they choose to give me.”

The bill also outlines increased transparency between the condemning private entity and the landowners.

Companies that use eminent domain would be required, in certain circumstances, to hold public meetings within the counties they would be asserting eminent domain. These meetings must be held before the company can acquire any property.

TWITTER: @COTTONFARMING

be in writing. “That’s it. They’re not required to provide any documentation substantiating the offer provides the compensation required by the Constitution,” he says. “This allows bad actors to take advantage of landowners.”

Texas Farm Bureau, other agricultural organizations and landowner groups support the legislation because it seeks a better solution for private property owners while also ensuring public needs are met.

Ralph Gilkey grows PhytoGen® brand Pima varieties on 100 percent of his cotton acres. He recounts his experience with the exceptional fiber quality that helps him thrive and results in a beautiful finished product. A percentage of the PhytoGen brand Pima cotton grown on Gilkey Five goes into PimaCott merchandise. This brand prides itself on being “the only Pima cotton that can be forensically tracked and traced back to the source.”

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M

y grandfather, Ralph G. Gilkey, settled in this area in the early 1920s, established the family Cotton farmer farm and built a saw gin here in 1962. We Corcoran, California added a roller gin to the plant in 1999. My father, Don, passed away in 2009, so now my brothers, Kirk and Matt, my cousin, Steve, and I operate the ranch. Our family is also the managing partner of Cross Creek Ginning Co. Operating the gin allows us to watch the process and make adjustments, so the final product is the way we want it and the way the consumer wants it.

“We have had PhytoGen varieties on our ranch for 20-plus years, and today we plant 100 percent PhytoGen Pima cotton. I prefer the PhytoGen varieties because of their excellent fiber quality. Last year, I planted PHY 881 RF and PHY 841 RF. They are both good varieties, but I really like PHY 881 RF because it does well in our heavy clay loam soil under a furrow irrigation system. The Roundup Ready component has saved us a tremendous amount of money in labor costs incurred for manual weeding. This year, we intend to plant all our acres in PHY 881 RF because it slightly outperformed the PHY 841 RF. Agronomically, it’s all about water management.

“A percentage of our PhytoGen Pima cotton goes into PimaCott products. At the gin, we inject the cotton with a DNA marker applied as a mist to every inch of the bale.

This technology allows the cotton to be traced from the field to the finished product to prove it is 100 percent Pima. PimaCott sets high standards, and our goal is to grow the crop to the best of our ability to avoid discounts.

“To me, the PhytoGen Pima varieties are the ultimate product. I will continue to plant them because PhytoGen does extensive research to make sure its varieties are tested and proven, which always makes us look good.”

RALPH GILKEY

ALWAYS READ AND FOLLOW PESTICIDE LABEL DIRECTIONS. Roundup Ready® crops contain genes that confer tolerance to glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup® brand agricultural herbicides. Roundup brand agricultural herbicides will kill crops that are not tolerant to glyphosate. ®Roundup and Roundup Ready are registered trademarks of Monsanto Technology LLC. ®PhytoGen and the PhytoGen Logo are trademarks of PhytoGen Seed Company, LLC. PhytoGen Seed Company is a joint venture between Mycogen Corporation, an affiliate of Dow AgroSciences LLC, and the J.G. Boswell Company.

APRIL 2019 | COTTON FARMING

15

Specialists Speaking Continued from page 14

fertilization have been higher than cereal rye-only cover crops with 120 pounds of applied nitrogen per acre. whframe@vt.edu

Variety selection can also play a role in how successful our stands are. In particularly tough environments where establishing an adequate stand is often difficult, planting a larger-seeded variety may produce better seedling vigor than planting a small-seeded variety. For more information on these topics, visit www.ugacotton.com or contact your local University of Georgia Extension agent. markfree@uga.edu

GEORGIA Jared Whitaker In the fall of 2018, cotton leafroll dwarf virus was confirmed to infect cotton in 14 South Georgia counties. This virus is vectored by aphids and associated with cotton blue disease.

Symptoms include leaf curling, reddening and drooping of leaves and subsequent distortion of leaf growth above the nodes where reddened leaves were first observed. We’ve also seen upper internode shortening with discoloration to deep green along with subsequent lack of fruit retention. Although the virus was widespread across the state last fall, there were very few, if any, documented cases of yield losses in Georgia cotton fields that could be associated with cotton blue disease.

The University of Georgia cotton team is working diligently to obtain as much information as we can to relay what we know to producers. At this point, the extent to which the virus affected the 2019 Georgia cotton crop cannot be scientifically determined. But we have found the virus in ratooned cotton stalks from 2018 and in henbit over the past couple of weeks.

There may be two ways for us to potentially limit our exposure: remove the 2018 cotton stalks and control winter weeds well in advance of planting. Both of these approaches are already endorsed and encouraged practices and may ultimately be helpful in breaking the green bridge for the virus.

If you have any questions on this or other issues, contact your local UGA county Extension agent and visit the UGA cotton webpage at www.ugacotton.com. jared@uga.edu

VIRGINIA Hunter Frame As Virginia producers begin burndown applications ahead of cotton planting in May, it’s imperative to start weed free. In addition to managing weeds mid- to late April, it’s time to start terminating winter cover crops such as cereal rye, winter wheat, crimson clover and hairy vetch.

For the latter two cover crop species, terminate at peak bloom to minimize the amount of nitrogen “locked up” in the seed. Also, hairy vetch can become a weed, so timely termination will ensure minimum seed production. With these two legume species, a large amount of nitrogen can be fixed and available to the following cotton crop. For example, in 2017 and 2018, a crimson clover/hairy vetch mix contained 170-plus pounds of nitrogen per acre in the above-ground biomass at termination in late April.

The nutrient release pattern from cover crops can vary and depends heavily on rainfall and soil temperatures for degradation. Adding cereal rye to the mix slows decomposition of cover crop residues and provides a soil cover/mulch for added weed control. However, cereal cover crops can increase the demand for nitrogen in the cotton crop that follows. High carbon:nitrogen ratios in residues result in immobilization of N, especially in a large cover crop biomass.

Overall, using legume cover crops or cereal rye/legumes reduces the need for applied N. Lint yields with legumes receiving no nitrogen

16

COTTON FARMING | APRIL 2019

TENNESSEE Tyson Raper Although we were able to fertilize a little wheat during a cold snap in early March, we’ve had a difficult time getting much else done. Rain has complicated, if not prevented, rut repair, terrace touch-up and tillage.

Several additional prolonged showers today — March 9 — and another likely chance of rain midweek will probably continue to keep us in the shop. In the coming weeks, we hope to have a chance to terminate cover crops; tillage radishes failed to winter-kill in a few areas, and the time to remove those from the system is upon us.

Seed supply has been a common concern over the past few weeks as quality measurements have come back as less than ideal. I suspect many farmers will still be shuffling through variety decisions April 1.

Pay close attention to seed count and germination this year. I’ve spent a little time talking about plant populations during winter meetings since we typically plant more seed than is necessary in Tennessee. But this will be a tough year to back off seed count if you’re planting a lot of marginal cold germ or seed size. traper@utk.edu

NORTH CAROLINA Keith Edmisten Dr. Guy Collins and I have developed a cotton planting conditions calendar. You can select your farm or an individual field and get real-time planting conditions projections for the next three days. The link for the calendar is on the Extension Cotton Portal (cotton. ces.ncsu.edu). The projections are based on forecast temperatures for your area with warnings when cool nights or potentially excessive rains are predicted during germination.

Planting conditions often vary greatly during North Carolina’s optimum planting window. If the calculator predicts less-than-desirable conditions, there are precautions you can take if you need to plant during this time. For example, avoid planting too deeply to reach moisture, use larger-seeded varieties, plant seed with a high cool germination, avoid in-furrow fertilizers and use hill-drop planting techniques. keith_edmisten@ncsu.edu

FLORIDA David Wright Planting is a critical stage of the cotton crop following many weeks spent choosing the right variety for each field. Farmers must calibrate equipment for seeding rates and planting depth and make decisions about nematicides, starter fertilizer applications, weed control, desired planting date, rotations and more.

They must also contend with weather conditions.

Terminate cover crops in a timely manner where conservation tillage is used. Try to prevent the soil from drying out, and reduce insect populations — such as cutwoms — before planting. Farmers also need to consider resistant weed populations.

A big rain followed by hot, dry weather can pack soil and reduce stands. Most growers have lowered planting rates to the point that a 30 to 40 percent stand loss might lead to a replant decision. However, cotton is a resilient plant and seldom needs replanting. Populations as low as one plant per foot can produce good yields where stands are uniform, but the plants may require more time for fruiting.

Even with the best preparation and planning, there will be new challenges to face this season. wright@ufl.edu COTTONFARMING.COM

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The NCGA recognized Dr. Ed Barnes, senior director for Cotton Incorporated’s Agricultural and Environmental Research Division in Cary, North Carolina, as recipient of the NCGA’s 2018-19 Charles C. Owen Distinguished Service Award. It honors those who have provided a career of distinguished service to the U.S. ginning industry.

Barnes received his Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in biological and agricultural engineering from North Carolina State University. While pursuing his doctorate at Oklahoma State University, Barnes worked as an Extension engineer. In 1995, he joined the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service as an agricultural engineer at the U.S. Water Conservation Laboratory in Phoenix, Arizona. Here he developed uses of remote sensing data for agricultural management, with a focus on water optimization.

Barnes joined Cotton Incorporated in 2002, serving as an associate director of the Agricultural and Environmental Research Division before being named division director in 2007.

He serves as an adviser on the National Cotton Council’s Bale Packaging Committee and is a member of NCGA’s Technology Committee.

Barnes has been a member of the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers for 30 years. He served as chair of its Engineering for Sustainability Committee, is a trustee of its foundation and has been an ASABE fellow since 2017.

In 2013, he was awarded the National Conservation Systems Precision Agricultural Researcher of the Year Award and in 2014, the ASABE Mayfield Cotton Engineer of the Year Award.

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TCGA’s Aaron Nelson Remembers Cotton Farmer And Ginner Myrl Mitchell The cotton industry recently lost a dear friend. Myrl Mitchell passed away on Feb. 2. He was born at the foot of Lone Wolf Hill in Mitchell County, Texas, just south of Loraine. Myrl was a cotton farmer and a cotton gin owner for more than 50 years.

He was preceded in death by six brothers and one sister. Myrl is survived by his wife of 61 years, Mercidine Brunet Mitchell; two sons, Jimmy and his wife, Leah, of Lenorah, and Michael and his wife, Laura, of Fort Worth; seven grandchildren and two great grandchildren with a couple more on the way.

The cotton industry can be a small world. Many of us had the pleasure of knowing Myrl and his wife, Mercidine. When talking with someone about West Texas cotton, you could often ďŹ nd common ground in Myrl; it seemed as if everyone knew him.

When you talked about Myrl, it was always positive. I don’t think I ever picked up a negative word about him.

Although not large in physical stature, he was larger than life in both cotton ginning and farming. I cannot think of a time when Myrl and Mercidine did not have a smile on their faces. Both were always upbeat and anxious to talk about cotton or whatever the subject might be. They were simply a pleasure to be around.

Many of you received calls from Myrl over the years.

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When you picked up the phone, he enthusiastically let you know, “This is Myrl Mitchell from Lenorah, Texas!” I am certain many of you reading this article know exactly what I am talking about. Never missing a chance to try to aggravate Myrl a bit, I would ask, “Who is this?” I don’t think it phased him a bit. We shared a good laugh and carried on from there.

Myrl, of course, would ask how you and the family were doing before getting around to the actual reason he called, which was fine. I don’t care how busy I happened to be, I always had time to chat with Myrl. At the end of the conversation, he would compliment the work we do at the Texas Cotton Ginners’ Association and ask that I pass that on to my workmates. He never missed a chance to thank people for the job they were doing.

Story Behind ‘The Last Honest Ginner’ When TCGA sent out an announcement about Myrl’s passing, we said he was known as the “last honest ginner.” If you were like me, you had probably heard someone refer to Myrl as the last honest ginner at some point or perhaps the “honest ginner.” He just smiled and took it all in stride. That is how Myrl rolled. I always believed the title fit Myrl but did not think much about it. However, I have found there is a “rest of the story.”

It is my understanding that every two years, the U.S. Department of Agriculture meets to create color and leaf grade standards. The event is called the Universal Standards Conference, and all segments of the cotton industry are represented. Myrl was one of many members participating in the process along with other ginners and different segments of the cotton industry.

Black boxes that contain the model color and leaf grades are stored in a vault.

One day while participating in the process, a USDA representative asked for a couple of honest volunteers to help him bring the boxes out of the vault or maybe it was to put the boxes in the vault; I am not sure. Anyway, the USDA representative headed toward the vault and Myrl followed. After nearly approaching the vault, Myrl realized nobody was behind him. As he looked back, I imagine a roar of laughter followed by someone shouting, “the last honest ginner”! Thus, the phrase “last honest ginner” was coined and followed Myrl from that point on. This may not be exactly what happened, but I think it is close. If you have a better rendition, contact me and I will be glad to publish it in the newsletter next month.

I will miss the infectious smile Myrl brought everywhere he went. I was recently talking to a young lady with the Farm Service Agency in Snyder who happens to have married my nephew. After I told her I work in the cotton industry, she asked me if I knew Myrl Mitchell. Of course I did, and the conversation went on from there. She spoke of how nice Myrl was and how he loved flirting with the ladies in the office, as she put it. That just further confirmed we were talking about the right guy.

Leader In The Cotton Industry In closing, let’s talk about some of Myrl’s accomplishments in the cotton industry. He served on more local, statewide and national boards than you can count. Myrl was president of Plains Cotton Growers in 1986. From 1992–1995, he served as chairman of the Bale Packaging Committee.

Myrl was a Life Member of the Texas Cotton Ginners’ Association and completed a term as TCGA president in 1997. He served as president of the National Cotton Ginners’ Association in 2000 and in 2002 was named the NCGA’s Horace Hayden Cotton Ginner of the Year.

Rest in peace, my friend. We are sure going to miss you!

Aaron Nelsen, TCGA’s special projects and communications manager, authored this tribute.

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Cotton Ginners Marketplace

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My Turn Extension Demonstration Double-Take

I

was raised northeast of Lubbock, Texas, on a ing force in my cotton, grain sorghum, wheat and cattle farm move to Extension near the community of Farmer, which is just in Arkansas. I was north of Lorenzo. Both of my grandfathers fortunate to have farmed, and I remember them and my dad talking w o r k e d b e s i d e about the importance of leaving the land in better Extension greats such as Drs. James shape than it was when you started.

The farm was homesteaded by my mom’s grand- Supak and Lanny parents, Jim and Dora Thornton. I grew up in the Ashlock.

After formalhouse my mom grew up in, which was rebuilt with lumber from my grandfather Clayton Thornton’s ly beginning my Bill house. When my mom and dad married, my grand- Extension career parents moved to Ralls, leaving the farm to my in 1995, I took a Robertson parents to rent. The first time my mom had ever fork in the road moved was when we left the family farm in the fall i n 2 0 0 6 w i t h of 1976 — the same year I moved to Canyon, Texas, the National Cotton Council that lasted almost eight years. My experiences with the likes of Dr. to attend West Texas State University.

I still enjoy going back to Lorenzo and visiting my Andy Jordan have continued to make me a betfriends who farm and live in that area. Facebook ter Extension specialist. I returned to Extension in 2014 and have makes it much easier to a combined time of keep up with them. My “I just never thought I would 15-plus years with the wife, Carey, and I have become best known to some for University of Arkansas since moved my mom to System Division of Ag. I our farm in Arkansas. showing my dirty underwear.” love the interaction with Carey and I live at the county agents, producedge of the Ozarks near where the White River flows from the hills into the ers, consultants and industry.

Farming, cotton and helping people have always Delta. She is the full-time farmer in the family, and I have the job in town. Carey is very active as our been my passion. My newest interest is improvFarm Bureau and conservation district board presi- ing soil health. Blake Vince, who farms in Ontario dent for Jackson County. My Lubbock friends might Canada, and Iowa producer Loran Steinlage introbest relate to my thrill of living in the hills when I duced me to a simple, yet effective, way to show tell them my criteria for land shopping was a place farmers there’s life in the soil by using cotton underwith hills, trees and creeks that had water all the wear. The more life, the more tattered the cotton time. Sometimes I wish I had thought to add having briefs become. The interaction between living roots topsoil to my list. A special bonus is we are close to and microbes in the soil along with other practices we most of Carey’s immediate family. We all enjoy our do or don’t do have a tremendous affect on soil health.

Improving soil health is the key to boosting proftime together whether we are working, attending church or just sitting around the table visiting. itability and achieving continuous improvement Farming is generally a topic of discussion as cotton at the farm level. It also helps the cotton industry reach its sustainability goals so we can leave our runs as deep in her family as it does mine.

I’ve had some wonderful mentors, and I try to world in better shape than it was when we got here.

I just never thought I would become best known give back. My mom and dad set a great example for me and my younger brother and sister. We all to some for showing my dirty underwear. know and appreciate the value of hard work and — Bill Robertson taking pride in a job well done. Drs. Tom Cothren Jackson County, Arkansas, between Possum Grape and Juan Landivar helped me better understand and Oil Trough near the community of Thida why cotton does the things it does. My friend, Ray brobertson@uaex.edu Smith, broadened my experiences and was a driv-

Cotton Farming’s back page is devoted to telling unusual “farm tales” or timely stories from across the Cotton Belt. Now it’s your turn. If you’ve got an interesting story to tell, send a short summary to csmith@onegrower.com. We look forward to hearing from you.

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COTTON FARMING | APRIL 2019

COTTONFARMING.COM

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