Increase productivity, enhance sustainability and address challenges like labor shortages, water scarcity and food insecurity.
12 IPM AND INSECT CONTROL
Planting blocks of the same crop together circumvents eld edges abutting di erent crops and potential insect pests.
19 COTTON, PEANUT, ROW RICE
Farmers typically welcome products that work well across these crops to help simplify and streamline production practices.
20 GINNERS MARKETPLACE
the official publication of the ginning industry
Southeastern Cotton Ginners Association and the National Cotton Ginners Association recognize leaders in the cotton ginning industry.
While it can be defined in many ways, at its core integrated pest management — IPM — is using a combination of all tactics available to reduce pest pressure and maximize the environmental and economic return on insect management. Scouting and monitoring is the backbone of an IPM program. The timeliness of insecticide applications is critical, as 70% of a threshold is far greater than 70% of a 3x threshold.
Editor’s Note
Carroll Smith
Show Me The Money!
Even today, the iconic line — Show me the money! — from the 1996 Tom Cruise movie Jerry Maguire still resonates in our culture in a multitude of contexts. However, the cotton market doesn’t seem to have gotten the memo as it continues to slug along at far less-than-optimal levels, leaving farmers in a precarious position.
On a positive note, one piece of good news surfaced recently to help brighten the gloomy outlook for cotton.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, its “Farm Service Agency is issuing up to $10 billion in direct payments to eligible agricultural producers of eligible commodities for the 2024 crop year through the Emergency Commodity Assistance Program. These one-time economic assistance payments will help commodity producers mitigate the impacts of increased input costs and falling commodity prices.”
For those of you demanding they “show you the money,” the USDA said eligible cotton producers will receive $84.74 per acre. The federal agency also noted that “Initial ECAP payments will be factored by 85% to ensure total program payments do not exceed available funding. If additional funds remain, FSA may issue a second payment.”
To view all the details, please visit https://www.fsa.usda.gov/ecap. Topics covered include: who is eligible, eligible acreage, commodities and ECAP payment rates (per acre), important dates, how to apply and how it works — ECAP payments and calculator.
Upon hearing the news, the National Cotton Council said it “extends its gratitude to President Trump and Secretary Brooke Rollins for their swift action in providing up to $10 billion in direct economic assistance to agricultural producers.”
You’ve seen that the money is earmarked, so the next step is to submit your application to the local FSA county office by Aug. 15, 2025.
Now, if they would just show us a Farm Bill!
If you have comments, please send them to: Cotton Farming Magazine, 7201 Eastern Ave., Germantown, TN 38138.
Publisher/Vice President Lia Guthrie (901) 497-3689 lguthrie@onegrower.com
Associate Publisher/Editor-In-Chief Carroll Smith (901) 326-4443
Associate Publisher/Sales Scott Emerson (386) 462-1532 semerson@onegrower.com
Production Manager David Boyd dboyd@onegrower.com
Audience Services Kate Thomas (847) 559-7514
For subscription changes or change of address, call (847) 559-7578 or email cottonfarming@omeda.com
EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD
David Burns – North Carolina
David Lynch – South Carolina
Bob McLendon – Georgia
Larkin Martin – Alabama
Mike Sturdivant Jr. – Mississippi
Charles Parker – Missouri
Jimmy Hargett – Tennessee Allen Helms – Arkansas
Jay Hardwick – Louisiana
Ronnie Hopper – Texas
Ron Rayner – Arizona
John Pucheu – California
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.
ASSOCIATED PUBLICATIONS – One Grower Publishing, LLC also publishes RICE FARMING, THE PEANUT GROWER, SOYBEAN SOUTH and CORN SOUTH.
One Grower Publishing, LLC 875 W. Poplar Ave., Suite 23, Box 305 Collierville, TN 38017
Cotton’s Agenda
Gary Adams
Strategic Solutions For Sustainable Success
The National Cotton Council’s Strategic Planning Task Force is tackling the competitive challenge facing the cotton industry with innovative strategies to ensure a sustainable future.
Why was the Strategic Planning Task Force established?
■ The Strategic Planning Task Force was established to assess the competitive challenges facing the U.S. cotton industry and identify strategies and initiatives to address these challenges. The industry is currently facing significant economic pressures, including increased export competition from Brazil and Australia, a decline in domestic mill use, and the growing production of manmade fibers.
These factors have led to a substantial drop in cotton prices, pushing the industry close to a tipping point that could dramatically reshape its size and structure. The Task Force was established to take a proactive approach in navigating these challenges and ensuring the industry’s long-term viability.
What are the actions that will guide the NCC’s work plan for 2025?
■ The NCC’s work plan for 2025 includes advocating for a new farm bill with an enhanced safety net for the 2025 crop to address the economic shortfall between production costs and support prices. Improving industry practices to better meet customer needs is also a priority, such as transitioning away from woven polypropylene bagging and wire ties to reduce contamination and safety concerns. Additionally, the plan includes implementing changes to minimum shipping standards for warehouses and exploring efficiencies in cotton handling and marketing.
Increasing cotton demand is another critical focus area. The NCC is leveraging the traceability and sustainability of U.S. cotton to create incentives for supply chains that rigorously document the use of U.S. cotton from the fiber to the finished good. This includes exploring policy avenues such
as transferable tax credits to encourage the use of U.S. cotton.
Additionally, the NCC is working to address the de minimis tariff exemption to protect cotton’s tariff advantage over manmade fibers, which is essential for maintaining the industry’s competitiveness, especially in Western Hemisphere trade.
Finally, the NCC is highlighting the environmental benefits of cotton while emphasizing the harmful impacts of manmade fibers. By promoting cotton as a healthier and environmentally friendly choice, the industry looks to partner with NGOs, health organizations, and other stakeholders to raise awareness about the benefits of natural fibers like cotton.
These comprehensive initiatives are designed to strengthen the U.S. cotton industry and ensure its long-term success in a challenging economic environment. By addressing both immediate and longterm challenges, the NCC aims to create a sustainable and competitive future for the industry.
Gary Adams is president/CEO of the National Cotton Council of America.
Maximize
Timely Insecticide Sprays
BY SCOTT H. GRAHAM AUBURN UNIVERSITY
Getting into the cotton business is an expensive endeavor and staying in it can be even more difficult. From highly specialized equipment needs, like pickers, to fertilizers or a bag of seed, few things are “cheap” if you want to grow cotton.
As they old saying goes, you spend the first month of the year trying to keep it alive, then the rest of the year trying to slow it down — that is, if you are fortunate enough to have irrigation capacity or blessed by timely rains.
As many farmers across Alabama experienced this past year, extended periods of drought at certain times take all that front end cost and dump it. “Raising” a cotton crop is a challenging but rewarding job, and our job with Extension is to help make it possible.
Sizing Up Inputs
Each year, everyone in the industry looks for ways to “economize” cotton production. Agronomists look at reducing seeding rates or cutting back on certain fertilizers. Weed scientists evaluate cover crops as ways to reduce weed pressure with the added benefit of holding soil moisture longer into the season. Plant pathologists evaluate fungicide timings to see how often these applications return money and preserve yield.
Precision ag specialists are adopting soil moisture probes to make irrigation more efficient or using NDVI maps to variable rate in-season inputs. This brings one final discipline. Where can we cut costs on insect management?
With the help of eradication, long gone are the days of four– to fiveday spray intervals for boll weevil.
To answer the question of where we can cut back on insect control, we must first look at where we are. The concept of “precision agriculture” is, on the surface, a new frontier that will take ag into the future. If you ask an artificial intelligence (AI) program what precision agriculture is, you will get a nice definition talking about a “modern” farming approach that uses technology to respond to variability in crops or livestock. These programs will tell you about fancy technologies
The timeliness of insecticide applications is critical, as 70% of a threshold is far greater than 70% of a 3x threshold.
such as global positioning systems, Internet of Things, which are devices that connect tractors or other equipment to the internet, drones and/or data management and analytics programs that help with decision-making. If you think about it, however, we have been responding to variability and field specific conditions in insect management for some time.
What IPM Means
The concept of integrated pest management, or IPM, was formally developed in the late 1950s by a group of researchers from the University of California at Riverside and led by Dr. Vernon Stern. While it can be defined in many ways, at its core IPM is using a combination of all tactics available to reduce pest pressure and maximize the environmental and economic return on insect management. Scouting and monitoring is the backbone of an IPM program. Scout fields across an area and determine what insects are present at what level so the farmer can make wellinformed and timely decisions on controls based on economic thresholds. In other words, scouting fields enables the farmer to use field-specific data to make “precise” applications where controls are warranted and to avoid applications where insects are not at damaging levels.
“When it comes to cotton insect control, you can save money or you can save cotton, but it is hard to do both.”
As strategies for insect management have changed, so too have the primary pests of cotton. Long gone are the days of four– to fiveday spray intervals for boll weevil. In 1986, the year prior to the Boll Weevil Eradication Program, Alabama cotton farmers averaged 16.6 insecticide applications per acre.
During the eradication program (1987 through 1995), tobacco budworm, bollworm and beet armyworm stepped into the forefront, and Alabama farmers averaged “just” 9.8 applications per acre. This changed with the introduction of genetically modified cotton varieties expressing the naturally occurring Bacillus thruingiensis ( Bt ) toxins that now provide excellent control of these and other lepidopteran pests.
The 1996 season ushered in a new era of
■ Use a trained scout or consultant. Farming is a very labor-intensive job. Difficulties finding workers to help on the farm only makes it worse. Having someone who’s job is to monitor fields weekly from emergence to “cutout” to provide detailed reports of insects is critical. This can allow the farmer to make the most informed decision on when to treat or not treat.
■ Use economic thresholds. Thresholds for nearly every cotton insect have been developed over the years to ensure insecticide applications maximize return on investment. But they only work if they are followed. Spraying under threshold will not bring back money and spraying well above threshold will not return all the money possible.
■ Make timely applications when needed. When an insect report is received, time is of the essence. Action to stop a growing population should be taken to ensure economic losses are not reached. If an insect population is given a week after reaching damaging levels to feed and continue growing, getting populations back under threshold is much more difficult.
■ Use recommended insecticides at recommended rates. After timeliness, using the “right stuff” at the “right amount” is critical. Each year, we conduct insecticide efficacy trials to monitor the performance of insecticides against key insect pests. We try to make the most economic recommendation in every situation. This does not, however, always mean the cheapest insecticide or the lowest rate. Getting good control is critical to minimizing losses and increasing return on investment.
As insect management evolved, stink bugs became the primary target with two or more applications required to avoid economic losses.
insect management. Alabama farmers averaged less than one application per acre, thanks to the successful eradication program and a 77% adoption of Bt cotton. However, we quickly learned that other pests would fill the void. Stink bugs became the primary target with two or more applications required to avoid economic losses in most years.
More recently, tarnished plant bugs have become a much more consistent problem. Resistance has complicated plant bug management, making timeliness much more important for economic control. Still, sporadic pests, such as grasshoppers, spider mites, aphids and many others require monitoring and control at various times throughout the season.
Keep Below Damaging Levels
With all these factors in mind, how should we approach insect management in 2025? This past year, I was called to visit a field with an experienced consultant who got a little behind
on plant bugs in one field. He made the statement that his new customer stressed that if the consultant could save him one spray, then he would be worth whatever he was charging.
The week prior, the consultant decided this field was a candidate for “savings.” As we stood in the field and evaluated the level of insects and damage present, he realized that his job is not to “save a spray” but to “maximize a spray.” As I like to say when it comes to cotton insect control, you can save money or you can save cotton, but it is hard to do both.
In 2025, with commodity prices low and input prices high, the value of a scout is even greater. Many of the insecticides used today do not provide 100% control. Our goal is not to eliminate insects anyway, it is to keep them below damaging levels.
With that in mind, the timeliness of insecticide applications is critical, as 70% of a threshold is far greater than 70% of a 3x threshold. When a scout reports insects at threshold (i.e. damaging levels), intervention should be made as soon as possible.
Ron
hands his legacy to protege Dr. Scott Graham, Auburn University Extension entomologist.
said, “Scouting and monitoring is the backbone of an IPM program.”
Dr.
Smith (left)
Graham
Resistance has complicated plant bug management, making timeliness much more important for economic control.
TGetting To Know Cotton Board Chairman Akiko Inui
Q&A
BY STACEY GORMAN WARREN, ARKANSAS
he Cotton Board is governed by its membership consisting of both cotton producers and importers. The importers serving on The Cotton Board represent major U.S. brands and retailers — significant downstream cotton users. The producers on The Cotton Board represent their respective states in the U.S. Cotton Belt.
Together, these segments of the board represent a wealth of unique perspectives and insight that help guide The Cotton Research and Promotion Program (the Program).
During its 2024 Annual Meeting, The Cotton Board elected new officers to guide the program, including Akiko Inui, to serve as chairman for the 2024/25 program year.
Inui, an importer from New York, is an expert in the intersection of fashion and sustainability. She currently works at Ralph Lauren as transparency and traceability program advisor (consultant).
To learn more about Akiko’s unique perspective as an importer leader in the cotton industry, she answered a few questions below.
QWhy is it important for importers to serve on The Cotton Board?
A Serving on The Cotton Board is a unique opportunity for importers to directly influence the Cotton Research and Promotion Program, ensuring it remains aligned with industry challenges and priorities. As importers, we are cotton’s customer and key stakeholders in the cotton supply chain. By staying engaged, we offer valuable insights into emerging research, evolving technologies and global market shifts — knowledge that ultimately benefits the cotton industry as a whole.
Qconsistently restarting their operations year after year, despite the inherent uncertainties, is truly inspiring.
AQWhat makes you passionate about the cotton industry?
Cotton as a raw material has been the foundation of my career, shaping my professional journey and allowing me to evolve alongside this dynamic industry. I am passionate about cotton because it is a vital, ever-adapting fiber that continues to inspire innovation and sustainability.
As the industry has embraced sustainability, I have been deeply involved in developing responsible sourcing strategies and implementing emerging technologies in traceability to enhance transparency. Beyond the product itself, what fuels my passion is the opportunity to collaborate with exceptional individuals across the entire cotton value chain, working together to drive meaningful progress for the future of cotton.
AQWhat is the biggest challenge facing the cotton industry in 2025?
In 2025, the cotton industry faces several significant challenges, including an increasingly complex regulatory landscape, rising inflation affecting interest rates and input costs and shifting consumer preferences that demand greater diversification.
As the cotton industry becomes more regulated and market dynamics continue to evolve, it is clear that no single country, company or organization can tackle these challenges alone. The key to success lies in industry-wide collaboration, working together to overcome these obstacles and achieve success.
What have you learned from the producer members of the Cotton Board?
A Through my interactions with the producers of The Cotton Board, I have gained a profound appreciation for their unwavering dedication and expertise. The daily challenges they encounter are truly remarkable. The success of their endeavors hinges on the harmonious convergence of various factors, such as weather conditions and temperature. Moreover, their problem-solving abilities are indispensable in overcoming the myriad obstacles that arise each day to ensure their continued success. The resilience they demonstrate in
To learn more about the cotton importers and producers who serve on The Cotton Board, visit cottonboard.org/ our-leadership.
Funded by America’s cotton producers and importers through check-off dollars collected by The Cotton Board, the Cotton Research and Promotion Program’s research and promotion activities are conducted by its contractor Cotton Incorporated, with the purpose to increase the demand for and improve the market position of cotton.
Stacey Gorman is The Cotton Board’s director of communications. Contact her at sgorman@cottonboard.org.
Top 10 Ag-Related Innovations Help Farmers Do More With Less
BY JULIE MURPHREE ARIZONA FARM BUREAU
American and Arizona agriculture has seen remarkable technological advances in recent years, driven by the need to increase productivity, enhance sustainability and address challenges like labor shortages, water scarcity and food insecurity.
These innovations are boosting productivity. For example, U.S. agricultural output has increased significantly since the mid-20th century, with corn yields quadrupling and soybean yields doubling by 2011. They are also supporting sustainability goals, like reducing emissions and water use. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agriculture Innovation Agenda aims to increase production by 40% while halving the environmental footprint by 2050, aligning with many of these technologies.
Challenges remain: high upfront costs, limited rural broadband access and data-sharing concerns hinder widespread adoption, particularly for small farmers.
But despite the challenges, American agriculture is at the forefront of a tech-driven revolution, blending Artificial Intelligence, robotics and sustainable practices to meet future demands. As these technologies mature, they promise to make farming more efficient, resilient and environmentally friendly.
Below is an overview of some of the most significant recent technology innovations shaping the industry as of 2025.
1. Precision Agriculture: Precision agriculture continues to
evolve, leveraging tools like GPS, drones, sensors and data analytics to optimize farming practices. Farmers can now monitor soil conditions, crop health and weather patterns in real-time, applying water, fertilizers and pesticides only where needed.
For example, GPS-guided tractors and auto-steering equipment allow for precise planting and harvesting, reducing waste and improving yields. The adoption of these technologies has grown. About 27% of U.S. farms used precision agriculture practices as of mid-2023, also indicating room for further expansion.
2. Artificial Intelligence And Machine Learning: AI is transforming agriculture by enabling smarter decision-making. AI-powered systems, such as John Deere’s “See & Spray” technology (developed through the acquisition of Blue River Technology), use computer vision to distinguish crops from weeds, applying herbicides only to unwanted plants. This reduces chemical use by up to 90% in some cases.
Similarly, companies like Arva Intelligence use AI to analyze farm data — genetics, soil fertility and climate — to provide customized crop-planning recommendations. AI is also being integrated into drones and sensors for pest detection and yield prediction. There is potential pushback in adoption as farmers and ranchers want to know their own data is safe.
3. Robotics And Automation: Robotic systems are addressing labor shortages and boosting efficiency. Autonomous tractors, like those from John Deere, can plant, spray or harvest crops
with minimal human intervention, controlled via smartphone apps.
Robotic harvesters, such as those developed by Tevel Aerobotics Technologies in partnership with Kubota, use AI to pick ripe fruit gently, increasing efficiency and reducing waste. Additionally, innovations like the LaserWeeder employ AI-driven lasers to zap weeds without chemicals, while lightweight autonomous machines reduce soil compaction during planting.
Here, adoption can be challenging because of the cost of entry for these technologies.
4. Drones And Aerial Imaging: Drones equipped with advanced cameras and sensors are increasingly used for crop monitoring, livestock management and even targeted spraying. They provide high-resolution data on plant health, soil moisture and field conditions, allowing farmers to respond quickly to issues.
For instance, Kray Technologies’ unmanned drone crop sprayers can cover up to 1,200 acres per day, cutting application costs significantly while boosting yields by 20% to 40%.
5. Internet Of Things (IoT) And Smart Farming: IoT devices, such as soil moisture sensors and livestock activity monitors, collect real-time data, enabling farmers to manage resources efficiently. Webee’s SmartFarm platform, recognized in 2021 as a top agricultural SaaS product, offers a no-code solution for remote farm monitoring, integrating data from sensors and weather forecasts.
This trend is supported by the rollout of 5G networks, which enhances connectivity in rural areas, allowing for seamless data transmission and automation. The University of Arizona is doing some leading research work with livestock collars for virtual fencing advances.
6. Biotechnology And Gene Editing: Advances in biotechnology are producing climate-resilient crops that withstand drought, heat and pests. Gene editing techniques, like CRISPR, allow for precise enhancements without the controversies of traditional GMOs.
Mini-chromosome technology is another innovation, improving plant traits without altering their core genetics and promoting biodiversity and sustainability. Biological pesticides and biocontrol agents are also reducing reliance on synthetic chemicals.
7. Vertical Farming And Controlled Environment Agriculture: Indoor vertical farming is gaining traction, especially in urban areas or regions with harsh
climates. Using hydroponics or aeroponics, these systems grow crops in stacked layers with nutrient-rich water, cutting water use by up to 90% compared to traditional methods. Companies are integrating AI and IoT to control lighting, humidity and nutrients, ensuring yearround production with a minimal amount of environmental impact.
8. Bee Vectoring And Pollination Tech: Innovations like Bee Vectoring Technologies use commercially raised bees to deliver natural fungi (e.g., Vectorite) to crops, enhancing disease resistance and pollination without chemicals. MIT’s robotic insects, still in development, aim to pollinate crops rapidly, potentially revolutionizing fruit and vegetable production as natural pollinators decline.
9. Sustainable Practices And Data Analytics: Farm management software and data analytics tools help farmers track soil quality, weather and resource use, optimizing yields while reducing costs. Platforms like Croptracker’s Harvest Quality Vision use AI to assess crop quality during harvest, ensuring consistency.
Sustainable practices, such as no-till farming and closed-loop wastewater treatment systems, are also supported by tech, recycling water and nutrients back into fields.
10. Blockchain And Supply Chain Transparency: Blockchain technology is being adopted to trace food from farm to table, ensuring quality and safety. Walmart uses Hyperledger to detect unwholesome food in real-time, while startups are integrating blockchain with IoT to monitor crop conditions and logistics, enhancing transparency for consumers and regulators.
More is still to come, and adoption rates vary based on the technology. If the cost of entry is too high, small to midsized farmers will feel left out. Some of these issues and more were addressed in the latest “Farm Fresh” show on Rosie on the House, March 1. Our guest, Tyson Swetnam, Ph.D., is the University of Arizona’s Research Associate Professor of Geoinformatics and the Director of Open Science in the Institute for Computation and Data-enabled Insight.
Swetnam’s commentary highlights some of the technology challenges including concerns about data capture of farming information. He also discusses the transformative opportunities these innovations can produce.
Go to https://rosieonthehouse.com/ to access his remarks.
CCOY
Cotton Consultant of the Year
Webster 2024 CCOY AWARD RECIPIENT established 1981
Bill
The Cotton Consultant of the Year celebration was held Feb. 28 at the Peabody Hotel in Memphis, Tennessee, to honor the 2024 CCOY and all past CCOY recipients. This prestigious annual award is sponsored by Syngenta and Cotton Farming magazine.
Bill Webster (left) of Harvest, Alabama, was recognized as the 2024 CCOY.
Troy Harrison, Syngenta Crop Protection Territory Manager, congratulated Webster and expressed his pleasure as a sponsor of the CCOY award that has been in place for more than 40 years.
Webster’s friends and family attended the reception to honor him and celebrate the e orts of all cotton consultants across the Cotton Belt.
Cotton Consultant of the Year sponsored by
Consider Using IPM Practices To Affect Insect Control
BY BONNIE COBLENTZ MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION
Insect pests are ongoing issues in row-crop farming, and deciding when, how and whether to treat is never a simple decision.
Offered by the Mississippi State University Extension Service, the Row Crop Short Course in December featured sessions informed by MSU’s ongoing research that helps growers make management decisions. Several sessions addressed insect control from a variety of angles.
Insecticide Treatments
Whitney Crow, MSU Extension entomologist, discussed insect thresholds, which is the concentration of pests in a field that triggers an insecticide treatment.
“There is a decrease in yield as defoliation increases,” Crow said. “But it’s important to understand how yield potential and input could impact your decision to initiate a treatment.”
For example, if insect pressures build in a non-irrigated field during a hot and dry spell, a grower may decide to just tolerate the damage and potential yield losses when there isn’t a positive return on investment.
Earlier planting — one integrated pest management practice — can help avoid peak insect times.
“Yield potential and budgets go together, and they really matter,” Crow said. “You have to figure out what needs to be done to ensure that everything pencils out.”
Crow said that economic thresholds serve as the starting point of insect management. These recommendations are generally management guidelines and are not always a one-size-fits-all. A crop with a high potential value is typically treated sooner than one with a lower potential yield.
Other Insect Control Options
While chemicals have been a primary control measure in recent decades, growers can follow other integrated pest management practices. These include earlier planting to avoid peak insect times and planting blocks of the same crop together to avoid field edges abutting different crops and potential insect pests.
Tyler Towles, an assistant professor at the MSU Delta Research and Extension Center in Stoneville, discussed the important ag chemical acephate and the Environmental Protection Agency’s proposal to cancel use of acephate that affects soil and water. No final decision has been made yet on this issue.
“The EPA is trying to limit the use of organophosphates in agriculture,” Towles said. “Tobacco thrips are one of the first pests we deal with every year, and we were already trying to
Insect pests, such as this tarnished plant bug in a cotton bloom, are ongoing issues in row-crop farming. Deciding when, how and whether to treat is never a simple decision.
move away from acephate.”
Growers have several options to manage thrips, beginning with a good seed treatment, early planting dates and careful crop rotation. Crop rotation is a good tool for on-farm pest management as different crops attract different pests, allowing different chemicals to be used so resistance does not build.
“At our trials in Stoneville, Sidon and Glendora, we are looking at excluding certain chemical classes and seeing the impact that has on pest populations and yield,” Towles said. “We’re also seeing that planting dates matter a lot in terms of plant bug management. If we planted earlier, we sprayed twice, but if we planted later, we sprayed six times.”
Label Changes, Better Varieties
Despite the implementation of best management practices, some pests require chemical control. Towles said the EPA continues to implement label changes to protect health and the environment, and seed companies continue to research better varieties to withstand field and pest conditions.
Each year, MSU Extension and the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station conduct field trials on the major row crops, always looking for updated management practices, how varieties perform in specific Mississippi conditions and ways to overcome challenges when they arise.
The results of these trials are compiled into annual publications to help growers make more informed decisions. Find the 2025 Insect Control Guide for Agronomic Crops at rb.gy/ tvph8m.
Charles C. Owen Distinguished Service Award Announced
The National Cotton Ginners Association recognized Tim Price as recipient of the NCGA’s 2024-25 Charles C. Owen Distinguished Service Award. This award honors those who have provided a career of distinguished service to the U.S. ginning industry.
Price, born in 1952 in Calvin, Louisiana, has a distinguished career in agriculture.
Active in FFA during high school, he became the state president and later earned degrees from Louisiana State University and Texas A&M. He worked at the Federal Land Bank in New Orleans before joining the American Farm Bureau Federation, where he handled commodity and marketing issues and national farm program legislation.
In 2003, he became the executive vice president of the Southern Cotton Ginners Association and manager of the MidSouth Farm and Gin Show. His contributions earned him the 2023 National Agriculture Marketing Association Ag Association Leader of the Year Award.
He remains a strong supporter of the National Cotton Ginners Association. Price has made substantial contributions to the NCGA through his active role in the National Cotton Ginner Committee and his advisory capacities within the National Cotton Council.
Abamectin In-furrow Solution
For Nematodes In Cotton
Cotton farmers have a convenient new tool to battle nematodes in-furrow with Averland FC nematicide/insecticide/ miticide from Vive Crop Protection.
As one of the most economical in-furrow nematicides/insecticides on the cotton market, Hadley Howard, senior product manager with Vive Crop Protection says, “Averland FC is a cost-effective, fertilizer-compatible solution to fight nematodes in-furrow in cotton. With proven nematode protection from Averland FC, cotton growers will maximize early plant stands and get the crop off to a strong start.”
Averland FC combines abamectin and Vive’s patented Allosperse nano-polymer delivery system, making it the only abamectin in-furrow solution registered for nematodes in cotton that also mixes perfectly with liquid fertilizers and other crop inputs.
George Huckabay, Southern technical sales agronomist with Vive Crop Protection says, “Other products used in-furrow for nematodes are not as compatible with liquid fertilizer, and some don’t even behave well in the spray tank when mixed with water.
“With Averland FC, growers will appreciate how easy it is to use because it doesn’t settle out as quickly, even with high-salt fertilizers like 10-34-0 or 11-370,” continues Huckabay.
In field trials across the cotton-growing region, Averland FC provides comparable activity on nematodes and equivalent yield maximization as Velum Total, but in a more convenient, low-use-rate product.
If growers are looking for additional disease control in-furrow, Averland FC is also compatible with most fungicides, including Xyler FC (metalaxyl with Allosperse.
The 2025 Louisiana Ag Hall Of Distinction Honors Various Branches Of The Industry
The newest inductees into the Louisiana Agriculture Hall of Distinction are three people who helped to enhance the state’s agriculture industry through storytelling, reforestation efforts and improving crop genetics. The induction took place at the L’Auberge Hotel in Baton Rouge.
The inductees are the late Joe D. Burns, a forester formerly of Jonesboro; the late Mike Danna, longtime Louisiana Farm Bureau public relations director and host of the organization’s long-running television program “This Week
in Louisiana Agriculture,” formerly of Baton Rouge; and Steve Harrison, an LSU AgCenter small grains plant breeder from Baton Rouge.
A joint effort of the LSU AgCenter, Louisiana Radio Network, Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation and Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry, the Louisiana Agriculture Hall of Distinction honors individuals who have made significant contributions to agriculture or agriculture-related industries. Previous inductees have represented farming, ranching, forestry, aquaculture, education and agribusiness.
Mike Danna
Burns was born and raised in Webster Parish in the community of Shongaloo. He interrupted his college education to serve in the U.S. Army during World War II. He saw action in Germany and was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for Valor and the Combat Infantry’s Badge for heroism.
Upon his return from the European theater, Burns completed both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in forestry at LSU. After 12 years working for various companies in the forestry business, Burns launched Burns Forest Products in 1962, a company that helped private landowners manage and sell their timber to mills across north Louisiana.
Burns had the foresight to encourage landowners to replant their forests after harvest to make the practice sustainable and increase their land values for them and future generations.
Danna received a journalism degree from LSU in 1983 and began his career with the News Star World in Monroe. In 1985, he began his tenure with the Louisiana Farm Bureau as editor of “The Louisiana Farm Bureau News.”
Shortly after his start with Farm Bureau, he began reporting for TWILA. In 1997, he took over the role of host, a position he would hold for nearly 20 years.
Danna helped oversee TWILA team reports from 27 different U.S. states and from 15 countries on four continents. The show received six Telly Awards for excellence in television news reporting. He was particularly proud of the coverage of hurricanes Katrina and Rita and how each of the storms devastated the Louisiana
farming and ranching community. He thought it was important to show and tell the struggles the agriculture communities faced in rebuilding from the two storms.
Danna died in 2015 from esophageal cancer. He was 54 years old.
Harrison began his career with the AgCenter in 1984 after receiving his doctorate from the University of Illinois. The bulk of his work centers around wheat and oat breeding, which involves developing varieties that can be grown in Louisiana and the southeastern U.S.
Under his leadership, a collaborative breeding program was started involving educational institutions across the Southeast. Called SunGrains, the program has made variety development of small grains more efficient and encouraged the sharing of genetic material.
Harrison also coordinates the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s International Oat Nursery. This institution serves as an exchange of oat genetic material from more than 20 countries.
For more information regarding the Louisiana Agriculture Hall of Distinction event, contact Robyn Dow with the Louisiana Radio Network at office@ louisianaradionetwork.com or 225-2912727.
Cottonseed Company Names
Six New Varieties For 2025
BASF is further expanding FiberMax and Stoneville cottonseed portfolio with the addition of six new varieties for the 2025 growing season.
With these new additions, the FiberMax and Stoneville cotton seed portfolio features a total of 13 variet-
ies. All new varieties for 2025 include Axant Flex herbicide tolerance technology, cotton’s first quad-stacked herbicide trait, and three-gene insect control with TwinLink Plus trait.
“At BASF, we know cotton farmers doing the biggest job on earth need topend genetics and leading traits to combat the many challenges that threaten yield potential,” said Andrew Adams, cotton marketing manager for BASF Agricultural Solutions. “Every year, new BASF varieties are introduced after thorough testing and on-farm agronomic performance trials, and we are thrilled to introduce six new varieties to the FiberMax and Stoneville cotton seed portfolio this year.”
The new varieties include:
■ FM 757AXTP: A new early maturing variety for the southwestern United States, featuring very good fiber quality, good resistance to bacterial blight, easy to manage growth and strong performance on a variety of soil types.
■ FM 814AXTP: An early to midmaturing variety for the Northern High Plains, Southern High Plains, Rolling Plains regions and Oklahoma. This new variety provides excellent Verticillium wilt tolerance, has resistance to bacterial blight and delivers good tolerance to root-knot nematode and Fusarium wilt, plus easy growth management.
■ ST 4215AXTP: An early maturing variety recommended for the North Delta, South Delta, Mid-Atlantic and Far West regions of the United States. ST 4215AXTP features easy-to-manage plant height, is well-suited for irrigated production and has good resistantance to bacterial blight.
■ ST 4833AXTP: A new early to mid-maturing variety built for the North Delta, South Delta, Southeast, Mid-Atlantic and Far West regions of the United States. ST 4833AXTP has tall plant height, large seed size with excellent emergence, the ability to perform well on dryland and sandy soils and a great disease package with tolerance to root-knot nematodes, Verticillium wilt, Fusarium wilt and strong resistance to bacterial blight.
■ ST 5855AXTP: A new mid-to-fullmaturing variety for the South Delta, Southeast, Mid-Atlantic, Rolling Plains and Far West regions of the United States, as well as east Texas, south Texas, and Oklahoma. This variety produces a good stalk on sandier soils, has tolerance to root-knot nematodes with resistance
to bacterial blight and features great micronaire and strength.
■ ST 5931AXTP: A mid-to-full-maturing variety to be used in the South Delta, Southeast, Mid-Atlantic, Southern High Plains, Far West and Rolling Plains regions of the United States, as well as east Texas, south Texas and Oklahoma. This new variety features good performance on many soil types, resistance against reniform and root-knot nematodes, outstanding disease tolerance against Fusarium wilt, Verticillium wilt, resistance to bacterial blight and a large seed size with excellent emergence.
For more information on seed varieties, please visit FiberMax.com or Stoneville.com.
Liquid, In-furrow Nematicide For Use In Cotton And Peanuts
OutReach SC Nematicide, a soil-applied biological nematicide, is EPAregistered and now available from Valent U.S.A. OutReach is a unique mycorrhizal-based formulation that contains Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, which provides cotton and peanut growers protection against plant-parasitic nematodes while contributing to plant health benefits.
“We’re excited to bring a new biological solution to growers facing yield and quality loss from nematode pressure,” said Vince Restucci, market segment manager for Valent U.S.A.
“Valent’s commitment to innovation and sustainability remain at the forefront, and bringing OutReach to the marketplace gives growers a new, easyto-use liquid, in-furrow option to protect their peanut and cotton crops during the critical early stages of root development and growth.”
Comprised of naturally occurring microbes, OutReach colonizes plant roots, providing a protective barrier against nematode feeding damage and improving plant vigor.
OutReach consistently outperformed competing products across more than 120 large-scale, grower-applied field trials, including those experiencing adverse weather conditions. In 2024 field trials, peanut crops where Outreach was applied in-furrow recorded per-acre yield increases of up to 300 pounds. Lint yield increases were also documented in recent OutReach cotton field trials.
OutReach joins Valent U.S.A.’s robust
Industry News
Current And Past CCOY Recipients Gather In Memphis
For more than 40 years, Syngenta and Cotton Farming magazine have honored the Cotton Consultant of the Year with a special awards reception. The CCOY is nominated for his/ her dedication, innovation and hard work as a consultant. The nominees are voted on by the past CCOY winners, so it is truly
portfolio of biological and sustainable solutions, ranging from proven seed treatments and insecticides to powerful fungicides like Excalia. Valent’s portfolio also includes trusted herbicides like Valor and Fierce.
USDA Expediting $10 Billion In Direct Economic Assistance
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins, on National Agriculture Day, announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture is issuing up to $10 billion directly to agricultural producers through the Emergency Commodity Assistance Program (ECAP) for the 2024 crop year. Administered by USDA’s Farm Service Agency, ECAP will help agricultural producers mitigate the impacts of increased input costs and falling commodity prices.
“Producers are facing higher costs and market uncertainty, and the Trump Administration is ensuring they get the support they need without delay,” said Secretary Rollins. “With clear direction from Congress, USDA has prioritized streamlining the process and accelerating these payments ahead of schedule, ensur-
a peer-selected award. In attendance at this year’s reception are from left to right, Joe Townsend (2009), Virgil King (2011), Mark Nemec (2010), Dwain Reed (1994), Bill Webster (2024), Grady Coburn (1986), Tucker Miller (2004), Jack Royal (2006), Tim Roberts (2016), Eric Bell (2023) and Eddy Cates (2019).
ing farmers have the resources necessary to manage rising expenses and secure financing for next season.”
Authorized by the American Relief Act 2025, these economic relief payments are based on planted and prevented planted crop acres for eligible commodities for the 2024 crop year.
To streamline and simplify the delivery of ECAP, FSA has begun sending prefilled applications to producers who submitted acreage reports to FSA for 2024 eligible ECAP commodities.
Producers do not have to wait for their pre-filled ECAP application to apply. They can visit fsa.usda.gov/ecap to apply using a login.gov account or contact their local FSA office to request an application.
Groundwater Issues Slated For Mid-South Conference
Edward Swaim, executive director of Bayou Meto Water Management District in Lonoke, Arkansas, emphasizes the importance of conserving and using groundwater effectively. Bayou Meto works to provide reliable and sustainable water resources for agriculture, conserve
groundwater and support long-term water use for farmers.
“Groundwater is foundational for Arkansas, the Mid-South region and beyond,” Swaim said. “It supplies the majority of our state’s water that is used for irrigation. So, it’s vital for groundwater levels to remain constant, or rise, to meet the state’s growing needs. The demand for water is certainly not decreasing.”
At the 12th Annual Mid-South Agricultural and Environmental Law Conference, Swaim will present, “Groundwater Law & Agriculture in the Mid-South: Taking Stock of the Road Ahead.” The conference is co-hosted by the National Agricultural Law Center, or NALC, and the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture Foundation, or NASDA Foundation.
“At the Mid-South conference, I will cover how Arkansas uses, measures and addresses challenges to groundwater availability,” Swaim said. “I will also cover what other Mid-South states are doing in this regard. There is a lot we can learn from each other.”
The conference will be held June 5-6 in Memphis, Tennessee.
Achieving Good Emergence And A Healthy Stand
VIRGINIA Hunter Frame
April is burndown month for cotton here in Virginia and sprayers are covering as many acres as possible. As I write this in March, it looks like cotton acres will be up in Virginia as corn and soybean prices remain lower and less competitive. However, things can change in a hurry as we all know.
Proper burndown is key to achieving adequate cotton stands. Winter cover crops are becoming increasingly utilized in Virginia with research demonstrating that cotton can be produced following legume cover crops without the need for fertilizer nitrogen. Timely burndown is critical to minimizing competition for soil moisture and preventing cover crops from becoming weeds themselves. Also, seed preparation is complicated with the use of cover crops, so producers need to commit to a complete kill of the cover crop or planting “green” when it comes to cotton. Most are burning down to alleviate complications when utilizing strip-tillage for cotton planting.
Little to no cotton is produced using conventional tillage in Virginia, and only a small amount of acreage is grown under no-till. The difficultly of high biomass cover crops is maintaining proper seeding depth when you have a residue layer 2 to 5 inches thick and want a cotton seed no deeper than 0.75 inches. When equipment is set properly, even in heavy cover-crop biomass, cotton stands can be achieved with surprising results.
An adequate stand in Virginia is a final population of two plants per row foot, equaling 29,000 plants per acre on 36-inch row spacing. We recommend having a goal of two plants per row-foot and a final plant population around 33,000 plants per acre. This would mean a seeding rate of 2.3 to 2.5 seeds per row foot. Finally, check your cool and warm germination for your seed lot and plant when environmental conditions are conducive for cotton emergence. whframe@vt.edu
TENNESSEE Tyson Raper
Over the past several years, we have had an opportunity to plant early — notably earlier than in recent history. While most have realized benefits from these early planting dates, it is extremely important to remember that the cotton seedling is most sensitive to chilling injury during the inhibition of water which occurs, if adequate soil moisture is available, immediately after planting. Unfortunately, if the temperature of the water imbibed is cold enough to generate chilling injury, lasting impacts on the plant will be noted, and those impacts typically include a reduction in yield potential. Interestingly enough, the seedling is considerably more tolerant to cool temperatures after this growth stage; we can actually tolerate significant cold snaps or blackberry winters with no long-term implications IF the cold arrives later in the plant’s life cycle.
There are several takeaways here. First, soil temperature at planting is extremely important. That is why we emphasize it in our “when to plant” recommendations. If your soil is below your Extension’s recommended temperatures, wait. However, if you find yourself in a window with favorable conditions and soil temperatures warm enough to plant, know either if 1) the plant is able to emerge before a significant cold snap, or 2) the cold snap occurs after planting and before emergence but is brief, you will likely see little to no true yield impacts from that stress. For Tennessee, April cotton is hard to beat if planted into warm soils. traper@utk.edu
NORTH CAROLINA Keith Edmisten
A key factor in establishing a successful stand is knowing the seed quality of each seed lot. As Dr. Collins highlighted last month with the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Cotton Seed Testing Program, understanding your seed’s potential is essential.
Once you have your test results, carefully match seed lots to anticipated planting conditions. While much of the seed in North Carolina is suitable for good-to-moderate conditions, prioritize high-quality seed for challenging scenarios, such as poor planting conditions or when planting deeper to reach moisture. Be aware that deep planting can increase the risk of soil crusting, hindering emergence.
To aid in making informed decisions, use the Cotton Planting Condition Calculator available on cotton.ces.ncsu.edu. keith_edmisten@ ncsu.edu
MISSOURI Bradley Wilson
Seed is major investment at the beginning of the season, so planting in optimal conditions is key to producing a healthy stand. Cotton planting in Missouri can happen relatively quickly depending on environmental conditions observed in late April and early May.
Several factors may play a role in cotton emergence including soil preparation, conditions at and after planting and seed quality. It is important to provide a firm, clean seedbed to protect seed from excess moisture following rainfall events. Planting at the right time is important to provide the seed with optimal germinating conditions. Planting into soils with temperatures above 65 degrees Fahrenheit will provide optimal conditions for emergence if planted at the correct depth. Increased daytime air temperatures and nighttime lows being 60 degrees Fahrenheit or above is needed for good emergence. Planting in cool, less optimal conditions may slow emergence as well as reduce overall emergence. Lastly, planting high-quality seed is needed to reach optimal plant stands. brwilson@missouri.edu
GEORGIA Camp Hand
By the time you read this, we have been done with county meetings for nearly a month. Meeting season is a grind, but a lot of good conversations happen before and after the meetings where we get a look into how growers think.
Of course, a common theme this winter has been, “How are we going to make this thing work?” We finally started replying, “Just gonna have to make more of it.” And at one meeting, a grower responded to that statement and said, “‘Bout twice?” Yep, gonna have to make about twice. However, the conversation more often begins with the question of where a grower can cut. It seems like most folks only think about cutting up front (seeding rates, at-plant thrips management, nematicides, PRE herbicides), so let’s stay with that trend; although I do want you to think about things you could cut (and maintain yields) during the growing season also.
Seeding rates have been a big topic of conversation for certain. I believe 25,000 to 30,000 seeds per acre is a sweet spot for Georgia growers, so there is certainly potential to cut there if you are above 30,000. However, don’t put yourself in a bad position right out the gate. Getting a
Specialists Speaking
stand is complicated, and multiple factors are involved including your soil type, weather before and after planting, irrigation capabilities, seed quality, and, of course, our four-legged friends (deer). There is potential to reduce inputs, but don’t put yourself in a situation where you may get the opportunity to replant.
Remember — anyone can plant cotton…but everybody can’t get a stand. As always, if you have any questions or need anything, please don’t hesitate to reach out to your local University of Georgia county Extension agent. We’re here to help! camphand@uga.edu
ALABAMA Scott H. Graham
As a boy growing up playing golf in the summers with my dad, I often heard a common phrase: “you drive for show and putt for dough.” In other words, if you can’t finish on the green, long drives off the tee don’t matter. While there is some truth to this, it is not entirely accurate. A strong start off the tee goes a long way in setting up the hole to get a low score (easier said than done, at least for me). In the same way, getting the crop off to a good start is critical for having the yield potential we want. The cost of seed is among the greatest costs we deal with in cotton production. We need to do our best to make sure we plant each field once and get as many seeds up as possible.
The first step in achieving a good stand is proper planter set up. Auburn’s new precision ag and farm machine specialist Dr. Simer Virk has spent considerable time this spring talking about the importance of planter set up. Below are a few thoughts based on what Dr. Virk has been saying:
■ Test seed meters at expected seeding rates.
■ Seed size affects vacuum settings and singulation (test multiple varieties if seed size changes).
■ Check seed plates for condition and replace as needed.
■ Check depth settings with a block test on each row unit and note T-bar handle settings for preferred seeding depth (0.5 to 1.0 inch). Every unit may not be the same setting.
■ Inspect double disc openers, gauge wheels, seed tubes and closing wheels for proper alignment and condition.
Once the planter is ready to roll, we are waiting on good conditions to get going. We all know the conditions, 65°F at 2-inch to 4-inch soil depth for at least three days and a warm five-day forecast after planting. However, there is another important consideration: moisture. Sometimes, we have to get going a little earlier than we want to because we are chasing moisture. If planting into less-than-ideal conditions, it is important to know your seed quality (warm and cool germ numbers), the seed count per bag and expected vigor. These numbers can help guide what bags to place where.
Finally, consider cover crop (or winter vegetation) burndown prior to plant. As an entomologist, I want covers dead three weeks prior to planting. This gives insects time to either move on (adults) or starve our
(immatures) and eliminate the green bridge. Of course, your reason for the cover and timing of burndown may be different from mine. Consider insect pressure and proper planter set up if planting into a green cover. Speaking of burndown, early weed management will be very important this year. With the loss of dicamba over the top, we will need to start clean and stay clean. Consider a good at-plant, soil-residual herbicide program to keep problematic weeds at bay and to reduce pressure on the limited, effective postemergence products we have.
Reach out to your local Extension agent or specialist if you ever need any help! scottg@auburn.edu
MISSISSIPPI Brian Pieralisi
Our Extension meeting season has wrapped up for 2025, and it’s been a heavy season. Depressed markets have dominated the conversations that I’ve had with growers. Trying to pencil in a profit with decreased market prices, along with increased input prices, is daunting to say the least. On the brighter side, some fertilizer costs have come down a little bit.
With cotton, achieving a good stand can be a sore subject at times. Dialing back seeding rates is a way to trim costs if you get a stand! A few things to consider with reducing seeding rates would begin with the word “rates,” which means nothing in terms of plant population or density. Plant population is what you are left with. Seeding rate is what your equipment is set to deliver from the seed tube and into the soil. Seed germination percentage is going to be less than the seeding rate because not all seeds will emerge. Planting date is another important consideration. In Mississippi, early planting can be tough due to cool nights, wet soil and everything that goes along with early planting. Having a few more seeds out there could help achieve a stronger population.
Also, as planting progresses and temperatures warm, emergence success should follow. A healthy plant population of 30,000 seedlings per acre is plenty to maximize yield. A couple of projects that we are wrapping up make me confident to use that number, and, arguably, slightly less. We have noticed slightly less competition between plants for nutrients and water as well.
As planting approaches, pay attention to soil residue, especially in a cover-cropped environment to ensure good seed-to-soil contact during planting. Moving forward in 2025, a timely burndown and solid PRE applications could carry you a long way in terms of achieving good emergence and a healthy stand. bkp4@msstate.edu
ARKANSAS Zachary Treadway
It is March 5 as I write this, and spring seems to be on the horizon. By this point, most variety choices have been made, and a majority of seed has been booked. Here in Arkansas, a short dry spell has allowed producers to apply their burndowns and even work a little ground. I would surmise that by the time this article is published, we will be in full spring work mode. Achieving a successful burndown, followed by an effective PRE herbicide program, is key to ensuring the crop has its best chance to achieve a healthy stand as it allows young plants to emerge, unabated by weeds or volunteer crops. This also makes it easier to manage weeds later in the season. As we say in the weed science world, the only way to stay clean is to start clean.
As we move ever closer to planting, it is a good time to think about seeding rates, seed germination and healthy stands. It is good practice to make note of the germination test on your seed and adjust your seeding rate accordingly to achieve a healthy stand. Weather during planting season also plays a large role in determining the success of a cotton crop.
SIMER
VIRK
Specialists Speaking
Varieties with low cool-germ values tend to struggle with early planting, when cooler temperatures are more commonplace. Planting those varieties should be delayed until soil temperatures are consistently 70 degrees or higher. As a rule, we wait until soil temperature is 65 degrees at four inches to plant cotton, which ideally falls in mid-April here in Arkansas.
To put it in college baseball terms: when an SEC team plays a cupcake, non-conference schedule in February and early March, we don’t know if we are any good, but we’ll know if we are bad. Along those same lines, while we cannot guarantee a bumper crop based strictly on what we do in the spring, we can guarantee a struggle if we don’t make the right decisions now. Poor stands and re-plants can delay maturity and cause a decrease in yield this fall. So, now is a good time to start making those decisions to give our crop the best chance to thrive. As always, if there is anything I can do to help, please reach out. ztreadway@uada.edu
TEXAS Ken Legé
Seed accounts for 6% to 14% of total variable costs for a cotton crop in West Texas, and one of the most often asked questions I get revolves around seeding rate: How low can I go (…and get away with it!)? We can achieve good yields with scarily low plant populations, but it is rare and highly dependent on knowing the seed quality of the lot(s) you have purchased, planting when conditions are optimal (which happens rarely in West Texas due to our erratic weather patterns) and when fields have been properly prepared.
High-quality seed is key to establishing a uniform stand of cotton — uniform in spacing and uniform in plant age is the goal, regardless of the desired plant population. Planting seed will have a tag that reads “80% germination,” which reflects the minimum standard required by state and federal seed laws; however, warm germ will most likely be higher. Additionally, the more important seed quality information to be aware of is the cool germination percentage, which provides a better assessment of seed vigor and a better prediction of field emergence under field conditions. While not required by state or federal seed laws, the industry standard for cool germ is 60%. Combining the warm and cool germ percentages creates the Cool-Warm Vigor Index, which is a very informative guide for the grower regarding seed quality. For example, adding an 80% warm and 60% cool germ equates to a 140 CWVI, which is a very good minimum standard for planting seed, and gives the growers lots of options on when and in what conditions to plant that seed.
If the CWVI is less than 140, the grower should either increase seeding rate or plant under more optimal conditions to compensate for the lower quality. This may be necessary for new or limited-supply varieties that is a grower’s favorite. How do you get this actual germination percentage data? Simple: call or text your seed company representative or ag retailer with the lot number.
Soil conditions at planting are also important for proper germination. Good contact between soil particles and seed is necessary for the imbibition to take place to initiate the germination process. Proper adjustment of planters to ensure optimum, but not excessive, pressure is important. A well-prepared seed bed, void of large clods and with good moisture, plays an important role in achieving good soil-to-seed contact as well. Seeding depth greatly affects how quickly the seedling will emerge. Particularly in dryland scenarios, it is important to determine at what depth adequate moisture is present to support seed germination. Uniformity of seeding depth down the row is important for achieving a uniform stand of cotton; an optimum stand of cotton is one where seedlings across the field emerge within a few hours of one another. Typically, planter speed and proper adjustment of seeding depth among row units are the factors most often affecting the uniformity of emergence across the field.
Cotton is very sensitive to cool temperatures. Since most West Texas
growers have to wait on a “planting rain” to plant cottonseed, there are times they are forced to plant when moisture is available, but perhaps under suboptimal temperatures. Chilling injury can result when temperatures at seed depth are below 50°F during imbibition, so always monitor soil temperature (everyone should have and use a soil thermometer)! A good rule of thumb is that the soil temperature at seeding depth will normally be within 1°F at dawn (which typically is the low temperature for a 24-hour period). Tracking the forecasted heat units for the next five days following a proposed planting date provides a useful guide to planting. Ideally, at least 26 or more DD60s should accumulate in the next five days to achieve a good stand; 50 or more is even better. We are very fortunate to have the West Texas Mesonet (https://www.mesonet.ttu.edu/) that provides air temperature and soil temperatures at most locations; the mobile app calculates DD60s as well.
“When should I plant?” is likely the second-most asked question I get. Data from the past few years from multiple sources indicate that later plantings (i.e., early June) Lubbock-southward in the southern High Plains have resulted in higher yields and equal fiber quality compared to earlier planting (i.e., mid-late May). Keep in mind that the past three years have been much warmer than average, especially in the fall when we need heat units to fully mature the crop to realize yield potential and micronaire development. Planting date trends north of Lubbock and into the Panhandle area of Texas are less clear. The best approach is to carefully evaluate predicted air and soil temperatures when you receive a planting rain, and gauging that against when the forecast is showing the next chance of a planting rain.
Achieving a good stand of cotton in West Texas is always a challenging task, but growers can prepare by having all the information and tools, most of which are of no cost, to make the best decision when fields receive a planting rain. As with most things in West Texas, moisture is key for stand establishment. ken.lege@ag.tamu.edu
TEXAS Ben McKnight
Hopefully more precipitation has accumulated across Texas by the time you are reading this in April. As I write this on March 5, approximately 80% of Texas is either abnormally dry or in some form of drought conditions. The Lower Rio Grande Valley and Coastal Bend regions typically begin planting cotton in March following the planting of grain crops, and more moisture would greatly help dryland producers in these regions moving into April.
Aside from adequate soil moisture, soil temperature is the other major driving force for obtaining a successful cotton plant stand. The absolute minimum soil temperature for planting cotton is 60 degrees Fahrenheit, and soil temperatures greater than this will further speed up cotton emergence. In the past, we’ve often had to plant variety trials in marginal conditions when soil temperatures hovered just above 60 degrees. If good-quality seed was planted in these conditions, we often would begin to see emergence beginning around seven to eight days later, if the cool conditions remained. Our variety trials planted into soil temperatures ranging from 65 to 70 degrees greatly sped up germination and emergence, and we typically see good, more uniform emergence by day five following planting in warmer soil temperatures.
If conditions are marginal for planting cotton, it is a good idea to start with your best quality seed as indicated by warm and cool germination percentages that you can obtain from seed company representatives or distributors for your specific seed lot. Additionally, cool early season temperatures can slow down cotton growth making the young plants more vulnerable to early season pests, including thrips. If you are growing a non-ThryvOn variety, insecticide seed treatments can provide protection against thrips until cotton typically reaches the two true-leaf growth stage. bmcknight@tamu.edu
Versatile Herbicide Fits Cotton, Peanuts And Rice
BY CARROLL SMITH EDITOR
In many areas of the Cotton Belt, farmers diversify their operations by growing a mix of crops such as cotton, peanuts and rice. They may rotate cotton and peanuts and grow row rice on heavier ground that is not as suitable for the other two.
Farmers typically welcome products that work well across these fields to help simplify and streamline production practices. A good example is Brake herbicide.
Brake is labeled for use on cotton and peanuts, and in the past couple years, has been granted a label for row rice. It’s been described as a foundation grass and broadleaf preemergence residual herbicide for all three crops.
Brake has a unique mode of action, produces a whitening effect on any weeds that come up and provides three to four weeks of residual activity on a multitude of broadleaf weeds and grasses.
In cotton, SePRO Ag technical rep Bret Mize recommends putting it out right behind the planter.
“It takes ½-inch of rain or irrigation to activate Brake, so I like to apply 16 ounces of Brake tankmixed with another overlapping residual, such as Cotoran, Direx, Warrant or Caparol, that is more water soluble,” he said.
“The other herbicides can hold the weeds back until Brake is fully activated, and they usually have a two-week residual no matter what. This is not a lot but is very important up front when you are layering them.
“Also, while Brake is lying out in the field, the sun doesn’t degrade it, and it doesn’t leach out of the soil. I’ve seen weeds come up white after a rain in August, and the Brake herbicide had been put out in April or May.
“Also, Brake does not get tied up in cover crop residue. The
cover crop residue actually helps hold in moisture that can be used to activate Brake.”
Peanuts
Peanuts are often considered a good crop to rotate with cotton because the legume fixes nitrogen in the soil, is not affected by the same nematodes that affect cotton and provides another cash crop in a diversified operation.
Although Brake herbicide is labeled for use in peanuts, you have to apply at least two modes of action in this crop to pick up the weed spectrum that’s out there. With that said, Brake is still typically applied as a preemerge behind the planter at a 12to 16-ounce rate, depending on the soil type.
Also be sure to tankmix it with another overlapping residual that is more water soluble like you do in cotton.
Row Rice
“Row rice is a brand new label for Brake, but it looks very promising,” Mize says. It’s applied a little differently in this crop compared to cotton and peanuts and controls many annual grasses and small-seeded broadleaf weeds, including pigweed.
“When applying Brake to row rice, wait until the rice is at the three- to five-leaf growth stage, spray Brake as a pre-flood application and then flush the field with water, which runs out the end of the field. Spray any weeds that had come up prior to this with a post herbicide. The goal is to make sure the field is clean going forward.”
To learn more about how to use Brake herbicide across cotton, peanuts and row rice, visit ag.sepro.com/brake and always scout your fields and follow up with a post-emergence herbicide as needed.
Brake herbicide provides three to four weeks of residual activity on broadleaf weeds and grasses, keeping fields clean during the growing season.
Ginners Marketplace
FARMING IS THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE GINNING INDUSTRY.
Southeast Ginner Of The Year
“Billy Sickler, the Southeast Ginner of the Year, didn’t grow up in the gin business like so many of our previous recipients have,” said Ben Evans, outgoing president of the Southeastern Cotton Ginners Association. “He was actually born in Kentucky and moved to Alabama in high school.”
Following high school, Sickler enlisted in the Army and after a short time in the service, he came home to Alabama. Needing a job, Sickler went to the manager of a local gin and asked. That organization had just opened a second location, and he was hired as a “yard man.”
Sickler’s work ethic and problem solving impressed the gin manager and, the very next season, he became the assistant manager. His previous boss said he had “never met someone with the work ethic and drive to learn” that Sickler has.
After experiencing some highs and some lows (3,800 bales), closing one gin and then building an entirely new operation, Sickler became the general manager. The organization he runs is now one of the largest in the state, ginning more than 62,000 bales this year in short order.
Billy Sickler, general manager of the Associated Cotton Growers Coop in Athens, Alabama, and his wife, Erica, have
had a lot going on over the years: raising two girls, running and growing the gin and becoming owners of a pet crematory. His latest role is being a grandpa. He is known as “Grumpy” as he’s called by his two young grandchildren. Congratulations to Billy Sickler — the Southeast Ginner of the Year.
COTTON
Ben Evans, outgoing president of the Southeastern Cotton Ginners Association, is pictured with Billy Sickler and his wife, Erica.
National Cotton Ginner Of The Year
Richard Lindsey, a veteran Alabama ginner who has provided outstanding service and leadership to the U.S. cotton industry, is the 2024 Horace Hayden National Cotton Ginner of the Year. He was recognized at the recent 2025 National Cotton Ginners Association’s (NCGA) annual meeting in Dallas, Texas.
The annual NCGA award is presented to a ginner in recognition of: 1) able, e icient and faithful service to the ginning industry and 2) continuing those principles exemplified and practiced by Horace Hayden, a former NCGA executive secretary.
Lindsey partnered with Brent Tidwell and his son Richard Lindsey, Jr., in their family farming operation known as Coosa River Land Co. He is active on several boards, including First Southern State Bank, Cherokee County Alfa Organization and Howell Cemetery Association. Lindsey is the current president of the National Cotton Ginners Association, having served as a vice president for the previous three years.
He has served on numerous National Cotton Ginners and
Lummus Ag support an and adapt Lummus of profitable. your succe
g Solutions w d business. W to changing m
wants to expre With the chal market condi
ffers a wide ra Regardless ss.
Just a shor All-new Ginning system
Press C Burner Air Mon DGC 20
t list of items w complete Gin P g Machinery (in ms, presses, etc. Consoles and M r and Moisture U nitoring and Fire 020 Gin and Fee
National Cotton Council committees, is a National Cotton Council Director, a member of the Council’s executive committee and a member of the Cotton Council International Board of Directors. Additionally, Lindsey has served in numerous roles within the Southeastern Ginners Association, including president, and was selected as the Southeastern Ginner of the Year in 2010.
Lindsey, a native of Cherokee County, Alabama, has a rich history in cotton farming, beginning with his first harvest in 1957 as a 4-H project. Over the past 58 years, he has been a dedicated cotton producer and remains active in managing Cherokee Gin and Cotton Co., the largest gin in Alabama.
He also served in the Alabama House of Representatives for 35 years, holding key positions such as Chair of Appropriations and Agriculture Committees. His legislative achievements include bringing a satellite campus of Gadsden State Community College to Cherokee County, with the sports arena named in his honor. Richard retired from legislative service in 2018 but continues to contribute to the cotton industry.
Harrison Ashley, Cordova, Tennessee, is NCGA’s executive vice president.
ess its apprec llenges we fa itions and cus
ange of produ of the project s we offer: Plants ndividual machin ) ain Control Con Unit Gas Train/C e Detection Kits eder Controls
As our nam parts, servi
me states, we ice, or techni
ciation to our ce in our indu stomer needs
ucts and serv t scope, cont
r many loyal c ustry, we are s. red to help yo to discuss yo
nes, stand-alon
nsoles
stand ready t ical expertise
Controls upgrad s to offer you S e, we will be h
vices, all gear tact Lummus e des Gin
n Dor-Les® and E
• 16” diameter
• Hydraulic Tram
customers for continually w our operation our goals and E.E. Dor-Les® Pr r Bottom Ram Co mper/Pusher C
• Premier™ III S
Qua Unm
SOLUTIONS fo here for you n
• Press Rebuild ality OEM Repai matched Techn or your busine ow….and into
r their continu working to evo be efficient a d needs to ens ress upgrades onversion Conversion
Series Hydraulic ds (strain rods, b ir Parts ical Service ess. Whether o the future.
c Pumping Units boxes, sills, etc
ued olve and sure s .)
Lummus
Growing Up Unplugged
Ifeel sorry for kids growing up today without a farm connection. They’re disconnected from how food and fiber are grown and distracted by modern technology — cell phones, streaming entertainment and social media. That’s far from the party-line telephone; three-channel TV and pen and paper letter writing I grew up with on our tobacco, vegetable and livestock farm in North Central Florida.
On the farm, there was little time for distractions. But we always managed to have fun. We didn’t realize it as kids, but we were having the times of our lives. And, as I look back, I’m flooded with a bumper crop of memories. It’s a wonder we survived!
Oil can and watermelon don’t mix. Working in tobacco was hard, hot work. For afternoon breaks, Granddaddy kept a stock of cold drinks and watermelons in the refrigerator. Boy, it tasted good come about four o’clock.
the doctor when my uncles stopped them to say it was Greg who was injured. They got me out of the car and Greg got in. The doctors said that if the oil can had not hit a rib, it would have punctured his heart. Whew!
A pea sheller can curl your hair. Each year, we had huge gardens. When spring and summer rolled around, it was all hands on deck to harvest, wash, peel, shuck and shell all things vegetable to be put up or “canned.” One day my sister, cousins and I we were “running” the pea sheller when we decided to take a break. For some reason my cousin Robin stayed behind to finish up.
We grabbed a RC Cola from the refrigerator and sat on the back steps. We could hear the whirl of the pea sheller when all of a sudden it started making an odd sound. Then we heard Robin yelling out.
“On the farm, there was little time for distractions, but we had fun.”
A bunch of us were sitting on the old farmhouse porch cutting up a watermelon when my cousin Greg — two years older than me — told me to bring him the salt box for his watermelon. He had been picking on me, so I told him to get it himself. So he got up like he was going to get after me when he stepped on a loose board.
On the other end of the board was a tin oil-can, the one with the long thin spout. The board slapped Greg in the chest, embedding the oil can. At first, we thought he was joking around, but when he moved his hands the oil can was stuck in his chest. My uncles pulled it out and got Greg into their Ford Fairlane and off we flew to my Grandparents’ house. Workers at the barn called to let them know we were on the way.
Upset that I might have nearly killed my cousin by not getting him that salt, I was distraught. When we drove up to my Grandparents’, I got out of the car just a wailing. Thinking they must have misunderstood who got hurt, they put me in the car and started off to
We jumped up and went back to the sheller to find Robin’s long hair wound up in the rollers that shell the peas. She had bent down in front of the machine to clean off the pea mash when her hair got caught. We shut off the machine and unwound her hair, full of pea mash. We joked that she’d never have to curl her hair again. Rooster not playing chicken. We loved playing in my Grandparents’ big yard. We had hours of fun. But one spring, we had to beware of a big Leghorn rooster. It was odd. Sometimes he wouldn’t bother us; other times he would lower his head and run after you.
One day, we were in the yard when we saw the rooster. He set his eyes on us and came a running. We all scattered, but my cousin, Paula, fell down. The rooster jumped on her back, spurring her pretty badly. My Nana told my uncles to, “shoot that rooster.”
That afternoon, we saw the dead rooster on the carport. Relieved, we went out in the yard to play but when we rounded the corner, there was the rooster. He lowered his head and ran us into the house. What in the world?! How could this be?!
When Granddaddy drove up, we ran out and told him what happened, and he laughed real big. Come to find out there were two white roosters. My uncles had shot the wrong one!
— Scott Emerson Alachua, Florida semerson@onegrower.com
Cotton Farming’s back page is devoted to telling unusual “farm tales” or timely stories from across the Cotton Belt. Now it’s your turn. If you’ve got an interesting story to tell, send a short summary to csmith@onegrower.com. We look forward to hearing from you.
