COTTON MARKET FORECAST

Forecast Remains Cloudy For The Cotton Market

Since the first diagnosis of COVID-19, the spread of the pandemic worldwide has negatively affected global economic growth. According to a release by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, global economic growth will decline by 6% to 7.6% in 2020, depending on whether there is a second wave of infections.

Similar trends are also observed for the U.S. economy. Real gross domestic product in the United States decreased at an annual rate of 5% in the first quarter of 2020. The unemployment rate in the United States has reached its highest level since 1929, with a peak of 14.7% in April during the COVID-19 lockdown.

The June unemployment rate indicates that the labor market has improved since the reopening of the economy.

However, with the current surge of COVID-19 cases in the United States since reopening and as some of the hardest-hit states begin to pause reopening, it is difficult to predict how long the pandemic’s negative impact on the economy will continue.

Consumers’ Consumption Decline

As cotton and cotton-related products are discretionary items, COVID-19 has significantly impacted demand for cotton. The greatest decline in consumption has been observed in China and India.

Retail sales in clothing and clothing accessories in the United States experienced an 87% decline in April from the previous year. With the anticipation of a decline in consumers’ consumption of apparel, the recovery of the spinning industry is anticipated to be slow.

Slightly lower production, reduced consumption, and higher beginning and ending stocks are projected for the 2020 cotton crop globally. World cotton production in 2020 is forecast at 118.7 million bales, 3% (4.2 million bales) below the previous year.

BY YANGXUAN LIU

Global cotton mill use is forecast at 114.4 million bales in 2020, 11.5% (12 million bales) above 2019 but still significantly lower than 2017 and 2018 levels. The world ending stocks are also projected at 104.7 million bales, the second-highest level on record.

U.S. cotton production is projected at 19.5 million bales in 2020, 2% (400,000 bales) below the 2019 crop. However, this number will most likely be adjusted down due to weather-delayed planting in several states and reduced acreage in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s June acreage report.

The U.S. planted acreage for cotton was forecast at 12.2 million acres, down 11% (1.5 million acres) from last year. Fifteen of the 17 major cotton-producing states have seen a decline in Upland planted acres compared with 2019, with the largest decline in Texas.

In Georgia, the planted acres declined to 1.2 million acres from 1.4 million acres in 2019. This decreased acreage nationwide is primarily due to lower U.S. cotton exports are projected at 16 million bales for 2020.  is is 1 million bales above the 2019 crop and the third highest on record.

prices and provides some opportunity for price recovery.

Exports, Stocks-to-Use Ratio

U.S. cotton exports are projected at 16 million bales for 2020, 1 million above the 2019 crop and the third highest on record. U.S. ending stocks are projected at 7.3 million bales in 2019 and 8 million bales in 2020.

Stocks-to-use ratio is projected at 43% for 2020, the highest since 2007. This increase in ending stocks in the United States creates downward pressure on U.S. cotton prices. The season-average farm price is projected at 57 cents per pound in 2020 compared to 59 cents per pound in 2019 and 70.3 cents per pound in 2018.

New crop December futures closed at 62.95 cents per pound July 2.

Yangxuan Liu is a University of Georgia assistant professor of agricultural and applied economics. She may be reached at Yangxuan.Liu@uga.edu.

NexGen ® Varieties Tested

in Americot’s ACE Trial Program

Americot’s investment into the research and development (R&D) of high yielding, high quality varieties has expanded over the last three years into a full-scale fi eld trial program called Americot Cotton Evaluation (ACE) Trials. This year, our nine Germplasm Specialists across the cotton belt have collectively planted 217 ACE Trials with cooperating growers. “These trials will be very helpful to not only our R&D and sales teams, but especially our growers. We are generating information on water utilization, plant growth regulator (PGR) response and input management that will provide our growers insight and confi dence in our current variety line-up and future releases,” says Dr. Doug Jost, Director of Research and Germplasm. “Every piece of data, from heat tolerance to PGR management, provides knowledge to our sales teams and growers alike. It builds grower confi dence in NexGen® varieties knowing they have the power to perform under their own growing conditions in their own specifi c regions.”

SHANE HALFMANN Central and South Texas 2020 started off dry in South Texas, causing growers to plant deep, chasing moisture. But as luck would have it some areas got a big rain event following planting, causing widespread replants. I was concerned about the late-planted cotton, but a wet summer has allowed the crop to reach full potential. The early-March planted cotton also looks beautiful. At the time of this writing, I do not want to speculate, but it’s a very strong crop with excellent yield potential. NG 4936 B3XF and NG 4098 B3XF look very good in the Coastal Bend.

The Upper Coast had a similar weather pattern and insect pressure was light across the whole region. Fruit retention was high, allowing for easier management. I think this will also allow for an earlier harvest season, which is always benefi cial as we strive to avoid any tropical weather events. NG 5711 B3XF remains our number one variety here, but NG 4936 B3XF looks very good and the two varieties complement each other on the farm.

In central Texas many growers got a Father’s Day gift in the form of a timely rain. The cotton was just beginning to bloom, and soil moisture was limiting. NG 4936 B3XF and NG 5711 B3XF are both looking strong here, as well.

We are fortunate to have several new options in our ACE Trials this year. AMX 19B001 B3XF and AMX 19B003 B3XF are being tested for the fi rst time in 2020. We implemented 27 ACE Trials across the region with excellent grower-cooperators and are looking forward to great trial results.

BROOKS BLANCHE, PH.D. South Delta

The 2020 cotton season began with negativity surrounding the trade war and relations with China, a major buyer of US Cotton. Because of the depressed prices resulting from reduced U.S. exports to China, cotton acres dropped signifi cantly below last year’s levels. In some areas, cotton acreage is estimated to be 50% lower compared to last year. A grower made the comment to me, “So far, 2020 tastes like toothpaste and orange juice.” That is the bad news. The good news is that planting conditions were better than last year, and replants were down signifi cantly. Cotton has grown nicely and has benefi ted from better rainfall than we’ve seen in recent years. Going into the major bloom period, we are in a good position to make high yields a reality.

One component of working in R&D is that we are living and working in 2020 but preparing for 2021. We have approximately 25 unique ACE Trials scattered throughout the South Delta and we will have a very good understanding of variety performance and characteristics of new varieties heading into 2021. In addition to multi-location yield data, I’m also looking at several trial sets evaluating soil type preferences of varieties. Attempts are made to manage planting date, location, fertility, etc. identically such that the only differing factor is soil texture. It never ceases to amaze me just how differently varieties perform on a Sharkey clay compared to a Commerce silt loam. As any grower knows, cotton varieties are often specifi cally adapted to certain soil characteristics, e.g., NG 5711 B3XF on clay-textured soils. This research gives us a better understanding of new varieties and their management characteristics beyond their “average” yields.

My trials this year include standards like NG 5711 B3XF and NG 4936 B3XF along with several experimental lines being considered for va riety launch in 2021. ACE Trials such as these are essential to understanding new varieties, so growers can be confident and successful growing them for the first time. If you are interested in the data from these trials, please reach out to me or your local NexGen rep, and we’d be happy to share it with you!

TODD SPIVEY, PH.D. Carolinas 2020 has been a season of extremes thus far. From low tempera tures in the 30s into the second week of May, to rainfall totals as high as 28” in some areas. Consequently, we have already seen a full season of cotton stress events. Our ACE Trial program in the Carolinas and Virginia is in full force again this year, expanding our geographical reach out to the Blacklands in Eastern North Carolina; north to Sussex County, Virginia; and south to Kline, South Caroli na. This year’s program includes an improved variation of irrigated and non-irrigated trials, a wide range of tillage options from strip-tilled cover crops to conventional, raised beds, as well as a couple of dou ble-cropped plots behind winter wheat.

Because of the tough spring weather, many fields were planted un der less than optimum conditions. As a result, many fields were planted late and early-season growth was slow, so growers are working hard to manage for earliness. Plant growth regulator management is key to insuring we protect against rank growth, improving pest control and harvestability.

Across the board, our NexGen varieties showed outstanding vig or, despite the terrible planting and early season growth conditions. Great stands of NG 4936 B3XF and NG 5711 B3XF are a common sight across the region, and the new standout, NG 4098 B3XF, is off to a roaring start with market-leading vigor! Despite all the hin derances already encountered, the NexGen portfolio of Bollgard® 3 XtendFlex® varieties is primed to turn heads in 2020.

KAREN GELDMACHER Arizona

This time of year, cotton in Arizona is approaching cut-out along the Colorado River and peak bloom in the central growing regions. We

Sponsored by

are watching the weather, specifically for temperatures associated with cotton heat stress. Meteorological reports for the region suggest monsoon humidity and above average temperatures will continue through the summer growing season. We have a research program in Maricopa, Arizona collecting heat stress data, including pollen de hiscence, floral morphology and boll formation. Over the years, this research has shown us that NG 3729 B2XF, NG 4936 B3XF and NG 5711 B3XF possess excellent heat tolerance. This research pro vides the information we need to assist our grow For further information on Americot ers with proper variety Cotton Evaluation Trials in your region, placement. Arizona ACE contact your Americot Germplasm Trials are at various Specialist. Visit www.americot.com/ developmental stages research-team for contact information. across the state, includ ing peak bloom, cut-out, and some getting the final irrigation. Our ACE Trial grower-cooper ators are very excited about NG 4098 B3XF. They were very impressed with its large seed size, excellent stand establishment, very high early-season boll retention and ease of management.

SCOTT RUSSELL South Alabama and Georgia

This is the best start we’ve had in several years! I have seen ex ceptional stands on fields that typically have emergence issues. The stand establishment and early season performance of the NexGen Bollgard 3 XtendFlex varieties has been excellent. We are really standing out against the competition. NG 4936 B3XF demonstrat ed outstanding emergence and growers are very impressed with its strong early season growth. Another variety worth noting is NG 4098 B3XF. We were a little dry early in the planting window and we were planting deep, chasing moisture. Growers that planted NG 4098 B3XF couldn’t stop talking about its outstanding emergence. One grower told me he’s never seen that kind of vigor in the 25 years he’s been farming. Two experimental lines, AMX 19B001 B3XF and AMX 19B003 B3XF have us excited about their potential fit in southeast Georgia. Overall, we’re very pleased with our crop and the perfor mance of the NexGen varieties!

Left to right: Chip, Billy, Joey and William Reeves are proud of their five-generation legacy at Reeves Family Farms in Fayette County, Tennessee, where they grow cotton, corn, soybeans and Bermuda hay.

Reeves Family Farms

Rockin’ The Hills Of West Tennessee

BY CARROLL SMITH EDITOR

In the late 1800s, Ernest Reeves traveled from Canada and settled in Fayette County, Tennessee, where the Loosahatchie River runs through the rolling hills and bottomland of this fertile agricultural area.

When Ernest passed away in his 80s, his son, E.A. Reeves, dropped out of the 11th grade to farm the land he inherited from his father and take care of the rest of the family. E.A.’s son, William, followed in his footsteps until he was called to be a missionary in West Virginia.

Touched by divine intervention, William packed up the family, including his 13-year-old son, Billy, and headed east. Billy spent 16½ years working in the coal mines, which had a rich heritage in much of the state’s history.

Although he was making good money, Billy still dreamed of farming. At the time, he satisfied that yearning by growing soybeans, corn and hay on the side.

“Farming got in my blood because my dad farmed before we moved to West Virginia,” Billy says. “In 1994, when I was 34, we moved back to the home place in Tennessee where I started farming from scratch.

“I had no machinery and couldn’t get a loan from the Farm Service Agency because I didn’t have a history with cotton, so my neighbors stepped in and helped me get started. My first crop was 75 acres of cotton right here on the same hill where we first began. Fortunately, I made a bale and a half per acre in 1994 and sold it for about 74 cents per pound.”

Through the years, Billy continued to pick up ground, and today farms about 3,000 no-till dryland acres of cotton, corn, soybeans and Bermuda hay in partnership with his sons, Chip and Joey.

“We don’t hire any other farm labor,” Chip says. “What you see here — the three of us — this is it. We make it happen.”

2019 Season In Review

About 70% of Reeves Family Farms is rolling hills, and the rest of the acreage is bottom ground. In 2019, they planted their largest amount of cotton ever — 1,400 acres — to PHY 340 W3FE, PHY 350 W3FE and PHY 430 W3FE.

“It was a good year,” Chip says. “We grew the best cotton we’ve ever had, but our overall yield didn’t reflect that. We

had about 400 acres in the Loosahatchie River bottoms that went underwater in July when the plants were fruiting.

“Surprisingly, the cotton put on a good crop after the water receded, but we didn’t get enough heat units to finish out the bolls. This brought our overall average yield down to 930 pounds per acre on the whole crop.

“However, the hill cotton — all dryland — picked anywhere from 1,100 to 1,400 pounds per acre. It was beautiful. We also had some of the best grades we’ve ever had, including several 11s on color. And before the rain came, we had a turnout of 44% at Longtown Gin in Mason, Tennessee.

“One of the reasons we like PhytoGen is that it yields well and nine times out of 10, the quality is high. We think both yield and quality are important when choosing what varieties to plant. Every cent counts in cotton.”

Chip also credits the yield increase they have experienced to having good cotton scouts — John Hines and Hunter Sheehan — check their cotton once a week and help them make timely decisions on inputs.

“In addition to checking for weeds and insects, they keep an eye on the growth of the cotton plant and make recommendations for applying a plant growth regulator,” he says. “They want to make sure the cotton loads up with blooms and bolls versus stalk and vegetative growth.”

Rocky Start To 2020

The Reeveses say they had intended to plant 1,400-plus acres of cotton in 2020.

CHIP REEVES William Reeves, who represents the third generation at Reeves Family Farms, stands in front of the last module he packed in 2017 before retiring. He says he still recalls pulling cotton to Longtown Gin in Mason, Tennessee, on an old two-cylinder tractor hooked to a trailer back in the day. But when cotton prices dropped from 72 cents in January to 52 cents at planting time and the presence of COVID-19 was changing everything, it was back to the drawing board.

“We changed our minds five or six times on the amount of cotton we were going to plant,” Billy says. “We didn’t

know what to do. We finally decided to go with 600 acres and hope next year is more stable.”

The family chose to grow PHY 400 W3FE, PHY 430 W3FE and PHY 360 W3FE. They planted 500 acres from May 1 through noon, May 3, before rain delayed planting the last 100 acres until

In 2019 before the rain set in at the end of the harvest season, Chip Reeves says they captured several 11s on color grade and 44% turnout at the gin.

“ e  rst year I grew cotton, I had an old International gas-burning two-row picker that looked like it came over on Noah’s Ark. We went from that to a four-row John Deere.”

May 21. As of midseason, Chip says the crop is “loaded up and looking good.”

Weed And Insect Control

When it comes to the most troublesome weed that challenges their cotton crop, Chip says pigweed is definitely the frontrunner. To keep it in check, he sprays Enlist One herbicide.

“We like Enlist because we can still get it, and it stays in the field where you put it,” he says. “As of right now, we haven’t had one off-target issue with Enlist. We’ve also tankmixed Liberty herbicide with it. This combination wipes out pigweed.”

The fifth-generation Tennessee farmer says he would describe 2020 so far as a light insect year for cotton.

“We made only one thrips application and sprayed once for plant bugs,” Chip says. “They weren’t at threshold, but we decided to clean them up anyway.

“Because our PhytoGen varieties have the WideStrike 3 technology, we don’t have to spray for bollworms. We start out $18 ahead at the beginning of the year by avoiding sprays and don’t lose money from damaged bolls.”

Dump And Go

When asked to share what they liked best about growing cotton, the Reeves crew were all in agreement — harvest time.

William says he remembers running a one-row picker where the picker unit was mounted on the back of a 3020 John Deere tractor, and the tractor ran in reverse. After harvest was over, the picker unit was removed, and the tractor resumed its more “normal” tasks during the spring and summer.

“The first year I grew cotton, I had an old International gas-burning two-row picker that looked like it came over on Noah’s Ark,” Billy says. “We went from that to a four-row John Deere.”

Today, their harvest equipment con

PHOTOS BY CHIP REEVES As of midseason this year, the Reeveses agree the cotton is loaded up and looking good.  e inset photo shows a  ve-lock boll of PHY 430 W3FE.

sists of a six-row John Deere 9976 basket cotton picker, a boll buggy and a module packer. Billy runs the picker 90% of the time, and his sons man the boll buggy and module packer.

“We can get the picking done with just three people,” Billy says. “We average about 65 acres a day. One day we picked 100 acres while running at night until about 4:30 in the morning because it was breezy and didn’t dew. We can all operate the machinery, so we change up if we need to.

“We have an efficient harvest system worked out. It takes about 45 to 60 seconds to dump, and then I am back on the row. It never stops.” price and weather, it can survive the hot, dry climate of Fayette County, Tennessee, year in and year out, Billy says.

“We have also found that corn is a good rotation crop for cotton, especially when it comes to pigweed,” he says. “Pigweed doesn’t like atrazine, so we can clean it up in the corn crop.

“And the organic matter left on the ground from the corn helps retain moisture during dry times. Every acre has been no-till since 2006.”

In looking to the future, the Reeves family is optimistic about planting and nurturing their favorite crop — cotton. It’s in their blood and dear to their hearts. And maybe one day, they will turn it over to the sixth generation of Reeveses who hopefully will enjoy it as much as they do.

The Evolution Of Back-To-School Shopping

Growing up in a small town in Southeast Arkansas, I always looked forward to the arrival of August. This meant it was time for one of my favorite traditions — driving to Little Rock and visiting the mall for back-to-school shopping. I loved everything about it. Searching the crowded stores for the perfect, first-day-of-school outfit, going up and down the escalators, hitting up the food court, and carrying all of those shopping bags made for the perfect escape from smalltown life. Fast-forward to August 2020. The mall scene of yesteryear is now a stark contrast to what I would see if I went to a mall today. The COVID-19 panBY STACEY GORMAN demic has closed many malls, and the

MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE number of customers allowed in retail stores is limited. All the while, questions loom about what going back to school will even look like for students across the nation.

Back-to-school shopping is usually the second highest apparel-buying season for consumers, only behind holiday shopping. Last year, back-to-school spending was expected to reach nearly $83 billion, according to the National Retail Federation.

Dark Times And Bright Spots

However, like so many other aspects of life in the midst of a pandemic, the 2020 back-to-school shopping season will likely be like none we have experienced before.

There are plenty of news stories about how the coronavirus pandemic has affected brands and retailers, and they do not paint a pretty picture. There have been store closures, bankruptcies, furloughs and a reduction in consumer spending like never before.

However, if you look closely enough, a few bright spots emerge from all the gloom. Some shutdown behaviors, such as how people shop, how they pick up their purchases and even how they pay, might serve as lessons for retailers as consumers slowly begin to navigate shopping in a COVID-19 world.

For starters, consumers have come to truly embrace ecommerce. A majority of them (63%) say they “discovered new ways to shop” during this period, according to a Cotton Incorporated 2020 Coronavirus Response Survey*. Close to half of all consumers (44%) are shopping online more than before the pandemic.

‘Shop Cotton’ Is Born

Cotton Incorporated has taken note. “Staying comfortable in your clothes is always important — but never more so than

right now. Whether students are preparing to go back into a classroom setting or will be learning from home in a virtual classroom, cotton clothing can make this trying time a little more comfortable,” says Kim Kitchings, vice president of consumer marketing at Cotton Incorporated.

To make shopping for cotton easier for consumers, Cotton Incorporated has a “Shop Cotton” section on thefabricofour lives.com. Seekers of this fabric can browse through specially curated items for children, women and men. They may also shop for home goods.

The featured items span a wide range of styles, brands and price-points to make sure there is something for everyone. The section also features cotton non-medical face masks for adults and children, just in time for the back-to-school season.

Out of crisis comes change, but people do not abandon things that are familiar and provide comfort. It just means they tend to evolve. For me, this year’s back-to-school shopping for my children will mean shopping online via Shop Cotton rather than making a day-long trip to the mall.

And who knows, maybe I will even look up a recipe so we can make our own “food court” style soft pretzels. I wonder if I’ll get bonus points if I find one that calls for cottonseed oil.

Stacey Gorman is The Cotton Board’s director of communications. Contact her at sgorman@cottonboard.org.

Stewart Named Director Of UT’s West Tennesse Ag Center

An entomologist well known to row crop producers throughout the South, Scott D. Stewart has been named the director of the West Tennessee AgResearch and Education Center in Jackson, Tennessee. Stewart, who currently serves in Jackson as a University of Tennessee Extension specialist in Scott D. integrated pest manStewart agement and professor in the Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, will begin his appointment Oct. 1.

He is no stranger to the center, having worked there as a faculty member of the Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology since 2002. Beforre that, he served at Mississippi State University for seven years.

Stewart’s pedigree includes serving as author, co-author or presenter on hundreds of scientific papers as well as shepherding nine students through graduate school. He earned a bachelor’s degree in biology at the University of Northern Iowa, a master’s degree in entomology from Texas A&M and his doctorate in entomology from Auburn University.

Among his best-known efforts has been as a leader in the development of the popular UTCrops.com website and news blog, which together serve as a hub of historic and week-by-week information for crop producers in West Tennessee and the Mid-South.

“I’ll enjoy working with an even wider group of scientists and stakeholders in Tennessee,” Stewart says. “My plan is to leave things better than I found them. That’ll be a challenge, considering the current director has done an excellent job.”

Stewart will be the seventh director of the West Tennessee AgResearch and Education Center.

New Program Pays Growers For Climate-Smart Practices

Bayer will start rewarding farmers in the United States and Brazil for generating carbon credits by adopting climate-smart practices, such as no-till farming and the use of cover crops.

The goal of the company’s Carbon Initiative is to reduce agriculture’s carbon footprint and field greenhouse gas emissions by 30% by 2030. The effort is the result of years of work validating a science-based approach and methodology, according to a company news release.

“If anyone has a vested interest in battling climate change, it’s farmers, and we are committed to developing new business models like this unique Carbon Initiative to help them in that fight,” Bayer Crop Science Chief Operating Officer Brett Begemann said in the release.

Soil is one of the most effective ways of sequestering carbon. Offering farmers incentives to embrace no-till, precision nitrogen use or cover crops helps further sequester carbon in the soil, reduce fossil fuel use and reduce greenhouse gases.

The program’s 2020-21 season will include about 1,200 farmers in Brazil and the United States. In both countries, farmers will receive assistance in implementing climate-smart agricultural practices, and Bayer will acquire the carbon removal credits created by those practices at transparent prices. The company is also collaborating with partners such as Embrapa in Brazil to build a viable carbon market for farmers.

Bayer plans to expand the program in the United States and Brazil to other farmers and then later into other world regions with tailored approaches that will allow growers to choose what climate-smart practices and implementation works best for them.

Savannah Is Now The Top Port For U.S. Ag Exports

The Port of Savannah’s proximity to major producers, direct access via road and rail, broad global network and responsiveness to customer needs have made it the top port in the nation for the export of containerized agricultural goods.

“Agriculture is a major driver for Georgia’s economy, contributing $74 billion in annual economic benefit and nearly 400,000 jobs across the state,” says Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp. “As this country’s No. 1 port for the export of agricultural products, Savannah provides vital support for the state and nation, helping our farmers reach overseas buyers efficiently.”

In 2019, agriculture accounted for 60% of Savannah’s exports, or more than 843,000 20-foot equivalent container units. Forest products such as wood pulp, paper and logs made up the largest category of goods, followed by clay, cotton and poultry.

During the pandemic, Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) has focused on ensuring both chassis and empty containers are available to support the movement of export commodities. Through its association with the South Atlantic Chassis Pool II and the completion of a new on-terminal chassis yard, the Port of Savannah provides customers with access to the largest chassis pool in the Southeast. In addition, GPA’s team has focused on cargo owners and other contacts to ensure a reliable supply of containers.

GPA’s inland terminal, the Appalachian Regional Port, has seen increased volumes and export commodities coming from Northwest Georgia, Tennessee and Alabama. At the Port of Savannah, the port authority increased on-time performance of vessel operations to achieve its best performance in three years.

Georgia’s deepwater ports and inland barge terminals support more than 439,000 jobs throughout the state annually and contribute $25 billion in income, $106 billion in revenue, and $2.9 billion in state and local taxes to Georgia’s economy. The Port of Savannah handled 8.5% of U.S. containerized cargo volume and 10% of all U.S. containerized exports in fiscal year 2017.

For more information, go online to www.gaports.com.

AFBF Accepting Nominations For 2021 Farm Dog Of The Year

The American Farm Bureau Federation and Nestle Purina PetCare Co. are looking for the best farm dog in the country. Desired attributes for the Farm Bureau Farm Dog of the Year include helpfulness to the farmer and his/her family, playfulness and obedience.

The grand prize winner — Farm Bureau Farm Dog of the Year — will win a year’s worth of Purina dry dog food and $5,000 in prize money. The winner will be recognized at a Farm Dog of the Year award ceremony at the AFBF Convention in January. Up to four regional runners-up will win $1,000 each in prize money.

To apply for the 2021 Farm Dog of the Year contest, go to https://bit.ly/32SKpdS to complete the application. The deadline to enter is Aug. 20 at 4:59 pm CDT.

Be prepared to provide written responses to the questions below about your farm dog:  How does he/she enrich your life and that of your family?  How does he/she support you, the farmer, in doing your job?  Does he/she interact with farm animals? Does he/she help to guide farm animals where they need to go or help in other ways?  What non-farmwork activities do you and your dog do together for recreation?

Describe your commitment to responsible dog ownership (safety practices, current vaccinations, proper nutrition and care, etc.). List any awards your dog has received, and any special skills your dog has, or tricks he/she can perform.

Long-Time Texas A&M Leader, Entomologist Dies

Perry Adkisson, the former leader of the Texas A&M University System and internationally known agricultural scientist in the area of entomology, has died.

Adkisson became a professor of entomology at Texas A&M in 1958 and went on to serve as the chancellor of the Texas A&M University System from 1986 to 1990 before retiring in 1994 as a distinguished professor. During his career at Texas A&M, he also served as deputy chancellor, vice president for agriculture and renewable resources, and head of the Department of Entomology.

“Texas A&M and Texas agriculture are eternally grateful for the contributions Dr. Adkisson made during his years of service,” says Patrick Stover, vice chancellor of Texas A&M AgriLife, dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and director of Texas A&M AgriLife Research. “His leadership and dedication will serve as an example for all faculty, current and future.”

Adkisson was an early pioneer in developing the concepts for integrated pest management through his research on control of the insect pests of cotton. He led the development of highly successful integrated control programs for the boll weevil, bollworm and other key cotton pests and saw these programs Joshua Bell was inspired to solve the problem of his chemical tank blocking the tractor headlights at night.

BASF Recognizes West Texas Farmer’s Ingenuity

No one knows how to think outside the box and create practical solutions better than a farmer. Joshua Bell, a cotton grower from West Texas, did exactly that. He submitted his pioneering idea in response to an invitation from BASF for cotton growers to share their best on-farm innovations. “I took the chemical tank and made a brace to mount on the tractor weight,” Bell says. “I think this could be advantageous to anyone who doesn’t have tanks for every tractor.” The idea occurred to him when he realized the tank blocked the tractor headlights, making it difficult to work at night. Bell decided to use material he already had on the farm instead of changing the tractor lights.

In addition, the innovation gives him the ability to “grab and go” with a chemical tank — significantly decreasing the time needed to change tanks or using one specific tractor for a particular job. Bell’s innovation enables him to work faster and more efficiently, allowing any tractor on his operation to apply chemicals with the field cultivator. “In our business, efficiency is how you make money,” he says. Bell grows FiberMax and Stoneville cottonseed as well as peanuts, corn and wheat. He also operates a custom harvesting and spraying business. To enter the contest, growers had to submit a photo or description of an innovation they successfully implemented on their farm. Other submissions included implement modifications and small-scale test plots. BASF sent Bell and his family a prize package containing a Traeger pellet grill, Yeti cooler and a beef grilling package. Additionally, BASF will recognize Bell in upcoming grower communications.

implemented on millions of acres of Texas cotton. His most important work was toward preventing the spread of the boll weevil in the High Plains of Texas.

Adkisson received many awards, both national and international, and was a leader in many professional groups.

He earned his bachelor’s degree in agriculture and master’s degree in agronomy from the University of Arkansas. He earned a doctorate in entomology from Kansas State University in 1956 and did his postdoctoral work at Harvard University.

2020 Cotton Crop Update

FLORIDA David Wright Florida cotton has good yield potential at this point. Weather has been mostly good for growing and fruit set. Many of our growers use conservation tillage when planting but may plant into winter fallow weeds while some plant into cover crops. Our data over the years with cover crops shows that they can help with erosion control and moisture conservation but may not always increase yields. However, data from the last 20 years of a long-term cotton/peanut rotation shows that if winter covers are grazed, fields that have often been breakeven in yields or less can be converted into some of the top yielding fields while using less nitrogen.

In addition, we have shown that 40%-70% less irrigation is needed, depending on the year, following winter grazing due to enhanced (almost double) rooting of cotton plants. This practice is beginning to be recognized by many of our cotton growers across the Florida Panhandle with cattle producers teaming up with row croppers to make this a mutually beneficial enterprise.

We have emphasized to growers to start with the worst fields that they have. Every grower who has tried it has come back with positive stories. Yields can be increased by a minimum of 150 pounds per acre of lint up to 400 pounds per acre every year with grazing. We have not seen this with cover crops alone even if it is high residue.

Grazing takes most of the cover crop out but results in higher yields with less input. This gives farmers an incentive to plant cover crops that they would otherwise avoid because of the expense and lack of return in yield in many cases. Likewise, calf gains have been 50-100 pounds per head higher following row crops as fields are usually a little higher in fertility than many pastures.

I have heard many testimonies about ways that cattle and row crop producers are working together to make it profitable for both sides while contributing to soil health and other environmental services. wright@ufl.edu

ALABAMA Steve M. Brown Rapid fruiting describes most varieties in the field in 2020. Given built-in worm control, good plant bug management and favorable growing conditions, fruit retention through early bloom and boll set should be extremely high, perhaps 90% or better. But we know we can’t retain every position. In 2019, I counted bolls on DP 1646 B2XF that picked almost 1,400 pounds per acre. Percent harvestable bolls versus possible fruiting sites was 43%. That seems low, but I suspect in the Southeast, no matter how good the yield, that number rarely exceeds 55% or 60%.

So how many weeks of flowering are needed for big yields? Last year, we participated in a Cotton Incorporated study in which we monitored growth stages and heat units. At three sites, days from first bloom to cutout (as measured by NAWF 4) was 28 days. Yields of DP 1646 B2XF in these trials ranged from 1,399 to over 2,100 pounds per acre.

“Cutout” suggests that the progression of fruiting and flowering is moving up the plant so rapidly that few additional meaningful, harvestable bolls will be set in the upper canopy. In the long seasons of the southernmost areas, some think that cotton may stay at 4 NAWF for a couple of weeks or so. Granted, 2019 was extraordinarily hot, so plant processes were accelerated. Still, this indicates that in four to five weeks of bloom, we can make a very good crop.

Another implication is that in good growing conditions— and as of mid-July our Alabama crop looks extremely promising because of favorable rainfall — extra vigilance is needed through the first several weeks of bloom. While we might name several important management factors, especially critical in August are stink bug control and where possible, timely irrigation.

Every input, every decision builds the crop for boll production. These are key weeks for production and protection. cottonbrown@auburn.edu

MISSISSIPPI Brian Pieralisi Mississippi experienced hot, humid and wet conditions for the first part of July. Cotton has responded well to the heat and humidity, which has allowed for laterplanted cotton to catch up with earlier-planted cotton. Consequently, weed pressure has increased tremendously during this time period and will need to be addressed prior to canopy closure. Successful pre applications prior to the wet period seem to still be holding, but I have seen an increase in annual grasses among others. There will be some Palmer amaranth escapes in fields that will need to be pulled or chopped, which is part of any weed management strategy.

At this point, cotton looks good across the state and the situation is relatively quiet. Most of the cotton is ranging from early to mid-bloom, and fruit retention is high in most locations. I have had a few isolated locations experiencing low fruit retention, which is attributed to a combination of proximity to corn, excessive growth and poor drainage.

Rapid vegetative growth needs to be managed with plant growth regulators, especially given the weather pattern we have been in. It is important to be aware of the rain fastness of PGRs, insecticides and herbicides applied during a pop-up shower weather pattern similar to the one we are in now from both an economic and efficacy standpoint.

Plant bug pressure has been relatively light at this point. However, I look for this to increase in the next week or two, especially with corn maturing and peak bloom in cotton. It is after July 4, so I anticipate egg laying to begin in the next week to 10 days as well.

It is still early, and the fate of this crop is still in the hands of the weather.

bkp4@msstate.edu

NORTH CAROLINA Keith Edmisten We often say there is no such thing as a normal growing season for cotton in North Carolina, and this year is certainly no exception. Most of the crop is at least two weeks behind schedule due to cooler weather in May. Some of the crop is as much as six weeks behind, especially where we have had excess moisture in combination with cooler temps.

This means our effective bloom period is shorter than usual. A fairly safe assumption is that you will have enough time and heat to mature a boll if the bloom occurs by Aug. 25. It would be a good idea to go out Aug. 25 to determine on what node your crop is blooming. This might help you later in determining what bolls are worth waiting for in the fall.

A short bloom period means fruit retention is more important than a normal crop that has time to set fruit over a seven- or eight-week period. Unfortunately, late crops are also more attractive to insects. We need to make sure we don't let our guard down in terms of scouting and timing sprays where needed.

Mepiquat applications can help with maturity, but don’t overreact and make them where conditions are not favorable for growth as they could reduce potential fruiting sites on the plant. keith_edmisten@ncsu.edu

TENNESSEE Tyson Raper As I write this July 20, our crop remains 10 to 14 days behind. Much of the area struggled with high temperatures over the past week and only scattered rainfall. I still think yield potential for this crop is good to very good, but I’m banking on a rain within the coming week. More plant growth regulator applications have been made in the past 10 days, but selecting rate has been difficult given our lack of rain. Retention has been good, but as our corn crop matures, we have seen increases in plant bug numbers.

Field days will obviously be much different this year than in years past. The 2020 Milan No-Till Field Day is no exception. Recordings of all tours have been completed, and the entire event will be virtual. By the time you read this, all content will be posted online. Our Cotton Tour is likely going virtual also, but the final decision on that event has not yet been made.

I would, however, encourage you to contact your local county agent if you are interested in walking any variety trials. Most will be able to provide a plot map and give you directions to the trial locations. Walking these trials will provide the opportunity to see new cultivars in action even during the pandemic. traper@utk.edu

MISSOURI Calvin Meeks The Fourth of July brought us some flowering cotton here in the Missouri Bootheel. But the latest Crop Progress and Condition Report shows only 24% of the cotton is squaring, putting the crop behind the five-year average of 64%. However, we are slightly ahead of the 2019 squaring percentages. Our warm days as of late should help build heat units nicely, especially with such cool weather to start off May.

The cotton appears to have great yield potential, but I have concerns about the cool May start delaying maturity. Cotton crop conditions were rated extremely variable in the Crop Progress and Condition Report due to the issues we faced with the cool May weather. This variability will play havoc with irrigation needs. Keep a close eye on crop growth stage on a field-by-field basis.

“With the bloom period upon us, water needs will increase from an inch per week to 2 inches during the third and fourth weeks of bloom,” says Missouri cotton specialist Calvin Meeks.

With the bloom period upon us, water needs will increase from an inch per week to 2 inches during the third and fourth weeks of bloom. Peak bloom will occur the last two weeks of July for fields that had blooms July 4, and water demands will taper off as we progress into August. Cotton during this period will transition from needing 2 inches of rain per week to 1-1.5 inches during the final stages of bloom.

Regardless, the crop is currently growing very rapidly, and a final plant growth regulator application will be needed to ensure sufficient crop earliness, especially if higher temperatures hang around. For the remainder of the season, plant bug and bollworm control should be on everyone’s minds as well as keeping an eye out for stink bugs.

Hopefully, the 2020 Missouri cotton crop will catch fall weather similar to what was observed in 2017. We had rain during August that year to help finish out the crop, followed by a warm, dry start to the fall that allowed for timely defoliation applications and harvest season. meeksc@missouri.edu

ARKANSAS Bill Robertson The Prospective Plantings report by the U.S. Department of Agriculture-National Agricultural Statistics Service estimated cotton plantings in Arkansas to be 590,000 acres. The 2020 planting season was difficult on and off the farm. The Arkansas Acreage Report estimated acres at 500,000. Mid-June, our crop was running almost two weeks behind on average and with the current market situation, we must concentrate on the basics.

Tracking nodes above white flower (NAWF) from first flower to cutout (NAWF=5) can offer great insight on the crop’s condition and potential. As we approach this time of the season, we are interested in using this tool to aid in crop termination. The first fields planted are not always the first to reach cutout.

In Arkansas, the latest possible cutout dates using a 50% probability of collecting 850 heat units (HU) on a 30-plus year data set are: Aug. 9, Keiser; Aug. 14, Marianna; and Aug. 17, Rohwer. If we use the last five years’ weather data, these dates may be extended slightly (three to five days).

Establishing the cutout dates is important in identifying the last cohort or group of bolls that will contribute significantly to yield and profit. It is on this group of bolls and their development that we base our end-ofseason decisions. General termination guidelines include plant bug, cutout + 250 HU; bollworm and tobacco budworm, cutout + 350 HU; stink bug, cutout + 450 HU; fall armyworm, cutout + 500-550 HU; defoliating insects, cutout + 650 HU; harvest aid initiation, cutout + 850 HU.

As we go into August, we must continue to manage this crop in a timely fashion to maintain yield potential while keeping expenses in check. For more information on crop termination, contact your local county Extension agent. brobertson@uaex.edu

TEXAS Ben McKnight Growers in the Lower Rio Grande Valley and Coastal Bend will soon be gearing up for the approaching harvest. Much of the early planted cotton in these regions is heavy with open, cracked bolls. As of this writing July 10, first shots of defoliants will be applied on the early planted cotton in these areas in the coming week or weeks. After a very dry start to the season, expectations for the crop in the Coastal Bend are drastically different than what was expected much earlier in the season. Abundant, timely rains fell in this area, and many are talking of exceptional yields this year.

The condition of the cotton crop along the Upper Gulf Coast is also promising, and most of the acreage in this region is at cutout. The area experienced a large moth flight in June. Timely scouting and management

decisions in susceptible varieties aided growers in minimizing damage from the pests.

It has been a dry start to July in Southeast Texas following periods of heavy rain and an extended period of cloudy weather in late June. A significant amount of fruit shed was observed in this region following nearly a week of overcast skies. High temperatures are projected to be more than 100 degrees Fahrenheit with dry conditions in the coming days. Irrigated acres will receive another shot of water. Most of the crop in this region is at 6-7 NAWF.

The Blacklands has also been dry, and another round of rainfall is greatly needed. Without another substantial rain soon, cotton will be approaching cutout on the dryland acres in this area.

Rainfall in the Rolling Plains at the beginning of July helped cotton that had emerged following a hot June. The condition of irrigated acres in the Rolling Plains looks good as of the first weeks of July, and many fields have squaring cotton. bmcknight@tamu.edu

TEXAS Murilo Maeda Early cotton season in the Texas High Plains has been challenging, mostly because of moisture (or lack thereof). It is unbelievable to think July is already gone. All things considered, though, this may (or may not) be quick enough! Generally speaking, most of West Texas remains dry, with only limited spots receiving any recent rainfall. Moisture came too late to do any good for our dryland, but it will certainly help out in keeping the irrigated crop going. As I write this in mid-July, dryland cotton is scattered across the region and good-looking fields are few and far between. Irrigated acres that escaped blowing dust and hail early on look to be in great shape overall and may be running a few days to a few weeks late.

While it may be fair to attribute the late start to the widespread lack of moisture during planting, it is worth noting that in many cases even irrigated fields (where water is limited) have struggled to get a good stand this year. Yes, it’s truly been that hot and dry.

Looking through the end of July, weather forecast indicates high temperatures will be hovering around 100 degrees Fahrenheit with virtually no precipitation in sight. As we begin the crop’s reproductive phase, that forecast is far from ideal. From here on out, our attention has to be on high square retention, so keep an eye on possible sources of stress.

From a management standpoint, input timeliness is crucial moving forward. Managing the crop for earliness (e.g. growth regulators, fertility and irrigation) can minimize potential negative effects of an early freeze. With all the uncertainties of 2020 thus far, it is important to set realistic expectations. If I may give you one piece of advice this year, avoid trying to push your crop too hard if you had a late start. mmaeda@ag.tamu.edu

ARIZONA Randy Norton With most of the 2020 crop on the back side of peak bloom, decisions will soon be made regarding terminating the crop and preparing for harvest. The 2020 situation at this stage of the season is significantly better than where we were one year ago. Heat unit accumulations are much more in line with normal, and the fruit load on most of the crop looks good.

Research plot assessments across the state indicate above-average fruit retention going into the final weeks of the growing season. Insect pressure up to this point in the season has been minimal, and beneficial/ predator populations have continued to help keep insect pests at bay.

One area of concern is the growing populations of glyphosate-resistant pigweed seen in fields across the state. Since the first glyphosate-resistant pigweed was discovered in Arizona in 2012, they have spread to all cotton-producing regions of the state. Use of alternate chemistries, residual chemistries and crop rotation are among some of the strategies to assist in combating this problem in our cotton fields.

I am optimistic about the prospects for the 2020 crop, if we can continue into late summer and early fall with optimum conditions for finishing it out. rnorton@cals.arizona.edu

CALIFORNIA Bob Hutmacher Available irrigation water allocations have been reduced significantly in most valley irrigation districts, and growers may be making hard decisions about when and where to use water on their farms. August is typically when the final irrigation of the growing season is applied in many cotton fields, particularly in water-short years. This will still be true in many of the earlier-planted (March through mid-April) fields this year. But growers with sandy loam soils or late-planted fields might end up considering final irrigation in September. Where limited water and late-season water costs are concerns, it will be important to decide:  How long you need to maintain plants in a non-stressed or better than mildly-stressed condition.  How much of the later-developing bolls or “top crop” you can afford to mature out. Managed water stress levels have a definite place in crop management. But during the critical flowering and fruit setting period, you still need to avoid severe stress that could damage flower set and early boll retention. This is the vital “window” to set fruit and avoid having to extend the crop way Into the fall to go after a late top crop.

For growers using leaf water potential (LWP) measurements in Pima cotton, our research suggests avoiding LWP values greater than about -21 to -22 bars during flowering and early boll set. This applies if you are using a stress management (bloom-it-to-the-top) approach in scheduling irrigations (about -19 to -20 bars in Upland varieties).

If you don’t use LWP measurements, here is a general guideline. During the four- to five-week period following first bloom while you are trying to set a lot of bolls, don’t allow extended periods where the plants have visibly wilted leaves during all or most of the hotter afternoon hours. Significant wilting means little evaporative cooling and little photosynthesis will be occurring during those hours.

These processes are needed for plants to be productive. This is especially true if there are extended periods with daily high temps in the 103- 110-plus Fahrenheit range. In addition, more severe water stress during the four- to five-plus-week period following first bloom tends to risk square and flower loss and even cavitation of small bolls.

If water remains limiting, higher levels of plant water stress (LWP of -23 to -25 bars in Pima, -21 to -23 bars in Upland) can be tolerated during boll maturation after cutout with less impact on fruit retention or fiber quality. LWP target values can be somewhat different if you are using drip irrigation (sometimes 1.5 to 2 bars lower), so contact your University of California Cooperative Extension adviser or specialist if you'd like to have some additional discussion about that subject. If late-season water supplies are limited or costly, it is more important than ever to assess the top crop for additional yield potential. Decide if it represents cotton of adequate value to warrant costs for that last irrigation. Much of the primary fiber development affecting length and strength takes place in critical periods of about the first three-plus weeks after each flower blooms. Negative effects of stress on fiber quality will be much less if severe water stress is avoided through about five weeks after that flower blooms. Making the best crop under limited water situations requires good knowledge of where and when bolls were set on your crop to assess likely impacts of water stress severity and timing. rbhutmacher@ucdavis.edu