Cotton Farming ONE GROWER PUBLISHING, LLC
PROFITABLE PRODUCTION STRATEGIES
DECEMBER 2015
www.cottonfarming.com
Making A List, Checking It Twice GEARING UP FOR PLANNING SEASON
COTTON GINNERS MARKETPLACE MY TURN: RECOLLECTIONS OF A ‘HARD WORKER’
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Introducing oducing our NEW NEXGEN B2XF & XF cotton ton varieties – tolerant to THREE different ff herbicides: dicamba, glyphosate, & glufosinate.
NG 3500 XF Get flexible protection otection with BOLLGARD IIŽ XTENDFLEX™
Monsanto Company is a member mb be of Excellence Through StewardshipŽ (ETS). Monsanto products aree commercialized inn accordance with ETS Pr Product oduct Launch Stewardship S Guidance, and in compliance with Monsanto’s Monsanto’ Policy for Commercialization of Biotechnology-Derived Plant Products od in Commodity Crops. As of January 30, 2015, this product has been ee approved for import rt in Australia, Mexico, Japan Japan and Canada. C Any crop or material produced from this product oduct can only be exported e to, or used, processed or sold in countries where al all necessary regulatory approvals have been granted. It is a violation on of national and international onal law to move material containing conta biotech traits across boundaries into nations wheree import is not permitted. permit Growers ALWAYS READ AND FOLLOW PESTICIDE DE LABEL DIRECTIONS. Roundup ReadyŽ crops contain genes en that confer tolerance to glyphosate, sate, the active ingredient edient in RoundupŽ R brand agricultural herbicides. Bollgard IIŽ XtendFlex XtendFle TM Cotton contains genes that confer tolerance to glyphosate, the active vee ingredient in RoundupŽ brand agricultural herbicides, es dicamba, and glufosinate, the active ingredient in LibertyŽ brand and herbicides. RoundupŽ brand agricultural al herbicides will kill crops cr that are not tolerant to glyphosate. Dicamba will kill crops that are nnot tolerant to dicamba. Glufosinate will kill cropss th that are not tolerant to glufosinate. Dicamba ba herbicide is not currently ently approved appr for commercial in-crop use with Bollgard IIŽ XtendFlex XtendFle TM cotton and nothing herein is a promotion or an offer to sell dicambaa herbicide for this use. It is a violation of federal al law to promote or offer to sell an unregisteredd pesticide or a registered register egistered pesticide for an unregistered use. For 2015, Monsanto does not authorize growers gr to apply dicamba herbicides in-crop to Bollgard IIŽ XtendFlex™ te Cotton. otto Commercialization is dependent ep on multiple factors, including successful conclusion onclusion of the regulatory egulatory process. pr Contact your dealer aler for updated information. Bollgard IIŽ, Bollgard II and DesignŽ, RoundupŽ, Roundup ReadyŽ, and Bollgard Bol g IIŽ XtendFlex™ Xten are trademarks off Monsanto M Technology LLC. LibertyŽ and LibertyLinkŽ are registered trademarks trademark ademarks off Bayer. AmericotŽ and NexGenŽ are registered ed trademarks tr of Americot, Inc.
Vol. 59 No. 12
Cotton Farming PROFITABLE PRODUCTION STRATEGIES
DECEMBER 2015
www.cottonfarming.com
F E AT U R E S
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CI YOUNG GUNS TOUR This tour encourages young producers to be active in the Cotton Research and Promotion Program and local cotton organizations.
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END-OF-SEASON REPORTS
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GINNING MARKETPLACE
Extension cotton specialists across the Cotton Belt share yield numbers and classing information as reports are released to the industry.
THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE GINNING INDUSTRY
Kelley Green of the Texas Cotton Ginners Association discusses implications of the new OSHA rule, which results in questionnaires and different inspection methods.
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Planning Season
SUPPLEMENTS
Most consultants schedule sessions with their farmerclients during the winter to begin this process since there is a lot of information to disseminate. Seasoned cotton consultants Bob Glodt, who appears above left with his farmer-client Brent Burns, Bob Griffin and Mark Nemec agreed to share some of their top-of-the-list winter planning topics with Cotton Farming magazine.
DEPARTMENTS & COLUMNS
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Editor’s Note Western Report Cotton’s Agenda
14 Specialists Speaking 21 Industry News 22 My Turn
ON THE COVER: As the holidays draw near, farmers and consultants prepare to develop production strategies for the upcoming year. Cover photo by Pogonici/Dreamstime.com.
The Ag Technology special section follows page 20 in the Mid-South and Southeast editions.
Look for CornSouth following page 12 in the Mid-South and Southeast editions of Cotton Farming.
SIGN UP FOR COTTON FARMING E-NEWS Go to www.cottonfarming.com and look for the Cotton Farming E-News link in the upper right corner of the home page.
COTTON FARMING (ISSN 0746-8385) is published monthly January through December for $40 per year by One Grower Publishing LLC, 6515 Goodman Rd., Box 360, Olive Branch, MS 38654. Periodicals postage paid at Memphis, TN. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Sunbelt Fulfillment Services, 307 Southgate Court, Brentwood, TN 37027-7987 (Phone: 615-377-3322) (Fax: 615-850-5319). International rates are $55 in Canada/Mexico, $90 in all other countries for air-speeded delivery. Surface delivery not available due to problems in reliability.
TWITTER: @COTTONFARMING
COTTON FARMING DECEMBER 2015
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Editor’s Note
Cotton Farming
Carroll Smith
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EDITORIAL/PRODUCTION Editor Carroll Smith csmith@onegrower.com Managing Editor Vicky Boyd vlboyd@onegrower.com
White Gold And Sterling Silver
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hen I was a toddler, I got lost in a cotton field, literally. The brilliant white cotton seemed very tall to a little black-haired girl dressed to withstand the heat of a Louisiana afternoon in a red-checked pinafore. I wasn’t frightened at all as I roamed through the field, intrigued by the soft white bolls that brushed against my face and the rough branches that scratched my arms. I soon heard people calling my name, then my Mom scooped me up and returned me to the patch of grass where I had been playing before I wandered away. That is my first memory of “white gold,” but by no means my last. My Dad farmed cotton for many years before he passed away, often partnering with his good friend, Tommy “T” Dennig, in east-central Louisiana. I’ve observed the cyclic nature of cotton and lived through the prosperous years as well as the “down” years. But even when the market was less than kind, I never heard cotton farmers talk of giving up on the crop they loved. It was always, “Wait until next year. The price will come around.” As an adult, I lived next door to a fascinating elderly gentleman named Mr. Mac. He was a World War II veteran who had served in the Navy, a retired businessman, a loving husband and father, a huge fan of the Kentucky Derby and a really good Gin Rummy player. Mr. Mac taught me the significance of having a “sterling” friend. He said that throughout life those friends that you consider “sterling,” – noble, honorable and of the highest quality – will stand by you under any circumstances. I will never forget Mr. Mac and the subtle life lessons he taught. So no matter what the price of cotton, it will always represent white gold to me. And the people who are part of my cotton past, present and future will be treasured much like the soft patina of sterling silver.
Carroll
If you have comments, please send them to: Cotton Farming Magazine, 7201 Eastern Ave., Germantown, TN, 38138. Contact Carroll Smith via email at csmith@onegrower.com.
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COTTON FARMING DECEMBER 2015
Southeast Editor Amanda Huber ahuber@onegrower.com Art Director Ashley Kumpe ADMINISTRATION Publisher/Vice President Lia Guthrie (901) 497-3689 lguthrie@onegrower.com Associate Publisher Carroll Smith (901) 326-4443 Sales Manager Scott Emerson (386) 462-1532 semerson@onegrower.com Production Manager Kathy Killingsworth (800) 888-9784 kkillingsworth@onegrower.com Circulation Manager Charlie Beek (615) 377-3322 For circulation changes or change of address, call (800) 888-9784 EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD David Burns – North Carolina David Lynch – South Carolina Bob McLendon – Georgia Larkin Martin – Alabama Mike Sturdivant Jr. – Mississippi Charles Parker – Missouri Jimmy Hargett – Tennessee Allen Helms – Arkansas Jay Hardwick – Louisiana Ronnie Hopper – Texas Ron Rayner – Arizona John Pucheu – California
ONE GROWER PUBLISHING, LLC Mike Lamensdorf President/Treasurer Lia Guthrie Publisher/Vice President ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COOPERATION: Cooperating with COTTON FARMING are various cotton producer organizations across the Cotton Belt. Many representatives of producer organizations serve on COTTON FARMING’s editorial advisory board. Opinions expressed and conclusions reached by contributors are not necessarily those of the cooperating organizations or the editors. All statements, including product claims, are those of the person or organization making the statement or claim. The publisher does not adopt any such statement or claims as its own and any such statement or claim does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the publisher. Copyright 2015 © ASSOCIATED PUBLICATIONS – One Grower Publishing, LLC also publishes RICE FARMING, THE PEANUT GROWER, SOYBEAN SOUTH and CORN SOUTH.
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COTTONFARMING.COM
WESTERN REPORT
Young Guns Encouraged To Tour Cotton Incorporated
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he Cotton Research and Promotion Program has announced dates for the 2016 Young Guns Tour of Cotton Incorporated headquarters in Raleigh, N.C. The Young Guns Tour targets young cotton producers who have not had the opportunity to visit the industry’s research facility. On March 20-22, 2016, Cotton Incorporated and the Cotton Board will host Western and Southwestern growers in Raleigh. The tour for the Mid-South and Southeast will take place June 19-21. There is no charge to cotton producers. Participants are flown into Raleigh, N.C., where they will be provided a hotel room, all necessary transportation and meals. They will get to see firsthand how Cotton Incorporated and the Cotton Board put their assessment dollars
BY BRENT MURPHREE MARICOPA, ARIZ.
The Next Generation The first Young Guns Tour took place in 2012 and was a great success, drawing participants from across the Cotton Belt. Since then, it has hosted more than 100 cotton producers under the age of 45. The goal of these tours is to encourage young cotton producers to be active in the program and local cotton organizations as well. “We often hear the question, What’s going to happen when all the old guys are gone?” says Monty Bain, Southeast Regional Communications Manager for The Cotton Board. “This tour proCotton producers of all ages benefit from touring Cot- vides a way to engage ton Incorporated’s world headquarters in Raleigh, the next generation and N.C. Here, the group poses for a picture in Cotton keep them invested in cotton.” Incorporated’s Product Development Laboratory. The tour is open to work in the various departments to growers of all ages, as well. at CI. Participants will also have the T h e C o t t o n B o a r d a n d C o t t o n Incorporated hope to maintain interopportunity to visit a spinning mill. “It is important that producers est in the program by sharing their see the facility they helped build,” work to keep U.S. cotton viable for says Bob Stanley, The Cotton Board generations to come. Regional Communications Manager Average Age Of Farmers for the Southwest. “Keeping young According to a 2014 U.S. producers engaged in the process helps to keep fresh ideas flowing, Department of Agriculture report on the 2012 Agricultural Census, which benefits the Program.” Twitter: @CottonFarming
the average age of all farmers in the United States has increased with each census since 1982 when the average age was 50.5 years old. The last census found that the average had risen to 58.3. The average age of cotton farmers is slightly less at 55.8. According to a January 2015 report from USDA, using data from the same census, the average age of cotton farmers is slowly creeping up. Only 21 percent of growers were under the age of 45. Fifty-one percent of cotton producers are between the ages of 45 and 64. That number is down by 2 percent, only because there was a larger percentage increase in growers over the age of 65. In the West, and throughout the Cotton Belt, many young producers are discouraged by current low profit margins for the crop and loss of agricultural land to urban development or drought. By focusing on this specific age group, the Cotton Research and Promotion Program hopes to encourage producers under the age of 45 to get involved and see a bigger picture view of the industry. Brent Murphree is the Cotton Board’s Regional Communications Manager for the West. Contact him via email at bmurphree@cottonboard.org. 2016 CI Tour Opportunities All Region Tour: Feb. 14-16 Western and Southwestern Young Guns Tour: March 20-22 Mid South and Southeast Young Guns Tour: June 19-21 Women in Ag Tour: Aug. 14-16 Contact your Cotton Board Communications Manager for more information. West, Mid-South: Brent Murphree, 602810-1171 Southwest: Bob Stanley, 806-745-4595 Southeast: Monty Bain, 334-322-7111 COTTON FARMING DECEMBER 2015
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Cotton’s Agenda Gary Adams
Exerting Extra Effort During 2015, the National Cotton Council worked diligently to encourage the implementation of sound farm programs while managing numerous trade and regulatory issues that threaten to undermine industry competitiveness.
What about the farm law and trade matters?
n The NCC helped convince policy makers to implement the 2014 farm law’s insurance provisions beginning with the 2015 crop. We worked closely with USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) to improve the Stacked Income Protection Plan (STAX) provisions for the 2016 crop year. Based on those discussions, RMA recently announced several key STAX modifications for 2016, among them: 1) allowing producers to elect a zero percent coverage range by practice; 2) allowing written agreements that affect insurable acreage to apply to STAX; and 3) making STAX coverage available for cottonseed through an optional endorsement. NCC staff and industry officials also coordinated with USDA to ensure the marketing loan program would allow cotton redemption from the loan at the adjusted world price to minimize disSTAX coverage will be available for cottonseed ruption of flow and forfeitures. through an optional endorsement in 2016. Equally important was getting USDA to implement a reporting and tracking system so producers and cooperatives could know their status relative to the unified payment limit. The NCC worked on multiple trade concerns. We helped defeat potentially damaging amendments to the cotton and textile industries during Congressional consideration of Trade Promotion Authority. During the Trans Pacific Partnership negotiations, we insisted that a yarn forward rule of origin be required for products granted preferential access to
the U.S. market. The NCC also: 1) remained heavily involved in the Turkish anti-dumping investigation; 2) escalated communications with the Administration and congressional leadership to ensure U.S. trade negotiators defended U.S. cotton and not agree to any further concessions in advance of the December 2015 World Trade Organization ministerial; and 3) joined with other agricultural groups in urging President Obama’s continued engagement with China’s President Xi Jinping for policies that promote innovation and trade between the two countries.
What about regulatory issues and promotion activities?
n Efforts continued on a range of regulatory issues from fuel spill prevention to food labeling. One of the most critical ongoing concerns is the EPA/Corps of Engineers “waters of the United States” rule. NCC actions on the rule included: 1) submission of extensive comments to the proposed rule, 2) supporting legislation that would prohibit these agencies from moving forward with that rule and 3) testifying before Congress to emphasize that the proposed rule would require costly federal permits for many essential farming practices. Attention also was given to several other key regulatory matters, such as support of new herbicide-tolerant traits’ registration to help with glyphosate-resistant weed management and weighing in on the U.S. government’s pollinator health protection activities. Cotton Council International conducted many successful promotional activities this past year such as the biennial Orientation Tour that brought textile executives from 18 countries to network with U.S. cotton merchandizers and to see how our cotton is produced, processed and marketed. A new global advertising campaign, “I Love My Cotton,” also was launched to inspire consumers and further spread U.S. cotton’s benefits to markets worldwide.
Gary Adams is president/chief executive officer of the National Cotton Council of America. He and other NCC leaders contribute columns on this Cotton Farming magazine page.
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COTTON FARMING DECEMBER 2015
COTTONFARMING.COM
Cotton Consultant’s Corner
Choosing Varieties For The 2016 Season Charles Burmester Contract Agronomist Decatur, Ala.
I was raised on a small farm in Alabama where we always grew cotton and became very familiar with the crop at an early age. In, fact, my mother made me my own “pick sack” when I was fiveyears-old. After graduating from Auburn University, I started my career with the Extension Service in Alabama before moving into research. Ten years later, I became the cotton specialist in the northern part of the state. I retired from Auburn in February 2015. This past year, we had some areas that went through drought, but in other areas, rainfall was plentiful. Overall, I think cotton yields are going to be a little bit above average although we still have to figure in the cotton that has not yet been picked following the heavy rains that fell toward the end of harvest. When considering varieties for next year, farmers should first look at the Official Variety Trials (OVTs) in the state as well as in adjoining states to see which varieties are performing best. It also is a good idea for farmers to look at a two- or three-year average in those same locations. Since Alabama doesn’t have as much irrigation as some of the other states, farmers should pay close attention to how different varieties performed in a dryland situation. Quality also is a big consideration since higher quality cotton provides a chance to get a premium. One of the challenges that we have with dryland cotton is high micronaire, especially in a drought situation where the plant puts its energy into adding fiber to the bottom bolls, which creates thicker fiber that can result in a discount. Micronaire of 3.5 to 4.9 is the standard. Anything over 4.9 falls in the high mic discount range. Staple length is important, too. We are seeing several new cotton varieties with longer staples in the 37-40 range. This can mean a 5-cent premium to the farmer. If cotton is at 62 cents, this means an 8 percent increase in money, which is just like getting an 8 percent increase in yield.
Top-Performing PhytoGen Varieties
I have been observing PhytoGen ® brand PHY 333 WRF and PHY 444 WRF quite a bit this year. One of the most important attributes to consider in a variety is turnout – how much lint you can get out of a pound of cotton. PHY 333 WRF and PHY 444 WRF have very good turnout, 43.5 to 44 percent, which adds to the weight of the module. Both varieties have lower micronaire and extra long staple. We are seeing a lot of 37s and 38s with PHY 333 WRF and a lot of 38s, 39s and 40s with PHY 444 WRF, which is a much longer staple than we typically see with Upland cotton varieties. These varieties also have average to above-average strength. My goal is to continue to identify research areas that will help Alabama’s cotton farmers achieve higher yields and profits. With new technology, we hope to speed the transfer of this information to our farmers.
• B.S. and M.S., Agronomy & Soils, Auburn University • Contract agronomist who works with farmers in northern Alabama on cotton, soybeans and corn • Retired as Extension agronomist, Tennessee Valley Research and Extension Center, after 35 years • Extension Career Ladder Committee • Research associate, Tennessee Valley Research and Extension Center, 1980-87 • Assistant county agent for Henry County, Ala., ACES, 1979-1980 • 2000 Cotton Specialist of the Year • Married to wife, Bobbi, for 34 years. Two sons: Ben and Scott. One granddaughter • Enjoys outdoor woodworking projects and is an avid Auburn sports fan
Recap: Choosing Varieties For 2016
1. When considering varieties, farmers should first look at Official Variety Trials (OVTs). 2. Quality also is a big consideration since higher quality cotton provides a chance to get a premium. If a farmer receives a 5-cent premium and cotton is at 62 cents, this means an 8 percent increase in money, which is just like getting an 8 percent increase in yield. 3. PhytoGen ® brand PHY 333 WRF and PHY 444 WRF have very good turnout, 43.5 to 44 percent, which adds to the weight of the module. 4. We are seeing a lot of 37s and 38s with PHY 333 WRF and 38s, 39s and 40s with PHY 444 WRF – much longer staple than we typically see with upland cotton varieties.
Sponsored By
PhytoGen and the PhytoGen Logo are trademarks of PhytoGen Seed Company, LLC. ®DOW Diamond, WideStrike and Enlist are trademarks of The Dow Chemical Company (“Dow”) or an affiliated company of Dow. PhytoGen Seed Company is a joint venture between Mycogen Corporation, an affiliate of Dow AgroSciences LLC, and the J.G. Boswell Company. Enlist Duo is not yet registered for use on Enlist cotton. Enlist Duo herbicide is not registered for sale or use in all states. Contact your state pesticide regulatory agency to determine if a product is registered for sale or use in your state. Always read and follow label directions. ©2015 Dow AgroSciences LLC.
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COVER STORY
Making A List, And Checking It Twice Gearing up for planning season BY CARROLL SMITH EDITOR
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nce the harvest machinery has been parked, most farmers and consultants like to enjoy a little downtime and recreational activities. But before long, it’s time to start thinking about the next season in order to be properly prepared. Most consultants schedule sessions with their farmer clients during the winter to begin this process since there is a lot of information to disseminate. The hot topic for everyone is how to protect and grow the bottom line in light of low commodity prices. In California, water availability still drives many of the decisions that cotton farmers have to make.
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COTTON FARMING DECEMBER 2015
For example, California pest control adviser Larry Gallian, whose consulting career spans more than half a century, says “rain-snow-rain-snow-rain” is the plan that California cotton producers are interested in at this time. Gallian says competing crops, the price of cotton and trees being planted daily on agricultural land are some of the factors that are affecting cotton acreage and production decisions out West. In other areas of the Cotton Belt, seasoned cotton consultants Bob Glodt, Bob Griffin and Mark Nemec agreed to share some of their top-of-the-list winter planning topics with Cotton Farming magazine. Following is what they have to say:
COTTONFARMING.COM
BOB GLODT Agri-Search Inc. Plainview, Texas
This year, prices for all commodities that we grow have been low, especially cotton prices. My growers are very good managers and do a superb job in assessing and managing their crops for the most potential profit. For example, almost all my growers ask me to soil sample each and every field they farm. Fertilizer is applied on a prescription basis to achieve a specific yield goal. Even though we soil sample, I believe we can do a better job managing nitrogen for all of our crops. The 2015 crop year was much wetter than normal; I know that we had significant leaching and denitrification issues that negatively impacted yields this year. Over the years, I have seen a trend for cotton yields to become flat, even in years where we have adequate moisture to make an above-average crop. So timing of nitrogen to include split applications is an area where yield improvement is possible without extra expense. There will be new weed control options for cotton this year, assuming the Environmental Protection Agency grants approval for Monsanto’s dicamba-tolerant cotton by planting time. Dow AgroSciences has developed cotton that is tolerant to special formulations of 2,4-D. Dow has already received EPA registration for their 2,4-D-tolerant cotton. There will be a learning curve, especially with understanding the potential for physical drift of these products and the need for thorough sprayer cleaning. “Low drift� nozzles that provide a coarse spray are imperative and required when using the hormone-type herbicides. It is important to remember that we have pre-emerge chemicals available today that are very effective in controlling resistant pigweed. For those who intend to plant cotton, weed control strategies will need special consideration.
BOB GRIFFIN Griffin Ag Consulting Jonesboro, Ark.
The No. 1 discussion this winter will inevitably be how to remain profitable next year. Commodity prices are discouraging across the board, and producers are going to be trying to cut TWITTER: @COTTONFARMING
Cotton consultant Bob Glodt (left) works with farmer clients like Brent Burns during the winter to review the past season and develop a strategy for the 2016 season. Fertility and weed control are top of his list.
Bob Griffin puts strategies for remaining profitable at the top of his checklist.
Mark Nemec is researching varieties wth good yield potential and quality.
corners if possible. My advice is to eliminate fat but not cut back on essentials such as fertilizer, herbicides and insecticides. Snake oils have no place in this coming growing season. The No. 2 consideration will be variety selection. There was a tremendous yield variation across varieties this year, so, for next year, we must choose the ones that are the most consistent in our area.
winter will be variety selection. There are a lot of excellent varieties poised to be released or available on the market now with good yield potential as well as good grades. Our goal for this winter is to find varieties with good yield potential and quality that will work best in our area. Weed control strategies also must be addressed. Now that we have glyphosate-resistant water hemp moving into our area, weed control planning will be critical to find the most effective, yet least costly, option. In having to deal with low commodity prices and high input costs, planning for the 2016 season is going to be challenging.
MARK NEMEC
MJN Consulting Services LLC Waco, Texas One of the top considerations during our planning sessions this
COTTON FARMING DECEMBER 2015
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YIELDING SOLUTIONS SPECIAL REPORT
Neil Lee Family Man, Country Music Fan, Cotton Farmer Editor’s note: Cotton Farming contributing writer Brad Robb went into the field this fall to capture the story of farmers’ experiences with the new Deltapine Bollgard II XtendFlex varieties. Following is his Special Report.
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ometimes a man just needs a chance to prove himself. For Bronwood, Ga., cotton farmer Neil Lee, that chance came in 2002 when the manager in his father’s farming operation left to take another job. “I had two years at Georgia Southern University under my belt and had begun classes at Georgia Southwestern when Dad told me about the vacant position,” remembers Lee, thinking in the back of his mind that this might be the chance to start his farming career. The 22-year-old Lee told his father, Ronnie, he would like to take over the position because nobody else would care as much about the operation as a family member. Ronnie Lee didn’t have to consider it for long and said, “Let’s give it a shot.” Neil Lee has been running the crop production side of Lee Farms and learning the intricacies of farming ever since. In 2015, Lee and his farm team planted 5,500 acres of cotton in the heavy red clay soils of Lee and Terrell counties. At the beginning of the 2015 ginning season, they hoped to press 90,000 bales by the time gin stands shut down for the year.
Bronwood, Ga., cotton farmer Neil Lee has been a Deltapine NPE farmer for eight years. In 2015, he planted DP 1553 B2XF, a variety that sustained his yield expectations from Deltapine varieties at harvest. PHOTO BY BRAD ROBB
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COTTON FARMING DECEMBER 2015
COTTONFARMING.COM
A Family Man At Heart Living in Bronwood, Ga., affords an avid hunter and fisherman superb woods replete with trophy buck, and lakes that make it easy to keep a freezer fully stocked with fillets, but Lee admits one thing – he just doesn’t have time. “I would love to spend some time hunting and fishing. We have trophy deer in this area, and you’d better have big game line on your reel or you’ll lose more fish than you catch. But, when it’s fishing season, I’m planting and when it’s hunting season, I’m harvesting. I guess it’s just the nature of farming,” explains Lee, while admitting he’s not complaining at all. He is just happy when he, his wife, Ashley, and daughters, Addie (10) and Caroline (6), manage to break away during the summer to spend a little time on the lake. Neil’s family has its footprint throughout the entire Lee Farms operation. Neil’s oldest brother, Ron, not only runs the gin and warehouse, he is also responsible for marketing the farm’s commodities, as well as the cotton for their
NEIL LEE Bronwood, Ga.
Twitter: @CottonFarming
DP 1553 B2XF
COURTESY OF NEIL LEE
The 2015 Season Last year was a mixed bag of good and bad for Lee. Although stink bug pressure was surprisingly low, untimely rains, coupled with their fertility program, caused Lee to apply plant growth regulators more aggressively. “We had targeted rains as we were trying to harvest. Unfortunately, the target was directly over our cotton – while fields 2 miles down the road got nothing,” says Lee, shaking his head in frustrated disbelief. He is quick to admit the one constant on which he can count is the cotton seed he chooses to plant. He relies on Deltapine varieties to produce yields he must have to remain profitable and quality characteristics the cotton market demands. “Deltapine is a stalwart brand that performs so consistently in our long-season growing environment. We planted DP 1558NR B2RF because of its nematode resistance, but the incredible yields were a bonus. We also planted DP 1553 B2XF because of its vigor and consistent high yields. When the 7760s finally got in the field and started harvesting, the yield monitors immediately sustained our expectations,” adds Lee, who has been a Deltapine New Product Evaluator (NPE) farmer for eight years. GPS technology guides all of the farm’s equipment. Yield mapping and soil sampling allow Lee to go back, look at those samples and overlay them with yield maps to identify nutrient-deficient areas where he can prescribe more inputs to improve productivity next season. The challenges that plague Lee’s operation are similar to other farms in Georgia and across many parts of the Cotton Belt. From resistant weeds to maintaining reliable labor, Lee knows he has to plan ahead to stay ahead. “We really need dicamba to receive final approval. Getting that extra tool would significantly strengthen our weed control program, especially if it comes in a high-yielding Deltapine variety. We also need to do a better job keeping records, because in these times of low commodity prices, you have to know your cost of production to know when to pull the buying trigger,” says Lee.
Neil Lee (left) poses with childhood friend and Warner Brothers Records recording artist Cole Swindell before Swindell took the stage at a recent concert in Nashville, Tenn. ginning customers. Chandler, the middle brother, oversees the trucking side, as well as the brokerage house. They all report to their dad, industry leader Ronnie Lee, who splits his time between the farm and serving agriculture on more boards than can be listed in this article. “We’re a true farming family with deep roots. This farm is our home. This is where we all raise our families, so we treat this land and our employees with the utmost respect,” says Lee. Close Friends When in his truck, country music echoes from front seat to back seat, and most of the time it is the voice of Neil’s childhood friend, Cole Swindell, with whom he hums along. “Cole and I grew up together. My father and Cole’s mother were close friends. We started riding to school, hanging out and playing sports together. He’s a talented guy who took a chance as a writer/singer, worked hard, and now that effort is paying off,” explains Lee. Lee has remained friends with the guy who continues to attract more fans with each song he writes and record he releases. Swindell’s first three songs all climbed the charts to No. 1, and his fourth single, “Let Me See Ya Girl,” is riding a fast bullet to that No. 1 position as well. “We never even talked about music growing up, and now he’s on the fast-track to become a country music star. It’s funny how things work out,” quips Lee, as he smiles and tips his hat back on his head. Truer words could not be spoken by a young man from Bronwood, Ga., who also took a chance when it was presented to come back to a family farming way of life. Brad Robb is a freelance writer based in Collierville, Tenn.
• Bollgard II XtendFlex variety • Full-season maturity with high yield potential • Vigorous plant broadly adapted to full-season growing areas
DP 1558NR B2RF
• Bollgard II Roundup ReadyFlex variety • Resistant to root-knot nematodes • Top-end yield potential in both RKN and non-RKN environments • Excellent staple and strength COTTON FARMING DECEMBER 2015
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YIELDING SOLUTIONS SPECIAL REPORT
Abe Froese Jr. Rodeos, Baseball And West Texas Cotton Editor’s note: Cotton Farming contributing writer Brad Robb went into the field this fall to capture the story of farmers’ experiences with the new Deltapine Bollgard II XtendFlex varieties. Following is his Special Report.
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he steel blue eyes of West Texas cotton farmer Abe Froese Jr. are slightly shaded from the highnoon Texas sun by the brim of his black John B. Stetson cowboy hat as his head turns to gaze across his Lea County, N. M., cotton field. “This field looks good. I was worried about how well it would take the rain, but she held up,” he says, pointing to an endless white blanket of DP 1522 B2XF that could yield between 3 and 4 bales an acre. Froese’s father farmed cotton. So did his grandfather. Cotton farming isn’t just in his blood; it is in his heritage. The Seminole, Texas, farmer will have his 15th production season under his Texas-size rodeo belt buckle by the time the gins turn out his last bale. Froese also produces cotton in Gaines and Donley counties in Texas, while overseeing an additional 300 acres of chili peppers and 20 acres of jalapeños.
Seminole, Texas, cotton farmer Abe Froese Jr., who has been a Deltapine NPE farmer for eight years, says his DP 1522 B2XF yielded well and “held very good in the burr even after the untimely rains.” PHOTO BY BRAD ROBB
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COTTON FARMING DECEMBER 2015
COTTONFARMING.COM
ABE FROESE JR.
PHOTO BY BRAD ROBB
Tough Year pivots must be managed properly. A baseball fan for years, Froese Froese started plugging the nozzles Seminole, Texas follows the Texas Rangers and the around the pivot tracks to reduce Houston Astros. He has seen lot of water levels that accumulate near DP 1522 B2XF curve balls in his lifetime, but not the tires so the “tracks” don’t get too • Bollgard II XtendFlex variety all of them have come from 60 feet 6 deep. Across the field next to those • Early maturity and widely inches away. The most formidable foe tracks, the cotton doesn’t yield as adapted with whom he competed in 2015 was • Good fiber quality potential much as the rest of the field, but it is Mother Nature. a small price to pay to keep the pivot “Boy, did we get moisture. Don’t rotating freely around the field. get me wrong, though, we needed it. “The pivot control system has been Unfortunately, it came in the frozen a lifesaver,” he says. variety – hail,” Froese says. Excited About The Future may not be an agronomist’s dream, After replanting once, he thought A strong family man of deep faith, but he has learned to deal with them. the crop was on its way when round Froese is lucky to have a good supWhile most farmers in areas across two came across the state. Froese port system at home. Wife, Nancy, Texas claimed 2011 was their worst replanted again, had to deal with and children, Chelsey (20) and year of farming ever, it was one of the the management difficulties that Justin (17), all help with farm-relatbest for Froese. come with replanting, and then the ed duties. Despite their late season rains hit. hectic school schedules, Remnant weather from Chelsey and Justin are Hurricane Patricia both farm-equipment brought more showqualified and can be ers, and he thinks that found driving tractors or might be the reason hauling trailers to the for some preliminary fields where Froese may grades coming back a be planting or running little barky. the Hi Boy sprayer. “ We o n l y h a d t o “My daughter is drop three shots of attending Odessa ColPix on it so it wasn’t lege, working on her too hard to manage, degree in elementary and the variety I went education, and Justin is with, DP 1522 B2XF, battling high school in just boomed out of the Seminole. Both of them ground with good vigor are great helpers and are and held very good in invaluable when it gets the burr even after the busy around the farm. untimely rains. And I Froese takes care to manage his irrigation equipment properly Nancy is my rock and do love the yields,” says during the growing season and has installed monitoring control does a great job keepFroese, who has been a programs on all of his pivots. ing our on-farm records. Deltapine New Product She really goes the extra mile during Always trying to improve his farmEvaluator (NPE) grower since the harvest season by cooking lunch, ing efficiency, he put GPS on all his program’s inception eight years ago. and sometimes dinner, every day for tractors recently and installed moniAt 3,660 feet above sea level, the all 12 of my farm workers. I’m very toring control programs on all of his region where Froese farms cotton has proud of my family and blessed to pivots. historically low nighttime temperahave them,” he says. “With GPS on the tractors, our tures, which seem to always inhibAs he winds down 2015, Froese is drivers are less fatigued, and they it micronaire development. So each already looking ahead to his 16th can also pay more attention to the year, he tends to choose a variety that season of producing cotton in West equipment behind the tractor to may have a tendency to produce highTexas. The former bull rider loves make sure it’s doing what it’s super mic values. a challenge. Although the sight of a posed to do. The control systems on “While some of my friends who high-yielding field of Deltapine cotmy pivots have almost paid for themfarm cotton in lower elevations across ton may not send the same level of selves simply by the time they’ve the state complain about high mic, energy-pumping adrenaline through saved me from having to ride around I always ask which varieties they his veins like an 8-second ride on to my fields and verify they’re workchose. If I decide to go with that varia 2,000-pound bull, it does send an ing properly. I have full control of ety, our nighttime temperatures seem enjoyable feeling through his soul them with my phone, can start and/ to help balance out cellulose developand always puts a smile under his or stop them and even get a reading ment, which keeps us in a good mic John B. Stetson. of ongoing water pressure,” explains range,” says Froese, smiling. Froese, as he shakes his iPhone like a new toy. Brad Robb is a freelance writer based Gaining An Edge As most cotton farmers know, in Collierville, Tenn. The chalky gray soils in his area TWITTER: @COTTONFARMING
COTTON FARMING DECEMBER 2015
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CCOY Who is the 2015 Cotton Consultant of the Year? One of the farmers who works with this year’s recipient says, “He was raised in Greenville, Miss., and then moved to Bainbridge, Ga., in 1995. One of the things I admire most about him and his team is that they spend more time in my fields than I do. He believes in using the latest and greatest ag technology to improve his services and our yields.” A Georgia retailer who works closely with him notes, “He has the best, most well-rounded group of scouts and support staff in the industry. He treats all of his customers’ crops as if they were his own. All of his work is conducted with precision and thoroughness.”
Deltapine Class of 16 Online Event
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The Online Event, which will be held at 9 a.m. (CST) Jan. 13, 2016, is free and open to the cotton community.
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Watch Dave Albers and Keylon Gholston present the new Deltapine Class of 16 Varieties, which will be announced at the New Product Evaluators Summit on Dec. 12.
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Submit your questions throughout the video. The Online Event will be hosted by Cotton Farming magazine. Stay tuned for more Online Event details and registration instructions.
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Cotton Farming 12
COTTON FARMING DECEMBER 2015
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Specialists Speaking End-Of-Year Reports Filtering In FLORIDA David Wright Good management of a crop can be waylaid by untimely weather conditions during the season or at harvest. What looked like an average or less year for cotton turned out to be good overall. Early wet weather delayed planting followed by dry conditions for the first two months of cotton growth, followed by wet conditions during September. Good weather during October, in general, led to some very good cotton yields being reported. Even though there were areas of the state that were in drought or excess rainfall in others, some non-irrigated fields averaged 1,700 pounds of lint per acre. Yields like this make growing cotton exciting even with current prices. Many of our growers are planting cover crops as they become more conscious of soil health and the impact it is having on future yields. Soil testing in the fall for nematodes and fertility helps growers make better decisions for the coming year. Consider good rotation for the coming crop year as years of research show that higher yields can be achieved with fewer pest problems and costs associated with that. Likewise, working with neighbors who have cattle or trading fields with them to have a perennial grass or winter grazing prior to cotton makes higher yields with fewer fertilizer inputs and less irrigation demand as root systems following winter grazing have been shown to be larger and deeper, leading to higher yields. We encourage our growers to try one field or split a field that has been in winter grazing as compared to what they have been doing. This has led many of our growers to work with nearby cattle producers as they have seen higher cotton yields after winter grazing. wright@ufl.edu
MISSISSIPPI Darrin Dodds Harvest season in Mississippi was rolling along as smoothly as could be until the end of October. Growers had harvested nearly 85 percent of the crop prior to Halloween as well as completed a substantial amount of fall tillage. However, inclement weather set in during the last week of October and has persisted throughout the second week of November. Yields have been better than expected in some cases and worse in others, but as a whole, Mississippi will likely produce another very good crop in 2015. Although many things can change before planters start rolling in 2016, early indications are that cotton acreage will increase in Mississippi in 2016. For those who are considering growing cotton next year, start your homework now. Use the winter months to fine-tune variety selection decisions as well as address any potential fertility or soil issues that may limit productivity in 2016. More importantly, take some time this fall to enjoy your favorite recreational activity and recharge your batteries after a challenging 2015 growing season. darrind@ext.msstate.edu
LOUISIANA Dan Fromme At the end of October and early November, parts of Louisiana received upwards of 15-20 inches of rain. Most of the cotton acres were harvested prior to these rains. Louisiana will harvest about 110,000 acres of cotton this year, which will be the lowest on record. Yield estimates for the state are projected to be around 950-1,000 pounds of lint per acre. Three row-crop irrigation conferences have been scheduled throughout the state of Louisiana during the upcoming winter months.
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Each conference will be one and a half days and will cover best management practices related to sustainable irrigation. Selected topics will include irrigation initiation and termination, irrigation scheduling tools, water quality, pumping plant efficiency, irrigation technologies, irrigation economics, water policy and Natural Resource Conservation Service irrigation assistance programs. Location and dates for the three conferences are: Red River Research Station, Bossier City, Dec. 8-9, 2015; Scott Research Center, Winnsboro, Jan. 21-22, 2016; and Paragon Casino Resort, Marksville, Feb. 16-17, 2016. If you are interested in attending, register on-line at: http://lsuagcenterwater. eventbrite.com. dfromme@agcenter.lsu.edu
ARKANSAS Bill Robertson The National Agricultural Statistics Service November Crop Production report lowered our yield estimate for Arkansas cotton to 1,124 pounds of lint per acre down from last month’s estimate of 1,218 pounds of lint per acre. The November estimate is just short of last year’s record yield of 1,145 pounds of lint per acre, from 330,000 harvested acres. We have experienced a fall with almost unequalled consecutive days of harvest. Approximately 90 percent of our 205,000 harvested acres in 2015 were harvested with little or no rainfall from first open boll to being in the module. Rainfall has slowed the pace of the last 10 percent of harvested acres. However, as a result of the long awaited rainfall, we have established excellent stands of cover crops in most areas of the state and have experienced good rates of growth with above-average temperatures in early November. A large portion of the crop has been classed. Arkansas cotton classed at the Dumas classing office indicates leaf and staple to be slightly better than last year’s crop. More than 90 percent of our crop has received a color grade of 31 or better. Micronaire is our biggest issue for 2015. Approximately 60 percent of the crop exceeds a micronaire value of 5.0 with more than 25 percent being 5.3 or greater. Contact your local county Extension agent for updates on this season’s testing programs and to get the date and location of upcoming county production meetings. brobertson@uaex.edu
TENNESSEE Tyson Raper The majority of West Tennessee has wrapped up cotton harvest. Most of our area was blessed with a long, dry harvest period at the beginning and through the middle of October. As October came to a close, rains began to interrupt picking, and this trend has held through today, Nov. 11. Still, with the limited number of acres left in West Tennessee, we will likely have all harvested well before Thanksgiving. Overall, Tennessee yields this year have been exceptional. Most of the talk recently has focused on variety performance. Although some have expressed disappointment, most reports have been positive with their respective varieties. I would caution against trusting too much in turn-row or adjacent field comparisons; it is almost impossible to isolate variety as the single factor that influenced realized yields in these scenarios. Instead, rely more closely on unbiased tests. These trials are designed to remove field bias and highlight variety differences and are much less likely to be influenced by any single environmental parameter. Trial results will be posted Continued on page 16 COTTONFARMING.COM
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Wherever you are, we’ve got you covered. Whether at work or on vacation, keep up with the latest information from Cotton Farming by subscribing to the monthly E-News. Don’t delay, subscribe today Go to www.cottonfarming.com and look for the Cotton Farming E-News link in the upper right corner of the home page. Subscribers willl find a recap of important stories, Calendar of Events, YouTube videos, photos and informative updates delivered directly to your inbox.
Cotton Farming
Specialists Speaking Continued from page 14
within the month at UTCrops.com. Keep an eye on news.utcrops.com or follow me on Twitter (@TysonRaper) for updates and other news. traper@utk.edu
TEXAS Gaylon Morgan For South and East Texas, the rainfall the past couple of months has been welcomed by most and has replenished much of the soil profile. Higher leaf grades were expected due to a wet and prolonged harvest season and maybe some reduced strength due to drought-stressed cotton during boll fill. However, fiber quality has been on par to slightly better than average for cotton classed at Corpus Christi. In the Rolling Plains, the rain was poorly timed for cotton harvest but good timing for wheat establishment for those folks in a cotton/wheat rotation. Cotton harvest across the Rolling Plains has been slow due to intermittent rainfall in October and November. The Northern Rolling Plains dryland crop yields have been above average, while irrigated yields are about average. Despite harvest delays due to wet weather, fiber quality from the Abilene Classing Office has remained good. Regarding 2016, the crop distribution remains unknown and will be decided based on commodity prices and input costs, including fertilizer, seed and weed management. This winter is a great time to collect soil samples to determine soil nutrient levels. gmorgan@tamu.edu
TEXAS Mark Kelley We made it through the latest round of precipitation without great amounts of moisture and long delays. There were a few days when some were unable to harvest, but for the most part cotton harvesters were back in the fields rather quickly. Based on the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service classing office reports, quality remains fairly good. However, color grades went from 11 and 21 to 31 for the week ending Nov. 5. Leaf grades, staple, micronaire, strength and uniformity averages were holding pretty close to where they were prior to the weather events. Yields have been reported at or above what individual producers anticipated from their 2015 cotton crop. If weather continues to be favorable in terms of precipitation, Texas High Plains producers will be able to start fall and winter preparations for the following season. mkelley@ag.tamu.edu
NORTH CAROLINA Guy Collins As I write this on Nov. 2, harvest continues in North Carolina. We’ve had intermittent delays in harvesting the 2015 crop due to several rainy spells. Yields have been variable, depending on rainfall both throughout the summer and recently. The two weeks of continuous rain several weeks ago resulted in seed sprouting and hardlocked bolls, which may have caused some yield and quality losses in many areas. With that said, there are areas with high-yielding cotton, despite the challenges we faced in 2015. As we look forward to the 2016 season, there are several decisions to make. During December, growers and consultants will likely be wrapping up soil sampling and fall tillage or cover crop planting. Naturally, variety performance will be on growers’ minds. I’m proud to say that the NC On-Farm Cotton Variety Testing Program was a huge success in 2015, due to the effort from the NC Cotton Producers Association, NC Department of Agriculture, and our NCSU county agents and cooperating growers. The results of this program, as well
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as OVT, will be presented at upcoming statewide and county meetings throughout the winter months. As variety selection is one of the most important decisions impacting profitability, growers should observe as many locations of data as possible from both onfarm trials and OVT. See cotton.ces.ncsu.edu for variety trial results and upcoming meeting dates. guy_collins@ncsu.edu
OKLAHOMA Randy Bowman Although the crop was planted late, excellent September and October temperatures resulted in high quality as noted in the Oklahoma bales classed thus far. Color grades have been 11 or 21 for more than 85 percent of the crop. Staple has been very good with an average of about 36 32nds. About 43 percent of the crop classed has been a 37 or longer staple, with a uniformity of nearly 81 percent. More than 96 percent of the bales have had micronaire values in the 3.5 to 4.9 range, with an average of 4.1. More than 91 percent of the bales have exhibited 30 g/tex higher strength, and the average has been more than 31. Leaf grades have averaged 2, with about 75 percent classed as a 1 or 2. Bark contamination has averaged 3.4 percent. Yields have been variable across both dryland and irrigated practices, but generally speaking many fields have produced average to above average yields. Growers are continuing to watch the forecasts, as recent rainfall has stopped or slowed harvesting operations in some areas. El Niño effects are showing up in our weather patterns, and producers are concerned. They want to get this crop harvested and ginned as soon as possible. The first glance at performance of the new XtendFlex varieties has been educational for many producers. Palmer amaranth control was a struggle for many growers in 2015, and residual herbicide programs paid big dividends. Producers are anxiously awaiting approval of a dicamba product that can be used on varieties that contain the XtendFlex trait. Variety test harvesting is underway, and we look forward to getting this information disseminated as soon as possible. One thing producers should keep in mind concerning results from 2015 is the fact that we had a substantially warmer-than-normal September and October. As we move into the winter months, soil sampling for residual fertility will be important. randy.bowman@okstate.edu
MISSOURI Mike Milam To classify this growing season as difficult might be an understatement. While we are on a pace to have an excellent yield, we are now having a tough time in getting the cotton out of the field. For example, for the last three reporting periods, the Missouri Crop Progress and Condition Report show that the harvest at 70, 72 and 76 percent. While this is 5 points ahead of last year, it is 5 points behind the five-year average. Even with sandy soils, it is difficult to get the lint dried out and for the equipment to hold up in the wet fields. Much of the cotton that is left in the fields looks good, and it is late. Some of this is lateMay planted cotton. With good harvest conditions, it won’t take long to finish up this crop. During the off-season, producers will be taking soil samples, applying lime, attending production meetings and making decisions for next year’s crop. Although this year’s crop was the smallest since the 1980s, I anticipate that next year will be smaller. Not only do we compete for acreage with soybeans and corn, grain sorghum took up more acreage this year. We also had a small acreage of peanuts. It will be interesting to see how the prices and our acreage numbers shake out as we go forward. milammr@missouri.edu COTTONFARMING.COM
Southern Soybean Varieties Editor’s note: In addition to maturity zones 6-7 Credenz soybean varieties for 2016 that appeared in Soybean South, the following Credenz varieties also are suited for the Southern geography. View the 2016 Southern Soybean Variety Roster at www.soybeansouth.com.
CREDENZ CZ 5147 LL • Medium plant height • Approximate seed size: 3,100 • Excellent standability • Excellent sudden death syndrome and frogeye leaf spot rating
syndrome rating • Excellent frogeye leaf spot rating CZ 5515 LL • Tall plant height • Approximate seed size: 3,050 • Very good standability • Very good frogeye leaf spot and iron deficiency chlorosis rating CZ 5727 LL • Medium plant height • Approximate seed size: 2,800 • Excellent standability • Excellent sudden death syndrome and frogeye leaf spot rating
CZ 5150 LL • Med/tall plant height • Approximate seed size: 2,900 • Excellent standability • Excellent frogeye leaf spot rating
CZ 5947 LL NEW • Med/tall plant height • Approximate seed size: 3,200 • Excellent standability • Excellent sudden death syndrome and frogeye leaf spot rating
HBK RY 5221 • Med/tall plant height • Approximate seed size: 3,000 • Very good standability • Excellent Phytophthora root rot field tolerance and frogeye leaf spot rating
CZ 4540 LL NEW • Medium plant height • Excellent standability • Excellent sudden death syndrome, frogeye leaf spot and iron deficiency chlorosis rating
CZ 5225 LL • Medium plant height • Approximate seed size: 3,300 • Excellent standability • Excellent frogeye leaf spot rating
CZ 4656 RY NEW • Medium/tall plant height • Excellent standability • Excellent Phytophthora root rot (R1) field tolerance and sudden death syndrome rating
CZ 5242 LL • Tall plant height • Approximate seed size: 3,100 • Excellent standability • Excellent frogeye leaf spot rating CZ 5295 RY NEW • Tall plant height • Very good standability • Excellent frogeye leaf spot rating CZ 5375 RY NEW • Medium plant height • Excellent standability • Excellent sudden death syndrome and frogeye leaf spot rating CZ 5445 LL • Med/tall plant height • Approximate seed size: 3,300 • Excellent standability • Above-average Phytophthora root rot (R3) field tolerance and sudden death TWITTER: @COTTONFARMING
CZ 4748 LL NEW • Medium plant height • Approximate seed size: 2,800 • Excellent standability • Excellent Phytophthora root rot (R1) field tolerance and frogeye leaf spot rating CZ 4818 LL NEW • Medium/tall plant height • Above-average standability • Excellent sudden death syndrome rating • Above-average frogeye leaf spot and iron deficiency chlorosis rating CZ 4898 RY NEW • Medium/tall plant height • Excellent Phytophthora root rot (R3) field tolerance and sudden death syndrome rating
Trait Stewardship Responsibilities: Notice to Growers Before opening a bag of seed, be sure to read, understand and accept the stewardship requirements, including applicable refuge requirements for Insect Resistance Management (IRM), for the biotechnology traits expressed in the seed as set forth in the Bayer Grower Technology Agreement (BGTA) that you sign. By opening and using a bag of seed, you are reaffirming your obligation to comply with the most recent stewardship and regulatory requirements. Bayer CropScience is a member of Excellence Through Stewardship® (ETS). Bayer products are commercialized in accordance with ETS Product Launch Stewardship Guidance and in compliance with the Bayer Policy for Commercialization of Biotechnology-Derived Plant Products in Commodity Crops. The combination of biotechnology traits expressed in this cottonseed has achieved full regulatory authorization in the U.S. and several export markets. Processed fractions from this cottonseed, including linters, oil, meal and gin trash, must not be exported without all necessary approvals in the importing country. Bayer CropScience encourages growers to talk to their cotton merchant, broker, or product purchaser to confirm their buying position for commodity components of this product. Information regarding the regulatory status of this cottonseed can be obtained at www.biotradestatus.com. Bt products may not yet be registered in all states. Check with your Bayer CropScience Representative or refer to the most recent TwinLink ® Insect Resistance Management (IRM) Guide for restrictions in your state. Individual results may vary, and performance may vary from location to location and from year to year. This result may not be an indicator of results you may obtain as local growing, soil and weather conditions may vary. Growers should evaluate data from multiple locations and years whenever possible. ALWAYS READ AND FOLLOW LABEL I N S T R U C T I O N S . L i b e r t y L i n k ® c ro p s contain genes that confer tolerance to glufosinate, the active ingredient in Liberty® brand agricultural herbicide. Liberty herbicide will kill crops that are not tolerant to glufosinate. ©2014 Bayer CropScience LP, 2 T.W. Alexander Drive, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709. Always read and follow label instructions. Bayer, the Bayer Cross, Liberty, LibertyLink, Stoneville, Stoneville Design and TwinLink are registered trademarks of Bayer. Excell ence Through Stewardship is a registered trademark of Excellence Through Stewardship. Liberty is not registered in all states. For additional product information call toll-free 1-866-99-BAYER (1-866-992-2937) or visit our website at www.BayerCropScience.us CR0714STONEVA094V00R0 B-27081-1
Bayer CropScience provided information for these Credenz soybean varieties. COTTON FARMING DECEMBER 2015
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Ginners Marketplace COTTON FARMING IS THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE GINNING INDUSTRY.
New OSHA Rule Results In Questionnaires, Different Inspection Methods In the January 2015 issue of Cotton Farming, Dusty Findley discussed the new Occupational Health and Safety Administration reporting rule. This rule has greatly increased the number of ginners who have to call OSHA to report an accident. If you’re not familiar with the new rule, be sure to contact your ginners’ association to get up to speed. As predicted by many in the industry, it has resulted in so many injury reports that OSHA is no longer able to send an inspector to every facility that calls. OSHA’s response to this problem is a new investigation tool called the RRI — or rapid response investigation. This involves OSHA calling, faxing or emailing questions to the employer and requiring written answers. If you have to report an injury to OSHA, you should expect to receive one of these inquiries. The key point is if you answer the questions successfully, OSHA will not do an in-person inspection and you’ll probably not receive a citation. On the other hand, if you don’t respond, then OSHA will likely do an in-person inspection. Of course, the agency may do an inspection anyway, even
after you’ve answered its questions. In this scenario, you gave OSHA a good set of instructions about what the inspection needs to focus on. Regardless, you definitely want to respond to any written inquiry from OSHA related to a reported injury. At the same time, you want to be careful to answer questions in an appropriate manner. It also is important that you contact your ginners’ association or your safety professional for help in responding. It will become a part of OSHA’s investigation file, so all responses should be carefully considered. We’ve completed several of these responses since the rule was published and have seen some similarities. Many of our accidents resulted from employees working outside of their nor-
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mal responsibilities, especially during downtime. It is helpful if you attach copies of documents that show you’ve covered worker responsibilities and that workers were trained properly. If your training didn’t cover the situation that caused the accident, then you should probably retrain all workers on that scenario, document the training and include that as part of your accident response. Training, or lack of training, is a component that has had to be addressed in most of our responses. The other common element most of the responses have had was late 3/7/14 3:26 PM physical. Page 1 In one case, there was a guarding issue. Two others involved workers opening panels on machinery without authorization before the machinery was locked out. Guarding issues are addressed with better guarding, but the purposeful opening of equipment by unauthorized employees is a tougher one. Fortunately in both cases, there was a way to lock the equipment in question. The guarding standard is designed to prevent accidental contact — not active efforts to get into a machine. But if you can secure a hazard, it is a good idea to do so. We’ll typically make corrections and send photos of them with our reports.
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Cotton Ginners Marketplace
HIGH CAPACITY VACUUMS USED & FACTORY REBUILT GIN MACHINERY BALE HANDLING SYSTEMS COMPLETE LINE OF REPAIR PARTS FOR MURRAY, MITCHELL, H.E., CONSOLIDATED, CONTINENTAL, MOSS, LUMMUS, HORN & CMI 806-745-8156 1-800-776-8182 FAX 806-745-0564 E-MAIL: NORTHERNLUCUS@YAHOO.COM WWW.NORTHERNLUCUS.COM Twitter Twitter : @C : @C otton otton Farming Farming
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Don’t be surprised if your first response causes a second set of questions. We’ve seen these investigations go four or five rounds before they’re done. With all that said, so far we’ve had pretty good experiences with these new inspections. All of our rapid response investigations have been completed without a citation and without an OSHA inspector making a follow-up visit. It is well worth your time to do a good job completing these questionnaires as they are much less stressful than having an inspector show up. Be careful to think through all your answers, and get help from someone knowledgeable about OSHA regulations before sending in your response.
Cotton Gin Brushes
Channel Saws
Our precision CNC fabricating equipment enables us to produce the highest quality gin brushes and channel saws at a very competitive price. When it comes to our products, we use only the highest quality “Made in the USA” raw materials available. We know gin machinery and the conditions in which it has to perform, and our brushes and channel saws are manufactured to an exacting standard for the modern cotton gin.
Kelley Green, director of technical services for the Texas Cotton Ginners’ Association, contributed this article. Contact him at kelley@tcga.org.
Cotton’s Calendar 2015 Dec. 8-10: C. Board/CI Meeting, Williamsburg, Va. Dec. 16: PCCA Board Meeting, Lubbock, Texas.
2016 Jan. 5-7: BWCC, New Orleans, La. Jan. 13-14: Cotton/Rice Conference, Memphis, Tenn. Jan. 20-23: Southern/SE Meeting, Savannah, Ga. Jan. 27: Ga. Cotton Commission Meeting, Tifton, Ga. Feb. 5-7: NCC Annual Meeting, Dallas, Texas. Feb. 29-March 3: Cotton Board Meeting, Memphis, Tenn. June 7-9: Cotton Incorporated Meeting, Dallas, Texas. July 31-Aug. 3: S./SE Board Meeting, Amelia Island, Fla. Aug. 2-4: C. Board/Cotton Inc. Meeting, Scottsdale, Ariz.. Aug. 24-26: NCC Board Meeting, Memphis, Tenn.
Ask your supplier for
RAM Brushes & Channel Saws or give us a call
RAM Manufacturing Company 1333 E. 44th St. Lubbock, TX 79404 806-745-5552 Fax: 806-745-5582 rammfgco@rammfg.net www.rammfg.net
Cotton Ginners Marketplace
2017 Jan. 4-6: BWCC, Dallas, Texas. Jan. 18-21: S./SE Annual Meeting, Charlotte, N.C. Feb. 10-12: NCC Annual Meeting, Dallas, Texas. Feb. 28-March 1: Cotton Board March Meeting. June 6-8: Cotton Inc. June Meeting. Aug. 8-10: Cotton Board/CI Joint Meeting. Aug. 23-25: NCC Board Meeting, Peabody Hotel. Dec. 5-7: Cotton Board/CI Joint Meeting.
2018 Jan. 3-5: BWCC, San Antonio, Texas. Feb. 9-11: NCC Annual Meeting, Ft. Worth, Texas.
ON THE WEB U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety & Health Administration: www.osha.gov
2020COTTON COTTON FARMING FARMING DECEMBER DECEMBER 2015 2015
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Industry News Texas Drought Continues To Dwindle On Nov. 10, the Texas Farm Bureau reported that less than 5 percent of Texas is now suffering from dry and moderate drought conditions, thanks to recent rains. Lingering areas of drought still exist near San Angelo, Wichita Falls and Crockett, according to the Texas Water Development Board’s Water Weekly report that was released on Nov. 9. Only 4 percent of the state is in the abnormally dry and moderate drought categories. That’s down from 16 percent in the first week of November and 48 percent a year ago. Although rainfall helped tamper the drought, TWDB reports reservoir levels are up, but not as high as they were in July.
Twitter: @CottonFarming
As of January 30, 2015, Bollgard II® XtendFlex® cotton has been approved for cultivation in the United States and approved for import in Australia, Mexico, Canada, and Japan. Any crop or material produced from this product can only be exported to, or used, processed or sold in countries where all necessary regulatory approvals have been granted. It is a violation of national and international law to move material containing biotech traits across boundaries into nations where import is not permitted. Growers should talk to their grain handler or product purchaser to confirm their buying position for this product. Growers should refer to http://www. biotradestatus.com for any updated information on import country approvals.
COURTESY OF TEXAS FARM BUREAU
Russell Patterson: 2015 Ginner Of The Year The California Cotton Ginners Association named Russell Patterson 2015 Ginner of the Year. The award is given each year to honor and recognize an individual who has provided dedication, knowledge and special service to this association as well as the ginning industry. This year ’s recipient graduated from Fresno State University in December 1978 with a bachelor of science degree in business administration, with an emphasis in finance. He began his banking career with Bank of America in January 1979. During his 22 years with Bank of America, he held positions as a general lending officer, performing consumer and small business loans. Patterson spent two years in the bank’s special asset’s department restructuring and/or recovering non-performing loans. He also managed a small business group. His last banking position was in the Bakersfield Commercial Lending Group where he managed a $50 million portfolio of loans/lines of credit for growers and processors. In 2001, Russ was employed by Tech Ag Financial Group, where for the past 14 years he has provided crop financing as a tool to obtain business for our chemical, fertilizer and ginning business. In 2007, he was asked to include as part of his duty managing
Trait Stewardship Responsibilities Notice to Farmers for "Made for Me" Advertisement for Deltapine
Buttonwillow Gin for one year until a replacement was found. Patterson did such an outstanding job that he was convinced to manage the gin for the next seven years. From the association’s perspective, Patterson has played an active role from his first day as a board member, all the way up to becoming the second vice president. He is the first one to show up at every board meeting, never misses a board meeting and has even traveled to Sacramento numerous times for association activities.
Amy and Marcus Halfmann
Texas Farm Bureau Announces Outstanding Finalists For their service to rural Texas and their performance as agricultural producers, Texas Farm Bureau has recognized three young farmers and ranchers as finalists in this year’s Outstanding Young Farmer & Rancher competition. The 2015 Outstanding YF&R finalists are: Galen Franz of Victoria; Timothy and Lindy Gertson of Lissie; and Marcus and Amy Halfmann of Garden City. Finalists are chosen from each of TFB’s 13 districts. Franz, the Gertsons and the Halfmanns were chosen to move on as finalists. Marcus and Amy Halfmann, 31 and 28, respectively, grow long and short staple cotton, sesame, wheat and hay in Midland County. They also raise cattle. Marcus has a custom farm business and uses cotton burrs, or gin trash, to create his own compost. Amy is a dietitian who works at her children’s Mothers’ Day Out program. The Halfmanns have a son, Byler, 4; and daughter, Blakley, 2.
Bollgard II® XtendFlex® cotton contains genes that confer tolerance to glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup® brand agricultural herbicides, dicamba, the active ingredient in M1691, and glufosinate, the active ingredient in Liberty® brand herbicides. Roundup® brand agricultural herbicides will kill crops that are not tolerant to glyphosate. Dicamba will kill crops that are not tolerant to dicamba. Glufosinate will kill crops that are not tolerant to glufosinate. Contact your Monsanto dealer or refer to Monsanto’s Technology Use Guide for recommended Roundup Ready® Xtend Crop System weed control programs. Monsanto Company is a member of Excellence Through Stewardship® (ETS). Monsanto products are commercialized in accordance with ETS Product Launch Stewardship Guidance, and in compliance with Monsanto’s Policy for Commercialization of Biotechnology-Derived Plant Products in Commodity Crops. Only commercialized products have been approved for import into key export markets with functioning regulatory systems. Any crop or material produced from this product can only be exported to, or used, processed or sold in countries where all necessary regulatory approvals have been granted. It is a violation of national and international law to move material containing biotech traits across boundaries into nations where import is not permitted. Growers should talk to their grain handler or product purchaser to confirm their buying position for this product. B.t. products may not yet be registered in all states. Check with your Monsanto representative for the registration status in your state. Individual results may vary, and performance may vary from location to location and from year to year. This result may not be an indicator of results you may obtain as local growing, soil and weather conditions may vary. Growers should evaluate data from multiple locations and years whenever possible. Insect control technology provided by Vip3A is utilized under license from Syngenta Crop Protection AG. Growers may utilize the natural refuge option for varieties containing the Bollgard II® trait in the following states: AL, AR, FL, GA, KS, KY, LA, MD, MS, MO, NC, OK, SC, TN, VA, and most of Texas (excluding the Texas counties of Brewster, Crane, Crockett, Culberson, El Paso, Hudspeth, Jeff Davis, Loving, Pecos, Presidio, Reeves, Terrell, Val Verde, Ward and Winkler). The natural refuge option does not apply to Bollgard II® cotton grown in areas where pink bollworm is a pest, including CA, AZ, NM, and the above listed Texas counties. It also remains the case that Bollgard® and Bollgard II® cotton cannot be planted south of Highway 60 in Florida, and that Bollgard® cotton cannot be planted in certain other counties in the Texas panhandle. Refer to the Technology Use Guide and IRM/Grower Guide for additional information regarding Bollgard II, Bollgard, natural refuge and EPA-mandated geographical restrictions on the planting of B.t. cotton. ALWAYS READ AND FOLLOW PESTICIDE LABEL DIRECTIONS. Roundup Ready® crops contain genes that confer tolerance to glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup® brand agricultural herbicides. Roundup® brand agricultural herbicides will kill crops that are not tolerant to glyphosate. Bollgard II®, Genuity Design®, Genuity®, Respect the Refuge and Cotton Design®, and XtendFlex® are registered trademarks of Monsanto Technology LLC. Dedicated to Cotton. Committed to You.® and Deltapine® are registered trademarks of Monsanto Company. LibertyLink and the Water Droplet Design® is a registered trademark of Bayer. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. ©2015 Monsanto Company. DP-16009-CF-LC-REV2
COTTON FARMING DECEMBER 2015
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My Turn Recollections Of A ‘Hard Worker’
O
Ours was a one-row pulled by a mule that we got n her TV show from the Barrett & Bridges Horse and Mule Barn a few weeks in Belzoni. We had to train the mule to walk up ago, MSNBC on top of the row. Our first cultivation was with a hostess Melissa double-shovel, which meant two trips down each Harris-Perry admonmiddle, but we laid-by with a “buzzard wing,” ished her guest, Alfonso which only required one trip per middle. Of Aguilar, when he used course the rich folks like the Box family there at the words “hard workMidnight had two-wheel cultivators. One year the er” to describe Rep. Paul cotton was so tall and rank that I had to ride the Ryan. Her reason – and mule slowly down each middle to break a trail I paraphrase – is that it for the pickers. I guess some of that was the result demeans folks who actuRobert of Chilean Nitrate that only came in 200-pound ally are hard workers, Royal sacks. Try handling that as a skinny school kid. folks like those who work Good pickers used a nine-foot sack, and pickers in cotton fields. I bring like me used a seven-footer. That was the only size this up at the risk of unintentionally legitimizing cotton sacks I ever heard of except for the real lither fallacious logic as good journalism because tle homemade sacks for the tiny younguns. If you that would demean those who actually are good could afford a deluxe journalists. However, I it had tar on the do share in the embar“My version … would have been sack, bottom to make it last rassment poor Paul Ryan must feel, knowbut a few trifling discomforts.” longer. When I got older, I ing that his hard work would get up at 2:00 in the morning, hitch up is but insignificant from MH-P’s perspective. a team of mules, go to someone’s house, load a I was similarly humbled, but in a much classbale of loose seed cotton (sometimes through the ier way, when I got an email from an octogenarkitchen window), drive five or six miles of dirt ian North Carolinian, Mr. John N. Lewis, who road out to the gin, sit there in line most of the found a copy of Cotton Farming magazine in his day and wait to get ginned off by an old 80-saw, doctor’s waiting room. However, Mr. Lewis was two-stand plant. I would sell the seed to the ginamused rather than demeaned when he read ner for cash, of which I kept my $2, then carry the My Turn column in which I exaggerated the the rest back to the farmer so he could pay his travails of my first farm job, riding on a six-row pickers, who got 50 cents per hundred. Some planter during the early 1970s. To him, my verfamilies were large enough to do all the picking sion of hard work would have been but a few themselves. With $2 earnings, I thought I was trifling discomforts. doing big business. What first caught his eye, though, was my Further demonstrating her reverence for hard Midnight, Miss., address. He chuckled to himself workers, Melissa Harris-Perry stated that she and wondered who, other than he, knows where keeps a picture of people laboring in a cotton Midnight is. It turns out that before WWII and field on her office wall “as a reminder of what before the surge in agricultural mechanization hard work looks like.” I invite Ms. Harris-Perry that followed, Mr. Lewis spent part of his childto read Mr. Lewis’s inspiring recollections, too, hood on a small school section farm just up the because by her standards they are indeed what road from Midnight, in the community of Hard hard work looks like. Cash, which appropriately enough is about three miles from Easy Money. He got excited over the – Robert Royal, memories and initiated what became a series of Midnight, Miss. several friendly, fascinating emails: rroyal@wildblue.net Your planter does not sound so primitive to me.
Cotton Farming’s back page is devoted to telling unusual “farm tales” or timely stories from across the Belt. Now it’s your turn. If you’ve got an interesting story to tell, send a short summary to csmith@onegrower.com or fax to (901) 767-4026. We look forward to hearing from you.
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What you put in the ground determines what you put in the tank.
Plant glufosinate tolerant seeds. Reap the benefits of new Interline herbicide. It’s one of your earliest decisions…’What seed variety will I plant in the spring? What tool will I use to combat weed resistance in-season?’ In past years you may have wanted to plant glufosinate-tolerant or LibertyLink cotton or soybean, but were uncertain if the chemistry would be available for you to use during herbicide application timing. Worry no more! As the second largest global manufacturer of glufosinate herbicide, UPI is pleased to announce the launch of new Interline™ herbicide. Manufactured in our new state-of-the-art facility, Interline provides a different mode-of-action herbicide that controls those tough resistant weeds in crop such as pigweed, waterhemp, marestail, and ragweed. So choose and plant your glufosinate tolerant seeds with confidence, and Interline herbicide will be ready and waiting in the spring. To learn more, contact your local UPI distributor, UPI sales representative or visit www.upi-usa.com.
Doing Things Better.
Always read and follow label directions and precautions. LibertyLink is a trademark of Bayer CropScience. Interline and UPI logo are trademarks of United Phosphorus, Inc. ©September, 2015. UPI, 630 Freedom Business Center, King of Prussia, PA 19406. www.upi-usa.com.
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5:29pm Clarksdale, MS Not even done, and I’m ready to do it all over again.
DELTAPINE.COM
That’s Deltapine® performance. Performance from varieties bred for my farm, tested in conditions like mine. Varieties that are NPE-proven to maximize my yield potential. These are varieties made for me. To produce for me. Bollgard II® XtendFlex® cotton contains genes that confer tolerance to glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup® brand agricultural herbicides, dicamba, the active ingredient in M1691, and glufosinate, the active ingredient in Liberty® brand herbicides. Roundup® brand agricultural herbicides will kill crops that are not tolerant to glyphosate. Dicamba will kill crops that are not tolerant to dicamba. Glufosinate will kill crops that are not tolerant to glufosinate. Contact your Monsanto dealer or refer to Monsanto’s Technology Use Guide for recommended Roundup Ready® Xtend Crop System weed control programs. Always follow IRM, grain marketing and all other stewardship practices and pesticide label directions. Details of these practices can be found in the Trait Stewardship Responsibilities Notice to Farmers for the “Made for Me” advertisement for Deltapine printed in this publication. ©2015 Monsanto Company. DP-16009-CF-DE-1522-1518-1538 DEC