Cotton Farming December 2018

Cotton Farming ONE GROWER PUBLISHING, LLC

PROFITABLE PRODUCTION STRATEGIES

DECEMBER 2018

www.cottonfarming.com

2017 Was An Eye-Opener Bad Verticillium Wilt Highlights Need To Use Tolerant Varieties

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Vol. 62 No. 12

Cotton Farming PROFITABLE PRODUCTION STRATEGIES

DECEMBER 2018

www.cottonfarming.com

F E AT U R E S

8

COTTON CONNECTION

19

GINNING MARKETPLACE

Cotton Incorporated partnered with a National Women’s Soccer League team to help consumers get to know more about cotton.

THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE GINNING INDUSTRY

Kelley Green, TCGA director of technical services, tells how ginners can check their hiring forms to assure accurate documentation.

WEB EXCLUSIVE On Nov. 19, Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue announced the appointment of eight members, eight alternate members and two advisers to serve on the Cotton Board. Go to www. cottonfarming.com for this Web Exclusive report.

14

An Eye-Opener

West Texas cotton farmer Alan Monroe never thought much about Verticillium wilt and the need for selecting varieties with tolerance to the soilborne pathogen until 2017. Now he looks for varieties with high yields and fiber quality, followed by their Verticillium wilt rating. He also considers water availability since some of his fields are dryland where a determinate variety is a better fit.

DIGITAL OFFERINGS Keep up with the latest from Cotton Farming by signing up for the monthly E-News at www.cottonfarming.com.

Look for the Cotton Farming E-News sign-up box in the upper right corner of the home page.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cottonfarming Twitter: @CottonFarming.

DEPARTMENTS & COLUMNS

4 Editor’s Note 10 Specialists Speaking 6 Cotton’s Agenda 22 My Turn 8 Marketing & Promotion ON THE COVER: Alan Monroe farms both dryland and irrigated cotton north of Plainview, Texas.

Cover photo by Vicky Boyd.

SUPPLEMENT ONE GROWER PUBLISHING, LLC

DECEMBER 2018

2019 Southern soybean varieties Check out the latest offerings

Look for Soybean South following page 12 in the Mid-South and Southeast editions of Cotton Farming. To have industry news and content delivered directly to your inbox, sign up for the monthly e-newsletter at www.soybeansouth.com.

COTTON FARMING (ISSN 0746-8385) is published monthly January through December by One Grower Publishing LLC, 875 W. Poplar Ave., Suite 23, Box 305, Collierville, TN 38017. Periodicals postage paid at Memphis, Tenn. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Omeda Communications, Customer Service Department, P.O. Box 1388, Northbrook, IL 60065-1388 (Phone: 847-559-7578) (Fax: 847-564-9453). Annual subscriptions are $40. International rates are $55 in Canada/Mexico, $90 in all other countries for air-speeded delivery. Surface delivery not available due to problems in reliability.

TWITTER: @COTTONFARMING

DECEMBER 2018 COTTON FARMING

3

Editor’s Note

Cotton Farming

Carroll Smith

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

I

One For The Books

n looking back at the 2018 season, a multitude of adjectives come to mind that describe the weather and field conditions. Wet, hot, dry, windy, sunny, muddy — they ran the gamut this year. Some areas fared well, while others did not.

Beginning on page 10, the state cotton specialists did a good job of recapping what they saw in their respective states in the Specialists Speaking remarks. For example, Florida cotton specialist David Wright says, “The cotton crop was split as about half of it was planted during early May and the other half in early June after a mid-May tropical storm caused wet conditions. Hurricane Michael will be remembered for many years with 90 to 100 percent yield loss for defoliated cotton in the central part of the panhandle.”

In Missouri, cotton specialist Calvin Meeks says, “The cotton crop in Missouri is finishing up a year that looks to be one of the best ever with 92 percent of the crop harvested on Nov. 5. Our warm, sunny summer pushed the crop along. Even cotton I planted in June looks to yield well.”

Texas cotton specialist Gaylon Morgan says, “The South, East and Rolling Plains have been plagued since early September with consistent overcast skies and rain. The last of the Lower Rio Grande cotton was harvested in early November, two months behind normal. The Coastal Bend was able to get nearly all its cotton out.”

Out West, Arizona cotton specialist Randy Norton says, “Heat stress in the low desert during the last part of July and into early August has had an impact on the overall production of the central Arizona crop.” However, he goes on to say that “the eastern part of the state escaped much of the adverse weather and has experienced excellent yield and fiber quality.”

Arkansas cotton farmer Ramey Stiles, who is featured in the My Turn column this month, says, “This has been a tough fall. It reminds me of some we had back in the ’70s when many farmers had to leave their crops in the fields. There have been a lot of weather interruptions and muddy fields to deal with. I hope everybody is able to pull through and not let it get them down too badly.”

One thing is for sure. The 2018 season will be memorable for being all over the board in terms of the good, the bad and the ugly. Perhaps Mississippi cotton specialist Darrin Dodds best sums up how to move forward. “The holiday season should remind us all we are truly blessed to live in the greatest country in the world and work in one of noblest professions on Earth,” he says.

Take time this winter to reflect, recharge and get ready to hit the field when the 2019 season starts to unfold. As Stiles says, “In the words coined by Cotton Incorporated, ‘Cotton is the fabric of our lives.’”

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 2018

Southeast Editor Amanda Huber ahuber@onegrower.com Art Director Ashley Kumpe ADMINISTRATION Publisher/Vice President Lia Guthrie (901) 497-3689 lguthrie@onegrower.com Associate Publisher Carroll Smith (901) 326-4443 Sales Manager Scott Emerson (386) 462-1532 semerson@onegrower.com Production Manager Kathy Killingsworth (901) 767-4020 kkillingsworth@onegrower.com Circulation Manager Charlie Beek (847) 559-7324 For circulation changes or change of address, call (847) 559-7578 EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD David Burns – North Carolina David Lynch – South Carolina Bob McLendon – Georgia Larkin Martin – Alabama Mike Sturdivant Jr. – Mississippi Charles Parker – Missouri Jimmy Hargett – Tennessee Allen Helms – Arkansas Jay Hardwick – Louisiana Ronnie Hopper – Texas Ron Rayner – Arizona John Pucheu – California

ONE GROWER PUBLISHING, LLC Mike Lamensdorf President/Treasurer Lia Guthrie Publisher/Vice President ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COOPERATION: Cooperating with COTTON FARMING are various cotton producer organizations across the Cotton Belt. Many representatives of producer organizations serve on COTTON FARMING’s editorial advisory board. Opinions expressed and conclusions reached by contributors are not necessarily those of the cooperating organizations or the editors.

All statements, including product claims, are those of the person or organization making the statement or claim. The publisher does not adopt any such statement or claims as its own and any such statement or claim does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the publisher.

Copyright 2018 © ASSOCIATED PUBLICATIONS – One Grower Publishing, LLC also publishes RICE FARMING, THE PEANUT GROWER, SOYBEAN SOUTH and CORN SOUTH.

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COTTONFARMING.COM

SPECIAL REPORT

EPA Announces Changes To Dicamba Registration

O

n Oct. 31, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced it is extending the registration of dicamba for two years for “over-the-top” use to control weeds in fields for cotton and soybean plants genetically engineered to resist dicamba.

This action was input from and extensive collaboration between EPA, state regulators, farmers, academic researchers, pesticide manufacturers and other stakeholders.

“EPA understands that dicamba is a valuable pest control tool for America’s farmers,” says EPA Acting Administrator Andrew Wheeler.

“By extending the registration for another two years with important new label updates that place additional restrictions on the product, we are providing certainty to all stakeholders for the upcoming growing season.”

The following label changes were made to ensure that these products can continue to be used effectively while addressing potential concerns to surrounding crops and plants.

• •

•

•

Dicamba Registration Decisions For 2019-2020 Growing Season Two-year registration (until Dec. 20, 2020) Only certified applicators may apply dicamba over the top (those working under the supervision of a certified applicator may no longer make applications) Prohibit over-the-top application of dicamba on soybeans 45 days after planting and cotton 60 days after planting For cotton, limit the number of over-the-top applications from 4 to 2 (soybeans remain at 2 OTT applications)

• Applications will be allowed only from 1 hour after sunrise to 2 hours before sunset • In counties where endangered species may exist, the downwind buffer will remain at 110 feet, and there will be a new 57-foot buffer around the other sides of the field (the 110-foot downwind buffer applies to all applications, not just in counties where endangered species may exist) • Clarify training period for 2019 and beyond, ensuring consistency across all three products • Enhanced tank clean out instructions for the entire system • Enhanced label to improve applicator awareness on the impact of low pH’s on the potential volatility of dicamba • Label clean up and consistency to improve compliance and enforceability The registration for all dicamba products will automatically expire on Dec. 20, 2020, unless EPA further extends it.

The agency reviewed substantial amounts of new information and concluded that the continued registration of these dicamba products meets the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act’s registration standards.

It has also determined that extending these registrations with the new safety measures will not affect endangered species.

To learn more, visit https://www.epa.gov/ingredientsused-pesticide-products/registration-dicamba-use-genetically-engineered-crops.

The Environmental Protection Agency contributed this article.

Farmers spray dicamba over the top of cotton that is genetically engineered to resist dicamba. This practice helps keep their fields clean by controlling weed pests, particularly glyphosate-resistant pigweed.

TWITTER: @COTTONFARMING

DECEMBER 2018 COTTON FARMING

5

Cotton’s Agenda Gary Adams

Don’t Miss Significant Signups During the year, the National Cotton Council has reminded producers of key signup deadlines for federal programs that can enhance their economic viability.

What’s the most pressing deadline? n Seed cotton became eligible for Title I Agriculture Risk Coverage/Price Loss Coverage beginning with the 2018 crop. Dec. 7 is the deadline for landowners and producers on farms with generic base acres to make the necessary decisions for this crop year. The following actions are part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Seed Cotton Program implementation: 1) allocate generic base acres to seed cotton base and other covered commodity base acres; 2) establish/update PLC payment yields for seed cotton; 3) elect either ARC-County or PLC for seed cotton base for the 2018 crop year; and 4) enroll the farm in ARC/PLC for 2018.

website at www.cotton.org/econ/govprograms/ seed-cotton-program.cfm.

Is there another important deadline ahead? n Jan. 15, 2019, is the signup deadline for the Market Facilitation Program – which the Trump Administration recently initiated in response to the damage caused by retaliatory tariffs other countries have placed on numerous agricultural commodities that are reliant on strong export markets. Prior to the MFP announcement, the NCC had worked with USDA in 1) providing data on how the tariffs were affecting cotton producers and other industry segments and 2) offering recommendations on response options and support levels.

The MFP, administered by the Farm Service Agency, will provide payments on cotton, corn, soybeans, sorghum, wheat, dairy and pork.

For cotton, the payment rate is 6 cents per pound initially made on 50 percent of a producer’s total 2018 production. This includes both upland and extra-long staple cotton. USDA has indicated that the MFP payments will be available on the remaining 50 percent but has not formally announced if there will be changes to the payment rate.

No Market Facilitation Program payments will be made until a producer has provided the Farm Service Agency with production evidence for the 2018 crop.

The current ARC/ PLC election for seed cotton is expected to be a one-time election for the 2018 crop year, but there is some uncertainty regarding that election if there should be an extension of the current farm bill. The reference price is set at $0.367 per pound. To help producers with their decision, the NCC recently added more decision-making information regarding the Seed Cotton Program on its

While signup concludes on Jan. 15, 2019, no payments will be made until a producer has provided FSA with production evidence for the 2018 crop. The MFP payments for cotton, corn, soybeans, sorghum and wheat will be subject to a separate $125,000 per person/entity payment limit, apart from the current $125,000 limit for ARC/PLC payments.

Producers also are subject to current eligibility requirements, including actively engaged and adjusted gross income. Because MFP payments are based on actual harvested production from 2018, USDA is urging producers to apply for the program after the 2018 harvest of an eligible commodity is complete. More program details are at https://bit.ly/2NnFdUD.

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

6

COTTON FARMING DECEMBER 2018

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Partnership With Athletes Creates

Cotton Connection

BY STACEY GORMAN THE COTTON BOARD DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS

I

n 2018, Cotton Incorporated teamed up with the North Carolina Courage, a professional National Women’s Soccer League team. The partnership came at a great time. The North Carolina Courage team had a record-breaking season, and this partnership connected cotton to sports, women and the North Carolina community.

The North Carolina Courage soccer team and Cotton Incorporated are both based in Cary, North Carolina.

The Courage finished the 2018 regular season with only one loss and broke the record for most wins in a season (17), most points (57) and most goals (530). They went on to win the 2018 NWSL Championship and completed one of the most successful seasons for a professional women’s soccer team in the United States.

“Life is uncomfortable, your clothes don’t have to be.”

Abby Erceg, NC Courage star

Comfortable Equals Confident The Cotton Incorporated partnership included in-stadium logo visibility and field staff t-shirts with the seal of cotton trademark prominently displayed on both. The players participated in a series of YouTube videos in which they interviewed each other about how they maintain a sense of confidence in their daily lives.

Professional athletes know that what you wear can have a big effect on your self-assurance. This belief made them ideal spokespeople to talk to consumers about how feeling com-

8

COTTON FARMING DECEMBER 2018

Cotton Incorporated partnered with a National Women’s Soccer League team to help consumers get to know more about cotton. fortable in your clothes can also make you feel confident.

The videos tie back to Cotton Incorporated’s current consumerfacing advertising campaign, “Life is Uncomfortable,” and include the athletes’ exploring their most uncomfortable moments. In turn, it promotes cotton’s emotional and physical role in an increasingly uncomfortable world. One video concludes with NC Courage star Abby Erceg saying the tagline, “Life is uncomfortable, your clothes don’t have to be.”

Connection To Consumers Letting consumers get to know the NC Courage team also meant getting to know more about cotton. One blog post on Cotton Incorporated’s consumer-facing website, thefabric ofourlives.com, asks, “Did you know that cotton is the comfiest athleisure fiber, and that it breathes bet-

ter during a workout than synthetics? Cotton also washes cleaner than polyester, so your active or athleisure wardrobe won’t keep smelling even after laundry day. No matter where life takes you, cotton has your back, so you can focus more on your goals and less on your clothes.”

The program concluded with Cotton Incorporated hosting a denim drive for its Blue Jeans Go Green denim-recycling program during a NC Courage game. This allowed attendees to donate their used denim to be upcycled into housing insulation for communities in need.

Partnerships like this allow cotton’s message to be told full-circle by introducing consumers to cotton’s functionality, fashionability, sustainability and social responsibility.

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

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Out here, great yield starts with great weed control.

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+68 LBS/A ADVANTAGE VS KEY COMPETITORS IN HEAD-TO-HEAD TESTS* See your seed or ag chem dealer or visit RoundupReadyXtend.com * Source: 2018 Bayer cotton variety trials in East and South Texas (9 locations in 2018 reporting yield data).

Data as of October 16, 2018. Deltapine ® Bollgard ® 3 varieties: DP 1835 B3XF and DP 1845 B3XF. Competitor varieties include NexGen B3XF, NexGen B2XF, PhytoGen WRF, PhytoGen W3FE, Stoneville GLTP, Stoneville GLT, and FiberMax GLTP entries tested in the same locations.

XtendiMax ® herbicide with VaporGrip ® Technology is part of the Roundup Ready ® Xtend Crop System and is a restricted use pesticide.

Performance may vary from location to location and from year to year, as local growing, soil and weather conditions may vary. Growers should evaluate data from multiple locations and years whenever possible and should consider the impacts of these conditions on the grower’s fields.

ALWAYS READ AND FOLLOW PESTICIDE LABEL DIRECTIONS AND ALL STEWARDSHIP PRACTICES. See the Products Use Notice for “This Is My Field” advertisement for Roundup Ready ® Xtend Crop System printed in this publication. All trademarks are the property of their respective owners. ©2018 Bayer Group, All Rights Reserved MDIC-18037 CF-DEC

+ Low-Volatility Dicamba Restricted Use Pesticide

Specialists Speaking 2018 End Of Season Wrap-Up ARKANSAS Bill Robertson While some farmers got a later start than usual, the above-average temperatures in May propelled the crop to one of our fastest starts. As we rolled into harvest, the frequent and often heavy rainfall caused delays and had negative effects on grades and yield.

The National Agricultural Statistics Service October Crop Production report estimated production at 1.15 million bales, unchanged from the Sept. 1 forecast but 76,000 bales above last year. Yield is expected to average 1,150 pounds per harvested acre, unchanged from last month but down 27 pounds from 2017. Harvested acreage is estimated at 480,000 acres, up 42,000 acres from 2017.

As the season comes to an end, study the performance of newer varieties to the ones you grow and compare notes with nearby onfarm variety testing programs. The official variety trial conducted by Dr. Fred Bourland will help provide information needed to select the best varieties for your farm. Visit arkansas-variety-testing.uark.edu for OVT and county variety performance results. Contact your county Extension agent for updates on this season’s testing programs and to get the dates and locations of upcoming county production meetings. brobertson@uaex.edu

ARIZONA Randy Norton We haven’t seen this kind of disruption in cotton harvest so wide-scale in Arizona probably since the cool, wet years of the late ’70s and into the ’80s.

Some areas of central Arizona received as much as 5 to 6 inches of rain over a 14-day period in late September and early October. A lot of cotton had not been defoliated, but much of the crop was open and exposed to the weathering effects of the rain and, in some cases, hail.

Fiber weathering results in deterioration of fiber color, weakening of fiber strength, increased variability in fiber length as well as an overall shortening of fiber length. A “Cotton Physiology Today” newsletter provides excellent information on the effects of boll and fiber weathering at http://www.cotton.org/tech/physiology/cpt/.

Not all the cotton across the state was exposed to weathering, and a good portion of the crop has been harvested under more favorable conditions. Yield and fiber quality reports from much of the Arizona crop have been encouraging. The eastern part of the state has excellent yield and fiber quality.

Heat stress in the low desert during the last part of July and into early August has affected overall production of the central Arizona crop.

Results from the university variety testing program will be released near the beginning of 2019. rnorton@cals.arizona.edu

FLORIDA David Wright Florida cotton was on the way to a record yield due to timely rains throughout the growing season.

The crop was split as about half of the it was planted in early May and the other half in early June after a mid-May tropical storm caused wet conditions.

Hurricane Michael will be remembered for many years with 90 to 100 percent yield loss for defoliated cotton in the central part of the panhandle. Late-planted non-defoliat-

10

COTTON FARMING DECEMBER 2018

ed cotton was twisted and tangled, and picking will be much slower because of blown-out open bolls. Even though the eye of the hurricane came through the center of the panhandle, cotton on either side for 100 miles was affected to varying degrees by high winds.

Time will tell what 2018 final yields will be, but many farmers will need assistance to farm in 2019 as much infrastructure also was lost.

It will be months before some areas get back to near normal with electricity and other aspects of life. wright@ufl.edu

NORTH CAROLINA Guy Collins Fall 2018 has been challenging. Hurricane Florence left a significant mark on our cotton acreage in the southeastern region through the lower Sandhills and even the lower Piedmont region with severe flooding and wind damage.

The remnants of Hurricane Michael resulted in weathering losses generally ranging from 50 to 150 pounds per acre, depending on when cotton was planted and how open it was when Michael came through. The rest of the harvest season has been stop and go, with rains every four to five days. Despite the challenges, we still have good yields and high-quality cotton in many areas. Yields are variable, depending on planting date and severity/length of drought stress in late June through early July. The rainy spell towards the end of July and into August benefited some acres and penalized others.

I’m proud to say the North Carolina On-Farm Cotton Variety Testing Program was again a huge success in 2018, due to the effort from the North Carolina Cotton Producers Association, North Carolina Department of Agriculture, and our North Carolina State University county agents and cooperating growers. The results of this program and the official variety trials will be presented at upcoming statewide and county meetings throughout the winter.

See cotton.ces.ncsu.edu for variety trial results and upcoming meeting dates. Variety trial results also will be available in the NC Cotton Variety Performance Calculator at https://trials.ces.ncsu.edu/ cotton/. guy_collins@ncsu.edu

MISSISSIPPI Darrin Dodds The 2018 harvest season has turned into The NeverEnding Story (yes, like the 1984 movie) for growers in Mississippi and beyond. About 15 percent of our crop remained in the field as of mid-November.

Late-season rain has resulted in the most challenging harvest season since 2009. Yields have ranged from sub-par to unbelievable, depending on location.

Take some time during the next few weeks to do your variety performance homework. We anticipate a push toward three-gene Bt cotton due to the worm issues we have seen the past couple of seasons. Evaluate the return on investment from planting a two-gene Bt variety and potentially spraying for worms compared to planting a three-gene Bt cotton, assuming you wouldn’t have to spray for worms. A thorough study of which one is more financially advantageous will help add to your 2019 bottom line.

Be safe and count your blessings this holiday season. Merry Christmas to all. dmd76@pss.msstate.edu Continued on page 12 COTTONFARMING.COM

XTEND YOUR WEED CONTROL Restricted Use Pesticide

SPRAY EARLY TO STAY AHEAD OF WEEDS

with XtendiMax® herbicide with VaporGrip® Technology, the low-volatility dicamba herbicide with up to 14 days of soil activity on small-seeded broadleaf weeds,* for industry-leading control of yield-robbing weeds.

See the difference at RoundupReadyXtend.com * On certain small-seeded broadleaf weeds. Results may vary, depending on rainfall and soil type. Always use dicamba with traditional residual herbicides in pre-emergence and postemergence applications that have different, effective sites of action, along with other Diversified Weed Management Practices.

XtendiMax® herbicide with VaporGrip® Technology is part of the Roundup Ready® Xtend Crop System and is a restricted use pesticide.

Performance may vary from location to location and from year to year, as local growing, soil and weather conditions may vary. Growers should evaluate data from multiple locations and years whenever possible and should consider the impacts of these conditions on the grower’s fields.

ALWAYS READ AND FOLLOW DIRECTIONS FOR USE ON PESTICIDE LABELING. See the Products Use Notice for “Xtend Your Weed Control” advertisement for XtendiMax® herbicide with VaporGrip® Technology printed in this publication. All trademarks are the property of their respective owners. ©2018 Bayer Group, All Rights Reserved MDIC-18037 CF-DEC

An integral component of the:

CCOY Cotton Consultant of the Year established 1981

Stan Winslow 2014 CCOY AWARD RECIPIENT

What motivates a person to pursue a career as a cotton consultant? One theme rings true for those who have chosen this path — commitment.

A consultant is the farmer’s partner year-round and treats his customers’ acreage as if it were his own.

In 1998, Stan Winslow launched Tidewater Agronomics Inc. and grew the business into a thriving consulting and contract research company. His farmer-customers are unanimous in their praise for his expertise.

It’s a labor of love that inspires Winslow, his family and staff as they help local farmers make the best possible decisions on cotton and other crops.

“All I can say about receiving this CCOY award is that it is a team effort.

I am just honored to be included in such a wonderful group.”

Cotton Consultant of the Year sponsored by

Cotton Farming 12

COTTON FARMING DECEMBER 2018

Specialists Speaking Continued from page 10

LOUISIANA Dan Fromme As of Nov. 7, about 10 percent of the acres have not been harvested due to rain during the past two to three weeks. Last year at this same time, cotton harvest operations in Louisiana had been completed.

Yield reports have been favorable on about 63 percent of the harvested acres. Lack of rainfall throughout the growing season or too much rain during harvest has reduced yields on the remainder of the 2018 crop.

Lint yields for the state have the potential to be around 1,050 to 1,100 pounds per acre, which would be the best crop we have had since 2014.

For the bales that have been classed for the state, fiber length and strength have averaged 1.16 and 30.8, respectively. Fiber uniformity has averaged 81.2. Currently, 27 percent of the bales have received discounts from high micronaire values. Leaf grade discounts have been a concern this year. More than 45 percent of the bales classed so far are yielding a value of 4 or greater. For color grades, 15.5 percent and 2.4 percent of the bales classed have been light spotted and spotted, respectively. dfromme@agcenter.lsu.edu

MISSOURI Calvin Meeks As I write this, the cotton crop in Missouri is finishing up a year that looks to be one of the best ever with 92 percent of the crop harvested on Nov. 5. Our warm, sunny summer pushed the crop along. Even cotton I planted in June looks to yield well. Yields seem to be down from last year in the Senath area due to extreme rains that occurred late in the year. Yields farther north look to be excellent with the 1,240 pounds per-acre estimate appearing to be within reach.

Remaining acreage will likely be weathered as heavy rain and cool temperatures delay picking. Widespread re-growth was reported in previously defoliated fields, even in two-pass defoliation programs. Most producers picked in less-than-optimal conditions instead of opting for a third pass with a herbicidal defoliant. The Memphis classing office notes a decline in several quality factors, especially color.

As harvest wraps up, some growers have already placed seed orders. Preliminary results from the Missouri official variety trials are available at http://agebb.missouri.edu/

cotton/. Yields were good with numerous varieties breaking 2,000 pounds per acre in most locations. The final results will be posted soon. Look for an announcement finalizing the 2019 Regional Missouri Cotton Meeting at the Fisher Delta Research Center. meeksc@missouri.edu

OKLAHOMA Seth Byrd Cool, wet conditions have resulted in slow progress for cotton harvest in Oklahoma.

However, as I write this in early November, a freeze is in the forecast for most of the state that has yet to get one, followed by clear conditions. We hope a lot of harvest progress will be made by the time this issue of Cotton Farming reaches you.

The affect of the cool and wet fall has yet to be observed in the small sample of Oklahoma cotton that’s been classed thus far. Colorr is prone to degrade under these conditions.

Micronaire will also be a focus, particularly in the northern growing areas of the state.

Visit ntokcotton.org or cotton.okstate.edu for meeting details. seth.byrd@okstate.edu

TEXAS Gaylon Morgan The South, East and Rolling Plains have been plagued since early September with consistent overcast skies and rain. The last of the Lower Rio Grande cotton was harvested in early November, two month behind normal. The Coastal Bend was able to get nearly all its cotton out.

Unfortunately, the remainder of South and East Texas still has a considerable amount of cotton in the field. Estimates show 25 percent, 20 percent, 60 percent and 60 percent of the Upper Gulf Coast, Winter Garden, Southern Blacklands and Northern Blacklands, respectively. Many of these fields have been defoliated for more than two months, and lint is still on the plants.

Fiber quality continues to decrease, and seed value will be low. The saturated September and October has prevented growers from destroying cotton plants that could host boll weevils. This makes everyone nervous since the pest has been present in the Coastal Bend region since July.

In the Rolling Plains, not much dryland cotton survived the summer drought. Irrigated cotton harvest is delayed and fiber quality will be off. Cotton variety information may be delayed, but we will provide most of the trial results for South and East Texas in early December. gdmorgan@tamu.edu Continued on page 18 COTTONFARMING.COM

MY STRONG COTTON | SPECIAL REPORT

Deltapine Fiber Quality Delivers A Win-Win In Arkansas ®

This fall, Cotton Farming editor Carroll Smith captured stories from farmers planting Deltapine varieties, looking for high yield and good fiber quality potential. Following is her special report on Billy Don Hinkle in Marianna, Arkansas.

M

other Nature did her best this year to try the patience of Billy Don Hinkle, who farms about 6,000 acres of mostly irrigated cotton in Lee County, Arkansas. A wet spring delayed planting by two weeks, and then conditions turned off hot and dry throughout the summer.

“This fall, after we picked about 1,000 acres, the rain set in again,” he says. “Weather is our biggest challenge. You never know from one day to the next what you will BILLY DON HINKLE have to deal with.”

Marianna, Arkansas Hinkle says what he can depend on is Deltapine cotDP 1646 B2XF ton. The third-generation • Broadly adapted with high Arkansas farmer planted yield potential DP 1646 B2XF, DP 1725 • Outstanding fiber properties B2XF and DP 1835 B3XF • Planted on more acres in the Mid-South than any in 2018. other variety “I grow DP 1646 B2XF because it’s adaptable for DP 1725 B2XF any type of ground in this • Early to mid-maturity area — irrigated or dry• Exceptional yield potential land,” he says. “I had sev• Outstanding fiber properties eral fields that picked 1,500 pounds per acre, and DP 1835 B3XF • Bollgard® 3 XtendFlex® the fiber quality — more variety strength, longer staple and • High yield potential less high mic — is really • Outstanding fiber quality good.

“I also planted DP 1835 B3XF, which was one of the new Deltapine varieties this year. It did well, and we did not have to overspray for worms. We didn’t even see any worm damage even though we had a big egg lay. We saved on insecticide plus the time it takes to run our equipment or hire a plane to spray it.

“I also like DP 1725 B2XF because it is an early variety that allows me to get in the field quicker at harvest. It typically yields well with good fiber quality.

Excellent Fiber Quality And Yield “Deltapine cotton has always performed well for me,” he says. “I have tried other varieties, but I always come back to Deltapine. We can get a two- to three-cent premium with a good fiber quality package, which boosts our operation’s return on investment. On staple length, we are seeing a lot of 37s, 38s and sometimes even higher numbers.

Twitter: @CottonFarming

Arkansas producer Billy Don Hinkle grew up farming cotton and has stayed with it year in and year out.

“As far as yields, some of the Deltapine varieties are averaging more than 40 percent turnout at the gin. We’re picking up extra pounds per acre there.”

Hinkle says improved fiber quality is important because world demand is for quality cotton. The Field to Closet initiative, created by Nashville-based consultant Jernigan Global, familiarizes cotton brand retailers with how Deltapine brand’s superior fiber quality can now SPONSORED BY DELTAPINE be marketed to produce premium textiles.

“I think the Field to Closet initiative will be a good thing,” Hinkle says. “When people buy t-shirts or blue jeans, they can see where the cotton came from and identify the farmer who grew it. They can trace the cotton all the way back from the wearing apparel to the farm.

“Deltapine delivers on both yield and fiber quality. If I can pick up premiums on the quality and get good yields, too, that’s a win-win situation.”

Successful Teamwork To help him make decisions involving production practices such as weed control, insect control, irrigation and defoliation, Hinkle depends on his cotton consultant Blake Foust, owner of Southern Heritage Cotton Co. in Forrest City, Arkansas.

“Blake and his crew look at every field twice a week and make recommendations,” he says.

Hinkle also farms with his 26-year-old nephew, Jonathan Corter.

“Jonathan started working for me while he was in high school,” he says. “He likes to farm so I am helping him get started and expect him to take over my operation one day.”

Despite the weather challenges and hard work, Hinkle is determined to stick with the crop he knows so well.

“My dad and my grandfather farmed cotton so I have been around it all of my life,” he says. “I like watching the crop from planting the seed to seeing a pretty, white field at harvest. Cotton has always been good to me.”

Go to cottonfarming.com to hear the “My Strong Cotton” special reports about how Deltapine varieties are providing strong solutions to cotton farmers.

DECEMBER 2018 COTTON FARMING

13

COVER STORY

VICKY BOYD

West Texas cotton farmer Alan Monroe has both dryland and irrigated fields. He says water availability is one of the main factors he considers when deciding what varieties to plant. A determinant variety is better suited for dryland whereas an indeterminant variety does better under irrigation.

2017 Was An Eye-Opener Bad Verticillium Wilt Years Highlight Need To Choose Tolerant Varieties.

BY VICKY BOYD MANAGING EDITOR

14

COTTON FARMING DECEMBER 2018

TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY

A

lan Monroe, who farms cotton north of Plainview, Texas, never thought much about Verticillium wilt and the need for selecting varieties with tolerance to the soilborne pathogen until 2017.

Last summer’s cool, wet weather later in the growing season caused Verticillium wilt to explode, producing scattered infections in nearly all of Monroe’s farms. That opened his eyes to the need for selecting varieties with strong tolerance to the fungal pathogen.

“From now on, that will be something that determines what I choose,” Monroe says. “If it’s really susceptible, I’m not going to plant it. Just because you don’t have Vert doesn’t mean you’re not going to end up with it.”

Monroe wasn’t alone in his Verticillium wilt observations, says Ken Legé, PhytoGen cotton development specialist based in Lubbock, Texas. 2017’s cool, wet weather during late summer and early fall created conditions conducive to high disease levels.

In addition to wilting symptoms, Verticillium wilt also may cause plant stunting, leaf mottling or plant defoliation.

“In 2017, it just blew up,” he says.

Dr. Terry Wheeler, a Texas AgriLife Research plant pathologist based in Lubbock, says she also saw a high Continued on page 16 COTTONFARMING.COM

Continued from page 14

incidence of wilt in 2018. She blames it on oscillating temperatures during mid-summer, followed by a cool-down.

“That oscillation apparently can allow wilt to develop,” she says. “It doesn’t matter what happens early. It’s what happens in the middle of July and after.”

Integrated Verticillium Wilt Management Verticillium wilt, caused by the fungus Verticillium dahliae, has become the most economically important disease in the West Texas region, according to Texas AgriLife Extension. Because disease development is weather related, overall infections vary from year to year.

“We had good wilt weather 2016 and 2017 and now 2018,” Wheeler says. “It’s just three decent years of real cool weather coming in in mid- to late August and September.”

The pathogen enters plants through the root system, moving up through the vascular tissues. As the organism colonizes the xylem, it may restrict these vessels’ ability to transport water.

“From now on, that will be something that determines what I choose. If it’s really susceptible, I’m not going to plant it. Just because you don’t have Vert doesn’t mean you’re not going to end up with it.”

Alan Monroe, Plainview, Texas

This not only causes telltale wilting symptoms, but it also may cause plant stunting, leaf mottling or plant defoliation. Because pathogen colonies also restrict carbohydrate flow within the xylem plant tissue, it can reduce yields as well as fiber quality.

As with other crop pests, Extension specialists recommend a multi-pronged approach to manage Verticillium wilt. Seeding rates also factor into the severity of wilt infections. Past research has found that the higher the seeding rate, the lower the wilt infection. Although the optimum rate isn’t known, experts recommend avoiding fewer than four seeds per foot.

Wheeler has conducted trials examining seeding rates relative to wilt. In fields with high inoculum levels, she found that bumping up seeding rates may actually pay with improved yields and fiber quality.

In addition, applying enough water to meet plant needs without over-irrigating is a key management tool. Because the wilt pathogen favors cooler soils, excessive irrigation can decrease soil temperature, creating a more conducive environment.

Diminishing irrigation water supplies, particularly in some parts of the Texas High Plains, may help limit inoculum build-up in soils, Wheeler says.

In China, samples can run as high as 800 propagules per gram of soil whereas she says they may be 30, 40 or 50 propagules per gram in “hot” fields in West Texas.

16

COTTON FARMING DECEMBER 2018

Select Tolerant Varieties Topping the list of recommended management practices is planting cotton varieties with wilt tolerance.

Unlike some other disease traits governed by a single gene, wilt tolerance likely involves multiple genes. This complicates development of varieties with true resistance, Legé says.

The difference between tolerance and resistance is the pest can still reproduce in the presence of a tolerant variety, but crop performance typically is only minimally affected.

With resistance, the pest cannot reproduce, the crop is unaffected and pest populations decrease over time.

Putting Tolerance To The Test To aid area growers with variety selection, Texas AgriLife Research conducts its “High Plains Verticillium Wilt Trials” annually at three locations in West Texas: Floydada, Plainview and Ropesville. This season, Wheeler says she had high inoculum levels in all three locations.

The trials rank varieties submitted by cotton seed companies on several factors, including percent Verticillium wilt, percent defoliation, overall yield, fiber quality and overall value (yield x loan value). Wheeler will post 2018 trial results on https://lubbock.tamu.edu/ this winter.

Many cotton companies, including PhytoGen, also conduct their own field trials, looking at several trait and quality factors, including Verticillium wilt tolerance.

If growers have low wilt levels in their fields, Legé says they could get by with a variety ranked as having “good” wilt tolerance, such as PHY 300 W3FE. But for fields with high inoculum levels, he recommends ones with excellent wilt tolerance, such as PHY 250 W3FE. When deciding what varieties to plant, Monroe says he first looks at water availability. Some of his fields are dryland, whereas others are irrigated using mostly center pivots and to a lesser extent, subsurface drip irrigation.

That will determine whether he chooses a determinant variety, better suited for dryland, or an indeterminant, which does better under irrigation.

Monroe then looks for varieties with high yields and fiber quality, followed by their Verticillium wilt rating.

“If it’s not (wilt) tolerant, it’s not going to yield,” he says.

Not The ‘Silver Bullet’ Even with a variety rated as having excellent wilt tolerance, Legé says growers may see symptoms begin to appear late in the season during high-pressure years.

But by then, the crop should have been set so growers shouldn’t be overly concerned.

Legé says Verticillium wilt also is more of a problem in highly managed, high-yielding fields.

“Typically, you see Vert on more productive fields,” he says. “You almost never see yield-limiting Vert levels on sorry fields. Usually the lighter soil types southwest of Lubbock see some levels of Vert but not as great. On the Pullman clay loams out here (near Plainview), you’re going to find your extremely yield-limiting and mic-limiting effects.”

Oklahoma producers also are seeing increased Verticillium wilt in fields with non-tolerant varieties, Legé says.

“Some of the worst Vert in Oklahoma cotton is on fields that were in pasture or wheat for 20 years,” he says.

COTTONFARMING.COM

In-Cab Weather Station Provides Grower Peace Of Mind

Popularity Of In-Cab Weather Stations Grows Monroe isn’t alone in purchasing a Mobile Weather unit to provide enhanced weather information, says John Mishler, John Deere precision ag tactical market manager.

“It’s becoming more prevalent, and certainly becoming more important from a regulatory standpoint and from being able to document the weather, particularly when the spraying begins and ends,” he says.

Mobile Weather is compatible with most John Deere self-propelled sprayer models and can be installed by the local dealer. The weather station itself is mounted atop the sprayer cab and data appears on the GreenStar in-cab display. By Alan Monroe installed a Mobile Weather unit in his sprayer that toggling to the Mobile Weather screen, users are able to set up allows him to see weather alerts and view real-time weather conweather alerts and view real-time weather conditions. ditions. His sidekick, Finnegan, often likes to go along for the ride.

Currently, Mobile Weather only records weather conditions “It’s shifted what growers thought. With the wind speed, they would at the beginning and end of an application. But Mishler says John Deere hopes to offer an update in spring 2019 that will add a think, ‘I’ll just spray at night.’ That’s actually when the inversions are weather layer to the application map. Users will then be able to pull occurring. It’s been a big education and, of course, it’s ongoing. I think up the application map, click on a geo-referenced spot and see the we all understand more about weather conditions affecting applications more than we ever wanted to.” weather data related to that point in the field.

Nevertheless, growers shouldn’t consider the in-cab weather system a fail-safe, says Ken Legé, PhytoGen cotton development specialTechnology Raises Awareness Before each herbicide application, Monroe logs into the West Texas ist. Instead, they should view it as another tool to make more informed MesoNet network to check the Halfway weather station roughly 10 application decisions.

Twice during the 2018 season, Monroe says a weather alert went miles west of his farm for temperature, relative humidity, wind and temperature inversions. He then checks his own wind sock in the spe- off when he was spraying. On one occasion, he had checked the wind direction before starting, making sure it was away from any sensitive cific field for the wind direction.

The Mobile Weather unit provides similar weather data as the crops.

Midway through the application, the wind direction shifted 180 MesoNet but on a much more local level. And it’s opened Monroe’s eyes.

“I think before this new technology made us more aware, we had degrees, prompting him to shut down for a few hours until it returned inversions,” he says. “It happens every day and every night. We have to its original direction.

Another time, Monroe says he was spraying in the early evening them, you just can’t see them because there’s not any moisture in the area. You’re not looking for ground fog around here, but we have inver- when the alert went off notifying him of an inversion forming. He called it a night. sions at every site every day.

Twitter: @CottonFarming

DECEMBER 2018 COTTON FARMING

VICKY BOYD

Alan Monroe has good neighbors surrounding his Plainview, Texas-area cotton fields, and he wants to keep them that way.

“Nobody wants to get anything on your neighbors,” he says. “Your neighbors understand that and you work together. We just don’t want that to happen.”

For the past two seasons, Monroe had planted varieties resistant to dicamba. But in 2018, he switched to PhytoGen cotton varieties with the Enlist trait. Monroe says he prefers to stick with a single herbicide trait package to reduce the potential for spray tank contamination.

He also chose the Enlist technology to help manage volunteers from the previous year’s crop, which couldn’t be controlled with other technologies.

Monroe wanted to do all he could to minimize the potential for herbicide drift and volatility. So he purchased a John Deere in-cab Mobile Weather system, which he set up to alert him of wind and temperature changes while he’s spraying.

“It just put my mind at peace,” Monroe says.

As an added measure, he planted a tomato, which is sensitive to 2,4-D, on the downwind corner of one of his cotton fields to act as a “canary in the coal mine.” The tomato grew the entire summer with nary a spot of herbicide damage, proving to Monroe that the Enlist One herbicide didn’t move if applied following label directions.

17

Specialists Speaking Products Use Notice for "This Is My Field" Advertisement for the Roundup Ready ® Xtend Crop System

Continued from page 12

TENNESSEE Tyson Raper As I write this on Nov. 9, we still have about 20 percent of our cotton crop in the field. Rains have delayed cotton harvest and significantly affected quality in the upper Mid-South.

However, we have been fortunate that yields were typically better than expected.

During the first few weeks of September, I was concerned state average yield might fall shy of 1,000 pounds. Currently, we are on track to surpass 1,000 pounds. It has been tough to hear about the conditions experienced elsewhere this harvest season. Our thoughts and prayers remain with our neighbors to the south.

I’m beginning to analyze yield and fiber quality data from our 2018 testing season, and there are many interesting results. As always, we will conduct meetings in all major cotton-producing counties and will host a cotton-only event during February. This year, we are fortunate to again have several cotton specialists from neighboring states

participating in a roundtable. Visit news. utcrops.com for variety testing results, other pertinent trials and a list of our meeting schedules. traper@utk.edu

TEXAS Murilo Maeda There are some great irrigated fields in the region and some good-looking rainfed ones that received timely precipitation during the growing season. Widespread rains in the first three weeks of October delayed harvest for most farmers across the Texas High Plains.

Cooler temperatures are becoming more prevalent, and many as far south as Terry County already experienced a first freeze. As of this writing, the USDA-AMS Classing Office at Lubbock had classed approximately 80,000 bales. Its latest report does not show any major effect of adverse weather on fiber quality so far. Our first large replicated trial in the Southern Plains was harvested in Hale County Oct. 30. Results will be posted at http://varietytesting.tamu.edu/cotton/.

Contact your local agent for meeting information. mmaeda@ag.tamu.edu

Come Join Us In Savannah!

XtendiMax ® herbicide with VaporGrip ® Technology is part of the Roundup Ready ® Xtend Crop System and is a restricted use pesticide.

ALWAYS READ AND FOLLOW DIRECTIONS FOR USE ON PESTICIDE LABELING. It is a violation of federal and state law to use any pesticide product other than in accordance with its labeling. XtendiMax® herbicide with VaporGrip® Technology may not be approved in all states and may be subject to use restrictions in some states. Check with your local Bayer dealer or representative or U.S. EPA and your state pesticide regulatory agency for the product registration status and additional restrictions in your state. For approved tank-mix products and nozzles visit XtendiMaxApplicationRequirements.com.

NOT ALL formulations of dicamba or glyphosate are approved for in-crop use with cotton with XtendFlex® Technology.

ONLY USE FORMULATIONS THAT ARE SPECIFICALLY LABELED FOR SUCH USES AND APPROVED FOR SUCH USE IN THE STATE OF APPLICATION. Cotton with XtendFlex ® technology contains genes that confer tolerance to glyphosate, dicamba and glufosinate.

Glyphosate 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 Bayer dealer or refer to Bayer’s Technology Use Guide for recommended weed control programs.

Performance may vary from location to location and from year to year, as local growing, soil and weather conditions may vary. Growers should evaluate data from multiple locations and years whenever possible and should consider the impacts of these conditions on the grower’s fields.

B.t. products may not yet be registered in all states. Check with your seed brand representative for the registration status in your state.

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Always read and follow IRM, where applicable, grain marketing and all other stewardship practices and pesticide label directions. Bollgard®, Respect the Refuge and Cotton Design®, Roundup Ready ®, VaporGrip®, XtendFlex® and XtendiMax® are registered trademarks of Bayer Group.

Insect control technology provided by Vip3A is utilized under license from Syngenta Crop Protection AG. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. ©2018 Bayer Group, All Rights Reserved MDIC-18037 CF-DEC_LC

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COTTON FARMING DECEMBER 2018

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COTTONFARMING.COM 9/17/18 11:19 AM

COTTON

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

Double Check Those Hiring Forms To minimize the number of issues you may encounter during an Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Immigration and Customs Enforcement or a Wage and Hour inspection, it is important that you use the correct documentation.

The main forms the Wage and Hour division of the Department of Labor is looking for include the WH-516 and the WH521. The WH-516 must be given to each migrant worker when they are recruited. We have talked about recruiting in previous articles, but for those who hire workers onsite, you should have this form in your hiring packet. Be sure you issue this form to your workers at the same time they ďŹ ll out their other forms, such as the I-9.

Hiring Forms’ Website The Texas Cotton Ginners’ Association maintains a forms’ website, http://www.tcga.org/forms-page/, which contains the WH-516, the most updated W-4 and the newest I-9 forms. You should visit this page each year and download the updated forms prior to ginning season.

On the WH-516 form, you can ďŹ ll in almost all the blanks online, then print the form. Go to http://www.tcga.org/wp-content/ uploads/2018/10/Sample-WH-516-from-DOL.pdf to see a sam-

ple form ďŹ lled out in the way we believe is best for Texas cotton gins.

On the second blank in line two (ending period of employment), be sure to put “End of Season.� One line 7, there is a question about unemployment insurance. That box will always be a “yes� in Texas because we have a state unemployment insurance program. This may not be true in other states.

Fill out all the lines except for the ďŹ rst blank in line 2 and all blanks in line 3, as shown in the example. Then print a bunch of copies. Once you recruit a person, ďŹ ll in the start date on line 2 and the wage rate on line 3. In other words, the only two blanks that change with each worker are these two. When all is said and done, the only lines left blank are the second and third ones on line three.

The wage rate is the rate the worker will initially receive. It is understood that this rate may increase or decrease as the year progresses. You are not required to update this form for any changes in wages after the worker is hired.

516 Form Documentation Tips We are often asked about the type of documentation needed related to the 516 form. Some gins make a copy of the form and

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just note the worker’s name and the date the form was given to them at the top of the copy. That’s probably the safest way to document this. But you also might have a checklist inside the worker’s file and document the date the form was given to them there.

There is no federal requirement about documenting how the form was handed out. But if you are inspected, it is probably a good idea to have your system well documented. Be sure to fill in all the blanks on the form. If it is inapplicable, put “N/A.” If you have questions about eld on 13 template 3/7/14 3:26any PM fiPage 1 the form, give your association office a call.

I-9 Form Considerations When you begin filling in the I-9 forms for your gin crew this season, consider using the on-line version. It allows you to enter all the information directly into the form, and then the form will check for errors before you print it. The online version will help your office detect any errors in the way it fills out the form, which might save you a lot of problems if you are ever audited.

This form is available on the TCGA forms’ page, referenced in the second paragraph of this article. When you click on the I-9 link, you will arrive at the I-9 webpage.

The first link on this page will send you to the online I-9 form. The old form is also available on this page, but it would be a good idea to use the online version.

Instructions and help for filling out the form are also available here. Fill out the form on your computer, then touch the “finish” button at the bottom of the form. When you click this button, the form will check itself and let you know if there are problems.

Using this version of the form may take a little longer,

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COTTON FARMING DECEMBER 2018

COTTONFARMING.COM

but it will help ensure that your I-9 forms are filled out correctly.

As with all safety issues, a little preparation before ginning season can save you a lot of problems during the season.

Kelley Green, TCGA director of technical services, contributed this article. Contact him at kelley@tcga.org.

Another cotton cleaner belt snapped, and we only have one spare left!

Cotton’s Calendar 2018 ¢¢Dec. 4-6: Cotton Inc. Board of Directors Meeting, The

Ballantyne Hotel, Charlotte, North Carolina ¢¢Dec. 12: Staplcotn and Stapldiscount Board Meeting, Greenwood, Mississippi ¢¢Dec. 19: PCCA Board Meeting, Delegate Body Meeting, Marketing Pool Committee Meeting, Lubbock, Texas

Don’t worry! I just ordered more gin supplies from Lubbock Electric’s online store!

2019 ¢¢Jan. 8-10:: Beltwide Cotton Conferences, New Orleans

Marchriott, New Orleans, Louisiana ¢¢Jan. 16: Plains Cotton Growers Quarterly Board Meeting,

Bayer Museum of Agriculture, Lubbock, Texas ¢¢Jan. 16-19: Southern-Southeastern Annual Meeting, The

Westin Hilton Head Island Resort & Spa, Hilton Head, South Carolina ¢¢Jan. 16: PCCA Board of Directors Meeting, Lubbock, Texas ¢¢Jan. 17: Calcot Ltd Board of Directors Meeting, Bakersfield, California ¢¢Jan. 30: Georgia Cotton Commission Annual Meeting, UGA Tifton Conference Center, Tifton, Georgia ¢¢Feb. 8-10: NCC Annual Meeting, Marchriott Rivercenter, San Antonio, Texas ¢¢Feb. 20: PCCA Board, Delegate Body & Marchketing Pool Committee Meetings, Lubbock, Texas ¢¢March 4-6: Cotton Board Meeting, L’Auberge Del March, Del March, California ¢¢March 20: Staplcotn and Stapldiscount Board Meeting, Greenwood, Mississippi ¢¢March 21: Calcot Ltd Board of Directors Meeting, Bakersfield, California ¢¢April 4-5: TCGA Annual Meeting and Trade Show, Lubbock Memorial Civic Center, Lubbock, Texas

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My Turn Cotton And Earl’s Pecan Pie

M

y great grand- back running. I also remember a lot of cold days. father, William Harvest was a little bit later then, and we always Stiles, settled picked the cotton twice.

My dad taught me how to drive all the equipthe family here in Lee County, Arkansas, ment on the farm. He promoted me to a planter and started acquiring land driver when I was 15 because I had a knack for in the community where being able to plant a straight row before we had we live and work today. My GPS. It was a big deal for me to be considered good grandfather, Earl Wayne enough to be a planter driver at such an early age.

One of the main things that helped us increase Stiles, and my dad, Earl Ramey Stiles, worked our cotton yields and get a good return was putRamey some of the same land in ting in irrigation. We added a few hundred new acres of irrigation each year from about 1987 on. the 1940s.

Stiles On my mother ’s side, Now our entire farm is 95 percent irrigated.

Today, I am passing on my knowledge about my grandfather, Claude Smith, and his son, Kirby Smith, lived in a com- growing cotton to my son-in-law, Payton Stegall, munity about 5 miles north of here. Everybody and daughter Sarah. They are farming with me was growing cotton. The Smiths also operated now and live in the house my parents built here Smith Gin in Oak Forest, Arkansas, although it on the home place. Our daughter, Rebecca, and her husband, David didn’t operate in my lifetime. There were “Cotton got in my blood and is B a g w e l l , l i v e i n Madison, Mississippi. gins in just about my favorite crop, too.”

We all get together every little town back during the holidays, then.

My dad was really a cotton farmer at heart. and we especially take pleasure in being with our That was the main crop he focused on and loved five grandchildren.

Our family has always been big on upholding to grow. Dad started farming with his partner, Jimmy Manley, in 1965. They farmed cotton traditions, whether related to growing cotton or together for 15 years and also bought and oper- cooking with recipes we have enjoyed for years ated the Aubrey Co-op Gin in the early ’70s. It or going to church together on Sundays. My dad was known for his pecan pie. It’s always listed on closed in the 1980s during the farm crisis.

Cotton got in my blood and is my favorite crop, the church bake sale sheet as “Earl’s Pecan Pie.” too. I had the opportunity to grow up on the farm My wife, Kerry, still makes it today and uses the and around the cotton gin as well. When I was a same recipe.

My mom, Claudine, was known for her caramel young boy, I would meet my grandfather Smith at the gin to help hook up the tractor to the cotton cake. We were always amazed how she could get trailers to carry back and forth to the fields. One the timing just right on the icing. Kerry and I of my favorite jobs at the gin when I got a little make it together for Christmas and always try older was to pull all the trailers under a shed to take our neighbor, Larry McClendon, a piece with a tractor when we thought a rain was com- since caramel cake is his favorite.

This has been a tough fall for a lot of farmers, ing. It taught me a lot about hard work and long hours, but days like that made me feel like I was but we have so much to be thankful for. We have a lot of good people in this community, and that’s part of the operation.

I also fondly remember having lunch in the what makes farming so special. field with the hands when we would stop the — Ramey Stiles pickers to eat a bite. Everybody pulled their Marianna, Arkansas bread out of the same loaf and ate sandwiches erstiles@hotmail.com on the tailgate of the truck before we started

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

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COTTON FARMING DECEMBER 2018

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