Cotton Farming February 2021

Cotton Farming ONE GROWER PUBLISHING, LLC

PROFITABLE PRODUCTION STRATEGIES

FEBRUARY 2021

www.cottonfarming.com

Seth Byrd Honored For Industry Service More Varieties Released For 2021

Key To Success West Texas Operation Capitalizes On Teamwork

INSIDE: 2020 COTTON CONSULTANT OF THE YEAR DRAKE PERROW

®

S:7.125"

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Vol. 65 No. 2

Cotton Farming PROFITABLE PRODUCTION STRATEGIES

FEBRUARY 2021

www.cottonfarming.com

FE ATURES

9 10 21 28 31

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Key To Success

West Texas cotton farmer Darren Jost married Kimberly Hoelscher in 2000 and formed what they call Darren and Kimberly Jost Farms. Kimberly grew up in agriculture, so she is used to “farmer hours” and the challenges that growers face every year. They made a good team then and still do today as active participants in their day-to-day farming operation. Meet all the players who contribute to their success on page 12.

DEPARTMENTS & COLUMNS

4 Editor’s Note 6 Cotton’s Agenda 8 Research & Promotion

22 Industry News 24 Specialists Speaking 34 My Turn

MORE VARIETIES FOR 2021 BASF, PhytoGen and Bayer have advanced additional cotton varieties to their rosters.

SPECIALIST OF THE YEAR Oklahoma State University Extension cotton specialist Seth Byrd honored for his service.

GIN SHOW GOES VIRTUAL The Mid-South Farm and Gin Show develops an interactive website for the 2021 event.

PEST GUIDES UPDATED The University of Arkansas offers recommendations for managing insects, weeds and diseases in 2021.

GINNERS MARKETPLACE

the official publication of the ginning industry Ed Barnes, Cotton Incorporated, discusses how seed coat fragments challenged gins in 2020.

Drake Perrow 2020 COT TON CONSULTAN T OF T HE Y E AR

2020 Cotton Consultant of the Year Drake Perrow, Cameron, South Carolina, is the 39th recipient of this esteemed award.

Read more about him on page 17.

Cotton Farming

WEB EXCLUSIVE A California seminar links soil health measures to cotton prices. The workshop was organized by UC cropping systems specialist Jeff Mitchell. Go to www.cottonfarming.com for this Web Exclusive report.

SUPPLEMENT ONE GROWER PUBLISHING, LLC

FEBRUARY 2021

Research looks at non-chemical weed control

Give your center pivot a 5-point inspection

ON THE COVER: West Texas producers Kimberly and Darren Jost farm cotton in Glasscock and Reagan counties.

Cover photo by Terry Brandt.

Look for Soybean South following page 28 in the MidSouth and Southeast editions of Cotton Farming. To have industry news delivered directly to your inbox, sign up for the monthly Soybean South 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, Tennessee, and at additional mailing offices. 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.

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FEBRUARY 2021 | COTTON FARMING

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Editor’s Note

Cotton Farming

Carroll Smith

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

A

‘Life Is More Fun With Skin In The Game’

t the end of January as the Super Bowl approached, I noticed a gambling site commercial running regularly on TV. “Life is more fun with skin in the game,” it said.

I don’t bet big bucks on football, but I have been known to put up a penny a point in a competitive bridge game. Or a nickel a point with my elderly neighbor, Mr. Mac, who was a pretty slick gin rummy player who served in World War II. “Deal the cards, luv,” he would say, knowing he was about to clean my clock and shuffle home with a whopping $5.45.

The commercial also brings back long-ago memories of a small Mississippi Delta community. When fall rolled around, the two main topics of conversation in our circle of friends were cotton harvest and Southeastern Conference football. And a jovial, penny-ante fellow who ran an establishment in one of the downtown brick alleyways took bets on the Saturday games. I was a rabid college football enthusiast, and, at the time, I even kept up with on-going team records and power ratings as a sort of hobby.

We didn’t have much money, but I sure did want to put down a five spot on a game or two. The kicker was this guy didn’t allow women in his joint, so my husband had to place my bet. But he did tell him it was for me. All the local guys were betting on Mississippi State or Ole Miss or Alabama or whichever SEC team they favored.

One year, while conducting my research, I noticed that Boston College was doing really well, so I decided to invest my “$5 life savings” on them. And I started winning. My oddball bets were a source of amusement for the local SEC crowd. But I did gain enough respect from the establishment owner that he finally called me to say I could drive down the alleyway, but not come inside, to collect my $10 bounty in person.

This walk down memory lane is not an endorsement of sports gambling, but it reminds me that farming has been compared to taking a gamble as well.

And if you are going to gamble, you have to do your homework. So as the 2021 season gets underway and you choose varieties and other crop inputs, study the numbers and “power ratings” from reputable sources before you make that investment.

Having some skin in the game is fun, but it involves incurring risk. Making a profit in the end based on careful research and planning is smart. Don’t forget that your livelihood depends on it.

Carroll If you have comments, please send them to: Cotton Farming Magazine, 7201 Eastern Ave., Germantown, TN 38138 or email csmith@onegrower.com.

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COTTON FARMING | FEBRUARY 2021

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 Audience Services Kate Thomas (847) 559-7514 For subscription changes or change of address, call (847) 559-7578 or email cottonfarming@omeda.com EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD David Burns – North Carolina David Lynch – South Carolina Bob McLendon – Georgia Larkin Martin – Alabama Mike Sturdivant Jr. – Mississippi Charles Parker – Missouri Jimmy Hargett – Tennessee Allen Helms – Arkansas Jay Hardwick – Louisiana Ronnie Hopper – Texas Ron Rayner – Arizona John Pucheu – California

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.

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1/12/21 9:20 AM

Cotton’s Agenda Gary Adams

Requesting Real Relief As it did throughout 2020, the National Cotton Council will seek any necessary COVID-19-related assistance for its members in 2021.

What recent actions were taken, relief provided?

■ The NCC engaged with Congressional Members

and their staff to underscore the economic harm the pandemic continued to inflict on the cotton industry. We conveyed our priorities and sought relief in an omnibus bill package that Congress was negotiating. Among specific actions was the NCC’s joining more than 110 other groups representing farmers, lenders and businesses of all sizes in a letter to House and Senate leadership urging them to immediately address the overburdensome Paycheck Protection Program forgiveness process. Just before year’s end, Congress approved and the President signed into law, a COVID relief and assistance measure that included important support for agriculture, including some cotton industry segments.

The NCC joined other groups in asking Congressional leaders to address the overburdensome Paycheck Protection Program forgiveness process.

The package included for producers a $ 2 0 - p e r- p l a nt e d acre payment on 2020 certified planted acres to all price-triggered and flat-rate commodities under the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 2. Both Upland cotton and extra-long staple cotton are covered under the new package. Additional funding was provided for the WHIP+ disaster assistance program. It allows the U.S. Department of Agriculture to continue to make payments for all approved applications for 2018 and 2019 losses, and there should be sufficient funding to allow the remaining 50% of eligible 2019 losses to be paid. Also, this funding will allow USDA to move forward with a signup period for the Quality Loss Program under WHIP+. For textile mills/cotton users, the bill included the industry’s recommendation for a payment of 6 cents per pound (covering the March-December 2020 period).

Another beneficial provision granted USDA authority to extend the marketing assistance loan term from nine to 12 months. Unfortunately, the package did not address the economic losses suffered by the merchandising segments.

The measure also extended the Economic Injury Disaster Loan grant program and extended/replenished the PPP with $284 billion in funds. It provided streamlined forgiveness of loans under $150,000 whereby the borrower signs and submits a one-page certification that requires the borrower to list the loan amount, the number of employees retained, and the estimated total amount of the loan spent on payroll costs. It made clear for borrowers the tax deductibility of business expenses that were covered by the loan. The funds replenishment allowed for certain current borrowers to apply for a “second draw” of funds. The measure also repealed the section of previous law that required PPP borrowers to deduct the amount of their EIDL advance from their PPP forgiveness amount. More PPP and other relief package details are in NCC’s summary on our COVID-19 resources webpage, www.cotton.org/ issues/members/covid19/index.cfm.

What about fiscal 2021 appropriations?

■ The omnibus package’s agriculture appropri-

ations section provided a $2 million increase (for a total of $13.597 million) to the USDA Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service Cotton Pest Account for Boll Weevil Eradication Program support. The measure also: 1) included level funding for USDA Agriculture Research Service Cotton Ginning Laboratories and funds for other ARS cotton research program priorities; and 2) maintained level funding for the Market Access Program and Foreign Market Development Program.

The NCC will continue to communicate with the new Administration and 117th Congress regarding assistance (COVID-related or otherwise) that U.S. cotton may need in 2021.

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

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COTTON FARMING | FEBRUARY 2021

COTTONFARMING.COM

THRIVING IN COTTON

Reniform Nematodes Meet Their Match

T

hird-generation north Alabama cotton farmer Rodney Moon just completed his 48th crop. He says he was raised in what many call “the cotton culture.”

“Cotton made things go around here,” Moon says. “It paid the bills, and in my case, it’s the only crop I really feel attached to. I farm 100% dryland cotton and have grown 100% PhytoGen cottonseed for the past 15 years. PhytoGen has high-yielding varieties with excellent seedling vigor and fiber quality.”

With the help of his long-time crop consultant, Bill Webster, the Alabama farmer prides himself on being able to deal successfully with challenging situations that affect his cotton crop.

“Bill knows his business very well,” Moon says. “I wouldn’t want to plant a stand of cotton without Bill and his crew to help.”

Reniform Nematodes Pose a Problem However, Moon says extremely high populations of reniform nematodes in his cotton fields were a “tough nut to crack.” The Auburn University Soil Testing Laboratory classifies numbers over 200 reniform nematodes per 100 cc of soil as “high populations.”

Moon has fields with 2,000-3,000 reniform nematodes per 100 cc of soil.

“I call them the silent robber,” he says. “Because they are almost microscopic, you can’t see them, but they are out there. When the numbers begin to get high, you will see symptoms in the cotton plant such as stunting, yellowing leaves and wilting. Reniform nematodes delay the crop. You may not lose a stand, but you lose some of the benefits of early growth and early fruiting. In the end, this damage results in yield loss.”

Moon says he used to manage them with aldicarb before it went off the market. He also says rotating with corn is helpful. But because he now grows 100% cotton, that is not an option for his operation.

“Once we stopped our corn rotation, the reniform nematode numbers started to build and steadily became worse,” he says.

“That’s the situation I have gotten myself into. We tried a few products that gave us some help, but none of them provided a real solution.”

Reniform Resistant Varieties ‘Showed Out’ In 2019 and 2020, Moon trialed PhytoGen® brand varieties resistant to reniform nematodes in fields next to susceptible varieties.

“I saw a 250-pound yield increase with the reniform resistant varieties over the susceptible varieties,” he says. “Where I had those high reniform nematode numbers, the resistant varieties really showed out.

“In 2021, I plan to grow the two PhytoGen reniform resistant varieties I grew in 2020. They will be commercially available this

Enlist, PhytoGen and WideStrike are TWITTER: @COTTONFARMING trademarks of Corteva Agriscience and its affiliated companies.

™®

Rodney Moon says the new PhytoGen reniform resistant varieties are a major breakthrough in managing high populations of this pest in his north Alabama cotton fields.

year as PHY 332 W3FE and PHY 443 W3FE. They are strong varieties that graded middling last year with 37 staple, mic in the range and good leaf grades.”

In addition to their resistance to reniform nematodes, Moon appreciates the varieties PHY 332 W3FE having resistance to root knot • Early mid-maturing variety. nematodes and bacterial • Exceptional yield potential blight. PHY 332 W3FE also and fiber quality. has tolerance to vert wilt.

• Broadly adapted medium“In our rolling topography, to-tall plant. we have redder soil ridges • Tolerant to verticillium wilt. on the hills and darker, • Resistant to bacterial blight, reniform nematodes and better soils down in the root-knot nematodes. flats,” he says. “We typically have vert problems on our PHY 443 W3FE best-yielding ground, so • Mid-maturing variety. verticillium wilt tolerance is a • Great fiber quality and big plus for us. It’s a pleasure strong yield potential. to work with the PhytoGen • Broadly adapted taller plant.

• Resistant to bacterial blight, people who are dedicated to reniform nematodes and making a better cotton plant. root-knot nematodes.

“When you combine all the benefits I mentioned with WideStrike® 3 Insect Protection and the Enlist™ weed control system, the PhytoGen varieties offer the total package,” he says.

“They are easy to manage and hard to beat. They make life pretty simple.”

FEBRUARY 2021 | COTTON FARMING

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RESEARCH & PROMOTION

Tiny Fibers Paint Big Picture

A

lot of thought typically goes into purchasing a garment. For cotton producers, even more thought goes into how the cotton for that attire is grown. The care and disposal of garments, both natural and synthetic, is a buzzworthy topic throughout the supply chain.

What happens when your favorite cotton shirt gets laundered? The process causes all fabrics (both natural and synthetic) to shed tiny fibers, called microfibers, into waterways, such as rivers, lakes and oceans. Public awareness is growing about how textiles contribute to microfiber pollution.

Many governments are banning certain single-use plastics, consumers are demanding more sustainable alternatives and Cotton Incorporated is ready to answer the

BY STACEY GORMAN WARREN, ARKANSAS call. The organization is dedicated to better understanding the impacts of garment biodegradation within the supply chain and communicating with fashion decision-makers about how cotton fits into the equation.

Research Efforts

Cotton Incorporated has been conducting research on this subject for more than a decade. Studies done with Cornell University explored how quickly cotton- and polyester-based fabrics biodegraded in an industrial compost setting. More recently, Cotton Incorporated worked with North Carolina State University to examine textile laundering, microfiber emissions and their biodegradation rates in wastewater treatment inoculum, freshwater and seawater.

According to Steven Pires, sustainability manager at Cotton Incorporated, “Microfiber research with NCSU has been focused on how long cotton and synthetic microfibers persist in aquatic environments. Cotton microfibers are essentially pure cellulose, a naturally occurring sugar molecule and the building block of a plant’s cell wall.

“Synthetic microfibers, such as those from polyester, are not naturally occurring in nature and are petroleum based. We know cotton microfibers degrade in the natural environment and synthetic polyester microfibers persist for longer periods of time. Microplastics and synthetic microfibers are being found all across the globe and in our oceans at alarming levels. Cotton Incorporated sees using cotton in textiles as a way to help alleviate this problem.”

A major objective of the NCSU research was to determine the degradability of cotton and polyester microfibers in wastewater, seawater and lake water environments. In the wastewater environment, the results concluded that after 38 days, cotton had 89%

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COTTON FARMING | FEBRUARY 2021

Cotton degrades 84% more than polyester in wastewater.

degradation while the polyester fibers showed 5% degradation.

This means cotton degrades 84% more than polyester in wastewater. The study further indicates that cotton will continue to degrade over time unlike polyester where degradation plateaued after the time tested.

Follow-up research considered the impact of dyes and finishes on microfiber biodegradation. Similar biodegradation trends were observed in the dyed and finished microfibers as well, which creates a huge opportunity for cotton.

Cotton Alternatives

Beyond research, Cotton Incorporated engages with the textile industry in myriad other ways. It realizes the issue of microfiber and microplastic pollution has gained traction with brands and retailers. Since customers are concerned about protecting the environment, Cotton Incorporated has developed viable cotton alternatives to synthetic microfiber fabrics.

The product development team has created cotton and cotton/wool blend fabric as an alternative to synthetic fleece.

Designed to insulate and provide warmth, the cotton blend fabric also provides a natural, biodegradable option. The natural fibers shed from these fabrics easily break down in soil and wastewater environments. This development and other cotton fabric solutions can be found in Cotton Incorporated’s online Fabricast fabric library.

Connecting with the brand/retailer side of the supply chain, Cotton Incorporated hosts technical webinars highlighting its research on microfiber emissions and biodegradability, through the CottonWorks platform.

They engage in sustainability by being members in various organizations and initiatives, such as the Textile Exchange, The Sustainability Consortium, The Microfiber Consortium, The Plastic Leak Project, Ocean Wise, and Sustainable Apparel Coalition. This engagement disseminates relevant microfiber research to industry experts for implementation in various sustainability tools.

Clearly, fashion has an impact beyond the closet, and Cotton Incorporated takes microfiber shedding seriously. Through years of research, industry outreach and legitimate solutions, the organization is finding ways to advance cotton’s position in the marketplace and within the sustainability community. For more information, visit: cottontoday.cottoninc.com.

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

COTTONFARMING.COM

New Varieties Released For 2021 Season

T

he annual Seed Variety Guide is published in the November issue of Cotton Farming. Cottonseed companies from across the Cotton Belt provide information about their headliners for the upcoming season to assist growers in making varietal choices.

Some of the companies also release more varieties after they review the past season’s data from their own trials as well as grower-managed on-farm trials in different regions. This year, BASF, PhytoGen and Bayer have advanced additional varieties to their 2021 rosters.

Here is the information the cottonseed companies provided for consideration.

BASF BASF has added three new cottonseed varieties to its cotton portfolio. Based on input from on-farm testing through BASF Agronomic Performance Trials and other company research, it will launch one new FiberMax cottonseed variety and two new dicamba-tolerant Stoneville cottonseed varieties for the 2021 season.

“Our cotton growers deserve the very best, which is why we only release varieties that meet our standards of quality and performance,” says Malin Westfall, head of U.S. cotton business at BASF. “We tested across the Cotton Belt, all soil types, management types and growing conditions. Of our seven experimental candidates, three of our varieties were found to bring significant value to our growers.”

Both of the new Stoneville varieties are tolerant to Liberty, Engenia and glyphosate herbicides. All three new varieties provide three-gene lepidopteran resistance, helping growers manage yield-robbing worms.

The new 2021 BASF cottonseed varieties are: FM 1730GLTP

• Very early maturity suited for the Southwest.

• Very good root-knot nematode tolerance.

• Good Verticillium wilt tolerance.

“FM 1730GLTP is a new GlyTol/Liberty Link/Twinlink Plus variety that possesses excellent fiber quality and tolerance to root-knot nematodes, which will improve its fit across a number of acres in the Southern High Plains,” says Dr. Kenny Melton, western region agronomic manager for BASF. “This variety performed well across the entire Southwest, performing even better in the shorter growing seasons of the Texas Panhandle.”

ST 4993B3XF

• Easy-to-manage crop across the Cotton Belt with early to mid-maturity.

• Potential high-yield variety.

• Resistant to bacterial blight.

• Offers good storm tolerance.

TWITTER: @COTTONFARMING

ST 5091B3XF

• New potential high-yield variety suited for the Eastern Cotton Belt and South and East Texas.

• Offers a strong fiber package.

• Good plant type for all soils.

“ST 4993B3XF was a strong performer across the entire Belt, especially in West Texas,” Melton says. “The bacterial blight resistance will be a welcome addition to the Stoneville portfolio in areas where that disease has been an issue.

“Potential high yields over multiple locations, soil types, and management styles led to the commercial release of ST 5091B3XF. This new variety delivers high-yield potential for cotton producers in the Eastern United States, along with South and East Texas, and provides growers another Stoneville variety option along with the proven performance of ST 4990B3XF.” To learn more about the best cottonseed varieties for your field, talk with your BASF representative or visit FiberMax.com or Stoneville.com.

PHYTOGEN PhytoGen cottonseed, the U.S. cottonseed brand of Corteva Agriscience, plans to introduce three new high-performing, high-yielding Upland varieties for 2021. Two of the three feature the cottonseed industry’s first trait for reniform nematode resistance. Stacked with the PhytoGen Breeding Trait for rootknot nematode resistance, the two varieties are set to deliver the best in-plant nematode protection package in the market.

“The introduction of reniform nematode resistance marks another significant milestone toward protecting the exceptional Continued on page 16 FEBRUARY 2021 | COTTON FARMING

9

OSU’s Seth Byrd Honored As 2021 Cotton Specialist Of The Year

A People Person

Though Byrd has experience in growing everything from corn and soybeans to wheat, alfalfa and potatoes, cotton has been his most recent focus.

He arrived at Oklahoma State University in 2018 and maintains active Extension and research programs in southwest Oklahoma as well as the Oklahoma Panhandle. Byrd works with clientele that have varying degrees of experience from multi-generation cotton farmers to first-time producers.

“If a producer or anyone wants to know more about cotton, I’m always open to talk,” Byrd says. “I want to both answer questions and learn a lot, too. I don’t try to tell anybody how to farm. Cotton growers are incredibly smart people. We just try

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COTTON FARMING | FEBRUARY 2021

to help them out on ‘what ifs’ and navigate some of the new options they have in cotton production now.

“To me, cotton is just a fun crop.

It’s a tropical tree. It thinks it’s going to survive and be here next year and the year after that. I don’t think it takes more management. It just takes a different kind of management to sort of reign it in and get it to do Dr. Seth Byrd what we want it to do. Luckily, we have great university and industry breeders who have helped make that easier and more profitable.”

TODD JOHNSON

D

r. Seth Byrd — a self-proclaimed East Coast guy — is originally from North Carolina but has lived all over the country. He says he was drawn to Oklahoma, in part, because of the emergence of cotton as a popular option for a rapidly growing number of producers across the state.

An agronomist with Oklahoma State University Cooperative Extension, Byrd was recognized as the 2021 Cotton Specialist of the Year during a virtual award presentation as part of the 2021 virtual Beltwide Cotton Conferences.

He became the 32nd cotton specialist to receive the honor, which is presented annually by the Extension Cotton Specialists Working Group. For the past 15 years, the award has been sponsored by FiberMax and Stoneville.

Voted on by cotton specialists in the 17 states where cotton is grown, this prestigious professional award is based on several considerations, including exceptional leadership and outstanding industry service.

Accolades Abound

Dr. Jeff Edwards, department head and professor, Plant and Soil Sciences, Oklahoma State University, says, “Dr. Byrd has been instrumental in fostering a team-based approach to our cotton Extension and research program, and providing leadership to that team.

“As a result, we have a greater number of faculty and students actively involved in cotton Extension and research, which brings new ideas and helps supply the industry with experienced graduates.”

Dr. Steve Nichols, BASF agronomic services – cotton, says BASF is honored to spotlight the tremendous efforts of individuals such as Byrd.

“Our commitment to cotton goes beyond our portfolio,” he says.

Leilana McKindra, OSU, contributed to this article.

COTTONFARMING.COM

CARROLL SMITH

Oklahoma State University’s Seth Byrd was presented with the esteemed 2021 Cotton Specialist of the Year award during a virtual reception Jan. 6. Numerous colleagues and friends popped up in the “gallery view” throughout the evening to toast and roast the Oklahoma agronomist. Special thanks to his wife, Misha, for working with the sponsors to surprise her husband who had no idea he was going to be honored.

It’s not a crop.

It’s a calling.

Cotton is your calling, and it is our calling too. Which is why we bring you the best in-season weed control with a powerhouse combination of post herbicides to combat tough weeds.

• Engenia® herbicide: the most advanced dicamba means the lowest volatility salt and the lowest use rate on the market for dicamba-tolerant cotton.

• Liberty® herbicide: excellent broad spectrum control of broadleaf weeds and grasses; no known resistance in US row crops.

• Outlook® herbicide: activates with a quarter inch of rainfall and provides powerful residual control.

BASF. Just like you. Made for this.

Learn more at CottonWeedControl.com

Engenia herbicide is a U.S. EPA restricted-use pesticide Always read and follow label directions.

Engenia, Liberty and Outlook are registered trademarks of BASF. ©2021 BASF Corporation. All rights reserved.

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1/15/21 5:06 PM

COVER STORY

PHOTOS BY TERRY BRANDT

West Texas cotton farmers Kimberly and Darren Jost actively participate on the farm in addition to raising their three children: Avery, Weston and Presley.

Key To Success West Texas Operation Capitalizes On Teamwork

BY CARROLL SMITH EDITOR

T

he West Texas cotton production region is hot and dry with limited groundwater and an average rainfall of about 16 inches. However, in the past four years, precipitation has not reached this mark, which has proved challenging for area farmers, especially on dryland acres.

“Although we are limited by our amount of rainfall and groundwater, we are blessed with fertile soil,” says Darren Jost, who farms predominantly cotton in Glasscock and Reagan counties. “Farmers out here like to say, ‘To make a crop, we only need a good planting rain, a 2-inch rain July 1, a 2-inch rain Aug. 1 and for temperatures to stay under 100 degrees Fahrenheit.’”

Farming cotton is in Jost’s blood. Between him and his wife, Kimberly, it goes back for generations in their families. Because he always enjoyed working with machinery, Jost completed a degree in ag systems management at Texas A & M University.

He contemplated looking for a job in ag engineering but real-

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COTTON FARMING | FEBRUARY 2021

ized he was drawn back to production agriculture.

“My dad, Eugene, quizzed me about my plans in my junior year, and I decided to come back home and farm,” Jost says.

“We agreed that I needed to be on my own, so Dad found me a little piece of land. He was still farming his place, but he supported and mentored me when I got started. I borrowed some of his equipment, went to farm sales and bought a couple of old, worn out tractors, and used his barn for 10 years before I got my own. Fortunately, he’s only a mile away and our land joins each other’s in spots.”

Jost married Kimberly Hoelscher in 2000 and formed what they call Darren and Kimberly Jost Farms. Kimberly grew up in agriculture, so she is used to “farmer hours” and the challenges that growers face every year. They made a good team then and still do today as active participants in their day-to-day farming operation.

COTTONFARMING.COM

Tag Team Harvest

Before Jost transitioned to 12-row equipment to increase efficiency and reduce labor, he and his dad harvested their cotton together.

“We both had our own equipment, but we pulled together to take advantage of our labor,” Jost says. “It was a neat time.

Kimberly and my mom, Marilee, also ran strippers and brought lunch to the field and the evening meal if we were going to run late. We would shut down and all eat out there together.”

Jost says the family camaraderie part of harvest season was enjoyable, but a bad labor situation was not.

“I literally had guys fistfighting out in the field,” he says.

“I couldn’t take it anymore, so I bought a John Deere CS690 round-baler stripper. It was crazy expensive, but I didn’t have a choice. My neighbor bought one as well, so I have teamed up with him a couple times since we are on the same row pattern and both have 12-row equipment.

“When he gets in a slow time and I need to be running, he helps me. Then we would flip flop, and I help him. We keep up with the hours on our machines, and if there is a big difference, we just pay each other the lease rate. We have talked about what will happen when we finally have another big year and kicked around the idea of leasing a third machine. Unfortunately, we haven’t had that opportunity yet.”

Jost says his labor prayers were finally answered when he found Brandon Schaefer and Ryne Dierschke who wanted to get into farming but didn’t have the opportunity quite yet. Schaefer grew up on a family farm, and Dierschke worked on farms while in school because that is his passion. Both are college educated and capable of running any type of equipment.

“I believe God guided them here because we all needed each other,” Jost says. “They have become part of our family and our community, and both farm a little piece of ground of their own.

They use some of my equipment, which is fine. It’s expensive to start farming on your own, so I try to help them. In 25 years, my labor situation has never been better.”

“I got lucky when I was able to hire Brandon Schaefer (center) and Ryne Dierschke (right),” says Darren Jost. “That move improved my labor situation tremendously.”

Darren and Kimberly Jost Farms is about one-third drip irrigated and two-thirds dryland.

“I saw how efficient drip irrigation was when my father-inlaw put some in,” Jost says. “In the late ’90s, I didn’t have any land of my own, so I approached my landlords to see what we

could work out. They agreed to pay for the equipment if I paid the labor cost for installing it.

“As I acquired a little land here and there, the first thing I would do is put in drip irrigation where I could. You can only install as much as your farm can handle as far as water goes.”

In 2020, Jost planted DPL 2055 B3XF, DPL 2044 B3XF, DPL 1646 B2XF, NG 4098 B3XF and NG 5711 B3XF on his irrigated acres. He planted the dryland acres to NG 4098 B3XF, DPL 2044 B3XF and DPL 1549 B2XF — Deltapine DryTough varieties bred for heat tolerance and consistently high-performance potential on dryland fields with limited water.

“On the irrigated ground, we pre-watered and then tried to water up the crop after planting,” Jost says. “Then the heat hit, and it was not nice to us. We had a lot of days with more than 100-degree Fahrenheit temperatures. We just couldn’t keep up with the limited water we have. The quality held in there, but the pounds were way down.

“Our dryland cotton didn’t come up until mid-September when we got our first rain. Obviously, that was a little late in the game. We typically try to finish harvesting by Thanksgiving, or Dec. 10-15 if we have a good crop. In 2020, I finished three weeks earlier than I ever have.”

“Like every other cotton farmer, our biggest challenge is the price of our commodity,” says Darren Jost. “We can’t control it very much, but we can lock in some prices here and there.”

Despite enduring a rough year, Jost says one bright spot was looking at some new varieties as a Deltapine New Product Evaluator. He has participated in the NPE program since it began in 2008.

“The biggest benefit to me is having the opportunity to preview how varieties perform on my own farm,” he says. “In my area, varieties may perform differently from county to county or even within a county.

“In Reagan County, a pair of brothers are NPE growers, so we share our experiences because the varieties may perform just a touch differently for them than they do for me. And I get calls from other farmers in the area who want to know what I am seeing as far as variety performance.

“I also enjoy attending the winter meeting when Bayer announces the Deltapine varieties that will be released for the upcoming class. I get to be around NPE growers from across the Cotton Belt and have developed friendships with these guys. It’s neat to keep in contact with them during the year.”

Heat, Lack Of Rainfall

New Product Evaluator

TWITTER: @COTTONFARMING

FEBRUARY 2021 | COTTON FARMING

13

Darren Jost purchased a John Deere CS690 round bale stripper to increase efficiency and reduce labor.

Weed And Insect Pests

In the weed arena, Jost says they fight tumbleweed and some resistant pigweed.

“Tumbleweed will get huge, and you can’t put them through a stripper,” he says. “Yellow herbicides help control them, but I don’t use those because I want to keep the planting window open for haygrazer or milo in case my dryland cotton fails.

Roundup Ready still controls small tumbleweed, but sometimes the only way to get them is with a piece of iron.”

Jost says farmers in Glasscock and Reagan counties are particular, clean farmers, who attack weeds early, which has probably helped keep down resistance.

“I appreciate the whole cotton growing process, and I love raising my family on a farm. ... Farming is my forte, and I love what I do.”

“Some resistant seed may be carried in by the wind, birds or oil field traffic, but all in all we don’t have a huge resistance problem,” he says. “To target what we do have, I went to the dicamba gene. I don’t mix and match technologies because I am concerned about somebody on a sprayer getting in the wrong field.”

The primary insect pest Jost watches for is stink bug, which sometimes shows up in July and August and can be controlled with pyrethroids. He says the Bt technologies take care of bollworms with the exception of a few pockets here and there.

Thrips are not a big issue, and he doesn’t have to contend with plant bugs and nematodes.

A Positive Attitude

In reflecting on the 2020 season, Jost says every year is different, every year has its challenges, but there are always bright spots.

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COTTON FARMING | FEBRUARY 2021

“School was canceled during the pandemic, so my kids were at home and we had more family time,” he says. “It didn’t affect our farming operation at all. We paid all our bills, and it’s already snowed this year, which will benefit our soil profile that holds moisture really well.

“I appreciate the whole cotton growing process, and I love raising my family on a farm. I enjoy the day-to-day challenges when I have to think on my feet. Farming is my forte, and I love what I do.”

COTTONFARMING.COM

Raising the Bar on Cotton Variety Performance.

The Deltapine® New Product Evaluator (NPE) Program kicks off its 14th season in 2021. An industry standard, the program involves growers in product evaluations that prove performance of new cotton varieties before commercialization. This results in some of the top-planted varieties on the market today.

The Deltapine NPE Program’s impact on the cotton industry is felt across the Cotton Belt. Growers see their yield potential increase and fiber qualities improve as well as experience new and better disease and pest management options. More than 200 growers across the Cotton Belt evaluate variety candidates on large-acre plots in their own growing conditions and management systems. The program is a reality check for the Bayer cotton breeding and testing program.

“The Deltapine NPE Program is truly a unique company-grower collaboration influencing the industry in a positive way,” said Keylon Gholston, Deltapine cotton product manager. “The truest test of a cotton variety is when it is planted in real farm conditions and managed through harvest by a seasoned grower. This is the philosophy that has made the Deltapine NPE Program so successful and Deltapine a top-planted brand of cotton in the United States.”

Longtime Deltapine NPE growers echo similar thoughts about the program’s impact on the industry.

Research is critical, and the NPE Program is like the final step in the process, said NPE grower Keeff Felty in Oklahoma.

“It is nationwide, large-scale plot evaluations that let growers work with these varieties in their conditions, which is critical to proving performance,” Felty said.

“NPE growers know if a variety works in their region or not, and it’s a final step in the commercialization process. There are things you can find out about varieties in a testing program like NPE.” Each season, Deltapine NPE growers have become the go-to for others in the industry who want unfiltered information from those who grew and harvested the varieties in their region, said Jason Waltz, an NPE grower since 2008, located in South Carolina.

“I get lots of phone calls from area growers, crop consultants and seed retailers asking about the NPE plots,” he said. “They want to know what’s coming, what the new varieties look like and what my thoughts are on the new varieties. The Deltapine NPE Program is a big deal for the industry, and I feel good to be a part of a program that has revolutionized cotton farming.”

To learn more about the NPE program or the latest class of varieties, visit Deltapine.com/Classof21.

“We’ve been part of the program since 2008 and have seen some great varieties come out of it,” said Brad Williams, whose family farms in southwestern Tennessee. Williams will evaluate variety candidates for the Class of ’22 this coming season. “We treat the 70 acres of cotton in the NPE Program just like every other acre on the farm. The plots are a true example of how we farm overall.”

Bayer, Bayer Cross and Deltapine® are registered trademarks of Bayer Group. ©2021 Bayer Group. All Rights Reserved.

Continued from page 9

yield potential of PhytoGen varieties,” says Joel Faircloth, U.S. cotton portfolio manager for PhytoGen cottonseed.

All three new W3FE varieties contain PhytoGen Breeding Traits™ for bacterial blight and root-knot nematode resistance, in addition to a strong fiber quality and yield package.

PhytoGen W3FE varieties also provide growers with flexible and effective weed control options with tolerances to Enlist, Liberty (glufosinate) and glyphosate herbicides.

“We are committed to offering broadly adapted products to the farmer that maximize their opportunity for success,” Faircloth says. “While our varieties are advanced primarily on yield potential, our breeding team continually incorporates yield-stabilizing traits into those elite genetics.”

The PhytoGen Horizon Network of cotton producers has evaluated these new products for two years. Based on their feedback and the performance in PhytoGen cotton development specialists’ on-farm trials across the Cotton Belt, the team advanced the following varieties: PHY 332 W3FE

• • • • •

Early mid-maturing variety.

Exceptional yield potential and fiber quality.

Broadly adapted medium to tall plant.

Tolerant to Verticillium wilt.

Resistant to bacterial blight, reniform nematodes and root-knot nematodes.

PHY 443 W3FE

• • • •

Mid-maturing variety.

Great fiber quality and strong yield potential.

Broadly adapted taller plant.

Resistant to bacterial blight, reniform nematodes and root-knot nematodes.

PHY 545 W3FE

• Mid- to full-maturing variety tested on farms since 2019.

• Exceptional performance in lower Southeast trials.

• Maturity falls between PHY 500 W3FE and PHY 580 W3FE. • Resistant to bacterial blight and root-knot nematode.

For the latest data and more information about PhytoGen brand varieties and the PhytoGen Breeding Traits that can help you thrive, go to PhytoGen.com, or join the conversation on Facebook or Twitter.

BAYER Two new Bollgard 3 XtendFlex cotton varieties with resistance to both reniform and root-knot nematodes are highlights of the Deltapine Class of ’21 cotton varieties.

“The Class of ’20 varieties set the bar so high that I expected it to be tough to advance many candidates out of New Product Evaluator for the Class of ’21,” says Keylon Gholston, Deltapine cotton products manager. “However, two varieties that advanced for the Class of ’21 — DP 2115 B3XF and DP 2127 B3XF — stood out from a performance perspective, showing potential to yield above DP 1646 B2XF and the Class of ’20 varieties.”

Two nematode-resistant Bollgard 3 XtendFlex cotton varieties showing resistance to reniform and root-knot nematodes — one

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COTTON FARMING | FEBRUARY 2021

2021

SEED VARIETY GUIDE

ON THE WEB To view the Cotton Farming 2021 Seed Variety Guide, visit cottonfarming.com and look for the Quick Links on the righthand side of the page.

for the southern United States and one for the Midsouth and Texas — were also named to the Deltapine Class of ’21.

“These two new varieties — DP 2141NR B3XF and DP 2143NR B3XF — give us beltwide coverage for growers who have fields with reniform or root-knot nematode pressure,” Gholston says. “Both of these varieties demonstrated very competitive yield potential on non-nematode fields, but especially shined under nematode pressure.”

With DP 2123 B3XF, Deltapine brings another DryTough cotton variety into the West Texas market in the Class of ’21.

This variety for the Northern High Plains has a larger seed size, demonstrated excellent seedling vigor and stand establishment potential, and showed very competitive yield potential under light and moderate water irrigation capacities.

The five new Deltapine Class of ’21 varieties were evaluated

by NPE growers located in all regions of the Cotton Belt. The results of the growers’ large-acre variety plots and their feedback on management and performance were instrumental in determining the Class of ’21.

“This class of cotton varieties continues the Deltapine tradition of developing new products and taking them to market after having been proven by growers,” Gholston says. “We thank the many NPE growers whose hard work and dedication to this program helps bring new cotton varieties to the market for all U.S. producers.”

Here are the Deltapine Class of ’21 cotton varieties: DP 2115 B3XF

• Early maturity Bollgard 3 XtendFlex variety.

• Outstanding yield potential in NPE plots.

• Good storm tolerance.

DP 2123 B3XF

• Early- to mid-maturity Bollgard 3 XtendFlex variety.

• Performed under heat and drought stress.

• Strong seedling vigor.

DP 2127 B3XF

• Early to mid-maturity Bollgard 3 XtendFlex variety.

• Solid performance in NPE plots across the Belt.

• High yield potential.

DP 2141NR B3XF

• Mid- to full-maturity Bollgard 3 XtendFlex variety • Resistant to both reniform and root-knot nematodes.

• Outstanding yield potential.

DP 2143NR B3XF

• Mid- to full-maturity Bollgard 3 XtendFlex variety.

• Resistant to reniform and root-knot nematodes.

• Moderate tolerance to Verticillium wilt.

For more about the Deltapine NPE Program, visit Deltapine.com/ NPE. COTTONFARMING.COM

Drake Perrow 2020 COT TON CONSULTAN T OF T HE Y E AR

Cotton Farming

Four generations gather at Perrow Farms in Cameron, South Carolina.

Front row, left to right: Linda Perrow, Moss Perrow Sr. and Belle Perrow.

Middle row: Drake Perrow, Henry Law, Charlotte Law, Kendall Perrow and Moss Perrow Jr. Back row: Tyler Law, John Perrow and Stewart Perrow.

Perrow was born and raised in Cameron, South Carolina, on a family farm established by a land grant from the king of England. From the moment he could see over the steering wheel and reach the clutch and brakes, Perrow was driving a tractor and helping his father, Moss Sr., however he could. He took part in all the activities the small, close-knit community offered, including church, high school sports and gatherings with friends and family. But as soon as he finished one of these pastimes, he would be doing something on the farm.

“I always loved it,” Perrow says. “I saw what my grandfather and father did to provide for our family, which impressed upon me the value of having a good work ethic. I also believe in having faith that everything is going to work out. An elderly cousin once told me, ‘Never say it’s a problem. It’s a challenge.’ I think about that often.”

Perrow started scouting cotton in high school for Clemson University’s Wateree Pest Management and continued in the summer program while attending Wofford College in Spartanburg, South Carolina. He and his partner, Mickey Weeks, scouted 500 acres a week. They walked it all. Perrow also participated in the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps while at Wofford, was commissioned as a second lieutenant and went on to serve six years in the South Carolina National Guard.

PHOTOS BY CARROLL SMITH

I

f you want to see a slice of heaven, drive through Calhoun County, South Carolina, in the fall when the cotton is open. It’s an idyllic sight.

Perhaps the picturesque landscape and dark fertile soil caught the attention of Drake Perrow’s ancestors when they arrived in the area in the 1700s. They stopped, smiled and put down stakes for what would later become Perrow Farms.

It was a good day.

Drake Perrow and his wife, Linda, married in 1981 and reside in Cameron, South Carolina.

After graduating from college in 1979, he and Lonnie Bull — a colleague and recipient of the 1997 Cotton Consultant of the Year award — formed the first crop consulting business in South Carolina. After two years, Perrow established his own private consulting business — Crop Companions Inc. — which he still operates today.

Drake Perrow (left) has known South Carolina cotton farmer Barry Hutto since their young farmer days. He began scouting for Hutto in 1992.

South Carolina cotton farmer Bryan Dantzler (left) says Drake Perrow is a trusted consultant for his cotton and peanut operation.

The number of scouts Perrow hires to help check crops depends on the amount of acreage they have to cover. Before the season starts, he sits down with each one in a one-on-one interview.

“I tell the boys who work for me during the summer that if they don’t want to do this, don’t do it because you won’t do a good job,” he says. “I have been fortunate in having had kids who started with me in high school, worked all the way through college and some even after college. I try to instill a good work ethic in them, and I believe it has paid off.

“During the growing season, something new is going to pop up every year. I tell my guys, ‘You better have your eyes open.

Things can change overnight. Always look for the unusual, then investigate. Study a little bit harder. Look at more of the field than you normally do. Having a producer’s cotton crop in your hands is a big responsibility. You can make or break them.’”

Interaction With Farmer Clients Perrow’s hands-on, look-you-in-the-eye approach carries over to relationships with his farmer clients.

“The connection between my growers and me typically has two sides to it — a business side and a friendship side,” he says.

“The business side is all business. My crew and I go in, do our job, and then I look at reports and make recommendations. I like to visit face-to-face with each farmer to discuss crop inputs, especially varietal selection, and come up with a decision together. After we get through with that, we sit around and talk. That’s enjoyable to me.”

Perrow’s farmers are quick to say they appreciate his direct manner and trust his observations and counsel for their farms.

Long-time friend and client Barry Hutto says he and Perrow got together back in their young farmer days.

“I grew cotton forever, moved away from the crop for a while and then started growing it again in 1992,” Hutto says. “That’s when Drake started scouting for us.

“A farmer can’t know everything about everything. You have to have capable people you trust to help you. Drake does a fine job.

I know if I call him, he will be here. We gin with him at Cameron Cotton and Seed Co., too.”

Bryan Dantzler, another Crop Companions farmer client, says, “I would never plant cotton or peanuts without Drake looking at them.”

Greg Smith of W.M. Smith & Sons Farm says, “Drake has saved us many thousands of dollars in cotton production costs that we would have blindly spent if we had just gone along with the crowd and done what everybody else was doing. We believe in scouting as a management tool, and we believe in Drake Perrow as our cotton consultant.”

Many of Perrow’s clients are multigenerational farmers. He says the younger generation’s technical savvy complements the older generation’s years of experience.

“When I visit my growers at the end of the day, the two generations are there together most of the time,” Perrow says. “We share our different ideas and then come together on deciding the best way to go.”

The South Carolina crop consultant is also involved in other family owned operations — Perrow Farms and Cameron Cotton and Seed Co. Inc., a gin in the heart of the small community for which it is named.

PHOTO COURTESY OF JEREMY GREENE

Drake Perrow (right) regularly compares notes with Clemson University entomologist Jeremy Greene.

For many years, Drake Perrow (center) has worked closely with Syngenta agronomic service representative Tom Pegram (left) and Syngenta sales representative Tony Hamlett (right).

“The same generational interaction takes place on our own family farm among my brother Moss Jr., his son, Stewart, and my son, John,” Perrow says. “Everyone contributes to the success of the operation.”

Sharing Information Is Key Perrow makes it a practice to stay in close contact with other consultants as well as university and industry personnel.

“I talk regularly with Collins Gardner who consults in the Pee Dee region and Calhoun County Extension agent Charles Davis,” he says. “I also know all the guys at Clemson, including entomologist Jeremy Greene. We regularly compare notes.”

And on the industry side, if Perrow has a question, he says one of the first people he calls is Tom Pegram, Syngenta agronomic service representative. From Pegram’s standpoint, he says consultants such as Perrow are invaluable in rating and evaluating how products and strategies perform under different environmental conditions, soil types and production systems within regions.

“Their knowledge base and the number of times they are in the fields as another set of eyes make them vital to us in the research arena,” Pegram says. “Consultants also work parallel with their growers. They both have the same ultimate goal in mind — to be as efficient and profitable as possible on that acre of land.

“I am thrilled that Drake was selected by his peers for the Cotton Consultant of the Year award. His hard work, long hours and dedication have not gone unnoticed. Cotton is in his blood.

It’s personal and a part of Drake’s heritage. I also am pleased that Syngenta continues to acknowledge the value that consultants bring to production agriculture by sponsoring this award.”

The Good Lord And Great People When asked about his reaction upon learning that he was selected as the 2020 Cotton Consultant of the Year, Perrow says

Cotton Consultant of the Year Award Recipients, 1981-2019 1981 Bob Stanford, Flagstaff, Ariz.

1982 Jep Gates, Memphis, Tenn.

1983 Dennis Bouchard, Minter City, Miss.

1984 John Nickelsen, Shafter, Calif.

1985 Dwight Lincoln, Portland, Ark. 1986 Grady Coburn, Cheneyville, La. 1987 Stanley Nemec, Snook, Texas 1988 Robert Moore, Hartsville, S.C. 1989 Curtis Wilhelm, Harlingen, Texas 1990 Mills Rogers, Cleveland, Miss.

1991 Clyde Sartor, Vicksburg, Miss.

1992 John Christian, Raymondville, Texas 1993 Billy McLawhorn, Cove City, N.C. 1994 Dwain Reed, Courtland, Ala. 1995 Barry Aycock, Parma, Mo. 1996 Ray Young, Wisner, La. 1997 Lonnie Bull, Cameron, S.C. 1998 Chuck Farr, Crawfordsville, Ark. 1999 Bob Griffin, Jonesboro, Ark. 2000 Roger Carter, Clayton, La. 2001 Harold Lambert, Innis, La. 2002 Lee Hutchins, Sinton, Texas

Drake Perrow: Personal & Career History Career • • • • •

• • • •

Completed a Bachelor of Arts in religion, Wofford College, 1979.

Established Crop Companions Inc. as sole owner in 1981.

Consults on cotton, peanuts, corn and wheat.

President, Southeastern Ginners Association.

Chairman, Boll Weevil Foundation of South Carolina. Vice chairman, Southeastern Boll Weevil Foundation.

National Cotton Council board member.

Past president, Calhoun County Farm Bureau.

Partner, Moss H. Perrow & Sons with brother Moss Perrow Jr. Owner, Cameron Cotton & Seed Co. Inc. with father Moss Perrow Sr.

Family Life

Perrow was born and raised in Calhoun County, South Carolina, on a family farm established by a land grant from the king of England in 1737. He now resides in Cameron, South Carolina, with his wife, Linda Frierson Perrow. They have two children: Charlotte Perrow Law and her husband, Tyler; and John Perrow and his wife, Kendall Chapman Perrow; and one grandson: Henry Anderson Law. Perrow is an active member of Shady Grove Methodist Church.

When time permits, he enjoys boating, water skiing, quail hunting and spending time with his family. Linda is an interior designer with Pulliam Morris Interiors in Columbia, South Carolina.

it made him feel really special.

“I have never been this humbled before in my life,” he says. “I was brought up to believe, and I do believe, that success is not based on something I do personally — the good Lord does it all.

“I will say that my kids’ coach had a saying: ‘Surround yourself with good people, and good things will happen to you.’ That’s the way I feel about this award. I am truly blessed to be surrounded by great people, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

2003 Danny Pierce, Princeton, N.C. 2004 Tucker Miller, Drew, Miss.

2005 John Hunter, Lubbock, Texas 2006 Jack Royal, Leary, Ga. 2007 Danny Moore, Marion, Ark. 2008 Ray Young, Wisner, La. (Lifetime Achievement Award) 2009 Joe Townsend, Coahoma, Miss.

2010 Mark Nemec, Waco, Texas

2011 Virgil King, Lexington, Miss.

2012 Tim White, Jonesville, La. 2013 Bob Glodt, Plainview, Texas 2014 Stan Winslow, Belvidere, N.C. 2015 Wes Briggs, Bainbridge, Ga. 2016 Tim Roberts, Dyersburg, Tenn.

2017 Paul Pilsner, Wharton, Texas 2018 Mark Scott, Lubbock, Texas 2019 Eddy Cates, Marion, Ark.

Cotton Farming

Mid-South Farm And Gin Show Adds Virtual Component

BY CARROLL SMITH EDITOR

T

he 69th annual Mid-South Farm and Gin Show is rolling out an interactive virtual show site this year to replace its physical event Feb. 26-27 typically held at the Renasant Convention Center — formerly the Cook Convention Center, 255 North Main, Memphis, Tennessee.

To register, go to farmandginshow.com. You will be given a badge identification number, which will provide access to the virtual show site, which goes live Feb. 26.

“The site, which debuts in 2021, is being developed as a continuing component of the in-person Mid-South Farm and Gin Show for the future,” says Tim Price, show manager and Southern Cotton Ginners Association executive vice president.

“It will become a valuable addition to the in-person show, extending exhibitor presence and interaction with attendees.

Exhibits, exhibitor pages and seminars from the 2021 MidSouth Farm and Gin Show will be available for registered attendees to log in and view on-demand at the Mid-South Farm and Gin Show virtual show site.”

The interactive website features:  Content that will be livestreamed during the Friday and Saturday sessions — ag outlooks and seminars and any other special sessions.  Live question-and-answer sessions and chat space for people to post about relevant topics.  On-demand recordings of all seminars.  Separate pages for each exhibitor.  The site will be available for one year following the show.

As the Mid-South Farm and Gin Show draws near, visit farmandginshow.com or southerncottonginners.org for the latest information pertaining to the Southern Cotton Ginners Association and Foundation Annual Meetings.

Friday Kickoff

The 2021 show officially begins at 8:30 a.m., Friday, with the Ag Update Meeting. Brad Williams, Burlison Gin, will preside.

The National Cotton Council chairman will discuss cotton issues; and Joe Nicosia, trading operations officer and executive vice president, Louis Dreyfus Co., will present an outlook for U.S. and world cotton.

Beginning at 11 a.m., Friday, AgLaunch is bringing its Startup Station back to the Mid-South Farm and Gin Show for a fourth time. The station serves as the culmination of Phase II of the AgLaunch365 programming, a farm-centric model that supports ag tech companies with real-world solutions addressing on-farm issues by connecting them to farmers.

A special educational seminar starts at 1:30 p.m. Check the official show program for more details.

TWITTER: @COTTONFARMING

During the 2020 Mid-South Farm and Gin Show, attendees enjoyed perfect weather while browsing the extensive array of outdoor exhibits.

Other Educational Opportunities

The show resumes Saturday at 8:30 a.m. with another Ag Update Meeting. It features Richard Brock, Brock Associates, who will present a grain market outlook and share his unique insight into grain marketing and the challenges farmers will face in the year ahead.

Milo Hamilton, co-founder and senior agricultural economist, Firstgrain Inc., will host a special rice marketing educational seminar at 1:30 p.m.

“Good rice marketing involves a knowledge of the global situation for rice trends in price and stocks,” he says. “Rice is not like, say, oats, which are largely a domestic market and fed to horses. Rice is fed to people with all that entails.”

The workshop is broken into two sessions:  How to assess global rice conditions and their impact on your local price trend.  How to assess what is a high or low price in your area at any point in time.

Show Continues To Evolve

To register and view the most up-to-date information, go to farmandginshow.com or southerncottonginners.org.

“Even after 69 years, the Mid-South Farm and Gin Show continues to evolve and confirms we have a viable, active ag business sector as represented by our exhibitors,” Price says.

“It also provides educational opportunities and gives attendees an idea about where our ag industry is headed. We look forward to sharing our first-ever interactive website this year and making it an integral part of our traditional event in the future.”

FEBRUARY 2021 | COTTON FARMING

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TRAIT STEWARDSHIP RESPONSIBILITIES NOTICE TO FARMERS

Industry News

Bayer Company is a member of Excellence Through Stewardship® (ETS). Bayer products are commercialized in accordance with ETS Product Launch Stewardship Guidance, and in compliance with Bayer’s Policy for Commercialization of Biotechnology-Derived Plant Products in Commodity Crops. This product has 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.

ALWAYS READ AND FOLLOW PESTICIDE LABEL DIRECTIONS. It is a violation of federal and state law to use any pesticide product other than in accordance with its labeling. NOT ALL formulations of dicamba, glyphosate or glufosinate are approved for in-crop use with XtendFlex® Cotton. ONLY USE FORMULATIONS THAT ARE SPECIFICALLY LABELED FOR SUCH USES AND APPROVED FOR SUCH USE IN THE STATE OF APPLICATION. Contact the U.S. EPA and your state pesticide regulatory agency with any questions about the approval status of dicamba herbicide products for in-crop use with XtendFlex® Cotton. B.t. products may not yet be registered in all states. Check with your representative for the registration status in your state. Roundup Ready® Technology contains genes that confer tolerance to glyphosate.

Products with XtendFlex® Technology contains genes that confer tolerance to glyphosate, glufosinate and dicamba. Glyphosate will kill crops that are not tolerant to glyphosate. Glufosinate will kill crops that are not tolerant to glufosinate. Dicamba will kill crops that are not tolerant to dicamba. Contact your seed brand dealer or refer to the Bayer Technology Use Guide for recommended weed control programs. Insect control technology provided by Vip3A is utilized under license from Syngenta Crop Protection AG. Bollgard®, Respect the Refuge and Cotton Design® and XtendFlex® are trademarks of Bayer Group. LibertyLink® and the Water Droplet Design® are registered trademarks of BASF. Agrisure Viptera® is a trademark of a Syngenta Group Company. Excellence Through Stewardship® is a registered trademark of Excellence Through Stewardship.

All other products, company names and trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Before opening a bag of seed, be sure to read, understand and accept the stewardship requirements, including applicable refuge requirements for insect resistance management, for the biotechnology traits expressed in the seed as set forth in the Bayer Technology/Stewardship Agreement that you sign. By opening and using a bag of seed, you are reaffirming your obligation to comply with the most recent stewardship requirements.

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COTTON FARMING | FEBRUARY 2021

Dr. Murilo M. Maeda

Texas A&M Extension Cotton Specialist Honored Dr. Murilo M. Maeda, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension cotton specialist received the Dr. J. Tom Cothren Outstanding Young Cotton Physiologist Award at the 2021 Beltwide Cotton Conferences. Maeda was recognized for his dedicated service to cotton producers on the Texas High Plains.

The annual award is sponsored by PhytoGen cottonseed. It was initiated by the Beltwide Cotton Agronomy & Physiology Conference several years ago to provide recognition for cotton physiology researchers in the early part of their career.

The criteria for the Young Physiologist Award is that nominations be submitted by a peer prior to the nominee turning 40 years old and during the first 10 years after the nominee receives his or her highest academic degree.

In 2015, the award was renamed for Dr. J. Tom Cothren in remembrance of his many scientific and academic contributions to the cotton physiology community. Cothren was recognized as the Outstanding Cotton Physiologist in 2000.

Farmers National Reports A Surge In Land Prices What started out with better-thanexpected sales prices at land auctions before the fall harvest extended into strong prices at some auctions during October and November. What is propelling the land market and will this current surge in prices continue?

Agricultural land prices have been fairly stable in the past several years despite the gyrations of the ag economy.

Producer incomes were taking hits, but the land market took it in stride except for the hardest hit areas or segments.

The factors supporting the land market remained constant during this time.

They included historically low interest rates, a lower supply of land for sale and adequate demand for good cropland about everywhere.

The demand for land is the driver of the current land price surge.

“Values for good cropland are strong right now with more farmers stepping up to buy as well as a growing number of individual investors. Buying interest from farmers has increased as they anticipate a better income year in 2020 than once thought,” says Randy Dickhut, senior vice president of real estate operations at Farmers National Co. Higher commodity prices and the historic influx of government payments in 2020 have help e d t he financial condition of many farmers and therefore their interest in productive land.

Demand for all types of land has also seen an increase.

“The overall supply of good cropland for sale is on the low side and is similar to the past few years. Despite the slower ag land market, the dollar amount of land that Farmers National Co. is currently selling for its clients is near record levels at $300 million,” Dickhut says.

The new year will bring a renewed examination of the underlying factors propelling land prices.

There will be no large influx of government cash for producers in 2021, but grain prices are significantly higher so more net farm income will come from the market. Interest rates continue to be historically low, which supports strong land prices.

Looking ahead, the supply of ag land on the market will not change much as it remains mostly inheritors, estates and non-operating families who sell. Farm finances will be adequate for another year to avoid an increase in forced sales by lenders. Active demand for good cropland by farmers and investors will continue for now, Dickhut predicts.

For more information, visit www.

FarmersNational.com.

Continued on page 30 COTTONFARMING.COM

Specialists Speaking

Fine-Tune Plans Before Planting Begins TEXAS Murilo Maeda

I hope 2021 started out right for you. Here in the Texas High Plains, we have finally been blessed with some moisture, even if in the form of snow. The first half of January brought anywhere from 4 to 9 inches to much of West Texas. After melting, that may not amount to much, but we are certainly grateful for what we got, especially if you consider how dry it was last year.

Generally speaking, according to the West Texas Mesonet, areas west of Interstate-27 (between I-20 and I-40) received less than 10 inches of rainfall in 2020. Areas to the east received an additional 4 to 5 inches.

There are some places, however, like Brownfield in Terry County just 45 miles southwest of Lubbock that accumulated a grand total of 5.95 inches of rainfall in 2020. Needless to say, it was a challenging year — even for producers who have irrigation — but water availability is limited.

Regional large-plot variety trials have been harvested and fiber quality data has been analyzed. By the time this issue of Cotton Farming reaches you, the final RACE trial report for the Southern High Plains, as well as the Panhandle, should be available at our variety testing website http://varietytesting.tamu.edu/cotton/. If you do not see a trial near your location and/or you would like to host one at your farm, please let us know.

Our county/regional meetings will also be in full swing during February.

Extension is working hard to adapt to the new scenario, and most of these meetings are scheduled to happen online at this time. I suggest you contact your local county agent to confirm dates and times. We look forward to “seeing” you in these meetings. As always, feel free to reach out if there is any specific topic you would like addressed. mmaeda@ag.tamu.edu

OKLAHOMA Seth Byrd

Last month, I mentioned three characteristics beyond lint yield and fiber quality that may factor into 2021 variety selection — seedling vigor, maturity and storm tolerance. However, in recent years many have prioritized traits, specifically herbicide traits, when selecting varieties.

Beyond herbicide traits, there are now various Bt packages, as well as options to address bacterial blight, Verticillium wilt, root-knot nematodes, and most recently, reniform nematodes. This creates a large number of potential variety options. Even after potential varieties are narrowed down to a specific package, there is still an array of trait options from which to choose.

For many areas, not all variety traits may be necessary. Many parts of Oklahoma and other similar production environments may not put as much importance on three-gene Bt traits or varieties that contain resistance or tolerance to nematodes. Where these pests cause yield-limiting damage, those traits can offer solutions.

To help ensure the increased investment in varieties with more complex trait packages is worth it, farmers are encouraged to evaluate them on a small number of acres. Compare them to other varieties that may not contain the same trait package but are proven to perform well in that production environment.

Seed is typically one of the most expensive inputs for cotton production.

As trait packages become more complex, this cost will only rise. It is critical that farmers make sure the various aspects of a trait package provide a positive return on investment. seth.byrd@okstate.edu

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COTTON FARMING | FEBRUARY 2021

ARKANSAS Bill Robertson

The meeting season this spring has been a big change from the past. While a poor internet signal is a challenge for some in Arkansas, many feel they are about “Zoomed” out.

Regardless, the tight cash margins for our commodities is one thing that has not changed. Land-grant universities will continue to fine-tune the process to deliver unbiased information to stakeholders. Producers must continue to improve getting the most out of their inputs. Watch costs, yet provide necessary inputs to protect yield potential.

Variety selection for yield and quality as well as desired technology traits is an important first step in establishing yield potential. There are several resources available to assist in selecting new varieties. A useful tool is the University Variety Testing Program. Results from the Arkansas trials conducted by Dr. Fred Bourland may be found at https://aaes. uark.edu/variety-testing/. County demonstrations are another good source of information and are included with this data set. It is also appropriate to evaluate variety performance trials from neighboring states in the Mid-South.

Other practices to protect yield potential include matching nutrient applications to crop requirements, using integrated pest management tools to manage pests, fine-tuning irrigation scheduling, and using tools like Pipe Planner that can increase efficiency.

Following end-of-season termination guidelines coupled with variety selection and appropriate planting dates to get a picker in the field by mid-September is another important consideration. This will help to hold onto yield and quality potential while meeting our harvest completion goal of Nov. 1.

Contact your local county Extension agent to obtain information or to get assistance in improving efficiency and profitability. brobertson@ uaex.edu

MISSISSIPPI Brian Pieralisi

As 2021 races toward planting season, we can rest assured there will be challenges facing cotton growers in Mississippi and across the Cotton Belt.

In light of accepting this fate, it has been refreshing to see cotton market prices tick upward. Although this is great news for cotton farmers, cotton will likely compete with corn and soybean for acreage due to upward trending markets.

There is ample time to evaluate budgets, consider crop mix and make variety selection decisions. There are many useful resources to aid in making these important choices. Results for both Mississippi cotton official small-plot variety trials and Mississippi cotton on-farm variety trials can be viewed at www.mississippi-crops.com and https://bit.ly/2Y0nGJa. These websites also include yield performance and fiber quality data.

Variety selection influences agronomic management practices throughout the growing season. Attempt to match a variety’s growth habits to the proper location/environment, soil texture and irrigation practice. Also, consider varietal response to plant growth regulators, with respect to aggressive/passive treatment regimes, previous crop, nitrogen fertility, and integrated pest management strategies.

Recently, cotton seed quality and planting populations have been hot topics of discussion. In Mississippi, planting populations vary from COTTONFARMING.COM

Specialists Speaking

“Being ready to harvest cotton and peanuts at the same time can help prevent potential yield and quality loss,” says Florida cotton specialist David Wright.

30,000 to 55,000 plants per acre with little effect on lint yield. With rising seed costs, it seems like a no-brainer to plant fewer seed. The kicker is to have uniform seed distribution with an end population of 3 to 3.5 seed per foot of row. Easier said than done. Typically, factors influencing emergence are random and non-uniform, which further complicates issues.

Also, pay attention to both warm and cool germ on the seed bag.

While most of the seed we plant is premium quality, I would check the warm and cool germ of any variety I am planting, especially if considering a reduction in planting population. bkp4@msstate.edu

FLORIDA David Wright

High-yielding cotton varieties with good lint quality are important to economical production. Florida had one of the best early season cotton crops for two to three months in 2020 that we have seen in several years. It appeared to have the potential for a record state yield as of mid-August.

Numerous hurricanes and tropical storms (so many we lost count) started about this time, so fields stayed wet. As cotton began to open in the bottom of the canopy, we saw hardlock and seed sprouting in the boll.

As harvest neared, many cotton growers were delayed in getting their peanuts out by two to three weeks, which pushed cotton harvest even later. Some non-irrigated fields that had 2- to 3-bale yield potential were zeroed out and not harvested or yields were reduced along with quality.

What we thought may be a state average yield of 950 pounds per acre ended up at about a 675 pounds-per-acre yield at the end of harvest.

It is still important to follow variety trials within a range of your farm and look for varieties that are near the top of all trials over a range of management and soil types. As most fields have a lot variability, finding varieties that yield well fieldwide and over locations indicates yield stability.

TWITTER: @COTTONFARMING

Being ready to harvest cotton and peanuts at the same time can help prevent potential yield and quality loss. This also is a good plan for making a profitable crop even if it means hiring a custom harvester. wright@ ufl.edu

ALABAMA Steve M. Brown

The first fork in the road of variety selection is technology; specifically, herbicide management traits, either Enlist or Xtend. These provide tolerance to the auxin herbicides 2,4-D and dicamba, respectively. The associated trait packages also confer tolerance to glyphosate (Roundup, etc.) and glufosinate (Liberty, etc.). Obviously, the “fork” exists because the two auxin technologies are not cross tolerant for the other category of varieties. Both help deal with problem weeds.

The Enlist fork has PhytoGen varieties while the Xtend group includes Deltapine, Americot NexGen, Armor (formerly Cropland), Dynagro and Stoneville.

Both auxin technologies require SPECIAL (might we say EXTREME!) care to prevent or minimize off-target problems. I’ve seen off-target issues with both, including physical drift, inversions, unusual wind patterns and tank contamination. Of the two, 2,4-D is much more injurious to non-Enlist cotton than dicamba is to non-Xtend cotton. The reverse is true for soybeans. Dicamba is more volatile than 2,4-D, and the latter currently has some tankmix advantages, especially with glufosinate.

Choices on surrounding farms matter, too.

The advantage for Xtend is the multitude of brands and varieties available. These numbers and performance are aided by the time of introduction and the associated duration of breeding and development.

Can a farm employ both technologies? Only with special oversight.

It’s often best done by production segregation; i.e. “fields south of the highway gets A, everything else gets B” or some other logical, easy-to-reFEBRUARY 2021 | COTTON FARMING

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Specialists Speaking member boundary or grouping. I’ve witnessed the expensive, painful error where the wrong cotton is sprayed. Arguably, the farmer who grows cotton and peanuts uses two technologies and might even use a “peanut” sprayer through which 2,4-DB has been applied to treat Enlist cotton with appropriate 2,4-D products.

A second fork is Bt traits. Every brand is moving toward three Bt gene varieties. Yes, there are still some two-gene stars, most notably DP 1646 B2XF. Beltwide data shows emerging resistance to two-gene products.

Still, in the Lower Southeast we’ve seen few worm escapes in recent years and have some good insecticide options. At the least, we need to be gaining experience with three-gene varieties.

Other forks can be chosen once you’ve settled the biggest choice(s). cottonbrown@auburn.edu

TEXAS Ben McKnight

The month of February ushers in the new growing season in Texas. As I write this on Jan. 18, we are about a month away from some of the first early plantings occurring in the Lower Rio Grande Valley. Much of this growing region is in moderate to severe drought, and any rainfall prior to planting in the LRGV is certainly welcomed.

Recent precipitation in the Coastal Bend brought some relief to the area, which was previously in moderate drought conditions. Currently, soil moisture is good in much of the Rolling Plains after good fall and winter precipitation. Early January winter weather brought 3 to 5 inches of snow to parts of East Texas and the Blacklands. The slow melting over a couple days was ideal for improving subsoil moisture ahead of the growing season.

Now is a great time to start thinking about what our early season herbicide programs are going to include. The addition of residual products to preplant burndown programs can often enhance weed control going into the season and help reduce early season competition. Also, by taking weed pressure off the postemergence programs to follow, we are helping preserve the longevity of post-applied products and technologies. We also are doing ourselves a big favor regarding herbicide resistance management.

Keep in mind that each residual product has unique characteristics.

The label provides directions addressing important considerations, including plant-back restrictions, crop rotation restrictions and herbicide activation requirements.

Variety selection and associated herbicide traits often influence how post-emergence herbicide programs are going to shape up. In areas where pigweeds and others are becoming increasingly difficult to manage with glyphosate, growers may consider planting LibertyLink, XtendFlex and Enlist varieties. In areas where glyphosate is still viable, Roundup Ready Flex and GlyTol varieties may be a more economical option.

Keep in mind that annual auxin training is mandatory for anyone planning to apply auxin herbicides on varieties with corresponding traits.

I also encourage growers to use the 2020 cotton variety results to identify which varieties are better suited for their areas and operations. Visit varietytesting.tamu.edu. bmcknight@tamu.edu

TENNESSEE Tyson Raper

Based on the 2021 variety data from across the region, I believe the variety selection decision is getting easier. From the 2020 Tennessee data, it is clear that we have well over a handful of high-yielding, yield-stable varieties offered by a range of companies.

Better yet, several of these contain three Bt genes and have performed at a high level for several consecutive years. My variety mix still contains a large portion of the two Bt gene varieties, but I’m comfortable blending several of the three Bt gene varieties into the mix based on their recent performance.

Maturity remains a very important factor for those in the upper Mid-South. In 2020, we watched a few of our mid-maturing cultivars slip in performance compared to several early-mid varieties. Remember that we need an early plant date and good fall to capitalize on midmaturing cultivars.

Also, pay attention to plant growth regulator response ratings. Our current commercial varieties vary drastically in their response (and need for) plant growth regulators. Fortunately, bacterial blight has not been a widespread issue for us. However, use disease resistance to separate varieties — particularly bacterial blight and/or Verticillium wilt — if they have been issues for you in the past. traper@utk.edu

CARROL SMITH

“When selecting varieties, remember that we need an early plant date and good fall to capitalize on mid-maturing cultivars,” says Tennessee Extension cotton specialist Tyson Raper. “Also, pay attention to plant growth regulator response ratings.”

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COTTON FARMING | FEBRUARY 2021

COTTONFARMING.COM

ou i s i an a St ate Un ive rs it y AgCenter has named Matt Foster as the statewide specialist for cotton, corn and grain sorghum. He started Jan. 19 and was ready to go to work.

“My first day was already planned out with a grower meeting to meet producers,” Foster says. “I’m already putting things on my calendar.”

“He will get the program up to speed very quickly,” says Melissa Cater, director of the AgCenter Northeast Region. “We’re delighted to have him join our staff.”

Foster’s qualifications and background fit well with cotton, corn and grain sorghum cropping systems. He has been working as an area Extension agent with sugarcane and soybeans in Ascension Parish, where he has been based, along with St. James, St. John the Baptist, St. Charles, Lafourche, Terrebonne and Assumption parishes.

“Working in the sugarcane industry has been a great experience,” he says.

Foster received his doctorate degree

from LSU in 2018 in agronomy under Jim Griffin. He earned a bachelor’s degree from LSU in agricultural pest management in 2012.

Foster is based at the AgCenter Macon Ridge Research Station near Winnsboro and also has an office at the AgCenter Northeast Research Station at St. Joseph.

Matt Foster

OLIVIA MCCLURE

L

New Specialist Has Local Roots

Extension Experience

Foster says his work as an Extension agent and as an intern with the late Concordia Parish agent Glen Daniels showed him the value of Extension agents.

“In my opinion, Extension agents are the lifeline of the LSU AgCenter,” Foster says. “I plan on maintaining a close relationship with parish Extension agents.”

Foster says his first experience with agriculture was while growing up in Vidalia, when he worked for a farmer and ag consultant.

“I grew up working on a family friend’s farm at age 13 on his sweet corn operation,” Foster says.

Eventually, Foster started scouting for

crop pests “and doing anything that needed to be done on the farm.”

LSU AgCenter pest management specialist Al Orgeron has worked with Foster on sugarcane.

“I think Matt is going to do a fantastic job. He’s very sharp, with a broad knowledge about Louisiana crops,” Orgeron says. “He’s well suited for the position.”

Bruce Schultz, assistant communications specialist at the LSU AgCenter, contributed this article.

Market your cotton in a pool and you get peace of mind. Market in our pool and youʼre likely to also get a decent profit. In fact, in 2019 we paid 18¢ over loan. If that sounds pretty good, give one of our reps a call.

C O T T O N S O L U T I O N S C O O P. C O M This information does not constitute investment services, investment advice, or financial product advice as defined by applicable laws and/or regulations, nor is it to be construed as legal or tax advice. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

TWITTER: @COTTONFARMING

FEBRUARY 2021 | COTTON FARMING

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N

UArk Updates 2021 Pest Management Guides

ew editions of the most widely used publications from the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture are now available. They offer the latest research-based recommendations for managing insects, weeds and diseases in row-crop agriculture, as well as in fruit, vegetable and garden production.

The 2021 publications are:  MP44: Recommended Chemicals for Weed and Brush Control.  MP144: Insecticide Recommendations for Arkansas.  MP154: Arkansas Plant Disease Control Products Guide.

Printed copies are available at county Extension offices at no charge.

“The MP publications are used by everyone in any agricultural commodity or where pesticides are used,” says Victor L. Ford, associate vice president for Agriculture and Natural Resources

with the Cooperative Extension Service.

“These recommendations are based on solid research and are the reliable sources of information for Arkansans. In addition to traditional pesticide applications, there are often organic recommendations where one is available.”

“MP” stands for “miscellaneous publication.” More than 20,000 copies of the 2021 guides have been distributed to county Extension offices across the state.

The guides are updated annually. The earliest version of MP44, “Recommended Chemicals for Weed and Brush,” on file with the Cooperative Extension Service dates back to 1961.

Guide Descriptions

“The 2021 MP44, ‘Recommended Chemicals for Weed and Brush Control,’ is a one-stop shop for all you need to know about herbicides, applications and the most up-to-date research-supported weed

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COTTON FARMING | FEBRUARY 2021

control recommendations for Arkansas,” says Dr. Tommy Butts, assistant professor and Extension weed scientist.

“It covers all weed control areas including row crops, pasture, turfgrass, horticulture and aquatic weeds. This publication can help any farmer, gardener or landowner with their weed control needs.”

MP144, “Insecticide Recommendations for Arkansas,” is Extension’s most-requested entomology-related publication, says Glenn Studebaker, Extension entomologist for the Division of Agriculture.

“MP144 contains information on recommended insecticides in row crops, animal agriculture, fruits, nuts, vegetables — both home garden and commercial — as well as household pests,” he says.

“The publication gives recommended treatment thresholds as well as information on pesticide safety and important label requirements. The mobile-friendly edition is still available and now has recommendations for fruits, nuts, commercial vegetables as well as home gardens.”

The “Arkansas Plant Disease Control Products Guide” — or MP 154 — contains information useful to both commercial producers and homeowners, Extension plant pathologist Travis Faske says.

“The guide includes a list of fungicides and nematicides registered for use in Arkansas that are used to control diseases of row (field) crops, vegetables, small fruits, turfgrass and ornamental plants,” he says.

“For the past two years, we have grouped the row crops together at the beginning of the book for quick reference by farmers, consultants and county agents.

“For some of the major row crop diseases, the book includes information on fungicide efficacy, fungicide timing and steps to mitigate the development of diseases that are resistant to fungicides.”

The guides are generated by Extension personnel who conduct applied research trials across the state.

Digital copies are available online at https://www.uaex.edu/publications/new. aspx.

The University of Arkansas contributed this article.

COTTONFARMING.COM

K

When Earliness Really Counts

ansas doesn’t typically come to mind when most people in the industry talk about cotton, but that has been changing over the past few years. In 1995, there was a mere 3,200 acres of cotton in the state. By 2019, the acreage had increased to 175,000 acres.

“I originally decided to grow cotton because of the potential for a greater return on investment,” says Brian Bretz, a grower in Moundridge, Kansas, approximately 40 miles north of Wichita.

Bretz has a diversified farming operation that includes corn, alfalfa, soybeans and wheat. Last season was his third year to grow cotton. His company — Blazefork Farms — now contributes 1,200-1,500 cotton acres to Kansas’ overall planted acreage.

Variety Selection

As cotton growers across the Belt might imagine, variety selection on the north reaches of the Cotton Belt is critical.

“In 2020, we planted PhytoGen 210 W3FE and NexGen varieties,” Bretz says. “Basically, we choose varieties that have traits similar to what they plant in Lubbock, Texas. This far north, earliness is obviously an important consideration when it comes to cotton.

“Variety selection is not the only important factor we consider in our cotton program. We also look at factors such as pesticides and how we can get the crop off to a good start. Earliness means a lot when you have limited heat units in the growing season.”

Early Season Cotton Pests

Nematodes and thrips are two key pests Bretz faces in cotton.

“Most of our pest issues are early season problems,” he says.

“Thrips are definitely a problem, especially when the wheat dries up. They start migrating to greener options.”

The neighbor who suggested Bretz give cotton a try three years earlier also recommended he use AgLogic aldicarb for early season pest control. “I think because we used aldicarb, we didn’t have a significant problem with thrips. The only regret I have is that I didn’t have a test strip to evaluate exactly how it helped us with early season pests.”

Bretz applied AgLogic aldicarb at 6 pounds per acre on 30-inch rows. A variable often difficult to determine outside a replicated trial setting is the effect of yield-robbing nematodes.

“I know my fields have nematodes,” Bretz says. “Even though we rotate with other crops, I believe that’s another advantage that AgLogic aldicarb provides.”

Seed treatments versus after-planting in-furrow applications are always a consideration, Bretz says. “In 2020, I purchased seed with the extra treatments. For the coming season, I plan to purchase seed with only the basic seed treatment at about $3-$5 (per acre). That will save me about $20 (per acre) to go toward aldicarb. I think it gives me a better range of pest protection and the earliness factor that is so critical in this area.”

Brenda Carol contributed this article on behalf of AgLogic.

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Products Use Notice for “I Choose Results” Advertorial for Roundup Ready® Xtend Crop System Bayer is a member of Excellence Through Stewardship® (ETS). Bayer products are commercialized in accordance with ETS Product Launch Stewardship Guidance, and in compliance with Bayer’s Policy for Commercialization of BiotechnologyDerived Plant Products in Commodity Crops.

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. Excellence Through Stewardship® is a registered trademark of Excellence Through Stewardship. herbicide with VaporGrip® XtendiMax® Technology is part of the Roundup Ready® Xtend Crop System, is a restricted use pesticide and must be used with VaporGrip® Xtra Agent (or an equivalent vapor reducing agent). For approved tank-mix products (including VRAs and DRAs), nozzles and other important label information visit XtendiMaxApplicationRequirements.com.

ALWAYS READ AND FOLLOW PESTICIDE LABEL DIRECTIONS. It is a violation of federal and state law to use any pesticide product other than in accordance with its labeling.

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

ONLY USE FORMULATIONS THAT ARE SPECIFICALLY LABELED FOR SUCH USES AND APPROVED FOR SUCH USE IN THE STATE OF APPLICATION. Contact the U.S. EPA and your state pesticide regulatory agency with any questions about the approval status of dicamba herbicide products for in-crop use with Roundup Ready 2 Xtend® soybeans or products with XtendFlex® Technology.

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

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.

Products with XtendFlex® Technology contains genes that confer tolerance to glyphosate, glufosinate and dicamba.

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 seed brand dealer or refer to the Bayer Technology Use Guide for recommended weed control programs.

Insect control technology provided by Vip3A is utilized under license from Syngenta Crop Protection AG. XtendiMax® is a restricted use pesticide. Not all products are registered in all states and may be subject to use restrictions.

The distribution, sale, or use of an unregistered pesticide is a violation of federal and/or state law and is strictly prohibited. Check with your local dealer or representative for the product registration status in your state. Bayer, Bayer Cross, Bollgard®, Respect the Refuge and Cotton Design®, Roundup Ready®, VaporGrip®, XtendFlex® and XtendiMax® are registered trademarks of Bayer Group. LibertyLink® and the Water Droplet Design® is a trademark of BASF Corporation. For additional product information call toll-free 1-866-99-BAYER (1866-992-2937) or visit our website at www.

BayerCropScience.us. Bayer CropScience LP, 800 North Lindbergh Boulevard, St. Louis, MO 63167. ©2020 Bayer Group. All rights reserved.

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COTTON FARMING | FEBRUARY 2021

Industry News Continued from page 22

Award Recognizes Farmer’s Risk Management Skills The Joseph J. O’Neill Cotton Marketer of the Year award presented by ICE Futures (formerly New York Cotton Exchange) and BASF dates back to 1991.

This year’s recipient, Barry Evans, is a fourth-generation farmer in Swisher County, Texas. After receiving a degree in agricultural business and economics at West Texas State University (now West Texas A&M), he worked in the commodity futures industry before returning to the farm in 1992. He farmed and managed a family-owned commercial grain elevator until 2013. Today, Evans farms full time and is the secretary and treasurer of the National Cotton Council and a member of the board of Texas Grain Sorghum Producers.

“Barry has been a tremendous advocate for the cotton industry for many years, and this award recognizes his knowledge extends well beyond growing the crop,” says Dr. Kenny Melton, BASF western region agronomic manager.

“Risk management is essential for every farming operation, and Barry’s marketing reflects the work needed to understand the macro and microeconomics of these tumultuous markets.”

ThryvOn Technology Granted Nonregulated Status The U.S. Department of Agriculture has approved Bayer’s petition for nonregulated status of MON 88702 (ThryvOn technology).

“This trait represents the industry’s first cotton biotech trait to protect against feeding damage from key tarnished plant bug and thrips species,” says Jon Riley, North America cotton trait launch lead at Bayer says, “The new technology provides cotton growers an additional tool to manage these damaging pests.”

The company says it is making plans for a stewarded Ground Breakers Field Trial Program introduction of the product in U.S. geographies this season.

Bayer anticipates following with a full commercial launch, pending regulatory approvals and other factors.

Corteva Agriscience Offers Education, Training Resources A variety of educational and training opportunities for the Enlist weed control system in the 2021 growing season is available online. A Step Ahead webinars, led by Enlist field specialists, will feature application training sessions and a new, five-part monthly series.

The hour-long sessions cover how to achieve effective weed control on acres of Enlist E3 soybeans, tankmixing with Enlist herbicides, field planning scenarios and spray requirements.

Farmers and applicators will have the opportunity to learn firsthand about a wide variety of weed control topics.

They include spring herbicide programs, tank-mixing and nozzle selection.

To register, go to https://www.enlist. com/en/enlist-360-training.html. After registering, participants will receive a confirmation email containing instructions for joining the webinar.

U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol Welcomes Its First Latin America-Based Members Membership in the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol enables 26 Latin America-based mills and manufacturers to prove that the cotton fiber element in their textiles is more sustainably grown.

“The Trust Protocol is providing verified, reliable data about cotton growers’ responsible growing practices in six key areas — water use, greenhouse gas emissions, energy use, soil carbon, soil loss and land use efficiency — and shows how sustainability is constantly improving through the entire supply chain,” says Dr. Gary Adams, president of the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol.

Mills and manufacturers who become members have access to the Trust Protocol credit system to validate consumption of cotton and associated credits. The combination of a unique credit accounting system and the Permanent Bale Identification system enables brands to have transparency throughout the supply chain to finished product.

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COTTON FARMING IS THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE GINNING INDUSTRY.

Seed Coat Fragments Challenged Gins In 2020 Seed coat fragments have been a long-term issue for cotton.

Fragment outbreaks occur sporadically every three to five years in some region of the United States. Last year, the region included Alabama, Georgia and Florida, with the biggest outbreak of seed fragment calls in the past 20 years. And it was no coincidence this is also one of the worst years for tropical storms.

Seed coat fragments are formed when a part of the cottonseed wall breaks off and often attaches to fibers. This makes it particularly difficult for the gin and textile mills to remove as all their equipment is designed to keep fibers in the process.

Seed coat fragments have been studied at length. Since 2003, Cotton Incorporated has sponsored a consistent research program on fragment reduction with the U.S. Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service gin labs, Texas Tech University and North Carolina State University. We have learned a lot over that period. Before sharing, I want to emphasize there is strong evidence that what we saw in 2020 is highly weather related.

Conditions Conducive To Seed Coat Fragments When open bolls get wet, three things can happen that will lead to seed coat fragments:

 Seed sprout — If the seed sprouts in the boll, there will definitely be seed coats found in the cotton when it is ginned.  Wet seed at the gin — Cotton lint dries much faster than the seed. This can lead to cotton being harvested when it appears to be dry, but the seed is still wet. Wet seed will

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https://shop.lummus.com The new site features hundreds of our most common repair parts, and we are continually adding to it.

And while you are online, check out the all-new Lummus Ag Technology website at www.lummus.com, featuring updated information related to the broad range of Lummus product offerings in Machinery, Parts, and Technical Service. Just more ways Lummus is prepared to serve you now and in the future.

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© 2020 Lummus Ag Technology FEBRUARY 2021 | COTTON FARMING

31

be pulled through the ribs of the gin stand and forms seed coats  Wetting and drying of seed in the field — When the seed takes up moisture during high humidity, it will expand and then shrink as it dries. A few cycles of wetting and drying, and the seed coat becomes weak and can easily break during the harvest and ginning process. All three of these likely contributed to seed coat fragments last year.

Some Theories Debunked I have heard a few theories about what caused seed coat fragment problems beyond weather, and I can dismiss a few. One is that the Macon, Georgia, classing office made too many seed coat fragment calls. The USDA-AMS classing system has a very robust set of checks and balances. They were aware early in the season an anomaly was occurring and were careful to make sure they were properly defining seed coat fragments.

As some evidence, I can personally confirm that Cotton Incorporated’s fiber processing lab purchased 4 bales from Georgia that had seed coat fragment calls, and they were indeed full of seed coat fragments. On the plus side, those bales were purchased so our textile experts could process them and provide assistance to mills on how to handle 2020’s seed coat fragments.

They can be a real challenge for mills if not handled correctly.

In addition to potentially ending up in fabric, the oil in the seed coat fragments in a worst-case scenario can coat the equipment and require the mill to shut down for cleaning.

These ginners have been reelected to the board, and two vacancies remain unfilled.  Tom Gaffney, J.G. Boswell Co.  Greg Gillard, Olam Cotton.  Tom Pires, West Island Cotton Growers.

The following growers were reelected:  Jim Razor, J.G. Boswell Co, Kings County.  Phil Hansen, Hansen Ranches.  Geoff Toledo, Hanford.  Southern California will again be represented by Tim Cox, Palo Verde Valley.

All board member positions are three-year terms, while officers serve in those positions for two years.

The California Cotton Ginners and Growers Association provided this information.

Cotton’s Calendar Due to the fluid situation involving COVID-19, some listed events may be virtual, canceled or postponed. Please verify the status with the individual organizations. ¢

Feb. 9-11: 2021 NCC Annual Meeting, VIRTUAL.

Feb. 10: Arkansas State University’s 27th annual Agribusiness Conference, VIRTUAL. Information on the virtual conference and instructions on how to register and view are available at https://bit. ly/3sO9twZ. For assistance, email AState_Agribus_Conf@AState. edu or call Abigail Coleman at 541-953-4487.

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¢

Variety By Environment Interaction In past years when seed coat fragments were a problem, there was often a strong variety by environment interaction. (For example, a particular variety has seed coat fragments one year when other varieties do not. Then in another year, that same variety does not have them). There is not conclusive evidence variety was a factor last year; however, the fact that there were not problems in South Carolina and North Carolina where some of the same varieties are grown reinforces the hypothesis that weather was the dominant factor.

Finally, keep in mind the first boll on a plant opens at the bottom when it is hidden from sight and will occur anywhere from 50 to 70 days before the crop is harvested. Those bottom bolls are the ones most likely to stay wet.

Cotton Incorporated-funded research is making progress in addressing seed coat fragments by improving the lint cleaner at the gin and developing tools that could help breeder screen for genotypes that are prone to seed coat fragments in the future.

We have found that seed size is not a good predictor of seed coat fragments but how strongly the fiber is attached to the seed (attachment force) and seed coat strength are.

Why is this problem still not solved? Part of it is the infrequent nature of seed coat fragments and the interaction between variety and environment. We will continue to work on this issue with the hope the next time they occur, we can further reduce the problems they cause and possibly reduce the frequency of such events.

Ed Barnes, Cotton Incorporated Agricultural and Environmental Research Division, contributed this article.

* * * * *

Association Announces Election Results The California Cotton Ginners and Growers Association has released the election results for the 2021-2024 term. The only nominations received were for the incumbents.

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COTTON FARMING | FEBRUARY 2021

¢ Feb. 10-11: Louisiana Agricultural Technology & Management Conference, VIRTUAL. For specific details about the Zoom sessions, watch your email, visit laca1.org or email Denise Wright at denise@ laca1.org. ¢ Feb. 17: PCCA Board, Delegate Body & Marketing Pool Committee Meetings, Lubbock, Texas. ¢ Feb. 18: Alabama Row Crop Production Meeting, VIRTUAL. The event is free, but you must preregister at https://bit.ly/2KyZBWL to receive a Zoom link. ¢ Feb. 24: Joint Cotton Industry Bale Packaging Committee Meeting, VIRTUAL. ¢ Feb. 25: Clemson University Cooperative Extension Service will offer four VIRTUAL 2021 Dicamba Use Programs during the month of February, 6-7 p.m. EST. By participating in this program, you will receive your certification for the purchase and use of dicamba herbicides in South Carolina for 2021. ¢ Feb. 26-27: 69th annual Mid-South Farm and Gin Show, Renasant Convention Center (formerly the Cook Convention Center), Memphis, Tennessee. Currently, it is planned as a hybrid event with both IN-PERSON and VIRTUAL components. ¢ April 8-9: 2021 TCGA Annual Meeting and Trade Show, Lubbock Memorial Civic Center, Lubbock, Texas.

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My Turn My Cotton Journey Began In Ag Econ

I

t wasn’t like I hadn’t A few crops later, I remember sleeping through seen cotton all my the smooth swoosh of the Thrush turbines as they life growing up in the made their GPS glide over the rooftop like an D e s e r t S o u t hw e s t . E ticket ride at Disneyland.

I just didn’t expect it to We grew many different cotton varieties over the become my life. years. DP90 was one of them. It was a great variety, I signed up for Ag Econ but I would say a prayer before walking into the fields 313, Economics of Futures to gather petioles in July and August. You could get Markets, while planning my lost under the towering lateral branches. I prayed senior year with my college I’d be found alive if I disappeared in the growth and adviser. It turned out to be didn’t make it home.

Karen my favorite class. And, as an We persisted during rough times in Arizona with Geldmacher aside, all the popular aggie pinkies and whiteflies. I still have t-shirts that say, “I guys were in the class. survived the pink bollworm” and “I ate my share of I didn’t have a car at college, so my dad told me to whiteflies today.” make friends with people who had cars. If I wanted But there were the great years, too — watching to go home for a visit, I could usually find a ride with our kids dig for planted seeds, learn to drive tractors, one of the guys in the econ class who was going the swing bug nets and pick cotton. same direction.

Even the tough parts are good to reflect on, like One weekend, I hitched a ride with someone who the time I jackknifed a cotton trailer. We hauled the drove through the heart trailers 40 miles from of Arizona’s cotton counour farm in Stanfield, “I prayed I’d be found alive try, Pinal County. My Arizona, to Producers if I disappeared in the growth.” Gin in C o olidge. I tour guide was great, and along the way I learned braked for a stop sign about varieties, management, harvesting and market- and jackknifed the truck and trailer on a rural dirt ing “oro blanco,” Arizona’s white gold. road outside Casa Grande. I was rescued by a kid in a As chance would have it following college, my Ford Pinto who eventually became one of our county first job was working for the Natural Resources agents.

Conservation Service designing water systems for I later spent a few years outside the cotton industry cotton farmers in Pinal County. At that time, we teaching community college agriculture. I would buy used steel tapes, wooden stakes and a survey instru- my students lunch if they would travel with me on ment to plot cuts and fills for level basin irrigation the days I did plant mapping. It was a way I could systems on thousands of acres. There were no lasers get some help pulling plants and recording data. or GPS. I wore out lots of boot soles on those dusty Rattlesnakes are not real common in Arizona cotton fields. The farm fields and miles of concrete ditch fields, but one afternoon my helper and I got a bit line anchored farming friendships that have lasted a closer than planned to one. We both scrambled out of lifetime. the row like lightning, each taking a different route.

Shortly thereafter, I married a cotton farmer. Farm I’m retired from teaching now and spend my cotliving was the life for me. We had pocket mice in my ton days with Americot as their germplasm specialist kitchen silverware drawer, rattlesnakes under the for Arizona. It just so happens that my customers are porch steps and dust storms that would block out the some of those popular aggie guys from my ag econ sun. class at the University of Arizona.

I’ve been rattled out of bed in the middle of the night by a Grumman Ag Cat barreling down on — Karen Geldmacher the bedroom window, lights as bright as the sun Casa Grande, Arizona and a motor sounding like the engine of a train. karengeldmacher@gmail.com Cotton Farming’s back page is devoted to telling unusual “farm tales” or timely stories from across the Cotton Belt. Now it’s your turn. If you’ve got an interesting story to tell, send a short summary to csmith@onegrower.com. We look forward to hearing from you.

34

COTTON FARMING | FEBRUARY 2021

COTTONFARMING.COM

THIS SEASON

CHOOSE RESULTS 87 LBS/A ADVANTAGE on average vs. key competitors in head-to-head testing1

CONTROLS MORE WEEDS than any other cotton system2

UP TO 14 DAYS OF SOIL ACTIVITY on certain small-seeded broadleaf weeds3

#1 COTTON SYSTEM PLANTED BY GROWERS +

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Restricted Use Pesticide

Xtend your yield | RoundupReadyXtend.com

1 Data as of February 4, 2020. Yield advantage calculated comparing top 3 Bollgard® 3 XtendFlex® varieties by region to top planted Phytogen WideStrike ® 3 with Roundup Ready® Flex and Enlist™ varieties by region (USDA – Varieties Planted report – 2019). Texas regions include DP 1820 B3XF, DP 1845 B3XF, DP 1948 B3XF, DP 1835 B3XF, DP 1916 B3XF vs. PHY 250 W3FE, PHY 300 W3FE, PHY 330 W3FE, PHY 350 W3FE, PHY 480 W3FE, PHY 490 W3FE. Midsouth region includes CG 9608 B3XF, DG 3520 B3XF, DG 3570 B3XF vs. PHY 320 W3FE, PHY 330 W3FE, PHY 350 W3FE, PHY 430 W3FE, PHY 580 W3FE. Southeast and Carolinas region includes DG 3615 B3XF, CG 9608 B3XF, DG 3753 B3XF vs. PHY 300 W3FE, PHY 320 W3FE, PHY 330 W3FE, PHY 340 W3FE, PHY 350 W3FE, PHY 430 W3FE, PHY 440 W3FE, PHY 480 W3FE, PHY 580 W3FE. N = 503 trials (Bayer internal trials and Public Testing) 2017-2019.

2 Based on approved EPA herbicide labels for the herbicides recommended for use in each system as of Oct. 2020.

3 Results may vary, depending on rainfall and soil type. Always use dicamba with residual herbicides in pre-emergence and postemergence applications that have different, effective sites of action, along with other Diversified Weed Management Practices. Based on approved EPA herbicide labels as of Oct. 2020.

4 Traited acres based on Bayer internal estimates.

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.

NOTICE: DO NOT APPLY ANY HERBICIDE TO SEED IN THE ROUNDUP READY® XTEND CROP SYSTEM UNLESS IT HAS A PRODUCT LABEL SPECIFICALLY AUTHORIZING THAT USE. TO USE A HERBICIDE IN ANY MANNER INCONSISTENT WITH ITS LABELING IS A VIOLATION OF FEDERAL LAW. REFER TO THE BAYER TECHNOLOGY USE GUIDE FOR DETAILS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ON USING APPROVED ROUNDUP ® AND LIBERTY® BRANDED HERBICIDES ON SEED IN THE ROUNDUP READY® XTEND CROP SYSTEM. XtendiMax® herbicide with VaporGrip® Technology is part of the Roundup Ready ® Xtend Crop System, is a restricted use pesticide and must be used with VaporGrip® Xtra Agent (or an equivalent vapor reducing agent). For approved tank-mix products (including VRAs and DRAs), nozzles and other important label information visit XtendiMaxApplicationRequirements.com ALWAYS READ AND FOLLOW PESTICIDE LABEL DIRECTIONS. XtendiMax® herbicide with VaporGrip® Technology is a restricted use pesticide. Not all products are registered in all states and may be subject to use restrictions. The distribution, sale, or use of an unregistered pesticide is a violation of federal and/or state law and is strictly prohibited. Check with your local dealer or representative for the product registration status in your state. Roundup Ready ® and VaporGrip® are registered trademarks of Bayer Group. ©2020 Bayer Group. All rights reserved.

For additional product information call toll-free 1-866-99-BAYER (1-866-992-2937) or visit our website at www.BayerCropScience.us. Bayer CropScience LP, 800 North Lindbergh Boulevard, St. Louis, MO 63167. ©2020 Bayer Group. All rights reserved.

ALWAYS READ AND FOLLOW GRAIN MARKETING AND ALL OTHER STEWARDSHIP PRACTICES AND PESTICIDE LABEL DIRECTIONS. See the Products Use Notice for “I Choose Results” advertisement for Roundup Ready ® Xtend Crop System printed in this publication.

All trademarks are the property of their respective owners. ©2020 Bayer Group. All rights reserved.

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ALWAYS READ AND FOLLOW GRAIN MARKETING AND ALL OTHER STEWARDSHIP PRACTICES AND PESTICIDE LABEL DIRECTIONS. It is a violation of federal and state law to use any pesticide product other than in accordance with its labeling. NOT ALL formulations of dicamba, glyphosate or glufosinate are approved for in-crop use with products with XtendFlex® Technology. ONLY USE FORMULATIONS THAT ARE SPECIFICALLY LABELED FOR SUCH USES AND APPROVED FOR SUCH USE IN THE STATE OF APPLICATION. Contact the U.S. EPA and your state pesticide regulatory agency with any questions about the approval status of dicamba herbicide products or products with XtendFlex® Technology. FOR COTTON, EACH ACCELERON® SEED APPLIED SOLUTIONS OFFERING is a combination of separate individually registered products containing the active ingredients: BASIC Offering: metalaxyl, fluxapyroxad, myclobutanil and pyraclostrobin. STANDARD Offering: metalaxyl, fluxapyroxad, pyraclostrobin, myclobutanil and imidacloprid. ELITE plus Poncho®/VOTiVO® Offering: metalaxyl, fluxapyroxad, pyraclostrobin, myclobutanil, imidacloprid, clothianidin and Bacillus Firmus I-1582. The distribution, sale or use of an unregistered pesticide is a violation of federal and/or state law and is strictly prohibited. Not all products are approved in all states. Products with XtendFlex® Technology contain genes that confer tolerance to glyphosate, glufosinate and dicamba. Glyphosate will kill crops that are not tolerant to glyphosate. Glufosinate will kill crops that are not tolerant to glufosinate.

Dicamba will kill crops that are not tolerant to dicamba. Contact your seed brand dealer or refer to the Bayer Technology Use Guide for recommended weed control programs. Acceleron®, Bayer, Bayer Cross, Deltapine® and XtendFlex® are registered trademarks of Bayer Group. ©2020 Bayer Group. All Rights Reserved.