Cotton farming january 2017 by One Grower Publishing

Cotton Farming ONE GROWER PUBLISHING, LLC

PROFITABLE PRODUCTION STRATEGIES

JANUARY 2017

www.cottonfarming.com

MONITORING SOIL MOISTURE DOESN’T HAVE TO BE COMPLICATED

Keeping Things Simple

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It takes an inner strength to make it through the season. Start strong with Stoneville . ®

A great cotton season calls for strength in you and your crop. It’s always been that way for growers who know the art of growing cotton. And when you plant Stoneville®, our science keeps delivering early-season vigor, which leads to in-season strength and high yield potential at harvest. So combine our science with your art and start strong with Stoneville. Learn more at Stoneville.com

Stoneville. Our Science for Your Art.

©2016 Bayer CropScience LP, 2 T.W. Alexander Drive, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709. Always read and follow label instructions. Bayer, the Bayer Cross, Stoneville and Stoneville Design are registered trademarks of Bayer. For additional product information, call toll-free 1-866-99-BAYER (1-866-992-2937) or visit our website at www.Stoneville.com CR0916STONEVA228V00R0 A-28597-2

Vol. 61 No. 1

Cotton Farming PROFITABLE PRODUCTION STRATEGIES

JANUARY 2017

www.cottonfarming.com

F E AT U R E S

8 20

CLASS OF 17 ANNOUNCED One of the two varieties in the Deltapine Class of 17 is a Bollgard II XtendFlex cotton with root-knot nematode resistance.

GINNING MARKETPLACE THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE GINNING INDUSTRY

Kent Fountain encourages ginners to attend breakout sessions at the 2017 Southern Southeastern Annual Meeting, Jan. 18-22.

CCOY 2016 Cotton Consultant of the Year

12 Keeping It Simple Texas cotton producer David Carter says monitoring soil moisture and scheduling irrigation doesn’t have to be complicated to be effective. He relies on his consultant to read soil moisture sensors during weekly visits to fields to scout for pests and recommend the coming week’s irrigation rate and duration.

DEPARTMENTS & COLUMNS

4 Editor’s Note 16 Specialists Speaking 5 Cotton’s Agenda 22 My Turn 6 Research & Promotion ON THE COVER: Levelland, Texas, cotton grower David Carter was part of a pilot program that compared high-tech moisture sensors to his traditional system. Cover photo by Vicky Boyd.

The ballots have been tallied. Look for the big announcement about the 2016 winner in next month’s issue of Cotton Farming!

Wes Bri ggs

2015 Co Consul tton tant of the Ye ar

Cotton Farming

WEB EXCLUSIVE Feral hogs are a $115 million problem for South Carolina’s agriculture, livestock and timber industries, according to a Clemson University study on landowners’ perceived damages from the invasive animals. This is the first time a comprehensive dollar figure has been attached to the ecological and industry damages caused by wild hogs. Go to www.cotton farming.com for this Web Exclusive report.

DIGITAL OFFERINGS Keep up with the latest from Cotton Farming by signing up for the monthly E-News. Go to www.cottonfarming.com and look for the Cotton Farming E-News link in the upper right corner of the home page. Find Cotton Farming on Facebook at https:// www.facebook.com/cottonfarming and follow us on Twitter @CottonFarming.

COTTON FARMING (ISSN 0746-8385) is published monthly January through December by One Grower Publishing LLC, 6515 Goodman Rd., Box 360, Olive Branch, MS 38654. Periodicals postage paid at Memphis, Tenn. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Omeda Communications, Customer Service Department, P.O. Box 1388, Northbrook, IL 60065-1388 (Phone: 847-559-7578) (Fax: 847-564-9453). Annual subscriptions are $40. International rates are $55 in Canada/Mexico, $90 in all other countries for air-speeded delivery. Surface delivery not available due to problems in reliability.

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COTTON FARMING JANUARY 2017

Editor’s Note

Cotton Farming

Carroll Smith

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

Are Crystal Balls Overrated?

he origin of the crystal ball is most often attributed to the Celtic Druids, an ancient group of educated people purported to be from Gaul, a region in Western Europe. It’s hard to distinguish truth from myth when it comes to Druids because their history is anecdotal in nature. However, the crystal ball has survived the ages and continues to symbolize a means for divining the future. It appears in books, movies and even as a crude painting on signs touting “Fortune Teller — $5” posted next to dilapidated trailers along rural highways. Journalists — myself included — are guilty of conjuring up the orb’s image especially at the beginning of a new year. “If you look into your crystal ball, what do you predict....?” As if foreseeing the future is that simple. And, if it were, do you really want to know exactly what it holds? The mystery, the not knowing, is what makes life exciting. It energizes and motivates us to make the best decisions we can in hopes of influencing the outcome in a positive way. The reality is we don’t always hit a home run, and sometimes the outcome is disappointing. But if we do our homework and give it our best shot, the measure of self-satisfaction we achieve makes it all worthwhile. One of the most important decisions cotton farmers make before the new season begins is variety selection. Cotton seed companies across the Cotton Belt take the germplasm with which they have to work and develop varieties designed to help producers get the most bang for their buck at the end of the season. It’s up to the producer, along with his cotton consultant and seed rep — not a crystal ball — to choose the ones that best fit his operation’s unique environment. And Mother Nature is a wild card who trumps the orb every time. No person, and certainly not a ball of glass, can predict her whims. If a drought, hurricane or damaging, unexpected rain is in the future, then that is part of the mystery of the season. Your job is to choose varieties that fit the soils, weed spectrum and historical weather data on your farm to the best of your ability. And, yes, keep that $5 in your pocket when you are tempted by the lure of the colorful sign spotted on the side of the highway.

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

COTTON FARMING JANUARY 2017

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

ONE GROWER PUBLISHING, LLC Mike Lamensdorf President/Treasurer Lia Guthrie Publisher/Vice President ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COOPERATION: Cooperating with COTTON FARMING are various cotton producer organizations across the Cotton Belt. Many representatives of producer organizations serve on COTTON FARMING’s editorial advisory board. Opinions expressed and conclusions reached by contributors are not necessarily those of the cooperating organizations or the editors. All statements, including product claims, are those of the person or organization making the statement or claim. The publisher does not adopt any such statement or claims as its own and any such statement or claim does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the publisher. Copyright 2017 © ASSOCIATED PUBLICATIONS – One Grower Publishing, LLC also publishes RICE FARMING, THE PEANUT GROWER, SOYBEAN SOUTH and CORN SOUTH.

One Grower Publishing, LLC 6515 Goodman Rd., Box 360, Olive Branch, MS 38654 Phone: 901-767-4020

COTTONFARMING.COM

Cotton’s Agenda Gary Adams

Confronting Multiple Challenges Among challenges to the U.S. cotton industry’s competitiveness are securing an improved safety net for producers, making inroads against the competition from man-made fibers, maintaining U.S. cotton’s supply chain reputation and averting burdensome regulations.

Is cottonseed policy attainable?

n Obtaining cottonseed eligibility in farm bill support programs is a key National Cotton Council priority. We believe it can be a viable safety net component for cotton producers and can help ease the industry’s economic pressures. Our most recent Congressional efforts involved coordination with our Congressional allies on a strong push to get the NCC’s cottonseed proposal included in the Continuing Resolution approved last month. That didn’t succeed, but House and Senate appropriations committees are expected to begin working soon on a more expansive FY17 funding package. It could serve as the next potential legislative vehicle for including the NCC’s cottonseed proposal. As such, NCC and Congressional staff are working on any necessary proposal modifications. The Cottonseed eligibility in farm bill support programs NCC will pursue other avenues as is a major NCC priority. well, including garnering more attention for cottonseed eligibility during 2017 Congressional hearings regarding the 2018 farm bill reauthorization.

What about the man-made fiber challenge?

n Cotton’s share of world fiber consumption continues to decline. A major reason is global synthetic fiber production capacity is three times the level of world cotton production. Another factor is that the world’s largest polyester producer, China, has polyester prices below 50 cents per pound. The NCC continues to insist that World Trade Organization discus-

sions include a thorough and comprehensive examination of all policies affecting global fiber production and trade — including subsidies provided to synthetic fibers. Increased awareness about synthetic fibers’ effects on the environment may help cotton’s position in the global marketplace. For example, a recent article in AlterNet cited multiple studies that found our food supply is being compromised because plastic microfibers shed from synthetic clothing when washed end up in waterways and are ingested by marine life. In other efforts, Cotton Council International is showcasing U.S. cotton’s responsible production practices while carrying out global initiatives aimed at instilling a preference for U.S. cotton and cotton products at every point along the marketing chain. This is being bolstered by multiple NCC efforts to improve cotton quality and flow, among them our “Keep it Clean” initiative which is encouraging industry members to escalate seed cotton and lint contamination prevention. These efforts are critical for U.S. cotton to remain the world’s largest cotton exporter.

Who poses the most serious regulatory challenge?

n We continue engaging EPA on numerous fronts, including the registration and re-registration of key crop protection products, and we hope the new Administration will be more focused on sound science in its rulemaking and decisions. Among recent encouraging developments were 1) labels granted for dicamba and 2,4-D over-the-top use on cotton for 2017 and 2) a favorable ruling on a lawsuit that would have brought stricter EPA regulation of treated seeds as proposed by some environmental groups and beekeepers. The NCC continues to oppose inequitable label restrictions on crop protection products.

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

COTTON FARMING JANUARY 2017

CCOY Cotton Consultant of the Year established 1981

Who is the 2016 Cotton Consultant of the Year? A Missouri Bootheel farmer says the 2016 CCOY award recipient has been his family’s consultant for about 25 years. “I love farming cotton more than anything in life because of him,” the farmer says. “He instilled in me a passion for perfection and the ‘do all we can and leave the rest to Mother Nature’ attitude that it takes to be successful.” A Tennessee Extension entomologist says, “He and his partner scout crops in the Missouri Bootheel and West Tennessee. He is a valuable resource and typically leads the discussion at our crop consultants’ round table.” He has been commended for his analytical reasoning and ability to communicate with calmness and conviction, which always helps cotton farmers sleep a little easier.

Who is the man so deserving of these accolades? Look for the big announcement in next month’s issue of Cotton Farming ! Cotton Consultant of the Year sponsored by

Cotton Farming 6

COTTON FARMING JANUARY 2017

Team Cotton participants who finished the St. Jude Marathon 5K are Jeff Posey (left), Phiney Posey, Bill Gillon, Mark Wright, Dianna Wright and Cathy Allen.

Team Cotton Supports St. Jude

n Dec. 3, 2016, Team Cotton participated in the St. Jude Marathon Weekend race events in Memphis, Tenn. Team Cotton had 25 runners representing The Cotton Board, Cotton Incorporated, USDA and the National Cotton Council. Team Cotton members traveled from Tennessee, Texas, Arkansas, Mississippi, North Carolina, Virginia and Massachusetts to run for the kids of St. Jude. Most importantly, Team Cotton raised almost $7,000 to help St. Jude offer hope to children who are battling cancer. St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is an important part of Memphis and of many lives around the country. This facility is changing the way the world understands, treats and defeats childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases. Unlike any other hospital, most of St. Jude’s funding comes from individual contributions. And thanks to fundraising efforts and generous donors, families never receive a bill from the hospital for treatment, travel, housing or food. All families should worry about is helping their children live. In 2012, The Cotton Board staff, along with its officers, began participating in the St. Jude Marathon Weekend and formed Team Cotton. The team’s goal was to deepen the sense of teamwork within The Cotton Board staff, while sporting cotton shirts and demonstrating that cot-

ton cares about people and the community. Team Cotton’s participation in the race has grown each year. In December 2015, The Cotton Board’s board of directors formally acknowledged this effort and asked staff to consider initiating an industry wide outreach on behalf of cotton. The Cotton Board’s human resources manager, Emily Wyonzek, was the coordinator. “The cotton industry goes through ups and downs, challenges and triumphs. But no matter what happens, cotton is always there. Our cotton family knows how to be tough in the face of adversity. We wanted to show St. Jude families we could come together and give back to our community,” she says. “To say I am proud of Team Cotton doesn’t do justice to how I feel. Runners from across the country came to Memphis to run for the kids of St. Jude’s Children Research Hospital, and we raised almost $7,000 to provide hope to the kids and families of St. Jude. Team Cotton may sound soft, but we raced hard for the kids of St. Jude,” Wyonzek says. No Cotton Board funds were used for the event. For more information about donating to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or participating in the race in 2017, please contact The Cotton Board. The Cotton Board, which administers CI’s Research and Promotion Program, contributed this article. COTTONFARMING.COM

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488 #4+488 0.*+4334188 #0(,88 NG 3406 B2XF 8 3406 B2XF 3,)#418 ))18'0 )+ 8 8 8 8 )'4+255!8NG 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 #238423%8()8.262 482618+43*)61418#4558()8 8 8 3406 B2XF8/2.48068#0(,8268 8 8 8 8 8 3!8 7+8NG 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 4 /45546(8%04518)$8 8*)76138*4+82/+482618 8 8 8 8 8 8 285)268'25748)$8)'4+8 8/46(3!â&#x20AC;?

BRADLEY BOOTH Brownsville, Tennessee

CR TO Bollgard II XtendFlex Cotton in 2016876543382810/2.-28,4+-0/0148*+)17/(80382**+)'418(,2(80383*4/0&/255%852-45418$)+8(,2(87348068(,485)/2(0)68#,4+48%)7806(4618()8.2"48(,482**50/2(0)6!8 8 88 2 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 )6(2/(8(,48 ! !8 8 8 8 8 8 DO NOT APPLY DICAMBA HERBICIDE IN-CROP 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 )(()6! 2618%)7+83(2(48*43(0/0148+4 752()+%82 46/%8#0(,826%8 743(0)6382-)7(8(,482**+)'2583(2(738)$810/2.-28,4+-0/0148*+)17/(38$)+806 /+)*87348#0(,8 )55 2+18 8 (461 54 8 6 8 638 IT IS A VIOLATION OF FEDERAL AND STATE LAW HERBICIDE PRODUCT ON BOLLGARD II XTENDFLEX COTTON UNLESS THE PRODUCT LABELING SPECIFICALLY AUTHORIZES THAT USE. AW TO MAKE AN IN-CROP APPLICATION OF ANY DICAMBA DI 8 8 8 8 618 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 ALWAYS READ AND FOLLOW PESTICIDE LABEL DIRECTIONS. )55 2+18 8 (461 54 8/)(()682618 (461 54 8/)(()68/)6(20638 46438(,2(8/)6$4+8()54+26/48()8 5%*,)32(4 8(,482/(0'4806 +41046(8068 )7617* 8-+26182 +0/75(7+258,4+-0/0143 810/2.-2 8(,482/(0'48 DI 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 88 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 06 +41046(8068 82618 57$)3062(4 8(,482/(0'4806 +41046(8068 0-4+(% 8-+2618,4+-0/0143!8 )7617* 8-+26182 +0/75(7+258,4+-0/01438#0558"0558/+)*38(,2(82+486)(8()54+26(8()8 5%*,)32(4!8 0/2.-28#0558"0558/+)*38(,2(82+486)(8()54+26(8()810/2.-2!8 57$)3062(48#0558"0558/+)*38(,2(8 04 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 )6(2/(8%)7+8 )6326()814254+8)+8+4$4+8()8 )6326() 38 4/,6)5) %8 348 70148$)+8+4/)..461418 )7617*8 421% 8 (4618 8 8 8 25 8 8 8 8 8 8 348 8 8 8 8 8 8 +)*8 %3(4.8#4418/)6(+)58*+) +2.3!8 )55 2+18 8 4670(%8 430 6 8 4670(%8 /)63 8 4670(% 8 43*4/(8(,48 4$7 48 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 2+486)(8()54+26(8()8 57$)3062(4!8 8 8 8 8 8 8 ( 8 8 8 8 8 8 !8 0-4+(% 06" 82618(,48 2(4+8 +)*54(8 430 6 82+48+4 03(4+418(+214.2+"38)$8 2%4+!8 .4+0/)( 82618 4 46 82+48+4 03(4+418(+214.2+"38)$8 .4+0/)( 8 6/!8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 26188 )(()68 430 6 8 )7617*8 421% 8 )7617* 82618 (461 54 82+48(+214.2+"38)$8 )6326()8 4/,6)5) %8

www.americot.com | 888.678.SEED |

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NEW PRODUCTS Trait Stewardship Responsibilities Notice to Farmers for “Strong Cotton” Advertisement for Deltapine

Deltapine Announces Class Of 17 Varieties

T ALWAYS READ AND FOLLOW DIRECTIONS FOR USE ON PESTICIDE LABELING. IT IS A VIOLATION OF FEDERAL AND STATE LAW to use any pesticide product other than in accordance with its labeling. NOT ALL formulations of dicamba or glyphosate are approved for incrop use with Bollgard II® XtendFlex® or XtendFlex® cotton. ONLY USE FORMULATIONS THAT ARE SPECIFICALLY LABELED FOR SUCH USES AND APPROVED FOR SUCH USE IN THE STATE OF APPLICATION. DICAMBA FORMULATIONS MAY NOT BE APPROVED IN ALL STATES. 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 Bollgard II® XtendFlex® or XtendFlex® cotton. Bollgard II ® XtendFlex ® cotton contains genes that confer tolerance to glyphosate, dicamba and glufosinate. Glyphosate will kill crops that are not tolerant to glyphosate. Dicamba will kill crops that are not tolerant to dicamba. Glufosinate will kill crops that are not tolerant to glufosinate. Contact your Monsanto dealer or refer to Monsanto’s Technology Use Guide for recommended weed control programs. Commercialization is dependent on multiple factors, including successful conclusion of the regulatory process. The information presented herein is provided for educational purposes only, and is not and shall not be construed as an offer to sell, or a recommendation to use, any unregistered pesticide for any purpose whatsoever. It is a violation of federal law to promote or offer to sell an unregistered pesticide. Monsanto Company is a member of Excellence Through Stewardship ® (ETS). Monsanto products are commercialized in accordance with ETS Product Launch Stewardship Guidance, and in compliance with Monsanto’s Policy for Commercialization of Biotechnology-Derived Plant Products in Commodity Crops. Only commercialized products have been approved for import into key export markets with functioning regulatory systems. Any crop or material produced from this product can only be exported to, or used, processed or sold in countries where all necessary regulatory approvals have been granted. It is a violation of national and international law to move material containing biotech traits across boundaries into nations where import is not permitted. Growers should talk to their grain handler or product purchaser to confirm their buying position for this product. B.t. products may not yet be registered in all states. Check with your Monsanto representative for the registration status in your state. Individual results may vary, and performance may vary from location to location and from year to year. This result may not be an indicator of results you may obtain as local growing, soil and weather conditions may vary. Growers should evaluate data from multiple locations and years whenever possible. Bollgard II®, Respect the Refuge and Cotton Design®, Roundup Ready ®, Roundup Technology ®, Roundup ®, Vapor Grip ™, XtendFlex ® and XtendiMax™ are trademarks of Monsanto Technology LLC. Deltapine ® is a registered trademark of Monsanto Company. LibertyLink® and the Water Droplet Design® is a registered trademark of Bayer. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. ©2017 Monsanto Company. DP-17010-CF-LC JAN

COTTON FARMING JANUARY 2017

he industry’s first Bollgard II XtendFlex cotton variety with root-knot nematode (RKN) resistance and a high-performing early to mid-maturity cotton variety were named to the Deltapine Class of 17 during the ninth annual New Products Evaluators (NPE) Summit. DP 1747NR B2XF and DP 1725 B2XF, were proven to perform by Deltapine NPE growers, who grew the varieties in large-acre plots under their own management systems. The growers’ evaluation and feedback were important to the selection of lines for commercial advancement. RKN Resistance DP 1747NR B2XF is the first Bollgard II XtendFlex variety that offers RKN resistance. The nematode resistance breeding trait provides season-long control by enabling strong root growth and reducing RKN populations in the soil profile. In NPE plots and Deltapine market development trials, DP 1747NR B2XF outyielded both DP 1454NR B2RF and DP 1558NR B2RF, two standards for yield potential in RKN-resistant varieties. DP 1747NR B2XF has shown comparable yield potential to the best-yielding commercial varieties on the market in fields with and without RKN pressure. DP 1747NR B2XF also offers the weed control benefits of Bollgard II XtendFlex technology, part of the Roundup Ready Xtend Crop System for cotton. During the 2016 summer, NPE grower Nick Marshall in Baker, Fla., planted DP 1747NR B2XF as an NPE variety candidate. Half of the field, which had sandy soil and on which cotton had never performed well, was irrigated and half was non-irrigated. “Emergence and early vigor were very good, and it grew off into a great-looking stand,” Marshall says. “We planted it side-by-side with DP 1646 B2XF. It looked healthier all season long and handled stress better. Yield-wise, it was comparable with DP 1646 B2XF.”

Exceptional Yield Potential DP 1725 B2XF is an early to mid-maturity variety that has shown exceptional yield potential in the MidSouth and Southeast. It offers improved fiber quality over DP 1522 B2XF as well as improved yield potential. “When we can commercialize varieties that are better than products like DP 1522 B2XF, that’s a real accomplishment because we’ve set the bar very high with the Deltapine Class of 15 and Class of 16 cotton varieties,” says Keylon Gholston, Deltapine cotton products manager. “We continue to bring varieties to cotton growers that offer top-end yield and fiber quality potential, coupled with the leading technologies in the industry.” In Centre, Ala., Deltapine NPE grower Nick McMichen says DP 1725 B2XF reminds him of the old DP 1137 B2RF variety, very vigorous but one that’s easy to manage with plant growth regulators. The new Class of 17 Bollgard II XtendFlex variety stood out in his NPE plots and drew attention in the field and at the gin. “It was an outstanding variety, picking over 3 bales to the acre in my plot,” McMichen says. “It was lights out a really good variety. It handled stress at that extra level, because we had some tough growing conditions and it held up extremely well. It did not disappoint in yield and fiber grades. I will definitely have it in my program in 2017.” Since it began in 2008, the Deltapine NPE Program has become the cotton industry’s premier field evaluation program, resulting in the commercialization of some of the top-planted varieties by growing region across the Belt. For more on Deltapine cotton varieties and the NPE Program, visit www.deltapine. com. Photos, videos, agronomic tips and more can be found on Twitter (@ Deltapine) and on Facebook at https:// www.facebook.com/Deltapine. Deltapine contributed this article. COTTONFARMING.COM

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STRONG COTTON | SPECIAL REPORT

Daniel Baxley Late Weather Challenges Strong Start Editor’s note: Cotton Farming editor Carroll Smith went into the field this fall to capture the story of farmers’ experiences with the new Deltapine Bollgard II XtendFlex varieties. Following is her special report.

n 1948, Roy Baxley bought a dairy cattle and tobacco operation in the Coastal Plain area near Dillon, S.C. His son, Roy Baxley Jr., was raised on the farm and later took steps to transform the operation to fulfill his vision. The landscape of Baxley and Baxley Farms began to change as Roy Jr. moved away from dairy and grew the row crop operation, which included several hundred acres of cotton. Following the family tradition, Roy Jr. instilled a love of agriculture in his son, Daniel. When his father passed away unexpectedly in 2012, Daniel stepped up to take over the day-to-day operations. “As a third-generation farmer, I learned so many things from my dad,” Daniel says. “He taught me to stay patient in a tough business and respect the land. He always told me, ‘You work to live, you don’t live to work. You have to love what you do.’ When he passed away, I took over the operation in 2013 and just completed my fourth crop. In addition to cotton, I grow peanuts, corn, soybeans and a little wheat. My mom, Cathy, helps out with the bookkeeping. “Prior to the 2016 season, Zack Webb, a technical agronomist for Monsanto, told me about a new Class of 16 cotton variety — DP 1646 B2XF — that had Dillon, S.C., cotton farmer Daniel Baxley says he is excited about planting Deltapine varieties with XtendFlex technology in 2017 to control resistant pigweed in his crop.

COTTON FARMING JANUARY 2017

COTTONFARMING.COM

done really well in trials. He encouraged me to try it on some of my better ground. I took his advice and planted it on 150 dryland acres that historically produced good cotton yields.” Off To A Good Start After a cold snap moved out, Daniel began planting DP 1646 B2XF about May 18. He used a three-seed-tothe-hill drop method of planting the smaller-seeded variety, which resulted in good emergence, vigor and a clean uniform stand. “We planted into a strip-till program after disking the cotton beds from the previous season,” Daniel says. “Planting conditions were optimal at that time. It was a pretty clean field. When the cotton came up, there were no gaps, and I couldn’t ask for better uniformity.” Resistant pigweed is the No. 1 weed he battles along with sicklepod, which is beginning to show glyphosate resistance in some spots, and ryegrass. Daniel’s early herbicide program began with a Gramoxone burndown and a behind-the-planter application of Reflex and diuron. He later applied a quart of Liberty for pigweed control, followed by 25 ounces to a quart of Roundup PowerMAX. Daniel applied 50 ounces of plant growth regulator since DP 1646 B2XF tends to be a tall, growthy variety. “We had tremendous yield potential going into August,” he says. “DP 1646 B2XF was loaded up with squares and really looked strong. I thought I would potentially harvest 2½ to 3 bales per acre.” However, Mother Nature had other plans. A 0.2-inch rain fell the first week in August, and then conditions remained dry for the next few weeks during that crucial time when the cotton plant was trying to put on bolls. “Even though Tropical Storm Hermine dropped a few inches of rain the first week in September, it was too late for the cotton and soybeans,” Daniel says. “We just didn’t get the moisture we needed, so we lost a lot of squares. After surveying the crop following the drought, we

DANIEL BAXLEY Dillon, S.C.

TWITTER: @COTTONFARMING

DP 1646 B2XF

• Bollgard II XtendFlex variety • Broadly adapted with high yield potential • Outstanding fiber properties

Daniel Baxley planted 150 dryland acres to DP 1646 B2XF in 2016. In June, the variety showed good emergence, vigor and a clean, uniform stand. He anticipated 2½ to 3 bales per acre yield before adverse weather set in later in the season. still thought DP 1646 B2XF had good yield potential.” However, the late-season drought was not the end of the story. In early October, a hurricane was brewing off the Atlantic coast. Farmers in the Southeast kept an eye on its progress and worked feverishly to harvest mostly peanuts and soybeans that were ready at the time. “DP 1646 B2XF looked good, but we weren’t ready to defoliate when we heard about Hurricane Matthew,” Daniel says. “When the storm hit on Oct. 9, we experienced an extended period of 50 to 60 mph winds and 12 to 20 inches of rain in places. DP 1646 B2XF was an impressive variety with good yield potential before the drought and Hurricane Matthew hit. I will keep it in my rotation for 2017.” Bollgard II XtendFlex Technology In addition to DP 1646 B2XF, Daniel also planted DP 1538 B2XF, DP 1553 B2XF and DP 1522 B2XF. In anticipating the new XtendiMax herbicide with VaporGrip Technology, a p r opr i et ar y t ec hnol ogy fr om Monsanto that can help significantly reduce dicamba volatility compared

DP 1538 B2XF

• Bollgard II XtendFlex variety • Aggressive grower • Yield potential similar to DP 1050 B2RF

to commercially available dicamba products, he wanted to figure out which variety worked best on different soil types. Although the weather has not always cooperated, he says Deltapine has always been the best performing variety for his operation. “When ‘strong cotton’ is mentioned, Deltapine varieties always come to mind,” Daniel says. “To me, strong cotton gets up out of the ground, has excellent vigor and performs well throughout the entire season. I look for a high-yielding variety with premium fiber quality and good turnout at the gin. I want to get the best bang for my buck. “I also plan to plant Bollgard II XtendFlex cotton on all of my acres in 2017 to simplify herbicide sprays and get excellent weed control with dicamba. Being able to use dicamba herbicide to control resistant pigweed will be a big help. We can knock them down and keep them down.” Go to cottonfarming.com to view the special reports and Strong Cotton videos to see how Deltapine varieties are providing strong solutions to cotton farmers.

DP 1553 B2XF

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COVER STORY

Keeping Things Simple BY VICKY BOYD MANAGING EDITOR

hen it comes to soil moisture monitoring, David Carter of Levelland, Texas, likes to keep it simple. The same consultant who scouts his fields for pests during the season — Darrell Kitten — also reads his soil moisture sensors weekly. Factoring in the plant’s growth stage, soil moisture readings and the upcoming week’s weather forecast, Kitten provides Carter with irrigation recommendations. “This is what’s in the first foot, this is what’s in the second foot, this is what’s in the third foot,” Carter says, describing his consultant’s reports. “This is what we need to do based upon the weather forecast and the crop use.”

Monitoring soil moisture and scheduling irrigation doesn’t have to be complicated to be effective, as one Texas High Plains grower finds.

The AquaSpy sensor system provides soil moisture readings every 4 inches to a depth of 48 inches. Users also can access the data remotely via computer or smart device.

COTTON FARMING JANUARY 2017

COTTONFARMING.COM

Moisture Sensor Pilot Program During 2016, Carter was part of a pilot project through his agricultural retailer where he also had two high-tech moisture sensors in a cotton field — one from San Diego-based AquaSpy and one from Phytech, an Israeli company. The AquaSpy system has soil moisture sensors every 4 inches to as deep as 48 inches. Growers can access the hourly updated data — which includes water, nutrients and temperature — from desktop computers, laptops, tablets and smartphones. The system also can be set up to send text alerts. AquaSpy also reports the data in easy-to-understand graphs showing trends and how they relate to target zones. The Phytech system involves a remote weather station, soil moisture sensors, a water meter on the drip line if drip is used, and dendrometer sensors. Placed on the plant trunk or stem, a dendrometer sensor measures minute changes in trunk diameters. Data can be accessed via computers or smart devices. The system also can be set up to issue field alerts if

results similar to those of the soil moisture sensor readings. “For us, the ‘cool’ factor is way up there,” Carter says. “But I’m already doing that with my crop consultant. I’m already monitoring our available water and water use every week. We’re not getting a lot of new information with the summer we just had. We had no decisions to make — we turn the water on, we get a big rain and we turn it off. We pump what we can.” One question Carter says he posed representatives with the two sensor companies was how will the devices help him improve his bottom line. He has not yet received an answer. Many of his neighbors already have installed the AquaSpy, and Carter says he hasn’t ruled out eventually putting a unit on his farm. The Phytech sensor is attached to the plant stem and measures minute changes in the stem diameter.

measurements exceed predetermined parameters. As of late September, Carter said the two high-tech systems provided

‘Deficit Irrigation Is Very Real’ Carter farms over the Ogallala Aquifer, a massive underground lake that is suffering from significant overdraft. The High Plains Underground Water Conservation District, which covers the 16-county West Texas area from south of Lubbock to the

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COTTON FARMING JANUARY 2017

Varieties Get Put To The Water-Use Efficiency Test Water is considered the lifeblood of all crops. As supplies dwindle because of drought, groundwater overdraft or other restrictions, growers have turned to drip irrigation, LEPA or low-energy precision application center-pivots, and other technologies to stretch existing supplies. But improving irrigation efficiency is only part of the equation — another part is selecting varieties bred to perform under specific irrigation regimes or dryland. “To me, the whole concept of water management has changed the dynamics of the way growers should look at cotton performance,” says Bob Glodt, owner of Agri-Search Inc. in Plainview, Texas. For the past two years, Glodt has coordinated water-use efficiency trials for PhytoGen. Varieties are put into the irrigation response trials when they are about one to two years from potential commercialization, says Ken Legé, PhytoGen cotton development specialist based in Lubbock, Texas. The data not only helps the company properly place the varieties within different growing regions, but they also help sales representatives choose the right variety for the growers’ farms. “One of the first questions our sales reps are going to ask a grower is, ‘What kind of water do you have?’” Legé says. Water availability has become top of mind as the Ogallala Aquifer declines because of overdraft. High-producing wells that once yielded 8-10 gallons per minute now produce 6-7 gallons per minute, he says. And much of the Texas High Plains market has wells that yield 1.5-2 gallons per minute. PhytoGen has four High Plains locations and one Rolling Plains location on which it conducts irrigation trials. Two are on drip irrigation, whereas the remaining three use LEPA. Glodt says he prefers to conduct small-plot rather than on-farm large strip trials because small-plot trials have less variability. And differences among varieties as far as water response are easier to see. His farm also has a single soil type with a uniform 1 percent slope. “This uniformity in soil type and slope is advantageous in achieving low CVs (coefficient of variations) on the trials we do,” Panhandle, oversees water use and water conservation measures. In 2014, it adopted a 10-year management plan that requires well owners to report water use annually. The plan also restricts pumping to no more than 18 inches annually per acre of water rights owned. “It doesn’t affect me down here because I just don’t have the capacity to pump that much water,” Carter

COTTON FARMING JANUARY 2017

Glodt says. “This ensures that the differences in water response we see between varieties is statistically significant.” Each variety is subjected to four irrigation treatments: no irrigation, 30 percent PET, 60 percent PET and 90 percent PET. And each plot can be either two or four row by 30-foot plot, depending on the trial protocol. Using potential evapotranspiration, or PET, for making irrigation decisions helps reduce variability from year to year and the data can be compared from one year to the next. PET is the amount of water a crop uses at any one point in the growing season. “We’ve found that using PET in making irrigation management decisions is a very reliable way to irrigate a crop,” Glodt says. “If growers follow PET data, the results should be very, very close to how the company promotes the variety.” Each plot is harvested using a stripper, with pound samples sent to the Texas Tech University Fiber and Biopolymer Research Institute. Just like a commercial crop, the samples are graded on several criteria, including turn-out, color, micronaire, staple length, strength and loan value. Should the variety be commercialized, the water-use results are included in the PhytoGen cottonseed variety guide. A few varieties are widely adapted and perform well under most irrigation conditions. But most exhibit the highest water-use efficiency — pounds of lint produced per inch of applied water — under specific irrigation regimes. For example, most High Plains growers have wells capable of meeting little to no irrigation capacity up to 60 percent of PET, Glodt says. A very high percentage of growers would fall into the 30 to 60 percent of PET capability. “Growers who can only irrigate at 30 percent of PET should select a variety that’s proven for 30 and 60 percent,” Glodt says. “If they have the ability to irrigate at 30 percent PET and they get a few timely rains, they’ll be at 60 percent and they want a variety that’s proven at 60 percent and can respond to the additional water.”

says. Even during a good year, his wells only can produce about 12-14 inches per acre. He views his irrigation as supplemental to rainfall. Even during the best years, the two combined sources don’t provide the crop enough moisture to meet full ET, or evapotranspiration rate. “Deficit irrigation is very real for us,” Carter says. “We try to build a

reserve in the winter time if possible. Hopefully, when we go to building a crop, we will have the reserves that will carry us through the hot, dry period throughout the summer. “We always felt we could keep up pretty well with our water supply and water management until August, when water demand peaked. These devices confirmed that, but there was nothing we could do about it.” COTTONFARMING.COM

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You’re driven by a passion for cotton, which is why we never stop improving your cottonseed. We’re always looking for ways to deliver outstanding yield potential and excellent ﬁber quality, as well as the most advanced trait technology. Plus, your PhytoGen team knows cotton inside and out to help you get the best out of every harvest. Because to thrive in cotton, you’ve got to be tougher, smarter and ﬂat-out better.

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Specialists Speaking Multiple Year/Location Data = Priceless VIRGINIA Hunter Frame The past two years have been hard to handle for Virginia cotton producers. State lint yields will be lower than they were in 2015 and will likely be in the 700-pound range. Rain that resumed at the end of September was the final nail in the coffin for the 2016 growing season. For 2017, producers should rely on multiple year/location data when making decisions on what variety to plant. I stress this to Virginia producers every year and encourage them to look at official variety trial data from neighboring states in areas that have similar soil types and climates as their farms. As in 2015, variety performance was highly variable in Virginia with environment and management playing a significant role in variety performance across locations. Producers need to plant stable, high-yielding varieties. The only way to determine this is to evaluate multiple years and locations. This is difficult to do when variety turnover is high and seed companies have new traits and genetics coming to the market every year. When you shift a large portion of acreage to a relativity new variety, that shift has a certain level of risk. To minimize that risk, gather as much information across environments on the variety as possible. Finally, make sure variety data come from replicated trials. Replication, if done correctly by the researcher, is a statistical tool that ensures variability within a field is taken into account. This means yield potential and environment influence the trial, not soil variability or bias! whframe@vt.edu

NORTH CAROLINA Keith Edmisten Growers are likely evaluating yields and grades of the varieties they used in 2016 to make variety selection decisions for 2017. Producers need to make sure they consider as much information as possible and not rely solely on what happened on their farm in 2016. Using results from multiple locations helps them select varieties that are most stable and widely adapted to potential conditions for the coming year. The Cotton Variety Performance Calculator is an easy way to compare varieties over various environments in North Carolina. Access the site at: https:// trials.ces.ncsu.edu/cotton/. I often think we tend to overreact to what happened in the previous year. This past year tended to favor later varieties or practices that delayed maturity, as more of that cotton opened under dryer conditions than earlier cotton. It is perfectly natural for the results of the previous year to be on oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mind, but next yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s results may be completely opposite. Spreading planting dates within reason and using multiple varieties and maturities, is a good form of risk management. This strategy is also why it is better to look at variety results over multiple years where possible. keith_edmisten@ncsu.edu

FLORIDA David Wright There are numerous variety trials to which farmers can refer that are close to where they are growing cotton. Most of the trials will have top varieties of the major cotton companies represented in the area. Universities, industry reps, consultants and Extension faculty conduct trials, and all are valuable. The main considerations for any variety include high yield with good grades, ease of management and consistency across a large area. That usually means the variety is adapted to a

COTTON FARMING JANUARY 2017

wide range of growing conditions and soil types and can survive stress at different growth stages. We have seen new and expanded traits that make cotton easier to manage with fewer inputs. The goal is for the producer to make a profit while reducing inputs and management needed to grow the crop. This past year was a reminder for many farmers why we grow cotton in the South on non-irrigated fields instead of corn or soybeans. Many growers had excellent cotton yields while corn and soybeans produced low yields. wright@ufl.edu

MISSISSIPPI Darrin Dodds The process of selecting a variety should not be taken lightly. Based on data from the 2016 Mississippi State University on-farm variety trials, improper variety selection can cost you between $88 and $189 per acre. When looking at variety trial data, several things should be considered. Examine the conditions under which the trial was conducted (irrigated versus dryland; soil texture, etc.) and put particular emphasis on trials conducted under growing conditions similar to your own. In addition to looking strictly at yield data, spend time evaluating how a given variety performs under different conditions. Ranking varieties from first to last and then looking at those rankings from different trial locations will provide some idea of yield stability under different growing conditions. For example, if a given variety ranks high in all trials that were irrigated but falls toward the bottom in trials conducted under dryland conditions, that indicates a particular variety is better suited to irrigated conditions. On the opposite side of the coin, if a given variety ranks high under dryland conditions but not when irrigation was applied, that variety is probably better suited to dryland conditions. Spend as much time as possible over the winter months evaluating variety performance data. Doing your homework on variety performance will pay dividends next fall. darrind@ext.msstate.edu

LOUISIANA Dan Fromme Choosing cotton varieties can be difficult, and the availability of different transgenic traits often complicates the process. It is advantageous to have as much information about a variety as possible to help make a more informed decision pertaining to selection. To assist in this process, the LSU AgCenter annually conducts official variety trials at the Red River Research Station at Bossier City, Dean Lee Research Station at Alexandria, Macon Ridge Research Station at Winnsboro and Northeast Research Station at St. Joseph. This past year, 40 cotton varieties were evaluated at these locations. In addition to the official cotton variety trials, on-farm trials are conducted with growers throughout the state. The objective of both the official variety trials and the on-farm trials is to provide as much information as possible concerning cotton variety performance over a range of soil textures and growing conditions. As the new season approaches, variety selection is a key component in the planning process. Now is an excellent time to review last yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s results. Study public and private company tests in your area before making a variety decision. Results for the 2016 LSU AgCenter cotton variety trials are located at lsuagcenter.com. They can be found by clicking on crops>cotton>varieties. Best of luck in 2017! dfromme@agcenter.lsu.edu COTTONFARMING.COM

B:2.125” T:2.125” S:2.125”

ARKANSAS Bill Robertson

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OKLAHOMA Randy Boman Cotton harvest has been underway for some time now in Oklahoma. Many producers have wrapped up harvest and have moved on with tillage or other management concerns. The good news is that the 2016 crop is going to be an excellent one for producers and ginners. Color grades have been good to excellent with about 50 percent 11 and 21, and about 40 percent 31 color. Leaf grades and overall distribution have been good, with 85 percent grades 1, 2 and 3, with an average of 2.7.

PhytoGen and the PhytoGen Logo are trademarks of the PhytoGen Seed Company, LLC. ®™DOW Diamond, Enlist, Enlist Duo, the Enlist Logo and WideStrike are trademarks of the Dow Chemical Company (“Dow”) or an affiliated company of Dow. Enlist Duo® herbicide is not yet registered for use on Enlist cotton. Enlist Duo is not registered for sale or use in all states. Contact your state pesticide regulatory agency to determine if a product is registered for sale or use in your state. Always read and follow label directions. PhytoGen Seed Company is a joint venture between Mycogen Corporation, an affiliate of Dow AgroSciences LLC, and the J.G. Boswell Company. L38-076-145 (11/16) BR 010-35162 DAAGPHYG6076 ®

COTTON FARMING JANUARY 2017

T:10”

Tennessee and the MidSouth as a whole will look back on 2016 as a cotton year. Record-setting cotton yields, very good ﬁber quality and a dry harvest season all contributed to many in Tennessee looking forward to growing more cotton during the 2017 season. As planning begins, the ﬁrst topic that comes to mind is variety selection. It has been argued that this very well may be the most important decision one makes in cotton production. Given its impact, my colleagues and I strongly emphasize variety testing within each of our programs. Chances are there are only a few miles between you and an Extension variety trial designed to provide unbiased data, which will represent your farm.

Missouri producers were able to get ahead of the weather and finish harvest. There are a few fields left, but very few. Overall, yields were above average. Farmers are now preparing for 2017. There are a lot of meetings scheduled, and pesticide applicator training is right around the corner. As far as variety selection is concerned, there are a lot of choices. We have a few producers growing conventional ones, but most will grow genetically modified varieties. If everything goes according to plan, new dicamba and 2,4-D herbicides will be available. It will be interesting to see if growers take advantage of these new technologies. Again, many producers told me that they planted a dicamba variety in 2016 even though they did not use dicamba. Their reasoning was that they wanted to be protected from drift from their neighbors. There are so many variations and combinations of traits to which producers will have access. They need to do their homework to make the best selection possible. We recommend growers look at the University of Missouri variety trials results for guidance. These varieties are grown at a number of locations with various soil types. Considering the smaller plots versus the larger plots has shown pretty remarkable consistency. Although many of the varieties have not been in university trials for long periods, a combination of locations and years is still helpful. milammr@missouri.edu

B:10”

TENNESSEE Tyson Raper

MISSOURI Mike Milam

S:10”

Many producers have booked seed for 2017. There are several new varieties with new technologies worthy of a look, so do your homework to best place them on your farm. Variety selection is perhaps the most important decision a producer makes. Once the seed is planted, no amount of worry, work or money can make up for a poor decision. Our recommendation is that roughly two-thirds of your acres be planted with varieties proven on your farm. Of the remaining acres, limit new varieties to no more than 10 percent of your total acreage. The remaining 25 percent should be dedicated to those varieties in which you have limited experience. This strategy provides stability while allowing for evaluation of new varieties. There are a number of unbiased information sources available to assist in selecting new varieties. Our primary source is the University Variety Testing Program. Results from the Arkansas Trials conducted by Dr. Fred Bourland may be found at http://arkansasva rietytesting.com/home/cotton/ A great deal of information is collected and presented to help evaluate ﬁber quality, maturity, growth characteristics and other variety traits as well as yield. County demonstrations are another good source of information and are included with this publication. Don’t restrict yourself to your home state or area. In Arkansas, it is appropriate to evaluate variety performance trials from neighboring states in the Mid-South. Evaluating the consistency of a variety under a wide array of conditions will be beneﬁcial. Contact your local county Extension agent for assistance in obtaining or interpreting variety performance data and to get the date and location of upcoming county production meetings. brobertson@uaex.edu

I encourage you to use this data. Although there can be value in turnrow or field-to-field comparisons, most times it is impossible to isolate variety as the single factor that influenced realized yields. Instead, rely more closely on Extension’s unbiased tests. These trials are designed to remove all outside bias and highlight variety differences. For more on Tennessee’s trial results, keep an eye on news.utcrops.com or follow me on twitter (@TysonRaper) for trial updates and other news. traper@utk.edu

Specialists Speaking Staple has averaged 36.7, with more than 60 percent 37 or longer. Some high micronaire has been noted with 13 percent above 5, but 86 percent have been in the 3.5-4.9 range. Fiber strength has averaged 30.8 g/tex, with nearly 81 percent 30 or higher. Uniformity is averaging 81.6 percent, and bark contamination is currently very low at only 4.5 percent of the bales. Pickers have dominated the earlier harvested cotton, which is likely a contributing factor to higher uniformity and reduced bark contamination. Our variety trials have been harvested and ginned. We are hopeful to get fiber quality data back, post the results online and distribute to our newsletter clientele soon. Along with the outstanding yields and quality producers are experiencing, our 2016 on-farm variety trials will be setting records. Multiple new entries have performed extremely well, including those with XtendFlex and Enlist technologies. Several irrigated locations have entries that will exceed 4 bales per acre yields. Producers should be aware that the Red River Crops Conference will be in Childress, Texas, on Jan. 24-25. The first day is dedicated to cotton, and the second day is focused on winter in-season crops and other summer crops. Now is the time for farmers to do their homework and begin planning for the 2017 growing season. Please join us at the Red River Crops Conference. randy.boman@okstate.edu

TEXAS Seth Byrd Harvest is cranking up again as of Dec. 8 after another system moved through the High Plains during the first weekend of the month. Current projections show harvest to be about 65 percent complete statewide, but a lot of cotton will be harvested through the end of December and perhaps into 2017. The later harvested crop has seen a slight reduction in some quality categories, but remains strong overall. It appears that 2016 will be a good year for both yield and grades. Looking ahead to the 2017 season, variety selection remains a critical decision, particularly with the approval of new technologies and products for weed control. Variety trial results from the High Plains region will be available on cotton.tamu.edu in early 2017. seth.byrd@ag.tamu.edu

TEXAS Gaylon Morgan South and East Texas welcomed widespread rainfall over most of the Texas cotton production regions as producers were in need of soil moisture to replenish the soil profile for 2017 planting. The rain was less welcome in the Rolling Plains as it delayed cotton harvest but was needed for the wheat crop and to begin building the soil moisture profile. Harvest in the Rolling Plains came to a halt in early December due to lingering wet weather and cloudy conditions. With the combination of wet and freezing temperatures, cotton fiber quality will likely decrease to some degree. The Southern Rolling Plains is about 65 percent harvested across dryland and irrigated fields. The irrigated fields in the Northern Rolling Plains are about 80 percent completed, but the dryland is estimated to be less than 50 percent. Yield and quality have been good for both dryland and irrigated fields. As we plan for 2017, producers should seek as much information as possible on new products, varieties and technologies. Variety selection is the most important agronomic decision farmers will make all season. However, it can be overwhelming with more than 75 varieties with various traits available in 2017. The variety choices and their associated herbicide and insect traits will dictate crop, weed

COTTON FARMING JANUARY 2017

and insect management decisions all season. Variety yield stability and fiber quality should be the highest priorities, followed by herbicide, insect, nematode and disease traits. It is common to see a 15-25 percent difference in yield and gross returns from varieties, as proven by the on-farm large-plot replicated trials. A 15 percent difference in yield could easily equate to an additional gross return of $100-$200 per acre, depending on yield and price. The other important consideration is variety diversification, which allows for spreading risks for unusual weather patterns, pest issues and staggering harvest. Off-target movement of herbicides applied to XtendFlex or Enlist cotton should also be a consideration for farmers and their neighbors. Cotton variety results for Texas and other management recommendation are available at cotton.tamu.edu. gmorgan@tamu.edu

NEW MEXICO John Idowu The 2016 cotton season in New Mexico was a good one. All the cotton has now been harvested, and many farmers are judging the year to be above-average for both Upland and Pima yields. Scattered hail damage early in the season led to some fields being replanted, but it was not too widespread. There were also some incidences of cotton rust in parts of the state, but not severe enough to affect the yields of many fields. Early in the season, temperatures gradually warmed, leading to slow cotton development in many fields. Eventually, the temperature provided sufficient heat for rapid cotton growth. The monsoon came later than expected, which led to a great dependence on irrigation from canals and wells. In the end, the season was a good one for cotton farmers in New Mexico. jidowu@ad.nmsu.edu

ARIZONA Randy Norton Selecting an appropriate cotton variety can be one of the most difficult, yet important, decisions a grower faces. Recent years have seen the rapid development of varieties with new transgenic traits, making the options sometimes difficult to wade through. The days of having a single, known variety available for many years are now behind us. The average life span of a new cotton variety may only be five years, so it is important to keep abreast of variety performance in your particular region. The University of Arizona conducts a statewide Upland and Pima cotton variety-testing program, which consists of different trial types. The first is a small-plot evaluation of commercially available varieties along with experimental varieties. It is conducted in three locations across Arizona, including Yuma, Maricopa and Safford. Another type is a large-plot, replicated strip trial conducted on grower cooperator farms in a wide variety of locations across the state. These large-plot strip trials consist of replicated plots extending the full length of the irrigation run at each location. Eight locations across the state were involved in 2016. The trial results are published both online and in a hard copy publication distributed throughout the state at Extension meetings and workshops. Seed companies also conduct their own sets of variety performance evaluations. It is important to review as much information as possible to ensure a high-performing variety is selected for your farm. Evaluating the return on a particular variety has revealed that as much as $300$400 per acre could be lost when a poor performing variety is planted. Analyzing fiber quality economics also reveals that $40-$50 per acre could be lost when a variety with poor fiber quality is planted. rnorton@cals.arizona.edu COTTONFARMING.COM

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Pertinent Topics For Ginners Will Be Covered At The 2017 Southern Southeastern Annual Meeting In a recent exclusive interview with Cotton Farming magazine, Kent Fountain, president of Southeastern Cotton Ginners Association Inc., encouraged ginners to attend the Cotton Production and Ginning Seminar breakout sessions. These meetings will be held during the 2017 Southern Southeastern Annual Meeting, Jan. 18-22, in Charlotte, N.C. “Of particular interest to ginners will be a presentation on contamination, which is a huge issue. We are the most contaminant-free cotton in the world and want to keep it that way,” Fountain says. “We also will have a panel discussion about the John Deere module wrap technology, including best practices to deal with it at the gin. “Frank Gasparini, National Council of Agricultural Employers (NCAE), Washington, D.C., is on the program to talk about the status of immigration under the Trump administration. This is an important topic that affects our labor pool.” To pre-register for the 2017 Southern Southeastern Annual Meeting, make hotel reservations and view the tentative agenda, please go to www.southern-southeastern.org/meet ings/annualmeeting.html.

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• Place classiﬁed ads for equipment, sales and help wanted • Generate leads, drive sales and INCREASE PROFITS CONTACT SALES MANAGER SCOTT EMERSON 386-462-1532 • SEMERSON@ONEGROWER.COM

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Early Bird prices are over January 18. Don’t worry....the best products and service are available to you all year long! samjackson.com

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Cotton Ginners Marketplace

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COTTON FARMING JANUARY 2017

My Turn A Love Of All Things Cotton

veterinarian. Organic chemistry (or maybe it hen I was was fate) changed my direction. I got a degree in approached ag economics. About half way through college, I about writdecided I wanted to come back home to farm. My ing this older brother, Bill, had recently graduated and month’s “My Turn” column, started to farm. I came back and joined him. We I was very honored, then grew cotton, corn, soybeans and wheat. Much quickly very humbled once later, we started a trucking company that specialI saw some of the amazizes in ag and oversized hauling. ing authors who had gone I can honestly say I love what I do. I believe before me. I am a fairly farming is what I was meant to do. I enjoy putting ordinary guy who has been the seeds in the ground and nurturing the plants blessed with the ability to Bob in the soil. And, I am always looking for new, live out a dream of mine. Walker innovative, cost-efficient ways to improve the proI grew up and have cess. I am, after all, just the caretaker of the land. spent my entire life, apart We have moved from two-row pickers when we from my college years at Mississippi State, in started to building six-row pickers in the midSomerville, Tenn. I watched my grandfather and ’90s to onboard module pickers today. Precision father work on a family farm that was mostly ag technology has Polled Hereford catalways interested tle with a little cotton every year. I am “I am one of five boys, and we were me. Several years one of five boys, and expected to work on the farm and ago, we made the decision to hire a we were expected in the fields from the time we were consultant to help to work on the farm us with our nutrient and in the fields old enough to do so safely.” management. This from the time we was a huge underwere old enough to taking, but has been worth the investment of time do so safely. We chopped cotton, baled hay, birthed and money. calves, dug fence posts, moved trailers to the Today, our land has improved and our crops pergin…you name it, we did it. form better. Basically, we can say now we farm by I have many memories from those days, but the inch with regard to application of nutrients. some of my fondest involve a man we called Toot. Currently, we are working with many cover crops He was the brother of the lady who raised me, to improve soil productivity and organic matter. Daisy. He was a jack of all trades. He loved to I could go on all day about the many things we hunt, fish and tell tales. He taught me so much do to embrace new technology. I believe my forabout life and how to always be happy, even when mative years and the people in them, including you don’t have a lot. my years becoming an Eagle Scout, shaped who Every afternoon when I got home from school, I am today and nurtured my love of the land and I went to work on the farm. I remember riding all things farming. My wife, Marjory, works in the a one-row cotton picker with Toot in the fall. I cotton industry and shares my love of all things would lean up against the fan and try not to fall cotton. We are blessed to be able to raise our girls, asleep! Katharine and Addison, in the same environment Throughout high school and college, I scouted that I grew up in. cotton via the Extension program. It taught me a lot about cotton, its pests, the way it matured… — Bob Walker and, it gave me the opportunity to work with Somerville, Tenn. some of the area’s best cotton growers. yumyum1@bellsouth.net I went to college thinking that I would be a

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.

COTTON FARMING JANUARY 2017

COTTONFARMING.COM

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Some things just aren’t like they used to be.....

In life and business, change is inevitable. How you deal with it determines your success. Landmark ginning facilities around the world share something in common – Lummus machinery. Our customers value what makes us “second to none, including: • Proven Products and Demonstrated Performance • Genuine After-market Repair Parts and Upgrades • Unrivaled Engineering Expertise • Unmatched Technical Service and Support Because no two years are the same, you need a partner that understands the industry and your particular circumstances – one that won’t offer you a “one size fits all” solution. Let us work with you to face the challenges and ever-changing climate of our industry. 225 Bourne Boulevard• Savannah, Georgia 31408-9586 USA P.O. Box 929 • Pooler, Georgia 31322-0929 USA Phone: (912) 447-9000 • Fax: (912) 447-9250 Toll Free (USA Only): 1-800-4LUMMUS (1-800-458-6687) Web Site: www.lummus.com • E-mail: lummus.sales@lummus.com ©2016 Lummus Corporation

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D eltapine B ollgard II II XtendFlex XtendFlex varieties varieties provide provide Deltapine Bollgard the HIGHEST YIELD POTENTIAL, PREMIUM FIBER QUALITY and and tthe he the av ava vailable iin nc otton ttoday, oday y,, MOST EFFECTIVE WEED CONTROL SOLUTIONS a available cotton w ith ttolerance olerance tto og lyphosate, g lufosinate, a nd d icamba.* with glyphosate, glufosinate, and dicamba. ®

PROVEN VARIETIES. STRONG PERFORMANCE.

*NOW EPA APPROVED FOR IN-CROP USE

XtendiMax Herbicide With VaporGrip | with Bollgard II XtendFlex cotton ™

™

Technology

ALWAYS READ AND FOLLOW DIRECTIONS FOR USE ON PESTICIDE LABELING. IT IS A VIOLATION OF FEDERAL AND STATE LAW to use any pesticide product other than in accordance with its labeling. NOT ALL formulations of dicamba or glyphosate are approved for in-crop use with Bollgard II® XtendFlex® or XtendFlex® cotton. ONLY USE FORMULATIONS THAT ARE SPECIFICALLY LABELED FOR SUCH USES AND APPROVED FOR SUCH USE IN THE STATE OF APPLICATION. DICAMBA FORMULATIONS MAY NOT BE APPROVED IN ALL STATES. 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 Bollgard II® XtendFlex® or XtendFlex® cotton. Always read and follow IRM, where applicable, grain marketing and all other stewardship practices and pesticide label directions. Details of these practices can be found in the Trait Stewardship Responsibilities Notice to Farmers for the ‘Strong Cotton’ advertisement for Deltapine printed in this publication. ©2017 Monsanto Company. DP-17010-CF-BC-DL-1518, 1646, 1614 JAN 1