Cotton farming january 2018

Cotton Farming ONE GROWER PUBLISHING, LLC

PROFITABLE PRODUCTION STRATEGIES

JANUARY 2018

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Mid-South Ginners Weigh In Round Bales, Computer Technology Get Top Marks

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PhytoGen and the PhytoGen Logo are trademarks of PhytoGen Seed Company, LLC. ®™DOW Diamond, Enlist and the Enlist Logo are trademarks of The Dow Chemical Company (“Dow”) or an affiliated company of Dow. The Enlist weed control system is owned and developed by Dow AgroSciences LLC. PhytoGen Seed Company is a joint venture between Mycogen Corporation, an affiliate of Dow AgroSciences LLC, and the J.G. Boswell Company. L38-076-154 (09/17) BR DAAGPHYG7064

Vol. 62 No. 1

Cotton Farming PROFITABLE PRODUCTION STRATEGIES

JANUARY 2018

www.cottonfarming.com

F E AT U R E S

8 Ginners Weigh In Several Mid-South cotton ginners, including from left, Gary Hayes, Randy Ainsworth and James Wages, visited with Cotton Farming editor Carroll Smith at Central BBQ in Memphis, Tenn., following the recent Southern Cotton Ginners Association Executive Committee meeting. Just like farmers, ginners have to take advantage of efficiencies to stay viable. See what the SCGA officers had to say about round bales, computer technology and the bright outlook for cotton going into the 2018 season.

DEPARTMENTS & COLUMNS

4 Editor’s Note 6 Cotton’s Agenda 15 Southwest Report

17 Industry News 20 Specialists Speaking 30 My Turn

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WALMART JOINS LEADS

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CLASS OF 18 VARIETIES

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‘LONG-BALL HITTERS’

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GINNING MARKETPLACE

By joining the Cotton LEADS program, the retail giant shows its support for responsible production practices by cotton producers.

Deltapine cotton recently announced its Class of 18 lineup. Of the seven varieties on the roster, five are Bollgard 3 XtendFlex.

Three students who graduate in May from the Texas Cotton Ginners’ Association internship program will be seeking full-time work.

THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE GINNING INDUSTRY

Texas Cotton Ginners’ Association Executive Vice President Tony Williams received a prestigious award from Texas Tech University.

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SOUTHERN-SOUTHEASTERN Topics such as farm policy and H-2A workers will be featured at the 2018 Southern Southeastern Annual Meeting in South Carolina.

WEB EXCLUSIVE Mississippi State University Extension Service offers tips to increase the chances people will have a safe time in the woods on ATVs. Go to www.cottonfarming.com for this Web Exclusive report.

Planting Tips

CornSouth ONE GROWER PUBLISHING, LLC

ON THE COVER: These men are part of the Executive Committee of the Southern Cotton Ginners Association.

From left, Randy Ainsworth, La.; Will Wade, Tenn.; Gary Hayes, Mo.; James Wages, Tenn.; Ricky Ayers, Tenn.; Sledge Taylor, Miss.; David Cochran, Miss.; and Tri Watkins, Ark. Cover photo by Carroll Smith.

Southern Production & Marketing Strategies

SUPPLEMENT

January 2018

Look for Corn South following page 24 in the Mid-South and Southeast editions of Cotton Farming. Stay informed and sign up for the monthly e-newsletter at www.cornsouth.com.

A Supplement to Cotton Farming and The Peanut Grower Magazines

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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JANUARY 2018 COTTON FARMING

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Editor’s Note Carroll Smith

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

The Scent Of Cautious Optimism

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ith 2017 barely in the books, cotton folks have sung “Auld Lang Syne” and are donning their Baby New Year top hats to begin preparations for next season. The scent of cautious optimism is on everyone’s breath as they pass along tidbits of good cotton news that come their way. It’s always refreshing to start off the new year by focusing on the positives.

In Cotton’s Agenda, Gary Adams, National Cotton Council president/ CEO, talks about the success Cotton Council International’s new global campaign “COTTON USA is the Cotton the World Trusts.” The goal of this effort is to build demand for U.S. cotton worldwide.

“The campaign is letting U.S. cotton’s end users know that intensive research and superior technology have produced a U.S. cotton fiber that’s now whiter, finer, stronger and cleaner. Those are valuable quality attributes that CCI is using to attract more user mills, manufacturers, brands and retailers into the COTTON USA™ Mark licensing program.”

And in the cover story, when we asked several Mid-South ginners to look into their crystal ball, they say the outlook for cotton appears bright for the upcoming year.

Southern Cotton Ginners Association President Randy Ainsworth says one of the positives he sees for cotton is a historic yield increase from all the new seed varieties.

“We also are getting better grades as far as color, strength and longer staple length, which make our product worth more,” he says.

David Cochran, incoming SCGA president, says the biggest positive he anticipates for cotton in 2018 is the possibility it will be included as a covered commodity in upcoming legislation.

“Another encouraging factor is China reducing its cotton stockpiles,” he says. “The Mid-South had an extremely high-quality crop in 2017, which should be attractive to buyers, and the price of cotton has held up.”

My toast to all for 2018 is this: Breathe in the aroma of cautious optimism and carry it with you throughout the year. Stay charged up with energy and vitality.

Cheers!

Carroll

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

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COTTON FARMING JANUARY 2018

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

ONE GROWER PUBLISHING, LLC Mike Lamensdorf PRESIDENT/TREASURER Lia Guthrie PUBLISHER/VICE PRESIDENT ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COOPERATION: Cooperating with COTTON FARMING are various cotton producer organizations across the Cotton Belt. Many representatives of producer organizations serve on COTTON FARMING’s editorial advisory board. Opinions expressed and conclusions reached by contributors are not necessarily those of the cooperating organizations or the editors. All statements, including product claims, are those of the person or organization making the statement or claim. The publisher does not adopt any such statement or claims as its own and any such statement or claim does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the publisher.

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

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Walmart Upholds Sustainability

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together with the leaders in cotton sustainability and responsibly sourced cotton.”

Dr. Jesse Daystar, chief sustainability officer at Cotton Incorporated, says, “Our leading efforts in the United States and Australia are rooted in science, measurement and best practices. Companies that join the Cotton LEADS program are aligning themselves with an objective and valid approach to the sustainability challenge.”

Cotton Australia CEO Adam Kay says, “Whether it’s greenhouse gas emissions or soil health, cotton farmers are always looking to implement best practices and technologies so we can continue to be careful stewards of the natural resources.”

almart has joined the Cotton LEADS program supporting responsible production practices by cotton producers.

“Cotton is a major ingredient in many of our apparel and home textile products,” says Ken Lanshe, Walmart’s vice president, general merchandise, technical, quality and sustainability.

“Through the Cotton LEADS program, Walmart hopes to learn from and collaborate on efforts that U.S. cotton farmers are taking to be responsible and sustainable producers. Our support for the Cotton LEADS program aligns with Walmart’s goal to sell products that sustain the environment.”

Walmart joins more than 480 companies worldwide that recognize both the environmental gains cotton growers in Australia and the United States continue to achieve and their commitment to meeting the challenge of growing sustainable cotton.

Members From Around The Globe The Cotton LEADS program is a joint effort of the Australian and U.S. cotton industries. Its founding members are Cotton Australia, the Australian Cotton Shippers Association, the Cotton Foundation, the National Cotton Council of America, Cotton Council International and Objective, Valid Approach Cotton Incorporated.

“The Cotton LEADS program is at the forefront of the The program is designed to raise awareness of the world’s efforts for sustainably sourced cotton,” says Mark responsible growing practices and commitment to continMessura, senior vice president global supply chain maruous improvement among cotton producers in the member keting at Cotton Incorporated. CI is a founding member organization of Cotton LEADS. B:7” countries. To learn more, visit www.cottonleads.org.

“Joining with Walmart in the Cotton LEADS program T:7” brings the scale and commitment of an industry leader The National Cotton Council contributed this article.

S:7”

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® PhytoGen and the PhytoGen Logo are trademarks of PhytoGen Seed Company, LLC. ®™DOW Diamond, Enlist, Enlist Duo, the Enlist Logo and Enlist One are trademarks of The Dow Chemical Company (“Dow”) or an affiliated company of Dow. The Enlist weed control system is owned and developed by Dow AgroSciences LLC. Enlist Duo and Enlist One herbicides are not registered for sale or use in all states or counties. Contact your state pesticide regulatory agency to determine if a product is registered for sale or use in your area. Enlist Duo and Enlist One herbicides are the only 2,4-D products authorized for use in Enlist crops. 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. L38-076-150 (10/17) BR DAAGPHYG7067

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JANUARY 2018 COTTON FARMING

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Cotton’s Agenda Gary Adams

Cotton The World Trusts The National Cotton Council’s export promotions arm, Cotton Council International, is making U.S. cotton the preferred fiber for end users — mills, manufacturers, brands, retailers and consumers.

Does CCI have a new initiative? n In 2017, Cotton Council International launched “COTTON USA is the Cotton the World Trusts,” a campaign being carried to more than 50 countries and one that is underpinning CCI’s demand-building activities. Events ranging from the “WHAT’S NEW IN COTTON ™” initiative to COTTON USA Buyers’ Tours and Sourcing Fairs are enabling CCI to showcase U.S. cotton’s quality, sustainability, transparency and premium value — all valid reasons for trusting U.S. cotton. Initial results are that CCI is 1) delivering profitability across the U.S. cotton industry and 2) driving export growth of raw fiber, yarn and other cotton products.

What message is the campaign reinforcing? n Regarding sustainability, the campaign notes that U.S. cotton, which is CCI’s recently launched “COTTON USA governed by a strict regis the Cotton the World Trusts” campaign ulatory system, is using is proving very successful. precision agriculture to achieve high quality and yield with less water and chemicals. In addition, science-based metrics and benchmarks developed by Field to Market: The Alliance for Sustainable Agriculture are being used to assess U.S. cotton’s environmental impacts and to identify opportunities for improvement.

The campaign also is spreading the word about the NCC’s new COTTON USA Sustainability Task Force’s 2025 goals. As I announced in my October column, these goals are reducing: 1) the amount of land needed to produce a pound of cotton fiber by 13 percent; 2) soil loss by 50 percent, in balance with new soil formation; 3)

energy to produce seed cotton and ginned lint by 15 percent; and 4) greenhouse gas emissions by 39 percent. In addition, the campaign is working to increase: 1) water use efficiency (more fiber per gallon) by 18 percent; and 2) soil carbon in fields by 30 percent.

What about quality, transparency and premium value? n The campaign is letting U.S. cotton’s end users know that intensive research and superior technology have produced a U.S. cotton fiber that’s now whiter, finer, stronger and cleaner. Those are valuable quality attributes that CCI is using to attract more user mills, manufacturers, brands and retailers into the COTTON USA™ Mark licensing program. Also being shared is our commitment to educating U.S. producers and ginners on the latest technologies and practices for eliminating potential contamination sources.

Regarding transparency, U.S. cotton’s customers are being reminded that we are the only country that tests 100 percent of its bales — using the latest computer classing technology to ensure every bale is fairly and accurately classed. Among premium value elements offered to U.S. cotton’s end users are multiple education forums, networking opportunities and COTTON USA’s new global website, www. cottonusa.org, which provides timely economic data and global supplier search capabilities.

CCI also continually strives to be innovative.

One example is its recently launched COTTON USA Mill Exchange Program in Southeast Asia. It is enabling textile mills to see firsthand how their competitors are successfully using U.S. cotton in their mills to increase profits. More information about COTTON USA’s message of sustainability, quality, transparency and premium value is at https://cotto nusa.org/our-promise.

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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®™ DOW Diamond, Diamond, Colex-D, Enlist, Enlist Duo, the Enlist Logos Lo ogos and Enlist One are trademarks of The Dow w Chemical Company (“Dow”) or an affiliated company c of Dow. ®PhytoGen PhytoGen is a trademark of of PhytoGen y n Seed Company, p y, LLC. PhytoGen y Seed Company Compan p ny y is a joint j venture between Mycogen y g Corporation, Corpora p ation,, an affiliate of Dow AgroSciences g LLC,, and an nd the J.G. Boswell Company.

Comp pany. y The Enlist weed weed ® control system sy ystem is owned and developed by Dow AgroSciences AgroScciences LLC. Enlist Duo and Enlist One herbici herbicides ides are not registered for sale or use in all states sta ates or counties. Contact Contact c your state pesticide pesticide regulatory regulatory r agency to determine if a product is registered registered for sale or use in your area. Enlist Duo and Enlist Enlist One herbicides are the only 2,4-D products authorized a for use on En Enlist list crops. Always read and follow w label l directions. ©2017 Dow AgroSciences LLC LLC E38-401-028 (10/17) (10//17) BR 010-91311 DAAGNLST7089 DAAGNLST7089

COVER STORY

Mid-South Ginners

WEIGH IN Round Bales, Ginning Technology And A Positive Outlook For Cotton

BY CARROLL SMITH

A

EDITOR

s one of the seven cotton industry segments, ginners follow producers in the chain that ultimately leads to the textile manufacturer. Once cotton is harvested, it is delivered to the gin where the seed is separated from the lint.

Perhaps incoming Southern Cotton Ginners Association President David Cochran says it best. “Farmers and ginners are closely connected in that ginning is an extension of the farmer’s harvest.

Gins process the raw cotton that comes out of the field to create a marketable product.”

Ginners say one of the advantages of round modules is they are wrapped in plastic so they don’t get as wet and the bottom of the module is not tainted with field debris.

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COTTON YOU CAN COUNT ON. Harvesting a successful cotton crop starts from the ground up.

Selecting precise seed varieties and trait technologies to match your unique conditions helps ensure your seed will reach its full yield and fiber-quality potential.

CHOOSING THE RIGHT TRAIT Bollgard ® 3 XtendFlex ® cotton combines three modes of action for insect control and herbicide tolerance.

Bollgard ® 3 gives growers access to high-quality germplasm, which helps provide enhanced protection against damage caused by pests such as bollworms and armyworms.

XtendFlex ® Technology allows for the use of glyphosate, glufosinate and dicamba as a part of your weed management practice.

CROPLAN ® seed offers a broad range of high-performing cotton seed with Bollgard ® 3 XtendFlex ® Technology, in addition to the current lineup of Bollgard II ® germplasm, which allows farmers to pick a variety that best fits their agronomic needs.

MANAGING THROUGHOUT THE SEASON The right management practices can go a long way in maximizing optimal yield and fiber-quality potential.

Take tissue samples from early to late bloom to address nutrient deficiencies.

Scout for pests all season long, because insect pressures can reduce yield potential.

Maximize weed control with XtendFlex ® Technology by making timely in-season applications.

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Talk to a WinField United retailer and visit CROPLAN.com for more information on CROPLAN ® seed varieties with Bollgard ® 3 XtendFlex ® Technology.

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. This product has been approved for import into key export markets with functioning regulatory systems.

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

Insect control technology provided by Vip3A is utilized under license from Syngenta Crop Protection AG. 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 cotton with XtendFlex® Technology. ONLY USE FORMULATIONS THAT ARE SPECIFICALLY LABELED FOR SUCH USES AND APPROVED FOR SUCH USE IN THE STATE OF APPLICATION. XTENDIMAX® HERBICIDE WITH VAPORGRIP® TECHNOLOGY AND IN CROP USES 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 cotton with XtendFlex® Technology.

Cotton with XtendFlex® Technology contains genes that confer tolerance to glyphosate, dicamba and glufosinate. Glyphosate will kill crops that are not tolerant to glyphosate. Dicamba will kill crops that are not tolerant to dicamba. Glufosinate will kill crops that are not tolerant to glufosinate. Contact your Monsanto dealer or refer to Monsanto’s Technology Use Guide for recommended weed control programs. ALWAYS READ AND FOLLOW PESTICIDE LABEL DIRECTIONS. Bollgard®, Respect the Refuge and Cotton Design®, Roundup Ready®, Roundup®, XtendFlex®, XtendiMAX® and VaporGrip® are trademarks of Monsanto Technology LLC. LibertyLink® and the Water Droplet Design® are registered trademarks of Bayer. Insect control technology provided by Vip3A is utilized under license from Syngenta Crop Protection AG. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

WinField United is a trademark, and CROPLAN and WinField are registered trademarks of Winfield Solutions, LLC. © 2017 Winfield Solutions, LLC

Mid-South cotton ginners Gary Hayes, Randy Ainsworth and James Wages visited with Cotton Farming editor Carroll Smith at Central BBQ in Memphis, Tennessee, following the recent SCGA Executive Committee meeting.

And just like farmers, ginners have to take advantage of efficiencies to stay viable. In a poll of several Mid-South ginners who attended the December SCGA Executive Committee meeting, round bales and computer technology were perceived as the top two components that contribute to streamlining the ginning process.

Round Bale Benefits James Wages, SCGA vice president, manages two plants in West Tennessee — Farmers Gin in Humbolt and Yorkville Gin Co. in Yorkville.

“Round bales have definitely made things a lot easier at the gin — especially inside the gin,” he says. “The conventional modules came in with mud and field debris on the bottom of them. With round modules, it’s mostly pure cotton. And since they are wrapped in plastic, they don’t get as wet out on the gin yard.

“We’ve also been able to cut down on our transportation cost in getting the round bales to the gin. On a long-distance transport, we can haul eight at once. Some gins will haul as many as 12 to 14 round modules on drop-deck trailers hooked to an 18-wheeler truck.”

Ginning Technology The Tennessee ginner also takes advantage of some of the latest computer technology available to the industry.

For example, Moisture Mirror 3X, a central moisture control system, is installed in both gins. Wages says the system comes with a 12-inch color touchscreen and, among other things, controls the burners that dry down the cotton to ensure it is not overdried. He can connect to the system over the Internet or on his iPhone or iPad with the

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COTTON FARMING JANUARY 2018

“Round bales have definitely made things a lot easier at the gin — especially inside the gin.

The conventional modules came in with mud and field debris on the bottom of them.

With round modules, it’s mostly pure cotton. And since they are wrapped in plastic, they don’t get as wet out on the gin yard.”

Mobile Mirror App, which allows him to monitor the two plants in real time wherever he goes.

Crop Link, a system manufactured by AgSense that shows the temperature for each cable in the cottonseed houses, is installed at both gins. Wages can remotely access the information on his iPhone in real time as well.

When he touches a location within the seed house on his phone’s screen, the current temperature for that area shows up.

“The darker the orange color, the warmer the temperature,” Wages says. “Unless we cool down the seed, the temperature will continue to rise because the seed contains moisture. This technology provides a huge energy Continued on page 18 COTTONFARMING.COM

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MY STRONG COTTON | SPECIAL REPORT

Deltapine Cotton Stays Strong Despite Tough Weather Conditions Cotton Farming editor Carroll Smith went into the field this fall to capture strong cotton stories from farmers who planted Deltapine Bollgard II XtendFlex varieties. Following is her special report on Jimmy Webb in Georgia.

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n Calhoun County, Georgia, small communities 12 to 15 miles apart once dotted the roadsides. Folklore passed down by word of mouth says the towns were in such close proximity because that’s how far the horses that people rode could walk in a day before needing a rest. Many of these locales have since disappeared, and folks traveling by more modern means now look out over lush cotton fields that turn to “snow” in the fall.

Jimmy Webb, a third-generation producer, says he still loves “watching the cotton grow” and shares short videos throughout the season with his Twitter followers. Today, he and his brother Wesley farm about 3,500 irrigated acres of cotton, peanuts and corn on Harvey Jordan Farms near Leary, Georgia.

Webb planted about 35 percent of his cotton acres to DP 1646 B2XF for the first time last year after area farmers who participate in the Deltapine New Product Evaluator Program told him how well the variety performed for them.

Jimmy Webb, who farms in southwest Georgia, grew DP 1646 B2XF for the first time in 2017. Impressed by its high yields and excellent quality, he intends to plant 50-plus percent of his cotton acres to this variety in 2018.

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“We use a strip-till system so I put in a wheat cover crop in January, fertilized it with 2 tons of chicken litter and burned it down about 14 days before planting DP 1646 B2XF in April,” he says. “At planting, I ran a KMC Rip Strip tillage tool along with the planter so I only made one pass through the field. I applied a sidedress application of 80 pounds nitrogen and 30 pounds potash.”

Although pigweed pressure is present on the farm, Webb says they keep this pest under control by watering in early herbicide applications with center pivots to activate the chemistry.

“Most of my cotton circles typically receive between 40 to 60 ounces of plant growth regulator, depending on the soil type,” he says. “We often spot spray the PGR because some places in the field need it and some do not.

We control the growth so we have a uniform canopy and uniform plants.

“To me, strong cotton means having excellent vigor and good growth potential. And DP 1646 B2XF definitely has that. You want to have to use PGRs to get the necessary height to make the high yields we need in our area.”

As the season progresses and Webb makes his layby herbicide application, he says the crop is usually in good shape before it’s time to defoliate.

Weather Challenges In 2017, however, Mother Nature threw a couple of curve balls.

“We had rainy, cloudy weather in July, causing some of the fruit to abort,” Webb says. “This created a void in the middle of the plants, which decreased our yield.

“When Hurricane Irma moved from Florida into Georgia in September, it brought 12 to 15 hours of 30 to 40 mph winds with gusts up to 60 mph. The wind twisted the cotton and knocked it down, which was easy to do since the bolls were heavy. I was worried, but the cotton stood back up pretty well.”

The top crop did not mature because of storm damage, and the University of Georgia Extension

JIMMY WEBB Leary, Georgia

Twitter: @CottonFarming

DP 1646 B2XF

Georgia cotton farmer Jimmy Webb checks the accuracy of the identification tag before the module is transported to Edison Gin Cooperative.

Service felt that Irma’s strong winds and heavy rain caused a 200 poundper-acre loss overall, Webb says.

Yield And Quality Results Although 2017 was an unusual year in terms of weather, Webb was pleased with how DP 1646 B2XF turned out at harvest.

“The quality of DP 1646 B2XF was excellent,” he says. “At one time, uniformity was not that good in Georgia.

Now it’s much better. The mic is good, and the strength and staple have gone through the roof. The loan value for my DP 1646 B2XF was 55 cents.

It’s nice to look on the loan chart and see how much premium we get with Deltapine strong cotton.”

In addition to quality, Webb always considers a variety’s yield potential on his farm. “If I see a variety, such as DP 1646 B2XF, that has good quality and yields well, it’s going to get my acreage,” he says. “High yields keep my cost per acre down, and good quality gives us a plus in marketing.

“After going through a season under tough weather conditions — including tropical storm force winds in September — the DP 1646 B2XF averaged 1,283 pounds per acre. It

• Bollgard II XtendFlex variety • Broadly adapted with high yield potential • Outstanding fiber properties • Planted on more acres in the Southeast than any other variety

was the highest yielder of the three varieties we grew last year. Our intentions are to plant 50-plus percent of our acreage to DP 1646 B2XF in 2018.”

Staying The Course Although some years are more challenging than others, Webb says he is sticking with cotton.

“It’s in my blood, and I enjoy the ‘cotton family,’ all the friends I have made over the years,” he says.

“I also appreciate the value of the Cotton Board and Cotton Incorporated. The research efforts and product promotion from these organizations have kept us all in business. And we get great legislative help from our friends at the National Cotton Council.

“On our farm here in Georgia, we originally started out with cotton as a good rotation for peanuts and to help spread out the work. Now we are in it for the long haul.”

Go to cottonfarming.com to view the special reports and My Strong Cotton videos to see how Deltapine varieties are providing strong solutions to cotton farmers.

DP 1555 B2RF

• Bollgard II Roundup Ready Flex variety • High yield potential and excellent fiber quality • A good fit for the lower Southeast

JANUARY 2018 COTTON FARMING

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SPECIAL REPORT

Deltapine Names Class Of 18 Varieties

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arking the 10th year of the New Product Evaluator Program, Deltapine cotton recently announced the addition of seven new varieties to its lineup. The roster includes the full commercial launch of five Bollgard 3 XtendFlex cotton varieties as part of the Class of 18.

These were tested and proven to perform at a high level by select farmers participating in the program from across the Cotton Belt.

Next-Generation Worm Control “This 10th NPE Program class is significant, as it marks the full commercial launch of the first Deltapine Bollgard 3 XtendFlex cotton varieties,” says Keylon Gholston, Deltapine cotton product manager. “These varieties are unique because they combine the highest performing genetics with the best weed control and next-generation worm control technologies.”

Bollgard 3 contains the Vip3A protein, which provides a third mode of action in addition to the Cry1Ac and Cry2Ab Bt proteins in Genuity Bollgard II technology.

The introduction provides producers with three unique proteins and Dave Albers (left), Monsanto cotton product development manager, and Keylon Gholston, Deltapine cotton product manager, announced the Class of 18 varieties at the 2017 NPE Summit.

CARROLL SMITH

modes of action, helping deliver better insect control while increasing the longevity of the technology. Cotton with XtendFlex technology is tolerant to glyphosate, glufosinate and dicamba, which provides added flexibility to apply multiple combinations of these three herbicides pre- and/or post-plant for an effective weed management system.

Farmers Give Thumbs-Up “These new varieties are providing a combination of high yield and good fiber quality,” says Brian Hlavinka, a 10-year NPE farmer from East Bernard, Texas.

He planted two Bollgard 3 varieties this past season — DP 1835 B3XF and DP 1845 B3XF. “In the 10 years of the NPE Program, we’ve seen varieties getting better and better, and this Class of 18 fits right into that trend, including providing better worm and weed control, through Bollgard 3 and XtendFlex technologies.”

Another 10-year NPE grower, Johnny Griffin of Lewiston Woodville, North Carolina, agrees the Deltapine Class of 18 varieties fit with the high-yielding, premium fiber quality products commercialized through the

New Roster Revealed Here is the Class of 18, which features five new Bollgard 3 XtendFlex varieties: • DP 1820 B3XF – An early to-mid maturity variety exhibiting excellent fiber length, micronaire and strength along with excellent yield potential. Provides a good complement to DP 1518 B2XF in northern markets and to DP 1612 B2XF in the Texas Rolling Plains.

• DP 1835 B3XF – A mid-maturity variety recommended for South Texas, the lower Mid-South and the Carolinas, this variety provides improved fiber length compared to DP 1725 B2XF. • DP 1840 B3XF – A variety bred for the Southeast and Carolinas offering yield potential and fiber length comparable to DP 1725 B2XF and improved fiber length, micronaire and strength compared to DP 1538 B2XF. Mid- to full-maturity variety exhibiting strong growth very similar to DP 1538 B2XF. • DP 1845 B3XF – Displays excellent yield, quality and fiber properties for Texas and the lower Mid-South. Has bacterial blight resistance. Good companion variety to DP 1646 B2XF. • DP 1851 B3XF – This full-season variety with partial bacterial blight resistance also exhibits an excellent combination of yield and fiber quality. Ideal for the Southeast and lower Mid-South.

• DP 1822 XF – Developed for West Texas, this variety has demonstrated good tough acre performance while offering bacterial blight resistance. An early to mid-maturity variety.

• DP 1823NR B2XF – An early to midmaturity variety with excellent fiber length and low micronaire. Ideal for the upper Mid-South region. program over the past few years, such as DP 1646 B2XF. “The varieties we planted compared favorably to DP 1646 B2XF and had excellent micronaire, high strength, a long staple length and good uniformity,” says Griffin, who evaluated both DP 1820 B3XF and DP 1835 B3XF in his NPE plot this past season. “It’s also important to have a tool like Bollgard 3 available because of the worm pressure we’ve had in recent years.”

The Deltapine Class of 18 varieties will be available for the 2018 planting season.

Deltapine contributed this article.

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COTTON FARMING JANUARY 2018

COTTONFARMING.COM

could be moved wherever seed, soil or other plant material is disseminated,” Woodward says. “This disease is different from other types of Fusarium wilt that affect cotton, in that it does not require damage from nematodes to cause substantial losses.

“Symptoms of the disease are first observed early in the season at the four- to seven-leaf stage. Early in the process, small areas of the field will exhibit these symptoms. But infected areas increase in size as populations of the fungus in the soil increase from year to year.”

SOUTHWEST REPORT

The Texas State Support Program, which is funded by program assessment dollars, recently reviewed its 2017 projects and sought input from the state’s cotton farmers regarding potential upcoming research.

Producer State Support Program Update

A

n important component of the Cotton Research and Promotion Program is the Producer State Support Program. Following the mission of Cotton Incorporated closely, the state program is charged with improving the demand for and profitability of cotton.

However, strategies and activities created under this program are designed to address specific needs of each cotton-producing state. State funds are allocated based on production numbers and dispersed to researchers for projects of local importance. Grower-led SSP committees meet each year to determine how their funds are best used. CI agricultural research staff oversee the execution of these projects and results.

“In addition to addressing cotton grower research needs in each state, the SSP helps guide Cotton Incorporated’s ag research staff investments in multi-state and longer-term research programs,” says Kater Hake, vice president of agricultural and environmental research at Cotton Incorporated.

Recently, the Texas SSP held a midyear review of programs funded in 2017. Producer input regarding these projects is vital, since they are funded through program assessment dollars.

Twitter: @CottonFarming

BY CHRISTI CHADWELL LUBBOCK, TEXAS

Fusarium Wilt Race 4 Projects in Texas are vast and cover many different issues. Some of the topics heard during the review included a discussion on Fusarium wilt race 4, which will receive increased Cotton Incorporated funding in 2018. Race 4 has become an emerging threat to the Cotton Belt. Currently, it mainly affects Pima cotton in California.

Jason Woodward, plant pathologist with Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Service, says race 4 has the potential to affect Upland cotton throughout the entire United States.

Woodward says race 4 has appeared in El Paso County, Texas, sparking discussion about future implications.

“The fungus, Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. vasinfectum, is seedborne and

Low Micronaire Cotton Uses Another topic discussed was how to use lower micronaire cotton in high-demand products to reach a reasonable cost for the otherwise discounted cotton. Noureddine Abidi and Seshadri Ramkumar, both with Texas Tech University, are working with the SSP to expand uses of low micronaire cotton.

“Transforming low-grade cotton and cotton wastes to advanced materials could add value to cotton fibers and strengthen the competition against man-made fibers, especially polyesters,” Abidi says. “Dissolving cotton cellulose and transforming it into other materials such as films, fibers and disposable materials is of particular interest because cellulose is biodegradable, sustainable and biologically compatible.”

Abidi says he is hopeful that products of this nature would be of interest to the medical field, where they could be used as a bandage material for wounds and healing. In many areas of Texas, where weather creates less-than-desirable cotton grades, this prospect could be beneficial.

The projects funded through Cotton Incorporated’s SSP are vital, ensuring cotton stays competitive in the world market, sustainable throughout disease complications and useful in any field. Each state has worthwhile research opportunities.

For more information on region-specific projects, please contact a Cotton Board Regional Communication Manager. They can be found at: http:// www.cottonboard.org/producers/ regional-communication-managers/.

Christi Chadwell is the Cotton Board’s RCM for the Southwest (cchadwell@ cottonboard.org). For more about Fusarium wilt race 4, contact Woodward at jewoodward@ag.tamu.edu.

JANUARY 2018 COTTON FARMING

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It takes an inner strength to make it through the season.

Get a strong start with Stoneville . ®

A great cotton n sseason calls for strength in n yyou and your crop. It’s alwayss b been that way for growers who know the i cotttton. tt . And A d when wh you plant l t Sto Stoneville ill ®, our science i e keeps k li i early-season l i ,w hi h lleads d artt of g growing sd delivering vigor, which to in-season stren ngth and high yield potential at a harvest. So combine our sc cience with your art and get a strong start with Stoneville. Le earn more at Stoneville.com

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©2017 Bayer CropScience LP, 2 T.W. Alexander Drive, Research Triangle Trianglle Park, NC 27709. Always read and follow la bel instructions. Bayer, the Bayer Cross, COPeO, COP PeO, Stoneville and label prod duct information call toll-free 1-866-99-BAY AYER (1-866-992-2937) or visit our website at www.Stoneville.com ww ww.Stoneville.com Stoneville Design are regist tered trademarks off Bayer. For additional product registered 1-866-99-BAYER CR0817STONEVA VA274V00R R0 CR0817STONEVA274V00R0 A-29356-2

Industry News CA Department Of Pesticide Regulations Finalized Pesticide Use Around Schools The California Department of Pesticide Regulation has adopted the official regulations regarding the use of agricultural pesticides near schools and licensed child daycare facilities.

The regulations took effect on Jan. 1.

The new rule prohibits most applications within a quarter mile around schools and daycare facilities from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays when school is in session. Additionally, the regulations require growers within the quarter mile radius to provide an annual notification no later than April 30 of pesticides they expect to use between July 1 of the current year through June 30 of the next year.

Growers who plan to use pesticides that require use but are not included on the annual notification must provide notice at least 48 hours prior to their use. Fumigant application must be completed at least 36 hours before start of class at a school or daycare facility. Here is a breakdown of distance and application restrictions.

Prohibited applications within a quarter mile: • Aircraft.

• Airblast sprayer or other ground application equipment that delivers spray into an air stream created by fan.

• Sprinkler chemigation.

• Dust or powder, unless injected into the soil.

• Fumigant, including fumigation of stockpiles in orchards but excluding fumigation on huller/ processor sites.

Prohibited applications within 25 feet: • Ground rig sprayer.

• Field soil injection equipment.

• Drip or flood chemigation.

No distance restriction: • Application made within closed space (except fumigant).

• Bait stations.

• Dust or powder injection into soil.

• Application of granule, flake or pellet (except fumigant or aircraft application).

• Backpack sprayer (except if it incorporates airblast or is used to apply dust/powder).

• Hand-pump sprayer (except if it is used to apply dust, powder or a fumigant).

LATMC Details Announced For February Meeting

The Louisiana Agricultural Technology & Management Conference, sponsored by the Louisiana Agricultural Consultants Association, is Feb. 14-16 at Paragon Casino Resort in Marksville, Louisiana.

A pre-conference Soil Fertility & Health Workshop will be held Wednesday, Feb. 14, from 8 a.m. until noon. Workshop topics range from the benefits of cover crops for soil nutrition to interpreting soil analyses.

In addition to conference presentations, such as Managing High Yield in Soybeans and Corn, there will be specific crop breakout sessions on cotton, rice and sugarcane. More than 30 sustaining members will be exhibiting, and most will be participating in one of the two Emerging Technologies sessions.

Technical presentations during meals (breakfasts and luncheons) will be held by sponsoring sustaining members.

LACA will also co-sponsor its traditional networking reception on

Wednesday evening, Feb. 14, which is a great “greet and meet” event.

Networking is one of the most important aspects of the annual conference.

This meeting provides recertification of consultant and commercial applicator licenses. CCA CEUs are also available. The preliminary program will be posted at www.laca1.org.

Contact Denise Wright, executive director, at denise@laca1.org or 337945-3694 for more information.

2018 Farm Bill Landing Page Will Provide Latest Updates Ahead of the 2018 Farm Bill, House Agriculture Committee Chairman K. Michael Conaway (TX-11) has announced the launch of a new online resource that can be accessed through the committee’s current website, https://agriculture.house.gov/farmbill.

This landing page is designed to provide updates and information related to the 2018 Farm Bill.

Following its launch, Conaway, says, “I’m committed to completing a Farm Bill on time. We have spent the Continued on page 19

Get a strong start and high yield potential with these Stoneville varieties. ®

ST 5020GLT ST 5517GLTP ST 4949GLT

Talk with your Bayer sales representative or agronomist to learn more about these varieties, or visit Stoneville.com Stoneville . Our Science for Your Art. ®

©2017 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 CR0917STONEVA283V00R0 A-29353-2

Twitter: @CottonFarming

JANUARY 2018 COTTON FARMING

INITIAL MECHANICAL

17

CCOY Cotton Consultant of the Year established 1981

Who is the 2017 Cotton Consultant of the Year?

A Texas farm family member says what stands out about the 2017 CCOY award recipient “is the relationships he builds with his farmers. He’s a true friend who continues to give of himself to ensure your success.”

A former Texas CCOY award recipient says, “He has worked with the same good growers in the Texas Upper Gulf Coast and the Rio Grand Valley. When I run into a tough situation during the growing season, I don’t hesitate to call him. He has helped me out during his busiest times, and he doesn’t live next door.”

He has been described as a consultant’s consultant, an asset to the cotton industry and an innovative thinker with new ideas. He always challenges his cotton farmers to become better, more efficient managers of their operations.

Who is the man so deserving of these accolades?

Look for the big announcement in the March issue of Cotton Farming !

Cotton Consultant of the Year sponsored by

Cotton Farming 18

COTTON FARMING JANUARY 2018

Continued from page 10

savings because we only run the fans we need to. We can cut the other ones off. Computer and wireless technology has been a great help to me at both plants.”

SCGA President Randy Ainsworth manages Tanner & Co., a gin in Frogmore, Louisiana. He says they have incorporated some new approaches to cleaning cotton that have improved the process and are looking into an Argus Infrared Spark Detector that helps eliminate fires in the gin.

“This technology is a big plus as a safety measure and helps cut costs in our industry,” he says. “We also invested heavily in computer technology 10 years ago and are still investing in it. It has helped steadily grow the efficiency of the cotton gin.”

A Bright Outlook One of the positives Ainsworth sees for cotton is a historic yield increase from all the new seed varieties.

“We also are getting better grades as far as color, strength and longer staple length, which make our product worth more,” he says. “And cotton will be competitive with other crops if the price stays up. In our area, I think we will have at least as many cotton acres as we had last year and possibly see a little increase.”

SCGA Vice President Gary Hayes, who manages Caruthersville Gin in Caruthersville, Missouri, says farmers in his area are upbeat about cotton after having two substantial crops in a row.

“We have a good group of farmers who typically plant the same amount of cotton acres year in and year out,” he says. “Other positive news is the loan value for cotton is supposed to be brought back to 52 cents, which will help. And we appreciate the National Cotton Council’s work to try to get our generic cotton base acres converted to something more permanent in 2019.”

As the outlook for cotton looks bright, Hayes encourages more young people to get started in both farming and ginning.

“There are good jobs out there in both industries,” he says. “In the ginning industry in particular, the Ginner School in Stoneville, Mississippi, and the Gin Management program at Mississippi Sate University both provide good opportunities to learn about

This screen on James Wages’ Mobile Mirror App shows things like current bales per hour, average bales per hour and incoming moisture in real time. all aspects of this profession.”

David Cochran with Avon Gin in Avon, Mississippi, says the biggest positive he anticipates for cotton in 2018 is the possibility it will be included as a covered commodity in upcoming legislation.

“Another encouraging factor is China reducing its cotton stockpiles,” he says. “The Mid-South had an extremely high-quality crop in 2017, which should be attractive to buyers, and the price of cotton has held up.”

Keep The Boll Rolling In looking to the future, Cochran puts at the top of his wish list keeping U.S. cotton contaminant free and making ultra-low gossypol cottonseed available to farmers to expand the cottonseed market from ruminant animals to humans and other feed sources.

“The U.S. cotton industry has always prided itself in having contamination-free cotton — which is what the mills want — so we have to stay conscious of this issue,” he says.

“And the opportunity to expand our cottonseed market would contribute greatly to the viability of all cotton gins.”

Ginners across the Cotton Belt encourage everyone to attend the upcoming regional gin shows and annual meetings. These events provide an opportunity to learn about the latest cotton products and technology and cement the bond between farmers and ginners going forward.

COTTONFARMING.COM

Industry News Continued from page 17

past three years preparing — holding 113 hearings and six listening sessions around the country. We recognize what’s at stake. We’re working on getting the policy right and will use this site as a resource as we advance the next Farm Bill.”

Advanced Guidance And DataSharing Technology From Deere John Deere has introduced its latest advanced guidance and machine data-sharing technology.

The guidance additions include AutoTrac Turn Automation, AutoTrac Implement Guidance and AutoTrac Vision for Tractors. Deere also added In-Field Data Sharing applications, which are bundled activations for the John Deere 4600 CommandCenter or bundled subscriptions for 4640 Universal Displays.

AutoTrac Turn Automation makes end turns smooth, consistent and comfortable for operators during tillage, planting, seeding or other preemerge applications when using straight-track guidance modes.

AutoTrac Implement Guidance enables the tractor to move off the intended path or guidance line in order to achieve expected accuracy of the implement.

AutoTrac Vision can be used to detect the crop row and provide input to the machine’s AutoTrac system to keep wheels or tracks between the crop rows. This level of precision can be beneficial when side-dressing fertilizer, postemerge spraying and cultivating.

In-Field Data Sharing makes it easier for producers to coordinate multiple machines working in the same field.

Operators can use the application to share coverage, application, yield and moisture maps along with straight tracks and circle tracks with up to six other machines. Each application is compatible with the John Deere 4640 Universal Display and with Gen 4 4600 CommandCenter displays.

Activations and subscriptions are available for ordering. Delivery will begin in February.

For more information, visit your local John Deere dealership and go to www.JohnDeere.com.

Twitter: @CottonFarming

NCC Thanks U.S. Trade Representative For Support National Cotton Council Chairman Ronnie Lee thanked the leadership of U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and the U.S. negotiating team for their support of U.S. farmers at the World Trade Organization’s 11th Ministerial Conference held recently in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Lee, a Georgia cotton producer, says, “We appreciate Ambassador Lighthizer and his team of negotiators from USTR and USDA for their efforts and their insistence that the WTO remain focused on the long-term goal of a balanced outcome that will expand trade.

“This was especially important for cotton, as some WTO members continue to call for concessions above and beyond the reforms we have already made, without anything in return.”

Lee says in the semi-annual dedicated discussions established by the WTO in December 2013, cotton is the only agricultural commodity with an explicit mechanism that allows for the evaluation of domestic support, export subsidies and market access.

Global Seed-Applied Technology Agreement Announced DuPont and Sumitomo Chemical Co. Limited have announced a global agreement. They will collaborate on the development, registration and commercialization of seed-applied technologies for use in key crops around the world.

Collaborations will focus on the North American region with potential expansion opportunities to multiple crop markets globally.

The companies formed the collaboration out of a shared objective to accelerate development and commercialization of novel seed-applied technologies to improve early plant growth and yields.

Combining the pipeline from Sumitomo Chemical with DuPont’s technology and capability, provides an opportunity to evaluate these technologies together, at much earlier stages, to understand the complementary characteristics of various product combinations. This will enhance current and future commercial products for seed-applied technologies.

Trait Stewardship Responsibilities: Notice to Growers

The Value of Biotech Crops: $150 Billion in Two Decades Through stewardship, we can reap those benefits for decades to come.

Before opening a bag of seed, be sure to read, understand and accept the stewardship requirements, including applicable refuge requirements for Insect Resistance Management (IRM), for the biotechnology traits expressed in the seed as set forth in the Bayer Grower Technology Agreement (BGTA) that you sign. By opening and using a bag of seed, you are reaffirming your obligation to comply with the most recent stewardship and regulatory requirements.

Bayer is a member of Excellence Through Stewardship ® (ETS).

Bayer products are commercialized in accordance with ETS Product Launch Stewardship Guidance and in compliance with the Bayer Policy for Commercialization of Biotechnology-Derived Plant Products in Commodity Crops.

Information regarding the regulatory status of this cottonseed can be obtained at www.biotradestatus.com.See TwinLinkPlus.us or TwinLinkPlus.us/IRM for planting restrictions and IRM recommendations.

Individual results may vary based on local growing conditions and pest pressure. Monitor TwinLink®, TwinLink Plus and refuge cotton routinely, and contact a Bayer seed dealer or Bayer at 1-877-365-4287 if problems are observed.

©2017 Bayer CropScience LP, 2 T.W. Alexander Drive, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709. Always read and follow label instructions. Bayer, the Bayer Cross, Stoneville, Stoneville Design and TwinLink are registered trademarks of Bayer. Excellence Through Stewardship is a registered trademark of Excellence Through Stewardship.

For additional product information call toll-free 1-866-99-BAYER (1-866-992-2937) or visit our website at www.CropScience.Bayer.us SE1117MULTIPB103S00R0 B-29557-1

JANUARY 2018 COTTON FARMING

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Specialists Speaking Focus On 2018 Variety Selection ARKANSAS Bill Robertson Many producers have booked seed for this season.

There are several new varieties with new technologies that are worthy of a look. Do your homework regarding new technologies and varieties to best place them on your farm.

Variety selection is perhaps the most important decision a producer makes. Once planted, no amount of worry, work or money can make up for a poor decision. Our recommendation for planting is that roughly two-thirds of your acres be planted with varieties that are 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://arkansasvarietytesting. com/home/cotton/.

A great deal of information is collected and presented to help evaluate fiber quality, maturity, growth characteristics and other varietal traits as well as yield. County demonstrations are another good source of information and are included with the University Variety Testing program results.

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 county Extension agent for assistance in obtaining or interpreting variety performance data and to get the dates and locations of upcoming county production meetings. brobertson@uaex.edu

TENNESSEE Tyson Raper We should have all of our lint yield data processed

by Dec. 11 and hope to publish a preliminary report on our variety trial results by the end of 2017. A significant period of rain delayed harvest for many in the area, including the University of Tennessee Agronomy Program. Subsequently, our fiber quality data set will not be complete for several more weeks. However, our preliminary data set should include enough information to begin guiding selection decisions.

Here are a couple of comments from the 2017 season. First, we saw resistance develop to both genes within the Bollgard II varieties.

This is important because we will likely see bollworm populations in Bollgard II fields during the 2018 season that justify an insecticide application. This resistance is going to shift the market relatively quickly during the next few years to the varieties with three Bt genes.

Second, bacterial blight was noted in a large number of West Tennessee fields during 2017. Although severe yield penalties due to the disease have not been noted, this disease does reduce yields. And it is likely we will continue to see it during 2018. Third, we saw divergence in the fiber quality properties of many varieties. Many companies now offer varieties with a tendency to class at a higher grade.

As you begin to dive into the 2017 variety data, take a close look

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COTTON FARMING JANUARY 2018

at those that contain three Bt genes, resistance to bacterial blight and result in a quality premium. traper@utk.edu

MISSOURI Mike Milam Although harvest is over, several gins were still operating at the time of this writing. In talking with producers, I have heard many say this is their best cotton crop ever. Missouri will have another record crop greatly surpassing the 1,117 pounds per acre of 2014.

We had phenomenal weather this season. Harvest season was dry and warm. It is not hard to defoliate cotton during warm weather. Soil sampling was easy because we are so dry. Both university and private labs are geared up to get the samples processed. If lime is needed, it can be applied this fall to begin reacting before planting.

Weed control was enhanced with having dicamba available this season. However, due to complaints, the new 24(c) labels for 2018 prohibit spraying after June 1 in the Bootheel counties. Consequently, there will be a dilemma as to which varieties to plant. In addition, mandatory training on dicamba before it can be purchased will be required. This training will be online. One meeting will be held in the southeast region at Cape Girardeau at a date to be determined. There are other alternatives to dicamba pre- and post-planting.

Our Missouri Cotton Production and Outlook Conference will be held at the Fisher Delta Research Center on Tuesday, Feb. 6. Registration will begin at 7:45 a.m., and the program will end at noon with lunch provided. milammr@missouri.edu

OKLAHOMA Randy Boman Cotton harvest has been underway for some time in Oklahoma. A significant run of dry weather provided good harvest conditions, and most cotton producers are done. The bad news is that according to the U.S. Drought Monitor, mostly low level drought conditions are now affecting about 51 percent of the state. Another 37 percent is considered abnormally dry. Although this has helped drive a rapid harvest of the monster crop, wheat and other winter crop producers are unfortunately feeling the negative impact.

The ginning infrastructure also is being challenged. Many modules may not get ginned for several months, and producers are encouraged to monitor module cover integrity. If the covers get badly damaged or shredded by high winds, they should be replaced.

For the crop classed thus far, quality appears to be good to excellent. Color grades have been good to excellent with about 47 percent 11and 21, and about 45 percent 31 color.

Leaf grades and overall distribution have been good, with 87 percent grades 1, 2 and 3, and an average of 2.6. Staple has averaged 37, with about 65 percent 37 or longer.

Some high micronaire has been noted with 3 percent above 5.0, but 94 percent has been in the 3.5-4.9 range. Fiber strength has averaged 30.5 g/tex, with nearly 76 percent 30 or higher. Uniformity is averaging 81.1 percent, and bark contamination is currently very low at only 5 percent of the bales.

Earlier harvested cotton has been dominated by picker harvesting, so this likely a contributing factor to higher uniformity and reduced COTTONFARMING.COM

Specialists Speaking bark contamination. We will probably see some lower quality as later harvested cotton gets ginned and classed.

Our variety trials have been harvested and ginned. We hope to get fiber quality data back and results posted online and distributed to our newsletter clientele soon. Multiple new entries have performed extremely well, including those with XtendFlex and Enlist technologies.

Producers should be aware that the Red River Crops Conference will be held in Altus, Oklahoma, on Jan. 17-18. The first day is dedicated to cotton. The second day is devoted to winter in-season crops and other summer crops. Now is the time for farmers to do their homework and begin planning for the 2018 growing season, so please join us at the Red River Crops Conference. randy.boman@okstate.edu

Harvest began much the same way as planting. We had hit and miss good weather mixed with periods of humidity or high winds, which is still an issue for the majority of acres harvested with basket strippers in this region. But by mid-November, conditions improved and as of early December, cotton harvest was nearing the finish line across most of the Texas High Plains.

There will be many decisions made between now and the beginning of the 2018 season. The first is whether to go back to cotton next year. With the current issues in both sorghum and corn, cotton acreage in the High Plains will likely stay fairly stable or even increase slightly in 2018. This potential uptick in acres depends on whether the issues in these crops are resolved and the market outlook.

For most producers, the 2017 season might be defined as good but perhaps not what they were hoping for coming off a tremendous 2016 crop. For some, mainly those in the southern half of the High Plains, low rainfall was likely the biggest culprit although this is nothing new to those who farm in this region. For others, particularly farther north, maturity was an issue as evidenced by the micronaire on classing office reports. One method that may be used to address the maturity issue in 2018 is variety selection.

A large acreage across the Cotton Belt and in the High Plains in particular has shifted toward varieties with the new dicamba-resistant XtendFlex trait over the past two years. In fact, 66 percent of Texas acres were planted to XtendFlex varieties in 2017. However, varieties classified as early maturing with the XtendFlex package aren’t as early as the early maturing varieties available with glyphosate-tolerant or glyphosate- and Liberty-tolerant herbicide packages that made up most of the acreage in this region just two years ago. Depending on the satisfaction with weed control, there may be some shift to earlier maturing varieties with a stronger fiber quality background, whether they are XtendFlex or not.

Harvest of the replicated agronomic cotton evaluation (RACE) trials is wrapping up at the time of this writing. Be on the lookout for this information on cotton.tamu.edu and at the county winter production meetings. seth.byrd@ag.tamu.edu

TEXAS Gaylon Morgan Coming off a fairly good year, the Rio Grande Valley is looking forward to comparable cotton acres in 2018 — about 200,000. The Texas Coastal Bend acres will likely be flat to slightly up. In both regions, there remains more of a balanced presence of XtendFlex, GlyTol LibertyLink and Phytogen WRF varieties. This is driven by variety performance and weed management options. Phytogen varieties (non-Enlist) included in the Twitter: @CottonFarming

MARY JANE BUERKLE.

TEXAS Seth Byrd

Like other farmers, Eric Smith, who farms in Floyd County, Texas, knows the importance of choosing the right variety. variety trials performed very well in these regions. But the need for chemical stalk destruction options will likely slow the adoption of the Enlist varieties in 2018.

In the Upper Gulf Coast and Blacklands, cotton acres could be up 10-15 percent due to poor grain prices. Phytogen 330 W3FE was the most consistent top-performing variety in these regions. However, DP 1646 B2XF was also consistently in the top 25 percent, and FM 1953GLTP, ST 4848GLT and ST 4949GLT also performed well in the variety trials.

With moderate to high bollworm pressure in 2017, we expect to see growers look increasingly toward the Vip traits in the coastal regions and Blacklands. In the Rolling Plains, cotton farmers will have harvested about 95 percent of acres by mid-December. Yield reports are variable, but across the region should be above average. Fiber quality, color and leaf grades appear to be improving slightly, while other fiber characteristics are holding.

Texas was planted to about 65 percent XtendFlex cotton in 2017, and this number is expected to increase in 2018. The adoption of XF varieties has caused a complete shift in company market share over the past two years. In Texas, Americot/NexGen has moved from 8 percent to 40 percent market share in two years.

There are many good varieties with various trait packages, and this is an important consideration. However, we commonly see a 20 percent yield difference between the highest and lowest yielding JANUARY 2018 COTTON FARMING

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Specialists Speaking varieties in our on-farm trials. In a year of tight profit margins, a 20 percent yield difference is a big deal and justifies spending some time to identify the variety that best fits the soil type, management, etc. For local cotton variety yield data, go to cotton.tamu.edu and click on Variety Results. gdmorgan@tamu.edu

ARIZONA Randy Norton With the 2017 crop year behind us, it is time to begin making decisions for the upcoming season.

Last year’s challenges that included heat stress and difficulty with defoliation and boll opening generally turned out to be less than optimum for Arizona cotton.

However, much can be learned from last year’s experiences, particularly when it comes to variety performance given the conditions we experienced. Yield results were highly variable across the state. In fact, many of our variety tests exhibited that same level of yield variability. For example, in the University of Arizona advanced strains testing program location at Maricopa, a little more than 1,000 pounds of lint yield separated the lowest and the highest performing variety. This yield level difference among varieties at this location is unusually high.

In reviewing the weather data for the Maricopa area, we had several consecutive days of Level 2 heat stress, which had a significant impact on crop development. Approximately 40 entries at this location provide a unique opportunity to evaluate the effects of heat stress on the crop. There is no doubt different levels of susceptibility to heat stress exist among the varieties tested in 2017.

So what does all this mean for you on your individual farm? I think it is more critical than ever to evaluate as much variety testing data as you can and look for trends of variety performance across locations and years when making a selection for your farm.

The University of Arizona conducts an extensive variety testing program across the entire state, and those results will be out and available in January. I encourage you to review these results and the results of trials conducted by seed companies. It is also important to consider your experiences with particular varieties on your own farm when making a variety selection.

It has been several years since we’ve seen the level of heat stress we experienced in 2017. We hope it will be a long time before we see it again. But as you know, the only constant in life is change, and that is particularly true for the weather. rnorton@cals.arizona.edu

and impacts on the crop were unusually high and persistent. And aphid pressure was more widespread and intense than any time in the past 20 years or so. The effect of lygus and aphids, in particular, on production costs, fruit retention and yields were very significant in 2017. Any lessons learned in terms of failures or successes should be discussed with your staff and consultants and carried forward.

Basic yield results from the University of California trials will be available by early to mid-January from your UC farm adviser or on the UC cotton web site: http://cottoninfo.ucdavis.edu. Fiber quality tables for the included varieties will follow later in January. Since Upland/Acala variety tests are more limited in geographical distribution and number than in past years, also be sure to request variety trial data from seed company trials.

If you have fields either confirmed or suspected of having significant Fusarium race 4 inoculum as an issue, we recommend paying particular attention to the relative Fusarium race 4 susceptibility ratings of varieties shown in the variety trials section of the same website. rbhutmacher@ucdavis.edu

VIRGINIA Hunter Frame The 2017 growing season is coming to a close in Virginia as I write this on Dec. 12. Most of the cotton has already been picked, although a small percentage of the acres are being finished up at this time. This was a much needed bounce back year after the past two, and average lint yields for the state are expected to be 1,099 pounds lint per acre based on U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates. Overall, the year was marked by a cool, early May, followed by in-season insect pressure from bollworms and a growing plant bug problem.

Moving into 2018, growers will have multiple years of data on cotton varieties with XtendFlex and Enlist technologies to make better decisions on varieties best suited for Virginia. This multi-year data set is critical to variety selection. Virginia cotton producers should be on the lookout for the annual 2017 Virginia Official Cotton Variety Testing and On-Farm Results, which will be available in January.

Seed companies are always improving performance, and preliminary results for 2017 look promising with high-yielding trials across all OVT locations.

Also, the Annual Virginia Cotton Production Meeting will be held on Feb. 6 in Franklin, Virginia, at the Paul D. Camp Workforce Development Center. I look forward to seeing everyone there. whframe@vt.edu

CALIFORNIA Bob Hutmacher

NORTH CAROLINA Keith Edmisten

Heading into winter, the question of uncertain irrigation water supplies in California’s San Joaquin Valley is again creeping into conversations due to the warm, dry fall of 2017. For many SJV growers who during the extended drought invested in improved groundwater wells and increased capacities, this mostly affects the degree to which they may have to rely on groundwater pumping to augment or replace surface water resources.

However, any tightening of surface irrigation water supplies tends to make growers reconsider the mix of annual crops they take on over and above their multi-year commitments to trees, vines or alfalfa. We hope conditions change in the coming months to allow more storms to make it into central and southern California and Sierra Nevada mountain areas.

While 2017 production experiences are still fresh in your minds, try to figure out what you think worked or didn’t work in pest control.

For many or even most San Joaquin Valley growers, lygus populations

January is a good time to reflect and evaluate the 2017 cotton crop and plan for the 2018 season. You should have had a chance to review the on-farm variety trials in December and compare that information to how varieties performed on your farm. You can also use the official variety trial results to help with variety selection.

Both variety comparison systems have their pros and cons. The on-farm system gives you a very robust system to compare some of the current leading varieties. The OVT system allows you to compare many more varieties and give you an idea of what new varieties you might want to try on small acreages on your farm.

Selecting multiple varieties using the two systems will help manage the risk associated with depending on one variety.

You can compare varieties using both systems with the North Carolina Cotton Variety Performance Calculator found at https://trials. ces.ncsu.edu/cotton/. The results from multiple sites are more like-

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Specialists Speaking ly to predict performance for the coming year than one individual location.

Farmers may also want to evaluate data collected from their own farms using yield information from picker yield monitors. Producers should realize this data can be valuable in evaluating production practices but is not suitable for comparing varieties or practices such as growth regulators. Growth regulators can affect seed size, and varieties have differing seed sizes. The mechanism of cotton yield monitors skews the comparison of production practices where there are differences in seed size. keith_edmisten@ncsu.edu

FLORIDA David Wright This is the time of year to figure out what crops will be grown in 2018. It’s important for farmers to study expected crop price and how rotations with cotton help yield and reduce pest pressure for the following crops. They should also determine what their main variety will be and which new ones should be tested on their operations.

Another aspect of selecting cotton varieties is knowing the turnout and grade. Most of the cotton growing states have experienced record yields over the past five years unless severe weather affected the growing season or harvest. These numbers are a testament to the new varieties being developed and yield stability over a wide range of conditions.

As cotton prices rise, we expect a slight increase in cotton acreage for the coming year and hope 2018 will be the best ever. wright@ufl.edu

MISSISSIPPI Darrin Dodds New year — new expectations. Although the 2017 crop came up short of what some had hoped for, it was a respectable one. However, given the extra money spent on pest management, profit margins shrunk, and in some cases disappeared. As with all years, the name of the game in 2018 will be minimizing costs and maximizing yields.

Many farmers have already booked varieties or are in the process of doing so as of this writing. However, variety selection should not

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be limited to the newest, latest, greatest, end all, be-all varieties on the market. Choose a variety you know will perform on your soils under your management regime. As everyone knows, choosing the wrong variety is a costly error.

Given no two years are the same and 2017 was challenging on a number of fronts, examine all of the variety performance data you can find from 2017 and before if the variety you are interested in has been around longer than that. Rough estimates using our on-farm data indicate that choosing the wrong variety can cost you up to $200 per acre.

It would also be beneficial to go back through records from last year as well as previous years and examine where money is being spent on your crop. In some cases, there may be areas where money can be saved that won’t cost you pounds in the picker. Any money saved that doesn’t decrease yield adds to your bottom line. dmd76@pss.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 variety information as possible to make a more informed decision. 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, 49 cotton varieties were evaluated at these locations.

In addition to the official cotton variety trials, on-farm cotton variety 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 a cotton variety’s 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 for the upcoming year. Now is an excellent time to review the past year’s results. Review as many public and private company tests in your area before making a variety decision.

Results for the 2017 LSU AgCenter cotton variety trials are at lsuagcenter.com. Find them by clicking on topics>crops>cotton>varieties.

Best of luck in 2018! dfromme@agcenter.lsu.edu

COTTONFARMING.COM

SPECIAL REPORT

TCGA Interns Seek Full-Time Work

T

wenty-two interns have now completed the Texas Cotton Ginners’ Association internship program. And we have three students who will graduate in May, who are seeking full-time work once they receive their diplomas.

A financial investment from TCGA members and the willingness of many to devote time and effort into the program have made it successful. It takes money to bring these interns on board each summer as we are competing with several other programs.

Host managers along with their staffs are committed to making sure our interns are able to gain “real-world” experience. And the TCGA staff is thankful to those who have hosted interns over the past 10 years. Without commitment from managers to make the program a meaningful experience, we would not be able to pull this off.

‘Long-Ball Hitters’ 2016 intern Seth Witt and 2017 interns Zack Book and Zach Haydon plan to graduate in May 2018.

Russell McGee, an assistant research scientist in the Texas A&M Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering Department, describes the trio this way: “Long-ball hitters, not short-timers.” He also says the three students are sold on ginning — hook, line and sinker.

All three students did a great job in their respective internships. Seth Witt interned with Lummus Corp. last summer, so he has two summers of experience in the cotton industry.

The TCGA internship program has built a good reputation in the TAMU BAEN department, and we continue to build the program at Texas Tech University.

To be successful, the cotton industry must be able to offer opportunities for these students after graduation or we will simply lose them to anothTwitter: @CottonFarming

er field that is hiring. With the U.S. Department of Agriculture-National Agricultural Statistics Service forecasting a 9 million-bale crop, we are hoping this creates some openings in the cotton industry.

If you are interested in these graduates, contact Aaron Nelsen at the

TCGA office, 512-476-8388, or aaron@ tcga.org). He will be glad to put you in contact with them.

Let’s give these interns a chance in the cotton industry. They worked hard to earn it!

TCGA contributed this article.

THRIVING IN COTTON J.P. Kelley and his business partner Fred Helms grow cotton and peanuts at H&K Farms south of Dothan, Alabama. Kelley says they battle tremendous glyphosate-resistant pigweed pressure. Here he recounts his weed control experience with PhytoGen® brand PHY 490 W3FE. Kelley’s herbicide program included Enlist Duo® herbicide and Enlist One™ herbicide that he applied on a trial basis.

Zero Escapes And Zero Crop Injury

L

“

ast year, we planted PhytoGen brand PHY 444 WRF and PHY 490 W3FE. We Cotton farmers also had a field planted to PHY 490 W3FE Rehobeth, Alabama where we were able to apply Enlist One herbicide on a trial basis. We have substantial glyphosate-resistant pigweed pressure on our farm, and some areas are worse than others. The PhytoGen W3FE varieties and the Enlist weed control system appear to be a great fit for us.

“In the PHY 490 W3FE test field, we applied a pint of diuron prior to planting. At the 4th true leaf stage of cotton when the pigweeds were coming up, we applied Enlist Duo, which combines a new 2,4-D and glyphosate. A couple days later, we sprayed Dual Magnum for residual control. We came back 14 days after spraying Enlist Duo and applied Enlist One — the straight-goods 2,4-D choline — with a quart of Liberty herbicide. That tankmix smoked all the weeds. We had zero escapes and zero crop injury. The cotton was completely tolerant to that tankmix.

“Enlist One has a big effect on our bottom line because we don’t lose yield to pigweeds. And with no weed escapes, we avoid problems with boll rot and extraneous material or green stain in the sample that can cause quality issues. Everyone knows nothing is perfect when it comes to farming. But with the Enlist weed control system, we now have effective tools to use in the early growth stages of cotton to take out profit-robbing weeds without damaging our crop.”

J.P. KELLEY & FRED HELMS

PhytoGen and the PhytoGen Logo are trademarks of PhytoGen Seed Company, LLC. ®™Enlist, Enlist Duo, Enlist One and the Enlist Logo are trademarks of The Dow Chemical Company (“Dow”) or an affiliated company of Dow. ®Liberty is a registered trademark of Bayer CropScience. The Enlist™ weed control system is owned and developed by Dow AgroSciences LLC. Enlist Duo and Enlist One herbicides are not registered for sale or use in all states or counties. Contact your state pesticide agency to determine if a product is registered for sale or use in your area. Enlist Duo and Enlist One herbicides are the only 2,4-D products authorized for use in Enlist crops. 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. ®

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COTTON

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

TCGA’s Tony Williams Receives Prestigious Award Texas Cotton Ginners’ Association Executive Vice President Tony Williams received the Gerald W. Thomas Outstanding Agriculturalist for Public Service Award from Texas Tech University at the annual Pig Roast at the Lubbock Civic Center, Nov. 9.

Williams was born to Don and Pasty Williams and raised in the West Texas area along with four sisters.

He attended Texas Tech University where he received a bachelor’s degree in agricultural economics in 1984.

While at Texas Tech, he was recognized as an Outstanding Student in the Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics.

Following graduation, Williams went to work for Monsanto Agriculture Products as a sales representative in eastern Washington State. In 1986, he moved back to Lubbock and began working for the National Cotton Council as a field representative for the Southern High Plains of Texas.

Since 1988, Williams has served as the TCGA ex-

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ecutive vice president in Austin, Texas. While in this position, he has been responsible for the financial operations and the TCGA Annual Convention & Trade Show. Williams also works with the Legislature and governmental agencies to provide the cotton ginner’s “point of view.” In addition, he serves as the organization’s representative at state and national industry meetings throughout the year.

Williams was instrumental in crafting several significant pieces of legislation, including House Bill 2095 that allowed the Texas Cotton Ginners’ Trust to self-insure as a group of employers for workers’ compensation insurance.

In addition, he helped Northern Lucus Apr 14 R_CF 11/13 template 3/7/14 3:26 PM Page 1 craft HB 2093, which increased the weight of cotton module trucks.

Advertise in Cotton Ginners Beyond his more than 29 years of service to the TCGA, WilMarketplace liams has assumed a leadership position in numerous indus• Place classified ads for equipment, try and agricultural groups. He currently serves as the board sales and help wanted chairman of the Texas Cotton Gin Museum, on the Board of • Generate leads, drive sales and Directors for Ag Workers Mutual Auto Insurance and is a Texas INCREASE PROFITS Cotton Ginners’ Trust advisor.

Contact Sales Manager Scott Emerson 386-462-1532 • semerson@onegrower.com Williams also is on the Texas Agricultural Council Executive Committee; Texas A&M University Cotton Engineering, Ginning, & Mechanization Chair Advisory Council; and is vice chairman of the Texas Agricultural Cooperative Trust health inEarly Bird prices are over January 17. surance program. In addition, he has played a significant role in obtaining Hurricane & Tropical Storm Cotton Floater Insurance Don’t worry....the best products and for gins along the Texas Coast. In 2005, Williams was recognized as a Life Member of the Texas Cotton Ginners’ Associservice are available to ation and in 2009 was honored with the esteemed National Cotton Ginners’ Association Distinguished Service Award. you all year long!

Today, Williams and his wife, Lagina, are raising two children, samjackson.com Jayna and Jaxon.

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Southern Southeastern Annual Meeting

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he Southern Southeastern Annual Meeting will be held Jan. 17-20 at the Marriott Grand Dunes in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. This organization represents cotton growers and ginners throughout Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia. Every year, more than 600 participants come together to gather information and network with major industry suppliers.

The event kicks off Wednesday afternoon, Jan. 17, with the Finance Committee meeting for the Southeastern Cotton Ginners and the Farm Policy Committee meeting for the Southern Cotton Growers.

“The theme for the 2018 annual meeting is ‘Staying The Course,’” says David Ruppenicker, CEO, Southern Cotton Growers. “From experience, we know what must come to pass to maintain profitability in the cotton industry moving forward. We just have to go out and get it. The agenda we’ve put together for the Farm Policy Committee meeting directs our focus on the issues at hand with the goal of sustainability in mind.”

Opening Agenda On Thursday, Jan. 18, state grower meetings begin at 8 a.m. Board of Directors’ meetings for the Southeastern Cotton Ginners and Southern Cotton Growers start at 1:30 p.m. All of these meetings are open to attendees.

The General Session convenes at 9 a.m. Friday, Jan. 18, and features an outstanding lineup of topics and speakers.

Joe Nicosia with Allenberg in Memphis, Tenn., will present the Cotton Situation & Outlook, and Cotton Council International Executive Director Bruce Atherley will give the CCI Update. The morning session wraps up with the National Cotton Ginners’ update from David Blakemore and the Committee for the Advancement of Southeast Cotton report from Chairman David Dunlow.

Breakout sessions featuring panel discussions will be held during the afternoon. Topics include a cottonseed update, H-2A and how it works, and plastic contamination.

The annual Presidential Reception is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Friday and will feature The Summertime Band.

Annual Meeting The Annual Meeting begins Saturday, Jan. 20, at 9 a.m.

The keynote speaker is Harry Ott, South Carolina Farm Bureau president. Several other presentations will be made, and the Southeastern Cotton Ginner of the Year will be announced.

“We’re covering a wide variety of topics from farm policy to immigration to contamination and bringing in nationally known experts in their fields,” says Dusty Findley, CEO, Southeastern Cotton Ginners Association. “This is the event for cotton in the region. Nowhere else in the Southeast will you find all these topics discussed in one place.”

For more information about the annual meeting, please go to www.southern-southeastern.org.

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JANUARY 2018 COTTON FARMING

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My Turn Our ‘Cotton Family’ Stories

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e at Cotton Farming would like to thank everyone who has contributed to the My Turn column through the years. Many of our readers have told us this is their favorite page in the magazine.

As we embark on a new year, we pause to reflect on last year’s submissions and invite more members of our “cotton family” to tell us their stories. Here are some memorable excerpts from 2017.

January 2017, Bob Walker: “I have many memories from those days, but some of my fondest involve a man we called Toot. … He loved to hunt, fish and tell tales. He taught me so much about life and how to always be happy, even when you don’t have a lot.”

February 2017, Bobby Skeen: “A few years later, I was hired as the Mid-South regional communications manager for The Cotton Board, alongside three guys who would become my ‘brothers in cotton’ and dear friends — Monty Bain, Bob Stanley and Brent Murphree. Since I was the youngster of the bunch, they ‘took me to raise’ in many ways I am thankful for.”

March 2017, Niki Gallian: “I remember the years well. Taking cotton stalks, mini bales and cottonseed to show and tell in elementary school.

Learning to drive on the gin yard with all my cousins. Taking friends to play in the cottonseed piles for endless hours of fun and laughs.”

April 2017, Ross Rutherford: “When it comes to working in the cotton industry — and cotton ginning in particular — you either immerse yourself in it, or you just get a little wet and move on. I would be one of those ‘immersion’ types. This industry gets in your blood.”

May 2017, Dr. Ed Cherry: “Now as I go to meetings in a retirement capacity, I am often referred to as ‘a former industry icon’ and ‘the smartest man in America.’ I can’t do anything to deny those comments but say thanks for the wonderful memories.”

June 2017, Ron Smith: “In looking back, my time as a cotton entomologist has been 45 seasons

of picking on the terrace row.”

July 2017, Dorothy Young: “Another time, our preacher’s son was checking cotton close to town and wasn’t where he was supposed to be when the crew leader came to pick him up. We looked and looked and finally got up the nerve to call his mama to tell her we couldn’t find him. As it turned out, he had walked home and had been there all afternoon!”

August 2017, Bob Griffin: “Talking to consultant friends and praying are the only ways to keep my sanity during the heat of the battle. And most days, I do not have time to go somewhere to eat so I have learned to cook on the intake manifold of my truck motor.”

September 2017, Dusty Findley: “Upon finishing high school, I had delusions of becoming a mechanical engineer via Texas A&M…until I took calculus. Given my family background, my counselor recommended agriculture.”

October 2017, Bruce Roberts: “My daughter, my princess, my buttercup came home with a tattoo on her arm. Upon close inspection, I noted her tattoo is an anatomically correct cotton fruiting branch. Her explanation for this choice is it reminds her of our shared times in cotton fields.”

November 2017, Monty Bain: “I worked for Avondale Mills when I was in high school and during the summers while I attended college. My first job was in Avondale’s Catherine mill, running the carding machines. I also worked in the cotton warehouse unloading bales from trucks and rail cars and weighing them.”

December 2017, Nanette Terrebonne: “After completing the cotton boll angel, I add a tag that says, ‘Your one-of-a-kind sparkling cotton boll angel has been handpicked and crafted from an authentic cotton boll with its original seeds left intact.’”

To read these My Turn columns in their entirety, go to www.cottonfarming.com and click on Departments. To learn more about how to submit a My Turn column, please contact Carroll Smith at csmith@onegrower.com or 901-326-4443. We look forward to hearing from you!

– Carroll Smith Editor, Cotton Farming csmith@onegrower.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.

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Honoring the Legacy… ...Embracing our Future

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Product innovations that were years ahead of their time and have now become industry standards. All of this being supported through the success of our customers around the world. Reaching new levels of performance through teamwork, education, and service/support over the entire life of the product.

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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 ©2018 Lummus Corporation

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Daniel Baxley NEW PRODUCT EVALUATOR (NPE) SINCE 2016

Text your ZIP code to 844.846.2018 to get local variety recommendations.

Individual results may vary. Always read and follow IRM, where applicable, grain marketing and all other stewardship practices and pesticide label directions.

DeltapineŽ is a registered trademark of Monsanto Company. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Š2018 Monsanto Company. All Rights Reserved. DP-18005-CF-JAN-BC-MSSE