Cotton Farming January 2019

Cotton Farming ONE GROWER PUBLISHING, LLC

PROFITABLE PRODUCTION STRATEGIES

JANUARY 2019

www.cottonfarming.com

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How To Destroy Volunteer Cotton In Gin Yards

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Texas Leaders Named Outstanding Agriculturalists

2018 Field To Market

Farmer Of The Year Louisiana Cotton Farmer Honored For Sustainability Leadership And Outstanding Conservation

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Vol. 63 No. 1

Cotton Farming PROFITABLE PRODUCTION STRATEGIES

JANUARY 2019

www.cottonfarming.com

F E AT U R E S

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Farmer Of The Year

Recognized for outstanding conservation efforts on his farm and leadership in advancing sustainable agriculture, Louisiana cotton farmer Jay Hardwick was named Field to Market’s 2018 Farmer of the Year. Currently, Hardwick farms the land at Somerset Plantation near Newellton with his sons, Marshall and Mead. This award celebrates Hardwick’s vision and legacy of taking care of the land.

DEPARTMENTS & COLUMNS

5 Editor’s Note 6 Cotton’s Agenda 16 Industry News

20 Southeast Report 32 Specialists Speaking 38 My Turn

ON THE COVER: Somerset Plantation near Newellton, Louisiana, is farmed by the Hardwick family.

Cover photo courtesy of Green Buzz Agency

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TEXAS LEADERS HONORED

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GIN YARD HERBICIDES

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BULLDOGS AND BUGS

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‘CLEAR’ WATER RULE

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GINNING MARKETPLACE

Texas Tech’s College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources recognized Ron Craft, Jodey Arrington and Shawn Holladay.

University experts in Texas discuss how some more commonly recognized herbicides can be used to control volunteer cotton in gin yards.

Angus Catchot and his wife, Beverly, both have strong ties to entomology at Mississippi State University.

Rep. Mike Conaway, R-Texas, and AFBF President Zippy Duvall defend the need for clarity in the “Waters of the United States” rule.

THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE GINNING INDUSTRY

Kelley Green, TCGA director of technical services, discusses what gins need to know about OSHA site-specific inspection plans.

WEB EXCLUSIVE Hundreds cheer new Waters of the United States proposal in Tennessee. Go to www.cottonfarming.com for this Web Exclusive report.

Planting Tips

CornSouth ONE GROWER PUBLISHING, LLC

Southern Production & Marketing Strategies

A Supplement to Cotton Farming and The Peanut Grower Magazines

January 2019

SUPPLEMENT Look for Corn South following page 20 in the Mid-South and Southeast editions of Cotton Farming. To have industry news and content delivered directly to your inbox, sign up for the monthly e-newsletter at www.cornsouth.com.

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

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COTTON FARMING | JANUARY 2019

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Editor’s Note

Cotton Farming

Carroll Smith

EDITORIAL/PRODUCTION Editor Carroll Smith csmith@onegrower.com Managing Editor Vicky Boyd vlboyd@onegrower.com 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 2019 © ASSOCIATED PUBLICATIONS – One Grower Publishing, LLC also publishes RICE FARMING, THE PEANUT GROWER, SOYBEAN SOUTH and CORN SOUTH.

One Grower Publishing, LLC 875 W. Poplar Ave., Suite 23, Box 305, Collierville, TN 38017 Phone: 901-767-4020

Twitter: @CottonFarming

Nothing Says Farming Like Family

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hen a new baby comes into the world, everyone scrutinizes each little detail to see what has been passed down from one generation to the next. Does the child have Daddy’s eyes or maybe Mama’s big smile? Feel the grip of these strong fingers. Gonna be a good cotton picker driver!

As the years go by, assessing physical attributes gives way to observing behavioral traits. Farming families typically try to instill their values and work ethic into the children. They lead by example and hope that their actions are picked up and carried on. It’s also fun to see kids do the same things their parents did without any knowledge that they are bringing back precious memories for the older generation.

In this month’s My Turn column, Tennessee cotton specialist Tyson Raper recalls “farming a thousand acres of everything” with a toy 4000 series 1/16 John Deere tractor on the living room carpet in his childhood home in Spring Villa, Alabama. Today, he takes pleasure in watching his son, Anderson, and daughter Caroline, plow up the rug in Jackson, Tennessee. The toy was passed down, and Raper’s children instinctively knew what to do with it.

Our January cover story celebrates Louisiana cotton farmer Jay Hardwick being chosen as Field to Market’s 2018 Farmer of the Year.

Jay and his wife, Mary, take great pride in making sure that Somerset Plantation balances the needs of agriculture with the needs of the land.

The property, which dates back to 1814, provides crucial habitat for the Louisiana black bear and other wildlife and a fertile venue for the family’s successful farming operation.

Today, the Hardwicks’ sons, Marshall and Mead, have joined their father in farming the land. Jay, who is a huge proponent of sustainability, asks himself, “Have they bought into this? Is this something that will continue to go on and they’ll improve upon? I hope so.” And if you pose the question to the boys, they both agree that they have.

I think the bottom line is that farming is a generational thing — a family thing. Raper says he isn’t sure why he fell in love with agriculture at a young age. Maybe all of the ingredients were present…his grandparents’ gardens and his Dad’s hard work as an ag engineer with the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Just ask anybody in the business. Nothing says farming like family.

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.

JANUARY 2019 | COTTON FARMING

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Cotton’s Agenda Gary Adams

Securing Stability The National Cotton Council believes the new five-year farm bill will bring some much-needed certainty and predictability to the U.S. cotton industry.

How does the bill benefit the industry overall? n The continued safety net is especially crucial as much of the Cotton Belt faced devastating natural disasters during 2018, compounding producers’ financial strains from retaliatory trade tariffs on U.S. cotton. The bill includes many of our industry’s policy priorities — continuation of the Seed Cotton ARC/PLC program, full access to the marketing loan program, full funding for textile competitiveness programs, effective crop insurance products and no reduction in arbitrary payment limits.

It also addresses overly restrictive family farm eligibility requirements. This adjustment to the “family The 2018 farm bill includes many of the U.S. definition” for farm cotton industry’s policy priorities and will bring programs will help resolve the uninsome much-needed certainty and predictability. tended and punitive restrictions that resulted from the “actively engaged” changes made by the 2014 farm law.

The bill includes a yield update opportunity for all producers that will better align program yields with current production levels.

What about specific commodity title provisions? n A seed cotton reference price was maintained at $0.367 per pound. The title provides a new ARC/PLC election choice beginning with the 2019 crop and in place for 2019 and 2020, with an annual election allowed between ARC and PLC beginning in 2021. There was no change in seed cotton base acres and unassigned base, resulting from the conversion of generic base acres. The title: 1) maintains the current upland loan rate formula based on the two-year moving average of the Adjusted World Price (AWP) but limits any annual decline to 2 percent of the

previous year’s loan rate; increases the extralong staple (ELS) loan rate to $0.95 per pound; and 3) adjusts the maximum price trigger of the ELS competitiveness program from 134 to 113 percent of the ELS loan rate so the loan rate adjustment does not result in the program triggering more often.

The title also maintains 1) the payment rate in the Economic Adjustment Assistance Program at $0.03 per pound and fully funds the program for the 10-year budget baseline period and 2) the Pima Cotton Trust Fund with the eligibility criteria for mill participation updated to include a rolling calendar year basis for determining eligible mill consumption and production of qualifying Pima cotton yarns.

Any other significant provisions?

n There was no reduction in the $125,000 per person payment limit, and the marketing loan benefits (LDPs and MLGs) do not count toward the $125,000 payment limit. A separate limit was maintained for peanuts. There was no reduction in the $900,000 adjusted gross income test and no tightening of actively engaged provisions. Included was an expanded definition of family member for actively engaged purposes. Lineal family member now includes nieces, nephews and first cousins. Commodity certificate authorization is maintained for use in redemption of loan commodities.

Report language encourages the U.S. Department of Agriculture to establish the AWP based on the three lowest Far East quotes. It urges USDA to work with the cotton industry to ensure the annual “average costs to market” survey and the resulting values fully and consistently capture the costs of marketing and provide the industry with advance notice of such changes. The language also recommends that USDA work with all industry segments to make administrative changes in the cotton warehouse and shipping provisions to improve cotton’s timely flow to the marketplace.

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

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COTTON FARMING | JANUARY 2019

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COVER STORY

2018 Field To Market

Farmer Of The Year Louisiana Cotton Farmer Honored For Sustainability Leadership And Outstanding Conservation

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s a Louisiana black bear cub meanders along the fields of Somerset Plantation in Tensas Parish, Louisiana, Jay Hardwick is mindful of the important role farmers must play in balancing the needs of agriculture with the needs of the land. Formerly listed as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act from 1992-2016, this Louisiana black bear cub signals an achievement that many would be surprised to learn can be attributed to agriculture and efforts from farmers like Hardwick.

“It is very gratifying to see that our activity is supporting the return of a species that was on the threatened list, maybe extinction, which points to other things that might be happening on a smaller scale — other mammals, other insects that all contribute to a diversified environment,” Hardwick says. “It’s my feeling that a diversified environment in terms of crops we grow, the trees, the water and the wildlife, is a reflection of a landscape that is healthier than without.”

Hardwick says he believes in the inherent qualities of the natural landscape to provide solutions to issues like water quality, air quality and soil quality. In addition to actively managing 12,000 acres of farmland, he has restored 450 acres and preserved another 3,000 acres of wetlands on Somerset Plantation, while also maintaining 6,000 acres of bottomland hardwood timber, which provides crucial habitat for the Louisiana black bear.

“I’ve created wetland areas to provide extended wildlife opportunities and habitat, resulting in an incredible amount of burgeoning wildlife like the Louisiana black bear,” Hardwick says. “In addition, these wetlands offer supplementary irrigation if we need to draw upon it, reducing pressures on groundwater resources.”

Leadership Rooted In The Land Recognized for outstanding conservation efforts on his farm and leadership in advancing sustainable agriculture, Hardwick was honored as Field to

COURTESY OF GREEN BUZZ AGENCY

Somerset Plantation provides crucial habitat for the Louisiana black bear.

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COTTON FARMING | JANUARY 2019

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Jay Hardwick’s sons, Marshall (left) and Mead, have joined their father in the farming business and adopted his dedication to sustainability.

Passing Down A Legacy This passion for sustainability is a legacy that has passed from father to children, as Hardwick equips his sons, Marshall and Mead, to one day take his place in managing the operations of Somerset Plantation.

“What I want to do as a farmer, or my mission so to speak, is try to find the balance between my production and the resources of the habitat itself — what they need,” he says. “And there is a point where that investment becomes something other than a personal interest; it becomes generational. In our case, my sons are entering the business. Have they bought into this? Is this something that will continue to go on and they’ll improve upon?

I hope so.”

As they manage increasingly more of the day-to-day operations of Somerset Plantation, Mead and Marshall are taking up their father’s sustainability mantle.

“Take care of the land, and it’s going to take care of you.

Just treat it as a living organism — it’s got to be cared for; it’s got to be maintained and it will give it back to you,” Marshall says.

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Jay Hardwick takes a soil sample to determine the nutrient needs of the land.

“I believe just trying things and thinking outside of the box is probably one of the biggest things that makes him a great farmer,” Mead says.

Learning Through Innovation This comfort level with pushing the boundaries or exploring new practices is a trait that Hardwick has instilled in both sons.

“I think he’s influenced us and taught us to be open minded,” Marshall says. “What works best today, we may find a better way to do tomorrow. Don’t be scared to adapt.

Don’t be scared to try new things.

“There have been plenty of times where we thought outside the box and kind of fell flat on our faces, but it was a learning experience. He would just say keep trying. You’re going to fail. You may find one thing out of the next 10 that’s successful for you, but it will pay off and will help you in the long run.”

“You only fail if you don’t learn something from it,” Mead says.

And learning to fail fast and continue experimenting has become a boundless source for solutions that help conserve soil, water and biodiversity for the Hardwick family.

In winter, they use water control structures to block off culverts and catch rainfall to flood fields for migrating waterfowl. They also embrace technology to enhance a multi-faceted approach to nutrient management — experimenting with poultry litter as a nutrient source, planting cover crops and using satellite mapping to determine

PHOTOS COURTESY OF GREEN BUZZ AGENCY

Market’s 2018 Farmer of the Year. Working to harmonize productive agricultural operations while maximizing natural resource protection, he has created a comprehensive conservation plan for the whole farm. This includes extensive crop rotation, field borders, filter strips, minimum tillage and wetland restoration.

The Farmer of the Year award celebrates Hardwick’s vision and legacy, which permeate his entire family’s mission. Their goal is to maintain and grow the diversity of the agricultural, forestry and native habitat of their property while ensuring a fully functional and sustainable farmstead for generations to come.

“The ways we address sustainability are grounded in a basic land or agricultural ethic that is rooted in something that one of the premier conservationists in the United States, Aldo Leopold, said, which has stuck with me and guides me: ‘A thing or event that preserves the integrity, stability and beauty of the landscape, the farmscape, is right. That which does contrary is wrong,’” Hardwick says.

“We have a greater responsibility other than just owning the land. We have a responsibility to the planet in terms of its sustainability — from air, water and soil — and these are all important parts for farmers.”

Louisiana farmer Jay Hardwick has preserved 3,000 acres of wetlands on Somerset Plantation near Newellton.

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“People want to know what we’re doing with our farming. How are we growing our products? What impact are we having on the atmosphere, on the landscape, on the water, on the air we breathe? We have a huge responsibility and agriculture can be an important part of that solution.”

Jay Hardwick, 2018 Farmer of the Year Newellton, Louisiana

which areas of each field need specific nutrients.

And this diversified approach is yielding positive benefits by building up organic matter in the soil, which helps it hold water longer. In the same way, by using poultry litter and cover crops to add nutrients to the soil, the Hardwicks are betting on the long-term benefits outweighing any short-term costs.

“Higher organic matter acts like a sponge, so to speak, to absorb not only rainfall but to maintain water in the soil profile a lot longer,” Hardwick says. “We want those [nutrients] to stay in the field and build upon them rather than lose them and then have to regain them.”

Documenting Stewardship Results With increasing consumer interest in where and how food and fiber are grown, Hardwick and his family are part of a growing group of producers committed to doc-

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PHOTOS COURTESY OF GREEN BUZZ AGENCY

Jay Hardwick and his wife, Mary, are co-owners of Hardwick Planting Co. Jay farms the land with their sons, Marshall and Mead, while Mary is managing partner.

umenting and demonstrating the sustainability performance of their management decisions.

“People want to know what we’re doing with our farming,” Hardwick says. “How are we growing our products?

What impact are we having on the atmosphere, on the landscape, on the water, on the air we breathe? We have a huge responsibility and agriculture can be an important part of that solution.”

Since 2010, Hardwick and his family have used the Fieldprint Calculator to document the stewardship of their operations. Through the sustainability analysis offered by Field to Market, he quantified the effect of moving non-economic and highly erodible areas into natural habitat and limiting crop production to land most suitable for crops. Moreover, Field to Market’s sustainability metrics have enabled Hardwick to demonstrate to other farmers, conservation groups, brands and retailers how conservation practices can be used in a profitable manner.

“The Fieldprint Calculator is truly a valuable tool in the toolbox to evaluate how this is impacting my bottom line, my energy use, the amount of water I’m using,” he says.

“Can I find a better way of managing that water, so I can reduce my costs?

“This is the terrain where growers need to go to maximize not only their returns but to look for new opportunities for revenue and address some of the important responsibilities that agriculture has to a greater society.”

Field to Market: The Alliance for Sustainable Agriculture provided this article. This group is a diverse collaboration working to create opportunities across the agricultural supply chain for continuous improvements in productivity, environmental quality and human well-being. Field to Market’s work is grounded in science-based tools and resources, unparalleled system-wide collaboration and increased supply-chain transparency.

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PhytoGen Releases Enlist Portfolio For Upcoming Season

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or the first time, the U.S. Department of Agriculture ranked a PhytoGen brand variety with the Enlist cotton trait (W3FE) among the 10 most planted in 2018. Two more W3FE varieties rounded out the top 20. Building on that momentum for 2019, PhytoGen is offering growers a full portfolio of these Enlist varieties.

“For every pocket of the Cotton Belt, we’ll have W3FE varieties that fit — all with bacterial blight resistance,” says Joel Faircloth, PhytoGen U.S. cotton portfolio manager.

With the 2019 offerings, every one of the PhytoGen brand varieties has PhytoGen Breeding Traits for built-in protection against diseases and pests.

New 200 Series The popular Northern High Plains variety — PhytoGen brand PHY 250 W3FE returns — accompanied by a new 200 series W3FE. They are early maturing and offer consistent yield and fiber quality. These smooth-leaf, shorter stature varieties are best suited to areas with moderate to good water and medium to heavy soils.

Both are storm-tolerant and carry the PhytoGen Breeding Trait for excellent Verticillium wilt tolerance.

Addition To 300 Series PhytoGen expands the widely planted 300 series varieties launched last year — PhytoGen brand PHY 300 W3FE, PHY 330 W3FE and PHY 340 W3FE. For 2019, the company introduces PhytoGen brand PHY 320 W3FE and PHY 350 W3FE. “Our 300 series has broad adaptation across the Cotton Belt, and all offer bacterial blight resistance and high yield potential,” Faircloth says.

“They’ve been great fits where the popular PHY 333 WRF and PHY 312 WRF have worked in the past.”

PhytoGen brand variety PHY 350 W3FE is broadly adapted and in high demand. While PHY 320 W3FE is also broadly adapted, it’s a standout

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To help farmers thrive, every W3FE variety has bacterial blight resistance and is available with root-knot-nematode resistance and Verticillium wilt tolerance. in the Mid-South. Both products offer root-knot-nematode resistance.

More 400s For 2019 PhytoGen will add three new 400 series varieties in 2019 — PhytoGen brand PHY 430 W3FE, PHY 440 W3FE and PHY 480 W3FE. These are mid-maturing, and all provide bacterial blight resistance while PHY 440 W3FE and PHY 480 W3FE also feature root-knot-nematode resistance.

“PHY 430 W3FE has the potential for exceptional yield. It’s broadly adapted, but the primary fit is in the Delta and the Southeast. It will do very well, particularly on strong ground,” Faircloth says.

While PHY 440 W3FE has the potential for exceptional fiber quality like PHY 444 WRF, farmers can maximize this potential in fuller-season environments, such as South Texas and Georgia.

Five PhytoGen brand varieties, including PHY 440 W3FE, were among the top eight cottonseed varieties most resistant to root-knot nematode in a recent Texas A&M University RKN variety trial. In the trial, PhytoGen brand PHY 480 W3FE ranked as the No. 1 RKN-resistant variety in the

Upland market. Faircloth says PHY 480 W3FE is broadly adapted and has a high level of root-knot-nematode resistance. It travels well, the canopy closes quickly and it can handle periods of stress.

PhytoGen will again offer high-performing PHY 450 W3FE and PHY 490 W3FE. They are primarily adapted to the Southwest.

A new 500 series W3FE variety rounds out the W3FE portfolio to help growers thrive in 2019.

Pima And Acala Varieties With 75 percent of the western U.S. cotton acres planted to PhytoGen, the company will again offer the popular Acala variety PhytoGen brand PHY 764 WRF. In addition, growers can choose from Pima varieties PhytoGen brand PHY 841 RF, PHY 881 RF and PHY 888 RF. All PhytoGen Pima varieties have the PhytoGen Breeding Trait for Fusarium (FOV) Race 4 tolerance.

Contact your PhytoGen territory manager or cotton development specialist or visit PhytoGen.com.

PhytoGen contributed information for this article.

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Industry News Plan Now to Attend The Annual 2019 LATMC In February The Louisiana Agricultural Technology & Management Conference sponsored by the Louisiana Agricultural Consultants Association will be held Monday morning through Wednesday noon, Feb. 11-13, at Paragon Casino Resort in Marksville, Louisiana.

Jay Mahaffey will be featured in the pre-conference symposium on Monday morning, talking about good agronomics and decision-making in grain crops and cotton. Attendance in this symposium will be limited, and pre-registration is required.

In addition to the general sessions where presentations will include factors influencing soil fertility to the latest in precision ag, there will be specific crop breakout sessions on cotton, rice and sugarcane. More than 30 sustaining members will be exhibiting, and most of these will be participating in emerging technology presentations at the conference.

Our conference format has changed, so don’t miss the chance to see what we’ve done to make this meeting better than ever.

Technical presentations during meals (breakfasts and luncheons) will be given by our sponsoring sustaining members. A mixer will be held after sessions on Monday for networking among peers. This is one of the most important aspects of the conference.

In addition to visiting with fellow consultants and others in our industry, you can participate in a silent auction held at this time with proceeds going to scholarship funding.

This conference provides recertification of consultant and commercial applicator licenses. Certified Crop Adviser Continuing Education Units are also available. The preliminary program will be posted on the LACA website at www.laca1.org.

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

NCC Expresses Appreciation For Tariff Mitigation Assistance The National Cotton Council conveyed its thanks to President Donald Trump and Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue for authorizing the second round of trade mitigation pay-

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Making Changes At The Gin? Remember To Get A Permit The California Cotton Ginners and Growers Association recently reminded gins not to forget about securing air pollution permits when needed. Following are its comments.

“With numerous issues arising in the last two months, it has become necessary for us to remind everyone of the requirements for obtaining an air pollution permit.

“We advise and encourage all cotton gins to give us a call before making any changes to their operations to be sure of any possible requirements. Any time there is a change in equipment, throughput, air flow or emissions, a permit application may be triggered. It depends on the air pollution control district and the degree of the change, but you almost always trigger the need for an ‘authority to construct.’

“One issue we see quite often, are equipment modifications made without an authority to construct and paid a penalty as a result, and still had to file an application for the authority to construct. If you change any equipment from what is listed on the permit, even if it is removed, an application to modify the permit must be filed.

“Once you have completed your installation and are ready to ‘implement’ your authority to construct, remember to notify the air pollution control district. They must be made aware of the implementation so that they can conduct an inspection.

“On an ongoing basis, please be sure to check all permit conditions.

Many times some form of recordkeeping is required, such as tracking throughput. But there are also other requirements that sometimes get forgotten, such as watering the gin yard. These requirements should be checked frequently. Also make sure that personnel are keeping them up to date.

“Violations are not cheap, and the fines are continuing to increase.

Make sure you aren’t one of those statistics.”

ments aimed at assisting farmers suffering from damage due to unjustified trade retaliation by foreign nations.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced in December that producers of certain commodities,

including cotton, now will be eligible to receive Market Facilitation Program payments for the second half of their 2018 production. As in the first round, the MFP will provide 6 cents per pound on the remaining COTTONFARMING.COM

Industry News half of a producer’s 2018 cotton production — Upland and extra-long staple (ELS).

Once harvest is complete, producers must certify their production to the local USDA Farm Service Agency office before payments will be made.

The signup must be completed by Jan. 15 with certification due by May 1. Information and instructions are at www.farmers.gov/mfp. The MFP payments are subject to the existing $900,000 adjusted gross income means test and a separate $125,000 per person payment limit for the eligible crops.

NCC Chairman Ron Craft, a Plains, Texas, ginner, says, “The National Cotton Council is very appreciative of Secretary Perdue and his team at USDA. This tariff mitigation program will help address a portion of the losses cotton producers are facing in the marketplace.”

intended to benchmark farmers’ gains towards industry goals and will provide the global textile supply chain more assurances that U.S. cotton is produced in a responsible manner.

Here are the U.S. cotton national 2025 sustainability goals, as announced last year: } 13 percent increase in productivity, i.e. reduced land use per pound of fiber } 18 percent increase in irrigation efficiency

U.S. Cotton Industry Committed To 2025 Sustainability Goals At the Cotton Sourcing USA Summit in Scottsdale, Arizona, Cotton Council International President Ted Schneider updated the more than 400 attendees on how the U.S. cotton industry intends to meet its 2025 sustainability goals.

Central to his remarks was the introduction of the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol — an integrated data collection, measurement and verification procedure that will document U.S. cotton production practices and their environmental impact. The data are TWITTER: @COTTONFARMING

Continued on page 21

THRIVING IN COTTON Andy Shelton grows PhytoGen® brand varieties on most of his cotton acres in West Tennessee. He recounts his experience with the vigor, yield and quality of PHY 444 WRF, PHY 330 W3FE and PHY 340 W3FE. Shelton says the Enlist™ weed control system performs well on glyphosate-resistant Palmer pigweed, and WideStrike® 3 Insect Protection controls bollworms and saves him $14 per acre on insecticides.

UPI Inc. Announces Name Change On Jan. 1, United Phosphorus Inc. will be known as UPL Inc. and will adopt a new logo.

The company says the change will more accurately reflect the global brand of which it is a part. It says the change will also align the company with its corporate parent and related subsidiaries that manufacture and market agrochemicals, industrial chemicals and specialty chemicals around the world.

UPL Inc. will operate under its current structure and contact information will remain the same.

} 39 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions } 15 percent reduction in energy expenditures; } 50 percent reduction in soil loss } 30 percent increase in soil carbon “I would argue that U.S. cotton is already among the most sustainably produced in the world,” Schneider says.

PhytoGen Delivers the Whole Package

“

W

e are 100 percent dryland. In 2018, we grew PHY 330 W3FE and PHY 340 W3FE on about 85 percent of our cotton acres. The PhytoGen Cotton farmer varieties have excellent vigor, good germ and are always Bolivar, Tennessee consistent.

“We chose Enlist varieties because glyphosate-resistant Palmer pigweed is such a problem. This past season, we tankmixed Enlist One with other herbicide modes of action listed on the label and saved a trip across the field. When spraying Enlist, we go straight by the book. It’s important to be good stewards of this technology.

“When it comes to insect protection, WideStrike 3 is amazing. In our area, lateseason bollworms can be a pest. Because the PhytoGen varieties we planted had WideStrike 3, we did not have to make a $14-per-acre insecticide overspray for worms.

“On Aug. 1, I was expecting the same excellent yields we had in 2016 and 2017 with PHY 444 WRF — 1,298 and 1,200 pounds per acre, respectively. Unfortunately, we got 10 inches of rain the last week of September. We ended up averaging a little more than 2 bales per acre, which is not bad. PhytoGen varieties stay in the bur, and in a year with more normal weather, they consistently grade out well. For example, we got 2- to 3-cent premiums on PHY 444 WRF because it had such long staple. We don’t have trouble with mic issues on PhytoGen cotton either.

“This year, I intend to plant 100 percent PhytoGen varieties, including PHY 340 W3FE, which is our best yielder. I’m also excited about trying PHY 320 W3FE and PHY 350 W3FE. Both of these have bacterial blight and root-knot-nematode resistance.

Cotton will always be near and dear to my heart because it is my living.”

ANDY SHELTON

PhytoGen and the PhytoGen Logo are trademarks of PhytoGen Seed Company, LLC. ®™Trademarks of Dow AgroSciences, DuPont or Pioneer, and their affiliated companies or their respective owners. 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 with Enlist crops. Consult Enlist herbicide labels for weed species controlled. 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.

®

JANUARY 2019 | COTTON FARMING

17

KAYLA JENNINGS

From left, Texas Tech Student Agricultural Council Treasurer Travis Tilton, Student Ag Council Vice President Emma Mortensen, Ron Craft, Jodey Arrington, Shawn Holladay, Student Ag Council President Alyssa Soles, and Student Ag Council Secretary Haleigh Erramouspe.

SPECIAL REPORT

Texas Leaders Receive Prestigious Awards

BY NORMAN MARTIN

T

e x a s Te c h ’s C o l l e g e o f Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources honored three leaders with the annual Gerald W. Thomas Outstanding Agriculturalist Award recently during its 91st annual Pig Roast at the Lubbock Memorial Civic Center. The Pig Roast also celebrates scholarship donors, recipients and intercollegiate judging teams.

The awards recognize individuals for their contributions to various areas of agriculture. This year’s recipients are Ron Craft for agribusiness, Jodey Arrington for public service, and Shawn Holladay for agricultural production. } Ron Craft: A cotton producer and fifth-generation ginner, Craft is owner of New-Tex Gin Company in Plains, Texas, and co-owner of LovCot Warehouse in Lubbock. He was elected chairman of the National Cotton Council in 2018 and is active in many state and national farm and gin organizations.

18

COTTON FARMING | JANUARY 2019

Over the years, Craft has held numerous other NCC leadership positions, including director, chairman of the Packaging and Distribution Committee, and member of the Executive Committee, Cotton Flow Committee, and Quality Task Force.

Honors for Craft include being named chairman of the National Cotton Ginners’ Association in 2017, after serving as president in 2016. He is a member and past president of the Plains Ginners, Texas Independent Ginners, and Texas Cotton Ginners’ associations.

Craft is a graduate of the Texas Law Enforcement Academy and is a sergeant for the Yoakum County Sheriff ’s Department. } Jodey Arrington: The Plainview native currently serves as U.S. Representative for Texas’s 19th Congressional District. In Congress, he has been an advocate for promoting agriculture and energy, strengthening national security, and respecting the U.S. Constitution. He is a member of

the Agriculture, Budget and Veterans’ Affairs committees and serves as chairman of the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity for Veterans’ Affairs. He also serves on the Joint Select Committee on Budget Process Reform.

After graduating from Texas Tech, Arrington worked for Gov. George W. Bush in Austin, Texas, and was later selected by President Bush to join the White House as a senior advisor before being appointed as chief of staff to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. In 2007, he returned to West Texas where he was vice chancellor of research and commercialization in the Texas Tech University System before being named president of a Lubbock healthcare innovation company. } Shawn Holladay: A fourth-generation farmer who produces cotton in Dawson and Martin counties, Holladay is chairman and partner with United Gin Corp. near Lamesa, Texas. He serves on the board of the National Cotton Council and is chairman of the American Cotton Producers, where he is an advocate for sound farm policy for cotton producers in the development of the 2018 Farm Bill.

He also has served as chairman of the American Cotton Producers Farm Policy Task Force, focusing on creating the newly established seed-cotton program for U.S. cotton producers. In addition, Holladay serves as one of the original founders and chairman of the Plains Cotton Growers Political Action Committee, a political action arm that provides a unified voice and advocacy for cotton producers in U.S. politics.

Holladay is also past chairman of Plains Cotton Growers, Inc. and is a past president of Lamesa Cotton Growers.

He received Cotton Grower magazine’s Cotton Achievement Award (2017), and was the Farm Press 2012 “High Cotton” Award winner for the Southwest Region.

The outstanding agriculturalist awards, established in 1969, are named for Gerald Thomas, who served as dean of Texas Tech’s College of Agricultural Sciences from 1958 to 1970.

Norman Martin is the director of communications and marketing at Texas Tech University.

COTTONFARMING.COM

SPECIAL REPORT

Innovative Tool Lets Landowners Report Wild Pig Activity, Damage

BY PAUL SCHATTENBERG

Online Tool Features Cathey says it takes only a few minutes for a landowner using the tool to capture data on the wild pigs and includes an option for submitting photos of the animals and/or their damage.

“The site has a location feature with a GPS map interface so you can click and show exactly where the wild pigs or the damage they had For additional resources on wild caused was sighted. It also pigs, go to https://bit.ly/2E8j6Rb. gives the longitude and latitude of that location.

“The electronic fill-in survey allows the landowner to notate specific information, including the number of pigs seen, the class of pigs — whether male, female, younger or older — the kind of damage, such as wallowing and rooting, and what type of damage there is, such as crop or landscape damage or torn fencing.”

Cathey says data from the submitted reports will be used to support the institute’s outreach efforts and help locate areas of high activity to guide both land management and educational efforts across the state.

“Wild pigs are one of the greatest invasive species problems in the United States, having a negative effect on agricultural crops and livestock, water quality, wildlife TWITTER: @COTTONFARMING

A sounder of wild pigs roams the Texas landscape.

DR. BILLY HIGGINBOTHAM/TEXAS A&M AGRILIFE

T

he Texas A&M Natural Resources Institute encourages landowners to report wild pig sightings and damage using a new first-of-its-kind online tool.

“Landowners throughout Texas are constantly seeing wild pigs and their damage,” says Dr. Jim Cathey, associate director of the NRI. “Unfortunately, until now, we didn’t have a good method of collecting the information on where the pigs were sighted and what type of damage they were doing.”

Cathey says the easy-to-use tool, developed by the institute’s data analytics team, provides a unique portal for Texas landowners and homeowners to note and quickly report such sightings. It can be found in the “Report Wild Pigs” section of the institute’s Wild Pigs website at https:// wildpigs.nri.tamu.edu/.

“For many years, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service has worked through its county agents to bring programming that frames the problem Texans face when dealing with wild pigs,” Cathey says. “Those programs on biology, wild pig reduction techniques, and laws and regulations spurred a lot of ‘pig stories,’ and the number of those stories has grown over time.

“Now instead of hearing wild pig reports by individuals, this new tool will allow landowners to capture the information so it can be used in a statewide database that will allow everyone to really understand the breadth of the wild pig problem across Texas.”

populations and their habitats, and more recently, suburban landscapes,” he says. “There are an estimated 5 million wild pigs throughout the U.S. with an estimated 2.6 million in Texas alone. And the wild pig crop damage and control costs are reported to be greater than $52 million annually in Texas.”

Pigs Affect Water Quality Cathey says in areas where wild pig populations are concentrated near streams and other water bodies, they contribute bacteria, including some forms of E. coli known to be harmful to humans.

“Wild pig populations can substantially impact water quality by eroding banks, increasing sediment loads and algae blooms, and causing oxygen depletions,” he says.

“Our work in identifying wild pig populations and providing useful information on their control has helped many stakeholders become actively involved in implementing water resource management and protection programs in their watersheds.”

Cathey says AgriLife Extension county agents have been successful in providing opportunities to relay educational information to landowners about effective wild pig removal and management. This is critical in reducing wild pig populations and improving the water quality of Texas streams.

“We provide presentations, publications, smartphone applications, social media content and videos done in collaboration with the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board,” he says.

“We hope landowners and the general public will be able to know more about the biology and behavior of these animals even as we improve on those reduction measures used to control them.”

Paul Schattenberg is a media relations specialist at Texas A&M University. Contact Schattenberg and Dr. Jim Cathey at pashattenberg@ag.tamu.edu and james.cathey@ag.tamu. edu, respectively.

JANUARY 2019 | COTTON FARMING

19

SOUTHEAST REPORT

Farm-To-Fashion Approach Tracks Cotton Movement

M

any cotton producers wonder what happens to their cotton after it’s picked, ginned and baled. They sell their crop to a cotton merchant, a cooperative or a textile mill, but the question of where it goes from there still lingers.

However, there are several cotton producers in the

BY MONTY BAIN DADEVILLE, ALABAMA Southeast who know exactly where their cotton goes. They are taking a “farm-to-fashion” approach and working with Cotton Incorporated to develop retail products directly from the cotton they grow on their farms.

Homegrown Cotton In February 2012, Atwood “At” McIntosh, an eighth-generation Kingstree, South Carolina, cotton producer, attended a Cotton Board Producer Tour of Cotton Incorporated’s World Headquarters in Cary, North Carolina. At saw the resources available at Cotton Incorporated and had an idea to take the cotton produced on his farm and create a quality men’s polo shirt made entirely in the United States.

Shortly after the tour, At got in touch with David Earley, senior director of supply chain marketing at Cotton Incorporated. With David’s expertise and guidance, At was able to get his idea off the ground and his company, Homegrown Cotton, was born.

Redland Cotton In the early 1980s, cotton grower Mark Yeager formed a company called “Red Land Farms,” named after the rich red soil on his farm in Moulton, Alabama. In 2015, Mark and daughter Anna Brakefield noticed their farm’s Instagram following started getting a large number of requests for products made from their Alabama-grown cotton, which inspired them to create a new company, “Red Land Cotton.”

The cotton in Red Land Cotton products is grown entirely in Alabama, and their high-quality sheets, bedding and other home goods are completely manufactured in the United States. But their biggest strength — Americanmade and grown — was also their biggest challenge. Anna and Mark met with Cotton Incorporated experts to get advice on their supply chain. Ultimately, it was a group effort and took other companies and people believing in what they were doing to make this business idea a reality.

Aside from their American-made story, the feeling of Red Land Cotton’s products separates them from mass-

20

COTTON FARMING | JANUARY 2019

produced home goods. Mark was interested in recreating the touch and feel of his grandmother’s sheets, the way “they would be ‘crunchy’ when they came off the clothesline but would be so comfortable once you broke them in,” Anna says. They found the feeling they were going for after coming across an heirloom bed linen from the 1920s. They worked with textile engineers at the Cotton Incorporated headquarters to recreate the yarn size and weave construction from that sheet.

Covered In Cotton Most recently, cotton producers Ty and Tracy Woodard of Darlington, South Carolina, started making 100 percent cotton throw blankets from their crop. They attended a Cotton Board Producer Tour of Cotton Incorporated last February. After that, they tapped into the resources and experts at Cotton Incorporated who introduced them to a textile mill, weaver, and cutting and sewing operation.

They’re now making “Covered in Cotton” throw blankets.

These made-in-the-U.S.A. high-quality blankets are 100 percent ring-spun cotton, made with the fiber's natural color with no added dyes or bleach.

Additional Farm-To-Fashion Operations Ronnie and Andrew Burleson from Richfield, North Carolina, linked up with Eric Henry of TS Designs and made products from their crop, marketed as “Cotton of the Carolinas.” Terrell Jones has taken the cotton grown on his Southwest Georgia cotton farm and made t-shirts and polos called “Jones American Clothing,” where the cotton can be traced back to fields where it was grown.

A group of cotton producers from South Georgia has launched a line of sheets called “Southern Drawl,” and again, Cotton Incorporated’s product development team connected them with U.S. textile mills, weavers, and a cut and sew operation.

Each of these “Farm-to-Fashion” operations give the cotton growing community opportunities to support cotton producers and purchase products grown and sewn in the U.S.A. Cotton Incorporated’s leadership and guidance to growers helps make all of this happen. } Home Grown Cotton: www.homegrowncotton.com } Redland Cotton: www.redlandcotton.com } Cotton of the Carolinas / TS Designs: www.cottonof thecarolinas.com } Jones American Clothing: www.jonesamerican clothing.net } Covered in Cotton: www.coveredincotton.com } Southern Drawl: www.southerndrawl.com Monty Bain is the Cotton Board’s regional communication manager for the Southeast. Email mbain@cottonboard.org.

COTTONFARMING.COM

Industry News Continued from page 17

As evidence, he cited the comprehensive regulatory environment in the United States and the close connection of U.S. growers to their land.

He also referenced the high adoption rates of precision agricultural techniques by U.S. cotton growers and an almost 40-year track record of environmental improvement.

“We know that U.S. cotton growers continue to embrace new technologies and management techniques that reduce impact and increase yield, but today’s textile industry needs more than just our word,” Schneider says. “The Trust Protocol is meant to address that need with a tangible and transparent snapshot of U.S. cotton growing practices and the gains resulting from them.”

The details of the Protocol are being fine-tuned, and a pilot program will be launched in 2019 and fully implemented with the 2020 cotton crop year. Participating growers would be required to adopt a data tool that allows for the quantitative measurement of key sustainability met-

rics, such as the FieldPrint Platform from Field to Market.

Growers also would complete a self-assessment checklist of best management practices, with a sampling of participating producers subjected to independent verification. The online interface and associated databases are currently being developed by a Memphis-based company, The Seam.

Industry Reacts To Updated Trade Agreement With Mexico And Canada “The National Cotton Council is extremely appreciative of the Trump Administration’s work to update and modernize the North American Free Trade Agreement, and our industry welcomes the conclusion of the negotiations,” says NCC Chairman Ron Craft, a Plains, Texas, ginner.

The U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) will ensure continued duty-free access for U.S. cotton to Mexico and Canada, with Mexico representing a Top 5 export market for U.S. raw cotton. Both Canada and Mexico are Top 5 export markets for

“

The National Cotton Council is extremely appreciative of the Trump Administration’s work to update and modernize the North American Free Trade Agreement, and our industry welcomes the conclusion of the negotiations.”

Ron Craft, NCC Chairman

cotton textile and apparel exports.

“The NCC is pleased to see the addition of a textile and apparel chapter to the USMCA and inclusion of provisions to promote greater use of U.S. origin textile products, incentivize North American textile production, and strengthen customs enforcement in textile and apparel products,” Craft says.

“We look forward to continuing to work with the administration in addressing other trade issues to grow exports of U.S. cotton and cotton products and enhance our market share and competitiveness in key markets.”

Getting Back To The Basics: Conventional Cotton Seed

• Plant Early • Yield More • Make More $ Seed Source Genetics offers high yielding, CONVENTIONAL cottonseed at a low cost to producers in the Mid-South, Southeast and Texas. Our goal is to make cotton farming profitable again.

New for 2019

UA114 UA107

201 growing season: Varieties available from Seed Source Genetics for the 2019 UA114* • UA107* • UA103 • UA222 • HQ 210 CT For more information contact:

SEED SOURCE GENETICS, INC.

Edward Jungmann • 5159 FM 3354 • Bishop, TX 78343 Office: 361-584-3540 Cell: 361-548-7560 Fax: 361-584-4472 eejungmann@gmail.com www.seedsourcegenetics.com TWITTER: @COTTONFARMING

Currently Booking All Varieties * New variety

JANUARY 2019 | COTTON FARMING

21

TRAIT STEWARDSHIP RESPONSIBILITIES NOTICE TO FARMERS 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. Any crop or material produced from this product can only be exported to, or used, processed or sold in countries where all necessary regulatory approvals have been granted. It is a violation of national and international law to move material containing biotech traits across boundaries into nations where import is not permitted. Growers should talk to their grain handler or product purchaser to confirm their buying position for this product.

B.t. products may not yet be registered in all states.

Check with your 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. 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.

Bollgard®, Respect the Refuge and Cotton Design®, and XtendFlex® are trademarks of Bayer Group. LibertyLink® and the Water Droplet Design® are registered trademarks of BASF. Agrisure Viptera® is a trademark of a Syngenta Group Company. Excellence Through Stewardship® is a registered trademark of Excellence Through Stewardship.

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

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

22

COTTON FARMING | JANUARY 2019

SPECIAL REPORT

Enhanced-Efficiency Nitrogen Fertilizers

BY DENISE ATTAWAY CLEMSON UNIVERSITY

S

outh Carolina cotton farmers may one day know exactly how much nitrogen their crops need to produce higher yields with greater quality. Armed with this knowledge, farmers can reduce costs and help protect the environment.

Bhupinder Farmaha, a soil fertility specialist at Clemson’s Edisto Research and Education Center in Blackville, has received funding from Koch Agronomic Services and the South Carolina Cotton Board to evaluate nitrogen management strategies to optimize cotton yields on non-irrigated fields across different soil types and cropping systems in the state.

This study came about after cotton farmers raised concerns about using nitrogen enhanced-efficiency fertilizers — management tools used to prevent nitrogen loss and increase nitrogen use efficiency.

“Nitrogen is one of the most important, yet most difficult to manage fertilizers used on cotton,” Farmaha says. “Farmers are interested to know if these fertilizers will work in their fields. There just wasn’t any data to determine what nitrogen enhanced-efficiency fertilizers work best in South Carolina so we are doing this study to find out.”

N Management Challenges Effective nitrogen rates are difficult to manage because they are determined by the interaction of many factors: soil type, tillage, rainfall and irrigation, temperature, sunlight, length of season, insect and weed control, as well as other management practices.

The optimum nitrogen rate likely differs each year and is often dependent on unpredictable factors, such as the amount of rainfall and length of season.

“Reduced nitrogen can limit the number of nodes, fruit retention, yield potential and fiber quality of cotton,” Farmaha says. “Too much nitrogen can

delay maturity, cause boll rot or excessive vegetative growth, lower fiber quality, increase pest problems, as well as pollute ground and surface water.”

Nitrogen applied to crops can be lost via leaching, converting to an atmospheric gas or becoming trapped in the soil and unavailable for plant use.

To help determine the best nitrogen enhanced efficiency fertilizers for South Carolina soils, Farmaha and his team will look at the interactions of genetics, plant management and the environment. Urea is the nitrogen source used for this study. It is an inexpensive form of fertilizer widely used by the agricultural industry.

From this study, Farmaha hopes to provide cotton farmers with information related to the amount of nitrogen needed to produce more profitable crops, while preserving the environment and saving money.

Cotton is one of the top four crops grown in South Carolina. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, 250,000 acres of cotton were planted in South Carolina in 2017.

Soybeans were the top crop planted in South Carolina in 2017, with 400,000 acres planted. Corn came in second with 350,000 acres planted and peanuts accounted for 122,000 acres planted in 2017.

Farmaha ran this same study on corn at Edisto REC in 2018.

Preliminary results show using nitrogen enhanced-efficiency fertilizers allow for less nitrogen to be used, while preserving yields and protecting the environment. He is planning to continue with nitrogen enhanced-efficiency fertilizer trials before he releases recommendations for growers.

The content is solely the responsibility of the author and does not necessarily represent official views of Koch Agronomic Services or the South Carolina Cotton Board.

COTTONFARMING.COM

SPECIAL REPORT

Herbicide Options To Kill Cotton Around Gin Yards

BY GAYLON MORGAN AND MARK MATOCHA

B

oll weevils have been found in multiple locations north of the Lower Rio Grande Valley in 2018, including the Coastal Bend and Wintergarden regions.

To regain complete boll weevil control, everyone must again be diligent about destroying volunteer cotton in gin yards, non-commercial fields, equipment yards and industrial sites. The information here is focused on gin yards but will be relevant to the non-commercial cotton areas as well.

Herbicide-Tolerant Traits With more than 80 percent of the cotton planted in 2018 being XtendFlex or Enlist varieties, controlling volunteer cotton in and around the gin yard has become more of a challenge.

Specifically, these auxin-tolerant varieties (XtendFlex and Enlist) are tolerant to more herbicides than just dicamba and 2,4-D. They also are tolerant to triclopyr (Remedy and other trade names), fluoxypyr (Starane and other trade names) and 2-methyl-4-chlorophenoxyacetic acid (MCPA).

Unfortunately, there is no way to tell what herbicide-tolerant traits may be found in volunteer cotton plants. As a result, herbicides that will destroy the cotton, regardless of its herbicide-tolerant traits, must now be used.

Table 1 shows herbicides that should effectively kill the volunteer cotton regardless of the herbicidetolerant traits.

Monitor Cotton Plant Size Cotton plant size remains very important. Larger cotton plants are more difficult to destroy with herbicides.

Check for volunteer cotton regularly and apply the herbicide before cotton reaches the six- to eight-leaf

24

COTTON FARMING | JANUARY 2019

Table 1. Herbicides to consider for managing volunteer cotton in gin yards and other non-field sites. Refer to product label for specific label requirements. These herbicides are not restricted-use and do not require an applicator license to purchase, mix or apply when used according to the label.

Product (active ingredient)

Trade names*

Rate for Spot treatments Notes**

Imazapyr+ Diuron

Sahara and 0.5 - 1.0 lb per gallon Mojave of water + surfactant at 0.25% rate.

Aminopyralid

Milestone and Milestone VM

7-14 fl oz per acre See Table 2 below to calculate rate for spot spraying

- For use in non-cropland areas.

- Do not use around desirable plants or drip line of trees due to root uptake and potential injury or death.

- Adjuvant required.

- Do not use near irrigation ditches.

- For non-cropland, pasture, rangeland, etc.

- Do not allow product to come in direct contact with desirable plants through misapplication or drift.

- Injury can occur if applied around desirable trees, use special caution around roses and legume trees.

- Adjuvant required.

- At the 14oz/a rate, not more than 50% of an acre may be treated.

*This is not an encompassing list of trade names but includes some of the more commonly recognized. **Refer to product label for specific label requirements.

Table 2. Amount of Milestone to mix with 1 gallon of water. This table is duplicated from the Milestone label.

Gallons per acre

Milestone amount (in mL) to mix to achieve target application rates

GPA

7 fl oz/a

14 fl oz/a

20

10.5

21.0

40

5.3

10.5

60

3.5

7.0

80

2.6

5.3

100

2.1

4.7

Conversions: 1 tsp = 5 mL; 2 Tbsp = 1 fluid oz; 30 mL = 1 fluid oz; 1 cc = 1 mL stage, if possible. If cotton is larger than this, the chance of regrowth is quite high, and secondary applications of herbicide will likely be required for complete kill. 

Contact Gaylon Morgan and Mark Matocha at gdmorgan@tamu.edu and mark.matocha@tamu.edu, respectively.

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service provided this article.

COTTONFARMING.COM

Out here, I SPRAY EARLY to stay ahead of weeds.

So I CAN KEEP CONTROL, all season long.

THIS IS MY FIELD.

IT’S THE SYSTEM THAT MAKES THE DIFFERENCE. XTEND YOUR WEED CONTROL + XTEND YOUR YIELD

59.8 LBS/A ADVANTAGE VS KEY COMPETITORS IN 2018 HEAD-TO-HEAD TESTS* See your seed or ag chem dealer or visit RoundupReadyXtend.com * Source: 2018 Bayer cotton variety trials in East and South Texas (50 locations in 2018 reporting yield data).

Average win rate of 70%. Data as of November 20, 2018. Deltapine ® Bollgard ® 3 varieties: DP 1835 B3XF and DP 1845 B3XF. Competitor varieties include NexGen B3XF, NexGen B2XF, PhytoGen WRF, PhytoGen W3FE, Stoneville GLTP, Stoneville GLT, and FiberMax GLTP entries tested in the same locations.

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

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

ALWAYS READ AND FOLLOW PESTICIDE LABEL DIRECTIONS AND ALL STEWARDSHIP PRACTICES. See the Products Use Notice for “This Is My Field” advertisement for Roundup Ready ® Xtend Crop System printed in this publication. All trademarks are the property of their respective owners. ©2019 Bayer Group, All Rights Reserved. MDIC-18037 CF-JAN

+ Low-Volatility Dicamba Restricted Use Pesticide

SPECIAL REPORT Products Use Notice for "This Is My Field" Advertisement for Roundup Ready® Xtend Crop System and "Xtend Your Yield" Advertisement for XtendiMax® herbicide with VaporGrip® Technology XtendiMax® herbicide with VaporGrip® Technology is part of the Roundup Ready® Xtend Crop System and is a restricted use pesticide.

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

XtendiMax® herbicide with VaporGrip ® Technology, Roundup Ready 2 Xtend® soybeans and products with XtendFlex® Technology may not be approved in all states and may be subject to use restrictions in some states. Check with your local Bayer dealer or representative or U.S. EPA and your state pesticide regulatory agency for the product registration status and additional restrictions in your state. For approved tank-mix products and nozzles visit XtendiMaxApplicationRequirements.com.

NOT ALL formulations of dicamba, glyphosate and glufosinate are approved for in-crop use with cotton with XtendFlex® Technology. ONLY USE FORMULATIONS THAT ARE SPECIFICALLY LABELED FOR SUCH USES AND APPROVED FOR SUCH USE IN THE STATE OF APPLICATION. Cotton with XtendFlex® Technology contains genes that confer tolerance to glyphosate, dicamba and glufosinate. Glyphosate will kill crops that are not tolerant to glyphosate. Dicamba will kill crops that are not tolerant to dicamba. Glufosinate will kill crops that are not tolerant to glufosinate. Contact your seed dealer or refer to the Technology Use Guide for recommended weed control programs.

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

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. Any crop or material produced from this product can only be exported to, or used, processed or sold in countries where all necessary regulatory approvals have been granted. It is a violation of national and international law to move material containing biotech traits across boundaries into nations where import is not permitted. Growers should talk to their grain handler or product purchaser to confirm their buying position for this product. Excellence Through Stewardship ® is a registered trademark of Excellence Through Stewardship.

B.t. products may not yet be registered in all states.

Check with your seed brand representative for the registration status in your state.

Insect control technology provided by Vip3A is utilized under license from Syngenta Crop Protection AG. Bollgard®, Respect the Refuge and Cotton Design®, Roundup Ready®, VaporGrip ®, XtendFlex® and XtendiMax® are registered trademarks of Bayer Group.

All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. ©2019 Bayer Group, All Rights Reserved.

MDIC-18037 CF-JAN_LC

26

COTTON FARMING | JANUARY 2019

Deltapine Reveals Class Of 19 Varieties

D

eltapine cotton announced the release of three new Bollgard 3 XtendFlex cotton varieties as part of the brand’s Class of 19 lineup during the annual New Product Evaluator Summit held recently in Phoenix, Arizona.

“The Deltapine Class of 19 features a diverse group of varieties that focus on bringing regional-fit products to specific areas where farmers have expressed need,” says Keylon Gholston, Deltapine cotton product manager. “We are excited about how well these new cotton varieties fit within our broader portfolio and fill needs within the broader Deltapine variety lineup.”

The four new varieties feature XtendFlex technology as part of the Roundup Ready Xtend Crop System, making them tolerant to three modes of action for flexible and effective weed management.

DP 1948 B3XF, DP 1908 B3XF and DP 1909 XF are the Class of 19 varieties for Southwest geographies. DP 1916 B3XF is the Class of 19 variety for Mid-South/Southeast geographies.  DP 1948 B3XF is a mid-full maturity variety showing good yield potential, especially in the tough growing conditions of Texas. The new DP 1948 B3XF is similar to DP 1646 B2XF, showing the ability to elevate performance in low-yield environments. This variety, which offers Bollgard 3 technology for added protection against cotton bollworms, is well-adapted to South Texas, the Rolling Plains and the Southern High Plains.  DP 1908 B3XF and DP 1909 XF are products from the Deltapine West Texas breeding and testing programs with very early to early maturity. Both varieties have shown good early vigor and are smooth-leaf varieties with resistance to bacterial

blight. DP 1908 B3XF and DP 1909 XF offer excellent fiber quality and are adapted for the Northern High Plains and the Texas Panhandle, as well as Oklahoma and Kansas.  DP 1916 B3XF is an early-maturity variety that demonstrated good fiber quality and outstanding yield potential in 2018 NPE grower evaluations.

Positioned for the northern areas of the Mid-South, the Carolinas and Virginia, this variety compares well to DP 1614 B2XF but offers better early vigor and stand establishment.

It is comparable in yield potential to DP 1725 B2XF and offers Bollgard 3 protection.

Each NPE variety candidate must bring a combination of improved yield, fiber quality and agronomics, including trait stack, to the market before it can be commercially named. The Class of 19 is no exception.

All four new varieties were evaluated by Deltapine NPE growers, who grew them in module, or larger, sized plots under their own management styles and growing conditions.

“The commitment we made to NPE growers when we started this program in 2008 was that we would only commercialize a variety if it performed as well as, or better than, current Deltapine varieties on the market in terms of yield, fiber quality, trait technology or disease package,” Gholston says. “Over the past decade, I think we’ve done a great job of living up to that commitment with our new varieties.”

For additional information about the Deltapine cotton varieties and the NPE Program, visit www.deltapine. com. Photos, videos, agronomic tips and more can be found on Twitter (@ Deltapine) and on Facebook at https:// www.facebook.com/Deltapine.

Deltapine brand cotton provided information for this article.

COTTONFARMING.COM

XTEND YOUR WEED CONTROL Restricted Use Pesticide

SPRAY EARLY TO STAY AHEAD OF WEEDS

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

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

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

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

ALWAYS READ AND FOLLOW DIRECTIONS FOR USE ON PESTICIDE LABELING. See the Products Use Notice for “Xtend Your Weed Control” advertisement for XtendiMax® herbicide with VaporGrip® Technology printed in this publication. All trademarks are the property of their respective owners. ©2019 Bayer Group, All Rights Reserved. MDIC-18037 CF-JAN

An integral component of the:

CCOY Cotton Consultant of the Year established 1981

Who is the 2018 Cotton Consultant of the Year?

A Texas cotton farmer says the 2018 CCOY award recipient “has been a valued part of our farming operation for at least 38 years. I can’t imagine producing a crop without his expertise.”

A former Texas CCOY award recipient says, “He is the most thorough and conscientious crop consultant I have ever known. He has a strong moral character and is highly driven to provide a positive financial impact on his client base.

It would be very difficult to find anyone more dedicated to his work and profession.”

He has been described as an amazing consultant who wants a practice to be proven before he recommends that his farmers adopt it. He has a positive attitude, is easy to work with, starts early and stays late — whatever it takes to get the job done. He is a devoted family man and a good friend.

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 28

COTTON FARMING | JANUARY 2019

SPECIAL REPORT

Bulldogs And Bugs Aptly Describe Catchot Household

F

or Beverly Catchot, collecting insects has always been a family affair.

“When my husband was studying entomology at Mississippi State in the 1990s, we made collecting insects a family activity. We’d all get out there with our black lights and go find specimens,” says the MSU research associate and master’s student.

Catchot’s husband is Extension Professor Angus Catchot. The couple’s oldest son, Angus Catchot III, earned a bachelor’s degree in agronomy with an integrated pest management concentration at MSU and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in entomology. Their youngest son, Ty, is a sophomore at East Mississippi Community College with plans to transfer to MSU. He started bee keeping at age 15, and the family still has beehives.

“We’re a bug family,” she says. “My husband covers insects in row crops; I work in insect rearing and am studying tarnished plant bugs while our eldest son studies pollinators.”

Destination Starkville The Catchots also are a Bulldog family through and through. In addition to her immediate family’s ties to MSU, Catchot’s grandfather received a doctor’s degree in horticulture from the land-grant university in 1952.

Multiple family members are MSU alumni, with one niece currently working on a master’s degree in agronomy.

Beverly Catchot studied social work at the University of Southern Mississippi, graduating in 1993.

The family moved to Starkville so her husband could study entomology.

He went through undergraduate and graduate programs while she worked as a social worker.

Life took the Catchots to the Mississippi Delta, Arkansas and Georgia, but they returned 15 years ago when Angus joined the MSU Extension Service. Beverly became certified to teach elementary education and spent several years teaching at Starkville Academy.

Beverly Catchot recently received the Mississippi State University Outstanding Student Award.

Rearing Insects Career Move An opportunity in MSU’s insect rearing center led her to shift career paths and pursue science full time.

In her research associate position, Catchot is part of a team that oversees six growth chambers for rearing insects, plus a freestanding building designed to house adult moths and serve as additional rearing space.

The team can rear as many as 100,000 larvae per week for departmental research and supports MSU graduate student research in several departments across campus. They also provide specimens for collaborations with universities across the United States and rear insects for the annual International Insect Rearing Workshop held on campus each fall. Catchot’s job inspired her to pursue a master’s degree in entomology.

“At first, I took a couple of undergraduate courses in entomology for professional development,” she says.

“I found I really enjoyed it. Farming is a big part of our state’s identity and economy. Our research provides information that is beneficial to these farmers.

“As a school teacher, I always said, ‘You never stop learning,’ and this degree has proven me right. I am a wife, mother, employee and now a nontraditional graduate student.

It’s possible for others, regardless of where they are in life, to learn something new.”

Vanessa Beeson, a writer for Mississippi State University, submitted this article.

COTTONFARMING.COM

COMMENTARY

‘Clear’ Water Rule Means Relief For Farmers And Ranchers

I

n 2015, the Obama administration created a “waters of the U.S.” rule that was so broad and vague that almost any spot where rainwater flows or pools might be tagged as a federally protected body of water.

With the stroke of a pen, farmers and ranchers across the heartland suddenly did not know if state or federal law applied to their lands and what their compliance obligations would be.

Like many of our stakeholders and constituents, we immediately saw the enormous consequences of this egregious regulatory overreach.

Rep. Mike Conaway, chairman of the House Agriculture Committee and Zippy Duvall, president of the American Farm Bureau Foundation, contributed this article.

CALIFORNIA FARM BUREAU FEDERATION

Defending Need For Clarity The Clean Water Act is a flagship statute — and like many laws, it works best when its requirements are clear.

This law carries penalties of more than $50,000 for any activity that puts any “pollutant” — including dirt — into any regulated water.

It certainly seems fair to let the people who make a living on the land know where those regulated waters are, especially when civil and criminal penalties come into play. What’s more, by telling people where the federally regulated waters are, we give them the information they need to comply with the law.

That’s why we’re pleased that the new Clean Water Rule proposed recently by the Environmental Protection Agency and the Army Corps of Engineers will have a new hallmark: clean water and clear rules.

Based on what we see in the proposal, the new rule will do a better job of explaining which waters are regulated.

It is broad enough to be very protective. It draws a clear enough line to provide fair notice. And it focuses mostly on things that look like water — not regulating land.

No law or regulation is ever perfect, but we applaud the EPA and the Corps for their diligence in putting forth a reasonable, common-sense proposal to protect our nation’s waters.

Stewardship Of Natural Resource The new Clean Water Rule empowers landowners with the clarity they need to comply with the Clean Water Act. Now, farmers, ranchers and other small business owners will be able to look at their land and know — without a team of scientists and attorneys — which parts of their land are regulated by the Clean Water Act. For many rural Americans, land and water are the most valuable assets. Their farms, ranches and communities are typically dependent on surface water sources, like streams, rivers, lakes and reservoirs, not only for their operations, but also to care for their own families. They are deeply aware of the value of clean water as a resource; their livelihood and lives depend on being able to preserve and protect it.

Farmers and ranchers are committed to constantly improving their environmental stewardship. They embrace both traditional and new conservation practices, such as planting cover crops to take up nutrients and protect the water and soil, because they care about clean water and all our natural resources. But under previous proposals, even proven, beneficial conservation practices on farms would require expensive federal permits wrapped in layers of red tape.

Taking care of natural resources is a big deal across farm country. Agricultural producers care and strive every day to leave the land and water in better shape for the next generation. The Clean Water Rule will further empower them to do just that.

Localities, states, farmers and ranchers — all Americans — can make their views on this rule known.

The public should take the opportunity to submit comments on this important proposal, which honors the law, protects clean water and provides clear rules.

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COTTON FARMING | JANUARY 2019

COTTONFARMING.COM

SPECIAL REPORT

‘Using Pesticides Wisely’ Training Program Benefits Georgia Farmers

BY CLINT THOMPSON

A

state program aimed at teaching farmers and other pesticide applicators how to properly apply pesticides continues to limit pesticide drift in Georgia.

The educational training system, called “Using Pesticides Wisely,” was created by University of Georgia Cooperative Extension and the Georgia Department of Agriculture.

UGA Extension weed scientist Stanley Culpepper developed the training and credits Georgia farmers’ excellent teamwork and decision-making for the low number of pesticide drift complaints in Georgia in 2017.

“We’ve surveyed over 3,000 people since the required classroom trainings began in 2015, and 99 percent of them have said the training has been worthwhile,” Culpepper says. “More than 98 percent of them have said the training will help them improve on-target pesticide applications. That’s fulfilling for sure.”

Drift Complaints Reduced Since trainings began, drift complaints to UGA Extension offices have been reduced by 68 percent. In 2017, there were more than 2,700 official investigations into auxin off-target deposition across 24 states; there were no reported cases in Georgia.

“While this year’s season is still ongoing, currently the number of official investigations into auxin off-target drift is remarkably low,” Culpepper says.

UGA research has identified 15 factors that should be considered to successfully manage off-target pesticide movement, including the spray nozzle, spray pressure and spray speed. Understanding the influence of boom height and land terrain is also extremely important.

It’s paramount that pesticide applicators understand the sensitivity of plants near treated areas, Culpepper says. This can help applicators determine where they should not apply a particular herbicide.

All of these factors are highlighted during the trainings that educate Georgia farmers and other pesticide applicators, many of whom are experiencing this type of in-depth training for the first time.

Field Training Added The classroom training was supplemented by a oneon-one training program established in 2017 to provide education in the field. UGA Extension agents visited with applicators to reinforce what they taught in the classroom.

“The one-on-one trainings gave county agents another opportunity to train and educate growers and applicators about the numerous factors that affect drift. It was an opportunity to meet and form relationships with not only growers, but also the farm applicators and hopefully help them avoid potentially bad drift situations down the road,”

Twitter: @CottonFarming

Farmers and applicators are reminded to be aware of the drift-damage susceptibility of high-value vegetable and fruit crops grown near auxin-tolerant cotton and soybeans. says Jeremy Kichler, Colquitt County Extension coordinator and Agriculture and Natural Resources agent.

Administrative Support Culpepper credits the program’s success to the support of UGA Extension Associate Dean Laura Perry Johnson.

“Her support ultimately allowed Extension to commit an untold number of hours to the project over the past four years,” he says. “I don’t think there’s anywhere else where the county agents actually give the one-on-one applicator trainings like we do here in Georgia. That doesn’t happen withou an administrator who understands the value.”

Georgia farmers grow more than 40 high-value vegetable and fruit crops that are highly susceptible to drift damage, especially when they’re produced near row crops like auxin-tolerant cotton and soybeans. Growing up on a family farm in North Carolina, Culpepper understands what’s at stake for farmers and the need for growers to be better stewards of resources.

“When you’re helping an applicator or grower get better because they want to get better, there’s nothing more rewarding,” Culpepper says. “When it’s your best friend’s farm or your family’s farm, you’re around it day in and day out — then you have a reality check.

“That’s what keeps me focused. I know in our state that if you’re applying pesticides, you want to be successful making only on-target applications. It makes no sense why you wouldn’t.”

For questions regarding pesticide drift or other agricultural-related matters, contact your UGA county Extension office at 1-800-ASK-UGA1.

Clint Thompson is a news editor with the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences based in Tifton.

JANUARY 2019 | COTTON FARMING

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Specialists Speaking Carefully Evaluate Varieties For 2019 FLORIDA David Wright Many of our cotton producers were glad to leave 2018 behind them as crop management was difficult through most of the year due to wet conditions after a dry early May. Even though the crop was one of the best ones produced in years, harvest time saw one of the most harsh periods in many decades with Hurricane Michael. The storm destroyed modules in harvested fields or to defoliated cotton that was fully opened as well as cotton that was just opening.

Florida’s largest cotton county lost most of the cotton that had been picked or defoliated with 50 to 100 percent yield loss in a swath almost 100 miles wide. Cotton was affected 100 miles east and west of the center of the hurricane. Growers were still picking their crop in December with plants blown all around and trees down around edges of fields and field roads. This slowed the movement of equipment and the harvested crop.

Even though things look bleak, there is still much optimism for 2019 as farmers remember the good crop that was produced and the cotton varieties that are capable of higher yields with better technology each year. wright@ufl.edu

NORTH CAROLINA Guy Collins As I write this on Dec. 7, harvest continues on the last few remaining acres. The 2018 harvest season was challenging, especially towards the end, although decent yields were observed in many areas.

Fiber quality was also very good in certain places, affording North Carolina producers to remain competitive in the global market.

During January, variety performance continues to be on many growers’ minds. Calls from farmers began in late November, which verifies how important this decision is for them. I’m proud to say that the North Carolina On-farm Cotton Variety Testing Program was again a huge success in 2018. This was due to efforts from the North Carolina Cotton Producers Association, North Carolina Department of Agriculture, and our North Carolina State University county agents and cooperating growers, as well as our seed companies.

As of Dec. 7, the North Carolina Cotton Variety Performance Calculator (https://trials.ces.ncsu.edu/cotton/) includes the final results for the on-farm program and in early January will also include results from the official variety trials. Results from the on-farm program are also discussed in two newsletter articles on the NCSU Cotton Portal website (https://cotton.ces.ncsu.edu/).

The results of the on-farm program, as well as the OVT, will be presented at upcoming statewide and county meetings throughout the winter months. There were clearly several varieties from different brands that have a competitive fit for North Carolina growers.

Some varieties that have performed well in the past continued that performance in 2018, indicating strong yield stability. Additionally, there were a few new varieties that also have a fit in North Carolina.

Fiber quality was noticeably high in 2018, and excellent quality was observed in many varieties across brands.

As variety selection is one of the most important decisions affecting profitability, growers should observe as many years and locations of data as possible from both on-farm trials and the OVT. Check out cotton.ces.ncsu.edu and the North Carolina Cotton Variety Performance

32

COTTON FARMING | JANUARY 2019

Calculator for variety trial results. Also, see the “Events” list at https:// cotton.ces.ncsu.edu/events/ for dates and locations of our winter cotton Extension meetings where these results will be discussed in detail.

In addition, look for information about auxin training for cotton producers. guy_collins@ncsu.edu

TENNESSEE Tyson Raper A summary of the 2018 Tennessee cotton variety testing program was published recently, and a full publication covering all trial results is now available.

You can also find these reports on news.utcrops.com.

Several new varieties have been introduced for 2019, but many of the older varieties you have grown over the past three years will also be available. We have seen some issues with the two Bt gene platforms and will be looking at a transition over the next several years to a three Bt gene platform. However, based on our variety testing data, I would not make a hard transition. Instead, begin blending a few acres of three Bt gene varieties in slowly and take a close look at the variety testing data generated in your region to select those. Unfortunately, some three Bt gene varieties are not yielding like the go-to two Bt gene varietiess. The yield differences are substantial enough to support the use of one or two foliar sprays to target bollworms. Visit with your county agent to understand which ones will best fit your operation.

In other news, meeting season officially kicked off for the UT specialists in mid-December. You can find a list of dates and locations on our blog or from your local Extension office. Happy New Year! traper@utk.edu

MISSOURI Calvin Meeks Farmers in the Missouri Bootheel are likely evaluating yields and grades of the varieties they grew in 2018 to make selection decisions for 2019. I encourage producers to consider as much information as possible by taking a look at statewide data and not relying solely on what happened on their farm in 2018. I believe we often tend to overreact to what happened in the previous year since hindsight is 20/20.

Using results from multiple locations helps to identify varieties that have high yield stability. This allows a producer to select a variety that is widely adapted to potential conditions for 2019. I encourage farmers to consider the results from the Missouri official variety trials, which are available at http://agebb.missouri.edu/cotton/. Yields were quite good with numerous varieties breaking 2,000 pounds per acre in some places. Consider the locations nearest to your area to help determine variety selection while also considering yield stability across multiple environments. This year, separate data sets will be posted to illustrate yield stability across multiple locations and environments.

I also encourage the practice of using multiple planting dates with several varieties and maturities to help manage your risk. It would also be prudent to consider results from previous years as well to help determine the best varieties for your farm in 2019. Furthermore, when making variety selections, also consider that the Bollgard II traits will be phased out in the near future.

I also encourage you to attend the 2019 Regional Missouri Cotton Meeting at the Fisher Delta Research Center on Jan. 24. The agenda COTTONFARMING.COM

Specialists Speaking is posted at http://agebb.missouri.edu/cotton/, and variety selection will be one of the topics covered. For further information about the conference, feel free to email me at meeksc@missouri.edu or call me at 573-379-5431. meeksc@missouri.edu

MISSISSIPPI Darrin Dodds I am not entirely sure how, but another new year is upon us. As of this writing, some Mississippi cotton producers still have cotton in the field due to continued rainfall. While this does not represent a large percentage of our overall 2018 acreage, these acres are still substantial to those who have been unable to complete harvest. Fall 2018 will be remembered (or dreaded) as the most challenging harvest season in nearly a decade — 2009 was extremely challenging as well.

In spite of these challenges, optimism around cotton is surprisingly high heading into 2019. If current commodity markets remain as they are, many, including myself, are expecting increased cotton acreage in 2019. If you are considering growing cotton in 2019 or have never quit growing cotton, spend some time over the next few weeks doing your homework on variety selection as well as production practices that will provide a positive return on investment. While I would like to win the yield contest, I would rather win the money contest at the end of the year. 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 information on a variety as possible to help make a more informed decision.

To assist in this process, the Louisiana State University 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, 60 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 sets of 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. Now is an excellent time to review the past year’s results. Consider public and private company tests in your area before making a variety decision. Results for the 2018 LSU AgCenter cotton variety trials are located at lsuagcenter.com. They can be found by clicking on topics>crops>cotton>varieties. Best of luck in 2019! dfromme@agcenter.lsu.edu

ARKANSAS Bill Robertson Many producers have booked seed for 2019. There are several new varieties worthy of a look. Do your homework regarding them and where they have the best fit 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 planting recommendation is that roughly two-thirds of your acres be planted with varieties proven on your farm. Of the remaining acres, limit new varieties to no more than 10 percent of your total acreage. The remaining 25 percent should be dedicated to those Twitter: @CottonFarming

varieties in which you have limited experience. This strategy provides stability while allowing for evaluation of the latest offerings.

A number of unbiased information sources are available to assist in selecting new varieties. Our primary source is the university variety testing program conducted by Dr. Fred Bourland. County demonstrations are another good source. Find results at https://arkansas-var iety-testing.uark.edu/.

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 is beneficial. Contact your county Extension agent for assistance in obtaining or interpreting variety performance data and to get the date and location of upcoming county production meetings. brobertson@uaex.edu

OKLAHOMA Seth Byrd Oklahoma cotton harvest is finally winding down, although incredibly slowly, as of mid-December.

Weather conditions resulted in favorable harvest conditions existing for only six to eight hours a day in some places.

However, the slow pace at the end of harvest has given us a chance to reflect on 2018. While yields across the state didn’t reach 2017 levels, it was still an overall good year for cotton in the state, which is also reflected by the quality. Early quality numbers show average to good values across most fiber quality parameters, which will hopefully hold on as the harvest wraps up.

Variety selection discussions have already started as we look ahead to 2019. Herbicide traits have certainly had the biggest influence on variety selection over the past two to three years. However, new regulations and increased supply of new varieties from both of the new trait packages may result in a shift in 2019 market share in Oklahoma.

Beyond the traits, much of the state faced harsh conditions early in the season, which favored varieties with enhanced, or better-than-average, seedling vigor. Seedling vigor is highly correlated with oil content in the seed, which is typically higher in larger-seeded varieties.

This may be a factor that is referred to when narrowing down varieties or looking for one to place on the “tough” acres.

Variety selection and seedling vigor will be among the topics covered at our winter production meetings. For information on meetings in your area, contact your local Extension office or refer to the Oklahoma State University Cotton Comments newsletter. seth.byrd@ okstate.edu

TEXAS Gaylon Morgan Fields continue to have a full profile of soil moisture across most of the state, and cotton planting in the Lower Rio Grande Valley is not far away. Fortunately, a couple of weeks of no rainfall in late November into early December allowed growers to finally make good progress on harvesting. For the cotton remaining in the field in the Blacklands, harvest has progressed slowly with only about a week of adequate conditions.

Some growers were pushing hard to get the crop out, resulting in huge ruts and additional challenges looking to 2019. The lint value of this very late and highly weathered cotton is creating financial challenges for these growers. The Rolling Plains made tremendous harvest progress in late November and into December with most of the mainly irrigated crop, being completed by mid-December. After some dry weather and sunshine, the fiber quality rebounded for this Rolling Plains crop.

Looking into the 2019 season, variety selection is on everyone’s JANUARY 2019 | COTTON FARMING

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Specialists Speaking mind. This is one of the single biggest decisions a farmer makes each year because of seed cost, the traits (insecticide and herbicide), yield potential, and fiber quality. The South and East Texas cotton variety results from 20-plus on-farm trials were posted in mid-December at cot ton.tamu.edu. As additional data become available from the Rolling Plains and High Plains, the results will be posted on cotton.tamu.edu and each of the respective regional webpages. gdmorgan@tamu.edu

As of this writing in December, harvest in West Texas is nearly 85 percent completed. Compared to about a month ago, it is impressive how much cotton our farmers can get out of the fields given favorable weather. Speaking of which, the Lubbock area did receive anywhere from 3 to 10-plus inches of snow Dec. 7-8, which delayed harvest for at least a couple days. However, most finished harvesting by the end of the year.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Marketing Service Lubbock Classing Office report for the week ending Dec. 6, 2018, showed almost 1.4 million bales classed for the season. Average micronaire is 4.22, strength 31.2, length 1.13, and uniformity 81.2.

As harvest activities wind down, it is a good time to reflect on the season and think about any adjustments that can be done in your operations. Many of the regional programs have already been scheduled, so contact your local Extension agent for information on a meeting happening close to you.

Most (but not all) of our regional replicated trials have been harvested at this time and fiber quality data has started rolling in. Keep an eye out for the results, which will be posted at http://varietytesting. tamu.edu/cotton/. mmaeda@ag.tamu.edu

ARIZONA Randy Norton Variety selection is probably one of the most important decisions contributing to the success of a cotton crop. New varieties are entering the marketplace each year. It is uncommon to have a single variety around for more than four to five years before it is replaced. New technology and germplasm improvements have driven this turnover.

If you look at Beltwide cotton yields over the past 20 years, a clear positive trend of increasing yield is observed. A lot of this increase is due to new and innovative pest control technologies, but we can’t discount the improvements made in germplasm for both yield and fiber quality. Due to the high variety turnover rate, selection decisions can often be confusing. Examine information about variety performance when deciding which one is best suited to your region and management style.

The University of Arizona conducts an aggressive variety testing program consisting of small- and large-plot trials conducted across the state from Willcox at 4,000-feet elevation to Yuma at just above sea level. This testing program evaluates both commercially available varieties and also experimental lines being observed for adaptability in our region. The results from these trials are published each year and distributed in meetings around the state. They can also be found online at cals.arizona.edu/crops under the cotton variety section.

Another important aspect of variety performance is stability. High performance in a variety over locations and across years is a good indicator of one that will likely do well regardless of year-to-year environmental variation. The more information you can gather about variety performance, from whatever source is available, will help you make an informed decision. rnorton@cals.arizona.edu

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COTTON FARMING | JANUARY 2019

VICKY BOYD

TEXAS Murilo Maeda

CALIFORNIA Bob Hutmacher Many California cotton growers have had a wild ride in terms of yields the past two years. With 2017 being a near-historic bad year in terms of pest pressure, pest control costs and reduced yields, 2018 is looking more like a banner year in terms of prevailing high yields in many fields.

For your 2019 cotton planting plans, decisions on variety choice, seed treatments, and the need for soil amendments to build or at least maintain adequate soil structure and fertility are right around the corner. Basic yield results from the University of California will be available in early January from your UC Cooperative Extension Farm Adviser or on the UC cotton website: http://cottoninfo. ucdavis.edu. Basic fiber quality (HVI) tables from the Pima and Upland trials will be available on the same website. With reduced Acala/ Upland acreage in recent years, Upland variety trials were conducted primarily at the UC West Side Research and Extension Center site in Fresno County, while the Pima variety trials included multiple onfarm sites in addition to the West Side REC. For a more balanced view of varietal yield and quality performance, look at both at these UC data sources as well as seed company results.

Cropping pattern changes of the past decade, expansion of tree and vine acreage, and contraction of alfalfa, safflower, cotton and small grains acreage, may lead to developing some new ideas about where cotton could fit into your production plans and allocated acreage. Irrigation water availability issues may warrant trying out a range of cotton varieties that differ in required or desired growing season length.

Most of our commercial cotton varieties can be managed to shorten up the growing season by irrigation reductions or delays, more aggressive PGR applications and other management efforts. But varieties and types of cotton (non-Acala Upland, Acala, Pima) differ in how much you can shorten up the growing season without reducing yields and affecting quality.

Furthermore, although we know about the relative salinity tolerance of cotton compared with other agronomic crops, there aren’t many recent evaluations that look at varietal differences in relative salt tolerance and production under saline conditions. Some of these comparisons may warrant strip tests or other on-farm variety comparisons as you plan your planting season. rbhutmacher@ucdavis.edu COTTONFARMING.COM

COTTON

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

OSHA Site-Specific Inspection Plan Now In Place

plate 3/7/14 3:26 PM Page 1

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has announced a new national site-specific inspection plan that became effective Oct. 16, 2018, and is effective for one year. Under this directive, OSHA will develop a list of employers for each OSHA regional office to inspect. The notice specifically states that the program does not include construction sites but is silent on whether it includes agricultural sites.

There is a plan already in place to base inspections on data gathered under the old OSHA data initiative. This new program will base inspections on the injury and illness data submitted in the new Electronic Submission of Injury and Illness Records to OSHA program.

This is the new program we have discussed for several years, where you enter your OSHA 300A data into the online database. The agency will base these inspections on the results from the 2016 data.

Criteria For ‘Making The List’ OSHA will look at three types of employers. The first criteria for making the list will be if your days away, restricted or trans-

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ferred (DART) rate is high. It appears they will be comparing the DART rate for each facility to the industry average, but the basis for the comparison is not completely clear.

The second set will be a random sample of establishments that did not enter their data into the new system. No explanation is given about how they will determine whether an establishment that did not send the data would be required to do so.

They may review North American Industry Classification System codes for employers to help determine this issue.

The third set will be a “quality control” group that includes a random sample of establishments with a low DART rate. If a site has an on-site consultation “in progress,” the inspection will be deferred until the consultation process is complete.

In addition, employers who are part of the Voluntary Protection Program and Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program will not be inspected. These are programs that some of the larger employers have used in the past. Gins have not historically used these programs, but it is also rare for a gin to receive a programmed inspection.

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35

gram that will be run for that area to select the employers for inspection. Guidance says the program will pick between five and 50 employers in an area, based on the size of the region.

It would stand to reason that a large area, such as Houston, would draw closer to 50 employers to inspect, whereas a small area, such as Lubbock, would draw a smaller number. But this is not completely clear.

In addition, it may be possible for an OSHA office to run the program more than once each year if they have inspectors who are not particularly busy.

The inspection will be a full one — not just a recordkeeping inspection. They probably will visit with the employees and go to the facility itself.

In addition, the inspection could take place at any time during the year, so the odds of it taking place during the off-season is higher than the odds of it happening while you are ginning. It is especially important to be sure everything is locked out during the off-season and any open pits or trenches are well protected while workers are repairing the ginning facility after the season is over.

Factors Influencing Inspections These inspections should be lower priority than the inspections related to an injury or a complaint. If your local OSHA office is busy, inspections may get pushed off until much later.

In addition, if you look at the sampling size, it seems likely that very few, if any, gins might get inspected.

Offsetting those numbers is the issue of the DART rate and the lack of data in the system. If your DART rate is very high or your data is not in the system, the odds of you being inspected may be raised.

We don’t really expect this to have a large impact on our industry since gins are small employers in the grand scheme of OSHA inspections. However, it is something you will want to keep in mind as a possibility during the upcoming year.

We will be watching this issue very carefully and will keep you informed as it progresses. In the meantime, be sure to let us know right away if you receive any type of visit or communication from your OSHA office.

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Kelley Green, TCGA director of technical services, authored this article, which first appeared in the November 2018 issue of “The Ginnery.” Contact Green at kelley@tcga.org.

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Physical Address: 225 Bourne Boulevard • Savannah, Georgia 31408-9586 USA Mailing Address: 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

Š 2018 Lummus Corporation

JANUARY 2019 | COTTON FARMING

37

My Turn ‘Farming A Thousand Acres Of Everything’

I

’m not sure why I fell in love with agriculture at a young age.

I wasn’t pushed into agriculture, but I feel like I was pulled — much like the smell of a fresh pot of coffee has a way of pulling you out of bed.

The ingredients were present. The first toy I remember was a 4000 series 1/16 Deere tractor. I’m not sure who gave it to me — I can’t remember back that far — but I do remember my brother and I raised a thousand acres of everything with that tractor on the living room carpet of our house in Spring Villa, Alabama.

My grandparents on both my mother’s and father’s sides farmed in years past. Whenever we visited, I gawked at the old equipment — it fascinates the mind of a young boy. Both sets of my grandparents occasionally told stories about picking cotton as children or chasing hogs. Both sets had a garden, and my parents had a garden, which meant we were always playing in a garden. Still love to garden today.

The strongest ingredient — the most dominant, I think — came from observing my father at work. At that time, Dad was an ag engineer with the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Mom took us up to his office often for lunch, and I’d fiddle with penetrometers or the newest part from the fabrication shop or, if I was really good, a few toy tractors perched high on a bookshelf stacked full of reams of data, manuscripts and textbooks.

We didn’t go to the field frequently with Dad, but I can remember every little detail when we did. I would watch him examine disruption zones from tillage implements, pull deep soil core after deep soil core and, occasionally, we would get to tromp seedcotton in a trailer. Wires and monitors, soil core canisters and notepads were

everywhere. Everyone on the team had a job, and in the middle of it, there was Dad, sweaty, exhausted from a hard day’s work, but happy with the accomplishment of a completed sampling.

Dad always worked hard but was efficient; I don’t remember having many suppers without him at the table.

Occasionally, we would attend field days where he spoke. Everyone listened attentively, and from the looks on everyone’s faces, I could tell what he said mattered — it directly impacted them. I didn’t get it then, but something about those experiences soaked into me, much like stain into raw oak.

“Dad always worked hard but was efficient; I don’t remember having many suppers without him at the table.”

In high school, I remember wanting to be a doctor, then a professional fisherman and then back to some agriculture-related job. After applying to Auburn and starting in the College of Agriculture, I still wasn’t sure what I wanted to do. Working in ag retail seemed interesting, but I was still drawn to research/Extension. It clicked for me during an internship with a chemical company. I was sitting on a 5-gallon bucket in the shop, making small talk with the farm foreman over lunch. He asked me, almost out of the blue, what I was going to do. It sounded like someone else talking when I said, “Get my PhD.” After completing my M.S. at Mississippi State, I married my high school sweetheart and moved to Arkansas for a PhD. Since then, time has flown. I learned a tremen-

Tyson Raper dous amount in graduate school, was able to interact with and learn from greats. When this Tennessee Cotton Specialist position opened, it seemed perfect — working with one of the strongest Extension services in the Mid-South/Southeast staffed with the best specialists and agents at the top of their game. The job has its challenges, but the people I serve — and serve alongside — are incredible. This job is extremely rewarding and I love it.

I’ve got two kids now, a 3 (almost 4)-year-old boy, Anderson, and a 20-month-old girl, Caroline. Introducing them to the world has been the highlight of my life. I look forward every day to hearing about what new skills or words have been picked up.

I do my best to make it home for supper. Rachel, my wife, brings them up to work often for picnics. If we are ginning, they insist on tromping the loose lint. And that 4000 series 1/16 Deere tractor? It has new owners, farming a thousand acres of everything on our living room rug just north of Jackson, Tennessee.

— Tyson Raper Jackson, Tennessee t.raper@utk.edu Dr. Tyson B. Raper is the Pettigrew Cotton Specialist for the University of Tennessee. You can find content by Dr. Raper in our Specialist Speaking column each month, on the UT Crops blog (news.utcrops.com) or on Twitter @TysonRaper.

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.

38

COTTON FARMING | JANUARY 2019

COTTONFARMING.COM

90907 Lummus.qxp 11/28/18 1:58 PM Page 2

What do you see on the horizon?

The horizon.…seemingly endless….in all directions. What’s out there?

Well, Lummus has lots of great things on our horizon. Control and automation advancements like fire detection, air pressure monitoring, and new informational display options. New seed cotton drying and blending systems. And, most exciting of all, a new family of saw gin stands with features new to the industry – to be offered in all popular widths: 8’, 10’, and 12’ !

This is the dawn of a new era in cotton ginning.

Coming in 2019    

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     ® Copyright 2019 Lummus Corporation

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