Cotton Farming July 2015

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Cotton Farming

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ONE GROWER PUBLISHING, LLC

PROFITABLE PRODUCTION STRATEGIES

JULY 2015

www.cottonfarming.com

IS TEXAS DROUGHT OVER? PRODUCERS COPING WITH HEAVY RAIN

MAJOR PRIORITY: WATER RESEARCH MY TURN: TONY WILLIAMS

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A SERIOUS WEAPON IN THE FIGHT AGAINST PLANT BUGS. When plant bugs strike, it can feel like a losing battle because of the pests’ increasing resistance to many control methods. Defend your cotton with a different kind of weapon: TransformŽ WG insecticide. Transform hits plant bugs hard, with a novel class of chemistry and a unique mode of action. It’s a great rotational partner to have in your arsenal — helping win the battle against plant bugs and aphids. TransformMyCotton.com

ÂŽ 3210/.12-,+*,3)/,(+',&)/.%$1#,&+."1! , (+' ,+2,1!,1* #%1 /0,$+."1! ,+*,(+' ,321! *+2., ,% ,!+ ,2/ % /2/0,*+2, 1#/,+2, /,%!,1##, 1 / , Contact your state pesticide regulatory agency to determine if a product is registered for sale or use in your state. Always read and follow label directions. ,(+', 2+ $%/!$/ ,

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Vol. 59 No. 7

Cotton Farming PROFITABLE PRODUCTION STRATEGIES

JULY 2015

www.cottonfarming.com

F E A T U R E S

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NEW IPM TOOL University of Missouri researchers are ready to launch a new program for insect control.

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WATER CONSERVATION

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GINNING MARKETPLACE

Cotton Incorporated’s water conservation research couldn’t be happening at a better time for today’s cotton producers.

THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE GINNING INDUSTRY

Jim Granberry, president of the Cliff Granberry Corporation, offers some important safety tips in the operation of a seed house.

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Looking Ahead

When it comes to dealing with a precious resource such as water, you’d be hard pressed to find a better steward of the land than Texas High Plains producer Shawn Holladay. He offers a dramatic update on how he has dealt with excessive rainfall that hit the region in the past two months – and how the future looks for the state’s cotton production.

D E P A R T M E N T S

4 Editor’s Note 6 Cotton’s Agenda 14 Specialists Speaking

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WEB EXCLUSIVE One of the most important programs coordinated by the National Cotton Council is its Emerging Leaders Program. Cotton Farming Editor Tommy Horton recently spent an afternoon with this year’s class during one of its training sessions and found the group to be enthusiastic and committed to the cotton industry. Go to www.cottonfarming.com for his Web Exclusive report.

C O L U M N S

18 Industry News 22 My Turn

WEB POLL RESULTS

How do you believe the excess spring rains will affect Texas cotton acreage in the long term? Go to www.cottonfarming.com for the results.

ON THE COVER: Standing water in a Texas High Plains cotton field affects planting. Photo by Mary Jane Buerkle.

COTTON FARMING (ISSN 0746-8385) is published monthly January through December for $40 per year by One Grower Publishing LLC, 1010 June Road, Suite 102, Memphis, TN 38119. Periodicals Postage paid at Memphis, TN. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Sunbelt Fulfillment Services, 307 Southgate Court, Brentwood, Tenn. 37027-7987 (Phone: 615-377-3322) (Fax: 615850-5319). International rates are $55.00 in Canada/Mexico, $90.00 in all other countries for air-speeded delivery. Surface Delivery not available due to problems in reliability.

COTTON FARMING JULY 2015

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Editor’s Note Tommy Horton

Cotton Farming

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EDITORIAL/PRODUCTION Editor/Editorial Director Tommy Horton thorton@onegrower.com Senior Writer Carroll Smith csmith@onegrower.com

Storms Don’t Deter Texas Farmers

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o you ever wonder if the rest of the country really appreciates the plight of cotton farmers? Maybe that’s a ridiculous question. But it’s still intriguing to hear how the national media recently reported on a tropical storm in the Gulf of Mexico. Everything was mentioned in the various updates except how farmers in a particular region might be coping with the crisis. As Tropical Storm Bill plowed into the Coastal Bend area of Texas and moved north into Oklahoma, I kept having the same thought. Yes, the excessive rains were compounding an already horrible situation for that part of the Lone Star State, but never once did I hear how agriculture was being affected. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised by what I see on television. Still, it made me want to remind Al Roker of NBC-TV and other weather experts that cotton farmers near the coast of Texas are always affected by storms forming in the Gulf of Mexico. I would love to hear ag issues put into proper perspective just once. Yes, loss of life and homes are of critical importance when reporting on a weather crisis. But, I kept thinking about how farmers in the Coastal Bend and Rio Grande Valley might be feeling. Many had no crop at all just a couple of years ago. Now, they were getting washed out by a tropical storm before they could plant seed. Some survived this rain event, but others didn’t. I never heard that mentioned in any of the media reports. Granted, some ag/water issues receive major attention from the national media. For example, the rest of the country certainly knows about the mega-drought currently plaguing California and parts of the Southwest. But, even in the coverage of that event, I don’t hear much about how California water allocations are affected by the so-called endangered delta smelt fish. Getting back to Tropical Storm Bill, it is significant how this storm and earlier rainfall patterns affected Texas farmers this year near the Gulf Coast. It’s a familiar problem that this region seems to always face. Usually, cotton farmers are racing to harvest a crop before the hurricane moves inland. Or, in this case, they were desperately trying to plant a crop before the tropical storm arrived. I have some advice for weathermen who cover storms that hit any part of Texas. Don’t forget the impact on agriculture. If you look around, you’ll discover heroic stories everywhere from farmers. In fact, you’ll find such an example from High Plains producer Shawn Holladay on pages 10 and 11 of this issue. Check out his message, and I think you’ll agree. Did the storms discourage him? No way. His reaction was pretty strong: “We’re ready for 2015. Game on.”

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) 767-4020 Sales Manager Scott Emerson (386) 462-1532 semerson@onegrower.com Production Manager Kathy Killingsworth (800) 888-9784 kkillingsworth@onegrower.com Circulation Manager Charlie Beek (615) 377-3322

For circulation changes or change of address, call (800) 888-9784

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 2015 ASSOCIATED PUBLICATIONS – One Grower Publishing, LLC also publishes RICE FARMING, THE PEANUT GROWER, SOYBEAN SOUTH and CORN SOUTH.

One Grower Publishing, LLC

If you have comments, send them to: Editor, Cotton Farming Magazine, 1010 June Road, Suite 102, Memphis, Tenn., 38119. Or send e-mail to: thorton@onegrower.com.

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COTTON FARMING JULY 2015

1010 June Road, Suite 102, Memphis, Tennessee, 38119 Phone: 901-767-4020

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Cotton’s Agenda Gary Adams

Conveying Concerns The National Cotton Council (NCC) continues to monitor 2014 farm law implementation and provide USDA with input for ensuring that the legislation’s final rules do not undermine U.S. cotton’s competitiveness.

How are payment limits being implemented? ■ The farm bill institutes a unified $125,000 payment limit applying to Agriculture Risk Coverage and Price Loss Coverage payments, as well as marketing loan gains and loan deficiency payments. The NCC formed a working group to work with USDA on a reporting and tracking system so producers and cooperatives can know their status relative to the unified payment limit. NCC staff and industry officials continue to meet with the Farm Service Agency on how best to manage the marketing loan program in order to maintain cotton flow and minimize forfeitures. That effort was NCC Director Ronnie Lee’s testimony conveyed reinforced with concerns regarding payment limits. NCC Director Ronnie Lee’s testimony before a Senate Agriculture, Nutrition & Forestry Committee hearing. The Georgia producer emphasized that 1) tracking total benefits that have accrued to the limit has proven to be a complex and challenging task for USDA and 2) the uncertainty created by the limit works to undermine the marketing loan’s effectiveness.

Did the NCC also respond to the actively engaged rule? ■ Ronnie Lee’s testimony also urged that any actively engaged provision changes do not exceed the scope of the statute in the 2014 farm law, which required the Agriculture Secretary to revise regulations defining “actively engaged in

farming” for farm program eligibility for the 2016 crop. The NCC joined with other farm organizations on joint comments to the proposed rule. The comments concurred with the exemption from the rule for family partnerships and joint ventures. However, the law has a restrictive definition of family, meaning lineal relations (great grandparent, grandparent, parent, etc. including in-laws). The groups recommended consideration for maintaining an exemption for family operations that become non-lineal. The groups stated that the proposed rule exceeded Congressional intent by imposing additional, unneeded restrictions for non-family operations. Specifically, the groups oppose requirements of minimum hours, maintenance of logs and a limit of managers eligible for management contribution.

What about crop insurance? ■ The NCC submitted detailed comments to USDA’s Risk Management Agency regarding proposed changes to Section 508(h) of the Federal Crop Insurance Act, which allows private parties to develop insurance products that are in the best interests of producers, follow sound insurance principles that are actuarially appropriate and then submit them to the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation board for approval or rejection. The NCC also joined with more than 40 groups on comments regarding USDA’s interim rule linking conservation compliance with crop insurance. The comments specifically noted that simple differences such as the use of a personal tax identification number versus a business tax identification number could potentially flag a producer for additional scrutiny under this rule. USDA was asked to reconcile these differences in a timely manner. The comments also requested clarity on which USDA agency will inform a producer who’s found not to be in compliance.

Gary Adams was elevated to president/chief executive officer of the National Cotton Council in February 2015. He and other NCC leaders contribute to this Cotton Farming magazine page.

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Cotton Consultant’s Corner

RGV Anticipates Another Good Season John Norman John Norman Ag Consultation Weslaco, Texas My first work in pest management in cotton, other than the farm I was raised on in Cameron County, was with the USDA at Brownsville, helping to read results from insecticide trials. All that occurred in the early to mid-60s and then again in the early 70s following a stint in the U.S. Air Force. After graduating from Texas A&M, I was hired by the Texas Agricultural Extension Service to work in West Texas, helping to conduct the IPM program in cotton. I was later transferred to the Rio Grande Valley (RGV) to do the same work as an IPM specialist in Cameron, Hidalgo and Willacy counties. I retired from Extension in early 2004 and started my consulting practice, which continues to this day. The 2014 cotton season was the best ever for RGV farmers in terms of cotton lint yields per acre with more than 1,028 pounds. The low price of cotton in 2014 was overcome somewhat by these great yields. We also had few insect or weed concerns in 2014. Cotton rotation with grain sorghum is the general rule of crop production in the RGV most years. Wet weather, which started in late August of 2014 and just slowed down in late May of this year, severely restricted planted acres because time ran out for insured cotton on April 15. Instead of the anticipated 100,000-plus acres for 2015, growers were only able to get in slightly fewer than 60,000 acres. Grain sorghum was planted on about 450,000 acres this season, making up for most of the non-planted cotton acreage. Weeds were and continued to be a problem even into early June due to wet fields, which would not support ground spray equipment. Aerial applications of herbicides were severely limited in cotton due to all of the grain sorghum acres planted in proximity to cotton. Our No. 1 weed issue in the RGV is false ragweed. As fields began to dry, farmers were finally able to make herbicide treatments to their cotton. Most fields’ weed control was in much better shape by early June. Reports of glyphosate-resistant pigweed were coming in by mid-May of this year. However, pigweed control still was rated to be very good overall. Cotton has been fruiting well with most fields having blooms and small bolls. Insect and mite problems have been minimal so far with only small issues with aphids and slightly more with cotton fleahoppers. Typically, fleahoppers and aphids come onto the scene about the same time, and Transform has performed very well on both pests. If more than two sprays for aphids and fleahoppers are required, we will look for an alternative to keep from using the same product too frequently. Plant bugs, labeled Verde bugs, may yet be of concern principally in the coastal counties but have only appeared in slim numbers in fields at the time of this writing. Given the good to almost excessive moisture in our cotton crop this year, it looks like we could have another excellent production season. Cotton square set was exceeding 95 percent in most fields by early June. If we can hold even 50 percent of the fruit on the plants that is there now through boll opening, Rio Grande Valley farmers should see a good yield again in 2015.

• B.S. degree in Entomology, Texas A&M University, 1973 • Worked for the Texas Agricultural Extension Service in West Texas on the cotton IPM program following graduation • Later transferred to the RGV where he worked as an IPM specialist in Cameron, Hidalgo and Willacy counties • Launched John Norman Ag Consultation in 2004 after retiring from Extension • Consults on cotton and grain sorghum • Served in the U.S. Air Force from 1966 to 1970 • Married to wife, Judith • Enjoys saltwater fishing in Texas at Port Mansfield and South Padre Island

Recap: RGV Anticipates Good 2015 Season

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1. The 2014 cotton season was the best ever for RGV farmers in terms of cotton lint yields per acre with more than 1,028 pounds. 2. Weeds were and continued to be a problem even into early June due to wet fields, which would not support ground spray equipment. As fields began to dry, farmers were finally able to make herbicide treatments to their cotton. 3. Reports of glyphosate-resistant pigweed were coming in by midMay of this year. However, pigweed control still was rated to be very good overall. 4. Insect and mite problems have been minimal so far with only small issues with aphids and slightly more with cotton fleahoppers. Transform has performed very well on both pests. 5. If more than two sprays for aphids and fleahoppers are required, we will look for an alternative to keep from using the same product too frequently. 6. If we can hold even 50 percent of the fruit on the plants that is there now through boll opening, Rio Grande Valley farmers should see a good yield again in 2015.

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SPECIAL REPORT

iPiPE – A New Tool For Pest Management BY MONEEN JONES RUSSO

AND JOSEPH

EDITOR’S NOTE – This article is the second in a two-part series that introduces a reader to today’s information technologies and how they can be harnessed to support information demands of integrated pest management (IPM) and food security. In the first article, published in Soybean South, the case was made for an information technology (IT) platform for agriculture. In this article, a description is given of an IT platform design called integrated Pest Information Platform for Extension and Education or “iPiPE.”

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he first iPiPE design originated 10 years ago with the soybean rust website, which became known as Integrated Pest Management PiPE or ipmPiPE. The ipmPiPE was a collaboration of Extension professionals in the United States, Canada and Mexico. The ipmPiPE offered IT tools, pest observations and models to meet the information requirements for the economical management of invasive and endemic crop pests. With its awardAdvantages Of iPiPE winning success at monitoring Program soybean rust and providing • Timely release of guidelines for its control, the pest data. ipmPiPE design was extended • Important tool for to other geographies, crops and ag professionals. pests, such as the Legume, • Protection of contributors’ North Central, Onion, Pecan confidentiality. and Cucurbit ipmPiPEs. • Creation of real-time. The PiPE design took another community exchange. evolutionary step with the inte• Ultimate beneficiary is grated PiPE or iPiPE. The the producer. iPiPE has advanced IT features, including the modernization of data collection (i.e. electronic records versus paper notes) and storage (central database for data sharing); scouting apps for mobile devices; pest alerts to provide lead time for implementing control practice and multi-form derivative products from weather, crop and pest models to support commentaries and recommendations. It can guide consultants and other agricultural professionals in the management of targeted endemic pests in specific geographies and on specific crops. Importance Of Sharing Information A key component of iPiPE is embodied in its logo “progress through sharing.” Currently, consultants and researchers collect large quantities of pest observation, but usually do not release them in a timely manner. Until pest data sets are centrally compiled and a mechanism exists for sharing, agricultural professionals cannot take full advantage of new technologies (including apps for smart mobile devices, big data analysis, model-based solutions and cloud computing). The iPiPE addresses this shortcoming through its structure and tools for collecting, storing and sharing

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iPiPE is the synergy of crop, pest and weather data for today’s cotton production.

observations among its participants, and for creating advanced, derivative products from the observations. Guided by its policies for pest categories and user access privileges, the iPiPE strikes a balance between protecting the contributor confidentiality and the sharing of data among participants. The end result is a shift in culture from individuals storing data for personal use to a near, real-time community exchange of crop and pest observations. In the end, the greatest beneficiary of the iPiPE, as with the earlier ipmPiPEs, is the producer. Through its planned public interface, producers can directly access the iPiPE online and view crop-specific, derivative products from pest observations in their geographies. These products include pest activity maps, Extension commentaries, recommendations and guidelines. The products and other online materials will make producers aware of important invasive and endemic pests and provide solutions for their control. Dr. Moneen M. Jones is participating in the iPiPE as an Extension professional from the University of Missouri’s Fisher Delta Research Center in Portageville, Mo. Dr. Joseph M. Russo is president of ZedX, Inc., the company responsible for developing the information technology components of the iPiPE.

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CONGRATULATIONS, ATIO A.J. HOOD A .J. H OOD COTTON COTTON PRODUCER PRODUCER TILLAR, TILLAR, ARK. A R K. GRAND PRIZE WINNER GRAND P RIZE W INNER

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COVER STORY

JASON WOODWARD/TEXAS AGRILIFE EXTENSION

End Of Texas Drought? High Plains Producer Says It’s Full Speed Ahead For Cotton BY SHAWN HOLLADAY

EDITOR’S NOTE – Texas High Plains producer Shawn Holladay has somehow survived a four-year drought and record rainfall this spring. However, he remains confident that this year’s cotton crop has a chance to survive because of excellent water supplies.

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oday, for the first time in five years, I finished planting my cotton into soil that held an ample amount of moisture – and plenty of promise. Planting expensive cottonseed into dry dirt and hoping for the best, as most of us in Texas have done for the past several seasons, isn’t exactly the optimal way to begin the year. “Game on,” I would say, but deep down, I feared those elusive rain clouds that could force me to walk away once again from my dryland fields and test

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COTTON FARMING JULY 2015

the limits of my irrigated ones. Those with much more experience than me would say that they hadn’t seen a drought like this in more than 50 years. While true, it wasn’t an encouragement by any means. “But you have insurance,” people say. Certainly we do, and without it, many of us would have been out of business. These have been the tough times for which the crop insurance program was designed. However, when I plant, I expect to make a crop. Collecting insurance allows me to cover only some of my expenses. Nothing will replace the satisfaction I get from successfully planting, tending and harvesting a product that clothes and feeds people around the world. It is my business. It’s what I do. What a difference a year can make. We first saw a glimmer of hope in

MARY JANE BUERKLE

LAMESA, TEXAS

Shawn Holladay says, “I am planting cotton everywhere I can because that’s what I do. I’m a cotton farmer.”

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Heavy Rains Arrive Fast forward to May 2015, which was the wettest May in history for the entire state of Texas. There were only five days in May that the West Texas Mesonet did not record precipitation in at least one of their area stations. Fields and cities were flooded. We were so grateful for the moisture on our farms but were saddened to see such tragedy in some other parts of our great state. Here on the Texas High Plains, we usually would begin planting cotton around May 1, but the rainfall, although welcome, forced many of our producers to change their game plans entirely. Some had to take prevented planting for the first time ever. Some switched to other crops because they couldn’t meet their planting deadline for cotton. Others pulled out all the stops to cram a month’s worth of work into a week – working 18-hour days, or whatever it took to get the job done in time. Some of our friends in South Texas also didn’t get to plant due to excessive rainfall, and we’re seeing some drastic acreage reductions. The blessing of rainfall hasn’t been without its challenges. I have had to replant a significant amount of my

SHAWN HOLLADAY

early 2014 when timely May rains gave us a bit of a boost. But by August, we were back to what had become customary – hot, dry conditions, and those lush, green cotton plants just shut down production. Sure, producers in this area grew more cotton in the Texas High Plains region in 2014 than we had since 2010, but an August rain could have made a tremendous difference for many producers. We couldn’t dwell on the “what might have been.” So, we moved on. After all, we were getting pretty used to that sick feeling. We’d been hearing mixed reports from meteorologists and others who promised an El Niño event, which would bring cooler, wetter weather to our part of the world. Some experts would disagree. Farmers weren’t really sure what to believe anymore. Looking back, this past fall seemed to be the beginning of a turnaround, although at the time, the thought of possibly coming out of this drought still was farfetched. But few seemed to mind the fall rains that delayed harvest. Old Man Winter also paid us several visits, and I don’t think I’ve ever been so excited about snow. It was a winter like we hadn’t seen in years.

acreage and have battled soil erosion. These rains have increased our weed pressure, and many producers have dealt with seedling disease. We may well see insects that we haven’t observed in years. Still, we’ll take these challenges in stride as we again deal with extreme situations – albeit on the complete other end of the spectrum. Since September of 2014, I have had more than 50 inches of precipitation on some of my farms. Drought Has Officially Ended So do these rains mean the Texas drought is over? According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, the answer is yes, for most of the state. As of this writing, there is no orange, red, or maroon on the Texas map – and that’s a good thing. Less than 10 percent of the state is considered to be in a drought, and even the majority of that area is at the D0 stage – abnormally dry. Compare that to one year ago, when almost 90 percent of the state of Texas was in some stage of drought.

As for me, I’m planting cotton everywhere I can, because that’s what I do. I’m a cotton farmer. But for the first time in five years, I have a renewed optimism. These rains have given us potential. Our soil moisture profile is excellent, even way down deep. It means that we as a Texas cotton industry – family, if you will – have hope that we haven’t had in years. We’re ready for 2015. Game on. Shawn Holladay is a cotton producer and current president of Plains Cotton Growers, Inc. Contact him via email at slholladay1@me.com.

Texas Weather Trends Have Dramatically Changed • Drought began four years ago. • El Niño was forecast a year ago. • Heavy rainfall in fall of 2014. • May 2015 rains set a record. • Excessive rain hurt some regions. • Soil moisture profiles are full.

COTTON FARMING JULY 2015

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CCOY 2014 Cotton Consultant of the Year

Stan Winslow

SPECIAL REPORT

Record Rainfall Creates Surprises

STRIVES TO MAKE BEST, COSTEFFECTIVE RECOMMENDATIONS

BY BOB GLODT PLAINVIEW, TEXAS

EDITOR’S NOTE – Bob Glodt is a veteran crop consultant who resides in Plainview, Texas. He is a former Cotton Consultant of the Year and president of the National Alliance of Independent Crop Consultants. In this report, he discusses how heavy rainfall in Texas may create numerous agronomic challenges for producers.

O Having been chosen as the 2014 Cotton Consultant of the Year (CCOY) is an incredible honor and makes me want to do an even better job for my clients. My personal goal as a cotton consultant in North Carolina and southeast Virginia is to always give the best and most costeffective recommendation for a given problem. The consultants with whom I now share this award are extremely respected. I am overwhelmed that they chose me to join them. I again give God the Glory for everything that I have accomplished in my life. I would not be where I am without Him. CCOY nomination form, page 13 Cotton Consultant of the Year sponsored by

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ne reason I like production agriculture is because no two years are ever alike. You have to muster all your agronomic skills to deal with the crazy situations that Mother Nature hands to you. This year’s craziness has been continuous rainfall at planting time when we were supposed to be experiencing a drought. We received so much rain that fields were planted piecemeal as opportunities arose. In many cases, planting opportunities boiled down to having only a few hours in which to plant rather than several consecutive days. This is the first time in my 35 years as an agricultural consultant in the Plainview, Texas, area that rainfall has delayed cotton planting to the extent that many producers made the decision to switch from cotton to sorghum or corn because the probability of maturing an irrigated cotton crop that was planted in June was significantly diminished. What Should Farmers Expect? So, what’s next? On the positive side, most areas are starting with a full soil profile of moisture. This will be beneficial to all crops we grow. But, if drought conditions do arrive later in the season, a full soil profile at planting will be of little consequence without timely in-season rains or irrigations. On the not-so-positive side, there is no question we will be dealing with more weed problems, and these problems will more than likely be different from field to field. Earlier planted

Heavy spring rains will have a positive impact on soil moisture profiles in Texas cotton fields. But quetions remain about irrigation management for the rest of the season. crops that received heavier and prolonged rainfall will see pre-emergence herbicides lose effectiveness earlier than expected. In addition, heavy rainfall probably leached nitrogen out of the profile. Supplemental nitrogen applications may be in order this year. This situation should be anticipated, especially considering that we are now dealing with widespread pigweed resistance. In addition, insect pest problems will likely be more diverse. Some planting dates may lead to insect problems, while other planting dates may completely miss or avoid insect problems. Aphids and sorghum midge in grain sorghum and mites in corn would be two of my concerns. In other words, producers should be sure their fields are scouted thoroughly and timely for insects and weeds. Undoubtedly, there will be other surprises. Contact Bob Glodt in Plainview, Texas, via email at agri@amaonline.com.

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Nomination Form

Cotton Consultant of the Year 2015 The Cotton Consultant of the Year (CCOY) represents the consultant who has made great contributions to the cotton industry through outstanding customer relations, leadership and innovation. Recognized by fellow members of the cotton industry, this award is given to the consultant who not only meets these requirements but also exceeds them. Syngenta and Cotton Farming magazine, CCOY sponsors, are soliciting your help in selecting the 2015 recipient, who will be named during a special celebration during the National Cotton Council’s 2016 Beltwide Cotton Conferences. The winning consultant and the person who nominates the winner receive two nights’ hotel stay and airfare to the 2016 Beltwide, which will be held in New Orleans, La. In addition, the 2015 CCOY recipient will be the subject of a four-page salute in the January 2016 issue of Cotton Farming.

Please send your nomination form by August 21, 2015 to: Carroll Smith 7201 Eastern Ave. Germantown, TN 38138 Scan/Email: csmith@onegrower.com You can print out an electronic version of the form located on the Cotton Farming Web site at www.cottonfarming.com.

If you would like to nominate a consultant deserving of this outstanding recognition, please take a moment to fill out the following form. Please use a separate page for biographical/professional information. Additional recommendations via letters or emails from other farmers, consultants and industry members are also encouraged to provide support for the nominee. Consultant’s Name: Company Name (if applicable): Mailing Address: City:

State:

Zip:

Phone:

Fax:

Email:

In your own words, please tell us why you are nominating the consultant above for the “Cotton Consultant of the Year” Award: Background:

Biographical/Industry Involvement Background:

Your Name: Address: City:

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Sponsored by

Cotton Farming

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Specialists Speaking Late Crop Needs To Play Catchup FLORIDA David Wright As we begin bloom period for cotton, we have had a pretty non-eventful season so far. Florida has had good weather, in general, for cotton production with most plantings done on time and adequate moisture for early season growth. Some cotton was irrigated to activate herbicides or to spur growth with N applications. Producers are concerned with costs of management with prices being low. July and August often bring summer showers, but dry periods can still occur. Producers with irrigation need to manage cotton for early fruiting as cotton needs two inches of water from rain or irrigation weekly during the six-to-eight week period of bloom in July and August on sandy Coastal Plain soils. Good management is especially critical with low prices to make a profit. wright@ufl.edu

MISSOURI Mike Milam This has been a tough year for Missouri cotton producers. Starting with cool, wet conditions, it finally dried up enough to get a lot of cotton planted. Much of it was planted after the optimum planting date. Then the rains set in, and it was difficult to plant. The Crop Progress and Condition Report for the week ending May 31 showed that 82 percent of the crop was planted. Last week, the report of June 7 showed that we were 96 percent complete. With this season’s rainfall patterns, I would expect that our crop will be later maturing. We had problems on some of the cotton drowning out with water standing in the fields. It will be interesting to see how much of this cotton is harvested. I suspect that weed control was compromised due to the weather, and a lot of catchup activities will need to take place. With the hot, dry conditions that we are experiencing, we are not that far away from abnormally dry conditions. We will need rain or irrigation to keep our moisture levels up. Earlier this year, USDA projected that we would have 175,000 acres compared with last year (245,000 acres). If this projection holds, this would be our lowest acreage since the 1980s. Several cotton gins will be closed this year or taking the year off due to the reduced acreage. It will be interesting to see how our cotton bears up to the stress of this season. milammr@missouri.edu

NORTH CAROLINA Keith Edmisten It looks like one of those years where conditions may be extremely variable for the North Carolina cotton crop, based on spotty summer showers. You may have some fields where mepiquat use is warranted, and some fields where it is obvious that no mepiquat is needed. Unfortunately, there will likely be many situations where it is not so obvious. Looking at internode length near the top of the plant should help in those situations, but you may have some tough decisions where you need to think about what I call “mitigating” circumstances. Some of these would include: Did the cotton start blooming on time? Is rain in the future forecast? And what is the prior history in the field? It is also a good idea to lean toward using mepiquat if you are on the fence with fields that you expect to harvest first. This may allow you to get the pickers into the field a week or so earlier than otherwise possible.

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We have seen some plant bug damage to young cotton that is unusual for North Carolina. Plant bugs are mobile and have many hosts, so we don’t really know what this means for later season plant bug pressure. But we need to be aware and scouting for them. You can follow Dr. Reisig on Twitter, our cotton Facebook page and on the NCSU cotton Extension cotton portal to keep up with additional developments on plant bugs. keith_edmisten@ncsu.edu

LOUISIANA Dan Fromme The 2015 cotton crop in Louisiana has experienced warm temperatures and an overabundance of rainfall since planting. Rainfall amounts of more than 18 inches were received in central Louisiana during April, May and the first two weeks in June. Approximately 80 to 90 percent of the crop was planted in May. Water-logged soil conditions have reduced the rate of growth and development. For this time of year, heat units or DD60s accumulated are about three percent above the 10-year average. Wet conditions have made nitrogen applications following emergence and weed control practices extremely difficult. Most of the cotton is beyond being susceptible to thrips. As of June 16, most of the cotton fields are squaring. PGR applications will be going out to manage plant height and excess vegetative growth. Earlier planted fields in central Louisiana will be approaching first bloom next week. Since squaring began, insect pressure from aphids, fleahoppers and plant bugs has been low throughout most parts of the state. dfromme@agcenter.lsu.edu

OKLAHOMA Randy Boman It's amazing how much the moisture situation has changed within the past month. Record May rainfall in many areas has resulted in a major turnaround in the southwest corner of the state. We have gone from 90- to 95-degree temperatures in the first week in April, with little sub-soil moisture for the severely stressing wheat crop to an overabundance of rainfall, incredible runoff, painful flooding and important reservoirs at capacity. Residents of this region are elated and feel blessed but also express sorrow for those whose homes flooded. The overall impact of this record May rainfall on the drought has been basically a knockout punch. For the first time in several years, the southwest corner of the state is devoid of drought conditions based on the US Drought Monitor. Some of the challenges associated with the high rainfall and cool conditions have centered around planting the 2015 cotton crop. Although USDA-NASS reported that cotton was 26 percent planted by May 17, and 28 percent planted as of May 24, I submit there was virtually no cotton planted in the state as of May 17, and very little planted by May 24. This is due to the fact that most fields were too wet, or temperatures were just not quite where many producers would like to have them. Thanks to open skies, the irrigated crop was rapidly planted more or less in the first week of June, with the dryland crop planted in most areas over the first half of the month. The irrigated crop is late, as it was mostly planted up against the final planting date for insurance purposes. The value of residual herbicides is definitely being noticed this year. Outside of the late start, the potential for a good crop is very high in our area due to the abundance of moisture in the

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soil profile. We just need some good cotton-growing conditions to jumpstart the crop. randy.boman@okstate.edu

ARKANSAS Bill Robertson Slightly more than half of the 2015 cotton crop in Arkansas was planted during the first half of May. We should be on track to find flowers in the early May and earlier cotton by July 4. The status of our cotton plants at first flower will reveal much about our May and June and give us an indication of what we must do down the road to keep sight of our yield goal and not break the budget. Avoiding additional days or weeks where we must spend money on a crop without sacrificing yield or quality is a top priority. Ideally, 60 days after planting we will find nine to 10 first-position fruit above the first white flower. Square loss of 19 percent measured at first flower will generally not reduce yield but can delay maturity – an extra day for every six percent shed. Maintaining a balance between vegetative and reproductive growth will help to optimize earliness and preserve yield and fiber potential. Irrigation initiation and timing play a dominant role in this balance. Utilizing sensors and scheduling tools along with programs such as Pipe Planner will help improve irrigation water-use efficiency, as well as profitability. An effective fruiting window of three weeks between first flower and cutout (NAWF=5) will provide the yield and earliness cotton producers in Arkansas need. brobertson@uaex.edu

MISSISSIPPI Darrin Dodds The spring of 2015 will likely be remembered as one of the most difficult times with respect to agricultural activities in recent memory. Cool weather and excessive rainfall held cotton planting off until early May and caused routine disruptions throughout the planting season. Producers were still working toward finishing off the 2015 planting season on June 10 (or May 41, depending on your perspective), particularly in areas south of Highway 82. Most have heard the old saying that we are never more than 10 days away from a drought. Given this statement, as well as the above statements about issues of excessive rainfall this spring, most can relate to our love/hate relationship with water. However, given current projections on human population growth, combined with declining aquifer levels in the Mississippi Delta, strides must be taken to preserve this precious resource. For those who furrow irrigate, I would encourage you to adopt one of the poly-pipe hole selection programs to minimize water loss in tail ditches. Regardless of irrigation practice, adoption and use of soil moisture sensors can help minimize excessive irrigation while maintaining yields. While producers are some of the greatest conservationists in the world, we all must become more efficient and work to preserve our natural resources for future generations. darrind@ext.msstate.edu

TEXAS Gaylon Morgan The first two weeks of June allowed much of Texas to dry out and provide some long needed heat units and sunshine. The Rio Grande crop has made a lot of progress and has good yield potential. Prior to the past two weeks of sunshine, the cotton in the Coastal Bend, Upper Gulf Coast and Blacklands did not look good. There is still a large amount of field-to-field and within-field variability with six- to eight-node differences within fields. This varying growth stage is making management decisions difficult for both fleahopper and PGR management. The inability to access fields for the entire month of May has also made for some weed management nightmares and demonstrated the value of PPI

and PRE herbicides. Additional heavy rainfall amounts in south and east Texas by Tropical Storm Bill are a big concern for many producers. In the Rolling Plains, planting was unable to begin until the first week of June due to saturated fields. As of mid-June, probably about 85 to 90 percent of the cotton was planted prior to more rain halting planting. For fields planted in mid-June, there is concern that the heavy rainfall potential from Tropical Storm Bill could make some replanting necessary. However, a full profile of soil moisture is providing many folks with some optimism in the Rolling Plains. gmorgan@tamu.edu

NEW MEXICO John Idowu The cotton season has progressed satisfactorily in New Mexico. There were prolonged cooler temperatures during the early part of the season, and this led to slower growth of cotton. However, temperatures have warmed up considerably, and cotton plants are now growing rapidly. The water situation is better this year. In the southeastern part of the state (DoĂąa Ana County), which is the second largest cotton-growing county, water was available in the irrigation canals, beginning the first week in June. Initial irrigation allotments in DoĂąa Ana County this year are eight acre-inches per acre of irrigated land, which is more than the total of last year (7.5 inches). It is possible for this amount to be boosted if more water accumulates in the lakes during the summer months. The eastern part of New Mexico has been having good rain showers, and this has helped cotton establishment and growth. Some scattered hail damage was reported in the southeastern part of the state about two weeks ago. Generally, the pest and disease pressure has been low, and we are hoping for good yields this season. jidowu@nmsu.edu

ARIZONA Randy Norton At the time of this writing (mid-June), the majority of the crop is entering first bloom. The first half of June has seen some high temperatures across the state with the low desert experiencing temperatures near the 115-degree mark. Cotton that is well watered under these conditions will have maximum growth and the potential to set significant fruit. However, water stress combined with high temperatures can lead to fruit loss and increased vegetative growth. Monitor the crop closely for the potential need for a plant growth regulator application under these conditions, particularly if you are growing Pima cotton. Guidelines for monitoring and effectively managing excessive vegetative growth can be found at the UA Crops website listed below. Monsoon activity is forecast to be high this summer with the Climate Prediction Center (http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/index.php) predicting above-normal precipitation levels throughout the summer (July-August-September) for nearly all of central and eastern Arizona. Officials are also predicting higher than normal temperatures, particularly for western Arizona. The combination of high temperatures and high humidity levels associated with monsoon activity could potentially lead to significant heat stress (Level 2) experienced by much of the low deserts of Arizona. Dr. Paul Brown with the University of Arizona has written an excellent summary of the effects of heat stress on cotton, and it can be found at http://www.ag.arizona.edu/azmet/az1448.pdf. Timely and effective management of vegetative/reproductive ratios will prove to be critical under these conditions. For additional information and specifics regarding these topics, producers are encouraged to visit cals.arizona.edu/crops. rnorton@cals.arizona.edu COTTON FARMING JULY 2015

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Specialists Speaking CALIFORNIA Bob Hutmacher Now that we seem to be solidly in warm to hot weather, the cotton plants are growing quite steadily in the fields where producers have adequate water to keep growth moving along. In late June, in terms of plant development compared with what might be considered normal for this time of year, SJV cotton fields range from maybe as much as 10 to 12 days ahead of schedule (fields already in bloom) to as much as seven to 10 days or more behind. The most advanced plants were seeded in March and have effectively weathered or escaped some of the early thrips and worms that plagued some fields. The slowest developing fields have been hit with worms and/or thrips, which have slowed down overall leaf development and, in some cases, damaged terminals resulting in increased vegetative branch development during recovery. Overall, it was a rough couple of months of irregular weather and growth in many fields, but most are coming out of it and moving forward now. The big variable for most cotton producers now will be how much water is available (and of what quality in terms of salinity) for remaining in-season irrigations. Most producers knew they were short of irrigation water well in advance of planting, so many of them provided light pre-plant irrigations, which only partially “charged” the soil profile with stored soil water. The result will be that if irrigation is delayed or reduced (such as with deficit drip irrigation or alternate row irrigation with drip or furrow), plants will have fewer soil water reserves to draw upon during rapid growth and hot weather. For some producers with reduced water supplies, a strategy to consider might be to try to limit severe, damaging water stress during

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the late squaring through mid-bloom period in order to at least set some bolls and assure at least moderate yield potentials. Later season irrigation delays or eliminating a later season irrigation will have less impact on earlier boll development and proportionately more impact on late-season fruit retention, boll maturation and later boll fiber quality. Achieving some measure of earliness and retaining more early and late-season bolls by being more aggressive in dealing with early boll-threatening pests such as lygus may help give you moderate yield potential, while delivering the option of reducing later season water applications, if necessary. Holding early and mid-canopy fruit will be the key in fields reaching potential for good yields in a year like this one. Many producers won’t have the water to spend on trying to keep a top crop to make up for earlier losses. In water short situations, if you have low fruit retention and plant growth becomes rank, PGs may still be beneficial. If you are delaying irrigations or employing deficit irrigations that don’t replace ET, and fruit retention remains good, PGRs may not be necessary and may actually be detrimental to yields. Again, proper monitoring of plant growth and fruit retention can help you make the right decisions. rbhutmacher@ucdavis.edu

TEXAS Mark Kelley Most everyone was able to get what cotton planting they intended to do completed by the final planting dates across the Texas Southern High Plains region during the two-week break from the monsoonal rainfall events! Now, with warmer temperatures returning to the area, some are looking closely at earlier planted fields across the region to determine how much may be lost to seedling disease that resulted from the cooler, early planting season temperatures and wet conditions. Later planted cotton has emerged and looking good for the most part, aside from some environmental damage from high winds and blowing sand that occurred just prior to the latest thunderstorms. These fields and the early planted surviving crops will need to be protected from insects and weeds in order to reach maturity this year. All cotton fields should be monitored closely for thrips once surrounding wheat fields begin to dry down and are harvested. Being two weeks behind can be overcome with good temperatures, timely rainfall, good insect and weed management practices and good fertility management. mkelley@ag.tamu.edu

VIRGINIA Hunter Frame This has been the hottest start to any growing season in Virginia since I started as the cotton specialist. However, rainfall has been spotty at best across the cotton-growing region in Virginia. Some areas have adequate moisture while others have gone multiple weeks with substantial precipitation. Cotton is progressing rapidly in areas with adequate moisture, and producers have started to apply sidedress nitrogen as I write this article. If producers feel the need to further fine tune nitrogen management, petiole and tissue testing can provide insight into nutrient status of your crop. Depending on your nitrogen management practices, petiole nitrate levels should range between 4,500 and 12,000 ppm nitrate-N. If you split sidedress nitrogen applications, petiole nitrate levels can fall between 4,500 and 8,000 ppm, and single sidedress nitrogen applications applied at first square typically are 8,000-plus ppm, depending on the nitrogen application rate. Also, the geographic region affects nutrient levels during bloom, and folks in other regions should consult data from local Extension personnel. whframe@vt.edu

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RESEARCH & PROMOTION

Water Research – Major Industry Priority

E

ven though some cotton varieties have natural drought tolerance built in, weather patterns of erratic rainfall and predictions of increased competition for water resources in the future are of concern to the entire cotton-growing community. Last year, Cotton Incorporated managed more than 40 research projects that were explicitly focused on better ways to capture rainfall, manage irrigation water and improve crop wateruse efficiency. This three-pronged research strategy is employed to help cotton continue its positive trend in increasing productivity without increasing water use.

Rainfall Capture A major issue for producers right now is rainfall capture. Rainfall patterns often do not match water needs of the crop, or rainfall occurs at such high rates it is not possible for the water to penetrate the soil surface. Historically, one Water Research approach farmers have used to Initiatives cope with rainfall leaving the • Widespread use of field is the use of farm ponds to effective LEPA systems. collect rainfall runoff. • Consistent collection of These ponds will continue to rainfall runoff. be an important tool in the • Data collected from future, and research is being water monitoring. conducted to determine if the • Planting new droughtutility of the ponds can be tolerant varieties. increased in certain hydrologic settings by allowing the pond to leak into the soil profile to recharge shallow water tables. This allows increased water storage without sacrificing water to evaporation or land allocated to increase pond size. Precision Application And Scheduling Even in humid areas, irrigation can increase productivity when rainfall is delayed during the season. Precise management of irrigation water is an important tool to optimize productivity of the land and to ensure that no other inputs go to waste. New technologies have provided several tools producers now use to develop sustainable crop water management strategies. One such tool is widely distributed cellular networks that affordably transmit near real-time data from sensor networks monitoring water status in the field. This allows easy access to the water status of the plants in the field so water is only applied when needed. The precision of water delivery is also increasing with new application technologies. The use of Low Energy Pressure Application systems is now common throughout the southwestern United States, and it is estimated that nearly 300,000 acres of cotton are now grown under drip irrigation, thanks in part to Cotton Incorporatedfunded research.

Cotton Incorporated’s extensive water research has had a major impact on cotton production.

Improved Plant Water Use Efficiency The final key strategy is to look for all mechanisms possible to make the cotton plant even more drought resistant and water efficient. One way this can be accomplished is through traditional breeding techniques by crossing varieties that demonstrate superior performance under drought conditions. In the future, there is also hope that progress already made in unlocking the cotton genome will provide new insights into the genes that contribute to drought tolerance. Several projects attempt to improve cotton’s root growth and stand establishment under drought, using seed processing, conventional breeding and biotechnology. While not solely focused on water efficiency, Cotton Incorporated funds more than 70 research projects each year to increase yield and quality – increases to date that come without increased water use. For more information on cotton and water, visit http://cottontoday.cottoninc.com/agriculture/water/. The Cotton Board, which administers Cotton Incorporated’s Research and Promotion Program, contributed information for this story. COTTON FARMING JULY, 2015

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Industry News Limbaugh, Mahindra Award Tractor To Army Soldier Rush Limbaugh and Mahindra USA announced the winner of the Mahindra Tractors Military Salute Giveaway on The Rush Limbaugh Show. Shep Snow, an Army veteran from Sagle, Idaho, will receive a new Mahindra eMax 22HST tractor with loader in recognition for his service to the military. Entries in the promotion nearly doubled in its second year. Snow was randomly selected from almost 7,000 active or retired military personnel who were recently nominated in the sweepstakes. Mahindra USA is an active yearround supporter of the military through various programs, including the Mahindra Pride Military Appreciation Program, recognizing the loyal commitment of members of the armed forces. For additional information, go to MahindraUSA.com/financing/programs or MahindraPromotion.com.

Agronomist Ken Legé Joins Dow PhytoGen PhytoGen has announced the addition of Ken Legé to the company’s team of cotton development specialists

(CDSs). Legé will provide agronomic advice, cottonseed recommendations and consulting expertise to cotton producers in the Texas Northern Plains region and Oklahoma. He joins PhytoGen CDSs Scott Fuchs and Robert Lemon to provide agronomic support for producers in Texas. A native of Winnie, Texas, Legé has worked in cotton for nearly three decades throughout the Cotton Belt. He received a bachelor’s degree in horticulture/crop science at Sam Houston State University. He earned a master’s degree in plant breeding and doctorate of philosophy in agronomy, both from Texas A&M University. For additional information, go to www.PhytoGen.com.

EPA Approves Warrant Ultra For Additional Weed Control Soybean and cotton producers looking for new and effective tools to manage troublesome weeds will have a first-of-its-kind option in 2016 with Warrant Ultra herbicide, a premix of acetochlor and fomesafen, which was

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approved recently by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Warrant herbicide – with its active ingredient acetochlor – was launched in 2010. It quickly became a favorite among soybean and cotton producers for its residual weed control – including control of glyphosate-resistant and tough-to-control weeds – as well as its crop safety due to its unique microencapsulated formulation. When fully approved, Warrant Ultra will be the only premix on the market to formulate microencapsulated acetochlor with fomesafen and will provide two mechanisms of action (MOA) for residual weed control. Warrant Ultra received EPA approval on April 14, and state registrations are anticipated for key soybean and cotton geographies in the coming weeks. For additional information, go to www.monsanto.com

Valley Irrigation Launches New Mobile Website As smartphones become more integral in farm management and increasingly prevalent among producers, it’s essential for agriculture companies to provide useful mobile tools. To that end, Valley Irrigation has launched a new mobile website. The new site, m.valleyirrigation.com or simply www.valleyirrigation.com from a smartphone or tablet, now provides all the features and benefits of the full Valley Irrigation website in a mobile-friendly format. The fully responsive website adapts to all mobile devices.

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Topcon Positioning Group has announced the acquisition of NORAC Systems International, a pioneer and the world’s leading developer of ultrasonic sensing and boom control technology for agricultural equipment, in a private transaction. NORAC provides advanced automated boom height control technology for the global agricultural marketplace. Its current product line includes systems to precisely maintain a spray boom height above the top of the crop or the ground to ensure optimum application of needed fertilizers and plant protection products. For more information, interested persons can go to www.topcon.com.

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COTTON FARMING IS THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE GINNING INDUSTRY.

Don’t Overlook Importance Of Seed House Safety Overhead seed houses are valuable for short-term seed storage, wet seed storage and gins with limited yard space. With recent design improvements, overhead seed houses can also provide a highly efficient method for loading trucks from flat-storage houses. When fully loaded, a double-hopper seed house can weigh 200,000 pounds or more. This load hovers above trucks and personnel, so structural integrity is critical. Volatile weather can put older seed houses at risk, especially those that have not been properly maintained. Through the years, moisture and chemicals from seed along with humidity cause the inevitable – rust and corrosion. Since the damage primarily occurs inside the seed house, it’s out of sight and mind. If a structural failure occurs, personnel are put at risk of injury. All cotton gins should review their overhead seed house safety and maintenance procedures prior to commencement of the 2015 cotton ginning season. Safety Tips • No one should ever go beneath a seed hopper when it contains seed. • Do not enter the seed trailer or climb on the side walls of the trailer. • Be sure all ladders and catwalks are properly guarded. • Post decals “DANGER – DO NOT ENTER AREA BELOW HOPPER DOORS WHEN SEED IS IN STORAGE HOUSE.â€? Available free from your local ginning association. • Contact your ginning association or loss control representative to get a copy of the COTTONSEED SYSTEM SAFETY POLICY for employees, visitors and outside contractors such as seed haulers. • Use all other commonly known safety practices every day.

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Maintenance • All proper safety precautions should be taken by all personnel who perform maintenance and repairs. • Clean out all seed. • Clean hopper panels to remove seed oil. Steam cleaning is reported to work consistently well. • Make the inside surfaces of the hopper panels smooth again! Sanding and steel brushing reportedly work well. • Try to examine for stress fractures and any loose hardware. COTTON FARMING JULY 2015

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• Remove rust and corrosion. Trailer-Viewing Catwalk The best industry practices include the use of a trailer-viewing catwalk mounted on the outside of the vertical columns, approximately 9.5 feet above the driveway. This provides the operator a good vantage point to see into the tops of the trailers and to determine when to open and close the hopper doors. Jim Granberry, president of Cliff Granberry Corp., contributed this story. Contact him at (972) 381-8899 or www.cliffgranberrycorp.com

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Cotton’s Calendar July 16 – Calcot Board Meeting, Bakersfield, Calif. Aug. 17-19 – ACP Meeting, New Orleans, La. Aug. 19 – PCCA Board Meeting, Lubbock, Texas. Aug. 20 – Calcot Board Meeting, Bakersfield, Calif. Aug. 24-26 – NCC Mid-Year Board Meeting. Sept. 16 – Staplcotn Annual Meeting, Greenwood, Miss. Sept. 21-22 – Calcot Annual Meeting, Bakersfield, Calif. Oct. 21 – PCCA Board Meeting, Lubbock, Texas. Nov. 18 – PCCA Board Meeting, Lubbock, Texas. Dec. 16 – PCCA Board Meeting, Lubbock, Texas. Jan. 5-7 – BWCC, New Orleans, La.

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WWW.NORTHERNLUCUS.COM 1116 Slaton Hwy. Lubbock, TX FOR SALE: 2 – 158 GIN STANDS WITH CONTROLS MANUFACTURER OF HI-CAPACITY LINT CLEANING SYSTEMS IN 86” to 110” WIDTHS NEW 60” & 72” OVERSHOT BATTERY CONDENSERS 96” TO 144” INCLINE CLEANERS, STICK MACHINES & AIRLINE SEPARATORS HIGH CAPACITY VACUUMS USED & FACTORY REBUILT GIN MACHINERY BALE HANDLING SYSTEMS COMPLETE LINE OF REPAIR PARTS FOR MURRAY, MITCHELL, H.E., CONSOLIDATED, CONTINENTAL, MOSS, LUMMUS, HORN & CMI 806-745-8156 1-800-776-8182 FAX 806-745-0564 E-MAIL: NORTHERNLUCUS@YAHOO.COM WWW.NORTHERNLUCUS.COM

Lummus Corporation has available the following quality, high-capacity used gin machinery. All machinery is offered “as is, where is” (unless noted otherwise) and is subject to prior sale. “As is” machinery can be repaired/reconditioned for an additional charge. 1 – Consolidated 96” R-5000 Stick Machine*

2 – Lummus Model 66 Lint Cleaners with Condensers 1 – Cherokee Regal RFB Lint Cleaner with Condenser and Guards

2 – Consolidated 120” R-5000 Stick Machines*

1 – Belt-Wide 75-HP Flooded-Suction Hydraulic Booster Pumping Unit 1 – Lummus 60” overshot Standard Battery Condenser* 1 – Lubbock Electric Hydraulic Pumping Unit for Gin Dor-Les® or E.E. 1 – Consolidated 72” undershot Standard Battery Condenser* 1 – Consolidated 72” undershot MC Battery Condenser* 1 – 1997 model Ginning/Lint Cleaning Line, consisting of a 96” wide Model 700TM Feeder, 170-Saw ImperialTM III

Dor-Les® Press (single reservoir with multiple motor/pump groups) 1 – Lummus Bale Handling System for up-packing press 1 – Lot, miscellaneous Burner and Moisture Unit components (contact us for details)

Gin, Super-Jet® Lint Cleaner, and tandem (2) Model 108 Lint Cleaners, with all guards, duct work, and related items

* - does not include any Steel Supports or Platforms

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 ®

© Copyright 2015 Lummus Corporation COTTON FARMING JULY 2015

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22 CF0715_p22v3.qxp_Don Cameron My Turn #2 6/22/15 8:23 AM Page 22

My Turn Heavy Rains Were Benefical

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exas is known for for them to recover. Living close to where the worst flooding volatile weather, which can have a occurred, I observed extensive media coverage of significant impact the disaster. There were pictures of huge trees on agriculture in the state. laid over sideways and stripped of everything but Cotton crops fluctuate large limbs, vehicles sitting in the middle of with what Mother Nature rivers, bridges washed out and remnants of what throws at us, and for good once was somebody’s home. There were so many reason as many of our stories about the worst tragedy, the loss of human acres are dryland produc- life. People communicated with loved ones tion. Although this year through use of their mobile phones as the wall of Tony has been challenging with water came down the river and swept them away. Loss of life is the ultimate tragedy in these disall the rain we have Williams received, it generally asters. But, disasters often bring out the best in works out that we make people, and it was refreshing to see all of the volunteers, support organizations and donations more cotton in a wet versus dry growing season. Being a large place, Texas ranges from deserts come in from our citizens to help those in need. in the West to piney woods in the East and from Luckily, none of us here at TCGA suffered from the semi-arid plains of the panhandle to the sub- the floods, but about five blocks from our building tropical Rio Grande Valley. We grow cotton in all it looked like another river flowing through Austin, so we saw the of these areas and in devastation up close. between. There are “It appears that we could The rains this spring always challenges, but will greatly benefit opportunities are plentibe on the path to recovery.” Texas agriculture in ful to bring to harvest a the long run. field of the natural fiber Farmers now have moisture, which gives them we all love and know. In 2011, Texas experienced what some call the the opportunity to produce a crop, and ranchers’ worst annual drought on record, much like they pastures have turned green with lush growths of are suffering in the Western part of the country grass for cattle to graze. Though some cotton acres today. The three years that followed were better, that were projected to be planted a couple of but the drought was still with us and would ebb months ago will now be in some other crop or and flow its level of severity as rains came and maybe fallowed, we can still have a bountiful crop went. Then came the return of El Niño, the weath- given our moisture situation from the acres planter pattern that often brings above-normal mois- ed to cotton. Unfortunately, for those who did not get any crops planted on time due to excessive ture conditions to the Lone Star State. This came true in 2015, and we needed it for moisture, they have missed an opportunity. Texas cotton producers and the industry’s inframany reasons, but, most importantly, to replenish our public water supplies. Many cities and com- structure need a good crop to continue the ecomunities in the state were getting close to running nomic rebound from the recent drought years. If out of water, and most everyone was under some the improved moisture situation in the state is kind of conservation mandate. So, thank you Lord any sign, it appears we could be on the path to recovery. One thing we all know in agriculture. for the beneficial rain just when we needed it. Though the rains this spring have filled soil pro- We are always at the mercy of Mother Nature. files and put much-needed water in our lakes, it And, at least for the moment, she seems to be has come with a price for some. With heavy rains happy with us in the Lone Star State. comes flooding. Lives and property were lost. For – Tony Williams, Austin, Texas the communities and areas where severe flooding tony@tcga.org occurred, it was devastating, and it will take time Cotton Farming’s back page is devoted to telling unusual “farm tales” or timely stories from across the Belt. Now it’s your turn. If you’ve got an interesting story to tell, send a short summary to thorton@onegrower.com or fax to (901) 767-4026. We look forward to hearing from you.

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JULY 2015

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Cotton Spear Round Module Handler

PATENT # USD700,918S • Detachable alloy steel spears pierce modules without damage • Minimizes stalks pinned against module and transported to gin • Lower maintenance, no moving parts or hydraulics • Fastest and easiest operated module handler available • Priced thousands of dollars less than other module handlers

Tommy Wilkins—Kennett, MO

Hal McCay—McCay Gin, Cordele, GA

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Sammy Henderson—Cairo Farmers Gin, Humboldt, TN

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