Cotton Farming July 2020 by One Grower Publishing

Cotton Farming ONE GROWER PUBLISHING, LLC

PROFITABLE PRODUCTION STRATEGIES

JULY 2020

www.cottonfarming.com

Irrigation App Targets Water-Use Efficiency MY TURN

Behind The Scenes With ‘Mr. No-Till’

Good Guys, Bad Guys How To Use ‘Natural Enemies’ To Help Control Western Cotton Pests

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Vol. 64 No. 7

Cotton Farming PROFITABLE PRODUCTION STRATEGIES

JULY 2020

www.cottonfarming.com

F E AT U R E S

PHOTO COURTESY OF USDA-ARS

‘Natural Enemies’

University of Arizona entomologist Peter Ellsworth says it’s important to be able to identify the six key biocontrol players and enlist their help in reining in the “bad guys” that attack cotton fields. The natural enemy roster for whitefly control includes lacewing larvae, minute pirate bugs, big-eyed bugs, Collops beetles, crab spiders and Drapetis flies or “dance flies.”

DEPARTMENTS & COLUMNS

4 Editor’s Note 6 Cotton’s Agenda 11 Southern Plains Report

15 Industry News 16 Specialists Speaking 22 My Turn

ON THE COVER: An adult whitefly perches on top of a cotton leaf. Cover photo courtesy of the U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service.

THE DESERT SOUTHWEST Manage crop water use to conserve resources and improve irrigation efficiencies.

NEW IRRIGATION APP

UGA IRRIGATION UPDATE

MCKNIGHT AND PIERALISI

GINNING MARKETPLACE

Texas A&M AgriLife is developing an easy-to-use mobile app for cotton producers.

Crop progression is key in estimating water needs and planning irrigation.

Two new cotton specialists, Ben McKnight and Brian Pieralisi, have been appointed in Texas and Mississippi, respectively.

THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE GINNING INDUSTRY

Dusty Findley, Southeastern Cotton Ginners Association CEO, discusses issues associated with ginning in the age of COVID-19.

40 th

ANNIV

CCOY NOMINATIONS OPEN

Cotton C of the Yeonsultant ar 2020

ERSARY

CCOY

To nominate a deserving candidate for the Cotton Consultant of the Year Award (co-sponsored by Cotton Farming and Syngenta), fill out the form on Page 7 or online at cottonfarming.com/ccoy. Deadline for nominations is July 31.

NOMINAT

Submit by July nominations 31, 2020 .

like to nomin recogn ition, please ate a consu take a mome ltant deserv ing of this Please use nt to fill a separat outstanding out the recomm e page for following endations biograp form. via letters members or emails hical/profession al are also encoura from other farmers information. Additio ged to provide , consult nal ants and support industry for the nomine e. Name:

The Cotton (CCOY) Award Consultant of the Year anniversary celebrates its 40th this year. The award recognizes a consulta nt who has made great contributions cotton industry to the through outstand customer ing relations, leadership innovation. and It is given to the sultant who not only meets conrequirem these ents but also exceeds them. Syngenta and Cotton magazine Farming — CCOY sponsors soliciting — are your 2020 recipien help in selecting the at a special t, who will be named celebration Feb. 26, 2021, Friday, at the Peabod in Memph y Hotel is, Tenness ee. The winning person who consultant and the nominates receive a the winner two-night hotel stay airfare to and Memphis. The 2020 recipient CCOY also will be featured four-page in a salute in the Februar 2021 issue y of Cotton Farming.

Mail: Carroll 7201 Eastern Smith Ave. Germant own, TN 38138 Scan/Em ail: You can print csmith@onegrow out an electronic er.com the form located on version of the Web site at www.co Cotton Farming ttonfarm ing.com. Nominat e online: cottonfa rming.co m/ccoy

ION FOR

If you would

Consultan t’s Name:

Company

Mailing Address: City: Phone:

State:

Email: In your own Zip: words, please of the Year” tell us why Award. Additiona you l pages may are nominating the consultan be attached, t above for emailed or the “Cotton attached Consultan to the online t nominatio n form.

Backgrou nd:

Biograph attached

ical/Indu stry Involvem ent Backgrou to this form, nd. This emailed or information attached as well as to the online support nominatio letters may n form. be

Your Name: Mailing Address: City: Phone:

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Sponso red by

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Cotton Farming

WEB EXCLUSIVE Wenxuan Guo, a researcher with Texas Tech University, is showing how sensor-equipped drones can help detect crop stress and aid decision making. Go to www.cottonfarming.com for this Web Exclusive report.

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

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JULY 2020 | COTTON FARMING

Editor’s Note

Cotton Farming

Carroll Smith

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

A Tribute To ‘Footprints In The Field’

n the life of a cotton consultant, the day starts early and often lasts well past dark-thirty. The hours are long, but their passion for helping farmer-clients succeed and turn a profit on their cotton crop is boundless. In 1981, Cotton Farming magazine initiated the Cotton Consultant of the Year Award program. It recognizes a consultant who has made great contributions to the cotton industry through outstanding customer relations, leadership and innovation. The prestigious award, sponsored by Syngenta and Cotton Farming magazine, celebrates its 40th anniversary this year. Thirty-nine cotton consultants have been honored and 12 cotton-producing states have been represented. The CCOY Award is one of the most coveted titles in the industry. Each year, Syngenta and Cotton Farming honor the Cotton Consultant of the Year with an award reception along with a special four-page tribute in Cotton Farming magazine. Another special aspect of the award is that nominees are voted on by their peers — former CCOY winners. The significance of the selection process was not lost on Arkansas consultant Eddy Cates, who was named the 2019 Cotton Consultant of the Year. “Knowing that my peers think I am worthy of this honor is like a lifetime achievement award,” he says. “I was very grateful and a little emotional. It was a very proud moment for me.” Texan Mark Scott, the 2018 Cotton Consultant of the Year Award winner, had a similar reaction. “I am so humbled to have been selected for this award,” he says. “I was grateful for all the letters that were written on my behalf and honored to be included in this great group of consultants that I highly respect.” In June, we opened nominations for the 2020 Cotton Consultant of the Year. If you know a consultant deserving of this honor, take time to nominate him or her. They give you their all, so please take advantage of this opportunity to show your appreciation. The CCOY nomination form can be found on page 7 and on the Cotton Farming website at www.cottonfarming.com/ccoy/. To all the cotton consultants out there, we salute you!

Carroll If you have comments, please send them to: Cotton Farming Magazine, 7201 Eastern Ave., Germantown, TN, 38138.

COTTON FARMING | JULY 2020

Southeast Editor Amanda Huber ahuber@onegrower.com Art Director Ashley Kumpe ADMINISTRATION Publisher/Vice President Lia Guthrie (901) 497-3689 lguthrie@onegrower.com Associate Publisher Carroll Smith (901) 326-4443 Sales Manager Scott Emerson (386) 462-1532 semerson@onegrower.com Production Manager Kathy Killingsworth (901) 767-4020 kkillingsworth@onegrower.com Audience Services Kate Thomas (847) 559-7514 For circulation changes or change of address, call (847) 559-7578 or email cottonfarming@omeda.com EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD David Burns – North Carolina David Lynch – South Carolina Bob McLendon – Georgia Larkin Martin – Alabama Mike Sturdivant Jr. – Mississippi Charles Parker – Missouri Jimmy Hargett – Tennessee Allen Helms – Arkansas Jay Hardwick – Louisiana Ronnie Hopper – Texas Ron Rayner – Arizona John Pucheu – California

ONE GROWER PUBLISHING, LLC Mike Lamensdorf President/Treasurer Lia Guthrie Publisher/Vice President ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COOPERATION: Cooperating with COTTON FARMING are various cotton producer organizations across the Cotton Belt. Many representatives of producer organizations serve on COTTON FARMING’s editorial advisory board. Opinions expressed and conclusions reached by contributors are not necessarily those of the cooperating organizations or the editors. All statements, including product claims, are those of the person or organization making the statement or claim. The publisher does not adopt any such statement or claims as its own and any such statement or claim does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the publisher. Copyright 2020 © ASSOCIATED PUBLICATIONS – One Grower Publishing, LLC also publishes RICE FARMING, THE PEANUT GROWER, SOYBEAN SOUTH and CORN SOUTH.

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SPECIAL REPORT

How To Manage Desert Southwest Water Efficiently BY RANDY NORTON UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA

n the arid regions of the desert Southwest, water is by far the most limiting resource for crop production systems. As such, it is an extremely valuable resource to producers and an incentive to conserve and use with utmost efficiency. Irrigation and crop production systems in the desert Southwest have evolved to include techniques that conserve water resources and improve irrigation efficiencies. Some of the adaptations include higher efficiency delivery systems, such as notched ditches, sprinkler, micro-sprinkler, and surface and subsurface drip irrigation systems. They have increased efficiencies with respect to irrigation water delivery to the field. Additionally, production practices, such as minimum tillage and no-till systems and cover crops, have changed to increase soil water-holding capacity and retention. Genetic advances have created more waterefficient crops and varieties. The introduction of higher efficiency irrigation systems has allowed growers to more precisely manage crop water status by more closely supplying the amount of water the crop requires and when it is needed. Reference Evapotranspiration Data Crop water use can be estimated on a daily basis by using reference evapotranspiration (ET o) data that can be obtained from weather monitoring systems maintained by universities or government agencies. Arizona desert ETo ranges from a low of 0.075 inches daily to just under 0.40 inches. Knowing reference ET is important, but it does not tell how the crop will use water based upon growth stage. The other component to estimating crop water use is a well validated crop coefficient curve. A crop Twitter: @CottonFarming

Notched ditches let trash pass through and support better water control. coefficient (K c) is a factor used to adjust the ETo value to account for crop water use at different growth stages. Crop coefficients depend on growth stage and are typically presented as a function of time. The Kc developed for Arizona cotton was developed as a function of heat units (HU â&#x20AC;&#x201C; thermal time), which is well correlated to various stages of crop development. Using both ETo and K c for a given day or other time period, one can effectively determine the crop water use. This calculation can be used to monitor crop water status and schedule subsequent irrigation. Once the amount of crop water use is determined, it is important to consider other factors that influence the amount of water needed to achieve that replacement. Take a look at irrigation system efficiencies when determining total amount of water to be applied to meet crop demand. If a high-efficiency subsurface drip irrigation system is used, irrigation efficiency may be close to 90% or better, meaning an additional 10% of applied water is needed to meet crop demand. Less efficient systems may be

around 75% where an additional 25% is needed to meet crop demand. Leaching Requirement In the arid Southwest, salinity management is another critical factor due to the potential of salt buildup in the soil that will negatively impact crop growth and development. A leaching requirement should always be employed. This is simply a percentage increase in applied irrigation water to effectively manage salts in the soil profile. The leaching requirement is based on the salinity of the irrigation water being applied and the salinity of the soil at which less than 100% yield potential may be realized for a given crop. Managing the incredibly precious water resource in the desert is critical to sustaining farming operations in the western United States. Advances in irrigation technologies and strategies in crop production go a long way in helping to effectively oversee this resource. As producers implement these technology advances, they are becoming more effective in producing environmentally and economically sustainable crops.â&#x20AC;&#x160; JULY 2020 | COTTON FARMING

Cotton’s Agenda Gary Adams

COVID-19 Crisis Management II The National Cotton Council has continued to aggressively seek COVID-19-related assistance for its members.

What recent steps has the NCC taken? n One of the more important actions in the past two months was NCC’s coordination with Congressional allies to include important agricultural, small business and tax relief measures in the “Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act” (CARES). Chairman Kent Fountain expressed the industry’s gratitude to Sens. John Boozman and Mark Warner who led a bipartisan letter from 21 Senators to Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue that highlighted industrywide losses and urged support of our industry’s relief recommendations conveyed to USDA.

The NCC urged additional CARES Act funding be authorized for the Small Business Administration’s Paycheck Protection Program.

The NCC joined 164 other national groups on a letter to House/Senate leadership requesting authorization of additional CARES Act funding for the Small Business A d m i n i s t r a t i o n ’s Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). Soon after, President Trump signed Congressionally approved legislation containing a $484 billion coronavirus package to replenish relief/assistance programs created in the CARES Act. That legislation, which included $321 billion for the PPP, also allowed farms to be eligible for the Economic Injury Disaster Loan program. The NCC then joined 37 other agriculture groups and businesses on a letter to congressional leaders 1) requesting changes to PPP as the agricultural, forestry, fishing and hunting sectors received only 1.3% of the original $349 billion in approved funding and 2) noting that the PPP implementation made it challenging for farmers and ranchers to participate. The NCC also joined numerous other agricultural, manufacturing and business organizations on a letter to Congressional and Administration leaders requesting emergency legislative and administrative action that led to the President signing

the Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act. That legislation made numerous technical but substantive changes to previously issued and future PPP loans. For current PPP borrowers, the legislation allows 24 weeks to use the funds instead of eight weeks and for up to 40% (not 25%) of loan funds for non-payroll costs and still have the loan forgiven. For prospective borrowers, it extends the time to use the funds to Dec. 31. Regarding taxes, the NCC joined 151 other agricultural and business associations on a letter to the chairmen of the Senate Finance Committee and the House Ways and Means Committee conveying concerns over PPP’s tax implications, specifically an IRS ruling that would significantly increase loan recipients’ tax liability.

Any other significant actions? n Following USDA’s release of Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) details, the NCC 1) prepared a CFAP summary that included an example calculation for upland cotton and 2) advised USDA that some producers across the Cotton Belt were having CFAP signup trouble. The NCC also submitted comments to USDA urging ELS cotton’s eligibility for CFAP. The NCC also urged Congress to provide USDA with the necessary funding/policy direction for critical support to the textile manufacturing and merchandising segments as well as 2020 crop year support for producers. Among other COVID-19-related actions, the NCC joined more than 200 organizations on a letter urging Congress to provide temporary and targeted liability protections for businesses struggling to reopen and operate safely during the crisis. It also worked with USDA and other federal agencies to provide relief on H-2A visa processing to ensure guest workers can get to their agricultural employers in a timely manner. The letters mentioned above and other COVIDrelated information are on the NCC’s COVID-19 resources page at www.cotton.org/issues/mem bers/covid19/index.cfm.

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

COTTON FARMING | JULY 2020

COTTONFARMING.COM

ANNIVERSARY

Cotton Consultant of the Year 2020 NOMINATION FORM

CCOY The Cotton Consultant of the Year (CCOY) Award celebrates its 40th anniversary this year. The award recognizes a consultant who has made great contributions to the cotton industry through outstanding customer relations, leadership and innovation. It 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 2020 recipient, who will be named at a special celebration Friday, Feb. 26, 2021, at the Peabody Hotel in Memphis, Tennessee. The winning consultant and the person who nominates the winner receive a two-night hotel stay and airfare to Memphis. The 2020 CCOY recipient also will be featured in a four-page salute in the February 2021 issue of Cotton Farming.

Submit nominations by July 31, 2020. Mail: 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. Nominate online: cottonfarming.com/ccoy

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: Mailing Address: City:

State:

Phone:

Email:

Zip:

In your own words, please tell us why you are nominating the consultant above for the “Cotton Consultant of the Year” Award. Additional pages may be attached, emailed or attached to the online nomination form. Background:

Biographical/Industry Involvement Background. This information as well as support letters may be attached to this form, emailed or attached to the online nomination form.

Your Name: Mailing Address: City:

State:

Phone:

Email:

Sponsored by

Zip:

Cotton Farming

PHOTOS COURTESY OF USDA-ARS

COVER STORY

Adult whiteflies

Good Guys, Bad Guys Consider The Use Of ‘Natural Enemies’ To Help Control Western Cotton Pests BY CARROLL SMITH EDITOR

n the Arizona cotton insect arena, the most notorious villains are Lygus bugs and sweetpotato or silverleaf whiteflies. Lygus damage squares with their piercing-sucking mouthparts, which can adversely affect potential yield. Whiteflies are also piercing, sucking pests. But they primarily cause cotton quality loss by depositing a sticky, sugary secretion called “honeydew” on the cotton leaves that ultimately drips onto the fiber in open bolls. According to the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension, “Effective control of whiteflies is absolutely essential to produce high qual-

COTTON FARMING | JULY 2020

ity cotton.” The first step is to sample the number of whiteflies present in a field, and then compare it to established action thresholds to determine if a spray is warranted. Over the years, the trend has shifted from using broad-spectrum insecticides to ones that are more selective against target pests and safer for beneficials (predators) or “natural enemies.” In tegr at ed pes t m anagem ent experts around the world have consistently repeated the mantra, “Preserve your beneficials.” Until now, farmers and pest control advisers did not have any guidelines to follow about “which

ones” and “how many is a good number to be considered a threshold.” Predator Thresholds Developed Dr. Peter Ellsworth, director, Arizona Pest Management Center at the University of Arizona, says it’s important to be able to identify the six key players in the ecosystem service of biocontrol and enlist their help in reining in the “bad guys” that attack cotton fields. The natural enemy roster for whitefly control includes lacewing larvae, minute pirate bugs, big-eyed bugs, Collops beetles, crab spiders and Drapetis flies or “dance flies.” COTTONFARMING.COM

Collops beetle

Crab spider with Lygus nymph

Drapetis fly eating whitefly adult

Big-eyed bug eating whitefly nymphs

Lacewing larva

Minute pirate bug eating whitefly nymphs

He describes the predator thresholds that have been developed to help control whiteflies as a “careerlong culmination of research that I and my close collaborator, Steven Naranjo from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, started 25 years ago. Our goal isn’t just to remove sprays but make them in a timely manner according to what we understand the economic need to be, which is to preserve the quality of the crop. “Anytime you can defer a spray in our system is another opportunity for biocontrol to resolve the problem or for a monsoon storm to come through and remove a lot of whiteflies from your field. We think considering predator thresholds does two things:  “Tells you when you can defer a spray for at least a week because biocontrol is working quite well.  “About one-third of the time, tells you to advance a spray ahead of the regular whitefly threshold because, for whatever reason or reasons, your field does not have enough biological control potential to function on its own.” The Arizona entomologist says he believes incorporating the biological Twitter: @CottonFarming

control with the use of insecticides safe (or selective) to natural enemies is the path to sustainability. “It’s not just about the pests anymore,” Ellsworth says. A Field Man’s Perspective Arizona pest control adviser Gordon Goodwin with FertizonaYuma says cotton is one of the most interesting crops to watch, and there are a lot of variables to consider. Some of these include varieties, plant growth regulators, nutritional requirements and disease and insect control. He samples cotton fields for insect pest counts to determine if they have reached action threshold levels. “We have established whitefly and lygus thresholds,” he says. “Several years ago, Peter Ellsworth asked us to also consider watching our beneficials, which made a lot of sense. Crab spiders and Collops beetle really help keep the whitefly down. “With that being said, in the past seven or eight years, it’s been important to only use selective insecticides or insect growth regulators on cotton to preserve our predators and reduce

the number of applications we need to make to complete a successful cotton crop. If you introduce an organophosphate or a pyrethroid into the crop after bloom, beneficials are destroyed, which makes it tougher to control whiteflies. “When we started paying attention to the natural enemies, we actually postponed a whitefly treatment by about two to three weeks. We eventually did have to treat the field for whitefly, but we cut down by one application. “This system may not save money every season but using established thresholds and selective chemistries and keeping an eye on beneficials, especially for whitefly control, are the big things. ‘Think A Little Harder’ “If farmers can control whiteflies, they get better cotton quality in the end because the honeydew secretions are not there. I always try to do the best job I can for my growers.” When asked if incorporating the new natural enemy threshold system into his pest control program creates more work for him as a PCA, JULY 2020 | COTTON FARMING

FIgure 1. Decision flow for taking appropriate action to control whiteflies in Arizona cotton using predator-based thresholds to inform pest-centric thresholds (modified from Vandervoet et al. 2019). For more resources, visit https://acis.cals.arizona.edu/agricultural-ipm/field-crop.

Goodwin says it just makes him think a little harder. “I inspect cotton fields twice a week, and I have to keep my mind in the game,” he says. “As a field man, I maintain an accurate count of the pests and have also started paying attention to the predators in my net. I may not document an exact count of their numbers, but I know in general they are present or that their numbers have gone up.” Goodwin recalls an instance several years ago involving the crab spider’s relationship to the sweetpotato whitefly. After observing whitefly numbers going way up, he noticed it took about three or four days for the crab spider numbers to increase and whitefly numbers to go down. “It was interesting to watch,” he says, “but you have to be patient.” Natural Enemy Thresholds Evolve In central Arizona, Karl Button grows several different crops on his 4,000-acre operation, including 800plus acres of cotton this year. Over time, he has been a farmer cooperator with Ellsworth and other researchers on various projects. He says when Bt cottons were introduced, producers finally had a selective approach to control lepidopteran pests. But broad spectrum insecticides were still in use for other pests, making sweetpotato whiteflies and “sticky cotton” still an issue. “Peter spent a lot of time developing guidelines for when to spray, when the whitefly populations could be tolerated and when it was necessary to spray to avoid population increase,” Button says. At this time, beneficials still were

COTTON FARMING | JULY 2020

Predator to Count (per 100 sweeps)

Minimum Number of Predators Needed to Provide Biocontrol When Whitefly Adults are at Threshold

When Whitefly Large Nymphs are at Threshold

Drapetis Fly

26-41

Crab Spider

4-6

Collops Beetle

Big-Eyed Bug

Lacewing Larva

2-3

Minute Pirate Bug

5-8

Table 1. Minimum number of predators per 100 sweeps needed at the normal whitefly threshold (40%-57% adults, 40% large nymphs) to continue deferring sprays. Whitefly infestation percentages based on sampling 30 leaves (with 3 or more adults) and 30 leaf discs (with 1 or more live, large nymphs). Each of these predators can be counted and considered independently. NA, not applicable.

not being taken into account because farmers were using organophosphates, which also took out the predator populations. As selective insecticides that only worked on sucking, piercing insects came on the scene, the predators began to return to the field, but no one knew what they were actually accomplishing out there. Ellsworth, Naranjo, and their students began to turn their attention to identifying and counting the natural enemies in cotton fields to determine at what thresholds they might be a legitimate criterion to include in the decision-making process of whether to spray or defer a spray. A Subjective Decision Button says he attends a lot of the UA Extension meetings, is familiar with the predator threshold system and has agreed to test it on one of his

commercial cotton fields for usability if he is needed for the project. “We have occasionally deferred sprays for a couple weeks because of a privately held suspicion that the pest numbers weren’t high enough, and something seemed to be going on in the field that we didn’t want to mess with right now,” he says. “When the numbers started increasing after a long plateau, we felt that whatever was in there holding the equilibrium had shifted. “At that point, it becomes an economic determination of risk, which is always a subjective decision on the part of the grower. How much risk will I tolerate and how much damage will I tolerate? It’s the individual farmer’s call. “But Peter’s predator thresholds do give us another component to consider when making that subjective decision.” COTTONFARMING.COM

SOUTHERN PLAINS REPORT

weeds affect all crops in West Texas, and we are working to develop a multi-commodity approach to combating herbicide resistance.”

Research Benefits Southern Plains Cotton

espite the COVID-19 pandemic, Cotton Incorporated leaders and scientists continue to advance the crucial agricultural and environmental research for which they are responsible. Cotton Incorporated’s Agricultural and Environmental Research Department has taken a steadfast approach to managing ongoing research projects and priorities through these challenging times. Along with university and U.S. Department of Agriculture research partners, the AERD team at Cotton Incorporated is committed to research that helps cotton growers’ bottom line. Weed Control Dr. Gaylon Morgan, director of agriculture and environmental research, joined the Cotton Incorporated staff one year ago and has inspired a renewed emphasis on weed management research. He currently oversees 14 weed management projects, both in season and end of season, across the U.S. Cotton Belt. Projects crucial to producers in the Southern Plains region include:  Weed management in Texas and Oklahoma — A statewide collaboration of applied research and outreach to address regional weed issues, including the evaluation of new herbicide tolerant traits, herbicide combinations and slowing herbicide resistance.  Precision tillage — An integration of precision technologies to remove weeds in the crop row and between various tillage attachments.  Balancing inputs — An evaluation of high and low herbicide input

Twitter: @CottonFarming

BY SHELLEY HEINRICH SLATON, TEXAS

systems to quantify the importance of late-season weeds on weed seed bank accumulation or depletion.  Cover crops and impacts on weeds and soil health — Focus on cover crops and how they fit into an integrated weed management system, while simultaneously improving soil health.  Palmer amaranth metabolic resistance and mitigation — Identification of potential herbicide resistance by Palmer amaranth to dicamba and S-metolachlor. “Weed management, traits, herbicides and application costs remain one of the biggest expenses that our growers face in West Texas and across the Cotton Belt,” Morgan says. “More herbicide resistance is occurring each year with many weeds resistant to multiple different herbicides. Increased occurrence of herbicide-resistant weeds leads to fewer and more expensive weed management options. “We have to continue to identify alternative methods that complement our herbicides and slow the spread of herbicide-resistant weeds. Similar

Seed Quality Cotton Incorporated’s AERD team also is investing in research addressing seed quality. Dr. Murilo Maeda, a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension research collaborator, is working on project that includes seed quality surveys from 15 locations across the Cotton Belt. This Cotton Incorporated-funded research project will comprise field and laboratory analysis. While this research is vital to all cotton producers, it is especially relevant to those in the Southern Plains, where extreme weather often affects soil temperatures, cotton seed emergence and plant survival rate. For example, a cold snap can affect root development, stand uniformity and ultimately potential yield and profitability. “Seed quality is complex,” Maeda says. “From the time a field destined for seed production gets planted, many external biotic and abiotic factors will play a role in determining the final product quality. After harvest, the seed goes through many steps, from ginning and delinting to treating and bagging, before it ends up in a grower’s field. That being said, the seed is where it all starts. “Given challenging weather conditions many have to deal with during planting, seed quality must be adequate for growers to succeed. Thanks to the support from Cotton Incorporated, research and Extension personnel from universities across the southern United States will have the opportunity to learn more about physical and chemical seed characteristics that will help improve our overall understanding of seed quality. At the end of the day, our collective objective is to survey cotton seed quality and generate information that will keep our industry moving in the right direction.” U.S. cotton producers are strong, resilient, careful and ready to produce a crop. The Cotton Research and Promotion program will continue to work and fund research during these challenging times to ensure the cotton industry can also remain strong and resilient. Shelley Heinrich is the Cotton Board Southern Plains regional communication manager. Email her at sheinrich@ cottonboard.org. JULY 2020 | COTTON FARMING

New Irrigation Management App BY KAY LEDBETTER

exas A&M AgriLife is developing an inexpensive and easy-to-use mobile app and irrigation management system to help agricultural producers increase water-use efficiency and continue producing cotton. The new project is funded by the Texas A&M Water Seed Grant Initiative and titled “A Novel Sensor- and Crop-Model-Based Decision Support Tool for Efficient Irrigation Management.” The app is being developed in the Texas Rolling Plains region, which produces about 13% of the state’s cotton, says Dr. Srinivasulu Ale, Texas A&M AgriLife Research geospatial hydrologist and lead investigator on the project. This cotton production area faces challenges from recurring droughts and declining groundwater levels in the Seymour Aquifer. Furthermore, projected warmer and drier weather will require larger groundwater withdrawals to meet crop water demands, Ale says. To sustain cotton production in this region, producers must adopt water-use efficient irrigation strategies. Project’s Goals Revealed “Our goal is to deliver a product to cotton producers that can greatly improve their irrigation management but is simple and accessible,” says Dr. Curtis Adams, AgriLife Research crop physiologist. Most irrigation support tools have limitations that make them less useful to producers in some way, he says. This project’s goal is to improve upon existing technologies using a novel approach. “Our app will collect crop information from sensors mounted on center pivot systems, use weather data from online sources, and provide a number of potential combinations of real-time updated deficit- or full-irrigation schedules and economic outcomes,” says Dr. Keith Biggers, director of computing and information technology, Texas A&M Center for Applied Technology. “Producers can choose an irrigation strategy that best suits their well capacities and expected returns.” This field information will be used in conjunction with the historic and projected short-term future weather data over the growing season in crop and economic models to estimate projected cotton yield, irrigation levels and net returns under different irrigation management strategies. Short- And Long-Term Forecasts “To our knowledge, none of the existing apps use projected short-term weather forecasts in generating real-time irrigation schedules, and our proposed app does that,” Ale says.

COTTON FARMING | JULY 2020

Increasing water-use efficiency in cotton will be the focus of a new study at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Vernon. Once validated using data from a field experiment, the proposed system will be further evaluated by selected producers under different crop conditions, soils, irrigation capacities and weather. Dr. Jim Wall, executive director, Texas A&M Center for Applied Technology, says the plan is to have the app developed by the end of this year, test it in farmers’ fields next summer and release it in fall 2021. Dr. Emi Kimura, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service agronomist, estimates if producers adopt the tool on 200,000 acres of irrigated land in the Rolling Plains, it could potentially save millions of gallons of groundwater and extend the economic life of the Seymour Aquifer. “But we don’t think its viability will be limited to the Rolling Plains,” Ale says. “We expect the proposed system to allow modifications that include other row crops and for use in other crop production regions of Texas and beyond.” Kay Ledbetter is a Texas A&M AgriLife communications specialist based in Amarillo. She may be reached at skled better@ag.tamu.edu.

App Development Project Participants • Dr. Srinivasulu Ale, Texas A&M AgriLife Research geospatial hydrologist and lead investigator, Vernon. • Dr. Curtis Adams, AgriLife Research crop physiologist, Vernon. • Dr. Emi Kimura, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service agronomist, Vernon. • Dr. Yubing Fan, AgriLife Research postdoctoral research associate, Vernon. • Dr. Jim Wall, executive director, Texas A&M Center for Applied Technology, College Station. • Dr. Keith Biggers, director of computing and information technology, Texas A&M Center for Applied Technology, College Station. The project is partnering with the Gateway Groundwater Conservation District, Quanah, and the Rolling Plains Cotton Growers Inc., Stamford. COTTONFARMING.COM

Irrigation: Keep Efficiency And Crop Progress In Mind BY AMANDA HUBER SOUTHEAST EDITOR

his year can hardly be described as “normal” by any sense of the word. Therefore, it is no surprise that weather has been variable as well. Early season temperatures were at or below normal, with low evapotranspiration rates and adequate rainfall across most parts of the state, says David Hall, University of Georgia Extension water educator. “This is good from an irrigation requirement standpoint, but cooler temperatures can mean slower growth for the cotton plant.” However, at some point in the season, cool, wet weather will likely give way to higher temperatures and dry spells, leading to the need for irrigation. Crop progress and irrigation efficiency are important factors to keep in mind. Plan Based On Crop Progression With cool, wet conditions in some parts of the state but not in others, the Georgia cotton crop is anywhere from a few weeks past emergence to flowering. Hall says in the first month the cotton root profile is fairly shallow in the soil. “If a cotton plant has just fully emerged and your root profile is in the range of 8 inches to 10 inches, in this scenario you do not need to irrigate.” However, crop water requirements increase from squaring and flowering. “From 30 to 50 days after planting, water consumption almost doubles,” Hall says. “Water use typically increases in late June through July when we usually see hot, dry weather. Keep this in mind and stay on top of irrigation applications. Conversely, don’t over-irrigate the crop as there are yield penalties for doing this, too.” Estimating water needs and planning irrigation is best based on the crop’s physiological progression rather than days after planting.

Twitter: @CottonFarming

Cotton Irrigation Schedule Growth Stage

First Flower to First Open Boll

First Open Boll to >60% Open Bolls

Harvest

DAP

Weeks after Planting

Inches/Week

Inches/Day

57-63

1.28

0.18

64-70

1.47

0.21

71-77

1.52

0.22

78-84

1.48

0.21

85-91

1.42

0.20

92-98

1.30

0.19

99-105

1.16

0.17

106-112

0.88

0.13

113-119

0.69

0.10

120-126

0.51

0.07

127-133

0.35

0.05

134-140

0.22

0.03

141-147

0.12

0.02

148-154

0.05

0.01

155-161

0.02

0.00

162-168

0.00

169-175

0.00

Source: UGA Cotton Team Newsletter, June 4, 2020 “Now is a good time to review the cotton irrigation schedule, determine where you currently are and decide what your water requirements are.” Take Efficiency Into Account University of Georgia Extension precision ag and irrigation specialist Wes Porter says producers also need to account for efficiency reductions based on environmental conditions and irrigation capacity. “Hotter days with lower humidity mean irrigation efficiency is going to be lower than normal. With a water requirement of around 0.25 inch per day, an irrigation event of 0.75 of an inch would not last three full days when efficiency is accounted for. “The typical efficiency of an overhead center pivot with drops is around

80% to 85%, meaning you are losing about one-fifth of the irrigation you are applying during each event. Thus, it is critical that weather, environmental conditions, irrigation timing and amounts all be accounted for when making scheduling decisions.” Porter says later in the season, it is important not to over-irrigate the crop, “especially when we are receiving rainfall and have high humidity.” The additional irrigation in the canopy can cause boll rot. “Monitor your field closely between the seventh to ninth weeks of bloom for signs of open bolls. Bloom is a critical time to ensure the crop is receiving the required amount of water. However, use caution, note how much rainfall each field receives and adjust irrigation applications accordingly.” JULY 2020 | COTTON FARMING

Meet The New Cotton Guys Editor’s note: Two new cotton specialists, Drs. Ben McKnight and Brian Pieralisi, have been appointed by Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and Mississippi State Extension Service, respectively. Be sure to check out their comments each month in our Specialists Speaking department.

Ben McKnight Ben McKnight’s acceptance of the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service statewide cotton specialist position is a return to familiar territory. McKnight started April 1 in the Texas A&M University Department of Soil and Crop Sciences at College Station. “Ben is certainly no stranger to Texas having been born and raised in East Texas, or to Texas A&M as he obtained his master’s here in the Soil and Crop Sciences Department,” says Dr. Larry Redmon, associate department head and AgriLife Extension program leader for the department. “We look forward to Ben developing a strong state-wide cotton program and presence.” McKnight worked for both Texas A&M AgriLife Research and AgriLife Extension while earning degrees at Texas A&M. He has spent the past few years working as a weed scientist with Louisiana State University, where he earned his doctorate. During his postdoctoral research and as a research associate at LSU AgCenter, McKnight conducted rice field trials at research and grower locations. As a graduate research assistant, he worked in the Rice Weed Management Program conducting and managing field and glasshouse trials. During his time with AgriLife Research, he assisted the Rice Weed Management research program with applying herbicide treatments, collecting and organizing data, and harvesting research plots. McKnight says his transition back to Texas and into cotton should be smooth because he is driven by solving problems as an agronomist. “There are quite a few similarities between cotton and rice regarding the intensity of management,” he says. “Both require extensive management to produce a successful crop. I am looking forward to drawing from my past experiences working in rice management in this new position. Accepting this position is also a homecoming for me. As a Texas native, I am very familiar with the passion that our growers and industry have for cotton production.” From a field research standpoint, his plan is to continue evaluating different research topics of interest to cotton production in the state. “I am very passionate about helping growers develop management practices that increase their profitability,” McKnight says. “I really enjoy interacting with people, so my hope is things will begin to

COTTON FARMING | JULY 2020

normalize soon. I’m looking forward to getting out in the state to meet our stakeholders and my new colleagues. “I’m a very hands-on learner, and I believe that most people in agriculture are, too. So I want to participate in field days and grower meetings, in addition to working with others to develop hands-on training activities for our county agents, producers and clientele in the future.”

Brian Pieralisi The Mississippi State University Extension Service has a new cotton specialist. Brian Pieralisi was appointed to that role April 1. He replaced Darrin Dodds, who took the helm of the university’s Department of Plant and Soil Sciences. Pieralisi will work with growers to continue to refine cotton production practices to help them become more profitable. His activities will include cotton variety testing, as well as research and outreach on fertility management, weed control, irrigation, harvest aids and other areas of cotton production. “As with all aspects of agriculture, sustainability of our farming operations and our environment will be addressed through research and outreach efforts,” Dodds says. “Brian’s background of education and experience is very unique and will allow him to work with growers and students and provide multiple perspectives to each.” A native of Leland, Mississippi, Pieralisi earned a bachelor’s degree in agricultural pest management from MSU before returning to his family farm and earning a master’s degree in business administration from Delta State University. He returned to MSU where he earned a doctorate in agronomy with an emphasis on nutrient management and soil fertility. “Our cotton producers have relied on the resources of MSU Extension for more than a century when seeking research-based information and insight in refining their production and yields,” says MSU Extension director Gary Jackson. “Brian joins a long line of agronomists and row crop specialists who have been at the forefront of technological advances in agriculture, and our cotton growers will benefit greatly from having him in their corner.” Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and Mississippi State Extension Service provided this information. COTTONFARMING.COM

Industry News Field-To-Market’s Newest Technology Partner Named The Seam has been approved as a qualified data management partner with Field to Market: The Alliance for Sustainable Agriculture. This completes an integration of sustainability metrics powered by Field to Market’s Fieldprint Platform into The Seam’s latest technology suite, allowing farmers to assess the environmental performance of their management practices against regional, state and national benchmarks for key sustainability indicators. The Seam’s first deployment of the technology is for the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol, in collaboration with the National Cotton Council. The farmer-friendly platform allows U.S. cotton farmers to assess and verify production practices, their environmental footprint and progress measurement toward long-term sustainability goals. The platform includes a mass-balance chain of custody model and a bale registration and verification process that digitally links cotton production to the sustainability profile of the producer. With this comprehensive integration, farmers can document and demonstrate their sustainability performance using the common measurement framework offered by the Fieldprint Platform.

California OKs New BASF Insecticide For Use On Cotton The California Department of Pesticide Regulation recently registered Sefina Inscalis insecticide from BASF for use on cotton. Containing the active ingredient Inscalis, the brand name for afidopyropen, the product is both an insecticide and ovicide. It is labeled for whiteflies and aphids in cotton and carries a seven-day preharvest interval. Sefina is active against egg, early instar and adult whitefly life stages. Maximum application rates are 26 ounces per acre for whiteflies and 3 ounces per acre for aphids. The label recommends applying it in 10 gallons of water per acre by ground or 2 gallons per acre by air. No more than 28 fluid ounces of afidopyropen can be applied Twitter: @CottonFarming

CLRDV Found Early In Alabama Sentry Cotton Plots Alabama Cooperative Extension System scientists have confirmed the presence of cotton leafroll dwarf virus in Alabama cotton. This confirmation comes one month earlier than it did in 2019 and that concerns them. “Typically, the earlier disease onset occurs, the greater the associated yield loss,” says Austin Hagan, an Alabama Extension plant pathologist. “We found CLRDV-AL in sentinel plots during the week of June 8.” Hagan is part of a team of Alabama Extension and Auburn University scientists tracking the potentially devastating disease. Alabama Extension cotton agronomist Steve Brown says some crop management practices may help reduce the disease’s impact:  Early planting.  Stalk destruction.  Winter weed control.  Cover crops. The disease, which is spread by aphids, was widely detected across Alabama in 2019. “In research plots, entomologists can never completely eliminate aphids, even with aggressive insecticide applications,” Brown says. “We know we cannot manage the disease by efforts to control aphids.” per acre per year, according to the label. The chemistry disrupts the sensory responses of target insects, quickly stopping feeding and slowing the spread of diseases, according to BASF. Sefina belongs to the Insecticide Resistance Action Committee Group 9D.

Dr. Bob Scott Tapped To Lead UArk Coperative Extension Bob Scott has been named director of Arkansas’ Cooperative Extension Service, the organization that delivers the education outreach portion of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture’s land-grant mission. Mark Cochran, vice president-agriculture for the University of Arkansas System, announced Scott’s appointment June 19. Scott started his new position July 1, succeeding Rick Cartwright, who retired June 30. As director and a senior vice president within the University of Arkansas System, Scott faces signifi-

cant issues. His statewide workforce will be in various stages of returning to the office while COVID-19’s progress takes unpredictable turns. “I am coming into this position with the objective of seeing the Cooperative Extension Service grow and advance,” Scott says. “We need to keep pace with a rapidly changing society, advances in Dr. Bob technology and lead Scott by example in social issues, which also divide some parts of our society today. I look forward to these challenges and see only opportunities for us as we go forward. “It will be a challenge to replace Dr. Rick Cartwright and I cannot begin to express how much I enjoyed working with him, having him as a boss and mentor for the past 18 years. I only promise to do my best, a promise I would also expect from every Extension worker going forward.” Scott will be based in Little Rock. JULY 2020 | COTTON FARMING

Specialists Speaking Mid-Season Focus On Management NORTH CAROLINA Guy Collins

ALABAMA Steve M. Brown

The 2020 season has been a challenging one thus far to say the least. As I write this June 2, our acreage is noticeably down due to prices and especially to the abnormally uncooperative planting weather throughout the large majority of our planting season. Many of our acres fell to prevented planting, other crops (primarily soybean), or both, although it is difficult to quantify our final acreage at this point. We had a five-day stretch of good planting weather May 13-17 and intermittently at other times during the month. Planting was interrupted by cool spells or exceptionally wet weather in most parts of the state throughout most of our typical planting window. Regardless of when it was planted, there isn’t much difference in maturity at this time. Currently, the 2020 crop is noticeably later than normal. Cotton planted in early May should be nearing the squaring stage by mid-June in most years, whereas this year, nearly all cotton is anywhere from cotyledon to one to three true leaves, regardless of when it was planted. Thrips sprays will clearly be important this year. Timely management is critical for managing the crop this since it is behind schedule. Therefore, growers cannot afford to:  Be late on any necessary sprays for thrips, lygus, bollworms, stinkbugs, etc.  Allow for excessive growth due to delayed plant growth regulator applications when they are needed.  Further delay maturity with excessive fertilizer rates or delayed applications, or any injurious fertilizer or herbicide injury that could cause fruit to abort. The focus for the foreseeable future is managing for earliness by retaining as much fruit as possible. This is best done through thorough and frequent scouting and timely management while avoiding practices that further set the crop back. guy_collins@ncsu.edu

BASF introduced the plant growth regulator Pix (mepiquat chloride) 40 years ago. The product inhibits synthesis of gibberellic acid, a natural PGR that stimulates cell expansion. This means mepiquat manages the crop canopy by reducing stem elongation and leaf area. The initial label was somewhat limited. Applications were based on a narrow criteria of plant height, bloom stage and stress. Subsequently, other formal use regimens were added. Now, after decades of use, most growers have their own outline of how they want to use the product and how they want the cotton to look as a result. If we had 40 cotton folks in a room, there probably would be 75 different programs for PGR use. In the early 1980s, the first replicated Pix experiment I participated in involved irrigation and increased nitrogen rates. The logic was that with an effective tool to manage cotton growth and height, we could “pour it on” with higher N and water and make more cotton. It wasn’t that simple. Pix was not and is not a quick, easy way to BIG yields, but it has become a standard tool for managing cotton in most systems. I once worked with a corn expert who wanted an exact program for using Pix in cotton. Growing cotton is not like manufacturing bolts and screws. It’s a biological system with many nuances that requires thought and adjustments, especially with PGRs. Considerations to factor into decisions about PGR initiation, rates and follow-up applications include:  Field history and likelihood of aggressive growth, which also includes current variety, fertility program and irrigation capabilities.  Current growth stage, fruit retention, bloom cycle and boll load.  Current growing conditions and predicted weather patterns in the next couple of weeks.  How much time is left in the season for effective flowering. The list could go on. If you have a standard program in mind, think about the current situation to answer the question, “Should I be more or less aggressive?” That requires thought and some guesswork. And most of the time, your PGR program is not the single most important factor that determines yield. cottonbrown@auburn.edu

FLORIDA David Wright Even though everyone including growers did not know how the pandemic would affect the growing season, most farmers in Florida planted slightly ahead of time with favorable weather conditions. There have been challenges with the crop, including some replants, thrips and grasshoppers that are still causing problems. Weeds are always an issue in June. Residual herbicide applications are made into July as cotton laps over the row and helps with competition for late-emerging weeds. Most of the sidedress applications of nitrogen will be finished by the middle of July as cotton normally has been blooming for a couple of weeks. Our data indicates we get little or no yield response to nitrogen applied after the third week of bloom. Therefore, nitrogen should be applied earlier during squaring until no later than the third week of bloom. Most growers apply sulfur along with sidedress N, which is needed on our sandy soils. Recent high rainfall from the tropical storm delayed some management of cotton. But, in general, we’ve had good growth, and cotton blooming and boll set continues as growth regulators are being applied as needed. Non-irrigated cotton still continues to be the rotation crop for peanuts in the Southeast. wright@ufl.edu

COTTON FARMING | JULY 2020

MISSISSIPPI Brian Pieralisi As we transition into July, there is a lot happening in Mississippi cotton. Weed control is a concern for many producers due to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals’ ruling for dicamba herbicides. Producers in possession of these products can legally apply them through July 31. Outside of this ruling, there are still options for making post applications, including using conventional layby rigs, row hoods and glufosinate for Palmer amaranth control. Currently, we have received abundant precipitation followed by hot, dry conditions conducive to rapid vegetative growth. Depending on the cotton’s age, this development will influence both plant growth regulator and insect management. Throughout the state, cotton has experienced great growing weather. As a result, older cotton is beginning to stretch into rapid vegetative growth. COTTONFARMING.COM

Specialists Speaking I am getting calls about applying PGRs and recommend a few points to consider. In short, mepiquat chloride should be applied to decrease internode length in rapidly growing cotton. Be sure to evaluate the variety’s growth habit before making a PGR application. Essentially, the goal is to manage the crop to make a compact plant to effectively apply insecticides and defoliants and ultimately have an efficient harvest. However, for younger cotton, it was paramount to monitor for thrips as we entered a drier mid- to late June to avoid any reductions in vegetative growth. Nitrogen applications are also in full swing. Given the cost of production and importance of efficiency, nitrogen management is critical. I have been asked about including urease inhibitors with UAN. We recommend urease inhibitors if the applicator is not covering the trench associated with a sidedress nitrogen rig, unless soil incorporation, irrigation or impending rain occurs within 36 hours of application. Broadcast applications of urea follow the same criteria. bkp4@msstate.edu

maintain a proper ratio of vegetative and reproductive growth. Measuring the distance between the upper fourth and fifth node can help determine if a PGR application is needed. If internode length is 2 inches, growth is inadequate and PGR use is not warranted. Internode length of 2-3 inches is adequate, and internode length greater than 3 inches is excessive and requires PGR applications to promote earliness and limit rank growth. Past research has shown that farmers in the Missouri Bootheel should have a final plant height goal 2 inches greater than the row spacing with 38-inch rows typically in the range of 40-45 inches. Proper growth management is essential to optimize earliness while preserving yield potential and fiber quality. Past research at the Delta Center has demonstrated that irrigated cotton produces about 20-22 nodes during the season with dryland cotton producing roughly three to five fewer nodes. Cotton that was replanted due to spring weather issues needs to be managed for earliness and not delayed by pest issues or rank growth. meeksc@missouri.edu

TENNESSEE Tyson Raper

ARKANSAS Bill Robertson

After a rough May, we finally moved into what felt like summer during the first week of June. Warmer temperatures, relatively clear skies and a few days without rain let much of our crop finally begin to grow. As I write this June 10, we are fighting thrips and making post applications to keep weeds at bay. We typically strive for blooms on July 4, but since the average cotton acre in Tennessee was planted 10-14 days later than we would prefer, blooms on most acres will be few and far between. As a result, we must push this crop for earliness. Several decisions made during the bloom window can help us. First, I encourage you to aggressively fight plant bugs. The crop is currently setting positions that contribute a great deal to our overall yield. In a late crop, we typically don’t have time to compensate for lost early fruit at the end of the year. Second, do your best to keep plant growth adequate, but not excessive. Focusing on these two management strategies during July should allow us to move into August with a compact, loaded plant nearing physiological cutout. Keep an eye on news.utcrops.com for insight into variety response to plant growth regulators and other pertinent information, and reach out if we can be of assistance. traper@utk.edu

One word to describe the crop this season is late. Planting dates ranged from late April to the very end of May (and then some) as a result of our narrow planting window. Planting progress was about half of our five-year average through mid-May. The National Agricultural Statistics Service Crop Progress and Condition report estimates that just over 80% of the crop is in good to excellent condition as our older cotton is starting to square. The main issue is that instead of 15% of our crop squaring, we had only 1% squaring mid-June. We expect to see flowers by July 4 on May 1 planted cotton. We likely will see few flowers by Independence Day this year. The status of our cotton plants at first flower reveals much about the past and indicates what we must do down the road to end up where we want to be. Ideally, at first flower we will find nine to 10 first position fruit above the first white flower. This verifies that we have the foundation to establish and develop high yield and fiber quality potentials. Our goal is to maintain 80% retention going into first flower. With 52-cent loan cotton and our current maturity status, we have no cushion for mistakes. We must concentrate on the basics. Maintaining a balance between vegetative and reproductive growth will help to optimize earliness and preserve yield and fiber potential. An effective fruiting window of three weeks between first flower and cutout (NAWF=5) will provide the yield and earliness cotton producers need this season. Contact your local county Extension agent for more information. brobertson@uaex.edu

MISSOURI Calvin Meeks We’ve had frequent rainfall across most of the Bootheel, but as I write this, the long-range forecast says we are in for some drier times. But don’t be tempted to irrigate squaring cotton unless there is a substantial dry spell soon. However, starting the flowering period with adequate soil moisture is essential and water should remain at adequate levels to ensure proper fruit set and boll fill. Irrigation decisions need to be made on a field-by-field basis due to varied planting dates. July is a critical time for setting bolls for earliness in cotton, and it appears that some fields in the area may start blooming before July 4. Most cotton begins blooming in early July and blooms through August. It is important to ensure adequate moisture and fertility are available to set a good crop the first couple weeks of bloom. Having an early boll set also helps reduce the amount of vegetative growth and growth regulator needed. With the varied planting dates due to the cool, wet spring, growth regulator applications should be made on a field-by-field basis to Twitter: @CottonFarming

OKLAHOMA Seth Byrd With the exception of the Panhandle, the majority of the cotton crop in Oklahoma was planted the second half of May through first week of June. We had favorable temperatures and soil moisture conditions for early season growth. However, as of mid-June, much of the western half of the state has yet to see significant precipitation since late May. Much of the dryland crop and cotton in the irrigation district would benefit from a rain, while much of the irrigated crop outside the district has already received one or more pre-squaring irrigation applications. Any dryland cotton planted after June 10 was likely planted into marginal moisture at best. The vast majority was dry planted in hopes a rain would soon follow. A severe weather system moved through JULY 2020 | COTTON FARMING

Specialists Speaking the state June 9-10, bringing high winds. It’s likely a significant number of acres sustained damage that will at best delay growth or at worst, result in a replant or crop failure. July typically signals the beginning of cotton flowering in Oklahoma. Similar to 2018, dry conditions may inhibit root development for a large portion of the crop, which will impact the plant’s ability to take up water and nutrients. In the past, this inhibited root development has been a primary driver of potassium deficiency symptoms, particularly in dryland cotton. Pay attention to the timing of these symptoms, if they appear, and determine if an action can be agronomically or economically justified. After a hot and dry June, we may see a lot of the crop go into bloom with a low number of nodes above uppermost first position white flower (NAWF) or a low number of potential fruiting sites. Therefore, timely and adequate irrigation will be key to prolong the flowering period and avoid premature cutout. However, don’t overirrigate to avoid crop and fiber maturity issues. seth.byrd@okstate.edu

TEXAS Ben McKnight As of June 12, about 80% of the cotton crop has been planted in Texas. Most of the dryland acreage in the Rio Grande Valley is at or approaching cutout, and harvest should be underway in a month or so. Drought conditions experienced earlier in the season will likely have a negative impact on yield potential. Irrigated acres in the RGV are progressing nicely, and the crop looks good so far. After a very dry start to the season, the Coastal Bend is bouncing back after abundant rainfall received the past month. Most of the acreage in this region has been blooming for three to four weeks. Some areas in the Coastal Bend received 6 inches of rain, and prior drought conditions have improved tremendously. With abundant moisture followed by warm temperatures, plant growth regulators have been going out in full force. Closely monitoring cotton plant growth following weather conditions like those experienced recently in the Coastal Bend are imperative to making timely PGR applications. Cotton in the Upper Gulf Coast is being scouted regularly following a large moth flight in recent weeks. The Blacklands and East Texas regions have been fairly dry for the past few weeks. Most of the cotton in these areas is at match head square, and irrigation will most likely be ramping up if adequate rainfall doesn’t occur prior to flowering. Fleahoppers are being reported but nowhere near the levels of infestation experienced last year. The Rolling Plains had good soil moisture a month ago, but this region has also been experiencing a recent dry spell. Any remaining acres should be planted in the next few days prior to the June 20 final planting date deadline. bmcknight@tamu.edu

TEXAS Murilo Maeda Planting will essentially be completed in West Texas by the time this issue of Cotton Farming reaches you. Moisture has been the main limiting factor for much of the region thus far, and the few dryland acres that had enough to achieve a stand now desperately need rain. Most of the irrigated fields are in good shape, some are struggling where water is limited. On the insect side, Dr. Suhas Vyavhare, Extension entomologist, Lubbock, says, “Thrips and wireworms are the two major insect issues we dealt with on the Texas High Plains so far. As the crop enters reproductive phase, our focus shifts to the cotton fleahopper. When abundant, they can cause poor boll set and reduce yield. Pinhead

COTTON FARMING | JULY 2020

size and smaller squares are the most susceptible to cotton fleahopper feeding, particularly in limited-water cotton production systems. “Yield reduction and development delays tend to be more pronounced in water-stressed crops. As most of the bolls harvested come from structures set during the first three to four weeks of squaring, it is critical to monitor fleahopper population and percent square set during this period. The current action threshold is based on a combination of insect density and amount of percent square loss. “We also will start to notice increased activity of beneficials in the fields, which will be the first responders against any unwanted invaders the crop may encounter over the rest of the season. So it is important to help beneficials build up populations by taking an integrated management approach, which includes regular field scouting, adoption of action thresholds and the use of selective insecticides if needed.” mmaeda@ag.tamu.edu

LOUISIANA Dan Fromme June has been abnormally dry in Louisiana, which will increase the amount of supplemental irrigation used across the state. Yield increases are usually a result of precisely timing irrigations during those few weeks when soil moisture is less than optimum due to poor rainfall distribution or soils that have low water-holding capacities. Being short an inch of water at the wrong time can easily result in the loss of at least 60-100 pounds of lint. The objective in Louisiana is to irrigate before plant stress occurs with a water amount that even with subsequent rainfall will not waterlog the soil, thereby reducing yield. This is often challenging to achieve. About 50% of the acres planted to cotton in Louisiana are irrigated, and furrow-irrigation is the predominant method of applying water to the crop. Ideally, approximately 2 inches is applied to lessen runoff and reduce plant damage if subsequent rainfall is heavy. Rates can be higher in fields with good drainage because soil saturation is less likely. Irrigation initiation for the season varies due to soil type, weather, cultural practices and the cotton plant’s status. One method to time the first irrigation requires determining soil moisture at 6- or 12-inch intervals in and below the anticipated rooting profile. Installing soil moisture sensors in the root zone provides a good indication if irrigation is staying ahead or falling behind soil drying. Initiate the first irrigation when 50% of the available moisture has been extracted from the root zone. This ensures a greater rooting depth and reduces the risk of early season soil saturation at a time when the plant is most vulnerable. If the crop blooms before initiating irrigation, do not further delay irrigating. Under these conditions, water can be safely applied without promoting rank growth or restricting rooting. In some years, timing the last irrigation in Louisiana can be a difficult decision. One needs to determine the last harvestable bolls (those with time to mature) without delaying harvest or increasing the chance of boll rot. In general, furrow irrigation is terminated just prior to first open boll. However, excess soil moisture from rainfall or irrigation at this time can delay maturity and make defoliation more difficult. dfromme@agcenter.lsu.edu COTTONFARMING.COM

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

Ginning In The Age Of COVID-19 As I write this, the coronavirus numbers are just as confusing as they were when this whole thing started. No one knows exactly what is going on and how this odd disease seems to work and/or affect individuals. What we do know is that few people have any natural or acquired immunity. We also know it can affect different people in totally different ways. One person may just have cold-like symptoms, a friend may end up in the hospital and another may have hardly any symptoms at all. What does this have to do with ginning? Nothing and everything at the same time. Long gone are the days when gins could count on local labor to fill a crew. Local folks just don’t want to do deal with moving to two shifts, working long hours or having a seven-day work week anymore. Migrant Labor Considerations Consequently, gins have transitioned to using migrant labor. This refers to labor that doesn’t live locally and travels to where the work is. Often, it comprises a group of people who move with the gin season as it progresses and, just as often, most of them are related to each other. As we’ve moved to hiring migrant workers, housing has be-

come an issue. Some gins provide accommodations, some help arrange lodging and some don’t worry about it as the crew members themselves find a place to live while they are here. Since it’s typically a bunch of guys who are related or friends, they don’t mind sleeping in what most of us would consider tight quarters. With the virus’s ability to spread faster than the common cold or flu, close working conditions, transportation and living arrangements have led to outbreaks in places in similar situations as gins. They haven’t been widespread but can be tough on the employees and the employer. Preparation is key. Coronavirus In The Workplace In different geographies, we are several weeks or months away from ginning season. Now is the time to be thinking about how to prevent community spread of the disease among your workers and what you need to do if it begins to move through your employees. If an outbreak is bad enough, you will lose productivity and may have to shut down or go to one shift. How are you going to handle medical attention for the employees? If the spread of the coronavirus is tied to work practices or things the employer could have done to prevent it or slow it down, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration is

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JULY 2020 | COTTON FARMING

considering it work related. Most workers’ compensation programs (with some exceptions) are not covering the treatment as a work illness. Prepare now to keep this disease out of your gin. This is when I say, “Check with your local ginners’ association for more details and guidance.” It sounds cliché, but the way this particular situation is changing, new guidance and understanding comes out every day. Don’t wait until the last minute. Look to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and OSHA guidance for agriculture TODAY. Make it a priority to keep the coronavirus out of your gin. If it does show up, you need to have a plan in place to keep it from spreading. Dusty Findley, CEO of the Southeastern Cotton Ginners Association, contributed this article. Contact him at 706-344-1212 or dusty@southern-southeastern.org.

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TCGA Interns In Place The COVID-19 pandemic has forced businesses to make difficult decisions, and many summer internship programs were canceled. Fortunately, that was not the case for the Texas Cotton Ginners’ Association. Texas Cotton Ginners’ Trust will also host an intern this summer. In a late development, we were able to hire a student from South Plains College and place him with a member gin. These young people will get to experience the cotton ginning industry, and we look forward to having them on board. Please take a moment to meet the TCGA summer interns. Amos Emanis - Texas A&M University Emanis is from Katy, Texas, and will complete a degree in biological & agricultural engineering (BAEN) in May 2021. He has worked in the BAEN laboratory and machine shop for Dr. Robert Hardin. One of his projects was to complete the design for the RFID module tag reader. Emanis also worked with Kalin Clark — a 2019 TCGA intern — on a Capstone research project designed to remove plastic contaminates at the module feeder. He participated in two gin-related projects in the BAEN department, making him an ideal fit for the internship. Emanis will intern at United Ag Co-op Inc. in El Campo.

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Oscar Barajas - South Plains College Barajas is from Denver City in West Texas and currently resides in Lubbock, where he attends South Plains College. During his first year in school, Barajas learned about electric circuits, including how to build them. He also has several years of background in the automotive field. Barajas enjoys working on cars and is anxious to begin his summer internship. He will be at United Cotton Growers Cooperative in Levelland. Brajas is our first intern from South Plains College. We hope to groom interns from this institution for gin superintendent positions. Zach Stovall - Texas A&M University Stovall is from Dumas, Texas, and is focusing on a degree in agricultural systems management. He has a couple years of college left, so we are catching him early. Stovall will intern with Texas Cotton Ginners’ Trust. He grew up in the cotton industry and is the son of Leighton Stovall, manager of Moore County Gin in Dumas. The young Texan interned with Lummus Corp. last summer where he was involved in building the newest gin in Texas — Lonestar Gin in Pampa. He brings an abundance of gin knowledge to the TCGT internship and looks forward to learning about an additional segment of the cotton industry. TCGA has the privilege of interviewing many well-qualified college students for the internship. We love giving young people a chance to see if cotton ginning is a career they may want to pursue and showcase their value to potential employers. Hopefully, all of the interns will gain valuable “real-world experience” and get ready to take the next step in their careers. We look forward to hearing from them. Stay tuned to TCGA’s monthly newsletter and follow us on Facebook. Search for Texas Cotton Ginners’ Association and be sure to like our page! TCGA provided this article. NORTHERN / LUCUS MACHINE, INC 1116 E SLATON HWY LUBBOCK, TX 79404

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My Turn Behind The Scenes With ‘Mr. No-Till’

y association with ing cotton without tillage. Many of the UT researchers cotton began when believed that no-till was the answer to West Tennessee I was born wearing soil erosion problems. Cotton fields in this area were the most erosive in the 100% cotton cloth diapers and duck head safety country, losing an average of more than 14 tons of soil pins. Cotton production has per acre per year. Some fields were losing more than 80 been one of my passions in life. tons per year. Due to the introduction of no-till cotton In my early years, my father practices and systems, soil erosion is now less than 3 was an Extension agent in West tons per acre per year. Tennessee leads the nation in Tennessee, and I tagged along percentage of cotton acres no-tilled annually — 75-plus to a lot of cotton farm visits. percent. John Every July for the past 37 years, my adrenaline still When I was home, I “farmed” gets flowing remembering how hard we used to work with my red Farmall peddle Bradley getting ready for the annual Milan No-Till Day. At its tractor in the big sand box. My favorite place to go was peak, this national and internationally known onemy maternal grandparent’s diversified farm in Hardin day premiere no-till event was attended by more than County, Tennessee. They raised cotton, and I, like many 12,000 farmers from many states and foreign countries. kids in the ’50s, picked cotton with a large flour sack. No-till cotton was always a major focus and interest. This is when I knew I would somehow be involved This year, the Milan No-Till Field Day will be virtual, https://milannotill.tennes with agriculture for life. My “I’ve been met with a lot of see.edu/. family moved to the farm In 1997, I had the in 1959 to produce cotton, crossed arms and shaking heads opportunity to work with corn, hay, hogs and cattle, Monsanto as their conserplus raise five children. but was never discouraged.” vation-tillage specialist to We grew cotton every year during a time when herbicides, such as Treflan, introduce no-till and conservation-tillage cotton across Ansar X and Karmex, were being introduced. I was so the entire Cotton Belt. Much of this was accomplished proud we were replacing our hoes with chemical weed by setting up Centers of Excellence. I have also been control. My father also sold D&PL cottonseed all over privileged to work with cotton production in several forWest Tennessee. Chemical and seed sales were mostly eign countries. No-till cotton is a hard sell! Cotton prodirect to the numerous cotton gins in every community ducers are very conservative and reluctant to embrace and crossroads. I traveled with him at least one week tillage change. I’ve been met with a lot of crossed arms in the summer to visit his dealers and learn about and shaking heads but was never discouraged. I believe much larger cotton operations. This began my lifelong in its benefits. Cotton has always been my favorite crop because it networking in the industry. Our last year of growing cotton was around 1973 when we sprayed 13 times for responds to careful management and often rewards with high yields. I have been blessed to have agriboll weevil. Fast forward through my military and college years, culture careers that have allowed me to be closely and I’m in Lake County, Tennessee, as an Extension associated with the cotton industry and work with its agent working with conventional-till and no-till cotton. wonderful people. I thank God every day for my life in Lake County is a small Delta county in the upper most agriculture. — John Bradley northwestern corner of the state. Several farmers and I Lutts, Tennessee were trying to demonstrate double-crop cotton following johnbradley@springvalley.farm wheat, inter-seeding cotton and cotton planted into cotton stubble. This was when Tom McCutchen, director of the Editor’s note: John and Debra Bradley currently own and University of Tennessee Milan Experiment Station, was operate Spring Valley Farms, an 1,100-acre beef cattle beginning no-till cotton research. Mr. McCutchen died farm in Hardin and Wayne counties, Tennessee. They in 1983, and I had the opportunity to follow in his footmarket beef at www.springvalley.farm to restaurants and steps. Again, my passion for cotton arose, and I worked schools and sell direct to customers. with a team of researchers to develop systems for growCotton Farming’s back page is devoted to telling unusual “farm tales” or timely stories from across the Cotton Belt. Now it’s your turn. If you’ve got an interesting story to tell, send a short summary to csmith@onegrower.com. We look forward to hearing from you.

COTTON FARMING | JULY 2020

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Cotton Farming July 2020

Articles inside

UGA IRRIGATION UPDATE

GINNING MARKETPLACE

MCKNIGHT AND PIERALISI

NEW IRRIGATION APP

THE DESERT SOUTHWEST