Cotton farming june 2016 by One Grower Publishing

Cotton Farming ONE GROWER PUBLISHING, LLC

PROFITABLE PRODUCTION STRATEGIES

JUNE 2016

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MY TURN NOT A COTTON PICKER CHINA’S RESERVE SALES: IMPACT ON PRICES AND MARKETING

BAD BUGS OF SUMMER PROTECT YIELD, QUALITY FROM COTTON INSECTS

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Vol. 60 No. 6

Cotton Farming PROFITABLE PRODUCTION STRATEGIES

JUNE 2016

www.cottonfarming.com

MEGHA PARAJULEE/ TEXAS AGRILIFE RESEARCH AND EXTENSION CENTER

F E AT U R E S

Bad Bugs Rising

Even though cotton farmers celebrate the demise of the boll weevil, they remain vigilant in protecting yield and quality from the threat of other potentially damaging insects. Experts from across the Cotton Belt provide information regarding target pests, sampling, thresholds, recommended products and cultural practices to help protect the 2016 cotton crop.

DEPARTMENTS & COLUMNS

4 Editor’s Note 5 Western Report 10 Cotton’s Agenda

11 Industry News 16 Specialists Speaking 22 My Turn

ON THE COVER: Insecticide application for lygus in Arizona cotton. Sarita Aerial Contractors: owner, John Pew; pilot, Fred Worden. Cover photo by Fred Rehrman.

ONE TON CLUB

PRECISION AGRICULTURE

CHINA COTTON RESERVES

GINNING MARKETPLACE

Vance and Mandie Smith of Big Spring, Texas, set a new yield record with 7.7 bales per acre on a 32-acre field planted to FM 2484B2F.

Southern States Cooperative, Richmond, Va., recently launched a three-tier program for its farmers across the Southeast.

Don Shurley, professor emeritus of Cotton Economics, University of Georgia, examines the impact on prices and marketing.

the official publication of the ginning industry

Jim Granberry, president of Cliff Granberry Corp., discusses the importance of making seed house safety and maintenance a priority prior to the beginning of the ginning season. WEB EXCLUSIVE Courtesy of Cotton Incorporated, a new Focus on Cotton webcast titled “Selection and Use of Sensors for Cotton Irrigation Management in Humid Regions” helps cotton consultants, county agents, farmers and other practitioners improve irrigation practices by installing sensors to monitor real-time soil moisture. This presentation is available at no charge. Go to www.cottonfarming.com for this Web Exclusive report.

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

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

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Editor’s Note

Cotton Farming

Carroll Smith

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

‘Stay Low, Boys; Keep Those Feet Moving’

ootball season is still three months away, but the other night I ran across the movie Friday Night Lights and had to watch it…again. The high school football drama is set in Odessa, Texas, where “the game” is the lifeblood of the town. If you can get past the underlying political and social issues in the film, it’s exciting to see the determination and effort put forth by the players in their quest for the prize – winning the state championship. During the season, they had to face many challenges, overcome hurdles and make adjustments to make it to the final matchup. While working on this issue of Cotton Farming, I was reminded that everyone in the U.S. cotton industry also has “to face many challenges, overcome hurdles and make adjustments” to reach harvest, deliver a good crop and try to make a profit in a less-than-optimum market. In order to successfully make it to the goal line this year, farmers and consultants must stay vigilant in controlling cotton insects to protect yield and quality. As Pete Goodell told me during our conversation about the California cotton system, “People outside the industry don’t realize how hard it is to grow and protect a cotton crop.” It’s true that in some instances there are alternative non-chemical options to help control cotton insect pests. But when these options are not viable, we must have the necessary tools available to get the job done. If we don’t have the bales and the quality to take to the gin, and ultimately the marketplace, then there is no way we can win the game. In the quest to keep efficacious tools in the hands of U.S. cotton farmers, the National Cotton Council reports on page 10 that those testifying at a recent House Agriculture Committee subcommittee hearing “explained that crop protection businesses that support American agriculture recently have seen serious deviations from the regular order, transparency and scientific integrity of the Environmental Protection Agency’s risk assessment-based pesticide review process. The witnesses urged Congress and stakeholders to work with government agencies, including EPA, to ensure that no policies are enacted that would prevent farmers and ranchers from economically producing food and fiber.” I personally would like to thank the NCC for continuing to serve as one of U.S. cotton’s most loyal advocates. And with the 2016 cotton season in full swing now, the directive given to the young players in Friday Night Lights aptly applies to those in the cotton industry as well: “Stay low, boys; keep those feet moving.” You may be up against formidable foes, but all you can do is your best.

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

COTTON FARMING JUNE 2016

Southeast Editor Amanda Huber ahuber@onegrower.com Art Director Ashley Kumpe ADMINISTRATION Publisher/Vice President Lia Guthrie (901) 497-3689 lguthrie@onegrower.com Associate Publisher Carroll Smith (901) 326-4443 Sales Manager Scott Emerson (386) 462-1532 semerson@onegrower.com Production Manager Kathy Killingsworth (901) 767-4020 kkillingsworth@onegrower.com Circulation Manager Charlie Beek (615) 377-3322 For circulation changes or change of address, call (847) 559-7578 EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD David Burns – North Carolina David Lynch – South Carolina Bob McLendon – Georgia Larkin Martin – Alabama Mike Sturdivant Jr. – Mississippi Charles Parker – Missouri Jimmy Hargett – Tennessee Allen Helms – Arkansas Jay Hardwick – Louisiana Ronnie Hopper – Texas Ron Rayner – Arizona John Pucheu – California

ONE GROWER PUBLISHING, LLC Mike Lamensdorf President/Treasurer Lia Guthrie Publisher/Vice President ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COOPERATION: Cooperating with COTTON FARMING are various cotton producer organizations across the Cotton Belt. Many representatives of producer organizations serve on COTTON FARMING’s editorial advisory board. Opinions expressed and conclusions reached by contributors are not necessarily those of the cooperating organizations or the editors. All statements, including product claims, are those of the person or organization making the statement or claim. The publisher does not adopt any such statement or claims as its own and any such statement or claim does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the publisher. Copyright 2016 © ASSOCIATED PUBLICATIONS – One Grower Publishing, LLC also publishes RICE FARMING, THE PEANUT GROWER, SOYBEAN SOUTH and CORN SOUTH.

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WESTERN REPORT

Western Ginner Associations Hold Annual Meetings

eeping their growers informed is a priority for most cotton ginners. But how do ginners themselves stay informed on the most topical issues in the cotton industry? They can take advantage of their state or regional cotton ginners association for information and advice. And all ginner associations have annual meetings to conduct delegate selection or officer election. Most meetings include well-known industry speakers and informational presentations. Ginners in the West have formatted their meetings as intensive gatherings at which information on issues, engineering and industry trends are discussed. The meetings are held each summer in resort environments far away from their ginning operations. Format Fits Ginners And Growers Dwayne Alford, manager of Yuco Gin in Yuma, Ariz., noticed a difference in the Western meetings when he was president of the National Cotton Ginners Association in 2014. Typically, Western cotton ginner annual meetings include two days of meetings with short presentations from a wide range of industry representatives. Alford gives much of the credit for the themed, two half-day programs in Arizona to two highly respected ginners, Charlie Owen and Ron Stanz. Owen was a past president of the National Cotton Ginners Association and an officer with the National Cotton Council. Stanz was a past president of the Arizona Cotton Ginners Association and Alford’s predecessor at Yuco Gin. “Charlie and Ron put this thing together in the early years to make it informative and loaded with information that would make it relevant to ginners, as well as growers,” Alford says. “Over the years, it has been improved and refined, and I think it’s one of the best and most comprehensive meetings that we have.” Currently, the Arizona event is Twitter: @CottonFarming

BY BRENT MURPHREE MARICOPA, ARIZ.

drawing record attendance, as producers are encouraged to attend the meeting through the Arizona Cotton Growers Association. The event is held in Flagstaff, Ariz., and will include updates from the National Cotton Council, Cotton Incorporated, Cotton Council International and the Agricultural Marketing ServiceUSDA Cotton Program. Topics include imported cottonseed, water resources and sustainability, and continued work on the pink bollworm eradication. California and New Mexico follow similar formats with topics pertinent to those areas. Relaxed Environment Matt Toste, president of the California Cotton Ginners Association says, “The idea is really to get everyone together in a relaxed environment so we can share ideas, brainstorm and trouble shoot.” All three meetings include a golf event and free time where producers, ginners, equipment suppliers and cotton organization leaders can interact and not be under the normal pressures of the work-day environment. “We need to work together to solve problems,” says Toste. And, doing so in a coastal or high mountain environment seems to work for the industry in the West. Alberto Pando is the president of the New Mexico Ginners Association,

whose meeting is held in the mountains of south central New Mexico. The New Mexico meeting is the most family friendly of the three Western events. In the past, a bingo tournament for the families was a highlight, and a wrap-up dinner included giveaways and prize drawings before a dance. It has also been the least transient of the meetings, having been held in Ruidoso, N.M., for more than 20 years. While the three organizations have interacted in the past, the formats of the meetings grew organically from the idea that, given heavy Western regulation and unique growing environments, cotton ginners and growers must pull together to make things work to their advantage. Arizona will hold its meeting in Flagstaff, Ariz., this year but has had meetings in Prescott, Rio Rico and Carefree. This year, California will hold its meeting in Monterey, Calif., but has also met in other venues along the California coast. Brent Murphree is The Cotton Board’s Regional Communications Manager – West. bmurphree@cottonboard.org.

Updates on water, cottonseed, research programs and cotton demand are just a few of the topics at Western cotton ginners’ annual meetings. • June 1-3: California Cotton Ginners Association Annual Meeting, Monterey, Calif. • June 23-24: Arizona Cotton Ginners Association Annual Meeting, Flagstaff, Ariz. • July 8-9: New Mexico Cotton Ginners Association Annual Meeting, Ruidoso, N.M.

COTTON FARMING JUNE 2016

MEGHA PARAJULEE/ TEXAS AGRILIFE RESEARCH AND EXTENSION CENTER

COVER STORY

Lygus bugs, or Western tarnished plant bugs, feed on squares and small bolls and are one of the predominant insect species in Texas cotton.

Bad Bugs Of Summer Protect yield and quality from cotton insect pests. BY CARROLL SMITH EDITOR

he boll weevil was a legendary cotton pest that tortured farmers for years. “Wanted” posters featuring the insect’s “mug shot” adorned the walls of many farm offices in South Texas. And songs were even written about the insect, including Brook Benton’s version in 1961. In this adaptation, the boll weevil taunts the farmer, “You better sell your old machines. ‘Cause when I’m through with your cotton, you can’t even buy gasoline.” The boll weevil wreaked destruction of epic proportions on a cotton crop. Thanks to the Boll Weevil Eradication Program, this pest is not longer the nightmare that it once was. Many younger-generation cotton farmers have never seen a live boll weevil. Although this pest has faded away, others have stepped in and must be monitored and controlled to protect cotton yields and quality. Managing Stinkbugs In the Southeast, thrips are the primary pests that

COTTON FARMING JUNE 2016

attack young cotton early in the season. Jeremy Greene, Clemson University professor of entomology, says, “This pest group is becoming more of a concern in cotton because we don’t have a lot of options to manage these insects, particularly if we lose the neonicotinoids that are delivered as a seed treatment. However, aldicarb is coming back under a different trade name, so we may have that control option next year.” In looking beyond this early season pest, Greene says the next insects to watch for in the Southeast are aphids and plant bugs, although their presence infrequently requires action in the region. As the cotton begins to bloom and set bolls, fields are monitored for spider mites, bollworm and stink bugs. “Spider mites are becoming more problematic every year,” Greene says. “Although we have miticides to manage those arthropods, treating for spider mites represents an unplanned expense for most of our growers. We continue to monitor for bollworm to make sure the Bt techCOTTONFARMING.COM

nologies are still efficacious. Bt proteins don’t control all lepidopterans (caterpillars), but they get most of them.” The No. 1 group of insect pests in the Southeast after the early threat from thrips is the stink bug complex – predominantly brown, green and southern green stink bugs. “Just about every acre is sprayed or needs to be sprayed for stink bugs,” Greene says. But the trick is determining when to spray. “We developed a dynamic threshold that changes by week of bloom, refining the static threshold used for years. In the first week of bloom, the threshold is 50 percent of bolls that show at least one feeding symptom from stink bugs. Symptoms appear as warts or callus growths or some type of associated feeding puncture in which there is associated damaged or stained lint. Because there are subtle differences in the region, some states don’t have a threshold for the first week of bloom. “The second week of bloom is 30 percent, the third, fourth and fifth week drops to 10 percent, then goes back up to 20 percent in the sixth week. The threshold returns to 30 percent in the seventh week and 50 percent or higher in the eighth week of bloom. These are the numbers that we recommend for use in South Carolina each week to determine whether to treat for stink bugs.” Stink bug scouting recommendations include pulling the appropriate size bolls and opening them by hand to assess feeding symptoms on the internal boll walls.

Insecticide Options For Plant Bugs In Cotton Editor’s Note: The tarnished plant bug is one of the most damaging pests in Mid-South cotton. When Transform WG insecticide entered the market, it provided good control of plant bugs, but its labeled was revoked at the end of last year. Today, the industry is assessing its options for controlling this destructive pest. Integrated Pest Management Extension Specialist Scott Stewart, University of Tennessee, offers his suggestions for managing plant bugs in the absence of Transform.

JEREMY GREENE/CLEMSONUNIVERSITY

In South Carolina, a pyrethroid spray is recommended to control stink bugs and take advantage of the insecticide’s residual control of any bollworms that escape the Bt technology. “Refer to our guidelines for determining the appropriate size boll so you won’t be looking at old damage each week,” Greene says. “We also recommend pulling at least 25 bolls per field for a field that goes up to 25 acres. If you have a 10-acre field, you still need to pull 25 bolls. We recommend adding a boll for every acre that goes above 25. So if you have a 50-acre field, look at 50 bolls minimum. You can monitor the effectiveness of insecticide applications over time based on feeding symptoms that show up in the bolls. To control stink bugs in South Carolina, we recommend spraying a pyrethroid instead of an organophosphate (OP) or carbamate.” Although pyrethroids also are harsh on beneficials, Greene points out that these insecticides do provide residual control of any bollworms that escape the Bt technology. “The pyrethroid application can also be spiked with an Twitter: @CottonFarming

LISA AMES, UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA, BUGWOOD.ORG

If left untreated, tarnished plant bugs can cause severe damage to a Mid-South cotton crop.

So what is the plan to manage tarnished plant bugs in cotton if Transform is not available? My strategy remains similar to previous years. I suggest Centric (1.75-2 ounces/acre) or maximum labeled rates of imidacloprid for applications made prior to bloom when mostly adults are present. Once nymphs become more common, and definitely after first bloom, we need to switch to other chemistries. This would normally be the window when I would suggest using Transform. Now, our options are limited. We will be relying heavily on Orthene/acephate (0.75 pound ai/acre is generally an adequate rate) or Bidrin (6-8 ounces/acre). The first couple of weeks of bloom is a good time to get Diamond in the mix. Diamond at 4-6 ounces/acre can and generally should be tank mixed with acephate or Bidrin. In this tankmix, you can probably back off the rate of acephate and Bidrin (but just a little bit). As we get closer to August, the best option is to stick with acephate or Bidrin. I often recommend tankmixing with a pyrethroid insecticide in this window to pick up stray stink bugs and bollworms (and it adds a little kick to plant bug control). A good crop consultant is needed to help make these treatment decisions. It is concerning how few insecticide classes are available to effectively manage plant bugs, which makes resistance management difficult. Because neonicotinoid resistance in cotton aphids is now fairly widespread and because we may not be able to use Transform, you might expect more than usual problems with this pest. Fundamental management practices that promote crop earliness will also help. Do not over fertilize. Data show that 80 pounds of nitrogen is optimum for most fields. Select early maturing varieties and use plant growth regulators appropriately for these varieties. Irrigation should be adequate but not excessive. – Scott Stewart, IPM Extension Specialist, University of Tennessee COTTON FARMING JUNE 2016

organophosphate, such as acephate or Bidrin or even the carbamate Vydate, but I wouldn’t recommend an OP or carbamate by itself,” he says. Texas South Plains Insect pests and pressure vary across the cotton-producing regions of Texas. In the South Plains, Suhas Vyavhare, cotton Extension entomologist, Texas A&M, Lubbock, says the major early season threat comes from thrips. Although most farmers use seed treatments that last about two to three weeks from planting, they sometimes have to come back with foliar insecticide applications to treat for thrips. Thrips populations vary year to year and location to location, depending upon the weather and availability of alternate hosts. Frequent scouting for thrips early in the season is crucial to make decisions about foliar insecticide applications. As the plant begins to produce squares, cotton fleahoppers may be seen feeding on tender portions of the plant, including developing squares. Fleahopper feeding causes squares to turn brown and die, resulting in a “blasted” appearance. The action threshold in the South Plains during the first three weeks of squaring is 25 to 30 fleahoppers per 100 terminals, depending on the square set. “If we have good square set, the plant can often compensate for fleahopper damage,” Vyavhare says. “But if there is less than 90 percent square set in the first week of squaring and we see 25 to 30 fleahoppers per 100 terminal buds, then we need to spray. After first bloom, treatment is rarely justified for fleahopper control. Later in the season when bolls are forming, both adult and immature lygus bugs feed on the squares and small bolls. Lygus bugs, or Western tarnished plant bugs, are one of the predominant insect species in Texas cotton. The threshold during the first week of squaring is eight lygus bugs per 100 sweeps. “Using broad-spectrum insecticides, such as organophosphates and pyrethroids, can flare secondary pests, so we recommend applying softer chemistries to control lygus,” Vyavhare says. Spider mites may be found on the undersides of leaves later in the season, but typically don’t appear in high enough numbers to treat. Spider mites turn the plant a

COTTON FARMING JUNE 2016

Key California Pests The most important mid-season pest in the California cotton system is lygus, followed by aphid and whitefly, whose populations may begin to build during July and August. Lygus attack the squares, causing them to drop off the cotton plant. “When the squares drop off, the plant has to take more time to make them up,” says Pete Goodell, Cooperative Extension adviser, Integrated Pest Management, University of California Statewide IPM Program. “This takes time, and we don’t have a lot of time in our system because we are still in a water-limited situation this year. The thresholds change as we move through the season, which is why the UC IPM Cotton Pest Management Guidelines should be consulted.”

MEGHA PARAJULEE/ TEXAS AGRILIFE RESEARCH AND EXTENSION CENTER

DAVID KERNS/TEXAS AGRILIFE RESEARCH AND EXTENSION CENTER

Continue scouting for thrips early in the season to determine if a foliar application is necessary.

reddish color. If more than 50 percent of the plants in a field are turning red, an insecticide spray of abemectin or proparagite is recommended. “We don’t see a lot of insects crossing the economic threshold in the South Plains later in the season,” Vyavhare says. “And the adoption of Bt technology has eliminated the threat of bollworms and other caterpillar pests here.” For more information about insect management in Texas cotton, visit http://cottonbugs.tamu.edu/.

Dr. Abdul Hakeem, postdoctoral scientist at Texas AgriLife Research and Extension Center-Lubbock, samples for fleahoppers in a Texas cotton field. The landscape around cotton fields has changed, too. Other crops, such as alfalfa hay, serve as hosts for lygus and are planted next to cotton fields in many places but can be managed by leaving strips of uncut alfalfa to provide habitat. Lygus can be managed with insecticides in seed alfalfa and safflower, which reduces the number of insecticide applications in cotton and allows beneficial populations to remain intact to fight aphid and whitefly. Spider mites haven’t been much of a problem “in terms of blowing up,” Goodell says, because of effective miticides being used as preventatives. These selective miticides also spare beneficial insects. In July and August, producers are urged to watch for whitefly and aphid. Both pests secrete honeydew that COTTONFARMING.COM

Above is a screen shot of the first of three pages of UC IPM Cotton Decision Support Tool. Beginning with identification, sampling and evaluation of pest population threat to cotton, the user is led through a series of choices covering biological, cultural and chemical controls. The IPM Cotton Decision Support Tool finishes with a custom report of their selections. This information is collected from the Cotton Pest Management Guidelines of UC Ag and Natural Resources and provides a summary from this content-rich website. affects cotton quality. “We definitely want to avoid sticky cotton,” Goodell says. “Whitefly can be managed in early July with insect growth regulators. Later in the season, we apply more broad-spectrum insecticides to clean them up before harvest. Before open bolls are present, look for 50 aphids per infested leaf. Once the bolls open, the threshold drops to 10. We recommend managing whitefly and aphid populations with insect growth regulators and more selective materials. If you wait on economic thresholds, the density of the crop makes it difficult to get adequate coverage when cotton is most susceptible.” IPM Tool Gains Popularity UC’s IPM Decision Support Tool is now available to make navigating the UC IPM website more manageable and provide IPM adoption documentation to professional crop advisers. It’s a live interaction that allows you to choose a crop and a pest. Then the tool goes through the UC IPM guidelines and returns pertinent information. For example, it shows pest identification, sampling techTwitter: @CottonFarming

niques, biological and chemical control recommendations, and cultural control options if there are any. It also shows the impact on surface water. The report can be saved as a PDF with hyperlinks to the UC IPM website. Notes can be added to the PDF for future reference. “The pests on UC’s IPM Decision Support Tool are the ‘rogue’s gallery’ of pests we need to worry about in the California cotton system,” Goodell says. “People will be looking at them for management options, as well as yield, quality and environmental protection. This tool is not a field app as much as it is a strategic app that shows tactics you may want to use this year. When the time comes, you can go back and review the report. In my opinion, the tool provides the “IDEA”: Identify the pest, determine the population, evaluate the risk and assess what management options you have – chemical and non-chemical. It also shows up well on a tablet or smartphone.” Access UC’s IPM Decision Support Tool at http://www2. ipm.ucanr.edu/decisionsupport/. COTTON FARMING JUNE 2016

Cotton’s Agenda Gary Adams

Easing The Regulatory Burden The National Cotton Council continues to work with Congress and the Administration to ensure farmers are not further burdened by over-reaching regulations.

Any concerns conveyed recently to Congress?

n Those testifying at a recent House Agriculture Committee subcommittee hearing agreed there were a number of factors driving up production costs, including increased prices for inputs, machinery and new technologies. The witnesses also agreed that another factor was the dramatic increase in the number of regulations and policies put in place by federal agencies, especially EPA. They explained that crop protection businesses that support American agriculture recently have seen serious deviations from the regular order, transparency and scientific integrity of EPA’s risk assessment-based pesticide review process. The witnesses urged Congress and stakeholders to work with government agencies, i n c l u d i n g E PA , to ensure that no policies are enacted that would prevent farmers and ranchers from economically producConcern was expressed over a dramatic increase ing food and fiber. in regulations and policies put in place by federal They also emphasized that due to agencies, especially EPA. the rising costs and the recent collapse in net farm income, farmers and ranchers will need every tool available to help minimize their production costs. The witnesses’ testimonies are at http://1.usa. gov/1VBYrH6.

What input did the NCC provide?

n A key action was the NCC’s follow-up statement to be submitted to the record of that subcommittee’s hearing. In general, the NCC pointed to concerns with EPA’s: 1) approval process of crop protection products, 2) regis-

tration and re-registration process for pesticides and 3) new pesticide applicator certification rule. Other regulatory concerns noted were updated Worker Protection Standards, the Food and Drug Administration’s animal food safety rule, and the additional permits required under the new Clean Water Rule through the National Pollutant Discharge System. The statement, at http://www.cotton.org/ issues/2016/procost.cfm, highlighted various products/chemistries and how EPA’s actions are affecting their availability. The focus was on: Enlist Duo technology, dicamba and 2, 4-D product registration/labels, chlorpyrifos, imidacloprid, organophosphates, sulfonylureas, and sulfoxaflor. For example, we urged the EPA to consider the weight of evidence that does not support the agency’s inclusion of new risk safety factors in its review of all organophosphate pesticides. EPA also was urged to recognize these pesticides’ benefits – such as providing producers with effective insect resistance management options. Another example of our concern with EPA’s procedures occurred shortly after we submitted the hearing statement of record. We joined with 38 other organizations on a letter to EPA expressing deep distress about the EPA’s opening of only a 60-day comment period for the stakeholder community to provide meaningful input on the draft biological evaluations of chlorpyrifos, diazinon and malathion. These three organophosphates are critical tools for a wide array of commodities, specialty crops and public health uses throughout the United States. The letter emphasized that a 60-day comment period was totally inadequate given the thousands of pages in each review and that there is missing data, lack of proper citations, significant internal errors and discrepancies as well as the failure to fully present key information.

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

COTTON FARMING JUNE 2016

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Industry News Focus On Cotton Webcast Features Precision Ag Data Field observations and data have always been a critical part of agriculture. However, the widespread adoption of data collection – and real-time analytics by industry leaders and local growers alike – illustrates the maturation of big data in agriculture and its increasing importance for local and regional decision making. A new Focus on Cotton webcast titled “Capturing Value from Precision Agriculture Data: Big Data in Ag” helps cotton consultants, growers and other practitioners understand how consolidated farm-level data will be used to identify trends, drive pricing structures and help growers set best practices. This 32-minute talk by Terry Griffin, cropping systems economist at Kansas State University, provides insights into the benefits of widespread adoption and utilization of big data. This presentation is available at no charge, courtesy of Cotton Incorporated, through the “Focus on Cotton” webcast resource located at the Plant Management Network, h t t p : / / w w w. p l a n t m a n a g e m e n t network.org/foco. Focus on Cotton contains more than 35 webcasts on various aspects of cotton crop management. These talks are freely accessible 24 hours a day, seven days a week and cover agronomic practices, crop protection and ag engineering. This resource also features a new and improved cotton Extension search tool, where users can conveniently search for Extension resources across all U.S. land-grant universities serving cotton producers.

Transform WG Insecticide Receives Section 18s The Environmental Protection Agency has granted Section 18 emergency use exemptions for Dow AgroSciences’ Transform WG insecticide in nine more states to control sugarcane aphids in sorghum. In addition to Texas, Section 18s have been issued in Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma and Tennessee for 2016. “Sugarcane aphids continue to be a problem, and sorghum growers in Twitter: @CottonFarming

affected states need an effective control option like Transform to combat this devastating pest,” says Todd Pilcher, Dow AgroSciences product manager. Dr. Robert Bowling, AgriLife Extension entomology specialist at Texas A&M, says, “Sugarcane aphids multiply quickly, so we need to scout early and often. Early applications of an insecticide with a unique mode of action will help keep those populations in check. “Not only does Transform insecticide provide control of sugarcane aphids, but its unique chemistry gives growers an effective resistance management tool as well.” Dow AgroSciences is working diligently to support re-established EPA Section 3 registrations of products containing sulfoxaflor in all previously labeled crops. Refer to individual state Section 18 labels for complete application guidelines and limitations. To learn more, watch the informational video “Gaining the Upper Hand Against Sugarcane Aphids” available at www.TransformMySorghum.com.

Inscalis: A New Insecticide Active Ingredient BASF recently submitted a registration request for a new insecticide active ingredient – Inscalis. It belongs to a novel chemical class, the pyropenes, and offers an alternative mode of action for the control of key insect pests and provides producers a new resistance management tool for their integrated pest management programs. Inscalis controls critical piercing and sucking insect pests, such as aphids, whiteflies, psyllids, scales and leafhoppers. First-tier registration requests were submitted to the U.S. and Canadian authorities for use on a wide range of crops, such as vegetables, fruit, row crops and ornamentals. Inscalis has a favorable environmental profile and low acute toxicity to important beneficial arthropods, including pollinators. The new insecticide will be available in several high-performing formulations to provide new solutions for insect control. Pending regulatory approval, first market introductions of Inscalisbased products are expected in 2019.

Splice Device

Arkansas Farmer-Designed Irrigation Product Delta Plastics is marketing a new product designed and created by Arkansas farmer/inventor Billy Don Hinkle of Moro – the Splice Device. Hinkle was looking for a quicker, easier way to connect and secure his flexible irrigation polytube. He engaged his ingenuity and devised the Splice Device. This reusable hard-plastic fitting easily and securely connects two lengths of polytube to help growers more efficiently direct their irrigation water flow. Comprised of a smooth inner ring and a larger outer ring, it is available in 10-, 12-, 15- or 18-inch diameters and features a metal rod and latch that tightens and locks the polytube in place. “Time is money, and we are proud to offer products like the Splice Device and other high-performance accessories to support our irrigation polytube product line,” says Sean Whiteley, CEO of Little Rock, Ark.-based Delta Plastics. Delta Plastics also offers irrigation accessories. The EZConnect T is designed to replace expensive, cumbersome PVC fittings. It is constructed of the same high-performance, recyclable polyethylene as Delta Plastics polytube. Compatible with the Splice Device, the EZConnect T comes in several sizes and quickly joins three lengths of polytube. The EZ X Gate irrigation regulator adjusts, directs and closes polytube water flow. Hard plastic arms cross to form an “X” and secure with a bolt to conveniently adjust or close off water for accurate irrigation. The Poly Patch is a length of sturdy polyethylene that slips under polytube in the field and zips closed over the rip. View the Splice Device video at http://www.deltaplastics.com/ Polytube/Farmers/videos. COTTON FARMING JUNE 2016

SPECIAL REPORT

One Ton Club Members Set New Yield Record Seven-plus bales was the high.

otton yield and quality records are made to be broken, and that’s just what FiberMax cotton growers did in 2015 to qualify for the elite FiberMax One Ton Club. During a celebration in Lubbock, Texas, Bayer recently honored 127 members who qualified for the One Ton Club during the 2015 crop year. The 2015 qualifiers included 40 new members and 87 returning qualifiers, making the total number of FiberMax One Ton Club members 848. The highest yield for those who qualified for the FiberMax One Ton Club in 2015 – 3,717 pounds, or 7.7 bales, per acre – was recorded on 32 acres by Vance and Mandie Smith, of Big Spring, Texas. The seven-year members of the One Ton Club topped their previous record by 400 pounds per acre. For the Smiths, that’s more than six times the Texas average in 2015, which was 614 pounds per acre. The highest acreage winners, Eric and Christy Seidenberger, of Garden City, Texas, averaged 2,054 pounds per acre on 564 acres. What makes the numbers posted by the 127 FiberMax One Ton Club members more remarkable is that 2015 was marked by rains that delayed or prevented cotton planting in some areas, notes Jeff Brehmer, U.S. product manager for FiberMax cotton. For many cotton growers across the nation, it was a tough year to make a crop. But for the 40 new members of the One Ton Club, 2015 marked a banner year for their efforts using FiberMax genetics and traits. “The consistent yields of FiberMax are demonstrated with the growers who come back year after year,” Brehmer says. One FiberMax One Ton Club member qualified for his 10th year and four growers have qualified every year since the club began. “Over the course of the last 11 years, we’ve had growers who qualified for the FiberMax One Ton Club

COTTON FARMING JUNE 2016

using 37 different varieties,” Brehmer says. “The most recent varieties we advanced – FM 1911GLT, FM 1900GLT, FM 2007GLT – have all been qualifiers for the FiberMax One Ton Club.” Top Of The Crop Individual awards presented during the banquet included highest yield, highest loan value, highest gross loan value per acre, most acres and most varieties. This year’s winners are: H HIGHEST LOAN RATE: Mark Pratt of Visalia, Calif., garnered $0.5799 for 55 of his qualifying cotton acres planted to FM 1830GLT. He qualified for the One Ton Club on 162 acres with an average yield of 2,335 pounds per acre. His average loan rate across all the acres was $0.5674. H HIGHEST GROSS LOAN VALUE & HIGHEST YIELD: Vance and Mandie Smith of Big Spring, Texas, averaged 3,717 pounds per acre on a 32-acre field planted to FM 2484B2F. On their 128 qualifying acres, the Smiths averaged 2,726 pounds per acre. H MOST ACRES: Eric and Christy Seidenberger of Garden City, Texas, averaged 2,054 pounds per acre on 564 acres planted with FM 2007GLT and FM 2484B2F. H MOST VARIETIES ACHIEVING ONE TON CLUB YIELDS: Growers Mitchell Jansa and Joe D. Schwartz of Apple Creek Farms, Garden City, Texas, accepted the award for averaging more than a ton of lint cotton per acre on 456 acres planted to five FiberMax varieties: FM 1830GLT, FM 1900GLT, FM 2334GLT, FM 1944GLB2 and FM 2484B2F. Three Brothers Win Truck FiberMax One Ton Club members were entered into a drawing for a two-year lease on a Ford Super Duty F-350 King Ranch truck. This year ’s winner is the Weinheimer family from Groom, Texas. The three brothers and their wives

Monty Christian, (left) Bayer cotton marketing director, congratulates Mandie and Vance Smith for producing the highest gross loan value and highest yield – 7.7 bales per acre. a r e f o u r- y e a r m e m b e r s o f t h e FiberMax One Ton Club. Oldest brother Pat Weinheimer Jr. and his wife, Kim, took the lead on accepting the truck. Brothers Jarret and Paul shared the award with their wives, Samantha and Lizette, respectively. “We’re just stoked to win it,” Pat Weinheimer Jr. says. “It’s a sweet thing to win that truck.” They accepted the truck collectively because they’re partners. “It’s a team effort,” Pat Weinheimer Jr. says. “It’s truly a family farm,” Paul Weinheimer confirms. The reason the family farm is still in business has a lot to do with FiberMax varieties; they’ve been planting them since the first year FiberMax was sold. The Weinheimers qualified for the One Ton Club in 2015 with FM 2011GT. In recent years, they also qualified with FM 1320GL. “These varieties are what have kept us in the game,” Pat Weinheimer Jr. says. Free Seed Winners Bayer also drew the names of three farmers, who each received 15 bags of FiberMax cotton seed. The winning growers for that valuable prize were Michael and Mica Durham of Levelland, Texas; Kitten Land Co. of Lubbock, Texas; and Duwane and Bonnie Billings of Seagraves, Texas. For additional information on the FiberMax One Ton Club, visit www. FiberMax.com/OTC. Rhea & Kaiser contributed this article on behalf of FiberMax. COTTONFARMING.COM

SPECIAL REPORT

Southern States Launches New Precision Ag Program

outhern States Cooperative, a Richmond, Va.-based farm supply and service cooperative, recently launched a new precision ag program for its farmers across the Southeast. The three-tier program features packages – Discover, Evaluation and Analysis – designed to provide farmers with beginner, intermediate and advanced-level precision ag opportunities. “Communication among the farmer, salesperson and precision ag personnel ensures that everyone is on the same page as to program expectations and timing of any particular service,” says Dave Swain, Southern States’ manager of precision ag. “If the farmer has a crop consultant who performs functions such as scouting, Southern States can provide the farmer with data or information, such as imagery, that the farmer can then provide to his consultant. The farmers own the data, and Southern States will not share their data with any entity without their written permission.” Three Programs Available The entry-level option features precision ag basics and allows growers to “dip a toe” into the waters of farm technology. It’s a season-long program designed for those who want to learn how agronomy technology helps provide information to make better crop management decisions. A combination of soil and tissue samples shows what is happening in the field and enables Southern States to work with growers to improve performance. During the growing season, an agronomist completes in-field observations to identify differences in soil type, compaction, water-holding capacity, etc., that may impact yield. In-season tissue samples are taken at points corresponding to the initial soil samples that give a better understanding of nutrients available to the crop, and if there are any deficiencies. The Evaluation program is a longer-term, more refined approach that establishes a baseline for crop management programs and monitors and evaluates crop progress. In addition to the services offered in the TWITTER: @COTTONFARMING

Discovery package, the Evaluation program starts with benchmarking the field with 2.5 acre soil samples. The Evaluation level also adds more in-season satellite imagery. Years two and three rely on production sampling that includes soil sampling, in-season tissue sampling and visual evaluation of three specific points within 50-acre zones. This spot-checks and evaluates nutrient levels to ensure fertility recommendations are meeting the desired goals. The most comprehensive package – Analysis – combines the Discovery and Evaluation programs and adds compaction samples and more data. It also provides a postseason evaluation that includes performance outlined by seed variety, crop protection treatments and soil type. Southern States also processes as-applied data, which enables the customer to have a digitized recordkeeping of all appli-

cations of seed, nutrients and crop protection products. All three packages begin with a preseason evaluation and planning by geo-referencing soil samples to determine the right nutrient plan for the field to maximize potential from the beginning. A Southern States agronomist completes on-site analysis to verify crop health, respond to current conditions and determine if other factors are limiting the potential yield of the crop. A postseason evaluation uses yield data and maps that show the final production results. “The data provide insights on changes we can implement the following season to improve crop performance,” Swain says. Recipient Of Numerous Awards Southern States operates its precision ag services on more than 2 million acres and has won a number of precision ag awards, including the 2014 and 2015 ARA Precision Impact awards and The Fertilizer Institute’s 2016 4R Retail Advocate Award. Southern States Cooperative provided information for this article. Please visit southernstates.com/precision.

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MARKETING China’s stocks were increasing, but the country for the most part was not utilizing those stocks and in fact kept importing more. Although the buildup was there numerically, “effective stocks” were much less. The market could and did pretty much ignore the stocks situation

Don Shurley Professor Emeritus, Cotton Economics University of Georgia – Tifton

because there were no economic and policy mechanisms in place to effectively utilize those stocks. Thirdly, although stocks in China were increasing, stocks in the rest of the world were not. U.S. cotton stocks at the end of the 2013 crop year, for example, were only 2.35

CHINA’S RESERVE SALES: IMPACT ON PRICES AND MARKETING

million bales. And frankly, fiber quality has always been a big uncertainty. Some of this cotton could be 3 years old or older and stored in less-than-proper facilities. Premiums

t the end of the 2010 crop year, China’s ending stocks (cotton still on hand

paid to U.S. growers for high-quality cotton have been

from that and previous crop years) had reached a very low level of only 10.6

very good. This is likely a reflection of the rest of the

million bales — 23 percent or roughly three months of annual use. Beginning

world’s stocks situation and the uncertainty about the

in the 2011 crop year, China began to significantly increase its imports of

quality and usefulness of Chinese stocks.

cotton in an apparently conscious effort to build stocks back to a more comfortable level. A certain level of stocks is needed and desired. Stocks provide supply to the pipeline,

China Stocks – ‘A Big Mystery’

transitioning from “old crop” to “new crop.” Stocks also provide a buffer or cushion in

When China began building stocks with world cotton

case the next crop is reduced or shorter than expected for any reason. If stocks are con-

demand trending down at the same time, the warning

sidered high, this generally reduces pressure on both old crop and new crop supplies, and

shot had been fired and it was only a matter of time

prices decline. If stocks are considered low, this generally puts pressure on old crop and

before the battle would start.

new crop supply, and prices increase.

In 2012-13, China sold roughly 19 million bales from

China imported 24.5 million bales in 2011, another 20.3 million bales in 2012, and

its government reserve. But it would also import 20.3

even another 14.1 million bales in 2013, which was still well above normal. By the end of

million bales. In 2013-14, China sold roughly 12 mil-

the 2014 crop year, stocks had ballooned to almost 68 million bales or the equivalent of

lion bales from reserve but would import 14.1 million

more than two years’ worth of use.

bales. This would include an import quota allocation

I’m often asked the question: “Why did China do this?” Well, I personally don’t think the

provided to mills based on the amount of reserve cotton

magnitude of the buildup in stocks was intentional. First of all, what China probably did

purchased. In 2014-15, China offered 4.6 million bales

not and could not have anticipated was the protracted decline in its mill use of cotton. At

for sale but sold only 291,000 bales. Imports were 8.28

the time, China was ramping up imports, and its mill use declined about 15 million bales

million bales. Ending stocks would peak at 67.9 million

due to the increased use of man-made fibers. Also for two consecutive years in 2011 and

bales. The weak amount of sales would again raise

2012, China’s own cotton production increased. So in at least those two years, they had

questions about the quality of the cotton offered for sale.

increased production plus increased imports but declining cotton use. That’s not a good

Low sales could have been due to quality but were also

formula. Fiber quality may also have been an issue with China desiring to improve both

likely the result of uncompetitive pricing.

the quality and quantity of its stocks.

The China stocks situation has always been a big

Over the course of four years, China’s stocks increased more than sixfold. Yet for a

mystery — from the reasons why stocks were allowed

good portion of this time, cotton prices held up pretty well (remember, I said increasing

to accumulate so dramatically in the first place, to fiber

stocks typically mean weaker prices, but that did not happen right away in this case). It

quality questions, to the policy and pricing mechanisms

was not until last season and again this season that prices have taken the fall. There are

that will ultimately shape the future course of these

three reasons for this delayed reaction.

stocks and impact global supply/demand and prices.

First, China was, after all, buying cotton. Although the purchases weren’t showing

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s

up as increased mill use and were building stocks instead, China was buying. Second,

latest estimates, China is believed to have between 63

COTTON FARMING JUNE 2016

COTTONFARMING.COM

reserve sales are only one factor in the mix of things that will determine how prices fare in 2016 and for the 2017 crop as well.

China Sales: Factors To Watch With regard to China and these sales, several components are worth watching. Will the pace of sales remain steady and near the daily and weekly allowable amounts, or will sales diminish over time? This will, in part, depend on the quality of the available cotton and the pricing. If quality is an issue, it will show up and sales will lag behind. This may improve the outlook for U.S. exports. Will the quality and competitive pricing of sales result in increased use of cotton in Chinese mills? More importantly, if cotton use begins to improve, will that ultimately mean more U.S. cotton exports? What will be the level of China’s stocks next year this time and even in 2018? The clock is ticking and these stocks are only getting older. In USDA’s May supply/demand report, a little bit of information may have gone unnoticed. The expected U.S. average price for the 2016 crop is projected to be 47 to 67 cents per pound. If we take the midpoint at 57, that would be roughly the same as for last year’s crop. It also means that there are some things that could take us much lower than where this market is now, or we could even see better pricing opportunities. From the producer and industry standpoint, there’s little, if anything, we can do about what’s going on in million and 67 million bales of cotton stocks. This is believed to be a combination of state/ government reserve (about 51 million bales) and merchant inventory (about 14 million bales). On May 3, China began another round of sales from its government reserves. This series of sales will continue through August with total sales not to exceed 9.2 million bales. Daily sales are not to exceed 138,000 bales.

2016 Sales Round Given last year’s low sales, the results of this 2016 round has been much anticipated. For the period May 3-12, sales totaled roughly 1.1 million bales or 12 percent of the 9.2 million bale total for May 3-Aug. 31. These 1.1 million bales sold were comprised of 770,000 bales of imported cotton and 334,000 bales of China cotton. Sales from government reserves are believed to be for China’s domestic mill use only. Exports are not expected but cannot be ruled out. China has said that from September through February, it plans to purchase/import cotton for the purpose of improving the fiber quality of its reserve. Thus far, the cotton market seems to have taken the sales pretty much in stride. Prices are down 2 to 3 percent, but it is too early to know how prices will play out. China’s Twitter: @CottonFarming

China. If I’m a cotton farmer, what would worry me right now is the 2017 crop if low prices continue to hang around that long. The marketing loan is supposed to protect the grower from low prices; but it’s likely the loan rate could be 50 cents or less for the 2017 crop. Combine that with the recent 2-cent decrease in the transportation cost adjustment for the AWP calculation, and we could be looking at a 4- to 5-cent reduction in the LDP/MLG for the 2017 crop from what it was for most of the 2015 crop year. Need More Information? Don Shurley is professor emeritus of Cotton Economics, Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics, at the University of Georgia-Tifton campus. He can be reached at (229) 386-3512 or via email at: donshur@uga.edu. Additional cotton information can be found by visiting the UGA cotton website at www.ugacotton.com or www. caes.uga.edu/departments/agecon. COTTON FARMING JUNE 2016

Specialists Speaking Early Season Insect Pressure FLORIDA David Wright Most cotton is planted with a wait-and-see year for insect pests. Following a mild winter, we expect higher plant bug populations as well as other pests. We had little freezing weather to lower overwintering insects numbers. It’s always a challenge to determine what issues we might face, but with careful scouting, cotton can be managed successfully. Our average number of insecticide applications is three sprays. Most of those go out during the first three to five weeks of bloom – July and August – to ensure boll set. These are the prime months for bloom and boll set. It is very important in a year with low prices that key production practices are used. Other things to consider are nitrogen timing with small applications made at planting, followed by an application at squaring. If more applications are needed on sandy sites, all of the nitrogen should be applied before the third week of bloom. We have had no response to nitrogen after that period. wright@ufl.edu

NORTH CAROLINA Guy Collins The beginning of the 2016 planting window in North Carolina was marked by short periods of suitable planting weather along with intermittent wet or cool spells. Rains during the last week of April and first week of May slowed planting progress in many areas. Very little cotton was planted during late April and the first week of May. Fields that were planted during that time were slow to emerge due to cool temperatures and intense rains. As I write this on May 5, afternoon temperatures in the middle of the state are in the mid-50s, and nearly all cotton-growing regions in the state have received significant rains. However, the weather forecast for the second week of May looks decent, so we hope fields will dry out enough to allow planting to proceed without major delay. For most cotton, June will be the time for several critical management decisions. Early season plant growth regulator management may be necessary in some fields but only after careful scouting to determine such need. Additionally, first square will mark the beginning of timely irrigation needs if dry, hot conditions prevail. Lastly, growers and scouts should monitor closely for plant bugs during June. Frequent scouting, quick action and timely sprays (if thresholds are reached), and rotation of chemistries are critical to combating this insect pest. guy_collins@ncsu.edu

TENNESSEE Tyson Raper As I write this on the May 11, Tennessee has already had two decent windows in which to plant cotton (one of which may close tomorrow with another half-inch of forecasted rain). Rain chances for the next week are relatively high, but with a little luck, Tennessee will have all of its cotton in the ground within the next two weeks. From what I can gather, between half to three-quarters of our cotton acreage has already been planted, with only a few areas needing to be replanted.

COTTON FARMING JUNE 2016

That puts us ahead of 2015 by roughly a week. Still, managing for earliness extends far beyond planting. Several stresses must be prevented or addressed in order to capitalize on our timely planting. Research by Dr. Scott Stewart in Tennessee has indicated positive impacts from foliar applications of insecticides targeting thrips at the one true-leaf stage. Preventing thrips from damaging the young seedling will allow it to quickly progress out of the susceptible growth stages. This is particularly important for seedlings struggling through injury from a pre-emergence herbicide, as the two stresses commonly interact to severely delay maturity. For additional information on these and other management activities that emphasize earliness, visit our website at UTcrops.com or blog at news.utcrops.com. traper@utk.edu

MISSOURI Mike Milam There is an old adage that says, “Be careful what you wish for because you just might get it.” That is certainly true this year related to our planting season. According to the May 9 Missouri Crop Progress and Condition Report, cotton is at 90 percent planted. Last week, we were at 51 percent, which was the amount of cotton planted at this time last year. The five-year average is 29 percent. This gives us some flexibility. If re-planting needs to be done, it can be earlier than the typical replant. So we have a lot to be thankful for. Earlier planted cotton could also mean better conditions at harvest since the crop should mature sooner. I have been concerned about being able to get the cotton out in a timely fashion the past few years since a large amount of cotton was planted well past the optimum planting date. Although the cotton was harvested later than desired, many factors contributed to not hurting the yield. In fact, in 2014, Missouri producers set a yield record of 1,117 pounds per acre. Last year, we had 1,111 pounds per acre produced. If we have good growing conditions this summer, we could even exceed that. Now that we have eliminated the boll weevil as a key pest and insect resistance traits take care of worms, tarnished plant bugs are by far our most important pest. Scouting and applying pesticides in a timely fashion, plus rotating chemistries, will help reduce resistance in this pest. milammr@missouri.edu

ARKANSAS Bill Robertson The first 40 days in the life of a cotton plant sets the foundation for yield and fiber quality potential for the season. This includes the period from planting to squaring. Cool temperatures or competition from pests can delay the onset of squaring. In our April-planted cotton, first pinhead square generally occurs 40 to 45 days after planting, compared to mid-May planted cotton, which generally takes about 35 days. This is primarily a function of the cooler temperatures we generally receive the end of April and the first part of May. Pest management issues have generally been the greatest concerns for our current crop. However, as we move into the next few weeks, other factors including fertility and soil moisture stress become more critical. In dry years, consideration for irrigating pre-squaring cotton COTTONFARMING.COM

LISA AMES, UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA, BUGWOOD.ORG

Louisiana cotton specialist Dan Fromme says, “For tarnished plant bug control, pre-bloom threshold levels are 10 to 25 plant bugs per 100 sweeps.”

may arise. We generally do not irrigate cotton during this timeframe in the Mid-South. Research demonstrates the importance of avoiding stress once squaring begins. Irrigation water management is our next big challenge. There are many programs, tools and practices available that producers can use to help improve irrigation water-use efficiency. Everyone who uses poly tubing should be using computerized hole selection. We want to go into squaring with a plant developing a new node every 2.5 to 3 days and have square retention greater than 80 percent. This will put us on track to having 9 to 10 nodes above white flower at first flower. Contact your local county Extension agent for more information. brobertson@uaex.edu

MISSISSIPPI Darrin Dodds Many folks in Mississippi will likely be glad to see June arrive, given the difficulty of this planting season. Rain showers and cool temperatures persisted into early May, which slowed fieldwork across the state. A planting window finally arrived as we headed into the first weekend in May, and many pushed as hard as possible to get this crop in the ground. For those who managed to get cotton seed in the ground during late April, some re-plants have been necessary due to seedling disease and herbicide injury. Given prices of all commodities, it will be vital to spend money where needed and save money when you can. Do not let low commodity prices restrict insect and weed management, as each of these practices can have a direct impact on yields. As one farmer has told me repeatedly, “Don’t let a nickel stop a dollar.” However, proceed with caution when considering products that are not proven to provide yield or other necessary benefits. When commodity prices are TWITTER: @COTTONFARMING

good, we can afford to experiment to some degree with various products to determine potential yield beneﬁts. However, when prices are low as they currently are, investing wisely will go a long way towards improving your bottom line. darrind@ext.msstate.edu

LOUISIANA Dan Fromme As of May 11, cotton planting across the state is now approximately 40 to 50 percent completed with a significant portion of the acres going in the ground during the last week of April and the first 10 days of May. Overall, temperatures have been excellent, and cotton has been emerging in five to six days. Once planting has been completed and cotton has emerged, producers will make side-dress nitrogen applications. Thrips populations are currently being monitored in cotton that has not reached the five true-leaf stage. LSU AgCenter entomologists recommend treating when immature thrips first appear on seedling cotton. Once cotton has reached the five true-leaf stage and growing conditions are good, thrips control is no longer needed. Fleahopper and tarnished plant bug numbers are being monitored in cotton that has started squaring. Scout for fleahoppers during the first three weeks of squaring. Detection can be difficult due to the flighty nature of these insects. Our entomologists recommend treating when 10 to 25 of these insects per 100 plants are found. These treatment levels may be adjusted to maintain between 70 and 85 percent first position square retention. For tarnished plant bug control, pre-bloom threshold levels are 10 to 25 plant bugs per 100 sweeps. The Louisiana threshold for the bloom-to-harvest period is two to three tarnished plant bugs per 5 feet of black drop cloth, 10 plant bugs per 100 sweeps or 10 percent dirty squares. COTTON FARMING JUNE 2016

Specialists Speaking Occasionally, clouded plant bugs can be found in Louisiana cotton. Pre-bloom and bloom threshold levels are the same as those for tarnished plant bugs; however, each clouded plant bug should be counted as an equivalent to 1.5 tarnished plant bugs when determining a treatment decision. dfromme@agcenter.lsu.edu

OKLAHOMA Randy Boman As of this writing on May 11, a quick glance at the Oklahoma Mesonet previous 30-day rainfall accumulation graphic shows that some cotton-producing counties have been coming up fairly short compared to others. Basically everything west of a line from Hollis to Elk City has received less than 2 to 3 inches, while areas east of that line have been blessed with about 6 inches or greater. For this time of year, that is really good news. We are now entering our historical, prime cotton-planting window for irrigated acreage. Soil temperatures have been good over the past week or so, and some producers have begun planting. Areas where rainfall was not as enticing are still waiting for a better moisture situation in the upper profile. We hope we will get off to a great start. With the good to excellent spring rainfall that we have encountered in many counties, plenty of alternate hosts are growing across the landscape that can harbor cotton insect pests. Producers need to keep an eye on thrips populations and be ready to make topical applications when necessary. Cotton fleahoppers may also be more problematic this year. As we move forward with planting the 2016 crop, there is a bit of unfinished business for the 2015 crop. I finally had an opportunity to inspect National Agricultural Statistics Service yields and the Abilene U.S. Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Marketing Service final fiber quality summary for the state. It appears that the 2015 crop was one of record yield, 866 pounds per acre for all practices (dryland and irrigated combined). This breaks the previous record of 817 pounds set in 2007. Several fiber property averages for the crop also set records for the state. HVI length tied a previous record of 36-32nds inch; uniformity set a record at 81.3 percent; and strength was the highest ever at 31.3 g/tex. All of this indicates that producers are paying attention to new genetics â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and when we have good rainfall support from Mother Nature, we can produce excellent yields of high-quality fiber. randy.boman@okstate.edu

TEXAS Seth Byrd As of May 10, cotton planting was underway full force in the Texas High Plains, particularly on irrigated ground while a rain in mid-May would likely spur planting on dryland acres. As of early June, scouting for insect pests will become a primary concern. Although issues due to insects are hit and miss and vary year to year across this area, several pest species can reach damaging levels, including spider mites, cotton fleahopper and western tarnished plant bug, among others. Different insect pests can affect cotton at various points during the season. Scouting accordingly can help make timely decisions regarding control methods and prevent a severe problem. Also, understanding how control methods targeting one species may influence or affect other insect pests and beneficials is key to avoid creating additional issues. Information on insect identification, scouting procedures, threshold levels and control options can be found at cottonbugs.tamu.edu. Weeds are another key pest to be on the lookout for during the early part of the season. Controlling weeds that may have escaped

COTTON FARMING JUNE 2016

pre-emergence herbicides or even the first post application is crucial to avoid competition with the crop for water and nutrients. Selecting proper herbicides for the weed species present and rotating modes of action from those previously applied can aid in achieving clean fields, managing resistance and avoiding the dreaded hand weeding later in the year. seth.byrd@ag.tamu.edu

TEXAS Gaylon Morgan Cotton growth stages varied widely from the Rio Grande Valley (6-18 nodes) to the Blacklands of Texas within each region. Replanting was common from the Coastal Bend northward due to some heavy rainfall events, while the Northern Blacklands still has significant acres to be planted. With the rainfall, weed pressure has been high and a challenge for producers to get sprayed in a timely manner, but overall weed control has been good. Glyphosate-resistant pigweeds continue to pop up in new places, but producers are generally staying on top of the situation. Cotton aphids have been a problem in the RGV, where many producers have already made multiple insecticide applications. Fewer reports of high thrips numbers have occurred thus far; however, reports of early applications for fleahoppers have come from the mid-coast region. The Northern Rolling Plains began planting irrigated fields during the second week of May. In the Southern Rolling Plains, planting will likely begin mid-May. Dryland cotton planting will immediately follow the irrigated cotton plantings, assuming sufficient surface moisture is available. There has been a lot of discussion on reducing seeding rates to cut down on input costs, but I think most people will stay within a reasonable seeding rate. Soil profile moisture is generally good, but many locations in the Rolling Plains are still in need of planting moisture to establish a good stand. gmorgan@tamu.edu

ARIZONA Randy Norton Early season fruit set has begun with squares and some early flowers being seen across the state. Protecting this early season fruit set is critical to achieving optimum yields while enhancing a timely termination of the crop in the fall. Loss of early fruit set, including young developing squares, may result in excess vegetative growth, delayed maturity and decreased yields. Abortion of young fruiting forms, such as small squares and young flowers, may occur as a result of several factors including environmental stresses such as hot, dry winds or lack of adequate soil moisture, and early season insect pressure. Last month I discussed proper irrigation and crop water management. This month we want to focus on protecting the early season fruit set from damaging insect pests. Early season insect pests, such as thrips and flea beetles, can have a significant impact on the young developing cotton plant. Recent years have seen record low insect populations across the state, and we have greatly benefited from the ability to manage our cotton crop with minimal insect control measures. However, it is critical to monitor the crop for the presence of insect pest populations to ensure that they do not rise to damaging levels. Scouting techniques and control measures have been developed for major pests affecting Arizona cotton by Dr. Peter Ellsworth and his team and can be found on the University of Arizonaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Crop Information Site. For more information on insect detection and control, as well as other cotton production topics, go to: http://cals.arizona.edu/ crops. rnorton@cals.arizona.edu COTTONFARMING.COM

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

Make Seed House Safety And Maintenance A Top Priority

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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 before the start of the 2016 cotton ginning season.

• Do not enter the seed trailer or climb on the side walls of the trailer. • Post decals “DANGER – DO NOT ENTER AREA BELOW HOPPER DOORS WHEN SEED IS IN STORAGE HOUSE.” 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. Maintenance • All proper safety precautions should be taken by all personnel who perform maintenance and repairs.

Safety Tips • Never go beneath a seed hopper when it contains seed. • Be sure all ladders and catwalks are properly guarded.

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

Cotton Ginners Marketplace

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 TWITTER: @COTTONFARMING

COTTON FARMING JUNE 2016

• Clean out all seed. • Clean hopper panels to remove seed oil. Steam cleaning consistently works well. • Make the inside surfaces of the hopper panels smooth again. Sanding and steel brushing reportedly work well. • Carefully examine the entire seed house for stress fractures and loose hardware, especially if vibrators have been used. • Remove rust and corrosion.

LEC-200 Electronic Seed Scale

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. Email him at jim@cliffgranberrycorp.com or call (972) 381-8899. Visit www.cliffgranberrycorp.com.

The industry’s first ginning classroom on wheels. Call today to schedule this unique training experience to come to your gin.

samjackson.com

Mid-South: 662-809-9730 Lubbock: 1-800-862-9966 Oklahoma: 214-695-0158

Oil Free Air Cylinders & Valves Double Cylinders – Upper & Lower 100+ Bale per Hour Capacity

Lu b b o c k Ele c t r i c C o . 800-692-4474

www.lubbockelectric.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 – Consolidated 120” R-5000 Stick Machines* 1 – Lummus 60” overshot Standard Battery Condenser* 1 – Consolidated 72” undershot Standard Battery Condenser* 1 – Consolidated 72” undershot MC Battery Condenser*

Cotton Ginners Marketplace

1 – 1997 model Ginning/Lint Cleaning Line, consisting of a 96” wide Model 700TM Feeder, 170-Saw ImperialTM III Gin, Super-Jet® Lint Cleaner, and Model 108 Lint Cleaner 2 – Lummus Model 66 Lint Cleaners with Condensers 1 – Belt-Wide 75-HP Flooded-Suction Hydraulic Booster Pumping Unit 1 – Lubbock Electric Hydraulic Pumping Unit for Gin Dor-Les® or E.E. 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)

1 - Complete 2/141 Gin Plant consisting of: Unloading System with 15” diameter single-lane Powered Telescope, Rock Trap with Trash Vacuum, 72” Unloading Separator/Feed Control with Vacuum Wheel and Flight-Saver, and No. 50 Unloading Fan; First-Stage Drying/Precleaning System with Continental 3 MBTU Burner and No. 40 Push Fan, 54” Tower Dryer, 96” Continental Inclined Cleaner with Vacuum Wheel over 96” Horn 3-Saw Stick Machine (with double 96” x 24” Vacuum Wheels), Second-Stage Drying/Precleaning System with Continental 3 MBTU Burner and No. 40 Push Fan, 54” Tower Dryer, 96” Continental Inclined Cleaner with Vacuum Wheel over 96” Continental 2-Saw Stick Machine; Distribution/Overflow System with Continental 2-Stand Conveyor Distributor and 72” Automatic Overflow Hopper with Breaker Cylinder; Feeding/Ginning System with two (2) Continental 141-Saw Gins (converted) and 96” Comet Supreme Feeders; Lint Cleaning System with four (4) 66” wide Continental 16-D Lint Cleaners (two tandem arrangements); Condensing/Pressing System with 50” Moss Battery Condenser, 20” x 54” Continental Bespress, and Bale Handling System with Bale Push Cart (manual) and Bagger (powered); five (5) Smith 35/40 Centrifugal Fans (only one season of operation)

* - 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

COTTON FARMING JUNE 2016

COTTONFARMING.COM

Notice To Gins Doing Business With TEEMCO The Texas Cotton Ginners’ Association recently reported that it has received calls from several gins that have used TEEMCO in the past with a concern that they cannot contact the company. TCGA says it does appear that TEEMCO has gone out of business. “If your gin used TEEMCO to develop a Spill Prevention, Control and Countermeasure plan, or if you were using them to do your Tier II reporting, you will likely need to find a new firm to help you,” TCGA says. “Give our association office a call, and we will be glad to help you find another firm to do these services. “Tier II reporting is a high priority, as this program requires an annual report. The SPCC plans do require updates, but only every five years, or whenever there is a material change to your facility. Please give us a call at 512-476-8388 if you have any questions about Tier II reporting or SPCC plans in general.”

MODULE FEEDERS

CHANNEL SAWS

COTTON GIN BRUSHES

BATS & BRUSHES

VERTICAL COMBO DRYER

ROUND MODULE MACHINERY

Cotton’s Calendar 2016 June 7-9: Cotton Incorporated Meeting, Dallas, Texas. June 26-28: TCGA Summer Meeting, Omni La Mansión del Rio, San Antonio, Texas. July 31-Aug. 3: Southern Southeastern Board Meeting, Amelia Island, Fla. Aug. 2-4: Cotton Board/Cotton Incorporated Meeting, Scottsdale, Ariz. Aug. 17: PCCA Board Meeting and Delegate Body Meeting, Lubbock, Texas. Aug. 24-26: NCC Board Meeting, Memphis, Tenn. Sept. 21: Staplcotn Annual Meeting, Greenwood, Miss.

RAM MANUFACTURING COMPANY 1333 E. 44th. ST. Lubbock, TX 79404 806-745-5552 Fax: 806-745-5582 rammfgco@rammfg.net www.rammfg.net

2017

Cotton Ginners Marketplace

Jan. 4-6: Beltwide Cotton Conferences, Dallas, Texas. Jan. 18-21: Southern Southeastern Annual Meeting, Charlotte, N.C. Feb. 10-12: NCC Annual Meeting, Dallas, Texas. Feb. 28-March 1: Cotton Board Meeting. April 6-7: Texas Cotton Ginners Association Trade Show, Lubbock, Texas. June 6-8: Cotton Incorporated Meeting. Aug. 8-10: Cotton Board/Cotton Incorporated Joint Meeting. Aug. 23-25: NCC Board Meeting, Peabody Hotel, Memphis, Tenn. Dec. 5-7: Cotton Board/Cotton Incorporated Joint Meeting.

2018 Jan. 3-5: Beltwide Cotton Conferences, San Antonio, Texas. Feb. 9-11: NCC Annual Meeting, Ft. Worth, Texas. April 5-6: Texas Cotton Ginners Association Trade Show, Lubbock, Texas. TWITTER: @COTTONFARMING

COTTON FARMING JUNE 2016

My Turn Not A Cotton Picker

Mike, Dutch, Charlotte and I finally filled our porting a faded, floppy-brimmed sacks enough to justify toting them over our shoulf e d o r a , A u n t ders to the weigh wagon parked on the turnrow. Blanche would We didn’t tamp down the cotton by banging our lay on the horn of her sacks bottom first on the ground like the grownups bob truck even though or older kids did. Individually, we hooked our pickmy older brother, Mike, ing sacks to the scales first by the wire loop at the and I were waiting for bottom corner of the sack, and then by the shoulder her on our front porch. strap. After we had our sacks weighed, we emptied We grabbed our new them in the trailer, and then wrestled each other on 9-foot-long Bemis Blue the soft mat of seed cotton until Aunt Blanche fussed C a t c o t t o n p i c k i n g at us, running us back into the field. Patrick R. In 1960, 90 percent of all the U.S. cotton grown sacks made of heavy Shepard canvas with rubber dots was handpicked. By ’65, 95 percent was machine on the bottom, and our harvested. I admire those tough men, women and paper bag lunches of rag baloney sandwiches, Lay’s children who picked cotton daily for income – not potato chips and Hostess Cup Cakes, and scram- spending money – until mechanized pickers finally bled into the corroded truck bed already loaded displaced them. And could some of them pick a lot of cotton in with cotton pickers. Dutch and Charlotte, twins one day! The files of my from my second-grade hometown newspaper, class, motioned Mike and “In 1960, 90 percent of U.S. The Democrat Argus, me to sit beside them. Dutch was tow-headed; cotton grown was handpicked.” in Caruthersville, Mo., recorded that in 1902, a Charlotte’s bowl-cut hair was almost as short as her brother’s. We laughed as Newt Adams was proclaimed the picking winner of nearby Braggadocio, having picked 421 pounds on we headed for the country. In the late ’50s, many rural schools in the South the 27th of October. The late, great Dr. Hal Lewis, a life-long champilet out so the children could help their families pick cotton. Back then, I jumped at the chance to get out on of the U.S. cotton industry, especially its farmers, of the classroom and make a little spending money once told me that when his older brother was young, – money to buy a Mickey Mantle baseball glove – by he could pick 500 pounds a day. One time from a turnrow on their Dell, Ark., family farm, Hal said picking cotton on Aunt Blanche’s farm. he was watching his brother pick, and their father I picked cotton, but I was not a cotton picker. That first morning, I reached down to pull what remarked, “He’s a cotton-pickin’ dude.” Hal nodded. I thought was a big bottom boll, but instead was a “That he is.” Then the father regarded Hal, smiled, baby rabbit. Mike, who was a fourth-grader, several and said, “And you’re a dude pickin’ cotton.” Hal other children and I played with that rabbit until nodded again. “That I am.” I enjoyed my two weeks of picking cotton in 1959. the grownups made us go back to work. Later, while I was bent over a cotton row pulling lint from point- Savoring temporary freedom from school. Doing ed burrs, something thumped the side of my head fun things like chunking green bolls and wrestling and plopped to the ground; a green boll rolled at my in cotton trailers with my older brother and our feet in the furrow. I looked up. Charlotte, a few feet friends. Earning money to help buy a coveted basebehind Dutch several rows over, giggled at me and ball glove instead of asking my parents for it. I picked cotton, but I was not a cotton picker. nodded at her brother. I started chunking top green Squinting from beneath her floppy fedora, Aunt bolls at him, and he threw several back. Mike and Charlotte joined in. A few stray shots struck some Blanche would’ve grunted in agreement. grownups, who yelled at us to stop horsing around. – Patrick R. Shepard, Germantown, Tenn. We did, but behind the grownups’ backs, we smiled patrickrshepard@att.net conspiratorially.

Cotton Farming’s back page is devoted to telling unusual “farm tales” or timely stories from across the Cotton Belt. Now it’s your turn. If you’ve got an interesting story to tell, send a short summary to csmith@onegrower.com. We look forward to hearing from you.

COTTON FARMING JUNE 2016

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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

Sammy Henderson—Cairo Farmers Gin, Humboldt, TN

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