Cotton Farming JUne 2020

Cotton Farming ONE GROWER PUBLISHING, LLC

PROFITABLE PRODUCTION STRATEGIES

JUNE 2020

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Public Enemy No. 1 Follow Dynamic Stink Bug Thresholds To Time Sprays

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Vol. 64 No. 6

Cotton Farming PROFITABLE PRODUCTION STRATEGIES

JUNE 2020

www.cottonfarming.com

F E AT U R E S

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Unwanted Pests

In the Southeast cotton belt, stink bugs are public enemy No. 1 year in and year out, feeding on developing seeds within the bolls, reducing yield potential and fiber quality and promoting hardlock. To help growers and consultants manage the pest, Southeast Extension specialists 10 years ago developed a dynamic treatment threshold based on seed damage within young bolls. And it still remains valid today.

D E PA R T M E N T S & C O LU M N S

4 5 6

Editor’s Note 12 Industry News Cotton’s Agenda 16 Specialists Speaking Research & Promotion 22 My Turn

ON THE COVER: A green stink bug feeds on a cotton boll.

Cover photo by Susan Ellis; bugwood.org.

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REVIEW FUNDAMENTALS

11

SCG ELECTS PRESIDENT

14

REDOUBLING THE EFFORT

19

GINNING MARKETPLACE

Cotton farmers are urged to develop a sound weed management program and get back to the basics in controlling Palmer amaranth.

South Carolina farmer Rusty Darby will serve as president of Southern Cotton Growers Inc. to capitalize on future opportunities for cotton.

The cotton industry focuses on educating and training farmers and gin employees to reduce the growing plastic contamination issue.

THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE GINNING INDUSTRY

The Joint Cotton Industry Bale Packaging Committee 2020 specification recommendations for cotton are approved for Commodity Credit Corp. loan program purposes with a few revisions.

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 13 or online at cottonfarming.com/ccoy.

Deadline for nominations is July 31.

NOMINAT

Submit

by July nominations 31, 2020 .

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

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:

State: Email:

TwiTTer : @CoTTon Farming

M

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 Consultan ants and support t’s Name: industry for the nomine Company 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 t, who will at a special 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.

Sponso red by

Zip:

Cotton Farming

JUNE 2020

| COTTON

FARMING

13

WEB EXCLUSIVE The giant, invasive, much-publicized “murder hornet” has not yet been spotted in Texas. However, to err on the side of safety, Gov. Greg Abbott has requested that Texas A&M AgriLife experts mobilize a task force to head off its possible emergence. The goal is to protect Texas citizens, agriculture and honey bees. 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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JUNE 2020 | COTTON FARMING

3

Editor’s Note

Cotton Farming

Carroll Smith

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

It’s Time To Set The Pace

D

“

rivers, start your engines!” is the official command that announces the beginning of the Indianapolis 500, which has been billed as the “Greatest Spectacle in Racing.” It’s a daring, daunting, twisting, turning three-and-a-half hour adrenaline rush before the checkered flag signals a winner.

Although there is no master of ceremonies or flagman on the turnrow, cotton farmers have their own signals to indicate the onset of the season.

It may be something as simple as the way the dirt smells on a spring morning as you load the planter. Once the seed is in the ground, the race to harvest is on. And June is the month to set the pace.

The first 40 days after planting is the most critical time in cotton production, and farmers are encouraged to keep the crop stress free before it enters the reproductive stage. Seed companies have upped their game by providing a robust roster of herbicide- and insect-resistant traits and finetuning other variety characteristics to give farmers a good base with which to work. But to protect the optimum yield and fiber-quality potential, farmers still need to follow best management practices to control weeds, insects and disease.

In the weed control arena, cotton farmers are more familiar than they would like with Palmer amaranth, or Palmer pigweed. First spotted in a cotton field in Macon County, Georgia, in 2004, the weed has been a formidable, fast-growing foe capable of taking over a crop in a heartbeat.

Although great strides have been made over the years to control Palmer pigweed, it continues to adapt and bounce back. However, the pest’s resiliency is no reason to give up. On page 10, University of Georgia Extension weed specialist Stanley Culpepper outlines the steps to developing a sound, weed management program to give farmers the edge they need to regain the upper hand.

As far as insect challenges, the stink bug claims the title of Public Enemy No. 1 in the Southeast. On pages 8 and 9, Ron Smith, Auburn University Extension cotton entomologist, and Georgia cotton consultant Jack Royal share tips for scouting and controlling the elusive pest. And on page 7, Louisiana cotton consultant Richard Griffing talks about his experiences with plant bugs and bollworms, which also can pose a threat to yield and fiber quality. For state-specific perspectives on keeping the young crop stress free, check out the Extension cotton specialists comments beginning on page 16.

In addition to perusing the production articles, we also invite you to read this month’s My Turn column on page 22 written by the late Patrick Shepard and originally published in June 2016. Patrick was the editor of Cotton Farming magazine from 1979-1993 and a respected ag journalist for many years. He will be missed.

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.

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

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COTTON FARMING | JUNE 2020

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Cotton’s Agenda Gary Adams

Chosen Cotton With the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol’s launch underway this summer, the National Cotton Council was very pleased to learn that the industry’s sustainability initiative is now included in the Textile Exchange’s list of preferred fibers/materials.

Why is this inclusion significant? n The Trust Protocol, which has a goal of confirming and increasing awareness that U.S. cotton producers are farming responsibly, now is one of 36 fibers/materials in Textile Exchange’s (TE) Material Change Index program. That means that the Trust Protocol provides another sustainable cotton option for TE’s 170-plus participating brands and retailers. The TE is a global nonprofit committed to accelerating sustainable practices in the textile value chain. The exchange defines a preferred fiber or material as one which results in improved environmental and/or social sustainability outcomes/ impacts compared to conventional production.

As a preferred The NCC encourages all U.S. cotton producers to en- cotton fiber, roll in the voluntary U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol being t h e T r u s t Protocol joins launched this summer. a global portfolio of sustainable production initiatives that includes the Better Cotton Initiative (BCI), Cotton Made in Africa, Fairtrade Cotton, Organic Cotton, the REEL Cotton Program, the International Sustainability & Carbon Certification program, and Recycled Cotton.

Any other developments? n We also are pleased that Control Union Certifications North America (CUC) was selected to implement an independent, third-party verification program for the Trust Protocol. The CUC’s agriculture standards, experience and impeccable reputation will pro-

vide brands, retailers and consumers assurance that the Trust Protocol is meeting the highest standards of sustainability. The CUC has certified more than 150 programs worldwide, including working as a key partner in the early development and piloting phases of Field to Market’s Impact Claim Verification Protocol.

CUC auditors in the United States have a long history of working with corn, soy and canola on standards focused on land conversion, irrigation systems, water management, integrated pest management, soil protection, crop rotation and conservation practices. U.S. cotton producers enrolling in the Trust Protocol will complete a self-assessment of farming practices and share their field data through Field to Market’s Fieldprint Platform. The CUC will verify the Trust Protocol annual data that will highlight key sustainability metrics. These include land use, soil carbon, water management, soil loss, greenhouse gas emissions and energy efficiency.

What about Protocol enrollment?

n To date, about 300 U.S. cotton producers participated in the pilot phase, but enrollment efforts are being ramped up with the Trust Protocol’s official launch this summer.

More information, including an informative question and answer section, is at https:// TrustUsCotton.org — where producers also can enroll. Questions can be directed to Trust Protocol Executive Director Ken Burton at kburton@cotton.org.

The NCC encourages all U.S. cotton producers to enroll in this voluntary sustainability program. In a period of greater supply chain scrutiny and a growing demand for transparency, the Trust Protocol will bring quantifiable and verifiable goals and measurement to the issue of sustainable U.S. cotton production. It also will drive continuous improvement in key sustainability metrics.

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

Twitter: @CottonFarming

JUNE 2020 | COTTON FARMING

5

RESEARCH & PROMOTION

No Islands In The Cotton Belt

I

n late 2018, I was in Lamesa, Texas, visiting my friend, and Cotton Board member, Matt Farmer, during cotton harvest. A film crew accompanied me because we were capturing some footage of Matt, his operation and his family, to create a video for our Forever Cotton campaign.

During my visit, Matt threw out these great little sayings and nuggets of wisdom. Sometimes they were one-liners like, “The best thing you can put on your crop is your shadow.” Other times they were hilarious jokes at his or (more often) my expense.

One of the things Matt said has stuck with me ever since. “A lot of times out here on the farm you can start to feel like you’re on an

BY STACEY GORMAN island or you’re alone,” he says.

MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE “But then, I start to think about all the people who are actually working right alongside me through the Cotton Research and Promotion Program. The research and marketing Cotton Incorporated does on behalf of all U.S. cotton farmers allows us to do things that none of us could ever afford to do on our own.” Matt was right.

I absolutely get it and am starting to feel a bit like I am on an island myself. I miss attending industry meetings and having personal contact with my cotton friends and colleagues, so I can only imagine how producers are feeling. Right now is an especially hard time to be a cotton grower. Prices are low and input costs are high, yet the global economy still depends on farmers to feed and clothe the world. Producers have to wonder — given all that is going on — if they are in this alone.

Program Endures Since 1966 The good news is the U.S. cotton industry is a tight-knit group and has never backed down during tough times. In fact, the Cotton Research and Promotion Program was designed for challenging periods by a group of cotton producers who took the long view. The farmers who helped launch the program in 1966 faced similar difficulties — declining market share, low prices and energized competition. They came together to ensure there was a future for cotton.

While the 2020 Cotton Incorporated plan and budget is focused on this goal, it must now pivot and work with a laser focus on the industry’s immediate concerns. Berrye Worsham, president and CEO of Cotton Incorporated, says that with each new challenge we face, the cotton industry builds upon the solid foundation of the program.

“In the face of the severe market disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the 50 years of cotton research and promotion that Cotton Incorporated has done will be more important than ever as the industry works to rebuild and retool the downstream supply chain for cotton products,” he says. “Revitalization of the downstream supply

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COTTON FARMING | JUNE 2020

Texas cotton producer Matt Farmer appreciates the tightknit U.S. cotton community. chain is critical in order to regain consumer demand and strengthen producer prices.”

Worsham’s perspective isn’t just lip service. The team working on behalf of cotton growers and importers at Cotton Incorporated is proving its ability to quickly adapt across the board. In response to a changing consumer climate, Cotton Incorporated’s Consumer Marketing department launched a new advertising campaign sharing a simple message: Stay home, stay safe and stay comfortable.

The new videos were created at record speed and illustrate how cotton remains “The Fabric Of Our Lives” no matter the circumstances.

Teamwork Keeps Cotton Strong Many of the companies that import cotton products into the United States and help fund the Research and Promotion Program are shifting gears and working to get personal protective equipment into the hands of our healthcare workers and others. Cotton Incorporated’s non-wovens team has been working with our colleagues in the retail/brand community to find solutions to the serious PPE shortages facing the country.

To better understand consumer habits and attitudes, the Cotton Incorporated Corporate Strategy & Insights department has been conducting surveys on the impact of COVID19 on their shopping habits. Cotton Incorporated’s Global Supply Chain Marketing department is leveraging this information and sharing it with companies, organizations and associations in the world supply chain to help build cotton demand.

There are no islands in the Cotton Belt and no castaway cotton producers. As we each work to make the most from the cards we have been dealt, please rest assured that the program is right alongside you, intent on increasing the demand for and profitability of cotton.

Gorman is The Cotton Board’s director of communications.

Contact her at sgorman@cottonboard.org.

COTTONFARMING.COM

Cotton Consultant’s Corner

Hit Plant Bugs Early And Stay On Them Richard Griffing Griffing Consulting LLC Monterey, Louisiana

Growing up in Jonesville, Louisiana, I developed an interest in agriculture. When I was 17 years old, I met cotton consultant Roger Carter literally on the turnrow. I did a two-year summer internship with him while in college and later worked for him full-time before starting my own business in 1998. Today, I stay in close contact with other Mid-South consultants, sharing information about what we are seeing, what we are doing, what’s working and what is not.

The 2019 cotton season was difficult because of the tremendous rains we experienced. But in the end, we had some really good yields. Since we plant mostly two-gene Bt cotton varieties, we learned a lot about how to manage plant growth regulators, plant bug sprays and worm sprays. Applying PGRs to keep the cotton short makes it easier for insecticides to penetrate the canopy and helps prevent target spot and other late-season diseases.

Plant Bugs And Bollworms Our two biggest cotton insect issues are plant bugs and bollworms. When plant bugs start showing up at pinhead square, I apply two shots of Transform® WG insecticide back to back about seven to 10 days apart. We hit plant bugs early and stay on them to keep them from blowing up. After the second Transform application, we rotate out to other modes of action for resistance management. We want to keep Transform around as long as we can.

Vydate® C-LV insecticide/nematicide typically goes out in the third application to control plant bugs and help with nematodes in our lighter soils. I like to switch off to Vydate and other chemistries for a couple of shots and then come back to Transform later in the season. I usually make six plant bug treatments during the year. We have to stay on plant bugs until the bitter end, or they will tear us up.

I try to keep the spray volume at 10 gallons of water per acre with a ground rig and 5 gallons with an airplane. I also use a lot of crop oil in the sprays for better coverage and penetration to control plant bugs down in the canopy. Making timely applications and keeping cotton away from corn also helps with plant bug control.

We typically see our first big bollworm egg lay in cotton about July 4. We start spraying eggs with diamide insecticides to get on top of them. We sometimes spray them twice. If you wait to find worms, you have missed out and will take damage.

Cotton has always been my first love. It’s what got us to where we are, so don't give up on it. If you apply PGRs, make plant bug and bollworm sprays, and we don't get a hurricane, everything will work out.

• B.S., agronomy with an emphasis on pest management, Louisiana Tech University, 1988.

• Consulted for 33 years. In 1998, established Griffing Consulting LLC — a full-service business.

• Consults on cotton, soybeans, rice, corn, millet, wheat, oats and milo in Catahoula, Concordia, Franklin and Tensas parishes.

• Member of the Louisiana Agricultural Consultants Association and served on the Executive Board.

• Member of the Ferriday, Louisiana, Rotary Club and the New Covenant Presbyterian Church in Natchez, Mississippi.

• Married to Rachel White Griffing. Four children: Caleb, Austin, Hannah and Kristen. Four grandchildren: Rhett, 5; Mabry, 2; Ridge, 3 months; and Rosey, 3 weeks.

• Enjoys crappie fishing, bow hunting, traveling, attending LSU ball games and spending time with family.

Recap: Hit Plant Bugs Early And Stay On Them

t

1. When plant bugs start showing up at pinhead square, I apply two shots of Transform® WG insecticide back to back about seven to 10 days apart.

2. Vydate® C-LV insecticide/nematicide typically goes out in the third application to control plant bugs and help with nematodes in our lighter soils.

3. I like to switch off to Vydate and other chemistries for a couple of shots and then come back to Transform later in the season. I usually make six plant bug treatments.

4. I also use a lot of crop oil in the sprays for better coverage and penetration to control plant bugs down in the canopy.

Sponsored by

TM ® Trademarks of Dow AgroSciences, DuPont or Pioneer, and their affiliated companies or their respective owners. Vydate C-LV is a Restricted Use Pesticide. Isoclast is a registered active ingredient. Transform WG and Vydate are not registered for sale or use in all states. Contact your state pesticide regulatory agency to determine if a product is registered for sale or use in your state. Always read and follow label directions. © Corteva 2020.

Twitter: @CottonFarming

JUNE 2020 | COTTON FARMING

7

COVER STORY

Southern green stink bug

BRIAN LITTLE, UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA; BUGWOOD.ORG

COURTESY UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE

COURTESY UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE

PHIL ROBERTS, UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA; BUGWOOD.ORG

� E � N U�W� Brown stink bug

Green stink bug

Brown marmorated stink bug

Public Enemy No. 1 Follow Dynamic Stink Bug Thresholds To Time Sprays, Maximize Cotton Yields In The Southeast

BY VICKY BOYD MANAGING EDITOR

I

n the Southeast cotton belt, stink bugs are public enemy No. 1 year in and year out, feeding on developing seeds within the bolls, reducing yield potential and fiber quality, and promoting hardlock.

“For the Southeast, it’s been a pest that hasn’t been given as much visibility as it should have been,” says Ron Smith, Auburn University Extension cotton entomologist.

“It doesn’t impact the rest of the cotton belt quite like it does here. The stink bug is the dominant economic pest on over 2 million acres of cotton in the Southeast U.S. It’s the one that causes us the most Ron damage every year. In some fields, it’s Smith even the first insect that requires a foliar spray during the fruiting season once we get beyond thrips.”

Leary, Georgia, consultant Jack Royal agrees, calling stink bugs a “silent killer.”

“I think stink bugs are probably the hardest pest you have to scout for because they’re so elusive,” he says.

The good news is cotton entomologists in the Southeast worked collaboratively to develop dynamic treatment thresholds based on seed damage within young bolls.

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COTTON FARMING | JUNE 2020

Included were researchers from North Carolina State University, Virginia Tech, Clemson University, University of Georgia and Auburn University.

Although the thresholds were released in 2010, they remain valid today, Smith says.

Begin Scouting First Week Of Bloom Scouting begins the first week of bloom by selecting bolls between 0.9- and 1.1inch diameter. Those sized bolls are still soft, making them the most attractive for stink bug feeding that particular week, Smith says.

Jack “You’re capturing damage that was Royal done in the last seven days,” he says.

Once bolls reach 1.25-inch diameter, they are no longer attractive to stink bugs.

Collect at least one boll per acre and no fewer than 25 bolls. Crack and examine the bolls with external lesions first for signs of internal damage, which include boll wall warts and stained seed and lint.

Then crack the remaining bolls. Divide the number of bolls with damage by the total number of bolls collected for the percent damaged.

COTTONFARMING.COM

Dynamic Treatment Scale Tied to boll sampling is a dynamic treatment scale that uses higher thresholds during cotton growth stages with lower vulnerability, such as weeks 1 to 2 and weeks 6 to 9 of bloom. During weeks 3 through 5 of the bloom period, the thresholds drop to 10% internal damage.

“That’s when the biggest number of bolls are at risk,” Smith says. “As the cotton cuts out and matures, we go back and have fewer and fewer bolls at risk.”

Because of the Southeast region’s long growing season and the fact that he tries to maximize lint proDynamic Stink Bug Thresholds duction, Smith likes to extend the 10% threshold Week of Threshold (% internal to week 7 before relaxing bloom: boll damage) it.

1 50% Royal says he is slight2 30% ly more aggressive and will recommend treat3 10% ment at 7% to 8% dam4 10% age during the high-vulnerability period.

5 10% “I don’t want 10%,” he 6 20% says. “We want to make 3 to 3-plus bales.”

7 30% Smith says most grow8 50% ers in the Southeast make three applications each season for stink bugs.

During most years, Royal says his growers make two stink bug treatments annually, with Bidrin being the insecticide of choice.

The difference may be that about 90% of the corn acres in Royal’s area are sprayed once for stink bugs.

Corn is a preferred host. Once that crop begins to dry down, stink bugs move into cotton. By knocking down populations in corn, it temporarily reduces the threat to cotton.

“We spray our corn — we’re pretty proactive with stink bugs because we’ve seen what they can do,” Royal says.

Know Thy Enemy Thresholds are just one part of the treatment equation.

Identifying the stink bug species also is important because of varying insecticide efficacy.

The southern green stink bug is the most common stink bug species in parts of Georgia and Alabama whereas the green stink bug is more prevalent in North Carolina and Virginia.

The brown stink bug is found in smaller numbers throughout the Southeast. In his area of southwest Georgia, Royal says the brown is the predominate species.

Twitter: @CottonFarming

PHIL ROBERTS, UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA; BUGWOOD.ORG

Smith admits the technique requires time. But he says it is more accurate and still less time consuming than using a drop cloth. Sweep net sampling also doesn’t reflect actual stink bug damage.

“The biggest problem with stink bug control is farmers are just not pulling enough bolls to sample,” he says.

“That’s the most accurate scouting technique we have today, but it takes time.”

In addition to pulling bolls to look for damage, Royal says they also make 50-100 sweeps of a field as they scout to get an idea of overall stink bug numbers.

When you crush the boll, look for internal damage caused by stink bugs.

A relative newcomer to the northern half of Alabama is the brown marmorated stink bug. A native of eastern Asia, it was first confirmed in Pennsylvania in 2001.

BMSB has since ravaged fruit production along the Atlantic coast and expanded its range. It feeds on more than 170 host plants that include tree fruit, almonds, hazelnuts, snap beans, tomatoes, corn, soybeans and cotton.

“They’ll feed on any size boll,” Smith says. “They’re not selective at all, so they will absolutely zero the plant out as far as bolls that are damaged.”

“The stink bug is the dominant economic pest on over 2 million acres of cotton in the Southeast U.S. It’s the one that causes us the most damage every year.”

Unlike other stink bug species that tend to feed throughout a field, BMSB are more border feeders. The first 50 feet or so around a field perimeter may exhibit 100% damage, he says.

BMSB aggregate in the fall in large numbers, overwintering in old barns, leaf litter and nearby pine forests.

In the spring, they are particularly attracted to tree of heaven, w and sassafras trees. They later move into field borders.

“If there’s any corn in the area, they’ll go to corn in the vegettive stage,” Smith says. “They’ll move to cotton when the corn cuts out,” eventually moving to soybeans as cotton matures.

The same scouting and treatment thresholds apply to all four stink bug species. Several organophosphates and pyrethroids are labeled for stink bug control.

Although all pyrethroids have activity on stink bugs, he says bifenthrin is more effective than other pyrethroids on brown stink bugs.

The difference is not because of insecticide resistance, Smith says. Rather, brown stink bugs have always been slightly more difficult to control with pyrethroids.

None of the labeled products have a long residual.

Unless stink bugs migrate into a field from another host, typical treatments should hold the insect pest for 10 to 14 days, he says.

JUNE 2020 | COTTON FARMING

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Develop Sound Weed Management Program Cotton Farmers Urged To Get Back To The Basics In Controlling Palmer Amaranth

BY AMANDA HUBER SOUTHEAST EDITOR

C

otton farmers have made monumental advancements in weed control and pesticide stewardship across Georgia during the past five years, according to University of Georgia Extension weed specialist Stanley Culpepper. Additionally, pesticide drift complaints have dropped 76% during that time.

“Although clear progress has been made managing pigweed, the pest remains resilient. In 2019, Palmer amaranth was confirmed to be resistant to herbicides including Reflex, Cobra and Ultra Blazer (PPO herbicides).”

manner to control Palmer that is 3 inches or less.

“If the at-plant herbicide does not perform, the first topical application may need to occur around 10 days after planting. Otherwise, the first application is likely needed at 14 to 18 days.

“Liberty, 2,4-D or dicamba mixtures can all be effective, if timely, but these products will not consistently control Palmer larger than 3 inches,” Culpepper says. “Do not make more than two applications of these active ingredients during a cotton crop and follow all label restrictions.”

Pigweed-Free Planting Zone Culpepper says producers should review the basic principles of a sound weed management program. Step one is to not plant into fields with emerged pigweed.

“Planting into fields with emerged Palmer amaranth remains one of the greatest mistakes growers make. Valor, Direx, Gramoxone, 2,4-D and/or dicamba are among the most effective tools to prepare for planting into a Palmerfree field.”

Producers should apply burndown at least 14 days prior to planting. Then, scout fields a day or two prior to planting, and if Palmer has come up, control those before planting.

Final Directed Application The final step of an effective weed management program is a directed or hooded herbicide application, which Culpepper says is needed in most fields.

“This application will improve weed control, reduce cotton injury and decrease selection pressure that creates resistance to topically applied herbicides. Layby applications with products like diuron, Valor, Cotoran, Envoke or other non-auxin/Liberty-type products are encouraged.”

Drought conditions, which are usually experienced during at least a portion of nearly every season, will affect weed management.

“Most weeds, especially Palmer amaranth, become more tolerant to topically applied herbicides under dry conditions. Although it is not always possible to eliminate drought periods, herbicide applications made in the morning, when plants are less stressed, may be more effective,” Culpepper says.

Remember to follow label directions for drift.

Preemergence Applications The next step is to apply preemergence herbicides, which are the most effective tool to prevent resistance to postemergence herbicides.

Culpepper says, “Research conducted across Georgia during 2018/19 showed that an effective preemergence herbicide mix reduced the number of pigweed needing to be controlled by the first postemergence or topical spray by 99.8%.”

The second most effective approach is a rolled rye cover crop, reducing Palmer emergence by 75%.

“Growers should always mix two active ingredients effective on pigweed, applying them preemergence at rates that will not harm cotton.” He also says, removing the at-plant herbicide application is not a good decision and will lead to rapid resistance to topically applied herbicides.

Timeliness Is Critical Even when at-plant herbicides perform well, pigweed has often emerged by 14 days after planting. The next step is to apply topical herbicides sequentially in a timely

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Avoid Future Problems When producers are looking to reduce costs, Auburn University Extension weed specialist Steve Li says chemicals and fertilizers are typically among the first inputs that are cut.

However, reducing weed control efforts could seriously affect future operations.

“One year of sloppy pigweed management can result in significant expenses for cleanup over the next three to five years,” he says. “Try to start clean, spray everything timely and use plenty of residual herbicides preemergence, first postemergence and as layby applications. Doing this will hopefully help you to avoid a second broadcast treatment over the top using more expensive postemergence herbicides.”

COTTONFARMING.COM

Rusty Darby Elected President Of Southern Cotton Growers Inc.

BY BRAD ROBB

S

outh Carolina cotton producer Rusty Darby understands what negative impacts the U.S. trade war with China and the global pandemic continue to have on world cotton demand. Therefore, he assumed his role as the new president of Southern Cotton Growers Inc. with a proactive mindset and a long-term vision.

Darby’s tenure on national and regional cotton organization boards has honed his perspectives on issues facing U.S. cotton producers.

“Our domestic cotton industry is encountering adversity like we have not seen since the boll weevil,” he says.

“Cotton sales to our largest customer, China, were starting to trend up, but this pandemic has not only shuttered consumers, it has stalled supply chains. Now is the time to plan strategically for the future.”

Darby told David Ruppenicker, CEO of the Dawsonville, Georgia-based cotton association, he wants to strengthen the organization’s service to its members and its efforts to influence cotton policy on their behalf.

At the January annual meeting, Darby and Ruppenicker received board approval to contract with an outside agency to create an organizational evaluation survey. Its purpose is to gather input from member constituents across Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia.

“Those farmers pay assessments to this organization,” Darby says. “We want them to know how we are investing those funds to influence domestic cotton policy on their behalf and increase world cotton demand through our support of Cotton Council International. This survey will let them share opinions or concerns and broaden SCG communication channels moving forward.”

Ruppenicker says, “As the overseas promotion arm of the National Cotton Council, CCI’s work is essential to the development of international demand for U.S. cotton.

Their marketing programs continue paying dividends to our industry.”

One of SCG’s messages touts U.S. cotton’s sustainability efforts.

U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol Darby is South Carolina’s member on The Cotton Board, composed of cotton producers and cotton importers.

“Importers work for brands and retailers like Wrangler, American Eagle, Target and Walmart that import cotton apparel and products into the United States,” he says.

“Consumers today want products that are sustainable, traceable and produced responsibly. The U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol, created through the National Cotton Council, is a volunteer program allowing U.S. producers to highlight their farm’s sustainability achievements and have them shared with cotton buyers and customers across the world.

“Grower involvement isn’t just necessary, it’s critical as companies and their shareholders continue basing their Twitter: @CottonFarming

Rusty Darby, who farms near Chester, South Carolina, has his cotton planter ready to roll. Dot, his trusty blue heeler, is never far from his side. cotton buying decisions on corporate environmental and social responsibility goals and requirements. All farms are different, but all farmers need to highlight their own track record of sustainability success by enrolling in the program at www.trustuscotton.org.”

A board of governance that represents all industry segments has established sustainability goals. These include measured increases in production and irrigation efficiencies, and reductions in greenhouse gases, carbon, soil loss and energy use collectively across all U.S. cotton farming operations by 2025. Darby understands some farmers may be hesitant to share specific details of their operations and production practices.

“They have to move past those concerns and enroll in the program to continue our strength of a unified industry voice that has been a linchpin to our success for so long,” he says. “The U.S. producer segment must be responsive to this program or risk being left behind.”

Positive Outlook For Cotton’s Future April 25 was Darby’s target date to plant cotton if soil temperatures were warm enough. As much as it hurts, he is decreasing his cotton acres this year and will double crop an alternative crop after the wheat harvest.

“I have a family will dating back to 1820 verifying cotton was produced on this farm,” he says. “I look forward to working with the SCG board and staff to capitalize on future opportunities for cotton as we move past these times of uncertainty in health and world cotton trade.”

To receive timely news about cotton and agriculture, “like” the Southern Southeastern Facebook page.

Freelance writer Brad Robb submitted this article on behalf of Southern Cotton Growers Inc. JUNE 2020 | COTTON FARMING

11

Industry News U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol Selects Third-Party Verification Partner

Got Hog Damage?

There’s An App For That According to a Mississippi State University research study, feral pigs cause $66 million in property damage in the Magnolia State each year.

With the wild hog population increasing and damage estimates constantly changing, it’s now easier to report and assess impacts with a newly designed MSU app.

The “Feral Pig Damage” app allows users to report the location of wild hog sightings and the damage they cause in real time. Users can pinpoint or draw a polygon on a specif-

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COTTON FARMING | JUNE 2020

‘Cold Front’ Line Designed To Beat The Summer Heat Big Ass Fans, based in Lexington, Kentucky, has a new line of evaporative coolers — also known as swamp coolers — ready to attack and defeat stifling, stagnant air.

Cold Front comes in a range of sizes to fit different spaces and uses a standard 110 V power supply. The company says the coolers deliver a temperature reduction up to 33 degrees Fahrenheit.

Features include quiet, efficient variable-speed motors and thick, resin-treated media. The fans have an internal water reservoir supplied by a standard garden hose and are suitable for indoor and outdoor use.

For more details, visit bigassfans.com or call 877-244-3267.

To learn more, visit wildpiginfo. msstate.edu.

ic location, upload photos, estimate economic loss and describe multiple attributes about the type of damage.

These include crop type, whether it’s an agricultural, hardwood or pine area, as well as growth stage.

St. John Family Endowed Professor of Wildlife Management Bronson Strickland says he hopes the app helps provide a more complete picture of the intensity and location of damage to help refine economic estimates.

“The end result is to know where wild hog densities are greatest so that we can better manage those populations,” Strickland says.

The app is available for download in the Apple Store. Visit https://apple. co/3cJvkNJ. Android download is available at https://bit.ly/2XdiqAS.

Vidalia Mills Helps Produce Healthcare Masks & Gowns

KAREN BRASHER

The U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol has selected Control Union Certifications North America to implement an independent, third-party verification program for the Trust Protocol system.

Data about Trust Protocol cotton is proven via Field to Market, measured via the Field Calculator and now will be verified by CUC. Control Union Certifications has certified more than 150 programs worldwide, including working as a key partner in the early development and piloting phases of Field to Market’s Impact Claim Verification Protocol. CUC has also worked with the Better Cotton Initiative on its third-party verification programs in multiple countries.

U.S. cotton producers will complete a farming practices self-assessment and share their field data through Field to Market’s Fieldprint Platform. The CUC will verify the Trust Protocol annual data that will highlight key sustainability metrics, such as land use, soil carbon, water management, soil loss, greenhouse gas emissions and energy efficiency.

“Control Union’s agriculture standards, experience and impeccable reputation will provide brands, retailers and consumers assurance that the cotton fiber sourced through the Trust Protocol is continually improving,” says Ken Burton, executive director of the Trust Protocol.

The Trust Protocol was recently added to Textile Exchange’s list of preferred fibers and materials. For more information, please visit https:// TrustUsCotton.org.

BASF’s e3 sustainable cotton farmers have a new story: Providing materials for workers on the front lines in the fight against COVID-19.

Vidalia Mills is a North American maker of yarns and denim fabrics and e3 sustainable cotton partner.

The facility has joined forces with Keep It Here, a Los Angeles-based manufacturer of T-shirts, jeans and other clothing, to produce and distribute surgical masks, gowns and face masks made from e3 sustainable cotton.

“Our mission for cotton sustainability is centered around connecting the entire farmer-to-retailer channel,” says Jennifer Crumpler, director, BASF e3 sustainable cotton program.

“We’re proud of our e3 sustainable cotton farmers and partners for taking that connection one step further by transforming sustainable cotton into crucial medical supplies needed during this unprecedented time.”

For more information, visit https:// bit.ly/36c13EW. COTTONFARMING.COM

40

th

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:

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 Twitter: @CottonFarming

Zip:

Zip:

Cotton Farming

JUNE 2020 | COTTON FARMING

13

VICKY BOYD

During 2019, 51.7% of all plastic calls at the Corpus Christi, Texas, cotton classing office were yellow, followed by 29.7% pink, 6.5% blue and 5.1% other.

Redoubling The Effort Industry Focuses On Prevention To Reduce Growing Plastic Contamination Issue

BY VICKY BOYD MANAGING EDITOR

P

lastic contamination has long been the bane of the U.S. cotton industry, which prides itself on producing a clean, quality product. Efforts to reduce the problem have redoubled in the past few years as plastic contamination continues to grow, partly due to new round bale technology.

At the center of industry efforts is educating and training farmers and gin employees about ways to prevent plastic from making it to the gin.

“We need to do a better job from the field to the gin point of trying to eliminate any of this plastic from getting into the gin in the first place,” says Tony Williams, executive director of the Texas Cotton Ginners’ Association.

“Education I think is the key ­— not just for us as gin members, but it really has to go back to the guy who’s operating that harvest equipment.”

His comments came during a recent online plastic contamination seminar hosted by Texas A&M AgriLife Extension

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Service offices in Nueces and San Patricio counties.

San Patricio County also is home to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s cotton classing office in Corpus Christi, which had the dubious distinction of having nearly 40% — or 1,587 — of all plastic-contaminated bales in the country in 2019. The Lamesa, Texas, classing office, on the other hand, had only 93 plastic calls.

Because each office handles a different amount of cotton, the overall numbers don’t tell the whole story, says Ben Roble, Corpus Christi classing office area director.

With the 2019 crop, his office had one plastic call for every 1,348 bales classed. On the other end of the spectrum, the classing office in Florence, South Carolina, had one plastic call for every 16,797 bales classed.

“We’ve stayed like that during the past two years — nothing has changed,” he says. “I was seeing a sample with plastic every hour. In Florence, they were seeing a sample every shift or possibly even longer.”

COTTONFARMING.COM

“We need to do a better job from the field to the gin point of trying to eliminate any of this plastic from getting into the gin in the first place.”

Oversized Modules Cause Heartburn The high numbers alarmed Jeff Nunley, executive director of the South Texas Cotton & Grain Association, which represents 33 counties that feed into the Corpus Christi classing office.

“We certainly can’t afford the reputation — that’s my biggest concern — that we become recognized as an area that has a problem with plastic contamination and it affects our ability to market cotton,” Nunley says.

To get to the root of the problem, he surveyed gin members about practices that work and don’t work as well as ideas about how gins and growers could address it.

About 30% of the gins responded, representing about 654,000 bales. The best gin had 1 plastic bale per 5,600 bales ginned with the worst one having 1 plastic bale per 400 bales. The remaining gins averaged 1 plastic bale per 2,100 bales.

The No. 1 complaint from the gin respondents was oversized modules — those exceeding 94 inches in diameter — that don’t fit properly on the module trucks. As a result, the plastic wrap may tear or rip during transport or unloading.

When the damaged bales are set on the module feeders at the gin, the plastic pieces flow in with the cotton.

Gin respondents also mentioned plastic tails from end rolls of bale wrap, broken modules in the field and placing modules on shredded cotton stalks in staging areas that could rip the wrap.

Not only does plastic sully the industry’s reputation, but it also can affect producers since they ultimately bear the costs, says John Robinson, a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension cotton marketing specialist.

Buyers may discount cotton classed as 71 or 72 by up to 40 cents, paying only 15 to 25 cents per pound. That is if they buy it at all, he says. Some buyers in the past have rejected entire containers because of plastic contamination.

Contamination Summit For years, the industry had a minor problem with plastic contaminants, averaging less than 100 calls annually for the entire country. In what some called an eye-opener, every classing office in 2017 had calls for what at the time was termed non-plant contaminants. Of those, 91% were plastic comprising mostly yellow, but also with smaller amounts of pink and black.

With the 2018 crop, AMS cotton classing offices began separating out plastic contamination and tagging those bales as 71 (light contamination) or 72 (heavy contamination).

Acting to address the issue, the industry called a contamination summit in May 2018. From that, the National Cotton Council developed a 12-part training video in both English (https://youtu.be/5Pja_HbMElA) and Spanish Twitter: @CottonFarming

VICKY BOYD

TONY WILLIAMS, executive director of the Texas Cotton Ginners’ Association

Plastic trash along cotton fields still poses a risk of contaminating the crop. (https://youtu.be/3yY10XyF8mc) aimed at farmers, farm employees, ginners and gin employees.

Unfortunately, contamination numbers have not declined, says Bill Norman, NCC vice president of technical services. The 20 million bale crop in 2017 yielded 2,615 plastic calls. Although the 2018 crop was smaller at 18 million bales, it yielded more than 3,000 calls. And in 2019 with a 19 million bale crop, almost 5,000 bales were classed with plastic contamination.

“This is very frustrating for us that work in this area,” Norman says. “We spent a lot of time and effort to educate and spread the word about the seriousness of this, and here we are seeing calls increase.”

Shared Responsibility Marvin Beyer, a San Patricio County cotton grower, says clean cotton starts with the producer in the field and extends through to the gin and how its employees handle bales. In the field, producers need to remove any plastic before harvest. They also need to create a smooth staging area devoid of cotton stalks that could puncture the wrap.

In addition, producers need to train tractor drivers who move the bales to ensure they line them up straight, don’t manhandle them and load them carefully onto trucks.

“We have a shared responsibility in this problem and we’re all going to share the consequences as well,” he says.

JUNE 2020 | COTTON FARMING

15

Specialists Speaking Be Diligent On All Fronts ALABAMA Steve M. Brown The hummingbirds that appeared in our backyard in March developed goose down to survive April and early May. Cotton seed planted in early May in North Alabama needed jackets and waders, while further south, they desperately thirsted for water. Spring finally turned the corner to warmer temperatures on May 12.

In Central and South Alabama, soil moisture became extremely limited as we missed rainfall from multiple fronts.

Dry weather is scary, especially during planting. So it’s been a tough start in much of Alabama. Where do we go from here?

In June, it’s usually best to live with less-than-ideal stands in fields with questionable plant populations, unless they are clearly unworkable. June replanting is often risky because of elevated temperatures and fleeting moisture.

One measure of acceptability in marginal stands is, “If you can step in any direction and land on a healthy cotton plant, you’ve got enough to make a crop.” Skips of 3 feet or more are cause for concern. But if a stand is borderline between leaving or replanting, the recommendation is, “If in doubt, leave it.” What’s too thin in June can look pretty good in late August.

Sucking pests warrant attention. Thrips should be gone, but if they are lingering on late emerging cotton, deal with them. In most situations, cotton beyond the fourth leaf is past the window for significant thrips injury. If aphids appear on pre-squaring, late-planted cotton, treatments may be needed to minimize stress. You can’t stand delays on really young cotton.

Of course, June is time for weed management and sidedress nitrogen applications. Busy days. cottonbrown@auburn.edu

ARKANSAS Bill Robertson The National Agricultural Statistics Service recently updated our 2019 crop summary. Our final lint yield of 1,185 pounds per harvested acre for the state of Arkansas is a new record, surpassing the previous high of 1,177 pounds set in 2017. Arkansas ranked fourth in harvested acres and third in total production for the 2019 season.

A small percentage of our cotton was planted in April this year in Arkansas. Our planting progress mirrors that of 2019. We could still have some very late-May planted cotton. Our old rule of thumb that up to a 2% loss of yield potential may be experienced for every day planting occurs after May 20 still has merit.

The first 40 days in the life of a cotton plant set the foundation for yield and fiber quality potential for the season. Pest management issues are generally the greatest concerns for our young crop. However, as we move into the next few weeks in June, other factors, including fertility and soil moisture stress, become more critical.

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 irrigation tubing should be using Delta Plastics' Pipe Planner — a computerized hole-selection tool.

We want to go into squaring with the plant developing a new node every 2.5 to three days. This will put us on track to having nine to 10

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COTTON FARMING | JUNE 2020

nodes above white flower at first flower. Contact your local county Extension agent for more information. brobertson@uaex.edu

FLORIDA David Wright Cotton was planted on time despite some delays from dry weather and cooler-than-normal May temperatures. Stands look adequate, and June is always the month to fight weeds since early weed control is better and cheaper. Make timely sidedress nitrogen applications for early vegetative growth, usually from squaring to early bloom.

It is normal for our growers to battle weeds in June as cotton often grows off slowly, and these pests can get ahead of critical herbicide applications. Start with the right combination of over-the-top and residual herbicides at the proper timing. Weeds can get taller than is optimal for certain herbicides due to rain, equipment delays or even dry weather. This makes them harder to control, and higher rates are often needed with less efficacy.

Use growth regulators when cotton is growing faster than desired.

First applications are often made in June. By the second or third week of July, cotton reaches maximum leaf area and is able to compete with weeds more effectively than in June.

In addition to applying PGRs, which are critical to cotton growth and yield, insects also should be scouted for damage to squares and young bolls. Treat as needed. The timing of every June input is crucial to making high yields, which is even more important during periods of low prices. wright@ufl.edu

LOUISIANA Dan Fromme As of May 18, cotton planting in the state is only about 80% complete. In Louisiana, peak yields can be expected from cotton planted no later than the second week of May. Cotton planted in past years after the middle of May until June 1 has seen lint yields reduced as much as 20% to 25%. Cotton planted in early June can experience even greater yield reductions, and soybeans become a better option. This year, it appears that cotton acres will be down significantly across Louisiana.

During June, fields will be squaring, which means fleahoppers and tarnished plant bug numbers will need to be monitored. Scout cotton for fleahoppers during the first three weeks of squaring. Detection can be difficult due to the flighty nature of these pests. Our entomologists recommend treating when 10-25 of the insects per 100 plants are found. Treatment levels may be adjusted to maintain between 70% and 85% first position square retention.

For tarnished plant bug control, prebloom threshold levels are 1025 plant bugs per 100 sweeps. Adjust prebloom treatment levels to maintain between 70% and 85% first position square retention. 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% dirty squares.

Occasionally, clouded plant bugs are found in Louisiana cotton.

Prebloom and bloom threshold levels are the same for tarnished plant bugs; however, each clouded plant bug should be counted as the equivalent to 1.5 tarnished plant bugs when making a treatment decision. dfromme@agcenter.lsu.edu COTTONFARMING.COM

Specialists Speaking MISSISSIPPI Brian Pieralisi Cotton planting in Mississippi is progressing quickly for most farmers. I can think of one exception in south Mississippi where the soil is too dry; unfortunately, this region missed the rain that passed through the state the week of May 8. The recent rainfall was significant for two reasons:  It provided 1-inch precipitation.  It brought near-record-low temperatures.

Most farmers were getting to a stopping point to wait until the week of May 11 to resume planting. Primarily, the calls I have received regarded soil moisture and “What do you think about the cold weather?”

Fine-textured soil that tends to be “cloddy,” especially if tilled this spring, is where most of the moisture issues are occurring. In some situations, we have been successful using no-till row cleaners to push the clods aside and plant into adequate moisture. I have been optimistic about escaping the cold temperatures with only the loss of a couple days of seedling vigor. Based on the sunny days surrounding the cool nights we experienced and knowing the soil is a good insulator, I feel confident most cotton will achieve a good stand.

As we move into late May and early June, weed control is a primary concern. Preemergence herbicides lose effectiveness if not activated by at least .25 inch rainfall. Fortunately, most areas received adequate moisture to activate these applications. But it’s still important to remain diligent and apply the necessary herbicide regiment for your operation to stay as weed free as possible, especially as this crop establishes itself. bkp4@msstate.edu

MISSOURI Calvin Meeks Cotton planting season in the Bootheel has been wet, and fieldwork has been slowed by rainfall and cool weather. Some cotton was planted earlier in April in less-than-ideal conditions. This cotton should be observed closely, especially if it received hail damage in early May. Later plantings toward the end of April into the first of May look quite soggy with flooding in many fields and cool weather to top it all off. Stand issues need to be caught early since seed supplies are tight. Otherwise, seed may not be available for a replant situation.

With seed treatment issues surrounding thrips control, Missouri producers with early planted cotton should keep an eye out for slippage and be prepared to make foliar applications if thrips populations exceed thresholds. With cool, wet weather occurring for the first 15 days of May, thrips damage would be best avoided. Cotton growing in these conditions will be slow enough developing. Adequate scouting is especially critical if seed was planted with just a base seed treatment.

Regardless if planting took place in April or May, early season management is crucial for Missouri cotton growers. Prompt, early season insect control, such as for thrips, as well as later applications of plant growth regulators will be needed to ensure the crop is timely.

Apply residual herbicides to prevent an early season onset of weed pressure. Even with auxin herbicides, residual herbicide applications are needed to reduce early season pressure and help preserve the technologies.

This is especially important based on data from surrounding states indicating that dicamba could be in the initial stages of failure against Palmer amaranth. Enlist growers should also incorporate residual herbicides. Farmers must be mindful of off-target movement and Twitter: @CottonFarming

complete mandatory training. Because of wet, cool April weather, cotton acreage may decrease due to delayed planting. In fact, the U.S. Department of Agriculture crop progress report on May 17 has the Bootheel at only 20% planted for 2020 compared to the five-year average of 70% by mid-May. There is a lot of optimism for Missouri cotton after coming off a good year in 2019. We’re all hoping for a successful and safe start to the 2020 growing season with more cooperative weather. meeksc@missouri.edu

NORTH CAROLINA Keith Edmisten The 2020 North Carolina cotton crop is later than normal due to challenging weather during most of our optimum planting season. This makes management timeliness more important, particularly for growth regulator, nitrogen fertilization and insect control decisions.

Mepiquat can increase boll retention on the bottom of the plant, which in turn can make the cotton mature earlier.

The earliness advantage that comes from mepiquat use may be more important this year than in years where planting was not delayed.

Growers should avoid excess nitrogen fertilization. A shorter season allows less time to use or lose nitrogen and a greater chance that residual nitrogen can increase regrowth pressure at defoliation and harvest. Excess nitrogen can also make cotton more attractive to insects.

Late-planted cotton has less time to compensate for insect damage.

Growers should make sure they are scouting the crop in a timely manner and reacting quickly when thresholds occur. Being late on an insect control application in a short season could result in greater yield loss than in full-season years when the plant can better compensate with later developing bolls. keith_edmisten@ncsu.edu

OKLAHOMA Seth Byrd By the time this issue of Cotton Farming reaches you, we’ll likely be close to having 100% of Oklahoma’s irrigated crop in the ground. Excluding the Panhandle, much of the western part of the state received significant precipitation during mid-May, allowing for favorable planting conditions.

A large portion of the dryland crop may be planted in some parts of the state as well, including the west and north central areas. The dryland crop in the southwest area traditionally goes in during early June. The Oklahoma Panhandle region saw much of its cotton planted in late April due to favorable moisture and temperatures.

Hopefully, this crop has continued its fast start. Late May moisture hasn’t been abundant, but temperatures generally have been favorable for early season growth. However, we haven’t reached the extreme highs we did just two seasons earlier.

As we enter June, producers are encouraged to diligently scout for insects and weeds and have a plan in place to address historical problem species. If favorable conditions continue to persist, much of the crop may reach squaring by mid- to late June. During this time, watch for pests, such as fleahoppers and plant bugs. Remember that the squaring period is a good time to apply the second half of fertilizer should you be following a split application program.

Squaring also will signal an increase in crop water use and water stress sensitivity. Have an irrigation plan in place and be mindful of the crop water demand curve as we initiate reproductive growth. seth.byrd@okstate.edu JUNE 2020 | COTTON FARMING

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Specialists Speaking TENNESSEE Tyson Raper As I write this on May 19, the majority of our acres are still unplanted. I’m hopeful we will find a window in the next few days to plant and, just maybe, by the time you read this your crop will be up. Still, the 2020 crop will generally be a late one. As such, we need to make every effort to push earliness.

I would seriously consider cutting the nitrogen rate, closely monitoring plant growth and paying close attention to plant bugs as we enter the flowering window. We need the first fruiting branch low on the plant and must protect first position fruit to make the most of a late-planted crop.

Unfortunately, we will likely not have the heat units late in the year to compensate for missed sprays early in the season. Additionally, setting early fruit will help naturally regulate plant growth and reduce overall management costs. Keep an eye on our UT blog (news. utcrops.com) as we try to help you navigate this challenging year.

Please reach out if we can help. traper@utk.edu

TEXAS Ben McKnight As of mid-May, the average cotton stage in the Texas Coastal Bend is near flowering. This area has been extremely dry but recently received some much-needed rainfall. If this region continues to get timely moisture in June, growers will be on track for above-average yields.

While the rainfall was greatly needed for the cotton crop, expect to see a new flush of weed pressure, including pigweeds and grasses. Timely herbicide applications targeting small, actively growing weeds can optimize control in postemergence herbicide programs. Including additional residuals into our herbicide programs at this point in the season can be beneficial as well.

The cotton crop is progressing in the Upper Coastal Bend and the Texas Blacklands. I anticipate any remaining acres in the northern Blacklands to be completely planted within the next few weeks.

Planting in the Rolling Plains continues, and I expect to see many

more acres planted following the recent rainfall. Insect pressure is increasing across the state’s planted acres. Thrips have been reported in Central Texas, and fleahoppers have been found in the Coastal Bend. Moving into June, scouting for insects will become increasingly important.

Insect pests can vary widely over a growing season, and every year is different. Being familiar with economic threshold levels for each individual pest can assist in making timely management decisions.

For more information on cotton insect control, visit cottonbugs.tamu. edu. bmcknight@tamu.edu

TEXAS Murilo Maeda Planting was slowly progressing in the Southern High Plains of Texas as of the second week in May. While some farmers have underground moisture, it continues to be scarce for most. The second half of May brought spotty showers that favored mostly the eastern side of the region. The moisture situation is now forcing growers to make the hard decision between delayed planting or dry planting while hoping for a timely shower.

Following some hailstorms came reports of scattered spots where replanting might be needed. Unfortunately, that is not uncommon around here this time of year. In the northern Panhandle, cotton planting is well ahead in terms of planted acreage during the third week of May. This is important because the northern region has a shorter growing season that growers must contend with. In fact, on average, Amarillo sees about 500 fewer heat units than Lubbock in any given year.

Regardless, by the time this issue of Cotton Farming gets to you, Lubbock will be just a few days away from its June 5 insurance deadline, so planting will no doubt ramp up in the coming weeks. For those south of Lubbock who still have time to plant in June, keep your planting capacity in mind but strive for good planting conditions. It can make a difference.

As the cotton crop comes up, keep an eye on the early season insects to make sure they are kept in check. mmaeda@ag.tamu.edu

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COTTON FARMING | JUNE 2020

MURILO MAEDA

Texas cotton specialist Murilo Maeda says, “We planted one of our Replicated Agronomic Cotton Evaluation (RACE) Trials on May 13 at Dale Wilhelm’s farm near Nazareth, Texas, in Castro County.”

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2020 Bale Packaging Specifications Approved William Beam, U.S. Department of Agriculture deputy administrator for Farm Programs, notified the National Cotton Council that the Joint Cotton Industry Bale Packaging Committee 2020 specification recommendations for cotton bale packaging materials are approved for Commodity Credit Corporation loan program purposes.

The 2020 specifications are identical to the specifications for the previous year’s crop except for the following revisions: ¡ Removed all references to Cold Rolled High Tensile Steel Strapping. ¡ Updated North American Free Trade Agreement references to U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement. ¡ Added light blue as an approved color for woven polypropylene.

At the JCIBPC February meeting, the Committee approved adding a color to the woven polypropylene bagging specifications. The discussion that led to this decision was based on some mills’ perception that “invisible” contamination comes from damaged woven polypropylene bagging when the tapes have fibrillated.

To detect contamination in fiber, mills are installing cam-

era-based detection and separation systems in their cleaning rooms. These systems use color-sensing technology to detect and then separate contaminants from cotton fiber. Some mills have expressed a preference for a more detectable color because the spectra of previously approved white and golden bagging colors are very similar to cotton fiber spectra and thus, if present, can be difficult for the camera systems to detect.

JCIBPC staff consulted with scientists at the USDA Agricultural Research Service’s Lubbock Ginning Laboratory to determine the most detectable color compared to cotton fiber for

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19

these camera systems. With that guidance, staff recommended a translucent light blue equivalent to Pantone 306 C as an additional color for woven polypropylene bagging.

The 2020 JCIBPC specifications are on the NCC’s website at www.cotton.org/tech/bale/specs/. The specifications also include a test program review section that provides information on two continuing lightweight cotton bale bag test programs and one Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) strap compatibility test program.

The National Cotton Council provided this information.

* * * * *

Make Seed House Safety A Priority Overhead seed houses are valuable for short-term seed storage, wet seed storage and gins with limited yard space.

Design improvements allow overhead seed houses to be an 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 not 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 2020 cotton ginning season.

Safety Comes First ¡ Never go beneath a seed hopper that contains seed. ¡ Properly guard all ladders and catwalks. ¡ 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.” These are 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. ¡ Be sure to use all other known gin safety procedures daily.

Maintain And Repair ¡ All proper safety precautions should be taken by all personnel who perform maintenance and repairs. ¡ Clean out all seed. ¡ Clean hopper panels to remove seed oil. Steam cleaning consistently works well. ¡ Use sanding and steel brushing to make the inside surfaces of the hopper panels smooth again. ¡ Carefully examine the entire seed house for stress fractures and loose hardware, especially if vibrators have been used. ¡ Remove rust and corrosion.

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COTTON FARMING | JUNE 2020

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proximately 9.5 feet above the driveway. This provides a good vantage point to see into the tops of the trailers to determine when to open and close the hopper doors.

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Cotton’s Calendar Due to the fluid situation involving COVID-19, some listed events may be canceled or postponed. Please verify the status with the individual organizations.

June 17: Staplcotn Board of Directors Meeting, Greenwood, Mississippi ¢¢

¢ ¢ June 17: PCCA Board, Delegate Body & Marketing Pool Committee Meetings, Lubbock, Texas ¢¢

June 18: Calcot Board of Directors Meeting, Phoenix, Arizona

¢ ¢ July 9-12: Cottonseed & Feed Association 2020 Annual Meeting, Intercontinental Hotel, Kansas City, Missouri ¢¢

July 16: Calcot Board of Directors Meeting, Phoenix, Arizona

¢ ¢ July 20-23: Southern Southeastern Mid-Year Board Meeting, Sheraton Bay Point, Panama City Beach, Florida

Aug. 4-6: Cotton Board & Cotton Incorporated Joint Board Meeting, The Phoenician, Scottsdale, Arizona ¢¢

¢ ¢ Aug. 19: PCCA Board, Delegate Body & Marketing Pool Committee Meetings, Lubbock, Texas

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My Turn Not A Cotton Picker

S

porting a faded, backs, we smiled conspiratorially.

Mike, Dutch, Charlotte and I finally filled our sacks floppy-brimmed f e d o r a , A u n t enough to justify toting them over our shoulders to Blanche would the weigh wagon parked on the turnrow. We didn’t lay on the horn of her tamp down the cotton by banging our sacks bottom bob truck even though first on the ground like the grownups or older kids my older brother, Mike, did. Individually, we hooked our picking sacks to the and I were waiting for scales first by the wire loop at the bottom corner of her on our front porch. the sack, and then by the shoulder strap. After we We grabbed our new had our sacks weighed, we emptied them in the trail9-foot-long Bemis Blue er, and then wrestled each other on the soft mat of Cat cotton picking sacks seed cotton until Aunt Blanche fussed at us, running Patrick R. made of heavy canvas us back into the field.

Shepard In 1960, 90 percent of all the U.S. cotton grown was with rubber dots on the bottom, and our paper handpicked. By ’65, 95 percent was machine harvestbag lunches of rag baloney sandwiches, Lay’s potato ed. I admire those tough men, women and children chips and Hostess Cup Cakes, and scrambled into who picked cotton daily for income — not spending the corroded truck bed already loaded with cotton money — until mechanized pickers finally displaced pickers. Dutch and Charlotte, twins from my sec- them.

And could some of them pick a lot of cotton in ond-grade class, motioned Mike and me to sit beside them. Dutch was tow-headed; Charlotte’s bowl-cut one day! The files of my hometown newspaper, The Democrat Argus, hair was almost as short in Caruthersville, Mo., as her brother ’s. We “In 1960, 90 percent of U.S. recorded that in 1902, laughed as we headed cotton grown was handpicked.” a Newt Adams was profor the country. claimed the picking winIn the late ’50s, many rural schools in the South let out so the children ner of nearby Braggadocio, having picked 421 pounds could help their families pick cotton. Back then, I on the 27th of October.

The late, great Dr. Hal Lewis, a life-long champion jumped at the chance to get out of the classroom and make a little spending money — money to buy a of the U.S. cotton industry, especially its farmers, Mickey Mantle baseball glove — by picking cotton on once told me that when his older brother was young, he could pick 500 pounds a day. One time from a Aunt Blanche’s farm. turnrow on their Dell, Ark., family farm, Hal said I picked cotton, but I was Originally published he was watching his brother pick, and their father not a cotton picker. in June 2016 That first morning, I remarked, “He’s a cotton-pickin’ dude.” Hal nodded. reached down to pull what “That he is.” Then the father regarded Hal, smiled, I thought was a big bottom boll, but instead was a and said, “And you’re a dude pickin’ cotton.” Hal nodbaby rabbit. Mike, who was a fourth-grader, several ded again. “That I am.”

I enjoyed my two weeks of picking cotton in 1959. other children and I played with that rabbit until the grownups made us go back to work. Later, while I Savoring temporary freedom from school. Doing fun was bent over a cotton row pulling lint from pointed things like chunking green bolls and wrestling in burrs, something thumped the side of my head and cotton trailers with my older brother and our friends. plopped to the ground; a green boll rolled at my feet Earning money to help buy a coveted baseball glove instead of asking my parents for it. in the furrow. I looked up.

I picked cotton, but I was not a cotton picker.

Charlotte, a few feet behind Dutch several rows Squinting from beneath her floppy fedora, Aunt over, giggled at me and nodded at her brother. I started chunking top green bolls at him, and he threw sev- Blanche would’ve grunted in agreement. eral back. Mike and Charlotte joined in. A few stray — Patrick R. Shepard shots struck some grownups, who yelled at us to stop Germantown, Tennessee horsing around. We did, but behind the grownups’ 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.

22

COTTON FARMING | JUNE 2020

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