Cotton Farming March 2020

Cotton Farming ONE GROWER PUBLISHING, LLC

PROFITABLE PRODUCTION STRATEGIES

®

MARCH 2020

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Cotton Fertility Plan Wisely For Efficiency, Good Return On Investment

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New Decade Dawns For Texas Cotton Cotton’s Agenda: Sharing In Sustainability

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Vol. 64 No. 3

Cotton Farming PROFITABLE PRODUCTION STRATEGIES

MARCH 2020

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F E AT U R E S

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Cotton Fertility

Maintaining a thriving cotton crop requires attention to fertility needs and sensible spending. Mississippi State University’s Darrin Dodds and University of Georgia’s Glen Harris and Bob Kemerait share tips to achieving an effective and efficient cotton fertility program. Learn how to make smart decisions that will keep your cotton crop, as well as your bottom line, healthy.

DAWN OF A NEW DECADE The TCGA Annual Meeting & Trade Show set for April 2-3 in Lubbock as growers and ginners anticipate a positive start to the season.

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WORLD COTTON OUTLOOK

28

FROM THE GROUND UP

31

GINNING MARKETPLACE

United States-China Phase 1 implementation and coronavirus may play a role in shaping U.S. cotton’s economic outlook.

John Deere, Case IH show off new products designed with efficiency in mind at the World Ag Expo near Tulare, California.

THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE GINNING INDUSTRY

Ron Craft, general manager of New-Tex Gin in Plains, Texas, is the 2019 Horace Hayden National Cotton Ginner of the Year.

WEB EXCLUSIVE Clemson University Extension explains how price swings and a new disease put a strain on South Carolina cotton growers. Go to www.cotton farming.com for this Web Exclusive report.

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

4 Editor’s Note 5 Cotton’s Agenda 16 Mid-South Report

22 Industry News 24 Specialists Speaking 34 My Turn

ON THE COVER: This field of Southern cotton is ready for a timely sidedress fertilizer application. The cover photo is from Cotton Farming’s archives.

Irrigation Management

CornSouth ONE GROWER PUBLISHING, LLC

Southern Production & Marketing Strategies

March 2020

SUPPLEMENT Look for Corn South following page 16 in the Mid-South and Southeast editions of Cotton Farming. To have industry news and content delivered directly to your inbox, sign up for the monthly e-newsletter at www.cornsouth.com.

A Supplement to Cotton Farming and The Peanut Grower Magazines

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MARCH 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

2020: Play The Long Game

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s we embark on the 2020 cotton-growing season, there are a lot of wild cards out there. Of course, weather is a given. And the next two in line are the United States-China Phase I implementation and the coronavirus outbreak that began in China and has spread virtually across the globe.

In the 2020 World Cotton Outlook article on page 14, National Cotton Council economists report, “While the Phase 1 trade agreement provided some cautious optimism for an improvement in the cotton economic situation, the China coronavirus outbreak in the early weeks of 2020 could delay China’s ability to increase purchases in the near-term.”

California cotton farmers are wondering how they are supposed to control insect pests like aphids and lygus when recent actions by the state have banned Lorsban (chlorpyrifos) and slowed down the registration process for Transform (sulfoxaflor). Farmers in the rest of the cotton-growing states have access to these critical crop protection tools, but California producers do not.

The sustainability movement is gaining steam across the United States, but as NCC President and CEO Gary Adams says in Cotton’s Agenda on page 5, “More than 200 U.S. cotton producers enrolled in the NCC’s Trust Protocol pilot phase, but greater involvement is necessary to assure the global textile supply chain — including consumers — that U.S. cotton production is sustainable.”

If I can steal a phrase from Mississippi State University’s Darrin Dodds in the cover story about cotton fertility on page 10, “play the long game” when faced with challenges that may not be resolved in the shortterm. And one of the critical factors in being successful with this strategy is maintaining a positive attitude going forward.

Last year, some of our Texas cotton producers experienced adverse weather conditions both at the beginning of the season and the end of the season. But, like all cotton farmers, they are a resilient bunch.

As the Texas Cotton Ginners’ Association Annual Meeting and Trade Show draws near, TCGA executive vice president Tony Williams notes on page 8 that “despite these setbacks, projected cotton acres in Texas only dropped slightly for 2020. Our farmers want to grow cotton and are anticipating a positive start.”

This year’s groundwork is in place, and we hope good conditions will prevail. And in looking forward, don’t forget to play the long game.

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.

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COTTON FARMING | MARCH 2020

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

ONE GROWER PUBLISHING, LLC Mike Lamensdorf President/Treasurer Lia Guthrie Publisher/Vice President ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COOPERATION: Cooperating with COTTON FARMING are various cotton producer organizations across the Cotton Belt. Many representatives of producer organizations serve on COTTON FARMING’s editorial advisory board. Opinions expressed and conclusions reached by contributors are not necessarily those of the cooperating organizations or the editors.

All statements, including product claims, are those of the person or organization making the statement or claim. The publisher does not adopt any such statement or claims as its own and any such statement or claim does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the publisher.

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Cotton’s Agenda Gary Adams

Sharing In Sustainability Beginning in April, the National Cotton Council will be encouraging this nation’s cotton producers to enroll in the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol.

Why is full participation important? n More than 200 U.S. cotton producers enrolled in the NCC’s Trust Protocol pilot phase, but greater involvement is necessary to assure the global textile supply chain — including consumers — that U.S. cotton production is sustainable. Strong producer participation also will serve as a catalyst to drive the continuous improvements necessary to help our industry achieve by 2025 these six national sustainability goals: 13% increase in productivity (i.e. reduced land use per pound of fiber); 18% increase in irrigation efficiency; 39% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions; 15% reduction in energy expenditures; 50% reduction in soil loss; and 30% More information and instructions to enroll increase in soil carin the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol are on the bon. Demonstrating program’s website at www.trustUScotton.org. progress toward these goals is critical to getting manufacturers, major brands and retailers to source U.S. cotton and accept that we’re serious about responsibly producing our fiber and shrinking our environmental footprint.

Is Trust Protocol participation complicated? n No. In this voluntary program governed by the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol board, enrollees are asked to spend approximately 45 minutes to complete a self-assessment containing about 100 questions. The questionnaire covers: soil health, nutrient management, water management, crop protection, harvest preparation, wildlife habitat, fiber quality/traceability, farm management and worker relations. Enrollees’ answers will be confidential and subject to individual review to ensure the Trust Protocol requirements are being met. Participants will

be able to monitor their sustainability progress, including comparing their data with that of their geographic region and/or the entire Cotton Belt.

Enrolled producers also must agree to use the FieldPrint Calculator or other qualified data products to monitor their farming practices on a percentage of their fields. The final step is completing a “statement of commitment” to: 1) responsible production practices aimed at safety/environmental awareness; and 2) continuous improvement. This formal documentation of best management practices such as precision farming, no-till, buffer strips and cover crops that U.S. cotton producers have been doing for the past 40 years, will add confidence and transparency throughout the textile supply chain.

Ted Schneider, a Louisiana producer and Trust Protocol board member, stated at the 2020 Beltwide Cotton Conferences, “There are three legs to sustainability: environmental sustainability; social sustainability, which is treating your workers, your community and your neighbors correctly; and economic sustainability. If you don’t have all three of those, you’re not sustainable.” He’s right. In fact, that’s the Trust Protocol’s aim – to promote our producers’ economic livelihood, environmental stewardship, caring of people and community, and personal and corporate integrity. The Trust Protocol, though, isn’t about one producer being more sustainable than another. It’s about ensuring that all U.S. cotton producers can compete in every market and not lose market access because of a perceived lack of sustainability.

I strongly urge all U.S. cotton producers not only to enroll now in the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol but to encourage their fellow producers to participate. More information and enrollment instructions are at www.trustUScotton. org. Questions can be directed to Trust Protocol Executive Director Ken Burton at kburton@cot ton.org, 901-274-9030 or 334-318-0063.

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

MARCH 2020 | COTTON FARMING

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A New Decade Dawns Fo

TEXAS COTTO

ns For

AS ON

A NEW DECADE DAWNS FOR TEXAS COTTON Since the turn of the century, Texas farmers and ginners have grown and processed some tremendous cotton crops. Contributing factors to this success include advancements in cotton seed genetics, boll weevil eradication and state-of-theart ginning equipment and facilities. As the 2020 season begins, the groundwork is in place to keep Texas in the cotton business for years to come.

To make sure cotton farming and ginning remain a viable part of the state’s economy, the Texas Cotton Ginners’ Association is a vigilant watchdog on issues that could affect our industry.

The TCGA Annual Meeting and Trade Show is one of the largest gatherings of cotton ginning equipment, supplies and affiliated businesses that provide parts or services to the ginning industry.

More than 130 exhibitors are eager to inform visitors about their products and services related to all things cotton.

Make plans to attend the show as a new decade dawns for Texas cotton.

For more information, visit www.tcga.org.

TCGA ANNUAL MEETING AND TRADE SHOW APRIL 2-3, 2020 LUBBOCK, TEXAS

TCGA ANNUAL MEETING & TRADE SHOW

A New Decade Dawns Texas Cotton Ginners’ Association Annual Meeting And Trade Show Set For April 2-3 In Lubbock

BY TONY WILLIAMS TCGA EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT

Positive Look To The Future The theme for this year’s TCGA Annual Meeting and Trade Show is “A New Decade Dawns for Texas Cotton.”

Since the turn of the century, Texas farmers and ginners have grown and processed some tremendous cotton crops, including a record 9.3 million

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COTTON FARMING | MARCH 2020

CARROLL SMITH

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ast year’s Texas cotton crop had great potential. However, after adverse weather conditions, it fell off quite a bit in some areas. Despite these setbacks, projected cotton acres in Texas only dropped slightly for 2020. Our farmers want to grow cotton and are anticipating a positive start.

The plastic contamination issue has been a big challenge, but we are working on it. The Texas Cotton Ginners’ Tony Association continues Williams to educate both growers and ginners about the importance of making sure to do everything they can to keep plastic from getting into the gin and going through the ginning process.

Positive research is also ongoing.

We may see commercial equipment testing this year in regard to systems in stream at the cotton gin that could help identify and remove plastic.

Finding labor continues to be an issue for gins in some areas, especially in West Texas or anywhere that has to compete with active oil fields. TCGA is assisting our ginners in finding people who can help them locate a pool of workers.

On the cotton production side, we are pleased to be keeping the boll weevil at bay in Texas despite a few hot spots reported north of the Rio Grande Valley.

Hi-Plains Bag & Bagging Co. was named Division I Runner-Up during the Exhibitor Awards at the 2019 TCGA Annual Meeting and Trade Show. bales in 2017. We’ve also grown our ginning capacity with state-of-the-art equipment and facilities. As a new decade dawns, we strive to keep Texas in the cotton business for many years to come.

One way to make this happen is to invite everyone to attend the TCGA Trade Show. It is one of the country’s largest gatherings of cotton gin equipment manufacturers and other businesses that provide equipment, parts or services to the ginning industry.

Visitors from all over the Cotton Belt and around the world come to learn about the latest developments in cotton ginning and purchase equipment or services for their facilities.

Full-time gin employees can gain additional knowledge — especially regarding safety — and see the latest industry developments by attending the Southwest Ginners School, March 30 – April 1.

Many gin managers allow their employees to go to the school and then attend the show at the end of the week.

Overview Of Events Before the show kicks off, TCGA will host its annual golf tournament at Meadowbrook Golf Course, Wednesday, April 1. The show doors officially open at 9 a.m., Thursday, April 2, at the Lubbock Memorial Civic Center where more than 130 exhibitors will be on hand to talk about their products or services.

The day wraps up with the “Taste of Lubbock Party” open to all show attendees.

On Friday, show hours are from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. During this time, Plains Cotton Growers Inc. also will hold its annual meeting. TCGA’s Awards Dinner and Vegas Night Celebration are held at the Overton Hotel Friday evening. Tickets for the dinner may be purchased at the show registration booth. Everyone is invited to the Vegas Night Celebration, and no ticket is required. For more information, visit www.tcga.org.

Contact Tony Williams at tony@tcga. org or 512-476-8388.

COTTONFARMING.COM

CCI Officers And Directors Named

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ichard L. (Ricky) Clarke III, a merchant from Cordova, Tennessee, will serve as president of Cotton Council International (CCI) for 2020. CCI is the National Cotton Council’s export promotion arm and carries out programs in more than 50 countries under the COTTON USA trademark.

Clarke, who moves up from CCI first vice president, succeeds Hank Reichle, a cooperative official from Greenwood, Mississippi, who becomes CCI board chairman. Clarke, Reichle and other CCI officers were elected at CCI’s board meeting during the NCC’s 2020 Annual Meeting, Feb. 14-16, in New Orleans.

“I look forward to leading CCI in its mission of making U.S. cotton ‘The Cotton The World Trusts’ for mills, manufacturers, brands, retailers and consumers worldwide,” Clarke says.

He is vice president/senior merchant for Cargill Cotton, Business Unit of Cargill Inc. His current merchandising responsibilities include sales to several Asian markets.

Clarke, who was raised in Greenwood, Mississippi, graduated from Mississippi State University in 1980 and earned a Master of Business Administration from Memphis State University in 1987.

He started with Cargill’s Cotton Business Unit (Hohenberg Bros. Co.) in 1980 and has worked for Cargill Cotton in various merchandising capacities. Those include managing the Phoenix office, merchandising all of the major U.S. growth regions and working a stint with Cargill Cotton’s Liverpool office.

Clarke is active with the NCC and is an American Cotton Shippers Association director. He is married to Terri Clarke and has four children and two grandsons.

Other 2020 CCI officers elected include: first vice president, Ted Sheely, producer, Lemoore, California; second vice president, Carlos C. Garcia, cooperative official, Lubbock, Texas; and treasurer, Steven Dyer, merchant, Cordova. Gary Adams, Cordova, was elected secretary and

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Bruce Atherley, Washington, D.C., elected assistant secretary.

Elected as 2020 CCI directors were: George G. LaCour Jr., a ginner from Morganza, Louisiana; John C. King III, a merchant from Helena, Arkansas.; Neal Isbell, a producer from Muscle Shoals, Alabama; and John F. Lindamood, a producer from Tiptonville, Tennessee.

Re-elected as 2020 CCI directors were: PRODUCERS – J. Lee Cromley, Brooklet, Georgia.; Richard Gaona, Roby, Texas; Craig A. Heinrich, Lubbock; Matthew R. (Matt) Hyneman, Jonesboro, Arkansas; and Paul (Paco) Ollerton, Casa Grande, Arizona; GINNERS – Curtis H. Stewart, Spade, Texas; MERCHANTS – Philip R. (Phil) Bogel II, Dallas; Tim G. North, Dallas; Ernst D. (Ernie) Schroeder Jr., Bakersfield, California; and William Barksdale, Cordova.

COOPERATIVES – Frederick

Richard L. (Ricky) Clarke III Barrier, Greenwood; Carlo Bocardo, Bakersfield; Donald Robinson, Garner, North Carolina; COTTONSEED – James C. Massey, Harlingen, Texas; WAREHOUSEMAN – Vance C. Shoaf, Milan, Tennessee; and MANUFACTURERS – Robin Perkins, Sanford, North Carolina; and Davis Warlick, Charlotte, North Carolina.

The National Cotton Council contributed this article.

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COVER STORY

Cotton Fertility Plan Wisely For Efficiency And A Good Return On Investment

BY DARRIN DODDS

Editor’s Note: As the 2020 cotton-growing season gets underway, we thought it would be a good idea to share some information about cotton fertility to help keep your cotton healthy and not overload your pocketbook. During the Mississippi State University Row Crop Short Course, Professor and Head, Plant and Soil Sciences, Darrin Dodds, Ph.D., talked about spending wisely on cotton fertility. These excerpts feature tips from his presentation. We also have a report from Cotton Farming Southeast Editor Amanda Huber on the importance of maintaining proper soil pH.

D

espite the issues Mississippi faced last year with its cotton crop, our yields turned out pretty well. Cotton genetics are improved, pest management is consistently getting better, and we are working to get our fertility right.

However, we must continually find ways to be efficient and make money with this crop.  Ammonium sulfate. A friend sent me a photo of yellow-colored cotton in a text message saying, “What is going on?” He said he put out some nitrogen, but it

Maintaining a healthy cotton crop throughout the season requires attention to fertility needs and spending sensibly.

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COTTON FARMING | MARCH 2020

COTTONFARMING.COM

You are spending money you don’t need to spend, and it’s not going to put money back in your pocket. uation. A farmer’s first reaction after losing some nodes on a cotton plant is to get some nitrogen on it and get it rolling. But, again, be efficient with your money, and remember that the most productive fruit is at the bottom of the plant on the innermost positions.

We’ve done some work where we cut terminals out of the plant at different stages. Where we took eight nodes out of first bloom cotton was the worst-case scenario that would result in a devastating yield loss. We applied nitrogen a week after we cut them off, two weeks after we cut them off and all the ways we could think of to the point we were tired of spraying cotton with nitrogen.

Long story short, it did not matter what we did to the cotton where we had that devastating yield loss, it would not kick it back off. My point is if this happens, I would not spray a lot of nitrogen to try to fix it. You are spending money you don’t need to spend, and it’s not going to put money back in your pocket.

CARROLL SMITH

didn’t do anything. Today, I think sulfur is a little more on our radar than it used to be. We are seeing a lot more sulfur going out with our nitrogen application. So we were able to fix that field with ammonium sulfate.  Potassium. I also can’t overstate the importance of potassium in cotton. If you run out of potassium, not only are your leaves going to be a really ugly color, the plant will start dropping fruit.

In potassium-deficient soils, you need to apply enough muriate of potash to build up the potassium level in order to increase yields. It can be expensive, and I know you have to work your budget to operate from year to year. But it will pay off down the road if you play the long game.  Lime. There are a couple of things to keep in mind if the roots on your cotton plants are inadequate and don’t go far into the root zone. First, if your roots do look like this, you can put out 350 pounds of potassium, but if you get some moisture and it drops down under the root zone, you’ve wasted your money.

Secondly, you need take a look at your pH and probably get some lime on that field as quickly as possible. Also, if the pH is out of whack, you will leave some other fertilizer on the table. That’s why it pays to keep your pH right.  Aborted terminals. Another subject that comes up is aborted terminals and what to do in this sit-

Twitter: @CottonFarming

MARCH 2020 | COTTON FARMING

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COVER STORY

Don’t Overlook Soil pH

BY AMANDA HUBER

P

No. 1 On The List “Soil testing should be the first item on producers ‘to do’ list. That is the best way to determine if there is a pH problem.”

According to Harris, Hit The Range: Georgia’s soils are quite • In Georgia, a soil pH of variable throughout the 6.0 to 6.3 is optimal for state. nutrient uptake.

“In my work and travels every spring, I tend to see a • A pH above 6.3 may cause a manganese number of fields with a low deficiency. pH, or more accurately, places in the field with a low pH. • A pH below 5.5 may Every now and then, I come cause aluminum toxicity. across a high-pH field, but it is usually low.”

Even then, soil pH will not be uniform across the field.

“Because of the variability of the soil within the same field, you tend to see spots within the field that are a lower pH,” he says.

Consider Grid Sampling In Georgia, growers using standard soil-sampling techniques should strive to maintain a soil pH for cotton between 6.0 and 6.3. Other states may have slightly different ranges based on predominant soil type and characteristics. For example, in North Carolina where soils have a greater mineral content, the soil pH range is 5.8 to 6.5.

Harris says grid sampling and variable-rate lime application is an increasingly popular option.

“Some people say grid sampling and variable-rate lime pays for itself. However, more research needs to be done to see if that bears out. It is not an official recommendation yet, but we are talking about it in the UGA cotton team.”

Keep It In Range Liming to the proper soil pH is critical for uptake and use of nutrients essential for plant growth. Fertilizer-use efficiency is also best in the range of 6.0 to 6.3. In addition, toxic elements such as aluminum are kept unavailable when pH is above 5.5.

Harris says there are many factors that affect the soil pH reading obtained from soil testing. Possible reasons for seeing abrupt changes in soil pH include: 1) sampling variability (spatial and depth); 2) rainfall amounts and

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COTTON FARMING | MARCH 2020

UGA SOIL SCIENTIST GLEN HARRIS

roper soil pH is critical to high-yielding cotton.

However, it is often not the first thing that comes to mind when problems arise.

University of Georgia Fertility Cotton Specialist Glen Harris says when producers see an area of cotton that is shorter or is not growing at the same rate, two possible causes should come to mind: soil pH or nematodes.

Even then, it is not always easily determined.

The area of stunted cotton is caused by low pH soil.

3) nitrogen fertilizer usage. “If you see changes of more than 0.5 in soil pH in one year, consider resampling.”

Know The Type Test Used There are also different types of soil tests.

“A soil test is a chemical method for estimating the relative nutrient supplying power of a soil,” Harris says.

“Several chemical extractants have been developed, based on the chemical and physical properties of soils within various regions of the country, to evaluate the fertility status of soils.

“The extractant used in Georgia is the Mehlich 1, which was designed for use on low cation exchange capacity soils of the Southeast. Some other schools, such as the University of Florida, changed to the Mehlich 3 extractant. Private soil-testing labs will use whichever method you choose.”

Although the test methods are similar, Harris says it is important to know which method is used on the soil test and to then use liming and fertilizer recommendations based on the same type test. Because UGA labs still use the Mehlich 1 extractant, this is what Harris’ recommendation are based on.

A Critical Step From germination on, information obtained from the soil test is critical. University of Georgia plant pathologist Bob Kemerait says fertilizing according to a soil test promotes rapid seedling growth.

“Excessive fertilizer rates may burn the seedlings, and maintaining the proper pH is important because pathogenic fungi are more tolerant to acidic soils than are cotton seedlings.”

A soil test is the best way to assess how soils will respond to these additions and to determine the amount of lime and fertilizer needed for crop production.

COTTONFARMING.COM

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Growers across the Cotton Belt will have access to six new Bollgard® 3 XtendFlex® varieties that have demonstrated outstanding yield potential and fiber quality performance comparable to DP 1646 B2XF with the launch of the Deltapine Class of ’20.

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he new varieties combine the proven protection from bollworms provided by Bollgard® 3 Technology and the flexible, efficient weed management of the Roundup Ready® Xtend Crop System. In addition, five of these new varieties are resistant to bacterial blight, and three have moderate tolerance or tolerance to Verticillium wilt.

“DP 2038 B3XF was an awesome variety in my plot,” said NPE grower Mack Burge in Campbell, Missouri. “It grew off and fruited up well. It averaged 2,400 pounds per acre and beat DP 1646 B2XF. I thought it would be hard to go over the yield bar set by DP 1646 B2XF, but this variety set the bar even higher for my crop, from what I could tell.”

The Class of ’20 varieties were evaluated by Deltapine New Product Evaluator (NPE) growers located in all regions of the Cotton Belt. The results of the growers’ large-acre variety plots and their feedback on management and performance were instrumental in determining the Class of ’20.

NPE grower Jason Pate in Andalusia, Alabama, believes the Class of ’20 offers varieties that can compete with, and even replace, DP 1646 B2XF on his farm.

The Class of ’20 features four broadly adapted varieties: ■ DP 2012 B3XF: an early-maturity variety with bacterial blight resistance ■ DP 2020 B3XF: an early-mid-maturity variety with bacterial blight resistance plus moderate tolerance to Verticillium wilt ■ DP 2038 B3XF: a mid-maturity variety with excellent yield potential and bacterial blight resistance ■ DP 2055 B3XF: a full-maturity variety with excellent fiber quality potential DP

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“Both DP 2038 B3XF and DP 2055 B3XF were some of the best cotton varieties we’ve ever picked on our farm, even out-yielding every acre of DP 1646 B2XF we had on our operation in 2019. The Class of ’20 varieties I planted had the best seedling vigor of any Deltapine variety we plant today.”

- J A S O N P AT E | A N D A L U S I A , A L

In Lamesa, Texas, NPE grower Brad Cude watched his 2019 cotton crop get off to a most promising start, only to have the most severe heat and drought stress conditions he has ever experienced. While that weather impacted his yields, Cude still got a good look at the Class of ’20 varieties for Texas.

“All of the Class of ’20 candidates showed outstanding emergence and vigor. We had DP 2044 B3XF planted for seed production, and I think it has a place for us in West Texas. It had a large seed size, it came up growing well and it seemed to hold up pretty good in the heat and drought stress we had. I think it has a place out hereon dryland.”

-BRAD CUDE | LAMESA, TX

2022 B3XF

For more information about Deltapine varieties, go to Deltapine.com.

Performance may vary. ALWAYS READ AND FOLLOW IRM, WHERE APPLICABLE, GRAIN MARKETING AND ALL OTHER STEWARDSHIP PRACTICES AND PESTICIDE LABEL DIRECTIONS. See the Trait Stewardship Responsibilities Notice for “Deltapine® Class of ’20” advertorial for Deltapine printed in this publication. All trademarks are the property of their respective owners. ©2020 Bayer Group. All rights reserved. DP-19057-CF-ADV-MAR2020

2020 World Cotton Outlook Remains Fluid U.S.-China Phase 1 Implementation And Coronavirus Bring New Uncertainties

N

ational Cotton Council economists point to a few key factors that will shape the U.S. cotton industry’s 2020 economic outlook.

This past year can be characterized as a year with significant uncertainty and volatility in the global economy and the world cotton market. On Jan. 15, 2020, Trump signed the Phase 1 trade agreement with China.

As part of the agreement, China has agreed to purchase an average of $40 billion in U.S. agricultural commodities, including cotton, over the next two years. However, the overall impact for cotton remains uncertain as commodity specific details have not been released.

While the Phase 1 trade agreement provided some cautious optimism for an improvement in the cotton economic situation, the China coronavirus outbreak in the early weeks of 2020 could delay China’s ability to increase purchases in the near-term. As a result, the potential impacts of the coronavirus represent a significant wildcard in the outlook for the world cotton market in the 2020 crop year.

Planting Intentions In her analysis of the NCC Annual Planting Intentions survey results, Dr. Jody Campiche, NCC vice president, economics and policy analysis, says the NCC projects 2020 U.S. cotton acreage to be 13 million acres, 5.5% less than

2019. The expected drop in acreage is the result of slightly weaker cotton prices relative to corn and soybeans.

With abandonment assumed at 13.8% for the United States, Cotton Belt harvested area totals 11.2 million acres. Using an average 2020 U.S. yield per harvested acre of 848 pounds generates a cotton crop of 19.8 million bales, with 19.1 million upland bales and 675,000 extralong staple bales.

U.S. cottonseed production is projected to decrease to 6.1 million tons in 2020.

U.S. Textile Industry Regarding domestic mill cotton use, the NCC is projecting a slight decline in U.S. mill use to 2.85 million bales in the 2020 crop year. As one of largest markets for U.S. cotton, U.S. mills continue to be critically important to the health of the cotton industry.

In the face of rising textile imports from Asian suppliers, the U.S. textile industry has focused on new investment and technology adoption in order to remain competitive. The recently passed U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) includes some important provisions that should help boost the U.S. textile industry.

Continued on page 20

VICKY BOYD

Using an average 2020 U.S. yield per harvested acre of 848 pounds generates a cotton crop of 19.8 million bales, with 19.1 million upland bales and 675,000 extra-long staple bales.

14

COTTON FARMING | MARCH 2020

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MID-SOUTH REPORT

Because U.S. cotton farmers have a long history of trying to farm sustainably, Cotton Incorporated is ready to ‘double-down’ on sustainability messaging.

Sustainability Buzz In The Mid-South

S

ustainability is a word that cotton growers hear and see on a daily basis, but what does it really mean? It seems growers, consumers, brands and retailers each have a different definition.

Respectively, the core of the issue is the same — producing more with less and preserving resources for future generations. The Mid-South cotton-growing community recently had an opportunity to get a crash course in sustainability at the National Conservation Systems Cotton and Rice Conference in Memphis, Tennessee.

For 23 years, the Cotton and Rice Conservation Systems Conference has promoted sustainable agriculture and production practices. The three-day conference, sponsored by Cotton Incorporated and the U.S. Rice Producers Association, brings together Mid-South farmers, university researchers and crop consultants to share their latest crop production research results.

This year, there were more than 100 speakers offering insights into conservation techniques that preserve natural resources, improve production efficiency and increase producer profitability.

Cotton’s Chance To Shine Coley Bailey Jr., Mississippi cotton farmer and Cotton Incorporated board member, was one of the keynote

16

COTTON FARMING | MARCH 2020

BY DAVID MILLER CHURCH POINT, LOUISIANA

speakers in the opening session of the conference.

“The need for brands and retailers to source sustainable cotton is only growing as consumers continue to put pressure on them to be more transparent with their supply chains,” he says. “Cotton Incorporated sees this as a unique and advantageous opportunity for cotton.”

With 35 years of reduced environmental impacts, aggressive 10-year industry sustainability goals and now the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol, U.S. cotton growers have a great story to tell. With this in mind, Bailey says Cotton Incorporated is ready to “double-down” on sustainability messaging.

Research And Real Life One of the most unique aspects of the conference is how its sessions

feature cutting-edge research reports combined with real-life experiences from producers. One session paired a “Basics of Soil Health” presentation from Dr. Bill Robertson, University of Arkansas, with a talk titled “A Different Way to Grow Cotton with Improved Soil Health,” from Arkansas cotton producer Adam Chappell.

Robertson gave practical advice on how and when to check soil health properties. Next, Chappell discussed his journey to a profitable cotton crop through the adoption of new sustainable production methods. This past season, the Arkansas farmer implemented 76-inch row spacing on cotton and experimented with adding grazing to his cropping system.

“Ten years ago, my brother and I were in the same situation that many American farmers are in today — on the verge of going out of business,” Chappell says. He knew they had to make changes and rethink their fundamental farming philosophy.

Chappell credits his use of cover crops and its affect on improved soil health as the reason he’s been able to drastically reduce input costs.

During his presentation, Chappell quoted Joe Camp, saying, “Just because something has always been done a certain way does not necessarily mean it’s the best way or the correct way or the healthiest way for your horse, or your relationship with your horse or your life.”

Chappell says the use of cover crops and larger row spacing led to a dramatic decrease in overall input costs for fertilizer, herbicides and irrigation.

Doable, Successful Practices In the past, sustainable agriculture may have seemed like a foreign concept or something that might hurt the bottom line. However, the Cotton and Rice Conference gave example after example of Mid-South cotton producers who are proving every day that sustainable agricultural practices are achievable and can be profitable.

I encourage Mid-South producers to attend next year’s Cotton and Rice Conservation Systems Conference in Baton Rouge, Louisi-ana, and tap into this unique resource aimed at assisting in their efforts to grow a sustainable and profitable crop.

David Miller is the Cotton Board’s regional communication manager for the Mid-South. Contact him at dmiller@ cottonboard.org.

COTTONFARMING.COM

THRIVING IN COTTON

Yield and Quality Drive ‘Dream Year’ in Alabama

F

ifth-generation farmer Shane Isbell operates Isbell Farms in Colbert County, Alabama, in partnership with his father, Neal. Shane’s son, Tyler, also works full time in the operation.

“My grandfather, Hollis Isbell, is a visionary who is responsible for originally growing the farm,” Shane says. “He still comes out here, so we have four active generations involved.”

The Isbells grow 6,500 acres of cotton, corn, soybeans and wheat on some of the same land that has been in their family for more than 120 years. About 40% of the operation is irrigated with center pivots, and their cotton acreage typically ranges from 1,700 to 2,000 acres.

The Alabama farmer says the No. 1 factor he considers when selecting varieties is yield.

“We conduct variety trials on our farm each year, and seven years ago, PhytoGen started winning these trials,” Shane says.

In 2020, their intentions are to plant 1,800 acres of cotton to root-knot-nematode-resistant PhytoGen® brand PHY 320 W3FE, PHY 360 W3FE and PHY 400 W3FE. “We have a big nematode problem on Isbell Farms — rootknot and reniform,” Shane says. “PhytoGen also has some new varieties coming out in the near future with reniform nematode resistance. I am going to try a couple of them this year on a small scale to see how they perform in a field where I have bigtime reniform pressure “Another benefit we have seen with the PhytoGen varieties is excellent vigor and emergence. We farm near the Tennessee River in northwest Alabama, so the ground doesn’t warm up as fast as it does in other areas. Since we started growing PhytoGen, we’ve seen a better stand of cotton and a healthier stalk coming out of the ground than we have with any other company’s varieties.”

Improved Weed and Insect Control In addition to high yields and the PhytoGen Breeding Traits™ that protect those yields, Shane says, the Enlist™ weed control system helps control glyphosate-resistant pigweed and marestail.

“Pigweed is the No. 1 weed we fight in cotton, and No. 2 is morningglory. We try to get out in front of the weed pressure with a good burndown program, and we like being able to tankmix Enlist One herbicide and glyphosate throughout the year.

The tank-mix flexibility that Enlist One offers is beneficial to us because rarely do we cross the field without tank-mixing something with it whether it is an insecticide or another herbicide.

“Before we started growing PhytoGen varieties with WideStrike 3 Insect Protection, bollworms were also an issue

Alabama farmer Shane Isbell, who grows PhytoGen® cottonseed, picked 1,600 pounds per acre across 2,000 acres and averaged 2 to 3 cents above market on grades this past fall.

for us. Now they are not. WideStrike has cut our insecticide sprays way down,” Shane says.

Thriving With High Yield, High Quality In reflecting on the 2019 season, Shane says, “God gave us perfect weather and the best yields we have ever had in the entire six generations of our farm. We planted PHY 320 W3FE, PHY 330 W3FE and PHY 350 W3FE and picked 1,600 pounds of cotton per acre across 2,000 acres.

“After defoliation, we only had one late rain during harvest, so we averaged 2 to 3 cents above market on all our grades.

Color was great, leaf and mic were low, and staple length was outstanding. We had a dream year across the board.”

As a Cotton Incorporated director for Alabama, Shane is aware that grade is becoming more important as cotton retailers are in the market for environmentally friendly and sustainably grown cotton.

“Grade becomes a bigger issue every year,” he says. “Buyers look at grades and say, ‘These people are taking care of their cotton.’ This may not always be fair to the farmer because weather plays a big role in how grades turn out. But the buyer’s perception is our reality. Growing high-quality cotton is a big deal.”

™ ® Trademarks of Dow AgroSciences, DuPont or Pioneer, and their affiliated companies or their respective owners. The Enlist weed control system is owned and developed by Dow AgroSciences LLC. PhytoGen Seed Company is a joint venture between Mycogen Corporation, an affiliate of Dow AgroSciences LLC, and the J.G. Boswell Company.

Twitter: @CottonFarming MARCH 2020 | COTTON FARMING

17

Mayberry Farms Missouri Bootheel Farmers Feel Emotional Connection To Cotton

Water Conservation Cotton, she says, can be an extremely misunderstood crop. She says its reputation as a “water hog” is inaccurate, pointing out that cotton is actually a desert crop.

As a team, they work together to implement moisture sensors that gauge each field’s individual water needs and helps them time irrigation.

In the end, it’s all about water conservation on their farm.

“Water is a valuable resource and becomes more valuable every day,” says Keith Mayberry.

“In Southeast Missouri, we have

18

COTTON FARMING | MARCH 2020

PHOTOS COURTESY OF MISSOURI DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

T

ogether, siblings Keith Mayberry and Kim MayberryHolifield work together to ensure the fourth generation of their family farm continues a tradition of raising cotton near Essex, Missouri. Standing on the same land their grandfather purchased in the 1940s, they explain how their partnership as brother and sister sustains and innovates their farm.

Keith Mayberry farms the land on a day-to-day basis, while MayberryHolifield uses her background in agronomy to make input decisions for their crops.

“To walk this piece of ground that our grandpa walked, it’s a reminder that farming is a great way of life,” Mayberry-Holifield says. “You get to be your own boss and work the land that you inherited from your father and grandfather. To me, there’s no greater joy in the world.”

To d a y, t h r e e g e n e r a t i o n s o f Mayberrys farm together, with their dad serving an active role as the farm’s patriarch. Since the beginning, they’ve been driven by a desire to take care of the land and leave it in better shape each year.

“I want consumers to understand we are stewards of the land,” Mayberry-Holifield says. “Keith is going to pass this on to his children.

It’s our job to take care of it while we’re managing it.”

Keith Mayberry and his sister, Kim Mayberry-Holifield, work together to ensure the fourth generation of their family farm continues a tradition of raising cotton near Essex, Missouri.

Kim MayberryHolifield says cotton has a “personality” and has been grown on their family farm as long as she can remember. an abundance of water, and we want to keep it that way. We don’t want to waste it. Scheduling irrigation is one way we can save as much water as we can.”

Cotton’s Personality Although their farm raises a variety of row crops, the Mayberrys still feel drawn back to their connection with cotton.

“For most of the farmers in the Bootheel, cotton is an emotional crop,” says Kim Mayberry-Holifield.

“Ever since I remember, there has been cotton on this farm.”

“Like she says, cotton has a personality,” says Keith Mayberry.

“When you walk in the field, cotton is always changing and doing something different.”

No matter which hat Keith Mayberry or Kim Mayberry-Holifield are wearing for the day, they take pride in continuing what those before them started. “We take great pride in feeding and clothing the world,” says Mayberry-Holifield. “As a farmer, it’s in your blood until the day you die.”

The Missouri Department of Agriculture contributed this article.

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ADVERTISEMENT Trait Stewardship Responsibilities Notice to Farmers for “Deltapine® Class of ’20” advertorial for Deltapine®

Continued from page 14 Monsanto Company is a member of Excellence Through Stewardship® (ETS). Monsanto products are commercialized in accordance with ETS Product Launch Stewardship Guidance, and in compliance with Monsanto’s Policy for Commercialization of Biotechnology-Derived Plant Products in Commodity Crops. This product has been approved for import into key export markets with functioning regulatory systems. Any crop or material produced from this product can only be exported to, or used, processed or sold in countries where all necessary regulatory approvals have been granted. It is a violation of national and international law to move material containing biotech traits across boundaries into nations where import is not permitted. Growers should talk to their grain handler or product purchaser to confirm their buying position for this product.

ALWAYS READ AND FOLLOW PESTICIDE LABEL DIRECTIONS. It is a violation of federal and state law to use any pesticide product other than in accordance with its labeling. NOT ALL formulations of dicamba or glyphosate are approved for in-crop use with cotton with XtendFlex® technology. ONLY USE FORMULATIONS THAT ARE SPECIFICALLY LABELED FOR SUCH USES AND APPROVED FOR SUCH USE IN THE STATE OF APPLICATION. May not be approved in all states. Contact the U.S. EPA and your state pesticide regulatory agency with any questions about the approval status of dicamba herbicide products for in-crop use with cotton with XtendFlex® technology.

Cotton with XtendFlex® technology contains genes that confer tolerance to glyphosate, dicamba and glufosinate. Glyphosate will kill crops that are not tolerant to glyphosate. Dicamba will kill crops that are not tolerant to dicamba. Glufosinate will kill crops that are not tolerant to glufosinate. Contact your Bayer dealer or refer to the Technology Use Guide for recommended weed control programs.

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

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

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

LibertyLink® and the Water Droplet Design® is a trademark of BASF Corporation. Bayer, Bayer Cross Design, Bollgard®, Deltapine ®, Respect the Refuge and Cotton Design®, Roundup Ready ® and XtendFlex® are trademarks of Bayer Group. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. ©2020 Bayer Group.

All rights reserved.

DP-19057-CF-LC-032020

20

COTTON FARMING | MARCH 2020

Export Markets Campiche says export markets continue to be U.S. raw fiber’s primary outlet. World trade is estimated to be higher in the 2019 marketing year, but the retaliatory tariffs and increased competition from other major exporting countries has led to a sharp decline in the U.S. trade share in China. Despite the continued U.S.China trade disruptions, U.S. export sales to other markets have been very strong for the current crop year.

Sales reached the highest level in the marketing year during the week ending Feb. 6. While export competition from Brazil remains strong, the U.S. has had increased opportunities for export sales to other markets in the 2019 crop year. Lower production in Australia, Pakistan and Turkey has led to higher U.S. export sales.

As a result, the United States will remain the largest exporter of cotton in 2019 with 16.5 million bales.

Prior to the implementation of tariffs, the United States was in a prime position to capitalize on the increase in Chinese cotton imports. With the imposition of the 25% tariff, China has turned to other suppliers during the 2018 and 2019 marketing years, allowing Brazil, Australia and other countries to gain market share.

Vietnam is currently the top export market for U.S. cotton in the 2019 crop year, followed by China and Pakistan.

U.S. exports are projected to drop slightly to 16.4 million bales in the 2020 marketing year. For this outlook, the U.S. is assumed to export 2.5 million bales to China in the 2020 crop

year as compared to an estimated 2 million bales in the 2019 crop year.

However, with record stocks outside of China, increased production in Brazil, and a partial recovery in Australia’s production, the U.S. will continue to face strong export competition in 2020.

When combined with U.S. mill use, total offtake falls short of expected production, and ending stocks are projected at 5.9 million bales.

World Production Campiche says world production is estimated to decline by 2.4 million bales in 2020 to 118.9 million as a result of lower cotton acreage. World mill use is projected to increase to 121.7 million bales in 2020. Ending stocks are projected to decline by 2 million bales in the 2020 marketing year to 80.1 million bales, resulting in a stocks-to-use ratio of 66.4 percent.

Stocks outside of China are projected to increase to a record level in 2020.

Based on the underlying assumptions and resulting cotton balance sheet, stable stocks outside of China, increased export competition from Brazil, recovery in Australia’s production, and low manmade fiber prices will have a bearish influence on cotton prices. A quick containment of the coronavirus and a successful implementation of the Phase 1 trade agreement would provide support to prices.

As with any projections, there are uncertainties and unknowns that can change the outcome.

For more details, go to https://bit. ly/2Tj6nQR. The National Cotton Council contributed this article.

COTTONFARMING.COM

“Like all U.S. cotton farmers, I strive for continuous improvement to keep my farm sustainable for future generations. It’s time to show the world how we do it.”

Nathan Reed

Member, Trust Protocol Marianna, Arkansas

Enroll now at TrustUScotton.org

TRAIT STEWARDSHIP RESPONSIBILITIES NOTICE TO FARMERS

Industry News

Monsanto Company is a member of Excellence Through Stewardship® (ETS). Monsanto products are commercialized in accordance with ETS Product Launch Stewardship Guidance, and in compliance with Monsanto’s Policy for Commercialization of Biotechnology-Derived Plant Products in Commodity Crops. This product has been approved for import into key export markets with functioning regulatory systems. Any crop or material produced from this product can only be exported to, or used, processed or sold in countries where all necessary regulatory approvals have been granted. It is a violation of national and international law to move material containing biotech traits across boundaries into nations where import is not permitted. Growers should talk to their grain handler or product purchaser to confirm their buying position for this product.

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

Check with your representative for the registration status in your state. Insect control technology provided by Vip3A is utilized under license from Syngenta Crop Protection AG. ALWAYS READ AND FOLLOW DIRECTIONS FOR USE ON PESTICIDE LABELING. IT IS A VIOLATION OF FEDERAL AND STATE LAW to use any pesticide product other than in accordance with its labeling. NOT ALL formulations of dicamba or glyphosate are approved for in-crop use with cotton with XtendFlex® Technology. ONLY USE FORMULATIONS THAT ARE SPECIFICALLY LABELED FOR SUCH USES AND APPROVED FOR SUCH USE IN THE STATE OF APPLICATION. Contact the U.S. EPA and your state pesticide regulatory agency with any questions about the approval status of dicamba herbicide products for in-crop use with cotton with XtendFlex® Technology. Cotton with XtendFlex® Technology contains genes that confer tolerance to glyphosate, dicamba and glufosinate.

Glyphosate will kill crops that are not tolerant to glyphosate. Dicamba will kill crops that are not tolerant to dicamba. Glufosinate will kill crops that are not tolerant to glufosinate. Contact your dealer or refer to the Technology Use Guide for recommended weed control programs.

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

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

LSU agriculture students who were awarded schlarships are (left to right) Patrick Dean Jolly, Colt Hardee, Scott Lee and John Ontoy.

LSU AgCenter Students Receive Scholarships At LACA Meeting Four Louisiana State University College of Agriculture students received scholarships during the recent 2020 Louisiana Agricultural Technology and Management Conference.

Colt Hardee, an undergraduate student in agribusiness, received a scholarship from the Louisiana Land Bank. He has worked crawfish fields, hauled rice and held several ag-related jobs on the LSU campus. Hardee was named Undergraduate Student Leader of the Year.

Patrick Dean Jolly received a scholarship from Grady and Barbara Coburn of Pest Management Enterprises. Jolly is an undergraduate student in agribusiness and has maintained a 3.9 grade point average. He has worked with a crop consultant and helps maintain the Baton Rouge Country Club golf course.

John Ontoy received a scholarship from Ray and Dorothy Young. He completed his bachelors’ degree in plant pathology at the University of the Philippines Los Baños before continuing his education at LSU as a master’s student in plant pathology. He has worked on a study of salinity tolerance in rice and disease resistance for rice.

Scott Lee, an entomology doctoral student, received a scholarship from Belchim Crop Protection. He earned a bachelor’s degree at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and worked with mosquito control efforts in Minnesota and Iowa. Lee is currently working on his doctoral dissertation on the resurgence of the soybean looper.

Arkansas Farmers Build Gin To Support Expanded Cotton Acres

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

22

COTTON FARMING | MARCH 2020

Just four years ago cotton prices bottomed out, Arkansas acreage and production dropped, and only a handful of cotton gins remained open.

But in 2019, prices, acreage and production saw a dramatic increase, bringing a need for more ginning capacity. In southeast Arkansas, the Day family joined others there to build a new gin at Winchester, south of Dumas.

The gin began operating in January and provides a new facility to process what is expected to be expanded acreage this year.

Go to the Arkansas Farm Bureau channel on YouTube to watch the

video to learn more about the new WinnCot Gin Co.

Nufarm To Begin Distributing GoalTender, Goal This Fall Nufarm Americas Inc. has entered into a distribution agreement with Nutrichem to market GoalTender and Goal 2XL herbicides, according to a news release. The marketing rights will transition from Corteva Agriscience to Nufarm in September.

Distributors, retailers and growers of cotton, tree nuts, grapes, tree fruit, and many vegetables crops can begin to source Goal 2XL and GoalTender manufactured by Nufarm this fall to manage dozens of broadleaf weeds and grasses. Please visit nufarm.com.

COTTONFARMING.COM

Specialists Speaking Execute To-Do List For The 2020 Season FLORIDA David Wright

MISSISSIPPI Darrin Dodds

The U.S. cotton industry has had a challenging two to three years with low prices, and the southeast region of the United States has experienced hurricanes and droughts as well as potential new diseases. Florida farmers averaged 532 pounds per acre cotton lint in 2018 due mostly to Hurricane Michael and 822 pounds per acre statewide in 2019 because of almost 70 days of drought from mid-August to October.

Early planted cotton did extremely well in 2019. From year to year, early planted cotton (April 15-May 1) often does well as it sets fruit early in July and is ready to pick by late September or early October. It may miss late droughts or hurricanes that later planted cotton may have to endure.

There are management steps that can aid cotton earliness. These include:  Planting the last half of April.  Using starter fertilizer.  Using a thrips material at planting to minimize thrips damage.  Controlling growth with the right amount of growth regulator.  Applying nitrogen fertilizer from squaring to early bloom.

Nitrogen applied after the third week of bloom almost never increases yield and often lowers it. From a plant health perspective, planting after winter grazing has been shown to double cotton root mass, making it more drought-tolerant while enhancing nutrient uptake with yield increases of 150-400 pounds per acre. wright@ufl.edu

Normally, the words come easy for me when writing this column for Cotton Farming. However, on this Saturday morning they are coming out like molasses in the winter. Recently, I moved into a different role at Mississippi State University, and this will be my last Specialists Speaking column. I have sat and put words on paper (or whatever the digital version of that is) about 150 times for this column over the past 13 years. I have tried to pass along some small nugget of wisdom, and I will try to do the same this time.

March will bring renewed activity to many farms in Mississippi.

Burndown will be going out, corn will be planted (if the weather allows), and thoughts will drift toward putting cotton seed in the ground. In the time leading up to planting season, I would encourage you to give as much attention as possible to budgets. I know things change at a moment’s notice on the turnrow, and a good plan today can be a terrible one tomorrow.

However, taking stock of where money spent (or not spent) puts money back in your pocket will never go out of style (kind of like a good mullet). Developing a plan today will help curb the emotion that often comes with decisions made in the heat of the moment.

I’ve always said, “I don’t want to win the yield contest; I want to win the profit contest.”

THANK YOU to all of those in Mississippi and beyond who have helped me over the years. Your friendship, kindness and generosity are what makes agriculture such a rewarding way of life. dmd76@pss.msstate.edu

ALABAMA Steve M. Brown Recently, I’ve been in meetings in which my colleague Eddie McGriff has preached to corn growers about high-end production. Among his points are planter maintenance and precision planting. My take (with a touch of humor) is that the yield heroes in corn will prescribe an exact seeding rate (example - 33,128 seeds per acre) and demand that every seed emerge within 10 seconds of each other.

Exact plant populations and emergence timing are not nearly so critical in cotton, although it probably is a good thing if most seedlings emerge within a day or so. Cotton has a tremendous capacity to compensate and produce comparable yields over a wide range of plant populations. What should motivate cotton growers to check planters and exercise care and precision in the planting process is the COST of seed. In the past 35 years, we’ve seen a 15- to 20-fold increase in the price of seed and what comes with it.

Since seed is such a critical and expensive part of overall production, it behooves every grower to make sure planters are working properly and accurately. Among other things, this means seed drop rates, singulation or hill drop patterns, depth control and coverage mechanisms.

As you finalize planter preparation and variety selection, you’re also making choices about seed treatments and in-furrow treatments. My No. 1 priority in most situations is to do something for thrips. Seed treatments are not great on thrips, but they do help.

In-furrow options typically provide superior thrips control. But the bottom line is: Don’t do NOTHING. cottonbrown@auburn.edu

24

COTTON FARMING | MARCH 2020

LOUISIANA Dan Fromme The benefits of planting quality cotton seed include a timely and uniform emergence, which in some situations can affect yields at the end of the season. Other advantages are:  Greater resistance to seedling disease organisms.  Tolerance to early season stresses.  Tolerance to deeper planting depths.  Reduced risk of replanting.  Improved chance of achieving an optimum planting date.  Achieving a stand at lower seeding rates.

Seed quality can be measured using the Cool-Warm Vigor Index, which combines information from two seed evaluations — the Warm Germination Test and the Cool Germination Test. The Warm Germination Test is conducted in an incubator for four days at 68 degrees Fahrenheit for 16 hours a day and 86 F for eight hours a day. For the Cool Germination Test, the seeds incubate at 64 F for seven days. Both tests measure the percentage of normal seedlings that have a combined hypocotyl and root length of 1.5 inches at the end of the evaluation period.

The next step is to add the percentage scores of the two tests together. Seed lots are then classified as poor, fair, good or excellent: Excellent = 160 or greater; Good = 140-159; Fair = 120139; Poor = less than 120. The seed lots with the highest vigor index value may be planted at the earliest possible planting date, when less-than-optimum conditions are likely to occur. A producer can then follow with seed from a lower vigor index value COTTONFARMING.COM

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2/11/19 3:31 PM

Specialists Speaking

Missouri cotton specialist Calvin Meeks suggests growers try the online Cotton Conditions Planting Calculator from North Carolina State University. “It provides a forecast of planting conditions down to the individual field anywhere in the United States through Google Earth,” he says. level as the planting season progresses and soils become warmer.

The results of the Cool-Warm Vigor Index are not printed on seed tags; however, cotton producers can obtain this information from the seed company or distributor. Knowing the vigor or quality of your seed helps you determine which seed lot will have a higher emergence and survival capabilities under adverse conditions. dfromme@agcenter.lsu.edu

TEXAS Murilo Maeda Early February brought with it some welcome precipitation to most of West Texas. Total amounts have been rather on the light side, but we’ll take any moisture we can get for the coming planting season.

While 2019 was certainly disappointing in many ways for folks up in the Texas High Plains, much of South Texas saw good yields despite the rough start.

We do hope 2020 brings with it a little gentler weather for our crop.

By the time this issue of Cotton Farming reaches you, the final report for the large-plot Replicated Agronomic Cotton Evaluation (RACE) trials will be posted at http://varietytesting.tamu.edu/cotton/.

Available reports provide results for trials conducted across the state and include the major cotton-growing regions — Rio Grande Valley, Coastal Bend, Upper Gulf Coast, Rolling Plains, Concho Valley, Southern High Plains and the Texas Panhandle.

In March, AgriLife Extension and Research personnel will be traveling the region to present at county meetings. If you haven’t been to one yet this year, check with your local Extension office to find a meeting near you.

Also, training is again required for everyone who intends to use the auxin herbicide technologies — both Enlist and Xtend. This is an annual training requirement, which means even if you attended a session last year, you need to attend one again this year. Extension is conducting several meetings where training is provided. Once again, I encourage you to check on times and locations in your county.

Also of importantance is the new paraquat training requirement. If you plan to use paraquat in your operation this year, online training is required. All certified applicators must successfully

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COTTON FARMING | MARCH 2020

complete an Environmental Protection Agency-approved training program before mixing, loading and/or applying paraquat. You can access the training module at: http://www.usparaquattraining.com/. mmaeda@ag.tamu.edu

MISSOURI Calvin Meeks I hope by the time this issue of Cotton Farming reaches you there has been some relief from the rain pounding the Bootheel since the fall of 2018. Looking ahead to the 2020 season, fieldwork will hopefully be possible soon. With the wet fall and winter, fieldwork has been extremely delayed.

This most likely means winter weed pressure will be high due to excessive moisture and lack of tillage. With burndown approaching, I encourage you to incorporate residual herbicides into your burndown program to ensure a clean start. With the rain we have been receiving, who knows when the fields would be dry enough to get in to spray again.

Also take a look at this seedling vigor presentation: https://bit. ly/2P2nrsT. Plan the planting order around the vigor of the varieties you have chosen. By the time this reaches you, variety selections will be a done deal. Although it is always best to plant according to soil temperature and not the calendar, if one of your varieties ranked in the bottom 10 for seedling vigor, you should plant it later in the planting window.

In general, the first plantings in Missouri have a greater threat of cool temperatures. This can lead to stand losses and cold damage, which reduces yield potential. Varieties with lower vigor will be affected more than those with high vigor. I recommend your first plantings be a variety from the top 10 list of seedling vigor to get a good start for the year. I also suggest you to try out this tool from North Carolina State University, http://climate.ncsu.edu/cotton_planting. It provides a forecast of planting conditions down to the individual field anywhere in the United States through Google Earth. meeksc@missouri.edu Continued on page 30 COTTONFARMING.COM

REGION 2 Less than 500 acres  Grower – Derek Davis, Washington County  Ginner – Midville Warehouse Inc., Midville  UGA Extension Agent – Tammy Cheely 500-1,000 acres  Grower – Buckhead Creek Farms, Jenkins County  Ginner – Midville Warehouse Inc., Midville  UGA Extension Agent – Katie Burch 1,000+ acres  Grower – Dean Johnson, Burke County  Ginner – Bryant’s Gin, Bartow  UGA Extension Agent – Peyton Sapp

REGION 3 The 2019 Best Cotton Award recipient is Washington County’s Derek Davis, who was unable to attend the meeting. Accepting the award on his behalf are Ralph Sandeford (second from left) and Jason Cobb (second from right), Midville Warehouse Inc. Also pictured are Taylor Sills (left), Georgia Cotton Commission, and Mark Freeman, BASF Stoneville.

2019 Georgia Quality Cotton Awards

T

he 2019 Georgia Quality Cotton Awards were presented recently at the Georgia Cotton Commission’s 13th Annual Meeting and University of Georgia Cotton Production Workshop in Tifton. The awards are co-sponsored by the Georgia Cotton Commission and BASF and administered by the UGA Cotton Team.

The purpose of the awards is to recognize producers and ginners of high-quality cotton fiber and to identify their general management practices for the benefit of other growers.

“About 15 years ago, Georgia was experiencing cotton quality issues that made it hard for our farmers to compete in the marketplace,” says Taylor Sills, Georgia Cotton Commission, director of public affairs. “Since that time, advancements in cotton varieties and production techniques have resulted in significantly improved cotton quality across the state.

“The Georgia Quality Cotton Awards celebrate not just individual farmers, ginners and Extension personnel but also how great the quality of Georgia cotton is today.”

The producers and their gins received a plaque, and the winning

Twitter: @CottonFarming

Less than 500 acres  Grower – Randall Webb, Tift County  Ginner – Omega Gin Co., Tifton  UGA Extension Agent – Justin Hand 500-1,000 acres  Grower – Chris Exum, Brooks County  Ginner – BCT Gin Co. Inc., Quitman  UGA Extension Agent – Stephanie Hollifield 1,000+ acres  Grower – Brian & Ken Ponder, Tift County  Ginner – Omega Gin Co., Tifton  UGA Extension Agent – Justin Hand

REGION 4 producers received a $500 cash award. The UGA county Extension agent for each winner was also recognized as they work closely with the farmers during the growing season.

The awards represent three cotton acreage categories: 1) less than 500 acres, 2) 500 to 1,000 acres and 3) greater than 1,000 acres within the four regions of the state. Winners are determined by the loan value and premiums of their cotton.

Their achievements are due largely to management practices and expertise. The program sponsors congratulate the 2019 recipients.

REGION 1 Less than 500 acres  Grower – Beth NeSmith, Turner County  Ginner – Sconyers Gin and Warehouse, Sycamore  UGA Extension Agent – Guy Hancock 500-1,000 acres  Grower – Mark Thompson, Pulaski County  Ginner – Arabi Gin Co., Arabi  UGA Extension Agent – Jay Porter 1,000+ acres  Grower – Ronnie Conner, Wilcox County  Ginner – Worth Gin & Warehouse, Sylvester  UGA Extension Agent – Holly Anderson

Less than 500 acres  Grower – Andrew Rayburn, Thomas County  Ginner – BCT Gin Co. Inc., Quitman  UGA Extension Agent – Sydni Barwick 500-1,000 acres  Grower – Stacey & Stuart Jones, Worth County  Ginner – Worth Gin & Warehouse, Sylvester  UGA Extension Agents – Scott Carlson and Bryce Sutherland 1,000+ acres  Grower – Brian Rayburn, Thomas County  Ginner – BCT Gin Co. Inc., Quitman  UGA Extension Agent – Sydni Barwick The final category in the Georgia Quality Cotton Awards is the Best Cotton Award that recognizes the Georgia cotton producer with highest loan value and premium.

The 2019 Best Cotton Award recipient is Washington County’s Derek Davis with a loan value of 56.82 cents per pound and a premium of 4.82 cents per pound.

To view additional photos, visit Georgia Cotton Commission on Facebook.

The Georgia Cotton Commission contributed this article.

MARCH 2020 | COTTON FARMING

27

VICKY BOYD

Ken Rosckes, Deere senior marketing representative, says the fixed-frame fourtrack 8RX was designed from the ground up to offer ease of use while reducing soil compaction.

From The Ground Up John Deere, Case IH Show Off New Products At The World Ag Expo Designed With Efficiency In Mind

BY VICKY BOYD MANAGING EDITOR

W

ith acre upon acre of outdoor and indoor exhibits, the World Ag Expo near Tulare, California, offers growers three days to see manufacturers’ latest wares as well as proven products.

John Deere and Case IH were two of the numerous exhibitors at the show, which attracted more than 106,000 visitors this year.

John Deere Among Moline, Illinois-based Deere’s new offerings are the 8RX family of fixed-frame four-track tractors.

“Everybody’s excited about the 8RX,” says Ken Rosckes, Deere senior marketing representative based in Waterloo, Iowa. “Clearly, customers like our two-track 8RT because of its greater pull and power to the ground. It has lower compaction than a wheeled tractor but still drives like a wheeled.”

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COTTON FARMING | MARCH 2020

Although Rosckes admits that wheeled tractors remain the best choice for many farming activities, track vehicles have their place.

“This doesn’t fit everyone, but it’s just another option we’re adding to the portfolio,” he says of the 8RX. “It’s all about protecting the soil and helping the plants.”

With 40% more ground contact than a wheeled tractor, the 8RX helps reduce compaction by spreading the unit’s weight over a much larger area. And because of the expansive contact with the ground, the four-track vehicle provides more traction under tough conditions.

The 8RX was designed from the ground up with features, such as the more robust 1700 pivoting beam axles, to better handle the tracks.

“It wasn’t just a bolt-on kit,” Rosckes says. “The whole back of the tractor is nothing like our wheeled or twotrack machines.”

COTTONFARMING.COM

With the four-track units, the power comes directly from the transmission to the drive, creating more ground clearance. The four tracks operate independently, providing a tighter turning radius and allowing the machine to handle more like a wheeled vehicle.

Following the two-track 8RT tractors last year, the 8RX has four-post cab suspension to reduce vibrations and offer more operator comfort.

As with the 7 and 8 series tractors this year, Deere simplified the 8RX cabs, reducing the number of hydraulic and electrical connections. Inside, the frame is wider to allow for more visibility. The air conditioning and heating unit also was moved behind the seat to create more driver headroom.

The 8RX comes in multiple tread-spacing options ranging from 76- to 120-inch wide front axles. Three belt widths are available and include 18- and 24-inch wide front belts and 18-, 24- and 30-inch wide rear belts.

The machines also come with a choice of 310-, 340-, 370and 410-horsepower engines.

VICKY BOYD

Case IH Case IH acquired the Speed-Tiller high-speed disk as part of a deal when it purchased Australian manufacturer K-Line Ag in 2019.

“We did a lot of research and interviews with customers and tried to find out what was the best product on the market for efficiency and something that was always reliable,” says Nicholas Andrejuk, Case crop production and sprayer product specialist.

That led the Racine, Wisconsin, equipment company to K-Line, which developed machinery for tough Australian conditions.

The blade mountings on the Speed-Tiller, for example, are 2-inch rubber, Andrejuk says. The frame is built of

4-inch square steel tubing. The Speed-Tiller helps boost grower efficiency by completing two field activities with one pass — it digs like a disk and finishes like a soil conditioner.

The units also come with Case’s exclusive constant-level hitch, which offers improved weight distribution, reduced bounce and more uniform ground penetration — especially on the wings.

In addition, disk gangs can be adjusted laterally to work the entire soil profile, eliminating compacted valleys and humps.

Case offers two models: the 475 is a pull-type fixed width while the 468 is three-point mounted with a trailing configuration. The 468, which is a rigid frame, is available in widths from 6 to 18 feet.

The 475 is available in three widths: 21 feet, 31 feet and 41 feet. The 21-foot model comes in two sections, while the 31- and 41-foot models are three-section machines, making for easier transport even in narrow situations.

Both models can run either 22-inch shallow concavity blades or 24-inch standard concavity blades.

Depending on the time of year, the operator can set the Speed-Tiller to aggressively run 6 inches deep for crop residue incorporation under hard soil conditions in the fall. Or they can run it at a shallower depth in the spring, along with one of three soil conditioners, to prepare an optimum seed bed.

The overall size of the tractor needed to pull a SpeedTiller will depend on the implement’s size, soil type, soil moisture level and tillage depth. But Andrejuk says typically growers will need at least 210 to 240 hp.

“The bigger (width) you get, the more horsepower you’ll need,” he says. “The faster you want to go, the more horsepower you’ll need.”

Nicholas Andrejuk, Case IH crop production and sprayer product specialist, says the Speed-Tiller is a robust implement designed to boost grower efficiency by completing two field activities with one pass.

Twitter: @CottonFarming

MARCH 2020 | COTTON FARMING

29

Specialists Speaking Continued from page 26

OKLAHOMA Seth Byrd March marks the time of year that preparations for the upcoming cotton season are in full swing.

Early March is typically the middle of the window to apply yellow herbicides to provide control until either burndown or at-plant herbicide applications are made. Product selection will greatly depend on cultural practices, as either cultivation or irrigation will be needed to incorporate them. There may even be some fertility applications beginning in this timeframe, particularly for producers in a late termination cover crop scenario who are aiming to increase biomass before planting cotton.

The past two springs have been opportunities to observe incredibly dry (2018) and wet (2019) planting conditions and the toll they take on stand establishment. Starting weed-free with adequate fertility and planting varieties with good seed quality will help mitigate these risks. There are several county meetings scheduled for March in Oklahoma. To find the meeting closest to you, contact your local county Extension office. seth.byrd@okstate.edu

NORTH CAROLINA Guy Collins During winter cotton meetings, growers were informed about the new cottonseed testing program that the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services has launched for 2020. This was largely driven by the significant response from growers to last year’s seed quality issues. However, these issues have been occurring for quite some time involving multiple brands.

For 2020, this is a non-mandatory and voluntary cooperative pilot program in which seed companies and NCDA&CS have agreed to participate. As such, seed quality testing began in January. The program’s ultimate purpose is to provide a degree of third-party oversight for, and improve transparency of, the quality of the cottonseed to be planted in North Carolina.

The program will provide those involved in the state’s cotton industry confidence that they are receiving quality cottonseed. It also will allow cotton seed companies to demonstrate the quality of their product.

As part of the program, seed companies agree to notify NCDA&CS regarding the date and point of entry for their cotton seed lots to be sold and planted in North Carolina. NCDA&CS Inspectors will then collect seed samples, per the protocol adopted from the Association of American Seed Control Officials, and conduct both warm and cool germ tests. The goal is to provide test results for most, if not all, seed lots to be planted in the state.

Given the time required to conduct these tests (12 days assuming seed can be immediately tested), seed can be sold, distributed, downstream treated or planted as soon as the inspectors collect the samples without having to wait on test results. The test results will be publicly available for North Carolina cotton producers via https://apps.ncagr.gov/agrsysportal.

A link to this database will be provided in our planting conditions newsletters during the spring. Growers should be certain they are included on our email newsletter list. Contact me at Guy_Collins@ ncsu.edu, and we’ll be happy to add your name.

Growers are encouraged to take a proactive role in this program.

For test results to be readily available for producers to make appropriate planting decisions, growers should request relatively early

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COTTON FARMING | MARCH 2020

arrival of seed (within reason) and account for the time required to complete warm and cool germ testing. Late arrival of seed just before, or during planting season, will not allow time for tests to be completed before the grower can plant.

As such, growers should make final variety decisions as early as possible and commit to those purchases the best they can. Growers should then crosscheck the lot numbers they purchased with the NCDA&CS database (updated daily) to see if test results are available or if that lot number has been sampled.

In cases where a lot number has not had a sample collected, growers should immediately contact Brian Bowers at brian.bowers@ncagr. gov or 919-707-3756, so he can send an inspector to collect a sample in a timely manner. Lastly, growers should immediately contact their county agent and/or us, as well as their seed company, if there are issues with seedling emergence. guy_collins@ncsu.edu

TENNESSEE Tyson Raper Cottonseed has continued to increase in price, and there is no indication that trend will change over the coming years. With cost-savings in mind, we have concluded a multi-year study evaluating seeding rates and planting dates with an early to mid-maturing variety and found some interesting trends that should be considered before you pull your planter out this year.

Based on our data, the upper Mid-South region may only require somewhere between 30,000 and 35,000 plants per acre in late April through early May to achieve 95% yield potential. However, as we move into mid- and late May, the number of plants required to achieve maximum yields for a given planting date decreases substantially. As few as 20,000-25,000 plants per acre may allow us to reach 95% yield potential for a late May planting date.

Before cutting seeding rate, it is extremely important to understand your seed quality. I would not recommend cutting seeding rates when planting into adverse conditions. I’ll be posting some of this data on news.utcrops.com over the coming weeks with a little more narrative for those who are interested. traper@utk.edu

ARKANSAS Bill Robertson Wet conditions have limited field preparations through much of the fall and into early February with little indication of a break in weather patterns. Cover crop plantings in the fall were delayed for most who put them in. Wet feet have certainly had a negative impact on the growth and development of covers.

Cotton burndown programs will hopefully be put in motion soon. Those who planted a cover crop likely did so with the objective of improving soil health and helping with pigweed control.

They generally want to delay rye termination as long as possible to generate the level of biomass needed to provide good soil cover.

However, burndown programs should be timed ahead of the planter to address issues related to the “green bridge,” which can facilitate pest movement from a dying cover crop to an emerging crop. Remember that many of the early season cotton pests overwinter in broadleaf weeds. A high level of broadleaf plants or weeds in your cover crop will increase the potential that issues from the green bridge may occur.

Our immediate goal for the 2020 crop is to start with a good stand of healthy, fast-growing cotton plants. This requires clean fields at planting. A timely and effective burndown program is our first step toward this goal. Contact your local county Extension agent for more information. brobertson@uaex.edu COTTONFARMING.COM

COTTON

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

Texan Ron Craft Is Named National Cotton Ginner Of The Year Ron Craft, general manager of NewTex Gin in Plains, Texas, is the 2019 Horace Hayden National Cotton Ginner of the Year. Smith has served in many U.S. cotton industry leadership capacities and provided years of dedicated service.

The annual National Cotton Ginners Association’s award is presented to a ginner in recognition of: 1) able, efficient and faithful service to the ginning industry and 2) continuing those principles exemplified and practiced by Horace Hayden, a former NCGA executive secretary.

Craft, a fifth-generation ginner who received the award at NCGA’s recent 2020 annual meeting in New Orleans, was a member of National Cotton Council’s 1991 leadership class. He served as the NCC’s chairman in 2018 and the NCGA’s president in 2016. There are

few committees within the NCGA and NCC on which he has not served.

Craft also is a former president of the Plains Cotton Ginners Association, Texas Cotton Ginners Association and Texas Independent Ginners Association. He has served as a Plains Cotton Growers director and currently serves as a Texas Boll Weevil Eradication Foundation director.

Craft also participates in community activities and is treasurer of First Baptist Church in Plains. He earned the rank of sergeant as a reserve deputy with the Yoakum County Sheriff’s Department and has served in the department for the past 35 years. He is a past president of the Plains Chamber of Commerce.

Ron Craft

The National Cotton Council provided this article.

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NCGA Distinguished Service Award Goes To Tim Loonam The National Cotton Ginners Association recognized Tim Loonam as the recipient of the NCGA’s 2019-20 Charles C. Owen Distinguished Service Award. For the past 30 years, the award has honored those who have provided a career of distinguished service to the U.S. ginning industry.

A Texas native and Navy veteran, Loonam earned a bachelor’s degree in management from Texas A&M University in 1972. Since 1990, he has specialized in providing workers’ compensation insurance and loss control Tim services for ag-related businesses.

Loonam Since 1996, he has worked tirelessly on administration, claims and loss control for Texas cotton gins and other agricultural operations as administrator of the Texas Cotton Ginners Association’s Trust. Over that time, the trust has grown its annual revenue premium from $4 million to just over $13 million and has expanded its coverage to include other agricultural operations. The trust began with about 50 cotton gins and now has well over 150 Texas gins.

Loonam has long been an active member of the Safety Specialist Forum and makes it a point for his loss-control team to participate and contribute to the forum. He and his team also are active in the NCGA ginner schools each year.

During NCGA’s annual meeting, the organization elected its 2020 officers: president – Curtis Stewart, Spade, Texas; first vice president – George LaCour Jr., Morganza, Louisiana; second vice president – Gene Seale, Pima, Arizona; third vice president – Richard Lindsey, Centre, Alabama; and chairman – Wes Morgan, New London, North Carolina. Harrison Ashley of Cordova, Tennessee, serves as NCGA’s executive vice president.

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My Turn Transformation Of A City Boy

I

was raised in the management specialist for three years. It was a small town of Wisner, great experience, but I had never lost my hanLouisiana. My moth- kering to get into consulting on my own. After er was a registered discussing it with Barbara, we decided to start nurse, and my father was our business — Pest Management Enterprises — a barber. Agriculture sur- in 1975. Another young couple, John Thomas and rounded us, but I was a his wife, Mary, of Rawls, Texas, joined us, and city boy. I didn’t know the we worked together for five years. Luckily, Ray difference between a cock- Young was willing to help us get started.

I am a founding member of Louisiana lebur and a cotton plant.

Before summer began Agricultural Consultants Association and NAICC. Grady between my junior and In my view, both organizations evolved from a s e n i o r y e a r s o f h i g h single purpose — to have an avenue where those Coburn school, Ray Young, a con- of us in a like business can sit around a table and sultant who also lived in talk about issues and compare notes. We also are Wisner, asked my dad if it would be all right if he a resource for our state and national legislators asked me to be a field scout for him. Of course, to assist them on ag-related issues.

We have always done contract research, but in Dad said, “Yeah, that would be a good idea.” the early days, it was Ray’s offer was to a lot different. After move me from Wis“I didn’t know the difference the EPA was foundner to Lecompte, ed and the FIFRA Act Louisiana, along with between a cocklebur and was implemented, it three other guys to a cotton plant.” evolved into a complex consult on cotton. The system of checks and most exciting thing to me was not that I was going to work, but I was balances to make sure trials are conducted propgoing to move and live on my own with three erly and the end result is unbiased.

I’ve backed off from consulting after my knees other guys. After the second summer, I was in school at Northeastern in Monroe, Louisiana, got bad on me. But I am still very active in our studying medical technology of all things. I decid- contract research business. What I have enjoyed ed to get into agriculture and transferred to LSU most about being a consultant are the personal where I received a B.S. degree in general agricul- relationships I’ve had and retain to this day with ture in 1967, a Master’s degree in entomology in every client. It is something I deeply cherish.

I’ve enjoyed my career as an independent crop 1969 and my doctorate in 1974.

When we were working in Lecompte, I met my consultant, but I never would have been successsoon-to-be bride, Barbara, in the grocery store ful without the support of my wife, our two chilwhere we did most of our shopping. The first year dren — Debbie and Chad — and our entire clienI didn’t even work up guts enough to ask her for tele. Barbara is our business and administrative a date. But I did the second year, and we married manager. She is really the boss because she signs every check. I hardly ever get to sign a check! in December 1965.

Barbara has been my backup and the support I I worked eight summers as a field scout for Ray. By the time I left, I was a certified consul- needed to handle those few times when I thought tant. When I think of mentors through the years, everything was going to hell in a handbasket. She Ray is at the top of the list. Howard Anderson, always managed to put things back into a logical our scout supervisor, taught me a lot about cot- perspective. It’s been a good life. ton, and Dr. Sess Hensley, my major professor – Grady Coburn during my graduate work, mentored me then and Cheneyville, Louisiana also when I started my own business. coburnpme1@aol.com In 1972, I worked in Extension as a cotton pest

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.

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COTTON FARMING | MARCH 2020

COTTONFARMING.COM

Be certain worms have no business in your fields.

Prevathon® insect control powered by Rynaxypyr® active from FMC protects your yield quantity and quality by controlling costly worms — including cotton bollworms, tobacco budworms and armyworms — that seed traits miss. Stop insect feeding instantly and keep protecting your fields for up to 21 days with long-lasting residual control. Studies have found that protecting the genetic potential of Bt cotton can yield an additional 50-300 pounds of lint per acre.* Prevathon insect control is one of 40+ FMC products eligible for the Product Financing with the FMC Freedom Pass program.

Visit your FMC retailer or FMCAGUS.COM/PREVATHON to learn more. *Research from development and university testing across many locations.

For a list of such studies, please contact your FMC representative.

Always read and follow all label directions, precautions and restrictions for use. Some products may not be registered for sale or use in all states. FMC, the FMC logo, Prevathon and Rynaxypyr are trademarks of FMC Corporation or an affiliate. ©2019 FMC Corporation. All rights reserved. 19-FMC-2136 10/19

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I’ve seen enough from the Deltapine® brand to know that’s what we need to plant.

- Rance Barnes, Jr. Grower | Kenton, TN

See Rance’s full story.

Deltapine.com/Barnes

STRONG COTTON Performance may vary from location to location and from year to year, as local growing, soil and weather conditions may vary. Growers should evaluate data from multiple locations and years whenever possible and should consider the impacts of these conditions on the grower’s fields. ALWAYS READ AND FOLLOW IRM, WHERE APPLICABLE, GRAIN MARKETING AND ALL OTHER STEWARDSHIP PRACTICES AND PESTICIDE LABEL DIRECTIONS. Bayer Cross Design and Deltapine® are registered trademarks of Bayer Group. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. ©2020 Bayer Group. All rights reserved. DP-19057-CF-FEBMAR-MS