Cotton Farming May 2015 by One Grower Publishing

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Cotton Farming

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ONE GROWER PUBLISHING, LLC

PROFITABLE PRODUCTION STRATEGIES

MAY 2015

www.cottonfarming.com

HEALTHY SEEDLINGS CRUCIAL FOR MAXIMUM YIELD

SUCCESSFUL TCGA MEETING SPRAY APP FOR INSECT CONTROL

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Vol. 59 No. 5

Cotton Farming PROFITABLE PRODUCTION STRATEGIES

MAY 2015

www.cottonfarming.com

F E A T U R E S

Starting Strong

Nothing is more important for a cotton crop than a strong start by seedlings that show plenty of vigor. And, considering the producer’s financial investment in the seed, the early development of the crop can often determine if yield and quality goals are met. These challenges are especially crucial in Texas where water availability affects all crops.

D E P A R T M E N T S

4 Editor’s Note 15 Cotton’s Agenda 16 Specialists Speaking

TCGA WRAPUP It was another busy agenda for the Texas Cotton Ginners’ Association Annual Meeting.

COTTON’S CAMPAIGN

GINNING MARKETPLACE

Cotton Incorporated’s new promotion contains some familiar themes for targeted audiences.

THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE GINNING INDUSTRY

Kelley Green of the Texas Cotton Ginners’ Association says ginners should become more familiar with the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) rules affecting their operations. They should study those rules and be prepared for OSHA’s unexpected visits.

WEB EXCLUSIVE It was a successful week in Lubbock, Texas, at the Texas Cotton Ginners’ Association Annual Meeting and Trade Show. Cotton Farming Editor Tommy Horton offers an update on all the activities of the week, including the memorable awards dinner on the final night. Go to www.cottonfarming.com for his Web Exclusive report.

C O L U M N S

21 Industry News 22 My Turn

WEB POLL RESULTS

Which of the following practices would you rank first in helping to establish healthy seedlings and get a good start to the season? Go to www.cottonfarming.com for the results.

ON THE COVER: A young cotton seedling in south Texas is off to an excellent start. Photo by Gaylon Morgan.

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

COTTON FARMING MAY 2015

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Editor’s Note Tommy Horton

Cotton Farming

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

New Season Needs A Strong Start

ow that planting season is upon us, the question becomes how can this year’s cotton crop get started in the best possible way? Most farmers and Extension specialists will tell you it’s all about timing and making sure optimum conditions exist for that tiny seed in the ground. It’s such a simple scenario, and yet so crucial for the success of the crop. Sometimes I like to think of planting season as another version of the Kentucky Derby, which ironically takes place on the first Saturday in May at historic Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky. Starting the race fast is so crucial for the horse that eventually wins. And, likewise, the young seedling needs to emerge from the soil with plenty of vigor and growth potential after planting. We have discussed this topic before, but to say that there is pressure on a producer during planting season is an understatement. When a farmer talks about “front-end investment,” he knows what he’s talking about. Given the money that a producer spends on the crop before it is ever planted can make anybody anxious. The cotton production season is never perfect. Conditions will make a crop late at planting time. Unforeseen weather can also delay the crop when it can ill afford such an obstacle. And, since growing cotton can be more of an art form than exact science, there are exceptions to the rule. How many times has a producer delivered a spectacular crop that was planted late? On occasion, it happens, but chances are that a perfect late summer and fall were necessary to make the dream come true. So, we can’t emphasize enough how important the early days of the crop season are. And that’s why you’ll want to read our cover story on pages 8 and 9. We have talked to Texas High Plains producer Doug Hlavaty and Texas AgriLife Extension cotton specialist Gaylon Morgan, and they have shared interesting perspectives about early season management. They also discuss the challenges of cotton production in Texas in the current price environment. And, speaking of the Lone Star State, it is often feast or famine there. Beneficial winter rainfall has helped break the three-year drought. But, too much of a good thing can be bad. For example, it has rained so much in the Rio Grande Valley and Coastal Bend this year that many cotton acres won’t be planted. Nobody said it was easy being a cotton farmer. And that’s why this might be a good time for Mother Nature to help out on the weather. Our friends in Texas need a break.

Southeast Editor Amanda Huber ahuber@onegrower.com Art Director Carol Watson

ADMINISTRATION Publisher/Vice President Lia Guthrie (901) 497-3689 lguthrie@onegrower.com Associate Publisher Carroll Smith (901) 767-4020 Sales Manager Scott Emerson (386) 462-1532 semerson@onegrower.com Production Manager Kathy Killingsworth (800) 888-9784 kkillingsworth@onegrower.com Circulation Manager Charlie Beek (615) 377-3322

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

EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD David Burns – North Carolina David Lynch – South Carolina Bob McLendon – Georgia Larkin Martin – Alabama Mike Sturdivant Jr. – Mississippi Charles Parker – Missouri Jimmy Hargett – Tennessee Allen Helms – Arkansas Jay Hardwick – Louisiana Ronnie Hopper – Texas Ron Rayner – Arizona John Pucheu – California

ONE GROWER PUBLISHING, LLC Mike Lamensdorf PRESIDENT/TREASURER Lia Guthrie PUBLISHER/VICE PRESIDENT ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COOPERATION: Cooperating with COTTON FARMING are various cotton producer organizations across the Cotton Belt. Many representatives of producer organizations serve on COTTON FARMING’s editorial advisory board. Opinions expressed and conclusions reached by contributors are not necessarily those of the cooperating organizations or the editors. All statements, including product claims, are those of the person or organization making the statement or claim. The publisher does not adopt any such statement or claims as its own and any such statement or claim does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the publisher. Copyright 2015 ASSOCIATED PUBLICATIONS – One Grower Publishing, LLC also publishes RICE FARMING, THE PEANUT GROWER, SOYBEAN SOUTH and CORN SOUTH.

One Grower Publishing, LLC

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

COTTON FARMING MAY 2015

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

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SPECIAL REPORT

TCGA Members Hope For Improved Crop BY TOMMY HORTON EDITOR

obody in Texas expects 2015 to be an easy season for growing or ginning cotton, but the industry will persevere and do its best to deliver a highquality crop in the fall. That’s the unanimous opinion of producers, ginners and Texas Cotton Ginners’ Association (TCGA) members who attended the organization’s recent annual meeting in Lubbock. In some ways, this could be one of the most challenging years the industry has faced in Texas. Low prices, new farm law and irregular rainfall patterns are necessitating many difficult decisions. And, in many regions, cotton planting hasn’t even started. Perhaps outgoing TCGA president Buzz Cooper summed it up best in his remarks at the organization’s awards dinner on the last night of the annual meeting in Lubbock. “We have a lot of challenges, but if we get a break from Mother Nature and can get this crop started, we’ve got a chance to have a good year,” he said.

Widespread Optimism That sentiment was also echoed by attendees at the two-day trade show at the Lubbock Civic Center. Low cotton prices will mean that producers must be efficient on input costs and

irrigation. But the consensus among producers and ginners is that these lofty goals can be achieved. Cooper also pointed to the cooperation between producers and ginners as being crucial in the months ahead. “We’ve always known that ginners and producers are there to help each other, and that will certainly be the case this year,” he says. TCGA Executive Vice President Tony Williams says timely rains will once again play a role in how well the crop season begins. However, compared to recent years when the drought was at its worst, 2015 is a dramatic improvement for producers throughout the state. Unfortunately, rainfall was excessive in parts of South Texas and has slowed planting in that region. Meanwhile, producers in the High Plains are facing an improved soil moisture environment this year because of timely winter rainfall. However, as Williams points out, the drought still persists in some areas. As for the ginning sector in Texas, Williams says the projected lower planted cotton acreage in the High Plains will have an impact on gins. But, he hopes some of that lost acreage will be made up by improved dryland and irrigated cotton yields this year.

“Our ginners are always hopeful, and that’s the mood I see out there among our membership,” he says. Memorable Awards Dinner Meanwhile, numerous awards were handed out at TCGA’s awards dinner. ■ Rex Ford of Stamford, Texas, was honored as TCGA’s Ginner of the Year. He shared the honor with wife Cindy, daughters Tiffany, Tara and Tristan, along with three grandchildren. Many of Ford’s employees and board members also attended. ■ Former TCGA president Danny Moses of Wharton received a TCGA Life Member award. ■ Cotton Farming, co-sponsor of the TCGA Trade Show, presented a $7,500 check to the TCGA/Texas Tech Scholarship Program. ■ Ken Ross of Meadow, Texas, will be the new incoming TCGA president for 2015. TCGA’s annual summer meeting is scheduled for June 28-30 at the Barton Creek Resort and Spa in Austin, Texas. Contact Tommy Horton at (901) 7674020 or thorton@onegrower.com. For additional TCGA annual meeting photos, interested persons may visit www.cottonfarming.com.

New TCGA President Ken Ross (right) presents TCGA Rex Ford (holding plaque) shares Ginner of the Year award with family members, employees and board members. Life Member award to Danny Moses.

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Cotton Consultant’s Corner

Be Proactive, Not Reactive, In 2015 Wes Briggs Briggs Crop Services, Inc. Bainbridge, Ga. While in high school, I spent my summers employed by crop protection companies as an ag laborer. After entering Mississippi State, I had the opportunity to work under Jack Reed and Randy Luttrell – two of the best cotton researchers with the MAFES Department of Entomology. In 1990, I checked cotton with an ag consulting company, then worked for an irrigation company before starting Briggs Crop Services, Inc. in 2001. In 2014, irrigated cotton yields were average to above average. Dryland acres were up and down, depending on rainfall. To my surprise, nematodes and Target Spot did not rise to the top as they have in previous years. Last year’s high yields can be attributed to matching the right variety to the right acre, being proactive with fungicides and nematicides and, most importantly, being blessed with good weather at harvest. Glyphosate-resistant Palmer pigweed is the most troublesome weed we face in every field on every farm. Morningglory is also a problem in several crops. New technologies such as the Enlist Weed Control System, LibertyLink and the XtendFlex varieties will greatly enhance our ability to control tough weeds. We start clean, use multiple residuals before and after planting and closely overlap our post-applied herbicides. We generally make two post applications. At 45 to 55 days, our layby applications go out with more residuals. Later on, we pull any escaped pigweed. Stinkbugs are our most damaging boll-feeding insect, with aphids, plant bugs and spider mites running a close tie for second. On any given year, one of these three secondary pests can easily move up to primary pest status. Most of our boll-feeding and foliage-feeding larvae are easily managed with Bt technologies, plus we have some newer insecticides to choose from such as Blackhawk, Prevathon, Belt and Besiege. Aphids are getting harder to control, especially with imidacloprid products, so there may be more opportunity to try chemistries such as Transform. Although we don’t have resistant plant bugs, we are seeing increased plant bug pressure and sugarcane aphid. Generally speaking, this area consists of loamy sand to very sandy soil and is 85 to 90 percent center pivot irrigated. On our sandier soils in Decatur County, we’re only three days from a drought behind a one-inch rain. We do not cut corners with fertilizer because once we get behind, there’s no catching up. We pull soil samples on 100 percent of our ground every year. Since we have center pivot irrigation, we also have the ability to pump nitrogen and spoonfeed crops on an as-needed basis. Depending on the crop, we can get by with less nitrogen, but only when we inject smaller amounts more frequently. Total nitrogen on cotton is between 165 to 185 units on our sandier pivots. Commodity prices are low and our cotton acres may be down 10 to 15 percent, so we have to be proactive with weed control, insect control and fertility. This year, we will concentrate on maintaining yields and staying in business, not trying to win any yield contest. Developing a plan and executing it in a timely manner will maximize yields and be a lot less stressful.

• B.S. degree in Agricultural Pest Management – Mississippi State University, 1992 • Consults on cotton, corn, peanuts and small grains in southwest Georgia, Florida Panhandle and southeast Alabama • Member and past president of the Georgia Association of Professional Agricultural Consultants • Married to wife, Beth, for 18 years. Two daughters: Mabry Grace, 14, and Emma, 12 • Enjoys hunting, fishing, college sports and especially spending time with friends and family • Helps coach girls 14U fast-pitch team that led the United States in points and won 14U A Class Fall World Series in Birmingham, Ala., in 2014

Recap: Be Proactive, Not Reactive, In 2015

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1. Last year’s high yields can be attributed to matching the right variety to the right acre, being proactive with fungicides and nematicides and, most importantly, being blessed with good weather at harvest. 2. New technologies such as the Enlist Weed Control System, LibertyLink and XtendFlex varieties will greatly enhance our ability to control tough weeds. We start clean, use multiple residuals before and after planting and closely overlap our post-applied herbicides. 3. Most of our boll-feeding and foliage-feeding larvae are easily managed with Bt technologies, plus we have some newer insecticides such as Blackhawk, Prevathon, Belt and Besiege. 4. Aphids are getting harder to control, especially with imidacloprid products, so there may be more opportunity to try chemistries such as Transform. Although we don’t have resistant plant bugs, we are seeing increased plant bug pressure and sugarcane aphid. 5. We pull soil samples on 100 percent of our ground every year. Since we have center pivot irrigation, we also have the ability to pump nitrogen and spoonfeed crops on an as-needed basis. Total nitrogen on cotton is between 165 to 185 units on our sandier pivots.

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COVER STORY

Quick Start All Producers Know Importance Of Early Crop Development BY TOMMY HORTON EDITOR

cross the Cotton Belt, the strategy is the same this year – no matter the location. Producers must find a way to manage this crop efficiently. And that means planting on time and starting the season strong – much like a racehorse bolting out of the starting gate at top speed. It will be a challenge as farmers deal with low cotton prices, a new farm law, weed resistance and water availability in many locations – namely in California and Texas. Add in the big front-end investment Doug Hlavaty’s Farm Operation South Of Lubbock, Texas: • 40 percent irrigated, 60 percent dryland. • Cotton, corn and grain sorghum crops. • Farms with brother Lance. • Two-bale yields in 2014. • Three-bale yields in 2013. • Rainfall, price will influence crop mix.

COTTON FARMING MAY 2015

with the seed, and you begin to get the picture. Nobody wants to re-plant the crop, and it is essential that young cotton seedlings have plenty of vigor and growth potential. Nowhere is that more important than in Texas – the largest cotton production state in the Belt. Although a three-year drought has had a serious effect on cotton production in many parts of the state, crop prospects look much better this year. Not surprisingly, many producers – such as Doug Hlavaty in the Lubbock area – are waiting as long as they can to decide how much cotton to plant this year. But, when a farmer puts the seed into the ground, it needs to have a fighting chance to survive. “It may sound unusual, but we are making decisions every day on this crop, and we haven’t even planted it yet,” says Hlavaty, who farms with his brother Lance. Early Crop Decisions The big decisions will be made in

May when Hlavaty finally decides which varieties to plant. He needs to match them with the right fields. And then there is the question of whether to add a seed treatment. The High Plains producer says it is critically important that the seed respond to advantageous weather conditions in May. Doug and his brother Lance are a two-man operation now since their brother Tommy retired two years ago. Any discussion of planting strategies in this region also must include the issue of weed resistance. Even though the Hlavaty farm wasn’t hit too hard with resistant pigweed in 2014, a lot of money was spent controlling this problem. Doug knows that some of the pigweeds went to seed last year, and he is concerned what might happen this year. “We need to be ready for whatever happens,” says Doug. “I do know that resistant pigweed can affect how the season begins for us. And don’t forget

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The goal of every producer is to gain an early stand and have healthy young seedlings during those first few weeks of the season. that we still need a good planting rain later in May.” Importance Of Seed Quality Regardless of how the situation is viewed, seed quality is also a major priority. Texas AgriLife Extension cotton specialist Gaylon Morgan says this is a theme he consistently emphasized at winter meetings. He also knows that seed populations may be reduced. “I have heard some farmers talk about cutting back on seeding rates to save money,” he says. “I always get nervous when I see this – especially if they haven’t done it before. “You still need a uniform stand and should pay particular attention to seed quality, such as the cool-warm vigor index.” Morgan points out that establishing two plants per row-foot in South Texas

isn’t a detriment to yields. In today’s cost-cutting environment, that is good news. In areas farther north, such a practice might be riskier. “We simply don’t want to jeopardize yield and quality,” he says. “That’s why a farmer has to be careful when he’s trying to reduce costs.” Although it might look like young seedlings aren’t growing quickly enough, Morgan says it pays to understand plant behavior. “Keep in mind that a young seedling is putting down a tremendous amount of root growth in those early days and weeks,” he says. “It’s what will keep the plant going for the rest of the season. That’s why the start is so important.” Contact Tommy Horton at (901) 7674020 or thorton@onegrower.com.

Texas Farmers Trying To Stay Optimistic A few years ago, it was a devastating drought that had the most impact on cotton producers in South Texas. In fact, during one of those seasons, it was impossible to plant a crop due to lack of rainfall. While the drought in Texas seems to have eased, producers in the southern part of the state now are dealing with excessive rains causing delays in planting. “Farmers in South Texas were delayed in planting cotton by three to four weeks because of the continuous rainfall this spring, and many cotton acres will not get planted at all,” says Texas AgriLife Extension cotton specialist Gaylon Morgan. “This is another example of how conditions can affect timely planting.” Meanwhile, the situation has improved in the High Plains area where producer Doug Hlavaty is hoping for a timely planting rain. Last year’s May rain helped boost his cotton crop for the rest of the summer. “I am hoping we get that same kind of rain this year,” says Hlavaty. “It seems like we’re always facing a big challenge. This year, it’s all about cotton prices and watching our spending.” Hlavaty says he has too much invested in cotton to give up. “Farmers out here have faith that the good Lord will somehow take care of us,” he says.

COTTON FARMING MAY 2015

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SPECIAL REPORT

Spray App Helps Monitor Insect Pests

he Bootheel of Southeast Missouri is home to about 98 percent of the state’s cotton acreage. Cotton, as a high-value commercial crop, has seen a significant increase in pesticide use over the past five years. With this increased use, more attention is being paid to those insecticides that are not only most appropriate for pest control in individual fields but also affect the pest, crop and surrounding environment. Insecticide choices must be concerned with efficacy, selectivity and secondary pests. In addition, frequently used insecticides must be continually monitored for pest susceptibility (i.e. evolving resistance). In the case of pesticide sprays, the monitoring of pest incidence and intensity is nothing new. What are new are the technology tools that make pest observations more than just numbers. Most popular of these tools is the mobile device application or “app.” The app being reported here is for monitoring cotton pests and scheduling pesticide applications. It is called the “Cotton Spray App.” The spray app will be distributed on a smartphone to Bootheel consultants, who will

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Consultant Bill Emerine of Crop Tech tries out the new spray app for monitoring insect pests in a cotton field.

evaluate it during the 2015 growing season. Cotton Spray App – An Effective Tool The design and development of the Cotton Spray App is being led by ZedX, Inc., an information technology company (zedxinc.com) located in central Pennsylvania. The required pest and chemical databases to support this app are being supplied by the University of Missouri, Fisher Delta Research Center (delta.cafnr.org) located in Portageville, Mo. Entomologist Moneen Jones will also oversee testing of the first version of the app in the field. The testing will involve crop consultants in the Bootheel. During the development phase of the app, three consultants anonymously shared their past two years of pest data to serve as a baseline for management improvement. During the field

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evaluation phase, the app will be distributed to consultants for their use and feedback. App functionality is organized under four interface tabs: Preferences, Setup, Scouting and Schedule. By completing entries under these tabs, a user selects preferences for entry dropdown menus, registers a cotton field, records crop stages and pest observations and chooses among recommendations based on recorded observations. User entries are stored locally on the app and only data relevant for research and Extension recommendations are uploaded to a server. All uploaded data are treated as confidential information. While functionality of the Preferences, Setup and Scouting tabs is similar to other modern pest collection apps, the “Schedule” tab is unique. The Schedule interface first presents current and historical pest observations and then allows a user to prioritize the order of displayed materials according to their mode of action (MOA), maximum residue level (MRL), impact on beneficial insects (e.g. bees) and cost. A sort function within the app cross references the observed pest intensity with user preferences and the prioritized order of MOA, MRL, beneficial insects and cost. The end result is a sorted list of materials beginning with those that are a good match with the prevailing crop and pest situation and management goals and ending with those that are a worst match. Specific Applications To Fit The Field The app also takes into consideration the phenology of cotton, in that pest incidence is weighted higher or lower depending on the growth stage in the field. For example, thrips damage is a higher concern in seedling cotton plants and therefore a rating of M (medium) is weighted higher at

Advantage Of Spray App For Insect Monitoring • Better use of foliar insecticides. • Gives consultants another tool. • Easy to set up and use. • Overall improved pest management.

that growth stage than later in the growing season. Once a material is selected from the sorted list, a user can access Extension-created guidelines for handling and application on a crop. Finally, the consultant has the option of emailing the report to the producer or printing out a report. The benefits of the Cotton Spray App include the economical use of foliar insecticides and improved pest management. This app is not a replacement for consultant services, but rather a tool for consultants to improve pest management for their customers through judicious use of insecticides. Over the next year, the app functionality will be expanded to include downloadable products, such as regional maps of pest activity and risk. The app itself will be integrated into a national online information technology platform for the sharing of pest observations and control recommendations among agricultural professionals. For more information about the Cotton Spray App, contact Dr. Moneen Jones at jonesmon@missouri.edu at the Fisher Delta Research Center in Portageville, Mo. Dr. Joseph Russo, president of ZedX, also contributed to this story.

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COTTON FARMING MAY 2015

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VIEWPOINT

Keeping Cotton King Of The High Plains BY MARK KELLEY LUBBOCK, TEXAS

•

Texas

• B.S. in Agri-Business at Cameron University. • M.S. in Crop Science at Texas Tech University. • Ph.D. in Agronomy at Texas Tech University. • Extension Agriculturist at Okla. State University Cotton Research Center (1990-1998). • Texas AgriLife Extension Service, Lubbock, Texas, (1998-present). • Married for 26 years to Karen Kelley and father of son, Joshua Kelley.

hen I look back over the years since I first moved to Lubbock to begin my career with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service working in cotton, several things are clear with regards to cotton production in the Texas High Plains and Panhandle regions. Producers in the region are highly progressive and always looking for and trying new technologies and varieties that enable them to continue to produce high yields of excellent quality cotton. Also, their faith in God is unwavering as proven by their resolve even when faced with less than favorable growing conditions in an ever-changing environment. As I have heard, and have repeated several times myself, “if you don’t like the weather in Lubbock, just wait a minute, it will change.” As we have witnessed over the years, each growing season is different with its own set of “challenges” that producers must overcome in order to have a successful cotton harvest. More recently, Texas High Plains and Panhandle producers have dealt with extreme drought conditions that have, just this winter, shown significant signs of improvement. In addition to the drought, we have experienced late spring freeze and storm events that have delayed development of the crop, early fall freeze events that abruptly halt fiber development and boll opening, and in-season inclement weather that has wiped out entire cotton crops. In spite of these obstacles, producers in the region continue to adapt and, in many cases, produce greater than expected yields of excellent quality cotton. One of the many things that has enabled producers to be successful is their understanding that pre-plant, at-planting and early season management decisions are extremely important. Pre-plant decisions include, but are not limited to, field preparation, irrigation management, weed control measures, variety selection and seed quality. At-planting considerations include additional weed control, seed placement,

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seeding rate, as well as time of planting. Finally, early season management of a cotton crop is critical for success, and decisions made for early season insect control, irrigation timing and continued weed control should be made in a timely manner. When making pre-plant decisions, producers should consider options for fields on an individual basis. Field preparations are generally based on tillage operations. Although an important decision, whether to pre-water, is most often based upon precipitation amounts and timing. In some cases, irrigation is needed for stand establishment where sub-soil moisture levels are adequate. Other times, especially under drought conditions, irrigation is started early in the year and continues up to planting in order to “fill” the soil profile as well as provide seed-bed moisture for planting and emergence. Even if all management decisions are made correctly, choosing the wrong variety can result in lower yields and quality than anticipated. Variety selection should also be made on a field-by-field basis, taking into consideration irrigation, soil type, presence of disease pathogens or rootknot nematodes and length of growing season. The fact that there are more than 100 commercially available varieties is both good and bad. Good in that there is competition among all seed companies for market share, and bad because the sheer numbers make the decisions more difficult. To assist producers with these variety decisions, several replicated large and small plot variety trials are conducted annually by Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension personnel. Once variety decisions are made and planting begins, producers should have some idea of the quality of seed. Plant seed to a firm, moist seed bed if possible when the seed-bed temperatures are more than 60 degrees and a good five-day forecast is expected. Once established, keeping the field free of insects and weeds will help insure a successful harvest of good quality cotton by getting the crop off to a good start and setting a high percentage of early season fruit. If producers continue to manage their cotton crops as they have in the High Plains and Panhandle regions of Texas, and maintain their faith, we can be assured that cotton will continue to be king. Contact Mark Kelley in Lubbock, Texas, at (806) 746-6101 or mkelley@ag.tamu.edu.

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SPECIAL REPORT

Can Congress Fix Immigration Problem? BY BOB STALLMAN AMERICAN FARM BUREAU

armers are making plans for the coming season, and in some regions crops are already in bloom. A big question for many farmers is whether they’ll have enough workers to harvest those crops. Well, Congress has been busy making plans, too. In the last few weeks, the buzz around immigration has picked up on Capitol Hill. Unfortunately, the plans Congress has in mind stop short of what agriculture needs, and would do farmers more harm than good. The House Judiciary Committee recently pushed forward so-called eVerify legislation that would require workers to present a more secure form of identification before they could be hired. Congress, in short, seems ready to require stricter enforcement of immigration laws without first repairing the broken immigration system that exists today. Address Future Needs We agree that worker documentation does need to be brought into the 21st century to secure our borders. But stopping there would cripple agricultural production in the United States. Effective immigration reform must address our current workforce and create a new guest worker program to meet future needs. Agriculture supports millions of jobs both on and off the farm. No farmer should have to leave fruit to rot or plow up fields simply because he can’t find ready and willing workers. An enforcement-only approach ignores the rest of our immigration problems and threatens to devastate the farm economy. Farmers and ranchers are careful to follow the federal government’s requirements for checking employment documents and will

continue to do so. But e-Verify by itself puts the onus on farmers and ranchers who are already hard pressed to find skilled workers. The fallout would harm the entire economy. Farm Bureau estimates that food production would fall by $30 billion to $60 billion in the United States if the government implements a strict enforcement-only employment verification system. As food demand grows, farmers will respond with increased production. The problem is our current immigration laws all but guarantee it won’t be on our soil, because most Americans are simply not willing to take these jobs. Consumers, meanwhile, should expect their grocery bills to increase

five to six percent. Farmers Need Solutions Washington has a long tradition of granting special carve-outs and exemptions to laws that fall unevenly on some sectors, but that won’t solve the problem we face. Farmers and ranchers aren’t looking for an exemption. We need a solution. Farm Bureau is committed to continuing our work with Congress to reform our immigration system. We must not only secure our borders. We must secure the future of agriculture. Bob Stallman is president of the American Farm Bureau. For more information, go to www.fb.org.

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RESEARCH & PROMOTION

Cotton’s New Campaign: Check Those Labels

id-April marked the release of Cotton IncorThat audience includes women between the ages of 18 to porated’s new advertising campaign with a 35, who are establishing their buying trends. The ads also heartfelt look at why cotton is a consumer look to reiterate the appeal of cotton to women, ages 35 to favorite and a call to action to check your labels 55, who have established their purchasing habits. for cotton content. Versions of the first Fabric of The new campaign focuses on Our Lives commercials included real stories, from real people Aaron Neville and Phoebe Snow. talking about their favorite cotLater, a new generation of ton items. The “favorite” comcelebrity included Zoey Desmercials feature various cotton chanel, Miranda Lambert and staples such as denim and Hayden Panettiere. The spots shirting but will also include included a quick look into their trending favorites such as athclosets, a view of their lifestyles letic apparel. and strong web-based and social Kim Kitchings, vice president media content, helping to drive of corporate strategy and proconsumers to cotton purchases. gram metrics for Cotton IncorAt its height, cotton’s share of porated, says that many cotton the retail apparel and home furpieces have a great story to tell. nishing market consistently hov“There are different reasons to ered at or above 60 percent for love cotton,” Kitchings says. “It several years. may be the functional, breathable or comfortable, but it may Importance Of Target Markets also be emotional.” Today, with more diverse teleThe new commercials will tell vision programming, Cotton those stories with more detail Incorporated is able to refine the accompanying digital extensions advertising in markets to appeal and promotions, including social to the target audience. As a media. The call to check labels result, those outside of the target for cotton content is intended to group may see less of the adverlet retailers know American contising directed to a primarily sumers are aware of the fabric female audience. content of their clothing and to In 2011, when cotton prices hit drive demand to purchase more record highs, brands and retailcotton products. One of Cotton Incorporated’s most popular Fabric ers began to look to alternatives of Our Lives television campaigns in previous years to cotton, and market share Campaign’s Rich History dropped. Because manmade fiber involved singer Hayden Panettiere. Cotton Incorporated has had a is more uniform, easier to spin rich success in promoting the brand awareness of cotton for and, most importantly, cheaper than cotton, manufacturers more than 40 years. In 1973, Dukes Wooters, Cotton have been shifting out of cotton, despite manmade fibers’ Incorporated’s first president, introduced the Seal of Cotton tendencies to be less comfortable and retain odor. However, at a time when cotton’s share of the textile market had today cotton is significantly more price competitive than in dropped from 78 percent in 1960 to a low of 34 percent due the spike of 2011, thus more appealing to retailers and to the introduction of low-cost manmade fiber into the mar- brands’ bottom lines. ket. Within three years, cotton promotions would drive conAccording to the Cotton Incorporated Lifestyle Monitor, sumer recognition of the Seal of Cotton to 45 percent, cotton is the preferred fiber of consumers by a wide margin. according to industry metrics. The Fabric of Our Lives commercials have helped solidify The Fabric of Our Lives advertising campaign was that preference, and the newest favorite commercials are launched in 1989 with a sentimental appeal reflecting calling for active participation by checking labels for cotton’s subtle and emotional impact on our lives. With cotton content. vocals by singer Richie Havens and graphic images of special events and heartwarming personal interactions, the ad The Cotton Board, which administers Cotton Incorporated’s built strong fiber awareness in the target audience that was Research and Promotion Program, contributed information making and developing lifelong buying trends. for this story.

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Cotton’s Agenda Gary Adams

Securing Adequate Provision The National Cotton Council recently conveyed its fiscal year 2016 federal appropriations priorities for helping the U.S. cotton industry remain competitive in the world marketplace.

Where is the budget appropriations process? ■ The House and Senate agricultural appropriations subcommittees conducted hearings with USDA agency officials to review their budget requests and priorities before beginning the development of their respective funding bills. The final Congressional budget resolution being negotiated between the House and Senate will set the overall level of funding available for fiscal year 2016.

What are U.S. cotton’s funding priorities? ■ Essential is maintaining resources for USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) to complete boll weevil and pink bollworm eradication. These programs continue to produce documented economic and environmental benefits. Adequate funding also was requested for the Agricultural Research Service (ARS), which conducts important agronomic, post-harvest, fiber quality and textile research. The NCC asked that USDA be instructed not to close any ARS facilities or discontinue any projects without first consulting with cotton industry stakeholders. That applies to the three ginning laboratories. These important facilities help The NCC made Congress aware of cotton’s our industry develop the most energy efficient FY16 federal appropriations priorities. cotton handling and ginning systems and conduct research that assists our industry in increasing fiber quality. We noted, for example, that the laboratories recently completed an ambitious program to

accurately measure the particulate matter emissions from gins – which will help the U.S. cotton industry address current and future air quality issues. In addition, we asked that funding be maintained for the research units managing cotton programs conducted at the Southern Regional Research Center and the various cotton breeding programs – including support for the Cotton Germplasm Collection managed by the Southern Plains Crop Germplasm Unit housed at the Southern Plains Agricultural Research Center. The NCC also conveyed strong support for full funding of USDA’s Market Access Program (MAP) and Foreign Market Development (FMD) programs. MAP and FMD provide critical funding for Cotton Council International (CCI) to conduct overseas market development and promotion activities on behalf of U.S. cotton and cotton products. Independent studies, in fact, reveal that for every dollar spent by USDA cooperators, including CCI, U.S. exports increase $35. For the U.S. cotton industry, this represents more than $1 billion in export value or an additional 7,000 jobs to the U.S. economy.

What about USDA agency funding? The NCC is urging sufficient funding for USDA agencies to administer programs important to the cotton industry, including the Risk Management Agency, Farm Service Agency, National Agricultural Statistics Service, Economic Research Service and Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS). It’s important, for example, that U.S. agriculture continues to have an agency like FAS with close links to domestic USDA programs to promote U.S. exports, collect market data, assist exporters, remedy trade disputes and assist in the development of trade policy. More details on federal budget priorities are in a letter on the NCC’s website at www.cotton.org/issues/2015/appropslet.cfm.

Gary Adams is president/chief executive officer of the National Cotton Council of America. He and other NCC leaders contribute columns on this Cotton Farming magazine page. COTTON FARMING MAY 2015

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Specialists Speaking Planters Are Ready To Roll Again FLORIDA David Wright Even though cotton prices could be better, many producers still have cotton as part of their farm plan due to rotations. We have shown that cotton can add a half ton or more to peanut yields when planted for two years prior to peanut planting, and that cotton in the rotation might be slightly less profitable than peanuts this year. Over a three-year period of using a good rotation can lead to much higher profit than if cotton were not grown. Likewise, cotton and peanuts respond less to irrigation than corn and soybeans and fit cropping systems on marginal soils much better. That is why they have been traditional crops for our area. High yields are necessary for profits when prices are lower, so this is a year to apply good management and especially good rotation practices. wright@ufl.edu

TEXAS Mark Kelley Current soil moisture conditions are better than producers in the Texas High Plains and Panhandle regions have observed in quite some time. Slow infiltration of winter snow melts and recent rainfall events have, in most areas, provided good subsoil moisture to carry future cotton crops through a good portion of the early growing season. Furthermore, with warm temperatures and additional precipitation forecast, cotton planting could begin as early as the last week in April. With adequate soil moisture in the seed bed and warm temperatures, getting this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cotton crop off to a good start seems probable. However, having the crop established is just the beginning of the journey, and producers should be diligent in maintaining near zero competition from weeds and protect early season fruit from yield-robbing insects. The last two years were an indication that protection of this earlyset fruit can optimize yield and quality even if we get off to a later than usual start or have an earlier than usual season-ending frost event. If producers need any assistance with management decisions, Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension personnel are always available to help. I personally can be reached at (806) 781-6572 anytime someone needs information. mkelley@ag.tamu.edu

NORTH CAROLINA Keith Edmisten I know it is tempting to get your planters out and set them up to deliver a seeding rate and roll through the season without adjusting seeding rates. This may be acceptable if you have the planting capacity to plant your cotton in a short period of time and can plant only during optimum conditions. However, many producers will likely have to plant cotton through less than desirable conditions at some point(s) in the planting season. Seeds are a major cost associated with growing cotton. Adjusting seeding rates for planting conditions throughout the planting season can result in a substantial saving. These savings could be crucial, particularly in a year with lower cotton prices. Cotton seed is particularly sensitive to chilling injury during the first two days of water imbibition. Producers can use this information to decide if they should quit planting cotton a couple of days prior to cool fronts moving into the state.

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Producers should also look at the projected forecast for the five days following planting. If the predicted DD60s are less than optimal, they should use higher seeding rates and reduce them when optimum conditions return to save seed costs. keith_edmisten@ncsu.edu

LOUISIANA Dan Fromme At the current time, cotton acres are expected to decrease by 20 to 25 percent from last year in Louisiana. Cotton producers have experienced abundant rainfall and wet soil conditions during the months of March and April. As of April 20, less than 2,000 acres were planted. Therefore, it looks like the 2015 cotton crops will be going in a little late. Once planting is completed, and cotton seedlings have emerged from the ground, producers will want to concentrate on managing the cotton plant from the first through fifth leaf stage. Reaching the fifth true leaf stage as quickly as possible and unscathed from thrips is important in producing good cotton yields at the end of the season. Seed treatments for controlling early season insect pests through the fifth true leaf stage play a viable part in getting off to a fast start. Depending on environmental conditions, seed treatments may last anywhere from 14 to 28 days. Under cool spring conditions, reaching the fifth true leaf stage often is delayed, and seed treatments no longer offer protection. Under these conditions, foliar sprays are needed even though a seed treatment was used at planting. dfromme@agcenter.lsu.edu.

TENNESSEE Tyson Raper Tennesseeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s target cotton planting window, from a calendar-date standpoint, begins on April 20 and stretches to May 10. As many wrote in last month's Specialists Speaking section of Cotton Farming, we need to focus more on conditions than the calendar. Still, it is raining as I write this, and the long-term forecast suggests more rain is on the way. With the possibility of a late start to the season looming, now is a great time to review a few of the early season cultural practices. In Tennessee, early-mid or mid-maturing varieties are generally only able to outperform early maturing varieties if they are planted within the April 20-May 10 window. If planting after May 10, consider planting earlier maturing varieties. Well-drained, moist and warm seedbeds will support rapid seedling emergence and grow-off. In addition to insecticide seed treatments, consider protecting young seedlings from thrips damage with a one- to two-leaf foliar spray. Visit our website at utcrops.com or blog at news.utcrops.com. traper@utk.edu

ARIZONA Randy Norton Nearly all of the cotton is in across the deserts of Arizona. Cotton in the far West region of the state is quickly approaching first bloom, and the remainder of the state is nearing first square. Decisions regarding irrigation timing become critical at this point in relation to minimizing moisture stress experienced by the crop. Research has indicated that stress resulting from delayed irrigations will cause the abortion of fruiting forms, resulting in decreased yield potential and increased potential for

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excessive vegetative growth. Maintaining proper crop water status is important and can be done by scheduling irrigations, according to crop water use and water-holding capacity of the soil. Weekly cotton advisories are developed for every region of the state that contains crop water use data that can be used to determine irrigation scheduling. More information and specifics regarding irrigation and crop water use can be found at cals.arizona.edu/crops. Weekly cotton advisories can be accessed at http://cals.arizona.edu/azmet/cotton.htm. rnorton@cals.arizona.edu

VIRGINIA Hunter Frame By the time Virginia farmers read this article, they will be underway planting cotton. The early season management of cotton is critical to producing highyielding cotton in Virginia. Any delay or setback in the growth of cotton will open the window for potential damage in the fall through delayed maturity. The first management decisions will be early season weed and thrips control. Killing weeds when they are small is easier than trying to kill larger weeds. When evaluating thrips damage, remember that damage on older leaves is old damage. Be sure to inspect the growing point “bud” of the plants. For soil fertility, our recommendations are to place 20 to 30 percent of your N, 100 percent of phosphorus and 50 to 100 percent of potassium at or prior to planting (splitting potassium application on sandy soils may reduce leaching losses). whframe@vt.edu

MISSISSIPPI Darrin Dodds I am hopeful that by the time this issue of Cotton Farming reaches your hands that we will have made significant progress with respect to cotton planting. However, challenging weather conditions throughout most of the spring have put most into hurry up and wait mode. While we still have ample time to plant cotton, uncertain fall weather necessitates planting as soon as the weather will allow. For the past two years, more than half of the cotton in Mississippi was planted between May 15 and June 6. We made tremendous yields during those two years but have also been blessed with very favorable fall weather. No one is under the illusion that we will have great weather every fall and, as such, planters should roll as soon as possible. The average seeding rate in Mississippi is 40,000 to 45,000 seeds per acre. However, research has shown that we can achieve excellent cotton yields with as few as 15,000 plants per acre. In order to achieve high yields with plant populations that low, all plants must be evenly distributed in a given field with no two- to three-foot skips. We do not advocate planting fewer seeds based on the above; however, when trying to make re-plant decisions, if you have a minimum of 15,000 healthy plants per acre that are evenly spaced, park your planter and start working on your sprayer. darrind@ext.msstate.edu

MISSOURI Mike Milam With all of the ice and snow cover, the Drought Monitor showed us to be in an abnormally dry to moderate drought. Well, with the frequent rains, we are now not only wet, but we have some sloppy conditions. I was concerned with the Planting Intentions Report showing 192,000 acres, our lowest since the 1980s. However, this actually might be the best-case scenario.

I have since learned from producers, ginners and chemical dealers that it could be a lot worse. milammr@missouri.edu

TEXAS Gaylon Morgan Weather predictions of an El Niño pattern have come to fruition in much of Texas. This has come with mixed emotions after dealing with years of drought. Now, the South Texas cotton acres will decline further as a result of continuous saturated soils in the Rio Grande Valley (RGV), Coastal Bend (CB) and now Upper Gulf Coast (UGC). Reports from the Rio Grande Valley indicate about 45,000 to 50,000 acres of cotton planted, which is about half of the expected cotton acreage for the region. Reports from the CB are that about 15 to 25 percent of the cotton acreage has been planted as of the April 15 final planting date. The UCG has also had a wet spring, which has delayed corn, sorghum and now cotton planting, but there should be sufficient time to get the cotton planted before the May 15 final planting date. For more information, go to the cotton.tamu.edu web page. gmorgan@ag.tamu.edu

ARKANSAS Bill Robertson The period from planting to first square is a critical time for the cotton plant. While water and nutritional requirements for the plant are low during this time, cotton is not a very good competitor. Allowing weeds or other pests to overcome pre-squaring cotton will impact yield potential. Research in cotton studying weed competition early in the season for a designated period and then keeping the crop weed-free for the remainder of the season has shown as much as a 20 percent yield reduction with competition occurring only during the first 15 days after emergence and as much as a 40 percent yield decrease with competition only during the first 30 days. Everyone knows the importance of early season weed management. However, frequent rainfall events, coupled with windy days, often result in very narrow windows of opportunity to complete fieldwork. It is important that we place a high priority on early season weed management to avoid losing yield potential. brobertson@uaex.edu

OKLAHOMA Randy Boman The typical spring, rainy season is being felt once again after a considerable absence during the past four years. Recent rainfall was a blessed sight in western Oklahoma. Although we are still substantially below our needs with respect to runoff necessary for reservoirs, April rainfall leading up to planting season has been great. By now, most producers have made variety selection decisions. We are anticipating a good look at the new XtendFlex technology in 2015. Although in-season dicamba applications will not be allowed, it will still provide producers the opportunity to investigate and familiarize themselves with new varieties. Also, as we move into planting time, don’t forget that cooler temperatures can lead to poor stands or stand failures if the correct conditions align. Planting should be delayed until 1) mid-morning temperatures in the rooting zone exceed 60 degrees at a six-inch planting depth and 68 degrees at the two-inch depth; 2) the five-day forecast indicates dry conditions and at least 25 DD60 heat units; and 3) the five-day forecast projects low temperatures above 50 degrees. These criteria are useful to ensure a good start for the 2015 crop. randy.boman@okstate.edu COTTON FARMING MAY 2015

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COTTON FARMING IS THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE GINNING INDUSTRY.

OSHA’s Citations Pushing The Envelope Under the current administration, the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) has increased its focus on enforcement. You don’t have to look hard to find a news article related to some large fine being issued for safety violations found at a company. Agriculture is a significant focus for OSHA right now, and they are happy to tell you that if you ask. Grain elevators are a special focus – more specifically, engulfment hazards in grain bins. Combustible dust is another emphasis, and the fertilizer plant explosion in West, Texas, is a final part of this overall emphasis. Most of the above issues are unrelated, but they all combine into a nice set of bullet points targeting agriculture. We have received reports of OSHA officials, when discussing a cotton gin, mention the West explosion as one reason they are so concerned about agriculture. Whether that specific inspector realizes the difference between the West facility and a cotton gin is unknown, but it seems that OSHA commonly blurs the line between facility types when issuing citations. For this reason, it is very critical for you to know how the regulations affect your specific facility. For another good example, agriculture is covered by Section 1928 of the regulations, which is the agricultural section. There are noise regulations that affect general industry and noise regulations for construction, but standards are different for construction and general industry because the exposure is different. The exposure for agriculture is very different from the exposure for either construction or general industry. For this reason, agriculture is not covered by the noise standard. If you check OSHA’s website, a section exists that explains what to do if an inspector measures a noise level in an agricultural facility that exceeds the general industry standard. The web page says: “Since 29 CFR 1928.21(a) does not reference the general industry noise standard (29 CFR 1910.95). “Hearing conservation programs are not mandatory in agricultural operations. However, if the CSHO inspects such operations and determines that they are likely to cause employees to be exposed to noise in excess of an eight-hour, time-weighted average of 85 dBA, the employer should be advised that it is good practice to reduce the noise level or provide ear protection and to train employees in the proper use

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and fit of ear protection and in the hazards of noise exposure. Wherever it is practical, periodic audiometric testing should be encouraged to ensure the effectiveness of hearing protection.â&#x20AC;? We have an ongoing situation today where OSHA did measure noise levels above the 85 dBA level mentioned above, and the gin was already doing what is outlined in OSHAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s explanation above. The OSHA office has cited the gin and indicated that making hearing protection mandatory is needed to resolve the citation. In our opinion, this significantly conflicts with their own rules, and we are in the process of contesting this citation. Only time will tell whether this citation will be resolved in our favor, but it remains a very good example for how OSHA will push the envelope when issuing citations. If you receive a citation from OSHA, it is very important for you to know what rules apply to your operations, and for you to be sure they are only citing your operation for appropriate violations.

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Industry News Transform Receives Section 18 Exemption Dow AgroSciences has announced that, in response to the states’ requests, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has granted Section 18 emergency-use exemptions in Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia and Texas for the application of Transform WG insecticide for control of sugarcane aphids in sorghum. Section Bayer Opens New Breeding And Trait Facility In Pikeville, N.C. 18 approvals are still pendBayer CropScience recently celebrated the grand opening for its Breeding and Trait ing in five other states. Development Station in Pikeville, N.C. The $6.3 million state-of-the-art facility is part Transform is a fast-acting of Bayer CropScience’s commitment to extend its investment in research and insecticide from a propridevelopment, in addition to efforts to expand production capacities and seed etary class of chemistry from processing facilities. Dow AgroSciences that was Situated on more than 150 acres, the facility will identify, test and develop new introduced commercially in cotton and soybean varieties for the mid-Atlantic and southern United States agricul2013 in cotton, potatoes, ture markets through modern breeding methods. canola, soybeans and other The facility, with eight full-time and five to 10 contractors and seasonal staff, concrops. Last year, Section 18s sists of four new buildings on a renovated former Bayer Healthcare site, including a were granted in several 4,227-square-foot office building, a 13,057-square-foot processing building, a 13,904states for control of sugarsquare-foot equipment barn and an outdoor pavilion. For additional information, go to cane aphids in sorghum. www.bayer.com. Refer to individual state Section 18 labels for complete application guidelines and limitations. For additional information about Transform, interested persons can go online and visit www.TransformMySorghum.com

N.C. State Students Win Carter Scholarships Two North Carolina State University students – Cassandra Ingram of High Point, N.C., and Jennifer Evans of Ayden, N.C., are recipients of scholarships made possible through the Billy Carter Cotton Leadership Scholarship Endowment. The scholarship was established in 2012 by Billy’s wife (Beverly) and their daughter, Beth Burchdell, as a permanent endowment with the North Carolina Agricultural Foundation, Inc. Additional funding was contributed by the North Carolina Cotton Producers Association (NCCPA) and friends of the Carter family. “It is very appropriate that Billy’s legacy will forever be etched through an endowment that helps others who dedicate their life’s work to agriculture just as he did,” says David Parrish, NCCPA chief executive officer.

Lummus’ Don Van Doorn Passes Away Donald Van Doorn, 93, of Columbus and Savannah, Ga., world-renowned inventor and long-time executive with Lummus Corp., died on March 8, 2015. He grew up in central Michigan and earned his B.S. degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Michigan. He also served in World War II as a naval officer and worked briefly for a small company in Dallas, Texas, before joining Lummus as a design engineer in 1947. Gifts may be directed to the University of Michigan.

For up to the minute cotton market information Experience means credibility. Listen to two experienced farm broadcasters who keep their listeners updated on news that affects your farming operation. And each week listen to the Cotton Insider Report from Tommy Horton, Editor of Cotton Farming magazine.

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22_Don Cameron My Turn #2 4/20/15 8:44 AM Page 22

My Turn Riding On The Planter

hen I was blinding, choking cloud of organophosphate-laden about 13 ye- dust with a meat grinder of parts churning ars old, my beneath me, I was a poster child for the very carefather gave lessness OSHA rightly sought to end. In fact, more than once, I considered whether me my first real paying job on the farm, and I was my father was really just trying to get rid of me by very proud to become a giving me that job in the first place. This was part of the team. My especially so when he drove the tractor. We Royal assignment was to ride on men are cursed with an inclination to let our the planter. It wasn’t a minds wander. When Daddy reached the end of cushy job, because the the row, he had quite a litany of tasks to perform Robert days were long, and the and in something of an order: clutch, throttle old planter was a Rube down, shift to neutral, shut off spray, shut off Royal Goldberg contrivance that Gandy box, etc. It was a mental burden. A few times while stopped at the end of the row, was forever breaking down. My job was to spot any problem early, then he absentmindedly released the clutch without holler at the tractor driver so he could stop and first throttling back and shifting to neutral. The tractor reared up and roared forward like a full fix it. The implement was a six-row International blown dragster on the green light! The jolt threw model 86. Today, that contraption would seem a me flying backward. Landing was painful. I’d roll through the beige strange sight indeed. dust moaning, then Unlike other planters, it ‘It wasn’t a cushy job, stagger up glaring at hinged under the belly him. The first time it of the tractor and with because the days were long.’ happened, I forgave its vintage lines and pot him, but after that I belly seed hoppers, it would today lend itself to some cute anthromor- got downright resentful. We Royal men are also slow learners. phic cartooning. At this age, I knew the full syllabus of cuss Each planting unit was ground driven by its own huge 20-inch press wheel, and the complete words, or at least I thought I did. Daddy never works was a rat’s nest of flat chains, roller chains, swore, and although most of my buddies did so sprockets, gears, pulleys, hill droppers and plates. very eloquently, it was not something I made a In each hopper, a stirring rod turned constantly to regular habit of. Just the same, after being body prevent bridging of the clumpy, machine-delinted slammed on the hard ground, I wanted to jump up seed. Further adding to the complexity of this cot- and cuss him out proper. I restrained myself, ton planting enterprise was an electric Gandy box though. Instead, I’d fuss at him for being careless delivering granular pesticide to the seed furrows while I dusted myself off and climbed back on the through an octopus (minus two) of flimsy, bounc- planter. He’d offer a sheepish apology, but he only ing tubes. All this was sealed with a pre-emerge made me angrier by snickering as he apologized. After a few more acres, I’d calm down. spray behind the press wheel. It is said that folks are shaped by their experiAs ringmaster of this circus of motion, I supervised by pacing one end to the other on a narrow ences, and I could argue that I was nearly misboard catwalk mounted across the back of the shaped by my experiences then, but it really was planter. There was a hand rail, and I never let go only as dangerous as I let it be. The fact is, I of it, because chewing beneath me was the raven- learned and experienced more in those few short weeks than in any other period of my life. ous maw of the beast. It is a funny coincidence that during this same – Robert Royal, Midnight, Miss. time President Richard Nixon signed OSHA into rroyal@wildblue.net existence. Stumbling along a bouncing board in a Cotton Farming’s back page is devoted to telling unusual “farm tales” or timely stories from across the Belt. Now it’s your turn. If you’ve got an interesting story to tell, send a short summary to thorton@onegrower.com or fax to (901) 767-4026. We look forward to hearing from you.

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MAY 2015

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