Cotton farming october 2015 by One Grower Publishing

Cotton Farming

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ONE GROWER PUBLISHING, LLC

PROFITABLE PRODUCTION STRATEGIES

OCTOBER 2015

www.cottonfarming.com

RONE FAMILY MAPS A STRATEGY

PREPARING FOR HARVEST

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Vol. 59 No. 10

Cotton Farming PROFITABLE PRODUCTION STRATEGIES

OCTOBER 2015

www.cottonfarming.com

FEATURES

WESTERN REPORT

BELTWIDE PREVIEW

GINNING MARKETPLACE

More young women are choosing a career as cotton producers.

Another informative conference is scheduled Jan. 5-7 in New Orleans.

THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE GINNING INDUSTRY

Ginners should educate themselves on what to expect when an OSHA official pays a visit.

Harvest Time

Even though the routine appears to be the same each year, Missouri cotton producer Lewis Rone and son Justin know that it is vitally important to pay attention to every detail in defoliation and harvest if they hope to maximize yields. This year, they’re optimistic about the possibilities.

WEB EXCLUSIVE Jim Lambert of INTL FCStone Inc. in Nashville, Tenn., offers an update on the unpredictable and volatile environment in U.S. cotton export markets. Many factors can affect this sector of the industry, and Jim delivers some timely commentary. Go to www.cottonfarming.com for his Web Exclusive report.

DEPARTMENTS & COLUMNS

4 Editor’s Note 18 Industry News 6 Cotton’s Agenda 22 My Turn 16 Specialists Speaking

WEB POLL RESULTS

Do you plan to try new technologies being introduced in cotton varieties or will you stay with what you are planting now? Go to www.cottonfarming.com for the results.

ON THE COVER: Missouri producer Lewis Rone and son Justin are prepared for cotton harvest. Cover Photo By Tommy Horton. 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: 615-3773322) (Fax: 615-850-5319). 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 OCTOBER 2015

Editor’s Note Tommy Horton

Cotton Farming

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

Cotton Still Thrives In Missouri Bootheel

hen cotton producers across the Belt start harvesting this year’s crop, they’ll do so with several thoughts in mind. They will be thankful that they’ve reached the point where they can see the results of their hard work. And, given the current price environment, they continue to look ahead to better days. Here’s another way to look at the situation. The producer dedicated to this crop will find a way to keep planting cotton – no matter what the price is. He’ll continue to implement a crop mix that allows him to rotate cotton with corn, peanuts and anything else that helps the farm’s soil profile. It isn’t easy walking away from cotton. Maybe that is why it is so refreshing to run across folks like the Rone family in the Missouri Bootheel. I have met many farmers in this region through the years, and the area is known for the cotton quality it delivers to the market. The Rones – father Lewis and son Justin – are a prime example of that commitment. I had heard about Lewis and Justin through Missouri Associate Extension cotton specialist Andrea Jones. It intrigued me that the Rones’ farm was located right across the highway from the Fisher Delta Research Center in Portageville, Mo. When I made a recent visit to their office, all of my preconceived thoughts were confirmed. The Rones are an example of farmers who still have a love for cotton. True, they have a diverse crop mix that also includes, corn, rice and soybeans, but they will never leave cotton. Instead, they continue to be leaders when it comes to implementing technology and planting new varieties. And, yes, they have a round module picker and are glad to have it. As you’ll see in our cover story on pages 8 and 9, they have a close relationship with the Fisher Delta Research Center and employ one of the most respected consultants in the region – Tim Roberts of Dyersburg, Tenn. Everybody is this group is committed to research and management of the crop. It is no accident that the Missouri Bootheel has such a good reputation across the Belt. No, it isn’t the largest cotton production area in the country. But, it has a unique environment conducive to producing high-quality cotton. Put another way, these farmers will ride out the current price situation and thrive in the long run. So, when you’re driving north to St. Louis on I-55 headed to a Cardinal baseball game, take notice of the cotton fields in the Bootheel area. They are some of the best you’ll find anywhere.

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 OCTOBER 2015

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

Industry

COMMENTS How do you feel as harvest season approaches across the Belt? JORDAN LEA Eastern Trading Company, Greenville, S.C. The kickoff of the college football season means one thing to some but something else to those of us in the cotton industry. The new crop is on the way! The entire global textile industry continues to have a strong appetite for USDA-classed, machine picked, reliably packaged and contamination-free U.S. cotton. For high-quality cotton products, it is still the leader of the pack.

ROBERT ROYAL Ginner/Producer, Midnight, Miss.

Every summer seems to have its own personality. This past season was so hot and dry that even the spider mites ran for cover. Cotton yields and quality will be detrimentally affected by that heat, but how much? Hopefully, the new cultivars will demonstrate their toughness to the elements. I’m like other folks as we approach harvest. Here’s hoping that we can finish out this crop and deliver some excellent cotton to the gin.

JIMMY WEBB Producer, Leary, Ga. I am cautiously optimistic. I wasn’t happy watching my cotton crop grow this year – especially early in the season. It just looked like it sat there for a long time before taking off. July and August were good and hot, which cotton likes. So, it looks like we’ll have a really good crop. I am concerned about the possibility of a wet fall. That might make me consider pushing this crop and defoliating it earlier so we can deliver it to the gin. Hope springs eternal here in south Georgia.

KELLI MERRITT Broker/Producer, Lamesa, Texas

It’s exciting to see people gearing up for cotton harvest around here. The entire cotton industry should benefit from this year’s crop. Specifically, I’m talking about chemical sales, spray pilots, temporary labor force, gins, truckers – you name it. This area is looking forward to harvest. We haven’t seen any grades or yields so we’ve got to wait to see if the High Plains can hit four million bales. And, of course, we’d like to produce the premium quality that is in demand. We want the mills to continue to turn to the High Plains for quality cotton. Cotton is still our “go-to crop,” and we still enjoy reaching this point in the crop year.

TOMMY VALCO USDA-ARS, Stoneville, Miss.

With this warm and dry September, harvest is rapidly approaching, and ginners are finalizing maintenance and upgrades to get ready for another season. In most locations, the yields look great, but with the low number of acres, both harvest and ginning will go fast. It’s well worth the trouble to take some early lint samples to your classing office to measure color, leaf and extraneous matter. This will give you the confidence that everything is properly adjusted and ready for the season. COTTON FARMING OCTOBER 2015

Cotton’s Agenda Gary Adams

Winning The War The National Cotton Council (NCC) is confident persistence will pay off when industry members pursue a zero tolerance goal regarding contamination of seed cotton and lint.

Why is contamination such a threat?

n The NCC believes contamination prevention is so important that we are re-establishing our Quality Task Force to monitor ongoing quality issues and stay abreast of all reported contamination incidents. We believe this step will help maintain U.S. cotton’s hard-earned reputation for supplying quality fiber in the global marketplace – which is more critical than ever because competition among growths and man-made fibers is fierce. Because contaminants, particularly plastics, continue to be discovered by textile mills, I recently sent a memo to producer leaders, ginners, warehousers, cotton interest organizations and c o t t o n Extension specialists. This was to remind everyone that the battle with plastic and other sources of contamination is waged in A NCC-distributed flyer lists contamination prevention each field, gin and steps for in-season, pre-harvest and post-harvest. warehouse and it takes a concerted effort by all who harvest, process and store our crop to win the contamination war. Included with the memo was a flyer that listed contamination prevention steps for in-season, pre-harvest and post-harvest. Ginners are distributing this educational piece to their producer customers as well as making their gin employees aware of their contamination prevention responsibilities. Additional flyers can be obtained by contacting a NCC Member Services representative or the NCC’s

Dale Thompson at (901) 274-9030 or jcibpc@ cotton.org.

What plastics are the main culprits?

n It is very important that plastic films, such as those used as ground cover in vegetable production and in shopping bags, are kept out of seed cotton. USDA research shows that plastic films can make their way through the ginning process and into baled lint. Module covers and wraps are another potential culprit. Producers are reminded that round modules, for example, should never be dropped on or dragged across cotton stalks or other jagged materials. Likewise, ginners must be diligent supervisors of their employees in order to teach recommended methods to handle these modules and to completely remove all wrap. To help with this undertaking, the National Cotton Ginners Association produced the “Volume VI - Round Module Safety - Unwrapping, Handling and Storage” video. That video, the flyer mentioned above and other contamination prevention resources are available on the NCC website’s Quality Preservation page at www.cotton. org/tech/quality/index.cfm.

Is there an issue involving bale packaging?

n Chinese officials recently informed NCC staff that they intend to apply a revised bale packaging standard to all cotton fiber imports. However, no timetable was discussed. The standard’s intent is to reduce contamination in cotton fiber -- not to exclude specific bagging materials. This standard, though, concerns us because it contains specifications for materials made from cotton cloth and of plastic film only, without mention of woven plastic bagging such as the fully-coated, woven polypropylene bagging used on about 60 percent of U.S. bales each year. A Chinese government delegation requested time with U.S. cotton representatives later this month (October) in Washington, DC, to discuss this revised standard, and we plan to convey our concerns.

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 OCTOBER 2015

Cotton Consultant’s Corner

Make Timely Insecticide Sprays Lee Hutchins Crop Management, Inc. Sinton, Texas

I was raised in north Louisiana in south Bossier Parish and started checking cotton for my aunt and uncle when I was 14. I later graduated from LSU and served in the Army. After leaving the service, I went back to north Louisiana, worked there for a couple years, then moved to south Texas where I have been in the cotton field ever since. Today, I primarily consult on cotton and grain sorghum in the Texas Coastal Bend. We had the wettest winter we’ve ever had, and the moisture carried over into the spring. The farmers who were able to plant early – March and early April – had very good yields. Most made over two bales of cotton, and, in some cases, 2½ bales or higher. I don’t have any irrigated acres, so these are yields on dryland acres. The most troublesome weeds in our area are devil’s claw, morningglory, smell melons and cocklebur with devil’s claw being the most troublesome. Palmer amaranth and water hemp are problem weeds north of us. We still use glyphosate and the yellow herbicides for weed control, but the one thing that really works well for us as a whole is that a lot of this country is rotated between cotton and grain sorghum. This helps control a lot of our weed problems.

Fleahoppers And Plant Bugs

As far as insects in cotton, we are mostly concerned with fleahoppers, tarnished plant bugs and, later on, stink bugs. Transform insecticide does a good job for us on fleahoppers and tarnished plant bugs and provides good residual control. Aphids do not show up regularly in our cotton, but when they do, I apply ¾ oz/A of Transform at first pinhead square. That’s usually when fleahoppers are present, too. This rate does a good job for eight to 10 days on fleahoppers and gets rid of the aphids at the same time. At bloom, we have to spray for tarnished plant bugs in this area. For plant bugs, we apply 1½ oz/A of Transform. We also vary our chemicals. This year, we sprayed for plant bugs fairly early in relation to the age of the cotton because most of our cotton was late. We sprayed about the same time of the year, but the stage of the cotton was different because of delayed planting. We also use Transform to control sugarcane aphid in our grain sorghum. In some areas, we use it quite extensively. Transform is very effective on the sugarcane aphid.

Anticipating Cotton Acreage Increase

In 2016, I think cotton acres will increase by 20 percent in the Texas Coastal Bend. If the Chinese are not taking grain at the port and the grain sorghum market stays in the $6 range, then there will be more cotton even at the price that it is now. Weather also is a factor. If we get winter rains and farmers have their land ready, then we will plant more cotton.

• B.S. in General Agriculture with a minor in Agronomy – LSU • Has consulted from 1956 to the present, primarily on cotton and grain sorghum • Member of the Texas Agricultural Consultants Association • Member and past president of the Rotary Club • 2002 Cotton Consultant of the Year • Married to wife Roberta (Toots). Three sons: Ross (deceased), Bob and David • Three grandsons: Chad, Chase and Jordan. One granddaughter: Abbey • Enjoys birding in his leisure time

Recap: Make Timely Insecticide Sprays

1. The farmers who were able to plant early – March and early April – had very good yields on their dryland acres. 2. We still use glyphosate and the yellow herbicides for weed control, but the one thing that really works well for us as a whole is that a lot of this country is rotated between cotton and grain sorghum. 3. When aphids show up in cotton, I apply ¾ oz/A of Transform at first pinhead square. That’s usually when fleahoppers are present, too. This rate does a good job for eight to 10 days on fleahoppers and gets rid of the aphids at the same time. 4. At bloom, we have to spray for tarnished plant bugs. We apply 1½ oz/A of Transform and also vary our chemicals. 5. We use Transform to control sugarcane aphid in grain sorghum, too. In some areas, we use it quite extensively. Transform is very effective on the sugarcane aphid.

Sponsored By

®™Trademark of The Dow Chemical Company (“Dow”) or an affiliated company of Dow. Transform WG is not registered for sale or use in all states. Contact your state pesticide regulatory agency to determine if a product is registered for sale or use in your state. Transform WG has Section 18 Specific Emergency Exemptions for use on sorghum in select counties and parishes of select states. Transform WG does not have Section 18 Specific Emergency Exemption for all sorghum-producing states. To learn more about Transform WG, to see which states or political subdivisions thereof have Section 18 Specific Emergency Exemptions, to see the limitations on the use of Transform WG under the Section 18 Specific Emergency Exemption labels, and to find a list of retailers that may carry this product under a particular Section 18 exemption, call 800-258-3033 or email info@dow.com. Always read and follow label directions. ©2015 Dow AgroSciences LLC

COVER STORY

(From left) Consultant Tim Roberts has worked 20 years for Justin Rone and Lewis Rone.

HARVESTING THE CROP Missouri’s Rone Family Strives For Efficiency

COTTON FARMING OCTOBER 2015

BY TOMMY HORTON EDITOR

efoliating and harvesting a cotton crop is like painting a picture. Unless everything is mixed together perfectly, the finished product won’t be that good. Some have even suggested that the entire exercise (defoliation and harvesting) is an art form, and it’s all about timing. Maybe that’s an exaggeration, but that is how many farmers approach these important events at the end of a long season. If you talk to Missouri producer Lewis Rone and son Justin in Portageville in the Bootheel region of the state, they might agree with that assessment.

Rone Farm Operation In Missouri Bootheel • Diverse crop mix. • Crops include cotton, corn, soybeans and rice. • Harvest should begin in early October. • Lewis Rone and son Justin operate farm. • Deltapine, NexGen and Stoneville varieties planted on cotton acreage. • Consultant Tim Roberts has worked with Rones for 20 years.

They certainly understand the unpredictable nature of f inishing out a crop and harvesting it before the first frost sets in. Unfortunately, that comes with the territory when a farmer grows cotton. And, not surprisingly, every day is crucial in the northern part of the Cotton Belt where the growing season is shorter. Dealing With Weather Unforeseen events can always change the strategy on how to manage

Whether it’s having a proactive the crop so that defoliation and har- involving the family, our consultant approach to control resistant pigvest can occur on time. Heavy rains in Tim (Roberts) and Andrea (Jones). weed, utilizing new technolog ies May and June definitely created probor planting varieties that f it the Crop Catches Up lems for Missouri cotton producers. The Rones have dealt with a season Missouri Bootheel soil profile, he says However, in the end, the Rones (father and son) are persistent in that started late because of the rain the Rones are always in search of their analysis of data. They work in May and June. Now, in a bit of anything that improves their cotton. “The Missouri Bootheel is an excelwith their consultant Tim Roberts irony, the area has received scarcely lent region for growing cotton,” says as well as Andrea Jones, Missouri any precipitation since August. Still, there is optimism about Roberts. “The ground is sandy loam, Associate Extension cotton specialist. The Rones have a diverse crop potential yields on the cotton acreage and it has a lot of moisture-holding capacity. The region can also withmix involving soybeans, corn, cot- planted to the following varieties: stand drought. • NG 3406 B2XF ton and rice. Cotton comprises about “You also have temperatures that • DP 1522 B2XF 10 percent of the acreage this year. are three to four degrees lower than • ST 4946GLB2 Corn and rice acres will each be less other regions. This can extend the • ST 5289GLT than 10 percent, and soybean acregrowing season for corn, age is close to 50 percent. cotton, milo or rice.” T wenty percent of the “We try to find a happy medium acres were lost to spring when making decisions on any crop.” Important Teamwork rains (prevented plantUnquest ion ably, t h is i ng) a nd M ississippi – Lewis Rone, Producer, is the time of year when River flooding. Portageville, Mo. teamwork is essential for I t ’s a n i n t e r e s t i n g Roberts, who has consulted nearly a successful defoliation and harvest scenario to watch this father and son duo work together. Justin is 20 years for the Rones, believes har- of a cotton crop. That’s why the Rones have confidence in the support they one of four children in the family vest and defoliation are on schedule. “I think we’ll be harvesting cotton receive from Roberts as a consultant, who graduated from the University of Missouri. He went on to become in the first week of October, and I as well as Jones at the nearby Delta an attorney and worked in Rep. feel confident that we’ll be ahead of Center across the highway. “I am glad to have Tim on our Jo Ann Emerson’s office in Wash- the first frost,” he says. “In the past, ington before returning to work on we’ve defoliated as early as August, team, and it’s an understatement to say how much we rely on Andrea and but that is rare.” the family farm. Roberts consults for farmers in the her research at the Delta Center,” “We try to find a happy medium when making decisions on any crop,” Missouri Bootheel as well as West says Lewis. If the weather cooperates, it promsays Lewis. “Sometimes Justin asks Tennessee. He has high praise for me questions, but I usually don’t give the c ott on qua l it y produc ed by ises to be another successful cotton crop. If that happens, the hard work him my answer until he gives me his. Missouri producers. He also believes the Rones are of a long season will have paid off in a That’s when we compare notes.” Justin says it’s all about mutual prime examples of diligent and metic- big way. ulous farmers who believe in utilizing respect for the other person’s opinion. “We definitely discuss everything,” research data and the best manage- Contact Tommy Horton at thorton@ he says. “It’s a real team ef fort ment practices. onegrower.com or (901) 767-4020.

Delta Center’s Andrea Jones Appreciates Rone Family’s Contribution Andrea Jones likes to share information and conduct timely research for producers in the Missouri Bootheel. In her position as Associate Extension cotton specialist, she works with all cotton producers in the region. However, her relationship with the Rone family is unique because their farm is located across the highway from the Fisher Delta Research Center in Portageville. It makes for a very helpful situation when Jones can conduct research trials on the Rone farm – such as this year’s 42-acre strip trial. Another researcher at the Delta Center – Dr. Peter Scharf – conducts a similar trial. The Rones also share equipment in case there is a need at the Delta Center. “I can’t say enough about Lewis and Justin and the rest of the Rone family,” says Andrea. “They are very generous with us in case we need something. Through the years, I have borrowed boll buggies and polypipe rollers from them.” The Rones have also donated two hippers and two cultivators to the Delta Center in the past five years.

Missouri Associate Extension cotton specialist Andrea Jones knows importance of working closely with farmers in her region. “This is the kind of special relationship we have with producers in the region,” says Andrea. “And it makes our work so enjoyable.” And what does Lewis Rone think about the situation? “I’m just being a good neighbor,” he says with a laugh. “It’s a winwin situation for all parties.” COTTON FARMING OCTOBER 2015

CCOY 2007 WINNER Cotton Consultant of the Year

Danny Moore AG TECHNOLOGY BENEFITS CONSULTANTS AND FARMERS

Consultants and farmers take advantage of today’s ag technology. For example, as a consultant, I use cutting-edge software to help with recordkeeping and recommendations I make based on scouting. I use grid sampling programs that allow me to incorporate technology to make variable-rate applications so that we don’t over- or under-fertilize parts of a field. Farmers use GPS technology and study yield maps to identify low-yielding areas, which typically are associated with fertility and water. When I was selected as the CCOY in 2007, it was quite an honor to be associated with this great group of men. Cotton Consultant of the Year sponsored by

Cotton Farming 10

COTTON FARMING OCTOBER 2015

WESTERN REPORT

More Women Choose Farming

brief glance at the face of cotton production would indicate that there are a lot of older men growing the crop. But, a deeper look reveals that a new and diverse generation of cotton producers is helping to move cotton forward, even in light of obstacles producers may face. According to the 2012 USDA Census of Agriculture, 14 percent of principal farm operators are women. Arizona, in particular, is highlighted as one of the states with a higher concentration of women producers than the rest of the country. Many female producers in the West are actively engaged in maintaining cotton as a viable crop in their various operations. Cassy England, a fifth-generation cotton producer from Casa Grande, Ariz., didn’t start out to be a cotton producer, but with the influence of her family, she is vested in the industry. “I wanted to work in a spa,” she says. “But, that was not what I was meant to do.” Early Experience Helped She joined the operation by working in the office. It afforded her the opportunity to set her own hours and be with family. She has since moved into the management of field operations, partnering with her grandfather, Don England, on a portion of the entire operation. She is part of an active and informed group of women who make up a vocal part of the industry. The Cotton Research and Promotion Program has taken notice of this segment of the industry and in June sponsored a women’s tour of Cotton Incorporated’s headquarters in Raleigh, N.C. England was part of that group. Initially, she did not intend to join the family’s operation, which grows 2,400 acres of cotton. “Cotton is something I have loved since I was a small child,” she says.

BY BRENT MURPHREE MARICOPA, ARIZ.

“Although I did not have the intention to go straight into farming, it has been something near and dear to my heart.” England comes from a good line of progressive producers, and she is following in those footsteps. Given current water concerns in the West, she is looking to more efficient ways to deliver water to her crop, aside from current practices of low-till management and laser leveling. Her operation also works with Deltapine on variety plots and hosts the annual field day, which highlights tested varieties. In addition, England helps with approximately 1,100 acres of alfalfa and 1,400 acres of wheat with her uncle Donny and his son, Donny. Ready For The Challenge When asked about the future of cotton in Arizona, she says that she has no plans to stop growing cotton. And, she’s helping to influence the next generation of producers as a board member for Pinal County’s FFA Program. “Someone has to feed and clothe the world,” she says. Obviously, she is up for the task. Brent Murphree is the Cotton Board’s Regional Communication Manager for the West. Contact him at bmurphree@ cottonboard.org.

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SPECIAL REPORT

BWCC To Address Weed Problems BY TOMMY HORTON EDITOR

f a cotton producer has questions about weed resistance, he will find the answers at the Beltwide Cotton Conferences (BWCC) on Jan. 5-7 in New Orleans. This will be one of the key topics of discussion at the Consultants Conference, as well as the Technical Conferences. Obviously, other issues of interest are on the schedule, but perhaps none is timelier than this expensive problem. Most observers agree that cotton producers have made remarkable progress in understanding this situation and implementing workable strategies. But, there is still much to learn as new technologies become available to cotton production. “The good news is that we’ve made great progress in controlling resistant pigweed in cotton,” says Tom Barber, Arkansas Extension weed specialist and chairman of the BWCC Weed Science Conference. “I think our farmers completely understand the importance of overlapping residual herbicide applications. What has us concerned is some PPO (protoporphyrinogen oxidase) resistance that we’ve discovered in seven counties in Arkansas. Fortunately, they’ve all been in soybean fields and not cotton.” Barber says the big concern is will Reflex herbicide still give farmers the necessary control if the PPO resistance problem moves into cotton fields. More Education Needed Overall, one of the goals at all of the BWCC weed conferences will be continued education on residual herbicide applications and new technologies that should be available in 2016. “There is no doubt that the new Enlist and Xtend technologies will give us another important tool in our fight to control resistant pigweed,” says Barber. “They don’t promise to

COTTON FARMING OCTOBER 2015

Resistant pigweed will continue to be a major priority in cotton production.

“The good news is that we’ve made great progress in controlling resistant pigweed in cotton.” – Tom Barber, Weed Specialist, Little Rock, Ark. be silver bullets, but these technologies will be very important.” As for the rest of the BWCC schedule, the Consultants Conference will comprise a day and a half and cover a wide range of topics. Bill Robertson, Arkansas Extension cotton specialist, is coordinator of the Consultants Conference and believes that consultants and Extension agents will benefit from such a diverse program. “I think the overall program for the Consultants Conference is direct and on target,” he says. “It also will help dealers and distributors out there in the field.”

Important Insecticides Another topic on the program that is likely to draw a big crowd is the Insect Conference where topics such as neonicotinoids will be discussed. Entomologists Jeff Gore (Mississippi) and Gus Lorenz (Arkansas) will lead this discussion. “The question we’re hearing from a lot of entomologists is will we lose this tool in cotton and other crops?” says Robertson. “This is what Gus (Lorenz) and Jeff (Gore) will talk about. Can we find alternatives for neonicotinoid insecticides? That’s the big concern.” The 11 cotton technical conferences, ranging from agronomy to weed science, will meet concurrently beginning on the morning of Jan. 6 and conclude by noon on Jan. 7. Those planning to attend the 2016 BWCC can register at http:// www.cotton.org/beltwide. Call the National Cotton Council office in Memphis, Tenn., for additional information at (901) 274-9030. Contact Tommy Horton at thorton@ onegrower.com or (901) 767-4020.

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Trait Stewardship Responsibilities Notice to Farmers

SPECIAL REPORT

Rural America Needs Internet BY BOB STALLMAN AMERICAN FARM BUREAU

As of January 30, 2015, Bollgard II® XtendFlex™ cotton has been approved for cultivation in the United States and approved for import in Australia, Mexico, Canada, and Japan. 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. Growers should refer to http://www. biotradestatus.com for any updated information on import country approvals. Bollgard II® XtendFlex™ cotton contains genes that confer tolerance to glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup® brand agricultural herbicides, dicamba, the active ingredient in M1691, and glufosinate, the active ingredient in Liberty® brand herbicides. Roundup® brand agricultural herbicides 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 Monsanto dealer or refer to Monsanto’s Technology Use Guide for recommended Roundup Ready® Xtend Crop System weed control programs. 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. Only commercialized products have 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 Monsanto representative for the registration status in your state. Individual results may vary, and performance may vary from location to location and from year to year. This result may not be an indicator of results you may obtain as local growing, soil and weather conditions may vary. Growers should evaluate data from multiple locations and years whenever possible. Insect control technology provided by Vip3A is utilized under license from Syngenta Crop Protection AG. Growers may utilize the natural refuge option for varieties containing the Bollgard II® trait in the following states: AL, AR, FL, GA, KS, KY, LA, MD, MS, MO, NC, OK, SC, TN, VA, and most of Texas (excluding the Texas counties of Brewster, Crane, Crockett, Culberson, El Paso, Hudspeth, Jeff Davis, Loving, Pecos, Presidio, Reeves, Terrell, Val Verde, Ward and Winkler). The natural refuge option does not apply to Bollgard II® cotton grown in areas where pink bollworm is a pest, including CA, AZ, NM, and the above listed Texas counties. It also remains the case that Bollgard® and Bollgard II® cotton cannot be planted south of Highway 60 in Florida, and that Bollgard® cotton cannot be planted in certain other counties in the Texas panhandle. Refer to the Technology Use Guide and IRM/Grower Guide for additional information regarding Bollgard II, Bollgard, natural refuge and EPA-mandated geographical restrictions on the planting of B.t. cotton. ALWAYS READ AND FOLLOW PESTICIDE LABEL DIRECTIONS. Roundup Ready® crops contain genes that confer tolerance to glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup® brand agricultural herbicides. Roundup® brand agricultural herbicides will kill crops that are not tolerant to glyphosate. Bollgard II®, Genuity Design®, Genuity®, Respect the Refuge and Cotton Design®, and XtendFlex™ are trademarks of Monsanto Technology LLC. Dedicated to Cotton. Committed to You.® and Deltapine® are registered trademarks of Monsanto Company. LibertyLink and the Water Droplet Design® is a registered trademark of Bayer. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. ©2015 Monsanto Company. DP-16009-CF-LC-REV

COTTON FARMING OCTOBER 2015

ou can’t tell the story of American agriculture without looking at how farmers and ranchers have pioneered the use of cutting-edge tools on their land. Innovation and farming go hand in hand. And we’ve come a long way from the first gas-powered tractors a century ago to the state-of-the-art, self-steering models available today. Farmers and ranchers are quick to embrace the best tools to get their work done – and to get it done well. Thanks to advanced farm equipment, better seeds and smarter digital tools, we are growing more while reducing our environmental impact. Major Challenges By 2050, we’ll have nine billion mouths to feed. That’s no small task, and we can’t get the job done without important advances in technology. Farmers today can analyze weather data, manage nutrient application, map their crop yields and adjust planting for the next season with modern precision agriculture tools. Soon, we will be sending out drones to monitor fields with more speed and accuracy than generations before could have dreamed of. We’ll be able to zero in on fields and crops down to the individual plant. We will spot diseases and pests almost the moment they appear, and target our water, pesticide and fertilizer applications to use the right amount at just the right time. This kind of precision is good for our businesses and our land. All we need is for the Federal Aviation Administration to act, and the sooner, the better. Farmers and ranchers are eager to unlock the full potential of these new technologies, but across rural America many are still without the broadband service needed to make many of them practical. The Agriculture Department estimates just 67 percent of farmhouses had access to the Internet in 2013, which

left one-third of America’s farm and ranch businesses offline. Internet – A Necessity The Internet shouldn’t be a luxury. Farmers and ranchers rely on broadband access to connect with customers, access new markets and comply with new regulations. Rural broadband access is also critical to the communities surrounding our farmland: Online healthcare, education and government services can deliver Bob opportunities and serStallman vices rural Americans wouldn’t otherwise have at their doorstep. However, with no affordable broadband, rural communities are isolated from these services and growth opportunities. Our communities and economy are stronger when we have the tools we need to work together and prosper. We’re excited to see the Federal Communications Commission transition to the Connect America Program, which focuses attention on the need for broadband services in rural areas. Opening The Door We need all communications providers to be covered – not just telephone providers – to open the door to all Americans in rural communities. And there’s much more that can be done. Farm Bureau supports tax incentives, grants and regulations for communications carriers so they can open up new markets. Washington hears the outcry for high-speed Internet, but the solution is coming through slower than dial-up. Our rural communities shouldn’t have to wait any longer for the connections that broadband will give them. Bob Stallman is president of the American Farm Bureau Federation. For more information, go to www.fb.org.

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Specialists Speaking At Long Last...It’s Time To Harvest FLORIDA David Wright October is harvest month for cotton, peanuts and later maturing soybeans. Producers will need to take advantage of every opportunity to harvest in a timely fashion this year as we are in a strong El Niño weather phase. The last time we entered harvest in a similar situation was during the fall of 1997 when we lost a lot of our cotton from wet conditions that never let up. By expecting wetter weather and cooler temperatures, we can plan on harvesting wetter fields first and be prepared to harvest all of the crop in a timely manner. Producers should check with their county Extension offices for defoliant recommendations that allow a onceover operation for defoliation, boll opening and regrowth suppression as harvest days may be less this Fall. The cotton crop has good yield potential and is needed for a profitable crop year. wright@ufl.edu

MISSOURI Mike Milam The Missouri Crop Progress and Condition Report of Sept. 14 shows boll opening at 35 percent, which is 13 points behind the five-year average. The crop condition is one percent very poor, nine percent poor, 49 percent fair, 35 percent good and six percent excellent. The Cotton and Wool Outlook of Sept. 18 has increased our projected yield from 931 pounds to 1,042 pounds per acre. I have seen dryland cotton that will be defoliated very soon. So we are inching toward harvest. While the cotton is later than we would like, we still have an opportunity to get it out of the field if the weather will cooperate. This was an unusual year for weather patterns, but, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor, we do not have any areas where we grow cotton that are abnormally dry. Unless we receive rainfall soon, that could change in the next few weeks. At present, we have warm temperatures that will aid defoliation. Most producers are doing as well as can be expected battling resistant pigweed. However, there are resistant weeds along ditches and edges of fields. Even with the new technology, this problem will continue. With PPO resistance, the task could become harder. We have had a lot of chemicals going out to control tarnished plant bugs. However, this is nothing compared to what it was like prior to boll weevil eradication. milammr@missouri.edu

NORTH CAROLINA Guy Collins Harvest of the 2015 crop in North Carolina will be well underway by the time this report is read. Defoliation began around Labor Day, starting with shorter drought-stressed cotton that matured slightly earlier than normal. As I write this on Sept. 10, the 2015 crop is widely variable, depending on planting date, rainfall and primarily the timing, duration and intensity of drought stress. However, there is some very good cotton in the mix where ample rainfall occurred at the right time. The rains that occurred around Labor Day weekend triggered regrowth in several fields, primarily in the areas with the early maturing shorter cotton. This came as no surprise as boll demands in these fields had long been met, and warm temperatures prevailed. Hopefully, regrowth issues will gradually subside as we begin defoliating some of our better cotton or when we get into cooler temperatures. If regrowth continues to occur, producers should focus on using

COTTON FARMING OCTOBER 2015

appropriate rates of TDZ-containing products to address this. The cost of harvest-aid mixtures is generally on producers’ minds this time of year, as it should be. Therefore, it is very important to achieve optimal defoliation in a single pass if at all possible, to minimize the need for a second pass, which is an added expense that can be avoided in most cases (but maybe not always). Two factors come to mind: (1). Select products that are appropriate for the crop’s needs and use rates that are appropriate for prevailing temperatures. Avoid cutting corners by trimming down rates of necessary products. (2). Use appropriate application volumes. Some producers attempt to defoliate using eight to 10 GPA, and I must admit that amount is sometimes sufficient. There are many cases where these low application volumes are insufficient and result in sub-optimal defoliation, necessitating another trip across the field. Using 15 to 20 GPA and appropriate nozzles usually results in good coverage and optimal defoliation in a single pass. guy_collins@ncsu.edu

LOUISIANA Dan Fromme Yield potential of the 2015 cotton crop continues to look very favorable in Louisiana. Current estimates are around 1,000 pounds of lint per acre, down 175 pounds from the 2014 crop. July and the first part of August were hot and dry. As of Aug.17, we have accumulated 18 percent more heat units when compared to the 2014 season. As the season is winding down, less insect pressure from bollworms and plant bugs is being experienced as the end of August approaches. Defoliation will begin in the latter part of August, and harvest will begin in the earlier planted fields during the last week of August. As we prepare the 2015 crop for harvest, we should review some of the basic defoliation timing principles. There is always a balancing act between yield and fiber quality when defoliating cotton. There are several accepted methods to time defoliation, and all methods have strengths and weaknesses. The following is a review of some of the more common defoliation-timing techniques. These three methods or options for timing the defoliation of cotton are: 60 percent open boll, four nodes above cracked boll or 1,050 heat units beyond cutout (NAWF=4). Most importantly, whatever method is employed, producers should include inspecting the uppermost harvestable boll prior to defoliation by cutting a cross-section of the selected bolls. A boll is considered mature if it is difficult to slice with a knife, and seeds have begun to form a tan/brown or black seed coat. Once a dark seed coat has formed, defoliation will not adversely affect the yield of those bolls. dfromme@agcenter.lsu.edu

ARKANSAS Bill Robertson The National Agricultural Statistics Service September Crop Production report lowered the yield estimate for Arkansas cotton producers to 1,218 pounds of lint per acre, down eight pounds from the August estimate. As our crop matures and harvest nears, the increased occurrence of flat-sided bolls and the lower than usual number of seed per boll in nice-sized bolls leads many to believe our yields will continue a downward trend. The heat we experienced in July and August had a greater impact

on lint yield and possibly fiber quality than expected. Early reports from Arkansas corn, sorghum and rice producers are coming in about 10 percent lower than expected, and there is little evidence at this point to believe that cotton will not follow the same trend. Yields and prices for all commodities have everyone looking toward next year with concern regarding their possible crop mixes. These decisions will not be easy. When things get tough, it is often beneficial to step back and review the basics. Doing the right thing at the right time will help improve efficiency while working toward keeping costs down to improve our profit potential. Unfortunately, we can’t buy yield. We have to keep spending in sync with our income potential. Formulating crop budgets based on producing record yields is not realistic. As we move into harvest, we must remember to preserve our yield and fiber quality potential through well developed and timed cultural practices for harvest aids and harvest management and combine these with an effective lint contamination prevention program that starts in the field. brobertson@uaex.edu

MISSISSIPPI Darrin Dodds Cotton harvest began in mid-September in southern portions of Mississippi, and progress continued northward as we moved toward October. Early yield reports have been all over the board, ranging from 500 pounds per acre to more than 1,500 pounds per acre. Although good yields are expected overall, a number of areas in the state went a significant time without rainfall, which will limit yields in those areas. In addition, unlike the past two years, the last two weeks of August and first part of September were relatively cool, which slowed the development and maturity of later planted cotton. Given the current commodity markets, I am hearing increased rumblings from producers and consultants about increasing acreage to some degree in 2016. While I always look forward to harvest and seeing the culmination of a year’s worth of work and expense, the harvest of one crop also signifies the beginning of another crop. For those that grow corn and soybeans, a great deal of land preparation for 2016 has already been completed. October will be a pivotal month for cotton harvest as well as land preparation for 2016. Take this time to alleviate any issues that you may have. If fertilizer is needed, apply as recommended from a soil test. If you have a hardpan, break it up and reset beds for 2016. If you noted drainage issues early in the season, take steps to alleviate standing water from excessive rainfall. Doing these things will be the first step toward a successful 2016 crop. darrind@ext.msstate.edu

TEXAS Gaylon Morgan The Rio Grande Valley and Coastal Bend have wrapped up harvest after a long drawn process. Yields were highly variable with the primary factors being planting date and field drainage. The Upper Gulf Coast (UGC) and Blacklands have been trying to harvest cotton for weeks now, but progress was slow due to scattered showers throughout the regions. Similar to further south, harvest is about one month behind. Cotton harvested in the UGC and Blacklands were below average for most fields, but the cotton ginned at the Corpus Christi office was good with relatively low leaf grades and other quality characteristics being good. The Northern Rolling Plains still has a decent dryland crop, while the Southern Rolling Plains was less fortunate on rainfall for the past 2.5 months. The irrigated cotton is still running behind, but the long-term weather forecast is encouraging to finish out the crop. Most folks were able to keep the glyphosate-resistant pigweeds under control early in the season. Now the escapes are prolific and may have a detrimental impact on yields and weed pressure for years to come. Unfortunately, for many, low cotton prices and low yield potential did not provide a sufficient budget to continue to spend money on weed control options. gmorgan@tamu.edu

TENNESSEE Tyson Raper Compared to last year, boll maturity today (Sept. 14) is far beyond what we experienced in 2014 and 2013. A mid-May cold snap and wet fields on top of low prices and a delayed corn planting left Tennessee with less cotton than before the Civil War. Still, the acres that made it through our bumpy spring received heat units at the right time, and yields look promising. It is likely that some will be picking in September, with only a few acres receiving their first shot of defoliant in the second week of October. This period of time between defoliation and harvest provides a good window to address contamination, as the canopy is removed and contaminants are easy to see. Take advantage of this time by searching fields (particularly troublesome areas near convenience stores or roadsides) to remove materials that could be picked up by the harvester. In the ever-more competitive global market, maintaining U.S. cotton’s identity as clean and pure is critical. Additional information on this can be found at utcrops.edu. traper@utk.edu

OKLAHOMA Randy Boman Although late, the Oklahoma cotton crop has made good progress in the past several weeks. A significant amount of irrigated cotton was on time with respect to cutout during the last half of August. Even though the crop pretty much reached cutout on time, the loss of about two weeks of blooming due to late planting will likely impact yields. In most areas, Irrigation was adequate to meet crop demands. Since rainfall became scarce in many areas during July, the possible “home run” dryland crop struggled with short moisture conditions in August. September temperatures were good for fiber maturity. However, the continued scant precipitation ramped up moisture stress in many fields. As far as yield prospects are concerned, we may see somewhat lower yields than average from many irrigated fields – again due to the late crop. The dryland crop should be fair to good but will likely not produce what it could have if provided sufficient rainfall. As we move further toward crop maturity and harvest-aid applications, producers are encouraged to assess their fields and keep an eye on the forecasts. Good temperatures are needed to maximize ethephon-based boll opener product effectiveness. Also, when one considers forecasters’ discussions of the El Niño situation, producers need to be aware that early harvesting could be very important in 2015. Many field-weathering studies have indicated the overall value of early harvesting. Delayed harvesting can result in increased leaf contamination, higher bark incidence, shorter staple, reduced fiber uniformity and negative impacts on fiber strength, just to name few. randy.boman@okstate.edu

VIRGINIA Hunter Frame Cotton defoliation and harvest will be early this year in Virginia. Defoliation got started the third week of September, three to four weeks ahead of the 2014 crop. Heat unit accumulation for Virginia was well ahead of normal with 2,322 DD60s on Sept. 21, compared to 2,152 DD60s on Sept. 21, 2014. I suspect that by the time this article reaches readers, most of, if not all, the cotton in Virginia will be defoliated. A dry August hastened maturity of the cotton crop, and yields most likely will be well below the 1,240 pounds of lint per acre mark set in 2014. I believe yields will still impress producers given the environmental conditions faced this year. Multi-tasking will be needed in Virginia this year as peanuts and cotton seem to be overlapping in harvest, more so than in previous years. Typically, producers pick peanuts a week ahead of cotton defoliation. whframe@vt.edu COTTON FARMING OCTOBER 2015

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Industry News STATEMENT OF OWNERSHIP MANAGEMENT AND CIRCULATION 1. Publication Title: Cotton Farming 2. Publication Number: 074-8385 3. Filing Date: 9/14/15 4. Issue Frequency: Jan - Dec 5. Number of Issues: 12x/year 6. Annual Susbcription Price: Free to qualified subscribers 7&8. Mailing Address of Known Office/Headquarters: 1010 June Rd., Memphis, TN 38119 Contact Person: Kathy Killingsworth (901-767-4020) 9. Publisher: Lia Guthrie, 7100 Black Bart Trail, Redwood Valley, CA 95470 Editor: Tommy Horton, 1010 June Road, Suite 102, Memphis, TN 38119 10. Owners: Cornelia Guthrie, 7100 Black Bart Trail, Redwood Valley, CA 95470 Dr. David Scott Guthrie,Sr., 7100 Black Bart Trail, Redwood Valley, CA 95470 Morris Ike Lamensdorf, 17 S. Third St., Rolling Fork, MS 39159 Mary Jane Lamensdorf, 17 S. Third St., Rolling Fork, MS 39159 11. Known Bondholders, Mortgagees and Other Security Holders Owning/Holding 1% or More of Total Amount of Bonds, Mortgages or Other Securities: None 12. Tax Status: Has Not Changed During Preceding 12 Months 14. Issue Date for Circulation Data Below: September 2015 15.a. Total Number of Copies (net press run): (Average No. Copies each Issue During Preceding 12 Months - 28,787) (No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date - 28,804) 15.b.(1) Outside County Paid/Requested Mail Subscriptions: (Average No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months - 19,296) (No. Copies of Single Issue Nearest to Filing Date - 18,323) 15.c. Total Paid and/or Requested Circulation: (Average No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months - 19,296) (No. Copies of Single Issue Nearest to Filing Date - 18,323) 15.d.(1) Outside County Nonrequested Copies (Average No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months - 9,021) (No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date - 9,963) 15.d.(4) Nonrequested Copies Distributed Outside the Mail: (Average No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months - 44) (No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date -0-) 15.e. Total Nonrequested Distribution: (Average No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months - 9,065) (No Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date - 9,963) 15.f. Total Distribution: (Average No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months - 28,361) (No Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date - 28,286) 15.g. Copies Not Distributed: (Average No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months - 426) (No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date - 518) 15.h. Total: (Average No. copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months - 28,787) (No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date - 28,804) 15.i. Percent Paid and/or Requested Circulation: (Average No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months - 68.0%) (No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date - 64.8%) 18. I certify that all information furnished above is true and complete. Lia Guthrie, Publisher

Valley Introduces Airless Tire For More Efficient Irrigation Producers tired of getting flat tires on their center pivots now have a new option: The Valley Revolution airless tire. Flats usually happen at inconvenient times and places when the corn is high, the heat is intense and the tires are difficult to reach without damaging the crop. This new airless tire from Valley Irrigation is a tire that eliminates problems with f lats. It features a well-proven aperture design, similar to tires used on forklifts. The aperture design provides flexibility over ridges and other obstacles to help prevent overloading of the drive train. The compliant rubber tire won’t slip on rocks or other Valley Irrigation’s new airless tire has hard objects. For more information, go to www. many advantages for farmers. valleyirrigation.com.

Monsanto Contributes Special Grant To ‘Grow Rural Education’ Fund

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.

Twenty-three school districts in Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Louisiana, Missouri and Tennessee received a total of $350,000 in grants this year from America’s Far mers Grow Rural Education, sponsored by the Monsanto Fund. The program partners with farmers to help keep rural schools growing by supporting math and science education. Winning districts have implemented many innovative programs for use of the grant funds, including upgraded technology for hands-on learning, greenhouses and outdoor classroom instruction, laboratory advancements and curriculum development. Since 2011, Grow Rural Education has awarded more than $9 million to support math and science education in rural school districts across the country. This year, school districts also received an educational starter kit from Monsanto to help establish a pollinator garden, which will give students first-hand knowledge of the critical role habitat plays in providing bees and butterflies with food, shelter and places to lay eggs. Go to GrowRuralEducation.com for more details.

DuPont Announces Karis Gutter As New Government Affairs Manager John Winfield

Don Molino

Tommy Horton

Farm Director Miss. AgriNews Network

Farm Director La. Agri-News Network

Editor Cotton Farming magazine

The Mississippi AgriNews Network Ag Voice of the Delta

Louisiana Agri-News Network Louisiana’s Source For Ag News

COTTON FARMING OCTOBER 2015

DuPont is adding a seasoned Washington veteran and former Deputy Undersecretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services (FFAS), Karis T. Gutter, to its team. Gutter will be a Government Affairs Manager in his new position. He will be using his experience for all the DuPont businesses with a focus on agriculture and nutrition. Gutter most recently served as Deputy Undersecretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services (FFAS), overseeing the domestic programs within the FFAS mission area. He previously served as a senior advisor to the Secretary of Agriculture and also served as Deputy Administrator for Field Operations of USDA’s Farm Service Agency.

COTTON

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

Be Prepared When OSHA Visits Your Gin

late 3/7/14 3:26 PM Page 1

We have seen quite a few OSHA inspections occurring in the cotton ginning industry lately. If you have never been through one, there are a few things you can do now to make it go much more smoothly. First, we have found that gins typically do a good job on the physical front. Things like guarding and electrical compliance are not normally a big problem for our industry. If you are listening to your safety consultants and following up their recommendations, you should be in pretty good shape. The OSHA inspectors will want to talk to management during an inspection, but they will also want to pull aside some of your employees and visit with them separately. They will be talking to them about how well they are trained, among other things. Ginners typically do a good job of training their workers, but it is often done in an informal manner. This can get you into trouble with OSHA. It is very important that you document all your training activities, and that you can show that each worker is trained for each job he does. In the eyes of OSHA, if the training is not documented, it did not occur. For example, if you have an employee who works on the press and also operates a forklift,

you should be able to show how you trained this worker in both areas. In our experience, agricultural operations are generally given a fair amount of latitude as to how they train their employees, but it is important that you document what you do so that you can explain it, and show some documentation about how and when the training has occurred. We have seen instances where a worker was hurt in an area, then claimed he was never trained in how to work safely in that area. A sign-in sheet for that training session becomes very important in this scenario. Policies and procedures are another important aspect of your documentation. You should have these policies and procedures put together in writing, and you should be sure all of your workers receive these items. Most importantly, however,

Have you test-fired your Heaters and Humidaire Unit for this season? Service help is available across the Cotton Belt. samjackson.com

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you should be sure that your workers are following the procedures. For example, all gins should have a lockout policy. Go through your policy and be sure it accurately describes how your lockout procedure works. Then make sure your workers are consistently following your practice. Your gin association should have example training materials and example policies and procedures available for your use. If you ﬁnd an instance where your practices don’t match the written policy, go over these differences with your association staff or your loss control folks to decide whether you should modify the policy to match your practice or whether it is necessary to modify practices to match the policy. Consistency is the key for staying in compliance. Finally, if you do get inspected, you may receive a citation. Always have your association staff or council review the citations. As agricultural operations, there are certain standards that are not applicable to cotton gins. Never sign off on a citation without getting it reviewed by someone knowledgeable about OSHA rules and cotton gin operations. There is no downside to having an informal conference to go through the applicability of each citation you receive, and you may save

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Lummus Corporation has available the following quality, high-capacity used gin machinery. All machinery is offered “as is, where is” (unless noted otherwise) and is subject to prior sale. “As is” machinery can be repaired/reconditioned for an additional charge. 1 – Consolidated 96” R-5000 Stick Machine*

1 – Lot, miscellaneous Burner and Moisture Unit components (contact us for details) 1 - Complete 2/141 Gin Plant consisting of: Unloading System with 1 – Lummus 60” overshot Standard Battery Condenser* 15” diameter single-lane Powered Telescope, Rock Trap with Trash Vacuum, 72” Unloading Separator/Feed Control with Vacuum 1 – Consolidated 72” undershot Standard Battery Condenser* Wheel and Flight-Saver, and No. 50 Unloading Fan; First-Stage 1 – Consolidated 72” undershot MC Battery Condenser* Drying/Precleaning System with Continental 3 MBTU Burner and No. 40 Push Fan, 54” Tower Dryer, 96” Continental Inclined 1 – 1997 model Ginning/Lint Cleaning Line, consisting of Cleaner with Vacuum Wheel over 96” Horn 3-Saw Stick Machine a 96” wide Model 700TM Feeder, 170-Saw ImperialTM III (with double 96” x 24” Vacuum Wheels), Second-Stage Gin, Super-Jet® Lint Cleaner, and tandem (2) Model 108 Drying/Precleaning System with Continental 3 MBTU Burner and Lint Cleaners, with all guards, duct work, and related items No. 40 Push Fan, 54” Tower Dryer, 96” Continental Inclined 2 – Lummus Model 66 Lint Cleaners with Condensers Cleaner with Vacuum Wheel over 96” Continental 2-Saw Stick Machine; Distribution/Overflow System with Continental 2-Stand 1 – Cherokee Regal RFB Lint Cleaner with Condenser and Guards Conveyor Distributor and 72” Automatic Overflow Hopper with 1 – Belt-Wide 75-HP Flooded-Suction Hydraulic Booster Pumping Unit Breaker Cylinder; Feeding/Ginning System with two (2) Continental 141-Saw Gins (converted) and 96” Comet Supreme 1 – Lubbock Electric Hydraulic Pumping Unit for Gin Dor-Les® or E.E. Feeders; Lint Cleaning System with four (4) 66” wide Continental ® Dor-Les Press (single reservoir with multiple motor/pump groups) 16-D Lint Cleaners (two tandem arrangements); Condensing/Pressing System with 50” Moss Battery Condenser, 1 – Lummus Bale Handling System for up-packing press 20” x 54” Continental Bespress, and Bale Handling System with Bale Push Cart (manual) and Bagger (powered); five (5) Smith * - does not include any Steel Supports or Platforms 35/40 Centrifugal Fans (only one season of operation)

Cotton Ginners Marketplace

2 – Consolidated 120” R-5000 Stick Machines*

Physical Address: 225 Bourne Boulevard • Savannah, Georgia 31408-9586 USA Mailing Address: P.O. Box 929 • Pooler, Georgia 31322-0929 USA Phone: (912) 447-9000 • Fax: (912) 447-9250 Toll Free (USA Only): 1-800-4LUMMUS (1-800-458-6687) Web Site: www.lummus.com • E-mail: lummus.sales@lummus.com

20 COTTON FARMING OCTOBER 2015

your operation and the entire industry a lot of work by not agreeing to any citation that could have been issued inappropriately. OSHA inspectors have been pushing the envelope of their own rules in many of the citations we have seen, and it is important that we all work together to be sure they stay within their own laws and regulations when a citation is received by a member of our industry. Kelley Green, technical services director of the Texas Cotton Ginners’ Association, contributed this article. Contact him at (512) 476-8388 or kelley@tcga.org.

Cotton Gin Brushes

Channel Saws

Our precision CNC fabricating equipment enables us to produce the highest quality gin brushes and channel saws at a very competitive price. When it comes to our products, we use only the highest quality “Made in the USA” raw materials available. We know gin machinery and the conditions in which it has to perform, and our brushes and channel saws are manufactured to an exacting standard for the modern cotton gin.

Make Your Plans To Attend 2016 BWCC The 2016 Beltwide Cotton Conferences are scheduled for Jan. 5-7 at the Marriott Hotel in New Orleans. Make plans to attend this meeting, which will feature the annual Ginning Conferences. Call the National Cotton Council at (901) 274-9030 for more details.

Cotton’s Calendar Cotton’s Calendar 2015 Oct. 21: PCCA Board Meeting, Lubbock, Texas. Nov. 18: PCCA Board Meeting, Lubbock, Texas. Dec. 8-10: C. Board/CI Meeting, Williamsburg, Va. Dec. 16: PCCA Board Meeting, Lubbock, Texas.

Ask your supplier for

RAM Brushes & Channel Saws or give us a call

RAM Manufacturing Company 1333 E. 44th St. Lubbock, TX 79404 806-745-5552 Fax: 806-745-5582 rammfgco@rammfg.net www.rammfg.net

2016

2017 Jan. 4-6: BWCC, Dallas, Texas. Jan. 18-21: S./SE Annual Meeting, Charlotte, N.C. Feb. 10-12: NCC Annual Meeting, Dallas, Texas. Feb. 28-March 1: Cotton Board March Meeting. June 6-8: Cotton Inc. June Meeting. Aug. 8-10: Cotton Board/CI Joint Meeting. Aug. 23-25: NCC Board Meeting, Peabody Hotel. Dec. 5-7: Cotton Board/CI Joint Meeting. COTTON FARMING OCTOBER 2015

Cotton Ginners Marketplace

Jan. 5-7: BWCC, New Orleans, La. Jan. 13-14: Cotton/Rice Conference, Memphis, Tenn. Jan. 20-23: Southern/SE Meeting, Savannah, Ga. Jan. 27: Ga. Cotton Commission Meeting, Tifton, Ga. Feb. 5-7: NCC Annual Meeting, Dallas, Texas. Feb. 29-March 3: Cotton Board Meeting, Memphis, Tenn. June 7-9: Cotton Incorporated Meeting, Dallas, Texas. July 31-Aug. 3: S./SE Board Meeting, Amelia Island, Fla. Aug. 2-4: C. Board/Cotton Inc. Meeting, Scottsdale, Ariz. Aug. 24-26: NCC Board Meeting, Memphis, Tenn.

My Turn A New Home In Vietnam

One of those friendships started during a was born in England, a banker for awhile, CCI/Vietnam Trade Mission tour in 2007. At f i n a l l y a c h i e v i n g the far end of the supply chain, my new my boyhood dreams friend was chairman of the board of management by getting my wings. for VINATEX, the Vietnam National Textile Airplanes and unique a n d G a r m e n t G r o u p , a s w e l l a s b e i n g opportunities took me chairman of VITAS, the Vietnam Textile and many places before I Garment Association. He shared with me his plans for the expansion ended up in cotton country – Lubbock, Texas. of Vietnam’s garment industry and its global A f t e r a n i n t e r e s t i n g reach. He also shared his concerns about the gap decade of crop dusting, between yarn production in Vietnam and the cutRoger Plains Cotton Growers, ting and sewing of garments. At that time, there Haldenby were minimal knitting, weaving and dyeing operInc. (PCG) hired me. In my various roles ations. Most yarn was exported, and materials with PCG, I was honored to work with cotton for the garment industry were imported. We frequently discussed how challenges could farmers, scientists, Extension personnel, legislators and agribusiness men and women. Those 22 be turned into opportunities. An agreement was signed between Texas years took me across Cotton Producers and the High Plains, the “I’m striving to be a link V I N AT E X / V I TA S great state of Texas that aimed at opening and the entire U.S. in the chain.” doors of opportunity. Cotton Belt. During It was a beginning – those times, I built a unique perspective, knowledge and love for cot- the end was in mind – but still over the horizon. In 2011, my retirement from PCG gave me ton. There were many challenges, but with each another unique opportunity. Looking back, I saw challenge came opportunity. Cotton farmers follow one of Steven Covey’s I’d changed countries every 31 years. Although tenets, “Begin with the end in mind.” As they I’m proudly British by birth and patriotically face the challenge of preparing land and planting American by choice, I made two more major life their chosen cottonseed, they have their eye on decisions for change. First change, I moved to Vietnam. Second the opportunities of the end game. Cotton organizations like PCG, National change, I married the sweet Saigon lady I had Cotton Council, Cotton Incorporated and Cotton met in 2009. Vietnam and the Vietnamese people have faced Council International (CCI) do the same. Whether it’s the challenge of a new Farm Bill or untold challenges over the past 2,000 years. In the opportunity to develop markets for the crop, my view, it’s a country overcoming and moving on from past challenges and grasping the opporthey are always looking ahead. Trade missions organized by CCI are invited tunities that the 21st century is bringing. At last, the Trans Pacific Partnership is posfrom around the world to gain an understanding of how the U.S. crop is produced, managed, HVI sibly becoming visible on the horizon. Its resolutested and marketed. Spinners, knitters, weavers tion should bring opportunity to all in the supply and textile end-users of U.S. cotton forge links chain from cotton farmers to consumers. In my new life here, I’m striving to be a link with cotton producers, developing contacts and in the chain, a strand in the thread that joins us friendships that span the supply chain. Through the years I’ve developed friendships all together. – Roger Haldenby, with many of the people whom are the links Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam making up the entire cotton supply chain, “from roger@haldenby.com dirt to shirt” or “from genes to jeans.” 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.

COTTON FARMING OCTOBER 2015

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5:29pm Clarksdale, MS Not even done, and I’m ready to do it all over again.

DELTAPINE.COM

That’s Deltapine® performance. Performance from varieties bred for my farm, tested in conditions like mine. Varieties that are NPE-proven to maximize my yield potential. These are varieties made for me. To produce for me. Bollgard II® XtendFlex™ cotton contains genes that confer tolerance to glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup® brand agricultural herbicides, dicamba, the active ingredient in M1691, and glufosinate, the active ingredient in Liberty® brand herbicides. Roundup® brand agricultural herbicides 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 Monsanto dealer or refer to Monsanto’s Technology Use Guide for recommended Roundup Ready® Xtend Crop System weed control programs. Always follow IRM, grain marketing and all other stewardship practices and pesticide label directions. Details of these practices can be found in the Trait Stewardship Responsibilities Notice to Farmers printed in this publication. ©2015 Monsanto Company. DP-16009-CF-DE-1518-1538-1522