Cotton Farming September 2018 by One Grower Publishing

Cotton Farming ONE GROWER PUBLISHING, LLC

PROFITABLE PRODUCTION STRATEGIES

SEPTEMBER 2018

www.cottonfarming.com

Mississippi Producer Earns Regional Acclaim Clemson Studies Effects Of In-Field Variability

A Bird’s-Eye View Of Cotton California Farm Enlists Drones As Part Of High-Tech Toolbox

CF0918 Layout_CF 11/13 template 8/22/18 12:41 PM Page 2

Cotton Farming We succeed when you succeed. Our team of industry veterans works tirelessly to bring our readers the most up-to-date information straight from the ﬁelds. With a combined 146 years’ cotton experience, you can count on us at Cotton Farming to continue to provide proﬁtable production strategies for your operation.

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Vol. 62 No. 9

Cotton Farming PROFITABLE PRODUCTION STRATEGIES

SEPTEMBER 2018

www.cottonfarming.com

F E AT U R E S

Bird’s-Eye View

Using drones for aerial scouting is just one part of Bowles Farming’s technology program. In addition, the Los Banos, California, operation enlists satellite imagery, Veris soil mapping, variable-rate fertilizer and soil amendment applications, automated weather stations, soil moisture sensors and GPS monitoring of farming practices, among other items, to minimize crop variability and improve sustainability.

DEPARTMENTS & COLUMNS

4 5 7

Editor’s Note Cotton’s Agenda Industry News

12 Southwest Report 16 Specialists Speaking 22 My Turn

ON THE COVER: Bowles Farming technology integration specialist Justin Metz uses an Inspire 1Pro drone to scout fields. Cover photo by Vicky Boyd.

IN-FIELD VARIABILITY

REGIONAL ACCLAIM

ARIZONA’S MEIER FAMILY

GINNING MARKETPLACE

Clemson engineer Kendall Kirk studies factors affecting yield and fiber quality and varies management strategies to maximize profit.

Lonnie Fortner is the Mississippi winner of the 2018 Swisher Sweets/Sunbelt Expo Southeastern Farmer of the Year award.

Bob and Kathleen Meier grew cotton and citrus in the heart of Phoenix and were Farm Bureau members for more than 70 years.

the official publication of the ginning industry

Lummus Corp. names new president, and California group continues effort to fix FSMA animal feed regulations for cotton gins.

WEB EXCLUSIVE Meter data collected in Georgia on farmers’ water use since 2004 show they are irrigating their crops responsibly. The vast majority of mapped acreage is metered and irrigated using efficient, low-pressure irrigation systems. Go to www.cottonfarming.com for this Web Exclusive report.

DIGITAL OFFERINGS Keep up with the latest from Cotton Farming by signing up for the monthly E-News at www.cottonfarming.com. Look for the Cotton Farming E-News sign-up box in the upper right corner of the home page. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cottonfarming Twitter: @CottonFarming.

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

Twitter: @CottonFarming

SEPTEMBER 2018 COTTON FARMING

Editor’s Note Carroll Smith

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

Fascination With Flying Pays Off In Agriculture

emories from very early childhood are often sketchy and sometimes hard to hold on to. But the ones that survive the test of time will probably stay with us forever. I remember a flying toy — not an airplane — I played with for hours in the 1950s. It basically was a plastic contraption attached to a long string on a fishing pole. I now realize it was pretty much a glorified kite. On a really windy day in our backyard it would “sort of” fly if the air caught it just right. The box top billed it as the Mars Flying Saucer that would fly “as high as 3,000 feet for many hours each time.” It came with an “attractive special control rod and reel — use it for fishing, too” and was touted as “Sensational! No fuel, no engine, no upkeep expense. Banks, nosedives and somersaults like a real plane.” Not exactly truth in advertising. But at 4 years old, I was enthralled even though 3,000 feet for many hours was more like 3 feet for 15 seconds. I thought about my Mars Flying Saucer when I first heard about drones being used in the military and again when they became popular with the general public. To me, they were just expensive toys that often got hung up in neighborhood tree limbs on Christmas afternoon. As time went by, I got wind that drones equipped with cameras were being used in agriculture as a quick way to get a good view of a field. The technology was moving beyond the toy phase and becoming an important tool on the farm. On page 8 in “A Bird’s-Eye View Of Cotton,” technology integration specialist Justin Metz explains how Bowles Farming in Los Banos, California, uses drones to optimize crop inputs. For example, “After the first defoliant application, Metz flies every cotton field about 14 days before harvest to determine desiccation uniformity….After looking at the NDVI map, the PCA once again decides how many management zones to create and will develop a variable-rate defoliation map. By putting the defoliant only where it is needed, Bowles has been able to save up to $15 per acre on defoliation costs.” Metz also is discovering other ways to put the drones to work to increase efficiency. And although people are still captivated by drone flight videos captured by amateurs on YouTube, professionals such as Justin Metz are employing the technology to build a healthy bottom line for farming operations. Unlike the bogus billing on the Mars Flying Saucer box top, that’s the truth!

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

COTTON FARMING SEPTEMBER 2018

Southeast Editor Amanda Huber ahuber@onegrower.com Art Director Ashley Kumpe ADMINISTRATION Publisher/Vice President Lia Guthrie (901) 497-3689 lguthrie@onegrower.com Associate Publisher Carroll Smith (901) 326-4443 Sales Manager Scott Emerson (386) 462-1532 semerson@onegrower.com Production Manager Kathy Killingsworth (901) 767-4020 kkillingsworth@onegrower.com Circulation Manager Charlie Beek (847) 559-7324 For circulation changes or change of address, call (847) 559-7578 EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD David Burns – North Carolina David Lynch – South Carolina Bob McLendon – Georgia Larkin Martin – Alabama Mike Sturdivant Jr. – Mississippi Charles Parker – Missouri Jimmy Hargett – Tennessee Allen Helms – Arkansas Jay Hardwick – Louisiana Ronnie Hopper – Texas Ron Rayner – Arizona John Pucheu – California

ONE GROWER PUBLISHING, LLC Mike Lamensdorf President/Treasurer Lia Guthrie Publisher/Vice President ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COOPERATION: Cooperating with COTTON FARMING are various cotton producer organizations across the Cotton Belt. Many representatives of producer organizations serve on COTTON FARMING’s editorial advisory board. Opinions expressed and conclusions reached by contributors are not necessarily those of the cooperating organizations or the editors. All statements, including product claims, are those of the person or organization making the statement or claim. The publisher does not adopt any such statement or claims as its own and any such statement or claim does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the publisher. Copyright 2018 © ASSOCIATED PUBLICATIONS – One Grower Publishing, LLC also publishes RICE FARMING, THE PEANUT GROWER, SOYBEAN SOUTH and CORN SOUTH.

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COTTONFARMING.COM

Cotton’s Agenda Gary Adams

Handle With Care Delivery of contamination-free bales to our textile mill customers is a must for U.S. cotton to compete against other growths and man-made fibers.

How does contamination relate to U.S. cotton’s value? n Our industry recently emphasized U.S. cotton’s premium value to textile manufacturers in Vietnam, Bangladesh, China and India and will do likewise with manufacturers from all over the world attending the Sourcing USA Summit in November. All want timely delivered, sustainably produced, quality cotton that is contaminant-free. Unfortunately, incidents of contamination at U.S. classing offices are growing at an alarming rate and our customers have become more vocal about contamination. That’s why the National Cotton Council is not letting up on urging its members to strive for “zero tolerance.”

Are plastics the major contamination source? n Yes. Contaminants range from oil/grease to baler twine, but plastic films such as black film mulch and, more recently, round module wrap (yellow or pink) have become prevalent. In fact, USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service A new poster provides direchas added two new extraneous tion on using the new wrap matter classing codes for the 2018cutting indicator available on 19 crop. These codes are reprethe TAMA company’s 2018 prosented by remark 71 for light plasduced round module wrap. tic contamination and remark 72 for heavy plastic contamination. USDA says that when it gets a sample that classes with a remark 71 or 72, it will notify the gin of the permanent bale identification number and offer them an opportunity to come examine the sample to help determine how the contamination occurred.

What is the NCC doing to address contamination? n As part of its “Contamination-Free Cotton”

campaign, the NCC recently coordinated a two-day “Contamination Summit.” It focused on 1) using industry resources and available technology to escalate contamination prevention education and 2) support for research on contaminant detection/removal. Producer, ginner and merchant leaders participated along with USDA and university researchers, harvesting and ginning equipment manufacturers, and representatives from Cotton Incorporated and AMS. The NCC also wants to reach those involved in handling and processing cotton — from harvester driver to gin operator — with a new NCC-produced, comprehensive prevention training video. The video urges, for example, that harvester adjustments be maintained and checked regularly. Round modules should be staged in a good location, in a straight line and with proper spacing so module trucks can load and unload without damaging the module wrap. At the gin, it is very important that the round module wrap is cut at the proper location and removed correctly. The video and its accompanying printed materials also will be accessible from the NCC’s “Keep It Clean” page at www.cotton.org/tech/quality/contamfree.cfm. That site also contains a list of potential contaminants, prevention guidelines and such resources as a new poster that provides direction on using the new wrap cutting indicator available on the TAMA company’s 2018 produced round module wrap. Requests for the 24-by-18-inch posters (in English and Spanish) also may be sent to keepitclean@cotton.org. I urge our members to make contamination prevention a priority by using these resources and by working as a team from the field to the gin. Producers must tell the gin if a module is damaged or mis-wrapped, and ginners must be extra alert to remove plastic and other contaminants before these enter the gin stand. With vigilance and strong communication, we can eliminate contamination.

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

SEPTEMBER 2018 COTTON FARMING

SPECIAL REPORT

In-Field Variability Affects Cotton Yields And Quality BY DENISE ATTAWAY

Addressing Multiple Factors Management strategies for different areas of a field can vary to maximize profit; a single practice is not the best for the entire field. “We want to determine the economic value of these factors and their interactions as related to cotton production,” Kirk said. “This will help South Carolina cotton growers earn more money for their crops.” In addition to disease, insect and thrips ratings, other factors Kirk will study include soil texture, soil electrical conductivity, soil organic matter content, canopy temperature, soil moisture content, rate of canopy closure, weed pressure, standard soil nutrient tests, nematode counts, picking losses, plant tissue analysis and maturity measurements.

COTTON FARMING SEPTEMBER 2018

CLEMSON PUBLIC SERVICE AND AGRICULTURE

ost cotton seeds found in individual seed lots are created equally, but not every seed has an opportunity to reach its full potential. Clemson precision agriculture engineer Kendall Kirk wants to help explain why. Kirk’s goal is to help more cotton seeds develop into profitable crops by understanding what factors are related to producing high-quality, high-yielding crops. He has received a grant from the South Carolina Cotton Board to study how in-field variability relates to cotton yield and fiber quality. “In this study, we’re looking at cotton yields as related to factors such as disease ratings, insect ratings, thrips ratings and so on,” says Kirk, who is stationed at Clemson’s Edisto Research and Education Center. “This study will help to better understand factors affecting gin turnout and fiber quality, as well as help improve guidelines for identifying management zones in cotton fields.”

Clemson precision agricultural engineer Kendall Kirk has received a grant from the South Carolina Cotton Board to study how field variability relates to cotton yields and fiber quality. “We will collect data needed to identify yield-limiting factors and their relationships with soil characteristics,” Kirk says. “Additional tests will be conducted to seek to identify and suggest in-season yield estimators, early disease- and pest-detection indicators, as well as spatial protocols for maturity and plant tissue sampling. Our ultimate goal for the data collected and analyses completed in this study is for this information to be useful for grower management decisions and direction of future cotton research.” How Results Are Shared Results from this study and guidelines for cotton yield management will be made available through Clemson Cooperative Extension Service publications, Extension agent training sessions, producer conferences, field days, and other print and electronic media. The South Carolina

Cotton Board grant is for one year. Kirk plans to seek additional funding to pay for continuing the study once the initial grant expires. Cotton is a major crop in South Carolina. According to the National Agricultural Statistics Service, 285,000 acres of cotton were planted in South Carolina this year, an increase of 35,000 acres over 2017 and up from 190,000 acres planted in 2016. Other major crops grown in the state include corn, soybeans, peanuts and wheat. To see a complete list of technologies and to learn more about Kendall Kirk’s contributions, visit the Clemson University Research Foundation website at http://curf. clemson.edu/. Denise Attaway is with the Clemson College of Agriculture, Forestry and Life Sciences, Public Service and Agriculture. COTTONFARMING.COM

Industry News ‘Thriving In Cotton’ Series Kicks Off In October To help cotton farmers make next season their best, PhytoGen is sponsoring a “Thriving in Cotton” series in Cotton Farming. Throughout the series, farmers from across the Cotton Belt will share their experiences with PhytoGen W3FE varieties. Each column will feature how PhytoGen Breeding Traits, WideStrike 3 Insect Protection and the Enlist cotton trait (W3FE) help growers meet THRIVING their producIN COTTON tion goals. Yo u ’ l l l e a r n how PhytoGen can help you maximize yields and fiber quality to thrive in cotton against weeds, insects and other pests. Check out the Thriving in Cotton series every month in Cotton Farming magazine, or follow @CottonFarming and @PhytoGenCotton on Facebook and Twitter.

‘Celebrate Cotton’ Football Game Scheduled For Sept.15 Come see the Texas Tech Red Raiders take on the Houston Cougars in the Celebrate Cotton game on Saturday, Sept. 15. Game time currently is 3 p.m. Individual tickets begin at just $35 each. Visit http://bit.ly/ TTUCottonGameTickets and enter COTTON18, or call (806) 742TECH and mention the Cotton Game promo. Plains Cotton Growers has proudly partnered with Texas Tech Athletics to establish this fun event that puts the High Plains cotton industry on a national stage. Cotton will be everywhere before and throughout the game, from displays around the stadium to promotion, special graphics and fun cotton facts during the game. Special gameday T-shirts will be distributed (first-come, first-serve), and cotton bales will line each entrance to the stadium, with signage about what the cotton in that bale can Twitter: @CottonFarming

Hybrid Machine Configuration Doubles X-Tec Motor’s Speed Valley Irrigation recently announced a new hybrid machine configuration for its exclusive X-Tec center drive motor. This motor changes the way growers think about center-pivot irrigation, with patented FastPass technology enabling X-Tec to operate at up to twice the speed of ordinary center drive motors. This new option uses the high-speed Valley center drive motors on the inner drive units and X-Tec drives on the outer drive units. “We are now able to combine X-Tec drives with high-speed AC drives,” says Andy Carritt, vice president, product development. “By doing so, we can reduce the grower’s investment for adding X-Tec with FastPass technology to pivots by about 40 percent.” This new drive also offers full torque capabilities at any speed; consistent, precision alignment; electronic braking; and lasting durability. It has soft starts, which result in smooth acceleration, and the ability for frequent, light application of water to cool the crop canopy, maintain surface moisture during germination and prevent wind erosion. To learn more, visit www.valleyirrigation.com.

make or how it affects our economy. A runway show — “Cotton: The Natural Choice” — will feature cotton products. It is scheduled for 6:30 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 13, at South Plains Mall Grand Court. Students in the Texas Tech Retail Management Program are assisting with coordinating the event. Models are still needed. To participate, please email mary jane@plainscotton.org. Presenting sponsors for Celebrate C o t t o n i n c l u d e A g Te x a s F a r m Credit Services, BASF, Cavender’s, City Bank, FiberMax, Nutrien Ag Solutions, Netafim, NexGen, Winfield United, Hurst Farm Supply, and Wylie Implement and Spray Centers. For more information, call PCG at 806-792-4904.

New Mexico Attorney Appointed In Florida/Georgia Water Case In an Aug. 9 order, the U.S. Supreme Court discharged Maine attorney Ralph Lancaster as special master in the water suit filed by Florida against Georgia in 2013. The court appointed Paul Kelly Jr., a judge with the U.S. 10th Circuit Court of Appeals in New Mexico, as the new special master in the case. In its June 27 ruling, the Supreme Court sent the case back to the special master noting that Lancaster applied too strict a standard in concluding that Florida failed to demonstrate that the Supreme Court could Continued on page 13 SEPTEMBER 2018 COTTON FARMING

COVER STORY

VICKY BOYD

Bowles Farming technology integration specialist Justin Metz uses drones to scout fields from a different perspective.

A Bird’s-Eye View Of Cotton California farm enlists drones as part of high-tech toolbox. BY VICKY BOYD MANAGING EDITOR

ince 2015, Bowles Farming, a diversified family farming operation near Los Banos, California, has enlisted drones to help boost efficiency, optimize crop inputs and yields, and ultimately, remain profitable. But as technology integration specialist Justin Metz points out, unmanned aerial vehicles — or UAVs as drones are sometimes called — are just one piece in their hightech toolbox. It also includes satellite imagery, Veris soil mapping, variable-rate fertilizer and soil amendment applications, automated weather stations, soil moisture sensors and GPS monitoring of farming practices, among other items. As a leader in this type of technology, Bowles Farming believes in sharing what they’ve learned with others and has hosted two UAV field days in conjunction with the University of California, Merced; California State University, Fresno; and UC Cooperative Extension. “We try to educate as much as possible,” Metz says.

COTTON FARMING SEPTEMBER 2018

The learning goes both ways, and Bowles technology representatives meet regularly with counterparts from other operations. Because none of them is a direct competitor, the meetings lend themselves to open dialogue, Metz says. “Those are really, really nice when we have that kind of collaboration,” he says. “What we’ve found is people are focused on different things.” Berry growers, for example, are putting a lot of energy into mechanical harvesting to reduce reliance on labor. Bowles, on the other hand, is focused on optimizing crop inputs. In-Season Aerial Scouting Bowles Farming comprises about 12,000 acres of diversified row and permanent crops in California’s Central Valley. Of that, between 2,500 and 3,000 acres are planted to cotton each year. About 70 percent of the farm’s acres are on subsurface drip irrigation. Soils in the region are highly diverse, and one field may have everything from clay to sand. COTTONFARMING.COM

Making Defoliation More Efficient Where the drones have really earned their keep is during defoliation, Metz says. After the first defoliant application, Metz flies every cotton field about 14 days before harvest to determine desiccation uniformity. Unlike mid-season, where plant stress is undesirable, this time of year he actually is looking for areas of the field with extreme stress. This means the defoliant knocked off the leaves and desiccated the plant. Areas of the field where the plants are still growing will need a second shot of defoliant. Much of the variability can be attributed to the diverse soil types, Metz says. Sandy soils dry faster, so the plants defoliate sooner than areas with heavy clay that tend to hold moisture longer. After looking at the NDVI map, the PCA once again decides how many management zones to create and will develop a variable-rate defoliation map. By putting the defoliant only where it is needed, Bowles has been able to save up to $15 per acre on defoliation costs. The practice also has improved quality because harvesters are picking the cotton when fiber maturity is at its peak and not waiting for pockets in the field to dry down. Bowles’ Air Fleet Bowles Farming flies two Inspire 1Pro drones from DJI, each equipped with four rotor propellers. These are larger Twitter: @CottonFarming

PHOTOS COURTESY OF BOWLES FARMING

At the beginning of the season, the farm’s technology department will overlap layers of data from existing soil maps, satellite imagery of bare ground that shows soil variations, and data from a machine that measures soil electrical conductivity, organic matter and pH, and assign rates to the management zones. From there, the farm’s crop advisers will review the handful of management zones, each of which shares similar soil characteristics. These variable-rate maps may be used for soil amendments, such as compost or gypsum, or for nutrients, depending on the goals. The map is uploaded to the farm’s John Deere Operations Center account, where the applicator can access it and plug it into the variable-rate rig. Once the crops have germinated, Metz focuses on five fields, including one each of processing tomatoes, garlic and cotton, during the season. The fields are representative, because the operation doesn’t have the resources to fly all 12,000 acres each time. Metz flies them up to three times per week in the early growth stages and creates maps that show four different plant stress levels he shares with the farm’s pest control adviser. The PCA also reviews satellite imagery of fields for signs of stress. “It just helps us to recognize problems early on,” says Metz, also an FAA licensed drone pilot. “They’re still doing trapping and field scouting reports, but the flights are just to make sure they’re seeing what I’m seeing from the air. We’re just making sure that something isn’t getting away from us.” Even with the maps, the PCA still has to visit the field to ground truth the information and identify the stressor, whether it be irrigation, pest or nutrient problems. But it improves scouting efficiency and directs the PCA to the exact location in the field.

The brownish cotton field (top) is an RGB image after the initial defoliation application. The bottom image is the same field but using the VARI indices with DroneDeploy’s plant health feature. The areas with the darkest red have the most plant stress and the most defoliation. The areas that are green have the lushest growth and are the most vigorous. than hobby or recreational drones, such as the DJI Mavic or Phantom models. The Inspire’s larger size and power allows it to carry two cameras, Metz says. The RGB camera is standard and measures red, green and blue wavelengths that the human eye also can detect. Smartphones use RGB cameras. Bowles’ drones also are equipped with MicaSence multi-spectral cameras that capture near-infrared, rededge and RGB images in one flight. Near-infrared measures how much of a narrow lightwave spectrum plants reflect and is used to determine plant health and vigor. The healthier the plant, the more chlorophyl it has and the more near-infrared light it absorbs. Conversely, the more stressed the plant, the more near-infrared light it will reflect. By running near-infrared images through a specialized program, NDVI — or normalized difference vegetative index — maps can be created to help assess crop vigor. New Uses Every Day Much like GPS was in its infancy, growers are finding uses for drones that they may not of thought of when they originally purchased them. SEPTEMBER 2018 COTTON FARMING

Expect Drone Use To Soar

A Low-Cost Drone System Bowles Farming Co. of Los Banos, California, has invested thousands of dollars in drones, special multispectral cameras and computer software as part of their digital imaging efforts. But Bowles technology integration specialist Justin Metz says growers can spend as little as $2,000 and perform much of the mapping and data collection he does. The cost covers a DJI Phantom 4 drone, which comes with an RGB camera, and a year’s subscription to a mapping software service such as DroneDeploy or Pix 4. Of those two, DroneDeploy is better suited for the beginner, he says. “DroneDeploy takes a lot of the advanced settings out of your control,” says Metz, also an FAA licensed drone pilot. “DroneDeploy is perfect for the farmer.” Together with an iPad or iPhone, the farmer will be ready to fly fields. Users first enter field boundaries. This can be done by flying them with a drone or importing a geo-referenced file. Then they select the altitude, whether 200 feet or 400 feet, and the image overlap. As the drone flies, it takes several images that are eventually stitched together. The lower the altitude, the better the resolution but the more images are taken. The overlap helps the mapping software line up the images as it stitches them together to complete one large picture of the field. Once those parameters are set, the user starts the drone and it automatically flies the field, returning when the job is done. A 160acre field can be flown in as few as 15 minutes. Using the Live Map function, users can view the results as a low-resolution image in real time while still in the field. No Internet is needed, either. For higher-resolution field maps, the flight data is uploaded to DroneDeploy, which turns them around in a matter of hours. Use Of Drones In Ag Robbins recently completed a drone training session at the National Association of County Agricultural Agents in Chattanooga, Tennessee. He conducted a similar one at the Beltwide Cotton Conferences in San Antonio, Texas, in January. Based on a survey of Beltwide attendees, 35 percent of respondents

“There’s a lot you can do with them,” Metz says. After heavy spring rains in 2016 damaged some over-wintering crops and prevented planting of others, he flew the fields to document the problems for crop insurance. “It’s nice to be able to fly that as soon as possible after a rain event,” Metz says. This season, he was called to fly a field that was being pre-irrigated before planting. Wet spots caused by damaged sub-surface irrigation tubing had started to show up on the soil surface.

COTTON FARMING SEPTEMBER 2018

PHOTO COURTESY UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS

Jim Robbins, a University of Arkansas Extension ornamental horticulture specialist, is a big proponent of using drones in agriculture “With an inexpensive camera, right out of the gate today people can do scouting and see things from a vantage point that they cannot see currently from the ground,” he says. “I try to impress to them that by picking just the low-hanging fruit with an RGB camera, they will find a return on investment.” The RGB camera to which he referred takes photos using the same light wavelengths as the human eye sees — red, green and blue. It also is the same type of camera that comes with smartphones.

From left, Dharmendra Saraswat, Deano Traywick and Jim Robbins prepare the multi-rotor craft for flight in this 2011 file photo. said they currently used a drone for work. Of those, 70 percent used a rotary platform and 30 percent used a fixed-wing. In addition, 28 percent indicated they owned a drone but hadn’t used it for work yet. The overwhelming majority indicated they planned to use a drone for “crop monitoring.” Robbins outlined five main uses for drones, although producers are bound to find more. 1. Monitoring, whether for crops or livestock. 2. Inspection of infrastructure, such as center-pivot irrigation, fencing and building roofs. 3. Plant inventory. The technology needed to count individual plants of some crops, such as cotton, hasn’t quite evolved. But DroneDeploy does offer through its app market a low-cost corn stand-count app developed by AgriSens Plant Insites. Regardless of the crop, growers can still use drones to fly fields for insurance purposes, Robbins says. 4. Applying chemicals, whether liquid or granular. “Clearly we’re not suggesting it for large-acreage row crops”, Robbins says, “but there is great interest for specialty crops with smaller production blocks.” 5. Sales and marketing. More and more producers are posting videos of their operation, including drone footage, on their websites or social media to promote their operations. “I’ve found lots of wonderful ag videos that are out there where people are flying over their farms,” he says. For more information about drones, download the University of Arkansas Extension publication, “Features to Consider When Purchasing a Small Unmanned Aircraft System,” at https://www.uaex. edu/publications/pdf/FSA-6151.pdf. It is written by Robbins and Joe Mari Maja, research sensor engineer at Clemson University.

Having a crew walk every row to locate the breaks would have been impractical, so Metz launched a drone and flew the field. Within a few minutes of the drone’s return, he had shared with the area foreman an aerial image showing all of the dark areas caused by leaks circled in red. The foreman was able to see the extent of the repairs needed and in turn order the appropriate amount of supplies and personnel. Repair crews were then able to use the image to locate the exact rows in which each repair was needed. COTTONFARMING.COM

SPECIAL REPORT

Mississippi Producer Earns Regional Acclaim BY ROBERT NATHAN GREGORY

Embraces New Tools A lot of programs he has implemented are based on GPS technology. Variable-rate, swath control and realtime kinematics have become staples of a Fortner-run operation. These methods use GPS navigation and planters to control fertilizer application rates, reduce overlapping seeds or chemicals during planting, and improve drilling and planting accuracy. The programs are connected to smartphone apps used to monitor equipment during operation. Fortner was the first producer in his area to use much of the technology that is now commonplace. He believes his willingness to try new production methods, crop varieties and equipment is why he is still in business. “If it’s something new, I want to be there,” says Fortner, who owns Bayou Pierre Farms near Port Gibson. “You’re going to invest in the technology whether you want it or not, because the industry will leave you behind if you don’t. You’ve got to take what you’ve bought and learn how to get it to help you make money. If not, it’s just a toy.” He also seeks the advice of specialists with Mississippi State University Extension Service when choosing which varieties to plant each year. Portions of Fortner’s land have been used for cotton variety research. “I like people doing research on Twitter: @CottonFarming

my farm — always have,” he says. “Whether a new cotton variety works or not, I get to find that out without losing money just from seeing how it does on my land.” Rock Lake Experience Fortner established his production practices long before Bayou Pierre came into existence in 2017. The operation started as Rock Lake Planting Co. in 1996, when the farm’s financial partners asked Fortner to join the business as manager. Fortner became a partner himself a decade later. After another decade, the founding partners stepped aside. Fortner and his wife, Karen, kept their share, and the transition to Bayou Pierre Farms began. “Rock Lake was in solid financial shape,” he says, “but I went from being part owner with no debt farming on my cash to borrowing money to buy equipment all over again.” This is not the first time Fortner, who grew up on a small row-crop farm near Mathiston, has seen the trials of navigating financial shifts. “My dad farmed, so when I was young I figured that’s what I would do for the rest of my life,” Fortner says. “Then, the [farm crisis of] the 1980s hit, and it was rough, especially on the small, hill farmers.” Agriculture Advocate Fortner went on to earn a degree in agricultural economics from MSU and get a job with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency. His first two years with the agency were spent on the road, visiting producers across the state. After stints as service center director for Farm Service Agency offices in Jefferson and Madison counties, Fortner got the call to manage Rock Lake. “I wasn’t going to farm, but I

MSU EXTENSION SERVICE/KEVIN HUDSON

onnie Fortner has been named the Mississippi winner of the 2018 Swisher Sweets/Sunbelt Expo Southeastern Farmer of the Year award. As an early adopter of precision agriculture technology in southwest Mississippi, Fortner has worked to stay on the progressive edge. He grows cotton, corn, soybeans and peanuts on 3,700 acres scattered across Claiborne County.

Lonnie Fortner is the Mississippi winner of the 2018 Swisher Sweets/Sunbelt Expo Southeastern Farmer of the Year award. He and his wife, Karen, stand in front of one of their cotton fields at Bayou Pierre Farms, Port Gibson, Mississippi. never could get it out of my system,” he says. “I went to every county in the state two and three times and talked to a lot of farmers when I was with the FSA. That gave me a different perspective on the state of the industry.” Sherry Surrette, head of the MSU Central Mississippi Research and Extension Center, says she nominated Fortner for the Sunbelt award because of his ability to adapt successfully to industry change. “Lonnie is one of the strongest advocates for agriculture we have in Mississippi,” Surrette says. “He has put in countless hours to achieve his success as a grower while carving out time to serve on several Mississippi Farm Bureau boards and committees for various commodity associations. His contributions to Mississippi agriculture make him a great representative for the state’s row-crop producers.” Later this year, Fortner will be one of 10 producers across the Southeast considered for the overall regional award. Robert Nathan Gregory is with Mississippi State University agricultural communications. SEPTEMBER 2018 COTTON FARMING

SOUTHWEST REPORT

Efforts Continue To Curb Contamination

reoccurring topic in regional meetings across the Cotton Belt in 2018 has been contamination — in the field, in gins, in bales, and ultimately in textile manufacturing. Unfortunately, this issue doesn’t seem to be fading for the 2018-2019 growing and ginning seasons. Cotton in the United States has long been known for being clean and contamination free, but it seems this reputation is at risk of being lost.

Plastic Contaminants Contamination is a multi-faceted problem and can have many sources. The cause for concern this year has been the reoccurrence of plastic pieces. In 2016, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Classing Offices did not officially record whether a “61” code for “other contamination” was for plastic or not. However, it’s estimated calls due to plastic that year were fewer than 250.

Going forward, the USDA Classing Office will be implementing a code “71” or “72” specifically for plastic contamination in samples. In 2017, more than 2,600 samples received a “61” code specifically for some sort of plastic. About 87 percent of these calls were for pink or yellow module wrap plastic, while the remaining samples had some sort of plastic bag, plastic vegetable mulch,

COTTON FARMING SEPTEMBER 2018

BY CHRISTI CHADWELL LUBBOCK, TEXAS

twine or miscellaneous plastic matter. No matter the source or size of the plastic, manufacturing mills across the globe are urging the U.S. cotton industry to decrease the contamination amount going forward. For the 2018-2019 season, the USDA Classing Office will be implementing a code “71” or “72” specifically for plastic contamination in samples. Each segment of the industry can implement practices to assist with decreasing the amount of contamination that makes it to the end bale of cotton. During field harvest, it is imperative that producers remain diligent about removing debris so it does not end up in the harvest equipment and then in the module. The National Cotton Council has published educational efforts and videos to help producers and their employees understand the importance of being aware of what is in the field. Videos for gin managers and staff are also available for proper module wrap cutting and gin equipment cleaning. These videos can be viewed on the NCC website: http://www.cotton.org/ tech/quality/contamfree.cfm Color-Detecting Camera Cotton Research and Promotion Program funds have been specifically designated to examine different types of machinery to detect and remove plastic in the gin. One of these

projects is being conducted at the Lubbock Gin Lab in coordination with researchers Matthew Pelletier, Greg Holt, John Wanjura, and the Cotton Incorporated Fiber Competition and Ag Research team. This project focuses on using a color-detecting camera to scan for a specific color scheme. When the specified color is detected, an air ejection system removes the piece of contamination along with any cotton that might be attached to it. This technology could potentially be used at the ginstand feeder apron, the point with the thinnest flow of cotton. A small-scale model of the machine has been tested and has shown promising results. Extraction Machine Another Cotton Incorporatedfunded project being conducted at the Las Cruces Gin Lab is a small-scale version of the Golden Lion Extraction Machine currently used in some parts of China. This machine works within the stick roller area to help loosen the contaminant, followed by an airflow chamber that removes the item before it enters the ginning process. It will be evaluated to see if modifications are needed for use in a commercial gin and if it’s even feasible for gins to purchase. There is not one solution that will solve the problem of plastic contamination. A variety of efforts need to be employed to ensure each module and bale is as clean as possible. The entire U.S. cotton industry is facing this problem head-on. The Cotton Research and Promotion Program is looking at ways to help fund research to assist at the farm and gin levels. And hopefully soon, a promising solution will be on the horizon. Christi Chadwell is the Cotton Board’s regional communication manager for the Southwest. Please contact her at cchadwell@cottonboard.org. COTTONFARMING.COM

Industry News Continued from page 7

reach a fair ruling. Lancaster recommended in 2017 that the court dismiss the case, reasoning that Florida failed to show that imposing a cap on Georgia’s water use from the Chattahoochee and Flint rivers would provide the relief Florida was seeking. Florida claimed overuse of water by Georgia resulted in diminished fresh water downstream in the Apalachicola River and ultimately the Apalachicola Bay, causing harm to the oyster industry there. Georgia countered with arguments that overfishing resulted in the oyster losses. Lancaster also noted he could not provide sufficient relief to Florida because the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which controls flows on the Flint and Chattahoochee, was not a party to the lawsuit.

Post-harvest Cotton Destruction Tool Approved For Texas Farmers Duplosan herbicide from Nufarm Americas Inc. has received 24(c) registration in Texas. Through this Special Local Needs (SLN) 24(c) label from the state, growers now have a viable alternative for cotton stalk destruction after harvest, contributing to the continuing efforts to eradicate boll weevils. “Nufarm is excited to bring Duplosan to Texas cotton growers,” says Bob Bruss, director of technical services for crop protection, Nufarm. “Effective herbicide solutions are an important part of industry efforts to prevent boll weevil re-infestation of cotton in Texas eradication zones.” Nufarm has partnered with PhytoGen to recommend Duplosan as the preferred herbicide for chemical stalk destruct of PhytoGen Enlist cotton varieties. Enlist cotton varieties are tolerant to 2,4-D choline, glyphosate and glufosinate herbicides. The active ingredient in Duplosan, dichlorprop-p, controls all cotton types, including 2,4-D and dicamba-tolerant varieties. Over the past three years, Nufarm’s research and development team has worked with researchers at Texas A&M University’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences to valTWITTER: @COTTONFARMING

idate the performance and correct usage of Duplosan. “We appreciate the many industry allies working together to make this solution available to Texas cotton growers,” Bruss says. “The researchers at Texas A&M provided unmatched agronomic knowledge, research facilitation and input through this process.” Duplosan herbicide will also be featured in the 2018 Enlist Cotton Stalk Destruct Program, offering growers a $2-per-acre reimbursement on each 32-ounce application of Duplosan on PhytoGen Enlist cotton varieties. “We are pleased to be able to partner with PhytoGen to make this innovative solution more readily available and affordable for Texas cotton growers,” says Joe Steinlage, customer and brand marketing, Nufarm. “It is great when two companies in the industry work together to bring unique solutions to growers.” To learn more about the stalk destruction program, talk to your local agricultural chemical supplier or applicator, or visit with a PhytoGen representative. For more information on Duplosan, visit www.nufarm.com/USAg/Duplosan.

Cotton And Peach Crops Expected To Shine This Year The August Crop Production Report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture-National Agricultural Statistics Service had good news for two of Georgia’s most popular crops. Cotton farmers across the state increased acreage from 1.28 million in 2017 to 1.45 million in 2018. Combined with an expected yield increase, Georgia cotton production is forecast at 2.9 million bales in 2018, representing an increase of 675,000 bales (30 percent) over 2017 production. The state’s peach production is forecast to rebound from 2017. Last year, a late freeze decimated peach production, which was limited to 10,000 tons. With more favorable weather in 2018, Georgia’s commercial peach growers are forecast to produce 25,000 tons, an increase of 150 percent.

CCOY Cotton Consultant of the Year established 1981

Paul Pilsner 2017 CCOY AWARD RECIPIENT

Texan Paul Pilsner consults primarily in Matagorda, Wharton and Fort Bend counties. “Even though times have been tough, our farmers have kept growing cotton. They’ve never lost their touch. And so far, we’ve been able to help them make money on cotton.” In-season, Pilsner keeps in touch with other consultants as well as industry and Extension personnel from the Rio Grande Valley to College Station. “As consultants, we always reach out to one another to come up with answers. When I was chosen for the Cotton Consultant of the Year award, it was an honor to know the guys I’ve always considered icons of the industry had voted for me. I am humbled to say the least.” Cotton Consultant of the Year sponsored by

Cotton Farming SEPTEMBER 2018 COTTON FARMING

ELIZABETH HAMBY

ARIZONA FARM BUREAU

Kathleen and Robert Meier were Farm Bureau members for more than 70 years.

Meet Arizona Agriculture’s

Meier Family BY JULIE MURPHREE Editor’s note: As Arizona Farm Bureau nears the 100-year mark, Farm Bureau staff has reached out to long-time farm and ranch families to tell their stories about farming and ranching in this desert state. They now have profiled 119 families, and a great many of them are Arizona cotton farmers. Search on azfb. org for “Meet Arizona Agriculture” to view the series of articles.

nce reliable irrigation systems were built, Phoenix became a true agriculture center in the early 1900s. Farmers, like Robert “Bob” Meier, could farm in the heart of Phoenix managing crops such as citrus, other fruits and cotton. The Meier family, beginning with Robert’s father, Bill, had always farmed hundreds of acres in what we’d consider close to the heart of Phoenix, much of it on land that now has houses instead of crops. Father and son grew Pima cotton, short-staple cotton, sugar beets, grain and more. Bob also tended beehives and sold citrus, mesquite and cotton-blossom honey. I recently met up with Kathleen Meier in the home the Meier family built in Phoenix in the 1950s. From Cleveland, Ohio, Kathleen came to Arizona with her family when her father started a restaurant and an air-conditioning business. Nearly 90 years old, Kathleen has spunk and reminds me of so many farm and ranch wives who are partnered with their husbands in the business. She and Bob met on a blind date when both were attending the University of Arizona in Tucson. Little did this city girl know she’d soon begin the life of an Arizona farmer.

COTTON FARMING SEPTEMBER 2018

A Passion For Agriculture “I love my tractor,” she says. “I won’t give that up. I did just hire someone to do all my yard work for the first time [on a spread that’s three-quarters of an acre]. But I still got my tractor and when I feel like it, I still love getting on it and driving around.” And though Robert John Meier passed away in March 2017, Kathleen can speak to their days farming and ranching as if they happened just yesterday. “We tried everything. We also raised bees, eggs, Charolais cattle and harvested honey.” Bob had a passion for Arizona agriculture. He loved his time on the farm and the wonderful friends he met through the farming and ranching industry. This includes Farm Bureau where he served as membership chair for many years with the Maricopa County Farm Bureau. In fact, he invested countless years with the Farm Bureau and served on the University of Arizona Alumni Association board. Bob was devoted to his church — Bethany Bible — and mission work, traveling to Russia, Turkey, Scotland and Iceland with Campus Crusade for Christ. Interview with Kathleen Meier of Phoeniz, Arizona  Tell me the story of how the Meier family began farming and a bit more background on the family in general. Bob’s father, William Meier, came here in the 1920s, starting in Tempe. He was one of the first farmers in the valley to farm sugar beets. He even invented a thrasher machine. I imagine William’s father farmed in Colorado since the family’s recent history is from there. However, I am a big city girl. The only thing I know about agriculture was what I learned after I married Bob. At the University of Arizona, I took ag 1 and ag 2 and animal husbandry 1 and 2 just to become more acquainted with what it takes to be a farmer. Bob also studied at UA and got a bachelor’s degree in agricultural science. Bob also served in World War II. To go way back, Bob was born Jan. 12, 1925, in Alhambra, Arizona, to Ida and William Meier. From his earliest COTTONFARMING.COM

years, he worked on the family farm and kept an eye on his three sisters: Helen, Lucille and Sally. He attended North High, graduating in 1943. We raised two daughters, Sally and Robin, in the Royal Palm district of Phoenix. We were active with 4-H, quarter horse shows and our church. He was “Bobo” to his grandchildren: Josh, Tyler (Randi), Kristin (Kelly) and Andrew (Shannon). He so loved his seven great-grandchildren: Jack, Raegan, Luke, Kate, David, Caelyn and Grace. [Kathleen was Kiki to the grandchildren.] In fact, the grandchildren were convinced BoBo could fix everything. “He had the patience and ability to do anything,” says daughter Sally Colace. “Mom has a Jeopardy-type mind and visits with the grandchildren about everything, including sports. She’s well read and will talk to anyone.”

 What impressed you about your husband’s farming? Probably that he was the most honest person I have ever known.  What were some of the highlights of joining a farming family? Well, we never got to go on vacations, and Bob wouldn’t come home at times because he would have to take care of irrigation. If the night irrigator didn’t show up, he’d have to do the job. He’d drive to the other end of the field, take his boots off, lie down in the furrow with his feet forward toward the flow of water. A few hours later, when the water washed over his feet, he knew the water was at the end of the row.

was in his blood. He loved what Farm Bureau stood for and believed the organization was a protector of the industry. [The Meier family has been Farm Bureau members for decades — 76 years. Their insurance agent, Steve Goucher, says Bob once told him he became a Farm Bureau insurance client at 16.]  How is the next generation of the Meier family staying in agriculture? One of my two girls married a farmer whose operation is in California. They farm an assortment of different things. They met while in college at the University of Arizona.  How will the next generation of agriculturalists have to operate?

 What other crops, besides cotton and citrus, did you farm?

COURTESY MEIER FAMILY

We farmed a lot of different things, including all kinds of vegetable crops. You name it, we have farmed it. We also had chickens and Charolais cattle and grew sugar beets for seed. Our farm was located between Indian School and Camelback. We lived on the farm before we moved to Phoenix.  What farming practices are a highlight to you? Bob and his father, Bill, would put together whatever things they needed to get the job done. He was really good with baling wire and duct tape if it called for it. He never saw a piece of string he didn’t think he could use.  What else was the Meier family farm involved in that no one really knows about? We also raised bees and harvested honey. Bob had a milk route when he was 8 years old. Bob once headed out the door saying, “The pulling chains [used during a difficult delivery] are in the pantry,” since one of our mares was about to foal. I went into the living room and cried, pulled myself together and told myself to be ready if the situation called for it. I had never used the pulling chains before. It turned out I didn’t have to use them. I also happen to be an avid gardener, and I love my friends. [Life lesson I learned interviewing Kathleen: Always make friends with people younger than you.] TWITTER: @COTTONFARMING

Bob, with his daughter, Sally, riding the tractor on the family farm.

 What’s an interesting hobby Bob took part in that most people don’t know about?

They will have to get bigger. The cost to farm keeps getting more expensive.

Bob was quite the collector; he never found a string he couldn’t use. Daughter Sally remembers her parents waking her up in the middle of the night to watch a foal being born. “It was special, magical.” Plus, “Both my parents loved to do yard work together. Dad at 92 before he passed away and mom at 88. They were still doing it together. And Mom up until recently was doing it on her own.”

 What is the best business advice you have ever received or been given?

 What kept you as Farm Bureau members? Well, Bob loved agriculture and it

Stay on the right path. Be honest and operate with integrity. You talk to the family and you hear the same character traits about BoBo: Gentle. Kind. Loving. Humble. “My dad was a beautiful picture of someone who loved God and people,” says Colace. “I am so proud to call him my father.” Julie Murphree is the Arizona Farm Bureau outreach director. Contact her at 480-635-3607 or juliemurphree@ azfb.org. SEPTEMBER 2018 COTTON FARMING

Specialists Speaking Pre-Harvest Considerations CALIFORNIA Bob Hutmacher After some mid- and late-season pest issues (lygus, mites), and a rough summer with high temperatures, most cotton fields still look relatively good going into boll maturation. Late plantings and fields that sustained a lot of early to mid-season lygus losses have top crops that will be important to attaining decent yields. They will need to be irrigated later than usual and protected longer from late-season pests. Some June and July weather was less favorable to continued expansive growth and fruit retention, with more extreme heat and less even boll set as plants responded to some combinations of water stress and high temperatures. Hot July and August weather had the potential in some fields to affect fruit set, so it has been important in late August and into September to assess what kind of boll distribution you have in your fields. Some fields in late July or early August had moderate to lower bottom canopy fruit set but large upper canopy fruiting potential. Other fields had good to very good early and mid-canopy fruit retention with signs of reduced vigor, and may not end up with a large, late-developing top crops. In a year like this, there will be some good yields for growers who properly assessed developing boll loads the second half of August and adjusted water applications to make sure they were able to fill out later-developing bolls. If late-season water supplies are limited or costly, it is more important than ever to assess the top crop for additional yield potential and decide if it represents cotton of adequate value to warrant costs for that last irrigation. Much of the primary fiber development affecting length and strength takes place in critical periods of about three-plus weeks after bloom. Negative impacts of stress on fiber quality will be much less if severe water stress is avoided through about five weeks after bloom. Making the best crop under limited water situations requires good knowledge of where and when bolls were set to assess likely effects of water stress severity and timing. In the late summer as you wrap up irrigations, also consider weed issues present in some fields and map out areas in need of future control efforts. Problem areas were evident again this year and may have potential for significant weed expansion if left unchecked. Field bindweed, nutsedge, annual morningglory and, in some areas, pigweed were big problems even in some transgenic fields. Follow winter weed control practices for crop rotations involving cotton to develop field- and farm-level information on multi-year trends in weedy areas and tradeoffs between cost savings and effectiveness in weed control. rbhutmacher@ucdavis.edu

TEXAS Gaylon Morgan With very limited dryland cotton harvested in the Rio Grande Valley, the irrigated cotton harvest wrapped up by late August. Irrigated yields in the RGV were variable as whiteflies caused problems during harvest. In the Coastal Bend, harvest was about 75 percent completed by mid-August. Yields ranged from 0.75 to 3 bales per acre, depending on when and if rainfall was received. Fiber quality has been average with a few reports of high micronaire. Some seed sprouting has occurred from recent rainfall.

COTTON FARMING SEPTEMBER 2018

Harvest in the Upper Gulf Coast started the second week of August but has been slowed by rainfall. Yields are expected to be variable, but generally slightly above average. Additionally, the UGC farmers are excited about the opportunity to harvest a cotton crop that has not endured excessive rain, seed sprouting and other issues. The Blacklands’ cotton crop is two to three weeks ahead of normal due to excessive heat and lack of moisture. This has led to a well below average dryland crop with yields ranging from zero to 1.25 bales. Fiber quality is expected to suffer as well. Much of the Rolling Plains’ dryland crop has been disastered-out, and the limited-irrigation cotton was also suffering due to excessive heat. August rains will help the irrigated crop as we approach the last effective bloom date in late August to early September. The limited availability of thidiazuron has been the major topic of discussion on harvest-aid applications. With alternatives for the first-shot application, such as combinations of Ginstar, Folex and other products plus boll openers, successful leaf drop is still being obtained. gdmorgan@tamu.edu

OKLAHOMA Seth Byrd As of mid-August, much of the cotton in Oklahoma has reached cutout, and many dryland fields have reached the end of the blooming period. While much of the southwest part of the state has suffered through a hot and dry summer, there is some very good-looking irrigated cotton in that area. In other areas of the state, particularly the west and north central, a good portion of dryland cotton appears to be thriving. There’s some excellent irrigated and even some dryland cotton in the panhandle. To speak in broad terms, there’s a lot of good cotton but also some poor cotton in Oklahoma, and not a whole lot in between. For many dryland fields ahead in development, harvest-aid decisions will likely be made in early September. Many fields may receive applications during the second half of the month. It’s important to note that scheduling harvest-aid applications, whether by percent open bolls or nodes above cracked boll, should revolve around only the proportion of bolls on the plant that are harvestable, or those we expect to have a realistic chance to open in response to a harvest-aid application. This prevents bolls of highest quality and value from being exposed to detrimental effects of weathering while we wait for smaller immature bolls to slowly develop in the cooler fall temperatures. However, for much of the Oklahoma dryland crop, most if not all the bolls should open by harvest, considering mid-August marked the end of the blooming period for many of these acres. This rapid development may allow for an earlier-than-normal harvest. It also will bring the added threat of regrowth as these plants will likely fully mature with warm temperatures still present. In these cases, all it takes is a rain shower to illicit regrowth. So including a regrowth-inhibiting product, such as one containing thidiazuron, will be key in these situations. The most common regrowth-inhibiting products in Oklahoma will contain thidiazuron + diuron, which has better activity in areas with cool overnight temperatures. As always, use the crop condition and the five- to seven-day forecast to determine the appropriate rates and combination of harvest-aid products. These decisions should be made on a field-by-field basis. seth.byrd@okstate.edu COTTONFARMING.COM

DARRIN DODDS

Specialists Speaking

Cut a boll cross-section looking for a brown to black seed coat to determine if the boll is mature.

TENNESSEE Tyson Raper For several years, boll maturity determined by slicing the uppermost harvestable boll has been my go-to method for determining if the crop is ready to defoliate. Bolls are mature when they are difficult to cut with a sharp knife; there is no jelly within the seed; and the seed coat is darkened. In Tennessee, nodes above cracked boll (NACB) has fallen behind the old rules-of-thumb for some reason. Over the past few years, the uppermost harvestable boll has been mature at five or even six NACB instead of four NACB. Delaying defoliation until four NACB can allow fiber to continue to thicken and allow micronaire to fall into a discount range. Fortunately, many of the recently introduced varieties are not as prone to high mic as several of the previously released ones. Still, understanding when the crop is mature and ready to defoliate can support earlier harvest and reduce boll weathering. For observations from the 2018 season, catch up with us on news. utcrops.com or on twitter @TysonRaper. traper@utk.edu

MISSOURI Calvin Meeks On Aug. 12, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d rate the average cotton acre in the Missouri Bootheel to be in good shape for the most part. Plant bug pressure has been lighter than normal and fruit retention has been very good when adequate soil moisture was present. Quite a few of the fields I have observed reached physiological cutout the first week of August as our last effective bloom date closed in. To finish up this growing season we need several good rains. Hopefully, the 14-day forecast holds true and we receive some rain. We have 12 days of rain chances greater than 40 percent. Regardless, a warm, dry fall is needed to finish the crop and current long-term forecasts are predicting a sunny, dry September. Rains over the past week have helped, but we are still several inches away from normal. Crop condition has improved slightly since July with 12 percent rated excellent (up from 11 percent), 51 percent good (down from 53 percent), 32 percent fair, and 5 percent poor. Recent rains should improve this further, and the crop is in better shape this year compared to this time last year. Heat unit accumulation has not been a problem this year either. Five percent of bolls are already rated open, which puts the crop slightly ahead of last year as well as ahead of the five-year average. For the 2018 harvest, focus on balancing yield and fiber quality when defoliating cotton. Proper timing is needed to balance the pursuit of high yields and the need for high fiber quality. One option is to time Twitter: @CottonFarming

the application to coincide with 60 percent open boll. Another method would be to time the application at four NACB (nodes above cracked boll). From the uppermost first position cracked boll on the plant, count the main stem nodes above it to the uppermost harvestable first position boll, sampling 40-50 plants across the field and averaging them. Inspections on the upper bolls should also be done prior to defoliation by cutting a boll cross section to determine if the seed coat is dark. Defoliation will not reduce yield on these mature bolls. Second position bolls should not be used to determine maturity because first position bolls contribute 81 percent of the yield. They also require 120 heat units to mature a boll further out on a fruiting branch. A first positon boll only requires 60 heat units to mature. meeksc@missouri.edu

LOUISIANA Dan Fromme Yield potential for the 2018 cotton crop continues to look very promising. This yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s crop could be as good as our 2013 and 2014 crops. Defoliation began in the latter part of August, and harvest will begin in the earlier planted fields during early September. As we prepare the 2018 crop for harvest, we should review the basic defoliation timing principles. There is always a balancing act between yield and fiber quality when defoliating cotton. Several accepted methods to time defoliation all have strengths and weaknesses. Here is a review of some of the more common defoliation timing techniques. These three methods or options for timing cotton defoliation include 60 percent open boll, four nodes above cracked boll (NAWF=4), or 1,050 heat units beyond cutout. Most importantly, whatever method farmers employ should include inspecting the uppermost harvestable boll prior to defoliation by cutting a cross-section. 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 yield of those bolls. View our Louisiana cotton defoliation guide at lsuagcenter. com>crops>cotton>agronomy. dfromme@agcenter.lsu.edu

MISSISSIPPI Darrin Dodds The smell of cotton defoliants and the sight of cotton pickers will be common in September in Mississippi. We will likely apply harvest aids somewhat earlier than the past couple of years, which can present challenges. Given that harvest aid selection could be considered as much art as science, be sure to continually account for weather and crop conditions when deciding the best way to remove leaves and open bolls. SEPTEMBER 2018 COTTON FARMING

Specialists Speaking keeping expenses in check and hope that Mother Nature does not throw us more curveballs. brobertson@uaex.edu

Harvest aid applications early in September accompanied by warmer temperatures will necessitate rate and product selection decisions to minimize leaf desiccation and potential leaf grade issues. However, as the month progresses and the weather changes, be sure to continually adjust rates and products for maximum performance. The 2018 crop has looked good for the majority of the growing season. In some areas, lack of rainfall in August hurt the crop. In other areas, the crop is as good or better than we have ever seen. As a whole, our crop will likely be above average to outstanding. If the weather cooperates, we should yield well over 1,000 pounds per acre again in 2018. Early U.S. Department of Agriculture predictions have us at 1,211 pounds per acre. If realized, this would be four years out of the past seven that we have averaged more than 1,200 pounds per acre as a state. State average yields such as these were unheard of 20 years ago and are a testament to our growers, all who help them make decisions and the germplasm they plant. Have a safe and fruitful harvest season. dmd76@pss.msstate.edu

NORTH CAROLINA Keith Edmisten The North Carolina cotton crop is variable from a couple different angles. It has received rainfall ranging from way too much to less than desired. Areas that have seen adequate to too much rain will likely have less residual nitrogen and be less likely to have significant regrowth problems. Higher levels of regrowth control will likely be needed in areas with lower levels of rainfall because less nitrogen has leached out of the rooting zone. Residual nitrogen is a significant factor in the amount of regrowth pressure in cotton. Higher rates of thidiazuron (3.2 ounces of Dropp or equivalent generic thidiazuron) will be needed for regrowth prevention for more that two weeks after defoliation. Lower rates can be used to help with juvenile leaves if the cotton will be harvested within 10-14 days of defoliation. Remember that thidiazuron activity is temperature dependent, and higher rates are needed when temperatures at time of defoliation are lower. We have early cotton that likely will be defoliated under warm temperatures conducive to regrowth pressure. Thidiazuron will be of more benefit on early cotton. Late-planted cotton is not likely to see warm conditions favorable for regrowth at the time of defoliation or the period following defoliation. Boll openers are also temperature dependent, and higher rates of them will be needed on the late crop. The need for thidiazuron defoliant mixtures will be most important for the early crop in drier areas and least important for late cotton in areas with a good boll load. Boll openers may be needed for any of the cotton, and higher rates will likely be needed for late-planted cotton. keith_edmisten@ncsu.edu

ARKANSAS Bill Robertson The August U.S. Department of Agriculture-National Agricultural Statistics Service Crop Production Report estimated Upland cotton production at 1.10 million bales, up 2 percent, or 26,000 bales more than last year. Yield is expected to average 1,112 pounds per harvested acre, down 65 pounds from 2017. The current yield projection is just 2 pounds below our fourth highest recorded yield obtained in 2004. Producers expect to harvest 475,000 acres of cotton, up 37,000 acres from 2017. Our cotton crop continues to progress ahead of previous years. The most recent NASS Crop Progress and Condition report for Arkansas reported open bolls in 7 percent of fields compared to 6 percent both last year and for our five-year average. The optimism for this crop is evident. Thirty-seven percent of the cotton is rated excellent and 47 percent as good. This season has not been easy. Conflicts between timely weed management and irrigation initiation were exaggerated with the lack of rainfall in June. We have seen a lot of variability in Nodes Above White Flower (NAWF) in our crop. The dominant factor for this variability is related to available soil moisture. Fields with NAWF values of 6 or 7 at first flower appear to still have the potential to meet our yield goals. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve also seen boron deficiencies in the field for the first time in a very long time. Boron, potassium, sulfur and other nutrients are in the soil, but poor soil structure and a limited root system is reducing their uptake, resulting in deficiency symptoms. Soil health must be improved to fix this problem. It is important to identify cutout and then base input termination using heat units beyond cutout. Our yield potential is very good at this time. As we close this season, we must continue to manage the crop in a timely fashion. The goal is to maintain yield potential while

BILL ROBERTSON

FLORIDA David Wright

Dark green rings on leaf petioles indicate boron deficiency in the cotton plant.

COTTON FARMING SEPTEMBER 2018

Every year is a learning experience for growers no matter how long they have been farming. Weather changes or price fluctuations in inputs, commodities, embargoes, etc. alter the playing field each year. Producers have little influence over many things that happen during the growing season, but certain management decisions can minimize risks to yield and quality. Keep fields weed-free or to a minimum, defoliate in a timely manner, use the right harvest aids and prevent late-season insect damage. These practices can be beneficial toward the end of the season. Weather is one factor over which none of us have control, but we all have an opinion on how we could have done something better had we planted, defoliated or done something else at a different time. Growers in the deep Southeast typically have a peanut/cotton rotation with corn in the mix at times. A timely harvest can prevent quality as well as yield loss. We often have late-season tropical storms that influence when we defoliate and pick. In most cases, if the crop is picked and at the gin, there is much less stress and worry to the farmer. Have the equipment and manpower there when the crop is ready and do not leave mature, open cotton in the field for several weeks or more waiting until peanuts are harvested. The same amount of time and effort will be expended late in the season as early in the season. Quality and yield can be reduced due to cotton being blown out of the boll during heavy rains and wind. Letting seed germinate in the boll reduces both cottonseed and fiber value. With the possibility of a decent price, I hope the best for cotton producers following a successful growing season. wright@ufl.edu COTTONFARMING.COM

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Sutton Named President Of Lummus Corp. The Lummus Corp., a leading solution and equipment supplier to the cotton ginning, oilseed processing and afďŹ liated industries, appointed Russell Sutton president. Sutton brings to his new role more than four decades of industry experience in all functional areas of cotton ginning machinery company operations, including sales, service, engineering and manufacturing. In his internal announcement to employees, Ben Hinnen, CEO of the parent company, Lummus Corp., says, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Over the past few months, as we developed the organizational strategy for the family of companies (Lummus, System Solutions of Kentucky and Carter Controls), it became obvious to me that Russell Sutton was the best person to lead our cotton ginning and afďŹ liated business. His industry knowledge and appreciation for what weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve done, combined with his progressive view for our future, will position him to be a strong agent for change, as we seek to make Lummus the very best it can be.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;I am both honored and humbled to be placed in this role, and I am looking forward to leading our team toward driving the future growth of Lummus,â&#x20AC;? Sutton says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;As our industry evolves and changes, we must maximize our talent and resources in

order to achieve an even higher level of performance.â&#x20AC;? Sutton will oversee the day-to-day operations of Lummus and its core business of cotton ginning, oilseed processing and manmade ďŹ ber machinery, along with parts and service for those industries. Russell With a degree in mechanized agriculture Sutton from Texas Tech University, Sutton is one of the most widely known and admired people throughout the cotton ginning industry. He came to Lummus in November 2006 as part of the acquisition of the Consolidated product line. Since then, he has served Lummus as vice president of domestic sales. Prior to joining Lummus, he worked with the Consolidated gin machinery line, beginning with Horn Gin Machinery in 1979 and working his way up through the Consolidated HGM, Consolidated Cotton Gin Co. Inc., and Consolidated/Products by Big 12 companies. His dedication to the industry is exempliďŹ ed not only through his service to the companies for which he works, but also in his additional contributions to the industry through educational programs and schools, technical articles, and support of ginner organizations, foundations and boards.

Lummus Corporation wants to express its appreciation to ourr many loyal customers forr their continued support and business. We have experienced unprecedented growthh and expansion unlike anything seen in recent times. Thanks for allowing us to partner with you " ! With that in mind, it$ never too $

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Physical Address: 225 Bourne Boulevard â&#x20AC;˘ Savannah, Georgia 31408-9586 USA Mailing Address: P.O. Box 929 â&#x20AC;˘ Pooler, Georgia 31322-0929 USA Phone: (912) 447-9000 â&#x20AC;˘ Fax: (912) 447-9250 Toll Free (USA Only): 1-800-4LUMMUS (1-800-458-6687) Web Site: www.lummus.com â&#x20AC;˘ E-mail: lummus.sales@lummus.com

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SEPTEMBER 2018 COTTON FARMING

CCGGA Continues Effort To Fix FSMA For Cotton Gins

The California Cotton Ginners and Growers Association visited Washington, D.C., recently to meet with U.S. Food and Drug Administration officials and congressional representatives on the primary issue of how Food Safety Modernization Act animal feed regulations will apply to cotton gins. Representing the association in those meetings were 13 template 3/7/14 3:26Priscilla PM PageRodriguez, 1 Western Agricultural Processors Association director of food safety, and Roger Isom, CCGGA/WAPA president/CEO. (WAPA shares staff and office with CCGGA). ‘Ownership’ Is Worrisome As has been stated in the past, there are a couple of issues that remain with the Preventive Controls Rule for Animal Feed for cotton gins, based on ownership. FDA has acknowledged there is no difference in risk based on where the cotton is ginned; however, they refer back to the ownership of the cotton when determining applicability, which is of major concern. Most gins would be exempt based on ownership, but some would fall under the Preventive Controls Rule for Animal Food. FDA has acknowledged the issue and committed to future rulemaking to address the definition of a farm to address ownership issues. However, it is has been several months since FDA made the announcement at the National Cotton Council Annual Meeting in Fort Worth. Most recently, Dr. James Gorny, FDA, announced at

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WAPA’s 2018 Annual Meeting that he expected something out in spring 2019. In this recent meeting with FDA, it appears to be more likely to be in summer 2019 or later. FDA is concerned with unintended consequences and wants to make sure it doesn’t cause other problems in trying to solve this particular one. The association is concerned with inconsistent applicability of the regulations to operations that are exactly the same except for ownership. The association then spent a day in the Capitol meeting with several congressional offices to discuss the issue. These meetings included Reps. David Valadao and Devin Nunes. Stay tuned! This article was published in the August 2018 issue of “The Cotton Chronicle” — the California Cotton Ginners and Growers Association’s newsletter.

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Cotton’s Calendar 2018 n Sept. 19: PCCA Board Meeting, Annual Meeting, Lubbock, Texas n Sept. 19: Staplcotn/Stapldiscount Annual Meeting, Greenwood, Mississippi n Sept. 24: Calcot Ltd. Board of Directors Meeting, Phoenix, Arizona n Sept. 25: Calcot Ltd. Board of Directors Meeting and Annual Meeting, Phoenix, Arizona n Oct. 10: Plains Cotton Growers Quarterly Board Meeting, Bayer Museum of Agriculture, Lubbock, Texas n Oct. 17: PCCA Board Meeting, Delegate Body Meeting, Marketing Pool Committee Meeting, Lubbock, Texas n Nov. 14: PCCA Board Meeting, Lubbock, Texas n Nov. 15: Calcot Ltd. Board of Directors Meeting, Bakersfield, California n Dec. 4-6: Cotton Inc. Board of Directors Meeting, The Ballantyne Hotel, Charlotte, North Carolina n Dec. 19: PCCA Board Meeting, Delegate Body Meeting, Marketing Pool Committee Meeting, Lubbock, Texas

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SEPTEMBER 2018 COTTON FARMING

My Turn From Farm To Front Door

e live in Wayne and made them into wreaths to sell at the market County, North along with our garland. We already had a “Choose Carolina, where & Cut” Christmas tree plantation my parents my great-grand- started many years ago to make money to send us father, E.K. Sanderson, to college. Later, we started gathering cotton bolls and my grandfather, Joe before the picker got in the field and added them Sanderson, grew cotton for to our designs. Our original workshop was set up a long time before the boll in an old house here on the farm. About 5 years ago, we built a new shop on my great-grandfather’s weevil came in. People in our area got home place. Working with fresh Christmas cotton boll away from cotton for a Kari while — but are now com- wreaths happened naturally for me. We have made ing back to it. Today, my them since the 1980s, and I’ve spent every year Hobbs dad, Kenneth Sanderson, helping do so. I learned by watching my parents and my brother, Matt, run and practicing. I have always been very crafty and handy. My brothers and sister used to call me Ms. the farming operation, which is mostly row crops. Some of my most memorable cotton moments Fix-It so it’s a perfect fit for me. If kept inside, a cotton wreath will last indefhappened when I was very young. My dad is very initely. If you hang it particular about the outside, birds will quality of his crops, so “Later, we gathered cotton bolls pick the fiber out and we had to spend a lot of nest in the time chopping cotton. and added them to our designs.” sometimes wreath. The birds love That entailed us walkcotton! ing through each field We’ve also created cotton bouquets and boutonwith hoes in hand, searching for any pigweeds or other unwanted weeds. It wasn’t a fun job, so we nieres for weddings, attached cotton wreaths to homemade red oak tobacco baskets and are looking had to make the best of it. I spent a lot of time with my siblings — Matt, to conduct classes to teach others how to work with Nicki and Josh — as well as my cousins on the cotton in unique ways. I am a mom myself now. My daughter’s name is farm. We’d usually pass time by making up rhymes or songs to sing and chant while we worked. One of Kennedy “Bless” Hobbs, and I would love for her the most memorable cotton songs we had went like to have the same passion about working with her this, “It is a field that never ends; it goes on and on hands as I do. Maybe cotton wreaths will still be “a my friends. Some people started chopping it, not thing” when she gets old enough to help. The main value I want to pass on to her is the knowing what it was, now they can’t stop chopping it because....it is a field that never ends...” strong work ethic that helping in the cotton field and so it continued. We also created a chant that and other areas of the farm instilled in us. We said, “Chopping cotton!! What is it good for??!! learned you have to do things you don’t always want to do. But that makes you a better person Absolutely nothin’!!!” One day my mom, Vickey Sanderson, was going and develops your character. We are passionate about cotton, and each memby one of the cotton fields and thought the burs looked like beautiful little flowers. She gathered ber of the family chips in to work long, hard hours up some bundles, took them back to the house and to make sure we deliver beautiful joy to your front made a wreath. We took it to the State Farmers door. Market in Raleigh, North Carolina, and it was a — Kari Sanderson Hobbs hit. People in the city don’t see cotton every day like Wayne County, North Carolina we do, and they don’t know what a cotton bur is. www.sandersonwreaths.com For several years, we gathered just the burs

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

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