Cotton Farming September 2020

Cotton Farming ONE GROWER PUBLISHING, LLC

PROFITABLE PRODUCTION STRATEGIES

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SEPTEMBER 2020

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Silverleaf Whitefly Appears Early In The Southeast

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Cattle Grazing Benefits Row Crop Systems

Get The Dirt On Soil Regularly Pulling Samples Helps ID Nutrient, Nematode Issues

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Vol. 64 No. 9

Cotton Farming PROFITABLE PRODUCTION STRATEGIES

SEPTEMBER 2020

www.cottonfarming.com

FE ATURES

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8 Get The Dirt On Soil Extension specialists recommend pulling separate samples to test for soil nutrients and pathogenic nematodes every three years unless you've made changes to your rotation or picked up a new piece of ground. The testing helps identify trends that may not be apparent but could undermine yield potential. The test results also help you take corrective measures before issues become yield-limiting.

DEPARTMENTS & COLUMNS

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Editor’s Note Cotton’s Agenda Southwest Report

14 16 22

Industry News Specialists Speaking My Turn

ON THE COVER: Garret Smith, a University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture employee, demonstrates how to pull a soil sample in grower Jack Kent’s field near Shoffner, Arkansas. The best time to do this is shortly before or right after cotton harvest.

Cover photo by Matthew J. Davis, University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture

SILVERLEAF WHITEFLY HITS SE Silverleaf whiteflies arrived earlier than normal this year in the Southeast. Scouting will indicate when populations increase and thresholds are reached.

BENEFITS OF CATTLE GRAZING University of Florida research shows if winter cover crops are grazed, fields with historical break-even yields may be converted into top-yielding ones.

GINNERS MARKETPLACE

the official publication of the ginning industry J. Kelley Green, TCGA director of technical services, discusses gearing up for the ginning season during the COVID-19 pandemic. He shares recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for agricultural workers that should be included in your program.

WEB EXCLUSIVE The North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services conducted a cottonseed testing pilot program during the 2020 planting season. The sampling was conducted by its seed and fertilizer field staff with testing conducted in the North Carolina Seed Lab. The NCDA&CS recently announced the inaugural year results. 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.

Find Cotton Farming on Facebook at https:// www.facebook.com/cottonfarming and follow us on Twitter @CottonFarming.

COTTON FARMING (ISSN 0746-8385) is published monthly January through December by One Grower Publishing LLC, 875 W. Poplar Ave., Suite 23, Box 305, Collierville, TN 38017. Periodicals postage paid at Memphis, Tennessee, and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Omeda Communications, Customer Service Department, P.O. Box 1388, Northbrook, IL 60065-1388 (Phone: 847-559-7578) (Fax: 847-564-9453). Annual subscriptions are $40. International rates are $55 in Canada/Mexico, $90 in all other countries for air-speeded delivery. Surface delivery not available due to problems in reliability.

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SEPTEMBER 2020 | COTTON FARMING

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Editor’s Note

Cotton Farming

Carroll Smith

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

I

The Beat Goes On. ...

n the past six months during the coronavirus pandemic, the resilience of the human spirit has been tested beyond what many have ever experienced.

The question that looms, whether spoken or unspoken, is “Will we make it through?” Sadly, some didn’t, but many have. I, for one, am optimistic about our future.

In general, the agriculture sector has physically fared better than others perhaps because of the somewhat isolated nature of rural America. However, the cotton industry has felt the economic effects of a downturn in cotton apparel buying, which contributed to the decline in demand for the fiber.

However, producers have continued to farm in contrast to many urban businesses that were ordered to shut down or closed their doors voluntarily to protect themselves and their workers. But growers did see a negative shift in the supply chain, which affected their ability to get some of the inputs they needed in a timely manner. But in spite of these challenges, the beat goes on. ...

Back in the 1960s, pop stars Sonny Bono and his wife, Cher, immortalized those words in a popular song that hit the Billboard Hot 100 chart Jan. 14, 1967.

The lyrics touched on current events, including topics such as men marching off to war, miniskirts dominating the fashion market, cars going faster all the time and drifters crying, “Hey, buddy have you got a dime?” But as the refrain reminded us, the beat goes on. …

Today, Mother Nature continues to be friend and foe. At the time of this writing, the pandemic hasn’t affected two tropical storms heading for the Gulf of Mexico, wildfires breaking out in California or timely rains hitting cotton fields when most needed to boost yields and quality.

Mother Nature keeps doing her thing, and the human spirit adapts and stays resilient, leaning on creativity and fortitude to overcome adversity. Many field days adopted a virtual format this year with amazing success. Cotton organizations have held virtual meetings and conducted the necessary business to keep them moving forward.

Depending on the geographical area of the Cotton Belt, either pickers are already rolling or plans are being made to defoliate in a timely, effective manner to get the crop ready for harvest. Be sure to check out Specialists Speaking on page 16 for tips on end-of-the-season management and defoliation in your state.

Despite the topsy-turvy nature of our 2020 pandemic world, these experts have stayed dedicated to providing information to keep U.S. cotton farmers at the top of their game.

The beat goes on. ...

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

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COTTON FARMING | SEPTEMBER 2020

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

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

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

Copyright 2020 © ASSOCIATED PUBLICATIONS – One Grower Publishing, LLC also publishes RICE FARMING, THE PEANUT GROWER, SOYBEAN SOUTH and CORN SOUTH.

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COTTONFARMING.COM

Soil Properties And Runoff

BY DR. LARRY OLDHAM

MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY

Soil Texture

Soil texture — the relative amounts of clay, sand and silt present in a soil — affects infiltration. Water goes into sandier soils faster than clay soils. The more clay (and more organic matter) in a soil leads to more water-holding capacity and more filtration ability. More water-holding capacity of a soil leads to a longer lag time before runoff may start from a rain.

Restrictive Layers

Restrictive layers in soils lower waterstorage capacity and can redirect subsurface water in the soil. Such layers may be natural or human caused.

Fragipans are dense, naturally occurring zones typically about 20 inches below the surface. They severely restrict water flow and root growth and are widespread in the Mississippi hill section.

Man-made soil compaction results from traffic or some tillage operations.

LYNDA RICHARDSON

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oils are the environmental regulators of rain: When it falls, soil properties determine if it goes into the soil (infiltration) or across the surface (runoff).

In the runoff water, there may be sediment and whatever is attached to it, nutrients and other elements dissolved in the water, and biological entities such as bacteria. Exactly what ends up in runoff is a complex interaction of factors.

Of the nutrients, phosphorus is one that probably has had the greatest attention in recent decades. However, blanket installation of conservation practices has not reduced P loss in many watersheds.

Work has shown that in many situations, relatively small areas of a watershed contribute more potential pollutants to the runoff. Why? Here are some things to consider.

Slope

An intuitive factor is the slope within a field. How the slope influences runoff potential is determined by its length and location in the landscape.

There must be hydrological connectivity to receiving waters for runoff containing potential pollutants to become an issue.

Movement of sediment within a landscape without entering surface water is another point.

Vegetation

Vegetation affects splash and interrill erosion (erosion that occurs when raindrops hit the soil) by slowing rain intensity.

The roots help limit rill erosion (slow movement of water along small channels typically on bare land) and gully erosion (fast-moving water in deeper channels).

Critical Source Areas

Soils have a variety of influences on runoff from soils. Therefore, some areas are more vulnerable to contribute pol-

Conservation Webinar, Sept. 22, 12 p.m. CDT Beth Baker and Gray Turnage team up for the September Conservation Webinar to discuss the benefits and management challenges of wetland conservation.

Baker is an assistant Extension professor at Mississippi State University with experience in areas of biology, biogeochemistry and Extension eduTWITTER: @COTTONFARMING

lutant loads to runoff water. It is more effective to address these “critical source areas” with management practices to minimize pollution risk.

One such tool is the phosphorus index risk assessment tool of nutrient management planning used in Mississippi primarily in livestock-producing areas.

This tool uses site-specific information regarding soil test P levels, slope, available nutrient sources, predicted erosion and distance to water to guide fertility management recommendations.

The 4R nutrient stewardship principles also address these issues. They include using the right rate of (based on reputable soil testing results) the right source of fertilizer at the right time in the right place. This reduces nutrients not used by plants and potentially lost to the environment.

Not all farms, fields or sites within fields have the same capacity to contribute potential pollutants to runoff. Get to know to your critical source areas and manage accordingly for profit and stewardship.

cation. Turnage is research associate and invasive species expert with the Northern Gulf Institute and Geosystems Research Institute. Gray has 11 years of research experience in aquatic/wetland ecosystems and has worked as a private wetland consultant in Mississippi.

When you register at https://bit.ly/32hzcRZ you will receive a link to join the webinar via a zoom meeting link. Be sure to save the link to join.

SEPTEMBER 2020 | COTTON FARMING

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Cotton’s Agenda Gary Adams

Championing U.S. Cotton Credibility Despite COVID-19, the National Cotton Council efforts to increase producer enrollment in the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol and escalate the program’s global credibility gained momentum this summer.

What are the most recent developments?

n Overall, the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol is increas-

ingly fostering cooperation between producers and brands/retailers, which were able to officially join the Trust Protocol beginning in mid-July. In addition, U.S. cotton's sustainability message and U.S. cotton producers’ unmatched stewardship of the land, water and air are being promoted to consumers worldwide.

drive continuous improvement. Field to Market brings together a diverse group of grower organizations; agribusinesses; food, beverage, restaurant and retail companies; conservation groups; universities and public sector partners that focus on defining, measuring and advancing the sustainability of food, fiber and fuel production. Field to Market, in fact, is composed of nearly 140 members representing all facets of the U.S. agricultural supply chain.

These members employ more than 5 million people and represent combined revenues totaling more than $1.5 trillion.

What’s the next step?

n A recent global survey conducted by the Trust

Increasing producer participation in the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol will boost U.S. cotton’s credibility in the global textile supply chain.

Specifically, as reported in the June column, the Trust Protocol’s inclusion as one of 36 fibers and materials in the Textile Exchange’s Material Change Index program means the program provides another sustainable cotton option for TE’s 170-plus participating brands and retailers. Also, Control Union Certifications North America was selected to implement an independent, third-party verification program for the Trust Protocol. The CUC’s agriculture standards, experience and impeccable reputation are assuring brands, retailers and consumers that the Trust Protocol is meeting the highest sustainability standards.

More recently, the Trust Protocol and Field to Market: The Alliance for Sustainable Agriculture formalized a partnership that strengthens the ability of U.S. cotton producers and the value chain to

Protocol revealed that 54% of sustainability leaders at apparel and textile brands say they’ve seen their customers’ demands for environmentally sustainable practices and products increase since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. With companies and their customers remaining focused on sustainability, it is imperative that we heighten U.S. cotton’s credibility in the global textile supply chain.

Boosting U.S. cotton producer participation in the Trust Protocol will help tremendously. After enrolling 300 U.S. cotton producers in last year’s Trust Protocol pilot, COVID-19’s emergence initially affected our promotional efforts. But we have received positive feedback from producers and program enrollment has steadily grown. We are optimistic about having 500-750 producers enrolled by December 2020.

Producers’ participation will provide them a unique opportunity to examine their farming operations for areas where further changes can be made — a step that not only should reduce their environmental footprint but benefit their bottom line. More information, including an informative question/ answer section, is at https://TrustUsCotton.org — where producers also can enroll.

Gary Adams is president/CEO of the National Cotton Council of America. He also serves as president of the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol.

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COTTON FARMING | SEPTEMBER 2020

COTTONFARMING.COM

Silverleaf Whitefly: Late-Season Pest Appears Early In The Southeast

BY AMANDA HUBER SOUTHEAST EDITOR

A

JOSEPH LAFOREST, UNIVERISTY OF GEORGIA, BUGWOOD.ORG

n important economic pest in cotton is not something producers want to see in their fields at any time, especially not earlier than expected. However, that has been the case this season.

Silverleaf whitefly infestations are much earlier than normal and are likely a result of increased winter survival due to the lack of cold temperatures, says University of Georgia Extension entomologist Phillip Roberts.

“They are being observed in areas that have historically had infestations. A few localized fields have exceeded threshold and been treated. Management of SLWF should be a priority. It is important to you know if SLWF are present in your area, and when present, it must be a part of every decision you make.”

What To Look For

Ron Smith, Auburn University Extension entomologist, says the first sign of an SLWF infestation will be the presence of whiteflies clustering around the plant terminal or underneath the terminal leaves; adults fly when disturbed.

Base Whitefly Insecticide “Population increases Selection On: will be observed about two weeks after the first • Whitefly species. presence of adults. Eggs • Desired speed of kill. are deposited underneath • Crop growth stage. the leaves and hatch into • Intensity of the insect pressure. a crawler stage to begin feeding. The immature • Target life stage. stage is then immobile • Selectivity of the product. until it develops into an • Economic potential of the crop. adult. The total life cycle of the SLWF is 15 to 18 Source: "Sampling And Managing days, depending on the Whiteflies in Georgia Cotton" temperature.”

SLWF feeding stunts plants and reduces vigor. The more serious problem is their secretion of honeydew, which falls in lower parts of the plant.

“As the plants mature, this secretion falls onto open bolls,” Smith says. “A sooty mold grows in this honeydew, which reduces lint quality.”

Heavy SLWF infestations can cause premature defoliation, and populations will continue to increase until cotton is defoliated.

Stay On Top Of Scouting

In Tift and Colquitt counties, Georgia, SLWF adults were observed on young cotton in late June. University of Georgia post-doctoral entomology researcher Apurba Barman says, “It concerns me when I see adults feeding on young, topmost leaves of cotton plants because this is an indication that whitefly TWITTER: @COTTONFARMING

population is not just randomly flying, but they are on the verge of colonizing in that field and eventually numbers will increase.”

As with most insects, not all fields will be equally infested by SLWF at the same time. Scouting is the only way to know when populations are increasing and a threshold has been reached.

Protect Beneficial Insects

Smith says, “Treatment decisions for SLWF can be made by examining the presence or absence of immatures on the fifth main stem leaf below the terminal. Controls are recommended when 50% of the plants have three to five immatures on the lower surface of this leaf. Immatures will appear oval, flattened and yellowish in color. They can be separated from aphids by their flattened shape and the absence of appendages and movement.”

Roberts says conservation of beneficial insects is also a must.

“Only spray insecticides for other pests based on the use of scouting and thresholds. When treating other insect pests, avoid insecticides prone to flare SLWF.” Once the population is out of control, it is difficult and expensive to manage, Barman says. “Plan accordingly based on the crop conditions. Consider timely insecticide applications following Extension recommendations and scout data.”

For more information, see “Sampling And Managing Whiteflies in Georgia Cotton” by Apurba Barman, Michael Toews and Phillip Roberts. It can be found at https://bit.ly/3aS CiQj. SEPTEMBER 2020 | COTTON FARMING

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COVER STORY

Get The Dirt On Soil Regular Sampling Provides Nutrient Status, Taking Much Of The Guesswork Out Of Soil Fertility

BY VICKY BOYD MANAGING EDITOR

M

ississippi State University Extension cotton specialist Brian Pieralisi likes to look at soil as a kind of bank account into which you make nutrient deposits and the plants make nutrient withdrawals. And much like a financial account, if you don’t periodically check your nutrient balance through sampling, you won’t know what your soil has in savings.

“I think as long as you know your history and what (crop) you’re following, you would be good if you keep your sampling to every three years,” he says. “You still have a pretty good idea what’s going on. But you need an understanding of your soils, the nutrients and removal rates.”

Those are just guidelines, and MSU Extension agronomist Bobby Golden says some high-input farmers in the Mississippi Delta pull samples more frequently.

“These faster fruiting early season cultivars require a tremendous amount of potassium for boll set,” he says. “Knowing the P and K stats will let you make better economic use of inputs on

the fertilizer side versus just putting out what we historically did.”

Eddy Cates, a Marion, Arkansas, consultant who does grid soil sampling as a service for his farmer-customers, agrees.

“We can do 2.5-acre grid sampling for $6-$7 per acre, and you’re spreading that over three years,” he says. “That’s a very minimal cost, and that information is so valuable to use to make a decision. You’re going to make a decision for the crop for the whole year according to that.”

Regardless of the cropping system, Pieralisi says it would be wise to pull samples more often if you have recently leveled a field, changed rotations or picked up a piece of ground. The test results can identify possible changes in soil texture, pH and/or nutrient make-up.

In the Southeast, many growers have their fields sampled annually, which is often driven by retailers, says Alabama Extension cotton specialist Steve Brown.

“Obviously, you’re not going to be addressing pH that frequently, but I do think — particularly with potassium that’s a

CARROLL SMITH

Arkansas crop consultant Eddy Cates and his son, Austin, work together in the business and agree this Bobcat 4x4 hydraulic soil probe is a time-saving tool in the field.

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COTTON FARMING | SEPTEMBER 2020

COTTONFARMING.COM

PHOTOS COURTESY MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY

Contact your county Extension agent about how to submit soil samples.

Submitted samples show variations in soil color and texture.

key nutrient for us — knowing where you are and the trends in the soil are very valuable and very important for us to know.”

The best time to pull samples is shortly after harvest to allow enough time for lab results and any fall applications that might need to be made.

“You need to make it the same time every year and that’s typically in the fall,” Brown says. “You’re doing it far enough ahead so if you need to make a pH adjustment, you have time to put out lime.”

Typically, there are two systems for soil sampling. One is based on zones, the other on grids of usually 2.5 to 5 acres each.

In The Zone

If you’re going the zone route, divide the field into uniform sampling areas, based on like soil textures, surface soil colors, crop yields, plant growth or other variables. When deciding how large a zone to represent by one composite 15- to 20-core sample, don’t consider the acres but rather the variability of the area.

A large, uniform field may warrant only a single composite sample, while some highly variable fields may need to be split into two or more smaller areas for sampling.

If you only pull one composite sample from a large, variable field, recommendations based on the soil test may cause you to overfertilize some parts of the field and underfertilize other parts.

“One thing to consider with all of these fertilizer recommendations generated from the lab is they’re only going to be as good as the samples you take,” Golden says.

Soil moisture conditions also should be suitable for plowing.

Using a soil probe or auger, sample 6 inches deep, and pull the soil cores following a random zig-zag pattern within each zone.

Try to obtain a representative sample and avoid unusual spots, such as lower areas that remain wet or have salt accumuTWITTER: @COTTONFARMING

Clarissa Balbalian receives a box of soil samples sent to the MSU Soil Testing and Plant Analysis Lab for evaulation. A proposed management strategy accompanies each set of test results.

lation. In addition, pull samples from the row middles to avoid fertilizer banded areas.

University research has shown that at least 15 to 20 random cores from each zone are needed to represent an average of that area. Collect the cores in a clean plastic bucket to avoid metal contamination.

Break up large clods or lumps, spreading them out and allowing them to dry at room temperature. Thoroughly mix the soil sample by hand after it has dried before scooping out about 1 pint of the mixture into a soil sample box available from your county Extension agent, university Extension soil testing lab or private soil test lab.

Label it carefully to ensure identification, and include a map or sketch of the farm or field showing the area sampled. This helps with accurate recordkeeping of the soil test results.

A More Prescriptive Approach

With grid sampling, a field is typically divided into 2.5- to 5-acre grids, and a set of cores is pulled at each grid intersection.

Cates has offered the service to his customers for about 10 years.

For the past two years, he and his crew have used a hydraulic soil probe attached to a Bobcat all-terrain vehicle. Guided

by GPS, the vehicle operator stops at the designated spot, the probe pulls a set of cores and the driver continues on. Before that, Cates’ crew pulled samples by hand.

Once he receives the soil test results from the laboratory, Cates uses software to create fertility maps showing nutrient variability across the field. The information also can be used to create variable-rate fertilizer prescriptions and application plans.

Read MSU’s information sheet, “Soil Testing for the Farmer,” at http://extension.msstate.edu/publications/soil-testing-for-thefarmer.

SEPTEMBER 2020 | COTTON FARMING

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COVER STORY

TRAVIS FASKE, UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS DIVISION OF AGRICULTURE

A technician collects nematode samples in a University of Arkansas nematicide field trial shortly after harvest.

Know Thy Enemy Sample Regularly To Identify Shifts In Nematode Populations, Species

BY VICKY BOYD MANAGING EDITOR

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COTTON FARMING | SEPTEMBER 2020

COURTESY LSU AGCENTER

I

n his book about military strategy, “The Art of War,” Chinese philosopher Sun Tzu talked of winning the battle by knowing your enemy.

The same can be said for plant parasitic nematodes that lurk in soils and may attack cotton roots, causing yield loss and even plant death under severe infestations.

With regular soil sampling, you’ll be able to gain knowledge about a possible nematode infestation, how severe it is, the species involved and species shifts.

“I think there’s no question that nematodes are on the rise,” says Steve Brown, Alabama Extension cotton specialist. “We have some options by which we can address both root-knot and reniform, but you have to know you have them by sampling at the right time. That would be a very valuable piece of information as you make variety choices in the future.”

He was referring to new and pending varieties that cottonseed companies have bred with resistance to Southern rootknot and/or reniform nematodes.

Although those two are the predominate plant parasitic nematodes found in Mid-South and Southern cotton fields, other

Galling on young cotton roots from the Southern root-knot nematode.

species also may inhabit them and damage crops.

Columbia lance nematodes, for example, are common in COTTONFARMING.COM

North Carolina, causing considerable root damage. In Georgia, sting and lance join Southern root-knot and reniform as cotton pests.

And the newly introduced guava root-knot nematode, considered one of the most damaging species worldwide, is expanding its range as the result of infested sweet potato and ornamental plant materials. Currently, it has been found in Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina and Louisiana.

Sampling 101

There are two types of nematode samples, says University of Arkansas Extension plant pathologist Travis Faske. One is the diagnostic, which is pulled from a troublesome spot in a field to determine whether nematodes are causing the issue.

The other is the predictive sample, which tells you how many nematodes you’ll have next year and the species breakdown, he says. This one is taken shortly before harvest or right afterward.

Typically, growers or consultants pull predictive samples every three years unless the cropping rotation has changed, soil has been moved as with leveling or the grower picks up a new piece of ground. Under these scenarios, samples may be pulled more frequently to predict shifts in nematode species or populations or to identify potential nematode issues with a new field.

How To Pull Samples

Take the samples within the plant row and root zone — nematodes want to be close to the food source and don’t move large distances on their own. In the Southeast, dry conditions may prevail during harvest, complicating sampling.

“You should take them late season in September and October, but that’s typically when we have our drier months,” Brown said. “We need to take samples concurrent with good moisture, and that’s a trade-off.”

Wait too long, and cooler fall and winter temperatures could cause sample results to be unreliable, and some species — such

as root-knot and sting — could be missed entirely.

The University of Arkansas provides these simple sampling instructions for cotton:  Use ¾-inch tube-type soil probe.  Insert 6-8 inches deep in soil near root zone.  Collect 10-20 cores in zig-zag pattern.  Mix and place 1 pint of soil in plastic bag, secure with wire tag, label with pencil.  For instructions on how to submit samples, contact your county Extension office.

Some may balk at the number of cores, but Faske says they are designed to provide a representation of the field.

“Sampling is only as good as what area it covers,” he says. “If you go out and dig one sample, you don’t want to use that to reference your entire field. Would you base your fertility program on one sample you pulled in the middle of your field?”

Faske also has seen people store samples on ice in a cooler, but he says that’s not needed. Instead, avoid extreme shifts in temperature by putting samples in an ice chest without ice, keep them out of direct sun and send them to the analytical lab as soon as possible.

Submitting The Sample

Submitting those samples also has become more economical in some states, thanks to the support of a number of commodity checkoff programs. In Arkansas, for example, the Arkansas Corn and Grain Sorghum Board and Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board underwrite the Arkansas Nematode Diagnostics Laboratory’s testing of samples from fields that have been in those crops or that are going to be rotated to those crops, Faske says.

Although he doesn’t have firm figures on how many samples are submitted annually to the Arkansas lab, Faske says they have increased significantly since the commodity groups began funding the program six or seven years ago.

COURTESY MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY

Note thin stand in the foreground as opposed to the full stand in the background. Root-knot nematode can produce a thin stand in areas where high populations are present in sandier soils.

TWITTER: @COTTONFARMING

SEPTEMBER 2020 | COTTON FARMING

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SOUTHWEST REPORT

Putting Drone Images To Work For Cotton

I

f you’re anything like me, you’ve been noticing more and more people taking up the hobby of picture taking with a drone — also known as an unmanned aerial vehicle.

This method of capturing images seems to be gaining momentum, especially in farming communities. I love seeing these aerial images posted on social media channels and hung in offices and homes, displayed for others to see.

But is there a way to take these photos and get some data from them we can use on the farm? Wouldn’t this “birdseye-view” be useful in scouting fields, measuring plant height and growth or developing defoliation plans?

Data Gathering

With essential funding from Cotton Incorporated, researchers with Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension are doing exactly that. Dr. Juan Landivar, professor and center director with Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center, Corpus Christi and Weslaco Stations, is creating a platform for this type of information. He is taking these pretty images and putting them to work to gather data to use on the farm.

The idea of using drone imagery in agriculture has actually been around for some time. But in the past several years, the image quality and resolution have

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COTTON FARMING | SEPTEMBER 2020

to analyze more than 1 million different data points instantly. This high-resolution capability is the real game-changer, as lower quality images can provide data errors or inaccurate field maps.

“Remote sensing (drone and UAV) imagery can accurately measure patterns of canopy growth, maturity, leaf drop, open bolls, areas of damage and so much more,” Landivar says. “I’m excited about this work because UAV allows to accurately, swiftly and cost effectively measure the spatial variability of every square foot of a cotton field. In 30 minutes of flight time, you can map a 100-acre field and create 3D models of those plants.”

Landivar and his research team started working on plant height measurements and canopy growth rates and are now moving into accurately determining boll count, defoliation schedules and pre-harvest crop estimates.

Dr. Ed Barnes, senior director of agricultural and environmental research at Cotton Incorporated, is excited about the work Landivar and his team are doing.

“Dr. Landivar’s group has been key on taking these images and turning them into numbers and data that will work on the farm,” Barnes says.

“We know producers don’t have the time to leisurely browse images. They need to be able to get the information they need in an easy and usable way. Dr. Landivar’s team has really put in the legwork and developed software to utilize this data.”

Future Opportunities

BY CHRISTI SHORT LUBBOCK, TEXAS

improved drastically. With higher resolution images, more data can be pulled and analyzed to create algorithms, measurements and patterns.

In Landivar’s words, it’s almost as if the computer systems that can read and use this imagery are much smarter than we are. Some can even fly themselves if you just tell them where to go!

Practical Applications

Before this imagery was used, producers and researchers walked rows of farmland, scouting for issues and taking measurements. Next came tractor-mounted sensors that were able to do some of this work as they passed through the field. Now we can have a high-resolution aerial view of a particular section of a field — about 100 acres at a time — that allows a computer

Landivar says the research funding from Cotton Incorporated has been vital to getting the program started and serving as a springboard to gather support from other grants and funding entities.

Cotton Incorporated’s support provides the opportunity for these researchers to collaborate with engineers, computer scientists and agronomists.

Over the next five to 10 years, collaboration with technology companies, such as Oracle, Microsoft, Google, Amazon and others, will be key in providing ultra-high-quality resolution images and analysis tools to growers via cloud computing platforms.

To learn more about remote sensing research, please reach out to Landivar at jalandivar@ag.tamu.edu or Barnes at ebarnes@cottoninc.com.

Christi Short is the Cotton Board’s regional communication manager for the Southwest.

Contact her at cshort@cottonboard.org.

COTTONFARMING.COM

Cattle Grazing Provides Benefits To Row Crop Systems

BY DAVID WRIGHT

UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA

Reduced Irrigation

In 2019, many areas of the Florida Panhandle had 70-plus days without rain between early August and mid-October.

Nothing but irrigation or rain can help crops in a case this extreme.

However, the doubled root system following grazing allows you to go about twice as long without irrigation. This practice is beginning to be recognized by many of our crop producers across the Florida Panhandle.

Cattle producers teaming up with row croppers are making this a mutually beneficial enterprise. We have emphasized to growers to start with their worst fields; and for years, every farmer who has tried it has come back with positive stories.

Soil Health

When trying this practice in a non-irrigated portion of a field, we have seen TWITTER: @COTTONFARMING

Stocker cattle graze through the winter on irrigated crop land in Jackson County, Florida. UF/IFAS research data shows that grazing cover crops can reduce fertilization and irrigation costs, while also boosting yields of the warm-season crops that follow. it take three to four weeks for the crop seed to germinate due to dry soils. On the other hand, the crop in the irrigated portion may be 6-8 inches tall if the cattle were removed in mid-April. That will probably make you wonder if you made a mistake.

However, be assured that right after the first rain, it will germinate. And after the first month, the grazed portion will be a similar height and eventually end up being more robust.

So be patient with the cattle/row crop systems and know that winter grazing cattle has brought about big improvements in soil health. This will translate into big benefits to the ensuing crop.

Make Use Of Funding

The benefits of the integrated row croplivestock system are also being recognized by conservation agencies. For example, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resource Conservation Service is helping growers get started on these practices through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program funds and other conservation programs.

Yields can be increased by a minimum of 150 pounds per acre of lint, and up to 400 pounds per acre of raw cotton when planted after winter grazing. We have not seen this kind of yield increase with

DOUG MAYO, UF/IFAS

M

any crop producers in the Florida Panhandle use conservation tillage when planting into winter fallow weeds or cover crops.

The University of Florida/Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences research data over the years shows that cover crops can help prevent erosion and conserve moisture but may not always increase yields. However, data from the past 20 years of a long-term cotton/peanut rotation shows that if winter cover crops are grazed, fields that often have had break-even yields can be converted into some of the top-yielding ones. Also, less nitrogen, potassium and other nutrients are being used.

In addition, research has proven that 40% to 70% less irrigation is needed, depending on the year, following winter grazing. This is due to enhanced (almost double) rooting of cotton and other crops in experiment station trials. In fact, in most cases the grazed non-irrigated fields had equal or higher yields than irrigated fields without cattle.

cover crops alone, even with high residue cover crops and/or strip tillage.

Grazing takes most of the cover crop out but results in higher yields with lower input costs. This gives farmers an incentive to plant cover crops, which they would otherwise avoid because of the expense and lack of return in yield in many cases.

Likewise, calf gains have been 50-100 pounds per head higher following row crops, as these fields are usually higher in fertility than typical pastures.

A Combined Effort

I have heard many testimonials about ways cattle and row crop producers are working together to make the system profitable for both parties, while also contributing to soil health and other environmental services.

During times of low prices for both crops and livestock, it is advisable to take a closer look at the least productive fields and practices on your farm and strive to do something new to increase productivity.

Consider taking a shot at using an integrated cropping/grazing system in those fields. You don’t even have to own or manage the cattle if you can make an agreement with a local rancher.

Try it, and you will like the results!

SEPTEMBER 2020 | COTTON FARMING

13

Industry News

During The Cotton Board’s recent virtual 2020 Annual Meeting, board members serving on the Cotton Research and Promotion Program recommended a 2021 budget of $80 million. This reflects a decrease of more than $8 million from 2020. The board’s consumer marketing division will see the largest budget decrease.

However, the 2021 Cotton Incorporated plan remains focused on key issues and addresses immediate challenges to increase market share and restore long-term profitability to the industry.

Priorities include sustainability, product innovation, farm profitability, cottonseed value and lint contamination.

During its business session, The Cotton Board also elected new officers, including Jimmy Webb — a cotton producer from Leary, Georgia — to serve as chairman for the 202021 program year.

“It is such an honor to be elected as chairman of The Cotton Board,” he says. “I know the year ahead will have its challenges as we work Jimmy through the impacts of Webb the coronavirus pandemic. Fortunately, we have managed our resources well the past several years and are well positioned to help rebuild cotton’s marketing chain. The program will have to remain flexible over the next year as threats, opportunities and budget-related factors are more difficult to predict at this time.”

Here is the full slate of newly elected Cotton Board officers.  Jimmy Webb, producer from Leary, Georgia, chairman.  Sonja Chapman, importer from Boonton, New Jersey, vice chairman.  Mark Nichols, producer from Altus, Oklahoma, secretary.  Akiko Inui, importer from New York City, New York, treasurer.

UCCE Webinar: Raising The Value Of California Cotton California cotton farmers produce a high-quality product but currently take in only 62 cents per pound, a price that makes turning a profit challenging.

T h e Un i v e r s i t y o f C a l i f o r n i a

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COTTON FARMING | SEPTEMBER 2020

SARAH KALINA

Cotton Board Recommends Budget, Elects Officers

OK Requires Boll-Weevil-Free Certification From Texas Brenda Osborne, director of the Oklahoma Boll Weevil Organization, based at Altus, says a difficult battle with the boll weevil still rages in South Texas.

“We all need to do our part in keeping this pest from resurfacing in our state,” she says. “Cotton harvesting equipment entering Oklahoma from two eradication areas in Texas has to be certified as boll weevil free prior to movement into our state.

“Please contact the Texas Boll Weevil Eradication Foundation before departure from these two areas. This will allow TBWEF to inspect the equipment. A U.S. Department of Agriculture-Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service phytosanitary certificate is issued and is required before equipment can be transported from these areas. These ONLY include the Lower Rio Grande Valley Eradication Zone or the East Texas Maintenance Area.

“This is critical to meet USDA-APHIS requirements and prevent the reinfestation of boll weevils into eradicated areas. It is illegal to move non-certified cotton harvesting equipment from these areas into the state of Oklahoma.”

Contact the TBWEF at 325-672-2800 or after hours and weekends at 325-6687361. Contact John Lamb, Frederick office, at 580-335-7760 or cell 580-3051930 for the following Oklahoma counties: Tillman, Cotton, Comanche, Atoka, Bryan and Stephens. Contact Brenda Osborne, Altus office, at 580-477-4287 or cell 580-471-79632 for all other Oklahoma counties.

Cooperative Extension is working with a team of soil health and fiber sustainability experts to offer an online workshop from 9 a.m.-noon, Sept. 17, that will explore ways to increase cotton’s value. Speakers will share new soil-building practices and ideas for marketing the crop’s sustainable production system to make California cotton more valuable to consumers.

“Buyers and markets are paying attention to sustainability, climate change mitigation and protecting natural resources,” says UCCE cropping systems specialist Jeff Mitchell. “We want to seize the moment for cotton.”

Rebecca Burgess of Fibershed and Cala Rose Ostrander of the People, Land and Life Foundation will discuss what clothing and textile brands are interested in and what they may be willing to pay in support of healthy soil management systems for California cotton.

Three cotton farmers — Gary Martin of Mendota, John Teixeira of Firebaugh and Cannon Michael of Los Banos — will share their motivations and experiences with cotton soil health management approaches.

D av i d L a m m , f or m e r Natu r a l Resources Conservation Service national soil health coordinator and now part of COTTONFARMING.COM

Industry News the Soil Health Institute in Greensboro, North Carolina, will share experiences from the Southern U.S. cotton belt to improve soil health.

The program also includes a discussion about long-term soil management research conducted at the UC West Side Research and Extension Center in Five Points by UC Davis doctoral student Geoff Koch and Mitchell.

Registration for the general public is $10; registration is free for farmers. To register, visit http://ucanr.edu/sjvcotton webinar.

Irrigation Purchase Announced Va l le y Ir r igat ion has acquire d PrecisionKing, a Mississippi-based ag tech company with products focused on moisture monitoring, pump control and remote sensing, especially of flood irrigation. “(This acquisition) strengthens our footprint in the Mississippi Delta region and brings additional, talented team members on board. It opens additional doors into other methods of irrigation, such as flood,” says Darren Siekman, vice president of water delivery and business development for Valley. “And it further expands our industry-best network of connected devices.”

Founded in 2014, PrecisionKing offers products including DecisionKing (moisture monitoring), PumpKing (remote pump control), RiceKing (water level monitoring), PivotKing (remote pivot control) and ClimateKing (weather monitoring).

“We are very excited for this opportunity,” says Daniel Cole, a partner in PrecisionKing. “Valley is the industry leader in sales, service and technology, and we would not have made any move that we didn’t think would benefit our customers in the long term. Aligning with the global strength of the Valley brand will enable us to better serve growers in the Delta region and beyond, while keeping the local touch that they’re used to.”

For more information, please visit www.precisionking.net.

Louisiana Agriculture Hall Of Distinction Inductees Four icons of agriculture were inducted into the Louisiana Agriculture Hall of Distinction during a ceremony Aug. 6 at the L’Auberge Hotel in Baton Rouge.

TWITTER: @COTTONFARMING

The four are Jay Hardwick, a Newellton row crop farmer, who also grows cotton; James Barnett, a forestry researcher from Pineville; John Denison, a rice, crawfish and cattle farmer from Iowa; and Calvin Viator, an agricultural crop consultant from Thibodaux.

Hardwick began his career teaching art at the university level. A fortuitous set of circumstances found him on the family farm of his wife, Mary, in Tensas Parish. It was here the allure of farming engulfed him.

“In an academic setting where I came from, control is everything,” Hardwick says. “You have an air-conditioned environment. Mother Nature is completely unpredictable. But that’s part of the seductive quality of farming that I completely enjoy to this day.”

Hardwick is not from the South, and he didn’t start out with roots in farming. With his induction, he considers it being accepted into the Louisiana farming community.

“I wasn’t born in Louisiana,” he says.

“I feel like this is my citizenship. This recognition has made me feel very much a part of Louisiana in a way that I haven’t been full before. I am part of the Louisiana family.”

Barnett was raised in the Ouachita mountains of Arkansas and spent nearly five decades with the U.S. Forest Service.

One of his first duties with the Forest Service focused on increasing the survivability of seedlings used to replenish clear-cut areas.

Denison, a third-generation farmer, has played key roles in the Louisiana Rice Research Board and Louisiana Farm Bureau and served more than 30 years on the Calcasieu Parish School Board.

His career in farming fulfilled a life-long dream.

Viator has had two successful careers.

His first involved teaching agricultural classes at Nicholls State University for 30 years. During this time, he launched his second career that he continues to perform today: an agricultural consulting business in the heart of Louisiana’s sugarcane belt.

Since its creation seven years ago, 22 people have been inducted into the Louisiana Agriculture Hall of Distinction.

It recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to agriculture and agriculture-related industries in Louisiana.

CCOY Cotton Consultant of the Year established 1981

Eddy Cates 2019 CCOY AWARD RECIPIENT

Eddy Cates, with more than 40 years’ experience, consults in Northeast Arkansas and the Missouri Bootheel. When Cates and his crew show up on a farm, you don't just see one truck, you see three or four. They look like a calvary of troops ready to hit the fields.

“My philosophy is that the relationships between a consultant and his farmers are built around trust — them trusting you and you earning their trust,” he says.

Cates was humbled and excited to have been chosen as the 2019 Cotton Consultant of the Year.

“Knowing that my peers think I am worthy of this honor is like a lifetime achievement award.”

Cotton Consultant of the Year sponsored by

Cotton Farming SEPTEMBER 2020 | COTTON FARMING

15

Specialists Speaking

Harvest Preparations Underway ALABAMA Steve M. Brown

“You can’t teach an old dog new tricks” is a saying first attributed to a 1530s animal husbandry book in reference to sheep dogs. I’d like to think it doesn’t apply to cotton growers and ag professionals.

With that assumption, I’d like to propose two harvest-time challenges.  A Quick Plant Map. After defoliation but before harvest, take 5 minutes for a close-up examination of your better cotton.

Pull or cut two normal, average plants (not end-of-row or other brag plants) and take them to your truck tail gate. For each plant, count the total harvestable bolls and nodes. Note the node of the uppermost harvestable boll and the number of pickable bolls on vegetative branches.

Roughly divide the plant into thirds, something like: a) nodes 5 to 11, b) nodes 12 to 18, and c) nodes 18 and above. Estimate the contribution of each zone and include a category for vegetative branches if needed.

This simple exercise helps you see where you’re making cotton and where you’re not. In addition to assisting with harvest aid decisions, it may provide guidance for other management needs.  Final Field Notes. A cotton picker is a high perch that provides an excellent means of observing field variation and problems. Now, I realize a lot is going on as you straddle however many rows at almost 5 mph. [A farmer friend once asked me about his picking speed, “Do you know why we go as fast as we do?” When I didn’t have a ready answer, he supplied, “because we can’t go any faster.”

With a notepad, voice recorder or cell phone camera, you can document weak areas and the probable cause. Messages might include descriptions such as “border damage from stink bugs; hog or deer feeding; suspected nematode damage; poor height management; heavy boll rot area; possible hard pan; low pH; etc.” The harvester vantage point affords an opportunity to see and record field issues, with the hope of addressing them in the future. cottonbrown@auburn.edu

ARKANSAS Bill Robertson

The Crop Production report for Arkansas released in August by the U.S. Department of Agriculture-National Agricultural Statistics Service estimated cotton production at 1.22 million bales, down 19% or 286,000 bales below last year.

Based on conditions as of Aug. 1, yield is expected to average 1,195 pounds per harvested acre, up 10 pounds from our current record yield produced in 2019. Producers expect to harvest 490,000 acres of cotton, down 120,000 acres from 2019.

This record yield projection reflects the advances the industry has made in germplasm and pest management products and practices. It also shows the ability of producers to combine tools and practices to manage, or trick, a perennial plant into growing like an annual.

While it is good to win the yield contest, it is great to win the profit contest. Oftentimes, yield drives profit, but there is a point of diminishing returns for all inputs. We don’t have the luxury of having a cushion in our cotton budget to gamble on feel-good or look-good treatments that don’t provide a return on investment. This season has not been easy or cheap.

We must preserve our yield and fiber quality potential through welldeveloped and well-timed cultural practices for harvest aids and harvest management. And we have to combine these with an effective lint contamination prevention program that starts in the field.

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COTTON FARMING | SEPTEMBER 2020

The first fields planted are not always the first to be harvested. As we progress toward the end of the season, we must continue to manage this crop in a timely fashion to maintain our yield potential. We also have to keep expenses in check with the goal of having a place to put a picker in the field mid-September.

Contact your local county Extension agent for more information. brobertson@uaex.edu

ARIZONA Randy Norton

We’re coming down to the end of the 2020 season with most fields past cutout and some as far along as 30% cracked boll. Decisions regarding terminating the crop and applying the final irrigation in preparation for defoliation will soon need to be made.

The first half of the 2020 season provided an excellent cotton-growing environment. Early season through peak bloom fruit load has been above average in most of the fields that I regularly check closely. In mid-July through early August, we have seen significant numbers of level two (L2) heat stress events that have the potential to affect fruit set in the later part of the fruiting cycle.

In fact, at the Maricopa Ag Center since the beginning of July through mid-August, 48% of those days experienced L2 heat stress where crop canopy temperature exceeded 86 degrees Fahrenheit. More specifically, from July 8 through Aug. 3, 66%, or 19 days, experienced L2 heat stress events. This is significantly higher than 2019 and slightly higher than average, which will affect later-season fruit set.

Crops should be monitored accordingly for termination. Under this type of scenario, if the crop continues past what is needed to mature the initial fruit set, you may end up with green, vigorous terminals and “buggy whips” at harvest time.

It is important to evaluate the crop at this stage to determine the last intended fruit for harvest and then irrigate accordingly to fully mature the fruit set. Keep in mind that 600 heat units, or about 21 days in September, are required to develop a harvestable boll from a fresh flower. As we get into late September and early October, daily HU accumulations begin to drop significantly, and many more days are required to mature the fruit.

We have developed boll maturation schedules that can be found on the AZMET website under reports for cotton that will help you estimate the number of days needed to develop harvestable bolls given a specific fresh bloom date.

These reports can be helpful in making crop termination decisions.

For more detailed information related to this and other topics, feel free to contact me at rnorton@arizona.edu or visit our website at cals.arizona. edu/crops and cals.arizona.edu/azmet. rnorton@cals.arizona.edu

FLORIDA David Wright

The cotton-growing season has been average in that we had good rainfall until the last few weeks of boll set, which has been mostly dry. Cotton normally looks good through August and starts going back in early to mid-September. In many cases, this is due to a heavy boll load from the new cotton varieties.

Cotton producers become concerned because they don’t want the plants to look bad. Many growers who have irrigation may put on a small amount of nitrogen or look for other reasons that the crop does not look good or continue to irrigate.

COTTONFARMING.COM

Specialists Speaking Newer cotton varieties often mature two to three weeks quicker than varieties that were grown in the past. There is very little management in September that will increase yield except to control stinkbugs or other insects that can affect young bolls.

I have heard of growers putting out plant growth regulators in September to help mature the crop more uniformly. However, this timing is too late to affect yield.

If you are tempted manage the crop in September with practices other than defoliating and picking on time, check with the county agent. They can determine if the crop is just maturing or if there really is a problem that indicates there were difficulties in boll set.

Many growers remember Hurricane Michael and know the importance of getting the crop out on time. They also realize that timely defoliation is critical to be able to pick when quality is highest.

Growers have done a good job growing crops this year even though the supply chain may have been affected by the pandemic. wright@ufl.edu

MISSISSIPPI Brian Pieralisi

Summertime afternoon pop-up thunderstorms have been hard to come by over the past two weeks in the Mid-South. Mississippi experienced an unusually cool, dry start to August, which was quickly replaced with hot, muggy conditions that dominated our region. As a result, cotton is maturing relatively quickly with most of the state past cutout or 5 nodes above white flower.

Mississippi growers with irrigation capabilities are doing so to finish out the crop; conversely, dryland growers are hoping for a rain, which needs to occur sooner rather than later. Hot and humid is a recipe for rain in Mississippi, and I hope some farmers benefit from a “crop maker” event.

Potassium deficiencies have popped up in a few places in cotton with a heavy boll load that can be attributed to plant usage or dry conditions.

Cotton looks good across the state, especially where growers can manage water stress. As I mentioned earlier, most cotton is past cutout; therefore, it is time to monitor DD60s to predict termination of insect pest applications and appropriate defoliation timings.

Every year is different and on wetter years, cotton has the potential to hang around 5 NAWF. But this year, we experienced a rapid progression to 4 NAWF, and so on. Once cotton accumulates 350 heat units or DD60s past 5 NAWF, most insect pests will not pose an economic injury threat, excluding stink bugs and some foliage feeders.

Defoliation applications should begin after accumulating 850 DD60s following 5 NAWF. Defoliation can be tricky, and environmental conditions at the time of application often dictate effective products. Dry, sunny conditions at defoliation and the days following are best for product efficacy. bkp4@msstate.edu

MISSOURI Calvin Meeks

On Aug. 13, I’d say the average cotton acre in the Missouri Bootheel is in good shape for the most part.

Pest pressure has been lighter than normal, and fruit retention has been very good with adequate soil moisture present for most of the year.

Bollworms and plant bugs are showing up later than they typically do. Irrigation was just starting during bloom, and it looks like the start to fall will be much drier than 2019.

Many fields are nearing physiological cutout the first week of August with our last effective bloom date closing in.

To close out this growing season, it appears we will be irrigating as we are not forecast to receive good rains to finish out this crop. Regardless, we need a warm, dry fall to finish the crop. Hopefully, the early frost TWITTER: @COTTONFARMING

some are predicting will come well into October.

As we close in on preparations for the 2020 cotton harvest, focus on proper defoliation timing to balance the pursuit of high yields and the need for high fiber quality. One option is to time the application to coincide with 60% open boll. Another method is to time the application at four NACB (nodes above cracked boll). From the uppermost first position cracked boll on the plant, count the mainstem nodes above it to the uppermost harvestable first position boll, sample 40-50 plants across the field and average them.

Inspect the upper bolls 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 as first position bolls contribute 81% of the yield, while also requiring 120 heat units to mature a boll further out on a fruiting branch. A first position boll only requires 60 heat units to mature one node higher.

Regrowth issues were present in 2018-19, and thidiazuron will likely be in short supply again this year. Plan accordingly for fields with high regrowth potential, especially if the fall turns out to be as wet as the last two years. meeksc@missouri.edu

NORTH CAROLINA Guy Collins

The 2020 season continues to be challenging. As I write this on Aug. 5, our crop is variable in terms of growth, maturity and especially yield potential. As discussed in previous articles, the abnormally uncooperative planting weather resulted in a late crop in most areas. We also have a poorly rooted crop due to excessive soil moisture during the early part of the season.

In several cases, cotton planted during early to mid-May experienced prolonged stunted growth. The plants finally started growing well in late June. However, many of these fields collided with excessively hot temperatures and prolonged, severe drought in July when the crop entered the bloom period.

As a result, the cotton had insufficient stalk height and cut out very quickly. Many fields in this scenario will not likely recover due to substantial drought throughout July in some areas.

With that said, there is some good cotton here and there, especially in areas that happened to receive rain at the right time during July. Rains returned to many of the drought-stricken areas in very late July or early August, and Hurricane Isaias brought us a few inches Aug. 3-4.

Most of the reports of crop damage were related to tobacco and corn, with only minor issues of windblown or tangled cotton. In most cases, rains were welcomed although our hearts go out to folks affected by the tornados that occurred.

Depending on planting date, date of first bloom and stalk height when it entered bloom, and July rainfall, some fields have strong yield potential. There’s still a chance for strong yields in some places if rains are good throughout August and if the crop can be managed in a timely fashion for insects.

For fields that bloomed and cut out very quickly with plants only a foot tall or so, drought has taken its toll. Odds are that these fields won’t recover much. Fields with slightly better plant height, or that caught a rain or two in July, and/or started blooming a little later in July, may have a decent chance at good yields. August rains, and subsequent fall weather will dictate yields for these fields.

In these cases, it will be important to manage for earliness. The best way to achieve this is to be timely, especially with insect sprays, and avoid anything that may cause injury, cause fruit to abort, or further delay maturity.

With corn drying down earlier than normal, corn acreage remaining high, and with cotton acreage noticeably lower, it’s important to scout thoroughly and frequently for bollworms. Scouting and treating may SEPTEMBER 2020 | COTTON FARMING

17

Specialists Speaking continue into September, especially for late May or early June planted cotton. Lastly, it is important to keep monitoring for lygus until the end.

As we’ve learned over the past few years, September and October weather has the final say for North Carolina yields. Dr. Edmisten and I recently participated in the development of a valuable Extension publication regarding hurricane preparedness in the Southeast. It can be found on the North Carolia State University Cotton Portal website (https://co tton.ces.ncsu.edu/) or directly at https://bit.ly/3l5tEm8.

We sincerely hope 2020 finally shows us some mercy during the fall this year. guy_collins@ncsu.edu

OKLAHOMA Seth Byrd

As I write this in mid-August, the cotton crop across Oklahoma is progressing rapidly, with many fields near or past cutout. With warm temperatures in the forecast, the crop should continue to mature quickly, although a widespread rain or two in the second half of August would greatly benefit the dryland crop across the state.

If the environment continues to favor rapid crop development, there will likely be some cracked bolls by the time this issue of Cotton Farming reaches you. If no significant rainfall is received for the remainder of August and early September, harvest aid applications in some areas could be triggered in mid- to late September, particularly for the crop planted the first half of May. The late May and early June planted acres will not be far behind. This timing would be a few weeks ahead of last year.

Avoiding the cool, rainy October we experienced in 2018 would create favorable conditions for defoliation and boll opening. However, this scenario would also lead to some degree of late-season water stress for the limited irrigated and dryland crop.

Drought-hardened leaves are more difficult to remove compared to lush, healthy vegetation and may require different categories of defoliants or tankmixes to achieve adequate leaf drop. If drought stress leads to fruit shed followed by rainfall, there would be increased potential for regrowth, another factor to consider when selecting products for a harvest aid tank mix.

For more information on cotton harvest aids and decision-making tools for Oklahoma, contact your local county Extension office or visit https://bit.ly/3gd7JpG. seth.byrd@okstate.edu

TENNESSEE Tyson Raper

Scattered rainfall moved through the area recently, and I’m hopeful we get another round today (Aug. 15).

The following 10 days include little chances for rain. Our crop remains seven to 10 days behind, on average, but the dry weather will likely eliminate some distal fruit. I suspect some will likely be considering defoliants by the end of September.

Our dry August is setting us up to have high levels of regrowth, especially if we receive rains late in September or early in October. We had some tough experiences with this a few years back. Even prior to the first defoliation, you will likely see some areas begin to add vegetative structures at axils low on the plant.

This growth is extremely difficult to remove with any chemistry. The main issue is coverage. From our research, the best approach is to increase droplet fines and spray volume. Most acres that experience these levels of regrowth will require two applications — the first targeting mature leaves still present on the plant and the second targeting regrowth.

If we are lucky enough to get to our first defoliation application on without generating regrowth, I encourage you to carefully time your defoliation events in front of your picker. The main concern in a year like this is that water has prevented uptake of a portion of the nitrogen. After a

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COTTON FARMING | SEPTEMBER 2020

rainfall, the plant will begin to take up N again and attempt to grow rapidly. For more information, tune into my talk on cotton defoliation at the University of Tennessee Virtual Cotton Tour, which will be posted online Sept. 2. traper@utk.edu

TEXAS Ben McKnight

Growers in the Rio Grande Valley were just getting started with harvest July 24 when Hurricane Hanna came ashore and devastated much of the crop in this region. Several farmers were looking forward to an above-average year, especially on irrigated acres.

Open bolls were exposed to the high winds associated with the storm and much of the lint was blown away.

Many of the fields in this region were also inundated from heavy rain. The latest estimates of total or near-total crop loss is more than 130,000 acres.

As I write this Aug. 12, harvest activity in the Coastal Bend region was ramping up significantly. Dr. Josh McGinty, Extension agronomist in Corpus Christi, indicated that 20% to 25% of the crop has been harvested and 80% to 90% should be out within two weeks as long as favorable weather holds up. Yields of more than 3 bales have been reported, and fiber quality looks promising.

Harvest is also underway in the Upper Gulf Coast in some of the earlier planted fields. Yields in this region look promising as much of the area received good, timely rainfall throughout the growing season. Favorable weather conditions will hasten the harvest activity in this region in the coming weeks.

The Blacklands’ cotton crop is more of a mixed bag. Some areas received adequate rainfall, and the crop appears to be in the 1.5- to 2-bale range. Other areas within this region experienced a dry June and July, so yields will be significantly lower. In the next few weeks, cotton harvest preparation will be in full swing as the grain crop harvest is completed.

The dryland crop in the Rolling Plains is quickly approaching cutout or is already in cutout. Crop condition reports from this area are quite variable. Some of the dryland acres look good despite limited rainfall.

Irrigated acres in the Rolling Plains are progressing and still have a way to go before reaching cutout. bmcknight@tamu.edu

TEXAS Murilo Maeda

Cotton has come a long way in West Texas. Spotty showers have been beneficial to those lucky enough to find themselves under a nice cloud. But overall, much of the region remains fairly dry.

Many farmers around here like to look at the first week in August as a benchmark to reach physiological maturity. As I write this in mid-August, most fields seem to be at, or pretty close, to cutout. However, we do have fields running a few days to a few weeks late. In fact, we have both dryland and irrigated fields blooming out the top, as well as some that just started blooming, with anything and everything in between.

The dry planting season has definitely created variability across the region this year. While temperatures have been hovering around 100 degrees Fahrenheit during much of July and August, we know that in West Texas we can make or break a crop in September. Considering the variable maturity we have, we hope for an extended season to finish the crop that’s in the field.

Traditionally, Lubbock has its first freeze around Oct. 30, while the Amarillo region sees a first freeze 15 to 20 days earlier. Our friends down in South Texas had an outstanding crop this year, and some of it, especially in the Rio Grande Valley region, has been damaged by Hurricane Hanna. We continue to keep those affected in our thoughts and prayers. mmaeda@ag.tamu.edu COTTONFARMING.COM

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Covid-19 Update — Gearing Up For The Ginning Season As ginning season approaches and the COVID-19 pandemic continues, take a close look at your operation to mitigate the risk to your workers and business as much as possible. Be sure to develop a COVID-19 policy and have a good training program in place before you begin hiring for the season.

One of the most frustrating parts about trying to keep our workers safe from COVID-19 is the ever-changing guidance documents being issued by local, state and federal authorities. Here are some components of a good plan, but be sure to check with your local ginners’ association and your local, state and federal guidance as this issue continues.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention should be your primary information source related to COVID-19 and the workplace. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has issued guidance as well, but most of it references CDC guidelines. State and local guidance typically is based on CDC guidelines but may differ slightly.

Guidance For Agricultural Workers When you start looking at the details of any individual operation, the implementation of these guidelines can get complicated. But there are some fairly universal basics. Here are recommendations from the CDC for agricultural workers you should include in your program: ¡ Screen workers for coronavirus symptoms. This typically includes asking them in appropriate languages if they have had a fever or other symptoms in the past 24 hours and taking temperatures at the beginning of each shift.

Be sure employees providing the screening are properly trained and have access to personal protective equipment, barriers or other controls. ¡ Do not let employees enter the workplace if they have a fever of 100.4 degrees or greater (or have reported feeling feverish) or if screening results indicate the worker is suspected of having COVID-19-like symptoms. ¡ Encourage workers to report symptoms immediately when onsite, and encourage the ones who have symptoms to

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self-isolate and contact a healthcare provider. ¡ Determine how to maintain distance between employees.

Use touch-free clocks and automatic doors. Install plastic barriers when keeping a distance of 6 feet between individuals is not possible. Rearrange chairs and tables in break areas. ¡ Implement cleaning, disinfection and sanitation protocols. It is important for workers to have access to handwashing stations and/or hand sanitizer and that they are encouraged to use them frequently. It is also important to have a good cleaning and sanitation plan to cover the high-use and shared areas.

There are companies available to do deep cleaning, and they can lay down an anti-microbial solution that will protect surfaces for 30 days. It would be a good idea to consider using one of these services every month during the season for your worker housing and possibly your office and frequently touched areas in the gin. ¡ Train workers in a language they understand about the signs and symptoms of coronavirus, proper infection control and social distancing practices. Tell them what to do if they or a coworker experiences symptoms.

topic, and the presentations are available online at https://bit. ly/3iBDn1r.

Good preparation will go a long way toward preventing a lot of problems during the season.

J. Kelley Green, TCGA director of technical services, contributed this article. Contact him at kelley@tcga.org.

Cotton’s Calendar Due to the fluid situation involving COVID-19, some listed events may be canceled or postponed. Please verify the status with the individual organizations. ¢ ¢ Sept. 16: PCCA Annual Meeting and Board of Directors Meeting, Lubbock, Texas ¢ ¢ Sept. 16: Staplcotn Board of Directors Meeting, Greenwood, Mississippi ¢ ¢ Sept. 28: Calcot Board of Directors/Auditors’ Meeting, Phoenix, Arizona ¢ ¢ Sept. 29: Calcot Board of Directors Meeting/93rd Annual Meeting, Phoenix, Arizona

¡ Encourage workers to use cloth face coverings in addition to staying 6 feet away from other workers.

¢ ¢ Oct. 14: Plains Cotton Growers Quarterly Board Meeting, Bayer Museum of Agriculture, 1121 Canyon Lake Drive, Lubbock, Texas

¡ Provide personal protective equipment and train workers on proper use of PPE through videos or in-person visual demonstrations.

¢ ¢ Oct. 21: PCCA Board, Delegate Body & Marketing Pool Committee Meetings, Lubbock, Texas ¢¢

Nov. 18: PCCA Board of Directors Meeting, Lubbock, Texas

Dec. 8-10: Cotton Board & Cotton Incorporated Joint Board Meeting, Don Cesar, St. Pete Beach, Florida ¢¢

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Set Up Small Groups For workers who are not able to stay socially distanced, recommendations are to break them into smaller groups and keep each group separate to limit any outbreak. For example, always keep your day gin crew, night gin crew, office crew and trucking personnel separate.

Shared housing is more of a challenge. But to the extent possible, workers living in shared housing should be kept separate from other workers and the public as much as possible.

If you provide worker housing, try to keep the workers in the same shift and the crew in the same quarters if possible.

If a worker becomes sick, clean and disinfect the work area, the equipment and the common areas in which the worker has been exposed. If the worker is in employer-furnished housing, move them to a dedicated space to recover. Also, clean and disinfect the living quarters and other areas used by this employee.

Employers should follow CDC guidelines for allowing workers to return to work after being exposed to COVID-19, testing positive for COVID-19 or after having symptoms. The guidelines are different depending on the specific situation.

Now is the time to familiarize yourself with the CDC guidance and work with your local association to be sure you are prepared for the upcoming season. The National Cotton Ginners’ Association has held Zoom conferences dealing with this

¢ ¢ Dec. 16: PCCA Board, Delegate Body & Marketing Pool Committee Meetings, Lubbock, Texas

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My Turn California Cotton Picking Contest Of 1935

I

n 1934, the Bakersfield to the pickers. The Bakersfield Californian, which Exchange Club spon- was an afternoon paper at the time, reported that sored a cotton pick- just before noon, Luis Castenada had picked 368 ing contest with priz- pounds with a bag waiting to be weighed. His brothes. The event was held in er, Trinadad, was second with 352 pounds. Bets were Buttonwillow and had 30 being taken as to which brother would win. contestants. On Oct.12, Sixty contestants finished the full nine hours.

1935, the Kern County Farm The $125 first prize award went to Luis Castenada, Bureau directors decided to who picked 792 pounds. Second prize of $60 went sponsor a similar event. to Roberto Jaime, 770 pounds; third prize of $40 to The committee set Oct. Hershel Wells, 753 pounds; fourth prize of $20 to Stan 25 as the contest date and Pete Soza, 738 pounds; and fifth prize of $10 to Mike Wilson selected a 40-acre cotton Martinez, 715 pounds. field belonging to W.H. Twenty-six organizations, including farm suppliers Mettler near Shafter. The field was estimated to have and cotton gins, funded the prize money and expensa high yield (bale and a half per acre), allowing the es. Philip Cerro also gave his patented Easy-Dump pickers an opportunity to set a new daily record. A set picking bags to the winner and to the picker, L. Hollis, of rules was established, and the event was announced who finished with the smallest amount, 501 pounds, in all the local newspapers. An invitation was also as a consolation prize. issued to adjoining cotton counties to send their best The average picked among the contestants who pickers. The contest was scheduled to start at 7 a.m. finished the contest was 647.17 pounds. The reportand last for nine hours. ed world record at the time All pickers would be set in l925 by George “A total of 36,950 pounds was was paid the regular picking R. Reed, who won the picked at the Mettler Farm.” rate, which was 90 cents Texas State Championship per 100 pounds, regardless with 910 pounds picked in of any prize money they might win. Pickers were nine hours. A total of 36,950 pounds of cotton was assigned rows to pick and must pick the rows clean picked at the Mettler Farm. Thirty-five years later, one and pick the cotton clean. The judges would make a man in a two-row cotton picker could pick as much in weight deduction if the cotton was not picked clean. nine hours as the 60 top pickers accomplished in this Each picker could either bring a helper or a helper story. Talk about changes in a lifetime! would be provided. The helper was to carry the sacks As far as I could discover, the cotton picking contest to the end of the field for weighing and dump the cot- continued from 1934 until 1937. Cameramen from ton in the trailer. But they could not assist in any way “News of the Day” were on hand at the l937 contest with the picking. The picker had to furnish two good and recorded more than 1,000 feet of film to incor10-foot sacks, so one could be dumped while he con- porate into a newsreel released to theatres throughout tinued to pick with the other. Time out for lunch was the nation. to be decided by the contestants. Lastly, the pickers Here is how Kern County Ag Commissioner Luis were told the decision of the judges was final.

Burtch summed up the event’s goals: “The contest has Hundreds were expected to watch the event, so been carried out annually for the past four years for three highway patrolmen and three sheriff deputies the purposes of creating more interest in our cotton were assigned to assist with traffic. The Bakersfield industry — the county’s largest crop — and also to Californian estimated there were 1,000 spectators, attract better pickers to the Kern County fields.” with many coming to cheer for their “favorite son.”

The Shafter Wednesday Afternoon Club set up a — Stan Wilson booth to sell sandwiches and coffee to the spectators.

Retired California cotton farmer and curator of the During the day, the Wasco Creamery furnished milk Shafter Depot Museum, ewanwils1@me.com

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

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COTTON FARMING | SEPTEMBER 2020

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