Cotton Farming, July 2014

July Cover _CF 11/13 template 6/16/14 8:23 AM Page 1

Cotton Farming

速

ONE GROWER PUBLISHING, LLC

PROFITABLE PRODUCTION STRATEGIES

JULY 2014

www.cottonfarming.com

WEST/SOUTHWEST FARMERS CONTINUE AS EXCELLENT

WATER STEWARDS IMPORTANCE OF WATER SCIENCE USE CARE IN WASHING DENIM

CF0714 Layout_CF 11/13 template 6/11/14 9:26 AM Page 2

Extr N t iti

& Pll

tE

Formulated With

People... ople... &&&& " &&&& " &&&&&&&& &&&&&&&&

Helena Chemical Company )(('&%$#"! & & $& & & & & & & $ ! & & && & & &&

) '' '& & ! && ! $ $

Always read and follow label directions. The Helena logo, CoRoN & People...Products...Knowledge... are registered trademarks of Helena Holding Company. Utilize is a registered trademark of Goemar. Š 2014 Helena Holding Company.

3_3 6/16/14 8:41 AM Page 3

Vol. 58 No. 7

Cotton Farming PROFITABLE PRODUCTION STRATEGIES

JULY 2014

www.cottonfarming.com

F E A T U R E S

8

10 Quest For Water Of all the important resources today’s farmer needs, nothing is more important than water. For that reason, it is critical that innovative initiatives are implemented to maintain access to reliable water supplies. Conversely, in other areas, farmers must be proactive in irrigation efficiency when adequate rainfall is unpredictable.

D E P A R T M E N T S

4 Editor’s Note 6 Cotton’s Agenda 18 Industry News

&

VIEWPOINT EDITORIAL Texas consultant Bob Glodt always encourages producers to learn more about water science.

16

CARING FOR DENIM

23

GINNING MARKETPLACE

Cotton Incorporated offers some tips on the best way to launder and care for denim.

Dusty Findley says it’s important to learn to deal with hot temperatures while working in the gin.

WEB EXCLUSIVE Cotton Farming Senior Writer Carroll Smith takes a closer look at new developments in irrigation technology in Mid-South cotton production. Look for her Web Exclusive special report at www.cottonfarming.com.

C O L U M N S

20 Specialists Speaking 26 My Turn

WEB POLL RESULTS

If you irrigate, what type of system do you use and why?

Go to www.cottonfarming.com for the results.

ON THE COVER: An irrigated Arizona cotton field thrives during the early part of the season.

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

COTTON FARMING JULY 2014

3

4_ 4 6/18/14 3:48 PM Page 4

Editor’s Note Tommy Horton

Cotton Farming

®

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

Water Management: Priority For Farmers

E

very summer Cotton Farming takes a closer look at a topic that never seems to go out of date. It’s as relevant today as it was 10, 20 or 30 years ago. The circumstances have changed, but the message is still the same. Water management and the need for reliable water supplies are becoming even more critical for today’s cotton farmers.

We can blame the lack of water on a lot of things – climate change, urban versus rural populations or lack of stewardship. Fact is, farmers can’t produce crops without this precious resource.

The good news, as you’ll find out in this month’s magazine, is that cotton producers have been doing their part to protect and manage water for a long time. Maybe the general public isn’t aware of this trend, but that’s where our industry has a good story to tell. For those persons living in the West or Southwest, it’s hard not to notice how farmers have had to adjust to challenging scenarios.

In California and Arizona, a serious drought continues to plague both states. Water allocations were drastically reduced in California, causing many farmers to make hard decisions about what crops they’ll continue to grow. In Arizona, different regions in the state have dealt with droughts for nearly 16 years. But, just like their farmer friends in California, the folks in Arizona are employing irrigation technology and conservation measures to find a way to “do more with less water.”

Hopefully, some dreaded water restrictions won’t become even more severe as the battle rages on about who has priority on water from sources such as the Colorado River. For that reason, ag leaders in both states won’t give up the fight to protect farmers’ access to these water sources.

In the Southwest – and primarily Texas – this is the fourth year some kind of drought has affected agriculture. Granted, much-needed rain occurred in parts of the state in early June, and it rescued the High Plains, which was in dire need of moisture to get this year’s crop started on time.

However, the water crisis is still with us and hasn’t gone away.

As you’ll see in our cover story on pages 10, 11 and 12, organizations such as the Texas Alliance for Water Conservation (TAWC) are taking an active role in helping farmers employ the best possible water conservation practices while protecting the Ogallala Aquifer, which supplies the irrigation water for the High Plains. A spirit of cooperation and a greater awareness of the overall water issue exists today – no matter what region of the Belt is examined. Farmers are making good use of every drop of water.

In case you were wondering, that is called progress.

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

ADMINISTRATION Publisher/Vice President Lia Guthrie (901) 497-3689 lguthrie@onegrower.com Associate Publisher Carroll Smith (901) 767-4020 Sales Manager Scott Emerson (386) 462-1532 semerson@onegrower.com Production Manager Kathy Killingsworth (800) 888-9784 kkillingsworth@onegrower.com Circulation Manager Janet Owens (229) 386-8809

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

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

ONE GROWER PUBLISHING, LLC Mike Lamensdorf PRESIDENT/TREASURER Lia Guthrie PUBLISHER/VICE PRESIDENT ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COOPERATION: Cooperating with COTTON FARMING are various cotton producer organizations across the Cotton Belt. Many representatives of producer organizations serve on COTTON FARMING’s editorial advisory board.

Opinions expressed and conclusions reached by contributors are not necessarily those of the cooperating organizations or the editors. All statements, including product claims, are those of the person or organization making the statement or claim. The publisher does not adopt any such statement or claims as its own and any such statement or claim does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the publisher.

Copyright 2014 ASSOCIATED PUBLICATIONS – One Grower Publishing, LLC also publishes RICE FARMING, THE PEANUT GROWER, SOYBEAN SOUTH and CORN SOUTH.

One Grower Publishing, LLC

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

4

COTTON FARMING JULY 2014

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

5_CF 11/13 template 6/19/14 10:05 AM Page 5

WHAT CUSTOMERS WANT Quality Cotton Is Definitely Sustainable

By Dion Vijgeboom Independent Advisor To The Denim Industry Amsterdam, Netherlands

Quality Cotton Physical parameters are no longer the only indicators for the quality of cotton. New characteristics have come into play when referring to quality. Sustainability, transparency and social compliance are increasingly important to the end consumer today although the definitions and understanding of these terms can vary considerably. During my 10 years of working in the jeans industry, critics often question how clean our supply chain is. Those brands and retailers that are motivated to continuously reduce their environmental impact are a strong force. Both governmental and non-governmental organizations are pushing toward this continuous improvement. Governments are imposing legislation, standards and controls, while activist groups launch media campaigns to point at non-compliant industries, companies and products.

Setting The Standard The public opinion gets shaped, and the industry is rightfully forced to take action. Consumers then start to pull by buying products from those companies that show their clients they care about the quality of their supply chain. Besides the push and pull, there is the drive of the industry itself. A supply chain that

Dion Vijgeboom is convinced that quality cotton is sustainable in today’s environment as consumers continue to demand more transparency.

provides transparency, traceability and facts is the best evidence for quality. There is no better way to answer critics, authorities and consumers than by allowing them into the kitchen. The innovations in technology have helped develop the Field Print Calculator used in Bayer’s e3 cotton program. Together, with the physical excellence of FiberMax and Stoneville, this makes a showcase of the new standard for quality cotton.

In the years to come, the industries involved in cotton have to focus on further innovation and integration of links in the chain to optimize traceability and transparency. Not only will this contribute to a higher quality product, it will create economic benefits and opportunities.

From Fiber To Fabric • New parameters for quality.

• Sustainability remains a priority.

• Industry must become proactive.

• Consumers want verification.

• Ultimate objective – transparency.

“A supply chain that provides transparency, traceability and facts is the best evidence for quality.”

– Dion Vijgeboom

Sponsored By

6_9 6/18/14 11:07 AM Page 6

Cotton’s Agenda Mark Lange

Achieving Reasonable Reform Recently-passed legislation will provide our nation’s farmers and ranchers with more reasonable on-farm fuel storage regulations.

What’s in the legislation?

■ Before it was signed into law in mid-June by President Obama, the Water Resources Reform and Development Act (WRRDA) was overwhelmingly approved by the House (412-4) and Senate (91-7). The WRRDA authorizes the construction of major navigation and flood risk management projects. Of additional significance to agriculture is that the new measure also contains language designed to give farmers and ranchers some relief from EPA’s Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasure (SPCC) rule on farm storage tanks of fuel and oil.

Prior to WRRDA’s passage, SPCC regulations required those operations with more than 1,320 gallons of above-ground fuel and oil storage capacity and could reasonably be expected to discharge oil to waters of the United States to have spill prevention plans. The new measure increases the thresholds at which farm and

storage capacities greater than 2,500 gallons and less than the lesser of 6,000 gallons and the adjustment quantity established by a yet-to-becompleted USDA/EPA study, and no reportable oil discharge history are not required to comply with the rule.

Owners or operators would be able to self-certify SPCC plans for any operation with aggregate aboveground storage capacity less than 20,000 gallons and greater than the lesser of 6,000 gallons and the aforementioned adjustment quantity, and no reportable oil discharge history. A professional engineer will be required to certify a plan on operations where there is an individual aboveground storage capacity greater than 10,000 gallons, an aggregate storage capacity greater than or equal to 20,000 gallons, or a reportable oil discharge history. The law excludes all containers on separate parcels that have a capacity of less than 1,000 gallons from the aggregate storage capacity of a farm. It also excludes all containers holding animal feed ingredients approved for use in livestock feed by the Commissioner of Food and Drugs.

What relief had previously been sought?

A newly-signed bill in Congress provides more reasonable on-farm fuel storage regulations. ranch operations are required to comply with aspects of the rule. Operations with an aggregate aboveground storage capacity of less than 2,500 gallons are not required to comply with the rule. Operations with aboveground tank

■ Sen. James Inhofe (R-OK) and Rep. Rick Crawford (R-AR) led efforts to obtain SPCC relief. Crawford introduced the Farmers Undertake Environmental Land Stewardship (FUELS) Act. The NCC supported that legislation which would have raised the compliance threshold requirement to a more realistic and practical level and allowed self-certification rather than requiring a detailed plan by a professional engineer. Inhofe added an amendment to the WRRDA legislation to exempt all tanks of 1,000 gallons or less from the rule and to exclude from compliance with the rule all farms with an aggregate tank storage capacity of 2,500 gallons or less. Agricultural organizations, including the NCC, expressed support for these provisions.

Mark Lange is the president and chief executive officer for the National Cotton Council of America.

He and other NCC leaders contribute columns on this Cotton Farming page.

6 COTTON FARMING

JULY 2014

7CF July CCCv4_CF 11/13 template 6/17/14 8:19 AM Page 7

Cotton Consultant’s Corner

Manage Plant Bugs To Score Higher Yields Larry Walton Field Scientist, Dow AgroSciences Tupelo, Miss.

Growers focused on maximizing cotton yield in the Mid-South must be prepared to manage plant bugs. For a successful ending to any season, Larry Walton says growers must plant on time, scout constantly and carefully plan insecticide treatments. Now in his 34th cotton season, Walton knows that no one can predict how heavy plant bug pressure will be, but the Mid-South field scientist for Dow AgroSciences knows everybody can prepare to manage this devastating pest.

This year started off good for cotton in the Mid-South. Growers started planting around the third week of April. Based on the current forecast, growers in Walton’s home state of Mississippi planted about 400,000 acres in 2014, a significant increase from 2013.

Planting early gives growers a greater chance of starting harvest at the beginning of October, which means better weather. Those who don’t harvest until late November or early December often experience rain and colder temperatures, which can make a mess of defoliation and harvesting. Planting in that late April to early May window gives growers the best opportunity for high germination and a robust stand.

Scout For Plant Bugs At first or second true leaf, growers likely need to spray for early season thrips. As the cotton begins squaring, growers and consultants must scout closely for plant bugs and monitor square retention on the cotton plants. In most years, the plant bug population begins to increase after this time. As the crop nears first bloom and as a host crop such as corn begins to dry down, plant bug populations can explode. At this time, it is important for growers to be armed and ready with their weapon of choice.

Dow AgroSciences’ research for the past six years shows back-to-back applications of Transform WG insecticide at a rate of 1.5 oz/A at or near first bloom provide a yield advantage 75 percent of the time compared with other plant bug products. Large-scale experiments conducted in 2013 for Dow AgroSciences by crop consultants in Louisiana, Mississippi, Arkansas and Missouri showed back-to-back applications of Transform at or near bloom was the breadwinner, yielding 49 more pounds of lint than the commercial standards, on average.

As a new class of chemistry, Transform can help extend the effectiveness of organophosphates, neonicotinoids and synthetic pyrethroids.

Effective at low use rates, Transform has a minor impact on beneficial insects, including lacewings and lady beetles, which provide natural control of spider mites and aphids. And when it comes to aphids, Transform provides unsurpassed control.

At the end of the day, the key to a successful harvest is scouting fields every few days for pests and making timely applications to keep insects under threshold.

• Grew up in a small community on a cotton/cattle farm in Northeast Mississippi, where Walton learned at an early age how to chop and hand-pick cotton • Began career as a cotton scout in 1977 in the Mid-South Delta • Worked with Mobil Chemicals (1978) and Elanco (1979-81) as a research assistant while attending undergraduate and graduate school. Completed agricultural degrees from Mississippi State University in 1979 and 1981 • Started with Rohm and Haas (R&H) in 1981 as a research scientist; then to Dow AgroSciences (DAS) in 2001, when DAS purchased R&H • Currently a senior research scientist with a personal goal of completing 40 years in agricultural research • Married 32 years, he and his wife, Marilyn, have one son, one daughter, one grandson and one granddaughter • Avid hunter and fisherman

Recap: Manage Plant Bugs To Score Higher Yields

▼

1. For a successful ending to any season, growers must plant on time, scout constantly and carefully plan insecticide treatments.

2. As the cotton begins squaring, growers and consultants must scout closely for plant bugs and monitor square retention on the cotton plants. In most years, the plant bug population begins to increase after this time.

3. As the crop nears first bloom and as a host crop such as corn begins to dry down, plant bug populations can explode. Be armed and ready with your weapon of choice.

4. Dow AgroSciences’ research for the past six years shows back-toback applications of Transform WG insecticide at a rate of 1.5 oz/A at or near first bloom provide a yield advantage 75 percent of the time compared with other plant bug products.

5. Transform can help extend the effectiveness of organophosphates, neonicotinoids and synthetic pyrethroids. Effective at low use rates, Transform has a minor impact on beneficial insects.

Sponsored By

®Trademark of The Dow Chemical Company (“Dow”) or an affiliated company of Dow. Transform WG is not registered for sale or use in all states.

Contact your state pesticide regulatory agency to determine if a product is registered for sale or use in your state. Always read and follow label directions.

8_16 6/18/14 9:12 AM Page 8

VIEWPOINT

Understanding Water Science

BY BOB GLODT PLAINVIEW, TEXAS

•

Texas

• Native of San Antonio. Was raised in San Angelo.

• Currently resides in Plainview, Texas.

• Ag consultant for 34 years.

• Former president of National Alliance of Independent Crop Consultants.

• Earned B.S. in entomology from Texas A&M. • Owns Agri-Search, Inc., in Plainview.

• Advisor to Texas Alliance for Water Conservation.

• Married to wife Barbara, a retired schoolteacher.

T

his is my 34th year as an agricultural consultant on the Texas High Plains. As I look back over those years, I am amazed at the advancements that have taken place. The way producers farmed 34 years ago is certainly different from today. However, one thing that hasn’t changed over all these years is that water is a yield-limiting factor, and there is no substitute for water.

From 2006 to the present, I have been involved in working with seed companies in testing varieties or genetically modified cotton plants for wateruse efficiency on my research farm located in Hale County, Texas. I have learned a lot about water in the process of conducting these trials, and, as a result, my emphasis in consulting is now centered around helping my clients better understand the relationship between water and yields.

From working in water-use efficiency research, I have come to the unshakeable conclusion that regardless of where you farm in the United States, there is nothing a producer or an agricultural consultant can devote time to that is more important than understanding water use. More specifically, this would include the relationship between water and the soil and the relationship between water and crop demand. It does not matter where you farm or whether the majority of the water that nourishes your crop comes from rainfall, irrigation or a combination of both; the more you learn about water the better producer or consultant you will become.

So, if you want to take the first step, my advice would be to begin tracking potential evapotranspiration (PET) models for the crops you grow, regardless of where you farm. In the Texas High Plains, we are fortunate that the Texas Alliance for Water Conservation (TAWC) has developed a website (www.tawcsolutions.org) devoted entirely to this purpose. This website allows a producer to use the Texas Tech University Mesonet weather sites for developing potential evapotranspiration models for just about every production area in the Texas High Plains.

The Texas Alliance for Water Conservation had its first “water course” for producers in the spring of this year.

8 COTTON FARMING

JULY 2014

TAWC currently has plans to implement a more detailed and comprehensive course on water management that will be available to producers in this region. I see the benefit of farmers learning the science behind water management before I can be effective in assisting them with the day to day water management decisions.

Since we have limited rainfall and limited irrigation reserves in this area, knowing precisely when or when not to apply water is crucial information. From working with water-use efficiency research, it has become clear to me that producers in my area should be irrigating cotton between 60 and 70 percent of potential evapotranspiration. Yep, you read that right. I advocate irrigating at a specific level that is well below 100 percent of crop demand. And the reason?

We don’t accumulate enough heat units each year to irrigate at higher levels without a corresponding potential for immaturity when we receive our first killing freeze.

And how much can you make doing this? It is not uncommon to consistently produce between 2.5 and three bales per acre if you have a little help from Mother Nature. Also, when irrigating at 60 to 70 percent of PET, there are pre-bloom irrigation strategies that must be followed for this technique to be successful. Understanding the soil water-holding capacity is also extremely crucial when irrigating at any given percentage of potential evapotranspiration.

I have found that many producers in this area select cotton varieties based on trial results that were irrigated far above their capacity to irrigate. The highest yielding varieties under heavy irrigation are often not the highest yielding varieties when irrigated at 30, 50 or 60 percent of potential evapotranspiration. We are learning that it is important to grow a variety that will perform well at a specific or target irrigation level. In our area, seed companies are working hard to develop this type of information. I also think it is high time that every major agricultural university in the United States offers comprehensive courses in water (water 101, 201, 301 and 401) for the agriculturalists who will serve farmers and the agricultural community in the future.

If you want to better understand water as it relates to cotton production, a good place to start is reading an online article entitled, “How a Cotton Plant Grows.” Go to (http://www.extension.org/mediawiki/files/3/38/Cotpla ntgrows.pdf).

Contact Bob Glodt via email in Plainview, Texas, at agri@amaonline.com.

CF0714 Layout_CF 11/13 template 6/11/14 9:27 AM Page 9

10 11 12_CF 11/13 template 6/18/14 11:48 AM Page 10

COVER STORY

Every Drop Counts

BY TOMMY HORTON EDITOR

Western Farmers Trying To Cope With Serious Drought

B

lame it on weather patterns, urban expansion, water rights’ battles or politics. No matter where you live in California or Arizona, the hottest issue today for cotton farmers comes down to one topic – a historic drought.

When you have a situation in California where some farmers are paying 50 or even 100 times more for water, it demonstrates the severity of

10

COTTON FARMING JULY 2014

the crisis. If a farmer lives close to a reliable water source, he’s one of the lucky ones. If he depends on water from a watershed affected by the current drought, the odds are good that a dreaded water cutoff notice has already been issued.

Simply put, California farmers must survive with a lot less available water as they deal with the current crisis.

Many hoped that a good snowpack this

past winter would solve part of the problem, but that didn’t happen. The continuing drought and weather patterns put the brakes on anything resembling normal water supplies for the season.

Drought To Remember From a historical standpoint, the current drought in the country’s largest agricultural state is in a

10 11 12_CF 11/13 template 6/18/14 11:49 AM Page 11

category all by itself. The U.S. Drought Monitor, which tracks weather trends across the country, says that the entire state of California is in a severe drought for the first time since 2000.

According to U.S. climatologist Mark Svoboda, the current drought is a oncein-a-generation event. Nothing compares to it with the possible exception of 1976-77. But, since then, the state’s population has nearly doubled while water supplies have remained about the same.

California producer Don Cameron, general manager of the Terranova Ranch 25 miles southwest of Fresno, farms approximately 7,000 acres, with a mix of conventional, organic and biotech crops, including organic pima

cotton, upland cotton, seed product, tomatoes, biotech alfalfa, corn and a diversity of other annual crops.

Perennial crops grown include organic and conventional walnuts, conventional wine grapes, almonds, pistachios, olives and prunes. In all, 26 crops are grown on the farm.

“This is our third year of drought,” he says. “Some farmers have put in wells to somehow survive the situation. Even the ones who normally receive no less than 60 percent of their allocations are down to 40 percent.

We’ve never seen conditions this bad.”

Cameron also says the crisis is made worse because of so many state environmental regulations. And, even though an El Niño weather pattern

might bring more rainfall in the coming months, it would be too late to help this year’s crops.

Desperate Measures How will cotton farmers and others get through this year? Cameron says most will “do whatever they have to do to hang on, and hope for a better situation next year.”

He adds that farmers already are doing everything they can to survive by using drip irrigation and minimizing water use on anything grown on their land. The real answer for next year is a heavy snowpack and plenty of rainfall throughout the state.

Veteran California Extension cotton specialist Bob Hutmacher echoes

Water Conservation Will Help Texas Farmers Survive

T

exas farmers have a reputation for producing excellent crops – even when a drought moves into its fourth consecutive year.

Yes, the recent rains in the High Plains were welcome and helped cotton producers finish planting. And, even though some areas didn’t receive rain, it was a welcome break from the devastating weather trend of recent months.

If the drought accomplished anything in the last three years, it made farmers even more aware of the importance of water conservation.

Serious Water Strategies Nobody has a better perspective on that statement than Rick Kellison, project director for the Texas Alliance for Water Conservation (TAWC).

This group is comprised of farmers, researchers and state and local agencies collaborating to develop strategies for reducing water use.

“I think our farmers will continue to be efficient in their water conservation even when this drought mitigates,” he says.

Initiatives such as irrigating only a half circle of cotton, while devoting the other half to a crop such as wheat, have proven successful. Use of Low Energy Precision Agriculture (LEPA) irrigation continues to increase along with sub-surface drip.

In some cases, Kellison has seen consistent increases in revenue using these irrigation approaches.

Texas cotton producers have continued to use innovative irrigation technology to conserve water during the past three years of a serious drought.

Texas Extension cotton specialist Mark Kelley is proud of how High Plains producers have embraced management practices that create more water efficiency.

“The encouraging thing is that our farmers are efficiently using the water they have,” he says. “They aren’t pouring water on the crop just because they have it. LEPA systems are being utilized effectively.”

Kelley also sees the continued benefit of cover crops, which maintain residue and organic matter. That, in turn, increases infiltration and less water runoff.

Producer Chad Brown, who farms south of Lubbock, has dealt with hail, heavy rains and 90 mile-per-hour winds in the past few weeks. He says

he has a chance to keep his irrigated cotton going, but he is racing against the clock.

“We are doing the best we can, but it will be tough,” he says. “The cotton was barely coming up.”

Widespread Significance Perhaps the best perspective comes from Jim Bordovsky, Texas AgriLife research scientist and ag engineer.

He has preached irrigation efficiency for many years.

“When you spend your entire career working on water-use efficiency, it’s good to see this kind of awareness being created,” he says.

“Everybody is running out of water, and this message applies to the entire country.”

COTTON FARMING JULY 2014

11

10 11 12_CF 11/13 template 6/19/14 8:24 AM Page 12

CCOY 2013 Cotton Consultant of the Year

Bob Glodt TEXAS CONSULTANT KEEPS THE FOCUS ON WATER MANAGEMENT

I work with extremely supportive growers, who have been very patient at times when patience was in order. My goal is to help them understand the science of water management, which is a complex issue.

I believe I can be more valuable to my clients in the long term by explaining the intricacies of water management rather than just telling them when to water and how much to apply.

Cameron’s comments. He says it has been a “chilling experience” to see the drop in cotton acreage this year, and it is all due to drought and serious lack of available water.

“Taking care of feed needs for the dairies and protection of the producers’ investments in perennial crops such as trees (almonds, walnuts, pistachios) and grapes (wine, table and raisin) has really had a huge impact on planted acres of our typical crops such as cotton,” says Hutmacher.

Similar Problem In Arizona In neighboring Arizona, the water crisis is similar but somewhat different, according to state Extension specialist Randy Norton.

If a cotton farmer is in the western part of the state and close to the Colorado River, he probably has enough water. However, 2014 is the first year for a reduction in water coming down from the lower basin states.

“Unless something changes, there could very well be restrictions enacted in 2016,” says Norton. “This obviously would be unprecedented. It is pretty serious and will affect farmers.”

How serious? Norton says Lake Mead, located on the Colorado River and the largest reservoir in the country, is at 40 percent capacity, and now there is concern about having enough water capacity to generate electricity.

The lake hasn’t been at full capacity since 1983 due to a combination of drought and increased water demand.

Depending on where a farmer is located in Arizona, there has been some kind of drought in the state for

16 years. For that reason, Norton says farmers have anticipated that water restrictions might tighten at some point in the future.

If those restrictions become reality, farmers would have to decide whether to put in more sub-surface drip irrigation in certain areas. Or, they might leave some acreage fallow and shift crops to another location.

“Sometimes the water problems seem to get lost in the shuffle in Arizona,” says Norton. “It seems that way when you compare our situation to California.”

Arizona farmers are already making plans to become more efficient in their water use.

For instance, is it better to use a majority of that water upfront to develop a structure on the plant? That approach is being studied.

“Basically, it comes down to this,” says Norton. “No matter how challenging this issue is, we have to keep fighting the good fight and not give up.”

Contact Tommy Horton at (901) 7674020 or thorton@onegrower.com.

How Can A Western Farmer Survive Current Drought?

• Implement more drip irrigation.

• Move crops to different locations.

• Increase water conservation.

• Consider rainwater runoff storage.

• Gain access to new water sources.

• Maintain proactive attitude.

The Cotton Consultant of the Year (CCOY) is determined by a select group of the top consultants in the nation. To be counted among this group is the highest honor of my career.

CCOY nomination form, page 13 Cotton Consultant of the Year sponsored by

Cotton Farming 12 COTTON FARMING

JULY 2014

In Texas, low energy precision agriculture (LEPA) irrigation remains efficient.

2014 CCOY nom form FINAL_ Consultant Nomination 2004 6/9/14 9:11 AM Page 13

Nomination Form

Cotton Consultant of the Year 2014 The Cotton Consultant of the Year (CCOY) represents the consultant who has made great contributions to the cotton industry through outstanding customer relations, leadership and innovation.

Recognized by fellow members of the cotton industry, this award is given to the consultant who not only meets these requirements but also exceeds them.

Syngenta and Cotton Farming magazine, CCOY sponsors, are soliciting your help in selecting the 2014 recipient, who will be named during a special celebration during the National Cotton Council’s 2015 Beltwide Cotton Conferences.

The winning consultant and the person who nominates the winner receive two nights’ hotel stay and airfare to the 2015 Beltwide, which will be held in San Antonio, Texas.

In addition, the 2014 CCOY recipient will be the subject of a four-page salute in the January 2015 issue of Cotton Farming.

Please send your nomination form by August 22, 2014 to: Carroll Smith, 1010 June Road, Suite 102 Memphis, TN 38119 Fax: (901) 767-4026 Scan/Email: csmith@onegrower.com You can print out an electronic version of the form located on the Cotton Farming Web site at www.cottonfarming.com.

If you would like to nominate a consultant deserving of this outstanding recognition, please take a moment to fill out the following form.

Please use a separate page for biographical/professional information. Additional recommendations via letters or emails from other farmers, consultants and industry members are also encouraged to provide support for the nominee.

Consultant’s Name: Company Name (if applicable): Mailing Address: City:

State:

Zip:

Phone:

Fax:

Email:

In your own words, please tell us why you are nominating the consultant above for the “Cotton Consultant of the Year” Award: Background:

Biographical/Industry Involvement Background:

Your Name: Address: City:

State:

Zip:

Phone:

Fax:

Email:

Sponsored by

Cotton Farming

CF0714 Layout_CF 11/13 template 6/11/14 9:28 AM Page 14

.;+6$3/"6.5:9645<6 85<96/+45<8;$/5+6;$6 111#=<;+"45<8 +"9.$/./:9#.58#

CF0714 Layout_CF 11/13 template 6/11/14 9:29 AM Page 15

NOW THEREâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S A NEW WEAPON AGAINST PLANT BUGS.

;+*6.5$$5+6 <519<"6499-6;"6/46$39*6;<961; /+ 61;<6; ;/+"$6$;<+/"39:6,-;+$6 "#6=396,9"$ "6/+.<9;"/+ 6<9"/"$;+.96 $568;+*6.5+$<5-689$35:"6$3<9;$9+"6.5$$5+6.<5,"6;+:6;639</$; 96546.5$$5+64;<8/+ #6 516$39<9 "6;6+9161;*6$56"$</796 ;.7 6=<;+"45<8®6! 6/+"9.$/./:964<5862516 <5 ./9+.9"#6=<;+"45<863/$"6,-;+$6 "63;<: 61/$36;+69+$/<9-*6+916 .-;""6546.398/"$<*6;+:6;6 +/ 9685:96546;.$/5+#6 $6$;79"65 $6;,3/:" 6$55#6=<;+"45<86/"6;6 <9;$6<5$;$/5+;-6,;<$+9<6 $563; 96/+6*5 <6;<"9+;-6 639-,/+ 61/+6$396 ;$$-96; ;/+"$6,-;+$6 "6;+:6;,3/:"#666TransformInsecticide.com

® =<;:98;<76546=39625160398/.;-6058,;+*6)(251'&65<6;+6;4%-/;$9:6.58,;+*6546251#6=<;+"45<86! 6/"6+5$6<9 /"$9<9:645<6";-965<6 "96/+6;--6"$;$9"#605+$;.$6*5 <6"$;$96,9"$/./:96<9 -;$5<*6; 9+.*6 $56:9$9<8/+96/46;6,<5: .$6/"6<9 /"$9<9:645<6";-965<6 "96/+6*5 <6"$;$9#6 -1;*"6<9;:6;+:645--516-; 9-6:/<9.$/5+"#6 62516 <5 ./9+.9"6 0666 6) &6 666 6662 =

14B_CF 11/13 template 6/16/14 8:42 AM Page 14

SPECIAL REPORT

California Drought Causing Water Cutoffs

BY KATE CAMPBELL CALIFORNIA FARM BUREAU

I

n a cascade of notices, the courts to arrive at a defined approach taken from more senior water-rights California Water Resources to water allocation in times of short- holders or unreasonably harm fish Control Board told junior water- age, he says, “and that’s very impor- and wildlife. rights holders in the state’s Curtailment Areas Identified major watersheds recently to The Sacramento Valley curimmediately stop diverting tailments target water diverwater. The board says extreme sions in creeks and rivers draindrought leaves the watersheds ing to the Sacramento River and without enough water to serve the northern delta. The waterall water-rights holders. sheds where curtailments are Cutoff notices went to about occurring include the Pit, 2,700 junior water-rights holdMcCloud, Feather, Yuba and ers in the Sacramento River American rivers, as well as the watershed and northern delta; Sacramento River Delta. nearly 700 in the Russian River From the perspective of water watershed, upstream of the Dry rights holders in the Sacramento Creek confluence; and about Valley, David Guy, executive 1,600 junior water-rights holddirector of the Northern Califorers in the San Joaquin River watershed and southern delta.

California’s Water Resources Control Board has nia Water Association, says curWater-rights holders receiv- issued warnings to junior water-rights holders in tailments were not unexpected.

“We’ve looked at the hydrology ing curtailment notices were the state’s major watersheds. and think there’s justification for given seven days to file a confirmation notice that they’ve ceased tant in the current drought, which is the post-1914 curtailments,” he says.

“But, as we look at supplies and the diversion to avoid any “unnecessary among the most severe ever recorded.”

But, while the board’s action was not rights of pre-1914 and riparian water enforcement proceedings.”

The water board says the cutoffs unexpected, Scheuring says, “there are rights holders, it becomes very tricky. I will last until further notice, and issues of due process, the board’s meth- don’t think the state water board has warned that water-rights holders ods for calculating supply and demand, the hydrologic justification for that in other watersheds and those holding how it quantifies public trust and pub- (additional curtailment) right now.” senior rights could face cutoffs in lic health and safety needs, and how Stored Water Not Affected voluntary curtailment agreements coming weeks.

Guy says people with water in stor“California farmers and ranchers already in place will be handled.”

Future shortages could be avoided or age need to remember that previously know better than anybody that rains haven’t come in abundance for the last minimized through construction of stored water is not subject to any couple of years,” says Chris Scheuring, additional water storage and appropri- immediate curtailment.

“What this kind of year shows us is California Farm Bureau Federation ate reform of regulations that have environmental attorney. “But, as limited storage in existing reservoirs, that water storage, like in a (proposed) Sites Reservoir, would add a tremenpainful as curtailment is for many he says.

The water board acknowledged dous amount of value,” he said. “If we family farmers, the state board is trying to do its job, which is to administer water-rights holders in several water- had Sites online this year, there’s a surface water rights developed after sheds – including much of the lower good chance we’d have 400,000 acre1914 on the basis of seniority, and cur- San Joaquin River Basin and southern feet to 500,000 acre-feet of water. tail junior rights first when there’s not delta – are developing local, coopera- Wouldn’t it be nice to have that water tive agreements to share available sitting upstream right now?” enough water to serve everybody.” water and avoid curtailment. The board says it would consider honoring Kate Campbell is an assistant editor of Legal Rights Defined The state’s water-rights system has these voluntary agreements, as long California Farm Bureau’s Ag Alert. been established and tested in the as they don’t result in water being Contact her at kcampbell@cfbf.com.

14

COTTON FARMING JULY 2014

15B_CF 11/13 template 6/16/14 8:42 AM Page 15

SPECIAL REPORT

Protecting Environment TIP, CRP Programs Still Important

A

griculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has announced that farmers, ranchers and landowners committed to protecting and conserving environmentally sensitive land were able to sign up for the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) beginning June 9. The Secretary also announced that retiring farmers enrolled in CRP could receive incentives to transfer a portion of their land to beginning, disadvantaged or veteran farmers through the Transition Incentives Program (TIP).

“CRP is one of the largest voluntary conservation programs in the country,” says Vilsack. “This initiative helps farmers and ranchers lead the nation in preventing soil erosion, improving water quality and restoring wildlife habitat, all of which will make a difference for future generations.”

Vilsack continued, “The average age of farmers and ranchers in the United States is 58 years, and twice as many are 65 or older compared to those 45 or younger. The cost of buying land is one of the biggest barriers to many interested in getting started in agriculture.

The Transition Incentives Program is very useful as we work to help new farmers and ranchers get started.”

Important Incentives The Conservation Reserve Program provides incentives to producers who utilize conservation methods on environmentally-sensitive lands. For example, farmers are monetarily compensated for establishing long-term vegetative species, such as approved grasses or trees (known as “covers”) to control soil erosion, improve water quality and enhance wildlife habitat.

CRP consists of a “continuous” and “general” sign-up period. Continuous sign-up for the voluntary program started June 9. Under continuous signup authority, eligible land can be enrolled in CRP at any time with contracts of up to 10 to 15 years in duration. In lieu of a general sign-up this

In this Arkansas field, the difference between grazed and ungrazed pasture is noticeable under an intensive grazing system.

The pastures are separated by an electric fence and are on a three-week rotation.

year, USDA will allow producers with general CRP contracts expiring this September to have the option of a oneyear contract extension. USDA will also implement the 2014 Farm Bill’s requirement that producers enrolled through general sign-up for more than five years can exercise the option to opt-out of the program if certain other conditions are met. In addition, the new grassland provisions, which will allow producers to graze their enrolled land, will enable producers to do so with more flexibility.

The Transition Incentives Program provides two additional years of payments for retired farmers and ranchers who transition expiring CRP acres to socially disadvantaged, military veteran or beginning producers who return the land to sustainable grazing or crop production. Sign-up also began on June 9. TIP funding was increased by more than 30 percent in the 2014 Farm Bill, providing up to $33 million through 2018.

Flexibility For Producers As part of the 2014 Farm Bill, participants meeting specific qualifications may have the opportunity to terminate their CRP contract during fiscal year 2015 if the contract has been in effect for a minimum of five years

and if other conditions are also met.

The USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA), which administers CRP, will coordinate the various CRP program opportunities. For more information on CRP and other FSA programs, visit a local FSA county office or go online to www.fsa.usda.gov.

Both the CRP and TIP were reauthorized by the 2014 Farm Bill. The Farm Bill builds on historic economic gains in rural America over the past five years, while achieving meaningful reform and billions of dollars in savings for taxpayers.

Since enactment, USDA has made significant progress to implement each provision of this critical legislation, including providing disaster relief to farmers and ranchers; strengthening risk management tools; expanding access to rural credit; funding critical research; establishing innovative public-private conservation partnerships; developing new markets for ruralmade products; and investing in infrastructure, housing and community facilities to help improve quality of life in rural America.

USDA has contributed information for this article. For more details on CRP and TIP programs, interested parties can go to www.usda.gov/farmbill.

COTTON FARMING JULY 2014

15

16_CF 11/13 template 6/16/14 8:43 AM Page 16

Trait Stewardship Responsibilities Notice to Farmers Commercialization is dependent on multiple factors, including successful conclusion of the regulatory process. The information presented herein is provided for educational purposes only, and is not and shall not be construed as an offer to sell, or a recommendation to use, any unregistered pesticide for any purpose whatsoever. It is a violation of federal law to promote or offer to sell an unregistered pesticide.

Monsanto Company is a member of Excellence Through Stewardship® (ETS).

Monsanto products are commercialized in accordance with ETS Product Launch Stewardship Guidance, and in compliance with Monsanto’s Policy for Commercialization of Biotechnology-Derived Plant Products in Commodity Crops.

Commercialized products have been approved for import into key export markets with functioning regulatory systems. Any crop or material produced from this product can only be exported to, or used, processed or sold in countries where all necessary regulatory approvals have been granted. It is a violation of national and international law to move material containing biotech traits across boundaries into nations where import is not permitted. Growers should talk to their grain handler or product purchaser to confirm their buying position for this product.

Excellence Through Stewardship® is a registered trademark of Biotechnology Industry Organization.

B.t. products may not yet be registered in all states. Check with your Monsanto representative for the registration status in your state.

Individual results may vary, and performance may vary from location to location and from year to year. This result may not be an indicator of results you may obtain as local growing, soil and weather conditions may vary. Growers should evaluate data from multiple locations and years whenever possible.

ALWAYS READ AND FOLLOW PESTICIDE LABEL DIRECTIONS. Roundup Ready® crops contain genes that confer tolerance to glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup® brand agricultural herbicides.

Roundup® brand agricultural herbicides will kill crops that are not tolerant to glyphosate.

Bollgard II®, Genuity Design®, Genuity Icons, Genuity®, Ground Breakers®, Respect the Refuge and Cotton Design®, Roundup Ready® and Roundup® are trademarks of Monsanto Technology LLC. LibertyLink and the Water Droplet Design® is a registered trademark of Bayer. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. ©2014 Monsanto Company. MDIC-CF-14013LC

16 COTTON FARMING

JULY 2014

RESEARCH & PROMOTION

Use Care When Washing Denim

T

he chief executive officer of Levis Strauss, Chip Bergh, recently made headlines by sharing some unusual advice for those of us who wear denim jeans.

What is his advice? Don’t wash your jeans, ever. He says keeping jeans out of the washing machine will make them last longer and also added that less washing equals greater environmental sustainability. But what about all those germs we generate while wearing the jeans? Bergh suggested freezing the jeans to kill contaminates.

Vikki Martin, director of quality research and product evaluation at Cotton Incorporated, would warn denim wearers to take the “freeze your jeans” advice with a grain of salt.

“You cannot kill everything by freezing,” she says. “Think about food safety. If you let something sit out at room temperature too long and then freeze it, you run the risk of getting sick when you thaw it out again.”

Big Questions About Washing Instead, she says, “Denim care is dependent on how you use your denim.

Personal habits and personal aesthetics will determine just how many times you are comfortable wearing a pair of jeans before laundering, but for casual wear three to four wears before washing is certainly feasible.

“Alternatively, if you’re wearing your denim for a day’s work in which you are exposed to environmental elements or expect to naturally perspire from your efforts, then you probably do want to consider washing those jeans after wearing,” says Martin.

She has the following tips on proper denim care: ■ Before laundering denim, always check the sewn-in tag for specific care instructions.

■ Invest in quality detergent to help extend the life of denim jeans.

■ To preserve the color of denim jeans (especially dark washes), turn them inside out before laundering, then line dry.

■ If denim jeans are overly stiff, soak

These jeans are in the archives of Levi Strauss & Co. and are the oldest jeans on record although they actually look like many jeans worn today with the “distressed” look. them overnight in a washing machine with water and a cupful of fabric softener. Run the load normally the next morning.

Confidence In Cotton Most importantly, Martin says that when you finally do wash your jeans, you can be confident that if they are cotton-dominant, they will indeed wash completely clean.

“Knowing what you’re getting and how to care for it will help extend the life of your jeans or any garment,” she says.

From dungarees to designer denim, blue jeans have historically been all, or mostly, cotton. When the price of cotton fiber reached a record high three years ago, some brands and manufacturers sought to cut costs by diluting the cotton with higher percentages of man-made fibers. Cotton prices have since returned to more competitive levels, but the denim category remains rife with man-made fiber additives.

The Cotton Board, which administers Cotton Incorporated’s Research and Promotion Program, contributed information for this article.

17_CF 11/13 template 6/18/14 10:49 AM Page 17

SPECIAL REPORT

Congress Must Act On Key Ag Issues

BY BOB STALLMAN AMERICAN FARM BUREAU

F

armers have thrown open the doors of the machine shed, greased up the gears and cranked up their diesels. It’s farming season!

With Congress in session only a few days between now and August, this also is a good time to gear down and throttle up on agriculture’s important policy priorities.

In February, thousands participated in the Farm Immigration campaign to bring attention to farmers’ and ranchers’ labor challenges. That same month, more than 600 business organizations, including Farm Bureau, signed a letter urging House leaders to move forward quickly with immigration reform legislation.

Since then, the engine has idled a bit, and we can’t let that happen. It’s time to tell Congress to refuel immigration reform. Without a legal, stable supply of labor, farmers will continue to face labor shortages and lost crops, and the public will face the loss of economic activity from agriculture and the risk that more of their food will come from other countries.

Some in Congress are working to renew tax policies that expired last year. Congress has allowed the work of addressing these tax provisions to pile up like a stack of off-season invoices.

One of the most important tax provisions for farmers and ranchers is enhanced small business expensing, which helps them upgrade to more efficient and environmentally friendly equipment, purchase livestock and build certain farm structures. Because farmers operate on tight margins, the ability to deduct these expenses immediately can give a farmer a way to smooth out volatile fluctuations in farm income.

Congress also needs to extend timely tax credits for renewable energy

production, donations of conservation easements, food donations to charitable groups and other tax provisions that help farmers and ranchers be productive and profitable while helping to achieve societal goals.

To keep a crop healthy, the farmer must keep an eye out for pests and anything in the field that doesn’t appear to be thriving. The EPA’s “Waters of the U.S.” rule threatens to drain the vigor from routine conservation and farming activities. Landowners would have to secure federal permits to make ordinary changes to their cropland, build fences or other structures or apply fertilizer or pesticides even in parts of fields that are wet only during rainstorms.

EPA wants to classify these areas that shed rainfall and features such as otherwise dry ditches as “waters of the U.S.” subject to federal regulation.

Farm Bureau is asking Congress to weed out that proposal, and we commend the 231 representatives and 46 senators who have signed letters urging EPA to “Ditch the Rule.”

Congress has a lot of fallow ground left to plant. “Growing conditions” in Congress have been less than optimal.

Germination might seem slow, but we must plow ahead with our legislators and get our farm work done in anticipation of the harvest season ahead.

Bob Stallman is president of the American Farm Bureau Federation.

Tide International USA, Inc. T

Tide Acephate Ace ephate 90WDG 90W Insecticide A superior formulation of dust-free dust-fr water dispersible granules that dissolve quickly and uniformly into spray solution. Available Availab Av vailable from fr om your local supplier. r.

To learn more about Tide USA and to see our complete line up of products oducts call us or visit our website: www.tide-usa.com www

Tide International national USA, Inc. COTTON FARMING JULY 2014

17

18 19_CF 11/13 template 6/19/14 8:25 AM Page 18

Industry News Cotton Board Promotes Lisa Droke To Senior VP The Cotton Board has announced the promotion of Lisa N. Droke to senior vice president of finance and administration. Droke is the Cotton Board’s first ever senior vice president.

“Lisa is a proven results-oriented senior financial executive with vast experience and a broad skill set,” says William A. Gillon, president and chief executive officer of the Cotton Board.

Since joining the Cotton Board in 2009, Droke has successfully implemented new investment strategies that have significantly strengthened funding for the Research and Promotion Program.

“Not only has Lisa been an asset to the Cotton Board in regards to financial administration, she has made considerable contributions to the overall health of the cotton industry. She makes it a priority to visit cotton producers on their farms and has a genuine desire to learn as much as she can about everyone’s

operation,” says Gillon.

Droke earned a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Memphis. Prior to joining the Cotton Board, Droke served as vice president and controller in the corporate accounting group for Harrah’s Entertainment.

NCC Announces Dates For This Year’s PIE Tours The National Cotton Council (NCC) has scheduled tour dates and locations for the 2014 Producer Information Exchange (P.I.E.) Program.

The P.I.E. program provides cotton producers with the opportunity to maximize production efficiency and improve yields and fiber quality by: 1) gaining new perspectives in such fundamental practices as land preparation, planting, fertilization, pest control, irrigation and harvesting; and 2) observing firsthand diverse

farming practices and the unique ways in which their innovative peers have adopted new and existing technology.

This season, Mid-South producers will see operations in California on July 13-17; Far West producers will travel to Arkansas, Missouri and Tennessee on July 27-August 1; Southwest producers will visit North Carolina and Virginia on Aug. 3-8; and Southeast producers will tour Texas on Aug. 17-22.

Sponsored by Bayer CropScience through a grant to The Cotton Foundation, the P.I.E. program is now in its 26th year and has exposed more than 1,000 U.S. cotton producers to innovative production practices in regions different from their own. The NCC’s Member Services staff, in conjunction with local producer interest organizations, conducts the program, including participant selection.

John Deere Rolls Out Sprayer For Larger Farms With the introduction of the R4045 Sprayer, John Deere is adding a higher horsepower, large capacity self-propelled sprayer to the lineup of 4 Series sprayers introduced in 2013.

What’s next in weed control technology?

18 COTTON FARMING

JULY 2014

18 19_CF 11/13 template 6/16/14 8:46 AM Page 19

Industry News The R4045, which replaces the company’s 4940 Sprayer, offers the high application rates, productive spray speeds and all the technology and comfort that ag service providers and large producers need to cover large fields quickly and efficiently.

Dave Mulder, product line manager for John Deere application equipment, says the new sprayer offers the performance, productivity and versatility that farmers and ag service providers need in a rugged, fully-integrated, three-season machine. The R4045 shares a similar frame and chassis design, as well as the standard and premium CommandView II PLUS cab options, as its R4030 and R4038 family members.

For details on the new John Deere R4045 and other 4 Series Sprayers, visit www.JohnDeere.com.

Valley Irrigation Offers New Sprinkler Application Valley Irrigation is offering a new sprinkler application option for producers who rotate crops of varying heights. AquaDock drop hose docking stations support two ground clearances in one drop hose assembly. Producers

can easily change the drop hose height from the ground using a lift pole to place the sprinkler head into the docking station.

This new Valley product offering was designed to provide a convenient way to change drop hose length and to improve crop production, says Dale Shelton, a Pasco, Wash., farmer who holds the patent on AquaDock.

AquaDock allows producers to tailor water application to varying crop clearances without compromising uniformity or efficiency – two essential elements in yield and profit, says Jerry

Gerdes, product manager for water application at Valley Irrigation.

“AquaDock maintains a high level of uniformity when growing high crops,” Gerdes says. “If the drops are left low, they can drag through the plants causing dry rings, which can affect yield.”

AquaDock is available for new machines and for retrofitting existing pivots. Docking stations can be mounted directly to the U-pipe or they can clamp around the span.

For more information about AquaDock and other sprinkler options, visit ValleyIrrigation.com.

An advanced cotton product that will:

• Provide tolerance to dicamba, glyphosate and glufosinate herbicides • Be built upon the proven performance of Genuity® Bollgard II® with Roundup Ready® Flex Cotton technology

See Bollgard II ® XtendFlex™ Cotton in action in Ground Breakers® Field Trials Under Use Permit:

xtendfollowafield.com Pending regulatory approvals. Not available for sale or commercial planting.

This information is for educational purposes only and is not an offer to sell Bollgard II® XtendFlex™. This product is not yet registered or approved for sale or use anywhere in the United States.

Commercialization is dependent on multiple factors, including successful conclusion of the regulatory process. The information presented herein is provided for educational purposes only, and is not and shall not be construed as an offer to sell, or a recommendation to use, any unregistered pesticide for any purpose whatsoever. It is a violation of federal law to promote or offer to sell an unregistered pesticide. Details of these practices can be found in the Trait Stewardship Responsibilities Notice to Farmers printed in this publication. ©2014 Monsanto Company. MDIC-CF-14013

COTTON FARMING JULY 2014

19

20 21 22_CF 11/13 template 6/18/14 1:26 PM Page 20

Specialists Speaking Long Season Nears Crucial Midpoint FLORIDA David Wright It is very important to protect bolls that are being set in July as 90 percent of the yield is often set during this month. Plant bugs and stink bugs have become more of a problem with corn being grown in the rotation. Most of the stink bugs will come out of corn as it starts drying down, and this is normally in late July in the Deep South, but much of the corn is about two weeks later than normal due to later planting and cooler weather early in the season.

Most producers have to spray very little except for the sucking pests since most cotton varieties are protected by Bt proteins. Good scouting is important for managing growth, weeds and insects and can result in high yields if managed properly. Keeping cotton growth under control has advantages for controlling insects and in defoliation. There is potential for high yields this year, and that will be very important with prices where they are. wright@ufl.edu

ALABAMA Dale Monks Our family farmed vegetables, soybeans and burley tobacco in southern middle Tennessee all through my “growing up” years. We saw droughts, floods and everything in between. I have heard Ron Smith mention on several occasions that he has never seen two years alike. Ron has a lifetime devoted to cotton and understands a lot more about the crop than I ever will. Back on our farm in Skinem, Tenn., my dad used to say that he had rather try to “work out a crop” in a wet year than during a drought. That seems to be the sentiment at Society Hill (“The Hill”) where we gather several mornings each week at Walters’ Gas and Grill to discuss farming and philosophy, and to solve world problems. In our community we don’t complain about rain in June and July because we have seen too many seasons dry up early.

This year’s early rains pushed cotton planting later a couple of weeks and forced producers into other options. Low areas of some fields that we were accustomed to planting were left unplanted because the soil stayed saturated for so many weeks. The 2013 crop went through heavy rains, cooler temperatures and delays but turned out excellent yields because of good weather at the end.

We hope that this year will turn out well with the sunshine and excellent soil moisture that we had in June. Follow us on Twitter at “AU Crop Specialists” or online at www.alabamacrops.com. monkscd@auburn.edu

MISSOURI Mike Milam The Missouri cotton crop is doing better than I expected with all of our rainfall during the planting season. According to the Crop Progress and Condition Report for the week ending June 9, 35 percent of the crop is considered fair, 51 percent good and seven percent excellent. Since much of our cotton was planted after the optimal planting date, it is surprising that we have 11 percent squared compared with the five-year average of six percent. The Southeast region has 34 percent of our soils with surplus moisture.

It would be nice if we could just hang on to this moisture until the usual July and August drought phases. Since May 1, the Cardwell weather station has had 11.02 inches of rainfall. Last year, during the same period, we had slightly more than eight inches of rain. With

20 COTTON FARMING

JULY 2014

the alternating wet and dry conditions, it has caused some problems with activation of herbicides. This morning, I saw cotton that was recovering from standing water in a low end of the field. We have had a few problems with thrips, and it seems that spray drift is increasing.

It will be interesting to see how the remainder of the year plays out. Insect numbers weren’t bad during the early season but could rebound. Resistant pigweed will continue to be a problem, so producers will need to make timely sprays. milammr@missouri.edu

NORTH CAROLINA Keith Edmisten The crop appears to be ahead when you consider last year, but much of the crop is behind when you look at long-term averages. Cool nights and dry weather have contributed to this. Producers will be facing growth regulator decisions in July and the potential response to growth regulators. Dry weather in June makes the lower internodes on the plant shorter. This is fairly common for us in North Carolina and is one of the reasons we don’t rely so much on height-to-node ratios or total plant height in making growth regulator application decisions.

Looking at the last fully expanded internode gives us a much better idea of the current growth potential and is not influenced by earlier plant growth. The internode of interest is the largest of the internode above or below the fourth mainstem leaf down from the top on the plant. If this measurement is averaging more than 2.5 inches, the plant is showing growth potential that may need to be slowed down with growth regulators.

The N.C. Cotton Field Day this year will be held at the Upper Coastal Plain Research Station at Rocky Mount on Sept. 10. The schedule will be different than in past years. We plan to start at the East Carolina Ag & Education Center (1175 Kingsboro Road) where the National Cotton Council will make a presentation on the Farm Bill. We will then move to the station for lunch and tours following lunch. keith_edmisten@ncsu.edu

LOUISIANA Dan Fromme Although a little behind, the Louisiana cotton crop is looking very promising. Since planting was initiated, temperatures have been fairly moderate. DD60s accumulated for the past 60 days are about 14 percent below the average of the previous six years.

Most of the cotton is beyond being susceptible to thrips. Soil moisture is very good in most parts of the state. As of June 13, most of the cotton fields are squaring. PGR applications will be going out to manage plant height and excess vegetative growth.

Earlier planted fields in central Louisiana will be approaching first bloom in about 10 to 14 days. Since squaring began, insect pressure from aphids, fleahoppers and plant bugs has been low throughout most parts of the state. Square set is looking very good with fields having 80 to 85 percent square retention or higher.

As cotton fields in Louisiana reach early bloom, an effective method for producers to determine vigor or the amount of horsepower the cotton plant has is to count the number of nodes above white flower (NAWF). NAWF is measured by counting the number of nodes above the lowest first position white flower on the cotton plant. The last node to be counted at the top of the plant will be the uppermost node that has an unfurled mainstem leaf larger than a

20 21 22_CF 11/13 template 6/18/14 1:27 PM Page 21

quarter (greater than one-inch diameter). Factors that influence NAWF at early bloom are maturity differences in varieties, soil moisture conditions, insect pressure and disease. At early bloom, NAWF can be at five or six under drought-stressed conditions to 10 or more under optimum growing conditions. dfromme@ext.msstate.edu

GEORGIA Guy Collins As I write this on June 9, Georgia’s window for late-planted cotton will be ending in just a few days (June 15). Some areas experienced warmer and drier weather during early June. However, rainfall has generally been sufficient in getting this crop off to a good start. All in all, the 2014 crop is in pretty good shape, with some cotton recently emerged, while earlier planted cotton is now squaring.

A few replants were necessary in areas that received intense packing rains early on. However, most fields resulted in decent stands.

The big wave of thrips appeared to be later than normal this year.

This pest is very consistent for Georgia producers and is expected in most years.

For earlier planted cotton that has begun squaring or is approaching this stage, PGR decisions will likely be on most producers’ minds, as well as irrigation decisions. Regarding PGR management, producers should keep in mind that final plant height should be tall enough to support a decent boll load but short enough so that the likelihood of severe fruit shed and delays in maturity are reduced.

Look for signs of vigorous growth and apply rates that are appropriate for the plant size, variety and environment (irrigated versus dryland). Field history, especially in irrigated fields, can be useful when determining the likelihood of excessive growth. guyc@uga.edu

TEXAS Gaylon Morgan The cotton crop across the state is much improved over last month’s article with some very timely rains across most of the major cotton production regions.

The Rio Grande Valley’s dryland cotton crop looks better than it has in many years despite the crop being seven to 14 days behind average maturity.

Rains from the Coastal Bend up through the Blacklands in late May completely turned the cotton crop around following a dry spring and erratic temperatures.

Cotton began flowering in the Coastal Bend during the first week of June, and cotton throughout South Texas remains behind normal in maturity. The potential for a dryland cotton crop in the Rolling Plains was looking bleak last month. Now, with multiple rain events in late May and early June, producers have had good planting moisture and have been pushing hard to get their crops planted ahead of planting date deadlines.

Statewide, cotton planted acres jumped more than 750,000 acres, from 62 percent to 85 percent between June 1 and June 8, according to USDA-NASS. Regarding management, we can expect some increased early season weed pressure in the Rolling Plains.

For those producers who did not use pre-plant incorporated or preemergence herbicides to reduce the early season weed pressure, it will be even more important to use multiple mode-of-action postemergence herbicide programs to prevent and manage glyphosate resistant weeds. gmorgan@ag.tamu.edu

ARKANSAS Bill Robertson As costs continue to increase, the key to remaining profitable is to improve efficiency continuously. An example of increasing costs was shared with me by a producer comparing current costs to those from 2008. His nitrogen costs have increased 65 percent, phosphorous and potassium up 78 percent and the same horsepower tractor up 57 percent. Meanwhile, the price received for his cotton increased only 5.5 percent.

The 2012 Environmental and Socioeconomic Indicators Report,

compiled by Field to Market: The Alliance for Sustainable Agriculture, documents the continuous improvements of the industry. U.S. cotton producers use 75 percent less irrigation water to produce a pound of cotton today as compared to 1980. Great improvements are also seen for increasing land-use efficiency and reducing soil erosion, energy use and greenhouse gas emissions per pound of cotton produced. Preliminary research presented at the 2014 Beltwide Cotton Conferences sponsored by the National Cotton Council and Cotton Incorporated indicates that producers who were more efficient with these factors were also more efficient with money spent on the crop, producing more pounds of cotton per dollar spent. brobertson@uaex.educ.

CALIFORNIA Bob Hutmacher Irrigation water supply problems remain a primary limiting factor that will drive most management decisions and options this year in the San Joaquin Valley.

In addition to irrigation district water limitations that restrict the timing and amount of available better quality district water, we have a lot of producers relying on groundwater well pumping as a secondary water source, or in quite a few cases, their only source of irrigation water this year.

It is a good thing that cotton is quite a salt-tolerant crop, since a wide range of salinity levels exist in groundwater wells across the valley. Insect pests in the early season this year have not been too major of a problem in most fields I have visited, but high levels of thrips slowed down growth in quite a few upland/acala fields this year, and some limited cases of early aphids and mites have required attention in some fields. With all of our water limitations, there may not be many opportunities to make up for early square and fruit losses by extending the fruiting period into the fall and going for a top crop. The water just may run out and prevent that option. For these

For up to the minute cotton market information Experience means credibility.

Listen to two experienced farm broadcasters who keep their listeners updated on news that affects your farming operation.

And each week listen to the Cotton Insider Report from Tommy Horton, Editor of Cotton Farming magazine.

John Winfield

Don Molino

Tommy Horton

Farm Director Miss. AgriNews Network

Farm Director La. Agri-News Network

Editor Cotton Farming magazine

The Mississippi AgriNews Network Ag Voice of the Delta

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

COTTON FARMING JULY 2014

21

20 21 22_CF 11/13 template 6/18/14 1:27 PM Page 22

Specialists Speaking reasons, it is an especially good year to be super attentive to identifying and controlling developing populations of lygus that pose significant threats to fruit retention.

As of the second week of June, first post-planting irrigations have been made in many fields during the past two to three weeks, and that puts us on a little earlier than normal schedule. This reflects the warm weather we have been having and also is related to some “kick-start” from irrigation water. Most producers likely put the first of their splits of nitrogen fertilizer on prior to this most recent irrigation, with perhaps one more application before the next irrigation.

No one wants nitrogen to be the yield-limiting factor in your fields, but if irrigation water limitations are one of your production problems this year, it can be important to try and reduce applied N since you may not have the water to go for a really long fruiting cycle with growth extending well into the fall. It is not generally a productive practice to use water and fertilizer to “build” a relatively large plant in the hope of lots of fruiting sites, and then short it for water, stressing it hard during the flowering and boll loading period.

Many producers with water limitations are using every row or alternate row for drip irrigation this year and are deficit irrigating their cotton (applying less water than full crop water needs for high growth rates and high yields). These producers should plan even more than ever to “spoon feed” nitrogen to their plants to maintain acceptable N supply while not encouraging excessive vegetative growth that they cannot sustain. rbhutmacher@ucdavis.edu

secondary macronutrients because plants need less of these nutrients than the primary macronutrients but still in greater quantities than the micronutrients. Micronutrients are needed in the smallest quantities but can still limit yield if deficiencies occur.

Why is this classification important when discussing foliar feeding? The quantity of nutrients applied is limited when foliar feeding, especially when applying nitrogen and/or potassium. As the nitrogen and potassium application rates increase, the risk for crop injury also increases. A typical foliar feeding program in cotton may include 10 pounds of potassium nitrate (13-0-44) applied in 15 gallons of water.

This application supplies 1.3 pounds of nitrogen and 4.4 pounds of potassium per acre.

To put this into perspective, cotton during peak bloom has a potassium demand of three to four pounds per acre per day. This foliar application results in enough potassium for a little over a day, assuming 100 percent crop use efficiency. A producer would have to apply this application every other day during the bloom period if using foliar feeding as his primary fertility program component.

It is best to start with a solid soil-applied fertility program for the macronutrients and use a foliar program in a supplemental role. Use tissue/petiole sampling to aid in decision making for applying foliar nitrogen and potassium during the bloom period. I recommend applying nitrogen and potassium during the first three weeks of bloom to get the most bang for your buck. whframe@vt.edu

ARIZONA Randy Norton

The season started with prolonged cold spells in different parts of New Mexico, which affected germination and emergence of cotton. In some cases, producers had to replant after unexpected cold weather that affected young seedlings. Recently, in the eastern part of the state, severe hailstorms were recorded in many areas, which affected several cotton fields and many other crops.

Some farmers who had severe hail damage in eastern New Mexico are in the process of deciding whether to terminate the existing cotton crop for another summer crop.

While there have been some rains in the cotton-growing regions in the east, there has been no rain in the southwest, which is another major cotton production region. Farmers had to rely on deep wells for their irrigation needs early in the season, but about two weeks ago, the Elephant Butte Irrigation District released water into canals for Doña Ana County, which is the second largest cotton producing county in New Mexico. Farmers will receive six acre-inches of water for irrigation this year compared to 3.5 acre-inches in 2013.

Apart from hail damages in the east, there has been no serious pest or disease problem. Fields in southwestern New Mexico are looking good. jidowu@nmsu.edu

The majority of the crop is now in bloom with some of the western part of the state approaching peak bloom. It appears that the cotton acreage in Arizona increased slightly from last year with about 170,000 planted acres. Approximately 10,000 acres in the state are planted to Pima cotton this year. This is up dramatically from recent years where Pima cotton acreage has hovered around 1,000 to 3,000 acres.

Management of Pima cotton takes on a slightly different approach when compared to the upland varieties. Advances have been made over the past 10 to 15 years in breeding Pima varieties that are more determinate than the older varieties that were grown in Arizona during the 1980s and 1990s, but they are still relatively indeterminate when compared to upland varieties. Care should be taken in management of vegetative growth as Pima cotton has a tendency toward more vigorous vegetative growth.

Managing the vegetative/reproductive balance through the proper use of plant growth regulators (PGRs) becomes even more critical when growing Pima varieties. Evaluating the crop through collection of height-to-node ratios (HNR) and percent fruit retention (FR) are excellent ways of evaluating the balance between vegetative and reproductive growth. Another easy technique that can serve as a quick indicator is to evaluate the length of the internodes. For more information on this topic and others go to cals.arizona.edu/crops. rnorton@cals.arizona.edu

VIRGINIA Hunter Frame Upon taking the position of Virginia’s cotton specialist in 2012, I immediately received questions about foliar feeding cotton during the bloom period with potassium and nitrogen. A key principle to remember in any soil fertility/plant nutrition program, regardless of the crop to be grown, is that the essential plant nutrients are classified in groups based on plant demand. Nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium are the primary macronutrients, meaning that plants need these nutrients in the highest quantities. Sulfur, magnesium, and calcium are considered the

22 COTTON FARMING

JULY 2014

NEW MEXICO John Idowu

MISSISSIPPI Darrin Dodds I have learned in my short career that there is no such thing as a normal year. 2014 has proven that to be true in a number of ways. Much of the Mississippi cotton crop was planted in three to four time frames.

These time frames occurred in three- to five-day blocks that were squeezed in between rainfall events.

Although the focus of this issue of Cotton Farming is on irrigation, excess water was the story early on in our cotton.

Rainfall and other environmental conditions made application of preemergence herbicides difficult in several instances, which has created management headaches for farmers throughout Mississippi.

However, as the old saying goes, we are only 10 days away from a drought. By the time you are reading this, we will likely be laying poly pipe and pumping water. darrind@ext.msstate.edu

23 24 25_CF 11/13 template 6/19/14 10:06 AM Page 23

COTTON FARMING IS THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE GINNING INDUSTRY.

Be Careful In The Heat When Doing Gin Repairs We’re fortunate to live in what some people call the Sunbelt, but we call it the Cotton Belt.

The winters are normally (last year excepted) mild, and spring and fall are usually beautiful.

The summers… well they’re SUMMER. Hot and humid. Did I mention it was HOT!?

This is also the time when a LOT of work is done on gins to get them ready for the coming year. After a long gin season like some places had – either because of a big crop or just strung out harvest – it’s not uncommon to take a couple months off and evaluate what broke and what needs repair. Then, during the summer, we get the stuff together and start repairing. Did I mention it was HOT? In my own experience, working in the top of the gin in July or August is a recipe for disaster.

While gins rarely lead to heat exhaustion or heat stroke type of illnesses, it’s no secret that we can have bad accidents in the off-season just like in gin season. The difference is that during this time of year, accidents are usually trips and falls and few due to power and machinery related injuries. Some have wondered how many of these falls may have had a heat-related component. When a person is overheated, it’s easy to become disoriented or lose your balance.

Judgment can also be impaired when someone is overheated.

Since most gins have roofs and large bay doors with a good breeze, it’s fairly easy to avoid the extremes of heat exhaustion and heat stroke.

Staying out of the sun during the hottest part of the day can go a long way. Where heat can be a big factor is working in the top of the gin. Always do this as early in the day as possible. If you plan to do a lot of hot work, start at 6:30 a.m. and knock off by 3:30 p.m. Drink a lot of water.

Keep an eye on each other. Work high in the gin early and move down to the concrete by the hottest part of the day. Take plenty of breaks.

These seem like they’re silly common sense tips, but they can be tips that may save your life or that of one of your friends. Be careful when working in the heat.

Dusty Findley of the Southeastern Cotton Ginners’ Association contributed this article.

Contact him at (706) 344-1212 or via email at dusty@southern-southeastern.org.

Cotton Gin Brushes

Channel Saws

Our precision CNC fabricating equipment enables us to produce the highest quality gin brushes and channel saws at a very competitive price. When it comes to our products, we use only the highest quality “Made in the USA” raw materials available.

We know gin machinery and the conditions in which it has to perform, and our brushes and channel saws are manufactured to an exacting standard for the modern cotton gin.

Ask your supplier for

RAM Brushes & Channel Saws or give us a call

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

COTTON FARMING JULY 2014

23

23 24 25_CF 11/13 template 6/18/14 8:46 AM Page 24

TM

®

Module Mover Chain

FOR SALE Parts, Supplies, New and Used Machinery Buy and Sell MILES GIN SUPPLY Elm Mott,TX 76640 Call or Fax (254) 829-1201 Night (254) 829-2372

1-800-367-9992 Stocked in Louisiana and Oregon A Division of

www.cottonmodulechain.com

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

1 $*0L) %8$- L1MGA?ML>G 0L L1 $*0L) %8)$ $L1HGIFML>G 0

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 ®

LKJH:IE<CFL $- LPONNOMLKJIHJIGFEJD

24 COTTON FARMING

JULY 2014

23 24 25_CF 11/13 template 6/18/14 8:47 AM Page 25

WWW.NORTHERNLUCUS.COM 1116 Slaton Hwy. Lubbock, TX FOR SALE: 2 – 158 GIN STANDS WITH CONTROLS MANUFACTURER OF HI-CAPACITY LINT CLEANING SYSTEMS IN 86” to 110” WIDTHS NEW 60” & 72” OVERSHOT BATTERY CONDENSERS 96” TO 144” INCLINE CLEANERS, STICK MACHINES & AIRLINE SEPARATORS HIGH CAPACITY VACUUMS USED & FACTORY REBUILT GIN MACHINERY BALE HANDLING SYSTEMS COMPLETE LINE OF REPAIR PARTS FOR MURRAY, MITCHELL, H.E., CONSOLIDATED, CONTINENTAL, MOSS, LUMMUS, HORN & CMI 806-745-8156 1-800-776-8182 FAX 806-745-0564 E-MAIL: NORTHERNLUCUS@YAHOO.COM WWW.NORTHERNLUCUS.COM

PRESS RAMS FROM LUBBOCK ELECTRIC Quantity (1) Continental Bes-Press Ram – Rebuilt and full pressure tested. $7,500 w/One-Year Warranty Quantity (1) Lummus 18” Premier Ram – Rebuilt and full pressure tested. $84,900 w/Two-Year Pro-Rated Warrant (dual ports) Quantity (1) Lummus 16” EE Ram – Rebuilt and full pressure tested. $72,500 w/Two-Year Pro-Rated Warranty (dual ports) Quantity (1) Lummus 16” Gin DorLes Ram – Rebuilt and full pressure tested. $72,500 w/Two-Year ProRated Warranty (dual ports) Quantity (1) Lummus 14” Lift Box Cylinder Double Acting (11” Rod) – Rebuilt and full pressure tested. $58,900 w/1 Year Warranty Quantity (2) Lummus 14” EE Rams – Rebuilt and full pressure tested. $48,400 each w/One-Year Warranty (single ports) Quantity (1) Lummus 10” Top Ram (fits all presses) – Rebuilt and full pressure tested. $19,800 w/One-Year Warranty (single ports) Quantity (1) Consolidated 10” CDP Ram – Used two seasons. $48,000 w/One-Year Warranty

Lubbock Electric Co. 806-744-2336 or 800-692-4474.

COTTON FARMING JULY 2014

25

26_Don Cameron My Turn #2 6/16/14 8:48 AM Page 26

My Turn Doing More With Less Water

W

ater is a pre- efficiently as possible and have invested great cious and amounts of capital in improving our irrigation sysv a l u a b l e tems and water use efficiencies.

Our irrigation truly is supplemental to our avercommodity on the High Plains of age rainfall. You must, first and foremost, have Texas. As a farmer on the conservation practices that allow you to take High Plains, I often won- advantage of every drop of rain we receive on our der how many times over land. We use our irrigation to bridge across those my career I will reflect dry periods. We have come a long way from open upon the words, “If we had ditch flood irrigation, to hand-moved sprinkler had just one more rain.” A pipe, gated irrigation pipe, side roll sprinklers, Brad longtime family friend told center pivot irrigation to today’s most efficient sysHeffington my wife, Kim, at church tems of underground drip irrigation. We use soil one day, “Your husband probes and high-tech computer-based soil moiswill pass from this world ture monitors to track our crop’s water use and needs throughout the season. one day wishing for one more rain.”

We have found that you can use a practice on In a region that averages 18 inches of rainfall per year, it is hard at times to scratch out a living cotton called deficit irrigation, supplying less off the land. My wife and our three sons Tanner, water than the plant’s total needs, and it tricks Tyler and Turner have been blessed with many the cotton into thinking it has plenty of water for its needs and holds bountiful crops over the fruit longer waityears although we have ‘We as farmers can do a better job its ing for that August had our share of disaprain we wish for so pointments as well. Our at telling our success stories.’ much. We are learnrainfall generally comes ing that we can conin thunderstorms during the growing season that can bless you with centrate our water application to the fruiting periprecious moisture or bring hail that can wipe out a od and still be successful in our yields while using summer’s work in 10 minutes. That is the nature less water. Fertigation of our irrigation water is a frontier that I believe is just taking off and will be of farming in our semi-arid region of God’s Earth.

It often has been said about our little part of the a great tool as we micromanage our water and ferworld’s largest cotton patch that this country can tility programs. We can and will learn to do all of promise less and give more than anywhere in the this better as time moves forward.

Through these irrigation practices and genetics, world. We have been in the grips of THE most severe three-to-four year drought recorded in our we are growing two to three times the amount of area of the Texas Panhandle since records started cotton per acre with half the irrigation water that being kept in the late 1800s, surpassing the record we did when I began farming 26 crops ago. That is of the Dust Bowl era by an astonishing eight inch- an environmental success story that is worthy of es less rain than that period in history. Here at mention. We as farmers can do a better job at my home place just north of Littlefield, Texas, we telling our success stories. We are the ultimate recorded 2.9 inches of rainfall in 2011, 2.4 inches conservationists, and it is time that we share in 2012, and 10.6 inches in 2013. So far this year, these stories and let the world know that we intend to help clothe and feed the world for generwe have been blessed with 9.6 inches of rain.

About 60 percent of our region is dryland and 40 ations to come on the High Plains of Texas, while percent irrigated. We’ve had a great success story at the same time nurturing our land to support here in irrigated agriculture on the High Plains future generations of family farms in West Texas. for close to 70 years. I always have viewed irriga– Brad Heffington, Littlefield, Texas tion as the best investment in my operation. My brdhffngtn@aol.com fellow producers and I strive to use our water as Cotton Farming’s back page is devoted to telling funny or unusual “farm tales” from across the Belt. Now it’s your turn. If you’ve got an interesting tale to tell, send a short summary to thorton@onegrower.com or fax to (901) 767-4026. We look forward to hearing from you.

26 COTTON FARMING

JULY 2014

CF0714 Layout_CF 11/13 template 6/16/14 8:52 AM Page 27

CF0714 Layout_CF 11/13 template 6/11/14 9:29 AM Page 28

Cotton Spear Round Module Handler

PATENT # USD700,918S • Detachable alloy steel spears pierce modules without damage • Minimizes stalks pinned against module and transported to gin • Lower maintenance, no moving parts or hydraulics • Fastest and easiest operated module handler available • Priced thousands of dollars less than other module handlers

Tommy Wilkins—Kennett, MO

Hal McCay—McCay Gin, Cordele, GA

!

Sammy Henderson—Cairo Farmers Gin, Humboldt, TN

!! !

!

!

! !

!

!