Cotton Farming October 2021 by One Grower Publishing

Cotton Farming

ONE GROWER PUBLISHING, LLC

PROFITABLE PRODUCTION STRATEGIES

OCTOBER 2021

www.cottonfarming.com

Keep Protocols In Place For Safety At The Gin MY TURN

‘A New Cotton Sack’

White Flye Farms

Arkansas Operation Endorses Forward-Looking Information Exchange

GAIN HARVEST-TIME SAVINGS It’s your machine. We just built it. When we set out to build new versions of our revolutionary cotton harvesters, we went to the experts – cotton growers like you. What we heard was that you need a faster, more cost-efficient harvest. So we started with a clean slate and ended up with two of the most impressive machines available: the CP770 Cotton Picker and CS770 Cotton Stripper. We built a new power plant and row units, and redesigned the module building and handling system. But the bottom line is the bottom line, and these machines deliver serious harvest-time savings. So give yourself a pat on the back. You helped us build the most advanced cotton harvesters in the world. Ones that will help you gain ground in your operation. See what you have to gain JohnDeere.com/Cotton

Vol. 65 No. 10

Cotton Farming PROFITABLE PRODUCTION STRATEGIES

OCTOBER 2021

www.cottonfarming.com

FE ATURES

8 Information Exchange Arkansas producer Marty White, who farms with his sons Jesse Flye and Logan White, grows 16,500 acres of cotton, rice, soybeans, corn and peanuts. Marty is a firm believer in sharing information on all levels about how the operation works and what they are doing to boost sustainability in the present and for generations to come. Learn more about their “U.S. cotton story” in this month’s cover article.

DEPARTMENTS & COLUMNS

4 6 7

Editor’s Note Cotton’s Agenda Industry News

12 Research & Promotion 14 Specialists Speaking 22 My Turn

ON THE COVER: Arkansas cotton producer Marty White, center, farms with his sons Jesse Flye, left, and Logan White. Cover photo by Carroll Smith.

WOMEN IN AGRICULTURE Since 2015, The Cotton Board has hosted six Women in Cotton tours where attendees hear about each segment of Cotton Incorporated in detail.

2021 HARVEST UPDATE Harvest is either on time or a little behind across the Cotton Belt. State cotton specialists report on end-ofthe-season progress in their respective areas.

LIMING CONSIDERATIONS Louisiana State University AgCenter soil scientists discuss lime rates, soil buffering capacity, purity and particle size, and more.

GINNERS MARKETPLACE

the official publication of the ginning industry Dusty Findley, CEO of the Southeastern Cotton Ginners Association, emphasizes promoting gin safety on all fronts this season.

WEB EXCLUSIVE Dogs are some of the most popular pets in American households. They also are faithful companions who can be found around the shop, on the edge of the turnrow or perhaps even riding in the cab of the picker during harvest. Check out this ode penned by Texas Farm Bureau’s Jennifer Whitlock that pays homage to that special breed we call our “farm dogs.” 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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OCTOBER 2021 | COTTON FARMING

Editor’s Note

Cotton Farming

Carroll Smith

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

The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year

cold front blew through yesterday, chasing off clouds in the overcast sky and replacing them with sunshine and a crispy nip in the air. It was as if the stars had aligned just right on the first day of fall. October has always been my favorite time of the year. One of my fondest memories is going out to the farm with my dad early in the morning. He stood at the edge of the field and smiled as he looked out over the open cotton. To me, it seemed the lines on his face were not as deep and his demeanor was more relaxed than it had been during the hectic months leading up to harvest. The strong smell of defoliant that had permeated the area in the weeks before had drifted away. Now he was waiting for the dew to dry before signaling the pickers to crank up and move into the field to start gathering the crop he had worked so hard to bring to fruition. It was truly a time to celebrate. Two years ago, Oct. 7 was established as World Cotton Day to pay tribute to the natural fiber that is such a big part of our lives. It’s nice to have a day set aside to formally recognize this crop. But as the pickers are rolling and the gins are in full swing, I think it’s appropriate to pay homage to cotton — particularly U.S. cotton — the entire month. A good way to get the story out about U.S. cotton and increase its market share around the world is to sign up for the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol sustainability initiative. Jesse Flye, who farms with his father, Marty White, and his brother, Logan White, signed up White Flye Farms last year and plan to reenroll this year. Flye describes the registration process and how easy it is in this month’s cover story “White Flye Farms.” Check out what he has to say, then visit trustuscotton.org to sign up your own cotton acres. You also can visit YouTube and search “How to Enroll in the Trust Protocol.” In this short video, Louisiana cotton farmer Kellon Lee walks you through the different screens to show how the process works. As Lee says at the conclusion of the segment, “Receive your personalized data that will help you drive continuous improvement, better efficiency, higher yields and ultimately a better profit for your product.” I encourage all U.S. cotton farmers to sign up for the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol today. You’ll be glad you did.

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

COTTON FARMING | OCTOBER 2021

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 David Boyd dboyd@onegrower.com Audience Services Kate Thomas (847) 559-7514 For subscription 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 2021 © ASSOCIATED PUBLICATIONS – One Grower Publishing, LLC also publishes RICE FARMING, THE PEANUT GROWER, SOYBEAN SOUTH and CORN SOUTH.

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Cotton’s Agenda Gary Adams

Muddy Waters The National Cotton Council continues to press for clear, concise water regulations that do not infringe on private property rights or landowners’ abilities to farm their land.

What is the current rulemaking situation?

■ The Environmental Protection Agency and the

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers halted implementation of the Trump Administration’s Navigable Waters Protection Rule and are interpreting “Waters of the United States” consistent with the pre-2015 regulatory regime until further notice. A rule rewrite could lead to federal oversight of many small bodies of water on private lands.

How has the NCC weighed in?

■ The NCC recently provided comments to the

agencies on their proposed federal waters law rewrite despite being given just a 30-day comment period — one for which we and other stakeholders sought an extension. The comments also were based on an Aug. 30 decision to vacate the 2020 NWPR issued by a U.S. District Court judge for the District of Arizona in the case of Pascua Yaqui Tribe versus EPA. The NCC’s comments outlined the confusion that enforcement of water law based on the pre-2015 rule could create by leading to misapplication of federal statutes and expanding federal water law by forcing landowner decisions regarding farming practices on private property. We conveyed support for the NWPR, which recognized the rights of states to provide the necessary protection of their own waters. The NCC also signed onto similar comments opposing a NWPR rewrite that were filed by the American Farm Bureau Federation and

A “Waters of the United States” rule rewrite could lead to federal oversight of many small bodies of water on private lands.

the Water Advocacy Coalition — a broad cross-section of small business, farmers, ranchers and job creators — of which the NCC is a member. Comments submitted by American Cotton Producers Chairman Mark McKean noted the inconsistencies a new regulation expanding federal water authority would have on the partnership USDA is making with producers to address climate change and expand on-farm conservation practices. He stated, “The agencies are creating a scenario where growers could need approval or even federal permits to conduct some of the most basic conservation practices such as planting a cover crop through a grassy depression that may contain water at times. A gross expansion of federal water authority with a regulation like the Obama Administration’s WOTUS rule would be counterintuitive to achieving the administration’s carbon sequestration goals.” He also urged that any new water regulation adhere to Congressional intent, statute and judicial precedent.

What’s next?

■ When this column was submitted in mid-Sep-

tember, the agencies had begun interpreting the Arizona federal court ruling. In addition to halting implementation of the NWPR and interpreting “waters of the United States” consistent with the pre-2015 regulatory regime until further notice, the agencies decided the Arizona court’s vacatur applied nationwide. One significant question that remains is — because the agencies planned to repeal the NWPR, revert to the pre-2015 rules and then replace the NWPR, does the judge’s ruling, in effect, deny the regulated community public comment and/or litigation opportunities by removing a step from the planned and published process? This, of course, may be subject to further decisions from the judge, or based on potential appeals. Needing clarification, the NCC requested EPA hold stakeholder calls regarding the ruling’s impact and stands ready to provide additional NWPR support comments if the agencies grant an extension.

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

COTTON FARMING | OCTOBER 2021

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Industry News

The U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol is holding live enrollment webinars focusing on how the program helps U.S. growers meet the changing demands from their end customer. It also assists in better documenting and verifying the sustainability practices and advances already incorporated into their farms. Launched in 2020, the Trust Protocol is a farm-level, science-based program that sets a new standard for more sustainably grown cotton. It brings quantifiable and verifiable goals and measurement to sustainable cotton production. It also drives continuous improvement in six key sustainability metrics — land use, soil carbon, water management, soil loss, greenhouse gas emissions and energy efficiency. In the first year, more than 300 U.S. cotton growers enrolled in the program and secured 1.5 million bales of cotton into the system. The Trust Protocol also welcomed more than 450 brand, retailer, mill and manufacturer members. “As members of the Trust Protocol, we will be able to demonstrate to brands and retailers that our cotton is more responsibly grown, which provides them the critical assurances needed to confidently source more U.S. cotton,” says Kellon Lee, an enrolled Trust Protocol grower. “But the Trust Protocol isn’t just designed to help brands and retailers. It also helps us document our sustainability progress and compare it anonymously as we work to improve each year.” Enrollment for the 2021 crop is open. For growers not yet participating, the webinars will provide an opportunity to learn about program benefits and ask questions. Speakers include Trust Protocol representatives and grower members. Growers may join any of the following webinars and can register at https://trustuscotton.org/enroll ment-webinar-live-sessions/.  Tuesday, Nov. 2, 8 a.m. CST.  Tuesday, Nov. 16, 8 a.m. CST.  Thursday, Dec. 9, 8 a.m. CST.  Tuesday, Dec. 14, 8 a.m. CST. To learn more about the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol, visit TrustUSCotton.org.

Texas AgriLife Extension Offers New Leasing Handbook If you are leasing land in Texas whether as a landowner or a tenant, “Ranchers TWITTER: @COTTONFARMING

CRAIG GAUTREAUX/LSU AGCENTER

U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol 2021 Grower Enrollment Webinars

Louisiana Master Farmer Program Gets A New ‘Toolbox’ Twenty years ago, the Louisiana State University AgCenter partnered with several agricultural organizations to develop a voluntary initiative that helped ag producers address environmental issues, such as water quality, best management practices and improving productivity on their farms. “We have had nearly 4,000 people participate in at least Phase I of the program,” says Master Farmer Program coordinator Donna Gentry. “We have had 358 farmers certified and recertified.” Three phases of the program must be completed to be certified. Phase I involves classroom instruction focusing on how agriculture affects the environment and ways to reduce it or improve environmental conditions. The Phase II component is participation in a conservation-based field day or workshop. Phase III requires working with the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Resources Conservation Service to develop a comprehensive conservation plan for the farming operation. This phase is the largest and most daunting task for program graduates. “This trailer will allow us to take some of our outreach activities directly to remote areas,” Gentry says. “The trailer will house a TV monitor, generator and a PA system, which will help facilitate field days at locations that are more convenient for farmers.” The trailer’s first use was at a cotton and grain best management practices field day held this past summer near Newellton in Tensas Parish. “The trailer will be useful in helping us to demonstrate and present some of our cover crop research trials,” Gentry says. As program coordinator, she updates the website with new research findings and promotes upcoming events through social media. To become recertified, farmers must update their conservation plan and implement any changes every five years. To learn more, visit https://bit.ly/3s9n5TC or email dsgentry@agcenter.lsu.edu. Agricultural Leasing Handbook: Grazing, Hunting & Livestock Leases” is a good resource for you. The handbook focuses on legal and economic issues related to grazing, hunting and livestock leases. Some of the topics include:  Why is a written lease necessary?  Setting payments for your lease.  When can a landowner/lessee be liable for injuries to a third party?  Drafting a viable liability waiver.  Hunting lease checklist.

The authors point out that the handbook is for educational purposes only, does not create an attorney-client relationship, and is not a substitute for competent legal advice by an attorney licensed in your state. The checklists and forms are provided only as general guidance and are not exhaustive. To download a free PDF, go to https:// bit.ly/3zAm8WI. To purchase a hard copy for $25, which includes shipping, email Lacrecia.Garza@ag.tamu.edu or call 806-677-5600. OCTOBER 2021 | COTTON FARMING

COVER STORY

White Flye Farms Arkansas Operation Endorses Forward-Looking Information Exchange BY CARROLL SMITH EDITOR

rkansas farmer Marty White grew up working side by side in the field with his mother, father and sisters. They were a close family who believed in the importance of communication and teamwork to make a good living while sustaining the land for future generations. Today, he farms with his sons, Jesse Flye and Logan White. White Flye Farms now encompasses 14,500 irrigated acres on which they grow cotton, row rice, soybeans, corn and peanuts. Last year, they enrolled their cotton acres in the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol sustainability initiative. “I don’t ever want to be the old man who won’t change,” Marty says. “We update our equipment on a regular basis, try different twists on our production practices and take advantage of new technology. We sit down and make decisions together before we do anything. We are all trying to learn. “Our employees are our greatest asset. We run a good labor pool here. A lot of the guys have been with me for a long time. We also have some H-2A workers from South Africa who help us out. Because our employees are constantly out in the field, they share their thoughts with us, too. If anyone has a better idea about how to do something, I want to know about it.”

White Flye Farms also employs several young college students who bring new ideas to the table. “A lot of times we’ll try some of the things they bring up,” Logan says. “Sometimes they work and sometimes they fail, but that’s how we all learn.” New Technology Observations

This year, Marty and his sons are growing Deltapine, NexGen, Stoneville and DynaGro cotton varieties on about 6,500 acres. All of them include the Bollgard 3 trait. The Arkansas farmers also have Deltapine New Product Evaluator plots that feature varieties with the ThryvOn technology. According to Bayer, ThryvOn offers protection against tarnished plant bugs and thrips. “We didn’t have to spray for thrips in the ThryvOn field, which borders a corn field,” Jesse says. “As of Aug. 3, we’ve flown on two applications for plant bugs, and the fruit retention is about 95% compared to 75% to 82% in the other cotton fields. In fields without ThryvOn, we’ve made four plant bug applications and sprayed for thrips.” They all agreed the wet, cool weather prevalent in their area this year created perfect thrips conditions. “Overall, insect pressure has been bad,” Logan says. “The

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COTTON FARMING | OCTOBER 2021

COTTONFARMING.COM

cold winter hurt us because it killed the plants where beneficials overwinter. We lost the good bugs.” The Arkansas farmers depend on field recommendations from their consultant, Eddy Cates. They also cooperate with industry personnel and University of Arkansas Extension to try various approaches to production practices that include adjusting plant populations and growing cover crops on about one-fourth of their cotton acres.

Cover Crop System

White Flye Farms also cooperates with University of Arkansas Extension Mother Nature is the wild card in farming, but Arkansas producers Marty White, right, and his sons Jesse Flye, left, and Logan White always try to learn something from the hand they are dealt. TWITTER: @COTTONFARMING

PHOTOS BY CARROLL SMITH

Cotton Plant Populations

“Five years ago, we were at 44,000 cotton plants per acre,” Logan says. “This year, we planted from 36,000 to 38,000 ppa, which amounts to a $15 to $20 peracre savings, and the yield is comparable. This helps our bottom dollar.” Another benefit of a lower plant population is the way it affects the plant’s growth. “With a lower population, the plant is able to put on more lateral branches and more fruiting positions going out instead of going up,” Marty says. “The thinner plant population gives us a shorter plant that’s quicker to the finish line. With the higher populations, the plant was growing so fast, we could never put out enough plant growth regulator to slow it down. “We do have to be careful with the thinner stands because sometimes there is not enough canopy shade for weed control later in the season. It’s a balancing act, but we are trying to figure it out.” Marty also wants all the employees to understand what they are trying to accomplish with the different production practices. To facilitate this information exchange, he invited Jay Mahaffey to visit the farm and make a presentation. Mahaffey is the manager at Bayer’s Scott Learning Center in Scott, Mississippi. “He talks on a level we can all understand,” Marty says. “When we have a job for our workers to do, we want them to know the reasoning behind it — why we are doing it. The employees relate to Jay and are comfortable asking him questions. It is a good give and take.”

Jesse Flye, left, and his brother, Logan White, review the website where they signed up their cotton in the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol.

cotton specialist Bill Robertson on their approach to using a cover crop on a portion of the cotton acres. “We go through years where a system has its pluses and minuses,” Marty says. “This year is a minus for the cover crop. Normally, you want it to keep the plant cooler and hold moisture in the ground. The cool spring slowed down all our cotton, but the slow growth was compounded where we had a cover crop. Typically, we fruit a node earlier on the cover crop fields, but this year we are behind. “However, we’re still exploring our options and looking at several different ways to get the cover crop in. We’ve tried flying it on between defoliation applications or waiting until we picked the cotton, then slung it out and shredded the stalks. In another instance, we shredded

the stalks, put out the cover, then bedded up.” The Arkansas farmers also are experimenting with the thickness of the cover crop and adjusting fertilizer rates to see what works best. “With a cover crop, you’ve got to decide if you’re using it to achieve a healthy soil structure or to benefit weed management,” Jesse says. “It has to be thick to keep weeds from coming up. If you cut back the cover crop mass, you still get what you want going on with the soil, but it may not be thick enough to prevent weeds from emerging.” To further their knowledge about cover crops, the farmers are cooperating with Robertson on a 160-acre block with three different production systems to see how each one works out. “In the cover crop system we typically use, we are spending about $20 extra an acre,” Logan says. “The question is, are we making $20 extra an acre. Bill wants to see a number. We are going to put pen to paper for the next four or five years to see what works and what doesn’t.” Marty says they are willing to share anything they learn with other farmers, but what works for them may not work on someone else’s operation. “I’ll never say my way is the only way to go because we all farm differently and have different goals,” he says. “But some of the things we are doing may help them out, and I want to know what they are doing as well. It may be a practice that will benefit our farm. We all need to work together so everyone is successful.” OCTOBER 2021 | COTTON FARMING

CCOY Cotton Consultant of the Year established 1981

CARROLL SMITH

Footprints In The Field

CCOY The Cotton Consultant of the Year award, sponsored by Syngenta and Cotton Farming magazine, has honored the “boots on the ground” segment of the industry for more than four decades. The prestigious award recognizes a cotton consultant who demonstrates outstanding customer relations, leadership and innovation. Each year, the nominees are voted on by the past CCOY recipients. This award is even more special as the winner is chosen by his or her peers. Syngenta and Cotton Farming are pleased to sponsor an award that recognizes the vital role cotton consultants play in production agriculture. The services consultants provide their farmer clients are invaluable for achieving efficiency and profitability. Cotton Consultant of the Year sponsored by

Cotton Farming 10

COTTON FARMING | OCTOBER 2021

“We need to tell our story so brands, retailers and consumers will know we are growing a safe, sustainable product right here in the United States,” Jesse says. “I think our cotton has a chance to increase its demand, which leads to a better price, if we take advantage of the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol.” U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol

One thing the three men are all passionate about is encouraging U.S. cotton farmers to sign up for the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol sustainability initiative. Gary Adams, National Cotton Council president and CEO, says, “Strong enrollment (and reenrollment) in the Trust Protocol will demonstrate to brands/ retailers that the United States is a leader in sustainable cotton growing practices. It also enables producers to track their sustainability progress by comparing yearover-year Fieldprint calculator-collected data both from within their farms and anonymously against other Trust Protocol producers.” White Flye Farms signed up for the Trust Protocol and plans to reenroll for next year. “We need to tell our story so brands, retailers and consumers will know we are growing a safe, sustainable product right here in the United States,” Jesse says. “I think our cotton has a chance to increase its demand, which leads to a better price, if we take advantage of the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol. A lot of companies say they want Trust Protocol cotton. Everyone needs to enroll so we can provide those certified bales. “There are three levels of certification, and the enrollment process is really easy. Go to trustuscotton.org, click Join Now and fill out the questionnaire about what you are doing on your farm. The common sense questions are not intrusive. You answer yes, no, or we may try this in a few years.

“The next step is to border 10% of the cotton acres on your farm. Then you are asked a few things like how many times do you go in this field and what kind of fertilizer you put out. Based on your answers, the program then uses a Fieldprint calculator to create a visual chart showing your economic and biodiversity footprint. “The U.S. cotton Trust Protocol now has the information it needs to certify your bales. You provide the name of your gin and what merchant you sell your cotton to so the information can go downstream when your cotton is tagged as U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol bales.” The second and third levels of certification involve a random selection from the pool of farmers who sign up. The ones chosen to participate in the second level receive a brief phone call to confirm what they said they are doing on their farm. Those chosen to be a part of the third certification level receive a short visit that takes place in a casual atmosphere with an independent contractor. “We had a lady come out to our farm, and she was impressed by all the good things we were doing that 99% of all cotton farmers do on their farms as well,” Jesse says. “The whole U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol process is quick and easy and designed to show we are growing the sustainable cotton the world wants. We need this documentation to continue to increase our market share, so we encourage all U.S. cotton farmers to sign up to help get our story out there.” COTTONFARMING.COM

What Lurks Beneath Sample In The Fall For Yield-Robbing Nematodes

Meticulous Research

“If you don’t know if you have a problem or the extent of the problem, you’re either shooting in the dark at an unknown target, or even worse, not shooting at all,” Faske says. “There are many different options for nematode management on the market, and more are becoming available every year. It could be a soil-applied nematicide, a seed treatment, a tolerant variety, or even a rotational strategy or a combination of one or more options.” As an Extension plant pathologist, Faske evaluates the efficacy of nematicides, seed treatments and tolerant varieties each season. It’s painstaking, methodical work, but over the years researchers across the Cotton Belt have developed a wealth of information to help growers address one of the most insidious yield robbers a cotton plant encounters. “We have field trials and greenhouse trials,” Faske says. “In the field, we plant trials in known nematode infested fields and measure the results in a ‘real-world’ environment. In the greenhouse, it’s a lot more controlled, and we know exactly what we are subjecting a cotton seedling to in a small growing space.” For greenhouse trials, the nematodes are first cultured on tomato. Those nematode isolates are then transferred to individual trays where various varieties of crop seed are planted into the infested soil medium. TWITTER: @COTTONFARMING

BRENDA CAROL

t’s not a particularly new story. Almost any farmer will tell you what you already know: Nematodes are yield robbers. It’s been researched, extensively documented and replicated in experimental trials for decades. It’s been broadcast through the Extension service, the ag media and grower meetings. Why it’s still taking a toll on modern agriculture is somewhat confounding. “Sometimes I think it’s mostly a matter of ‘what I don’t see isn’t hurting me,’” says Dr. Travis Faske, professor and Extension plant pathologist with the University of Arkansas Lonoke Extension Center. “When it comes to insects, even though they’re tiny, you can see thrips and definitely see the damage on the leaves. Root pests tend to be a different matter.” Even if a farmer digs up roots to examine what’s going on, it still might not be obvious. “I think most growers are well aware at this point that root-knot nematode forms galls on roots, which are easy to visually detect if you’re looking,” he says. “However, you can’t see the infection with reniform nematode and some of the other nematode species.” Because reniform nematode is not immediately apparent, the problem can go undetected for years. “A grower might notice a spot in the field that’s having a problem and write it off to a problem with irrigation, pesticide application or soil type,” Faske says. “Root-knot thrives in sandier soils, even sandier spots in a field. Reniform is a little sneakier. It usually shows up as a gradual overall demise of crop productivity over a number of seasons.” That’s why soil sampling is a grower’s best diagnostic tool. Soil samples pulled in the fall can help growers plan intelligently for the following spring.

Greenhouse research is an important component of the overall nematicide research conducted by Dr. Travis Faske, professor and Extension plant pathologist, University of Arkansas Lonoke Extension Center. Evaluating Efficacy

Every season Faske and his colleagues evaluate numerous nematicides for efficacy. Those options run the gamut from the tried and true to the experimental and everything in-between. “There are nematicides such as aldicarb, formerly sold under the brand name Temik and now AgLogic, that we include in our field trials every year,” Faske says. “In terms of non-fumigant nematicides, it is the gold standard for nematode control across a wide range of species. After more than 45 years of data, it’s hard to argue with its performance, so it always provides an excellent benchmark.” As growers eye the 2021 finish line, nematologists, consultants and Extension agents are ringing that all-important reminder bell once again: Sample fields for nematodes and pay attention to the latest research with an eye on the past. “There’s no point on compromising next year’s yield when it’s relatively easy to evaluate the upcoming risk in 2022 with a soil sample now and progressively formulate a plan,” Faske says. Brenda Carol contributed this article on behalf of AgLogic. OCTOBER 2021 | COTTON FARMING

RESEARCH & PROMOTION

YOU COULD AVOID THIS.

The Cotton Board Engages Women In Agriculture

he cotton industry is full of wonderful producers, ginners and industry partners, many of whom are women. Whether she is in the role of making daily farming operation decisions, supporting the farm behind the scenes or working in the industry, women in agriculture are essential. The Cotton Board recognizes the major role of women in the industry and puts an emphasis on reaching out and engaging them in agriculture. Since 2015, The Cotton Board has hosted six Women in Agriculture tours, taking nearly 300 women to Cotton Incorporated’s headquarters. “Women play such a huge role in our industry, and there is great value in us bringing them together,” says Bill Gillon, president and CEO of The Cotton Board. “The women in the cotton industry are a treasure trove of untapped perspective and information. We wanted to reach out to educate them about the Cotton Research and Promotion Program and to start fostering relationships with this sector of the industry in hopes of inspiring future leaders.” Extensive Agenda

The Cotton Board regularly hosts producer tours to make sure the stakehold-

BY STACEY GORMAN WARREN, ARKANSAS

ers who pay into the Cotton Research and Promotion Program understand what that investment does for them. On both producer and Women in Agriculture tours, attendees hear about each segment of Cotton Incorporated in detail. This allows them to see exactly what the organization is doing in the areas of agricultural research, fiber competition, product development, global supply chain marketing and consumer marketing. An in-depth tour of the Cotton Incorporated’s World Headquarters and Research Facilities in Cary, North Carolina, is also part of the tour program. A real effort is made to encourage the attendees to not only gain a better

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understanding of the program but also to help them become advocates for the cotton industry. For the women’s outing, The Cotton Board also includes social media training. The Cotton Board held the 2021 Women in Agriculture tour Aug. 22-24. The nearly 40 women who attended this year’s event consisted of current and future leaders in the cotton industry. “Their perspectives and insight are invaluable to the continued success of the program,” Gillon says. “The cotton industry needs the type of leadership demonstrated by these women as we work to move the industry forward.” He also says events like the Women in Agriculture tour are a great first step to becoming more involved in the industry.

GET THIS.

START HERE. 1 Make sure that your planter is getting consistent seed depth.

Tour Invitation

“These tours are the best way to see your cotton assessment dollars at work,” says Berrye Worsham, president and CEO of Cotton Incorporated. “This is your program; you really should see the great work that is being done on your behalf. “Use the tour of Cotton Incorporated’s facility as a steppingstone to get more engaged and involved in the industry and to make some lasting relationships with women in the industry you otherwise may not have met.” The 2022 Women in Agriculture Tour will be held June 12-14. Anyone who is interested in this trip or another producer tour of Cotton Incorporated is encouraged to reach out to your Cotton Board regional communication manager.

2 Check that your planter is achieving good seed-tosoil contact.

3 Look for a consistent soil density, mellow with no air pockets, after the planter pass.

Stacey Gorman is The Cotton Board’s director of communications. Contact her at sgorman@ cottonboard.org. In August, the 2021 Women in Ag group visited Cotton Incorporated’s World Headquarters in Cary, North Carolina.

Ask about the Cotton Planting System from Precision Planting.

Your most consistent cotton stand emergence starts at precisionplanting.com/cotton-planting-system Precision Planting® is a registered trademark of Precision Planting LLC. ©2021 Precision Planting LLC.

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OCTOBER 2021 | COTTON FARMING

Specialists Speaking

2021 Harvest Update ALABAMA Steve M. Brown

As of Sept. 20, little if any cotton was defoliated in Alabama. Most of the state was soaked with heavy rains Sept. 10-20, which hurt open cotton and helped late fields finish. The August and September U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates 924 pounds per acre for the 2021 Alabama crop. I hope we exceed that, but it will be a challenge. Late-season rains produce boll rot and hardlock. Both make us cringe. They represent a loss of what has taken months to produce. Boll rot results from infection from numerous pathogens not effectively controlled with fungicides. Insect damage contributes, too. Hardlock occurs when bolls open under high humidity; rainy, overcast conditions; and even when the dew is heavy. Hardlock is a failure of seed cotton to dry and fluff normally and creates a lemon wedge-shaped lock. Such bolls typically do not end up in the picker — spindles simply won’t grab them. Often, surrounding weathered bracts shatter on contact with spindles, and cotton ends up on the ground. However, in rare instances, prevailing sunshine and great drying conditions reverse the curse, and affected locks slightly fluff so these bolls are picked. There is no cure for big rains on open cotton, no giant umbrella that can protect the crop. But we can do some obvious things to limit the crop canopy: Be less aggressive with nitrogen and more aggressive with plant growth regulators. We know all that. If in fact our weather patterns have shifted to give us every year rains into late September, we may need to rethink our production systems. One possibility that continues to intrigue me is wide row spacings and skip row patterns as means of lessening the blow of adverse late-season weather. Novel, non-standard row patterns need to:  Be compatible with existing equipment and farm operations, including tractors, planters, sprayers, harvesters, etc.  Provide comparable yields to standard row systems. They also provide opportunities to reduce overall seed and harvest costs and better endure midseason drought stress. Weather permitting, let’s go get this crop. cottonbrown@auburn.edu

ARKANSAS Bill Robertson

Most everyone is still cautiously optimistic about the 2021 crop. We started off slow and ugly but have gotten a little better as the season progressed. September did a lot to bring our crop around and made everyone feel a lot better about it. However, this season is still a long way from being over. The National Agricultural Statistics Service September crop production report projects Arkansas producers will harvest 1.15 million bales, down 127,000 bales from last year. Based on conditions as of Sept. 1, yield is expected to average 1,174 pounds lint per harvested acre, up 13 pounds from last month but down 5 pounds from 2020. It is 11 pounds short of our record 1,185 pounds set in 2019. Planted acreage was revised to 475,000 acres, up 65,000 acres from June. Harvested acreage was revised from 405,000 to 470,000 acres. If the current yield projection stands, it will rank as our fourth highest yield on record. In the past five years, four have been ranked in the top five with a five-year average of 1,150 pounds lint per harvested acre. As mid-September rolled around, we were just getting our defoliation underway. While the crop looks better as these comments are being prepared, it is still late. Heat unit accumulation appears to be following a

COTTON FARMING | OCTOBER 2021

more normal trend and generally fades fast in October. We have seen a great number of challenges thrown at us in 2021, and there are still difficulties we must be prepared to address as the season comes to an end. Get cover crops on your radar if they are not part of your current plan. We all look forward to seeing how this season wraps up as we make plans for 2022. brobertson@uaex.edu

CALIFORNIA Bob Hutmacher

This has been another production year with a host of challenging situations that have resulted in a wide range of cotton field conditions. Early season lygus caused some significant square and boll losses. High temperature stress periods in June, July and August also affected fruit retention in multiple areas. However, we have some relatively decent looking fields with OK fruit loads and good boll distribution throughout the canopy. With limited water supplies in many parts of the San Joaquin Valley, there are some relatively small plants with decent fruit loads. Provided they are not too water stressed at the time of first harvest aid applications, these plants should be relatively easy and less expensive to defoliate. When those fields get close to open boll targets (60% open) or targets of three to five nodes above cracked boll, growers should make the first harvest aid application. Getting some of those fields on their way toward desiccation and defoliation will help free more time to deal with more difficult-to-defoliate fields. Also be vigilant about checking for late-season whiteflies or aphids. For fields where early season lygus losses were more extensive, or where fruit set was more uneven due to combinations of water stress and heat stress, a warm and extended fall could help mature late-developing bolls and provide a yield boost. The downside of waiting longer for those bolls to mature is an also extended period where you must manage late-season insect pests. Hopefully, there will be some good yield surprises to go along with the less desirable outcomes. For fields where square and bolls losses resulted in large fruit set gaps, it becomes more difficult to use the newer harvest aid timing tool of counting nodes above cracked boll. In those cases, shift back to the more “traditional” harvest aid timing tool of deciding on how many of the top crop bolls are likely to mature and aim for about 60% open boll to time first harvest aid applications. Before you put away field notes on problem field areas for the year, make sure problem weed species and weedy areas are documented to improve future weed management. As expenses for nearly everything keep going up, take a little time to identify specific field areas where targeted, more intensive weed control efforts could pay off. rbhutmacher@ ucdavis.edu

FLORIDA David Wright

Few ideal growing seasons occur for any crop. This year was no exception with extensive rain for much of the cotton crop across the state. Many growers were delayed in sidedressing nitrogen, sulfur, boron and potassium along with plant growth regulator use and weed control. In addition to these issues, tropical storms twisted plants in some areas, and it was difficult to run through the canopy when it dried up. Continued on page 16 COTTONFARMING.COM

THE ALARM CLOCK THAT AWAKES YOU WILL NEVER NEED A SNOOZE BUTTON. It doesn’t buzz. Or allow you to snooze. It is not made of plastic and electronics. The internal clock that gets you up before the dawn is made of heart. And determination. Because you know. Early is the key to success in the cotton ﬁeld. And Stoneville cotton knows, too. Stoneville cotton gets out of the ground earlier and establishes a healthy stand quicker. It also offers multiple choices in herbicide and insect trait options. So it’s less vulnerable to weeds, weather and insects during its most vulnerable time. And that paves the way for a bigger ﬁnish.

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Specialists Speaking

TRAIT STEWARDSHIP RESPONSIBILITIES NOTICE TO FARMERS

Bayer Company is a member of Excellence Through Stewardship® (ETS). Bayer products are commercialized in accordance with ETS Product Launch Stewardship Guidance, and in compliance with Bayer’s Policy for Commercialization of Biotechnology-Derived Plant Products in Commodity Crops. This product has 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. ALWAYS READ AND FOLLOW PESTICIDE LABEL DIRECTIONS. It is a violation of federal and state law to use any pesticide product other than in accordance with its labeling. NOT ALL formulations of dicamba, glyphosate or glufosinate are approved for in-crop use with XtendFlex® Cotton. ONLY USE FORMULATIONS THAT ARE SPECIFICALLY LABELED FOR SUCH USES AND APPROVED FOR SUCH USE IN THE STATE OF APPLICATION. Contact the U.S. EPA and your state pesticide regulatory agency with any questions about the approval status of dicamba herbicide products for in-crop use with XtendFlex® Cotton. B.t. products may not yet be registered in all states. Check with your representative for the registration status in your state. Products with XtendFlex® Technology contains genes that confer tolerance to glyphosate, glufosinate and dicamba. Glyphosate will kill crops that are not tolerant to glyphosate. Glufosinate will kill crops that are not tolerant to glufosinate. Dicamba will kill crops that are not tolerant to dicamba. Contact your seed brand dealer or refer to the Bayer Technology Use Guide for recommended weed control programs. Insect control technology provided by Vip3A is utilized under license from Syngenta Crop Protection AG. Bollgard®, Respect the Refuge and Cotton Design®, Roundup Ready Flex® and XtendFlex® are registered trademarks of Bayer Group. LibertyLink® and the Water Droplet Design® are registered trademarks of BASF. Agrisure Viptera® is a registered trademark of Syngenta Group Company. Excellence Through Stewardship® is a registered trademark of Excellence Through Stewardship. All other products, company names and trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Before opening a bag of seed, be sure to read, understand and accept the stewardship requirements, including applicable refuge requirements for insect resistance management, for the biotechnology traits expressed in the seed as set forth in the Technology/Stewardship Agreement that you sign. By opening and using a bag of seed, you are reafﬁrming your obligation to comply with the most recent stewardship requirements. 16

COTTON FARMING | OCTOBER 2021

Continued from page 14 The cotton crop still has the potential to be average if harvest weather is good. Timely defoliation and harvest will help preserve yield and quality. It is important to store bales and modules near the edge of the field in areas that are not prone to flood and have good field road access to move cotton to the gin during wet conditions. Better prices have been a bright spot this growing season, and I hope everyone finds a better yield than what they have been expecting. wright@ufl.edu

GEORGIA Camp Hand

As I write this Sept. 20, defoliation and harvest are just beginning in Georgia. Generally speaking, by the middle of October we are historically about 20% done with harvest. Mid-September has been less than ideal for harvest preparations. Many parts of Georgia have seen large amounts of rain and a good bit of cloudy weather as well. This directly and indirectly will affect our ability to get our cotton crop out. It will indirectly affect cotton harvest because of the delays and other challenges incurred during peanut harvest. Although the weather in mid-September has caused some issues, the current forecast for late September and early October looks promising. With the conditions we have seen in September, I believe we have significant regrowth potential in our earlier cotton. Although the forecast is calling for cooler weather, I believe we will need thidiazuron in our tankmixes for some of the earlier defoliated cotton. Keep in mind that once the temperatures get lower than 65 degrees Fahrenheit, we won’t get as much activity out of thidiazuron. Although this Specialists Speaking is a “harvest update,” here in Georgia we are just getting started. I hope this harvest season is plentiful for everyone. Stay safe out there, and as always, your local University of Georgia county Extension agent and specialists are here to help! Reach out if you have any questions. camphand@uga.edu

LOUISIANA Matt Foster

Cotton defoliation began in some areas of the state during the first two weeks of September. Only about 1% of the crop has been harvested as of Sept. 13. The Louisiana cotton crop didn’t sustain any damage from Hurricane Ida, but defoliation and harvest operations were halted due to rainfall from Tropical Storm Nicholas.

Harvest will be extended this year due to sixto eight-week differences in planting dates. June planted cotton has reached cutout. About 90% of this year’s crop is in the fair to good range with state yields expected to average about 1,100 pounds of lint per acre. Most growers I have spoken with are optimistic about their crop and plan to increase their cotton acreage next year if the market remains favorable. This is good news considering how low the state acreage is this year. Delayed planting, wet and cloudy weather, and high plant bug pressure has made this season very challenging. mfoster@ agcenter.lsu.edu

MISSISSIPPI Brian Pieralisi

As I write this Sept. 16, few areas in Mississippi have received harvest aid applications. Currently, the remnants of Tropical Storm Nicholas are moving through the area producing cloudy, showery conditions, which is only slowing an already late crop from maturing. Most of our crop will get defoliated as soon as this system moves out of the area, and we experience sunny and dry weather. On this calendar date, Mississippi cotton typically had received a harvest aid application, and some pickers were in the field. This year, we have been behind schedule since the beginning of the season. Repeated untimely rains through May and early June were responsible for the planting delays. Depending on the geographic region, some areas were planted on time, which will be the first acres harvested. With that said, even the “on time” acres are tracking a couple of weeks behind schedule due to low heat unit accumulation after emergence. On the bright side, daytime temperatures have remained in the upper 80s to low 90s, while nighttime temperatures have remained above 65 degrees Fahrenheit. Given the forecast, these conditions should continue for another 10 days to two weeks, which will help mature top bolls and aid in the defoliation process. Thidiazuron + ethephon products will dominate most applications, requiring a two-pass approach as long as temperatures remain above 65 degrees. With a later crop, a two-pass approach will most likely be needed to open juvenile bolls and remove any regrowth. Regrowth potential could be high with the wet weather we are experiencing prior to defoliation. Also, some growers applied late-season nitrogen to address deficiency symptomology due to nitrogen losses experienced throughout the growing season. Residual N could contribute to high regrowth potential that could require tweaking the harvest aid mixture. In Mississippi, a PPO such as Aim or ET+thidiazuron+ethephon typically COTTONFARMING.COM

Specialists Speaking can help remove juvenile growth, inhibit regrowth and open bolls in temperatures above 65 degrees. We will rely heavily on tribufos products as temperatures drop below 65 degrees. Hopefully, this is the last of we see from the tropics and can experience a dry and successful harvest. bkp4@msstate.edu

NORTH CAROLINA Keith Edmisten

As I write this in mid-September, we have started defoliating some early planted fields, and so far September weather has been favorable. We really needed good September weather with so much late cotton. So far, we have gotten that. The bulk of defoliation will occur in October. We normally have decent weather in the first two weeks or so of the month to help finish off a late crop. However, we need to keep an eye out for potential frosts from mid-October onward and be ready to defoliate with mixtures including boll openers if we see a frost on the horizon. Applying defoliants and boll openers as few as a couple days before a frost can make a difference in how many leaves are desiccated and “stuck” on the plant, which contributes to higher leaf trash levels. This is also true in terms of reducing the potential for frost to prevent bolls from opening. With so much cotton on the late side this year, boll openers will be more important than regrowth prevention. keith_edmisten@ncsu.edu

OKLAHOMA Seth Byrd

In last month’s issue of Cotton Farming, I made the comment that we needed a favorable September to provide the Oklahoma cotton crop a chance to catch up on maturity. Thankfully, that’s what happened. By the middle of the month, there were many fields across the state that were running between 10% and 50% open bolls. Fields that were further behind in maturity also benefitted, and the potential for the crop improved as the month progressed. While 2021 won’t be a record-breaking year, the outlook has certainly become more optimistic considering the slow start to the season. While the dry September helped accelerate crop maturity and fiber development, it also created some drought stress, particularly for the dryland crop. This, coupled with the immaturity issues of some of the irrigated crop, will likely create a scenario where optimal defoliation will be more of a challenge. Drought-stressed leaves typically respond better to herbicidal defoliants, while lush, green, mature leaves are typically addressed through products containing tribufos or thidiazuron + diuron. It’s likely that several of the fields on the earliest end of the spectrum could be ready for harvest by the time this issue reaches you. The rest of the crop will likely have received a harvest aid application if one is going to be made. Based on the condition of the crop as I write this in mid-September, it’s likely that harvest will be well underway by mid-October. I hope everybody will have a safe and profitable harvest. seth.byrd@ okstate.edu

TENNESSEE Tyson Raper

Temperatures are forecast to break cooler than we would like by the end of this week (Sept. 20). While sunshine in the forecast will likely still push maturity of our uppermost, immature bolls along, it looks like we will begin our defoliation under less-than-ideal temperatures. Thidiazuron, one of our best first-shot products by far, has almost no activity when daytime temperatures fall below 75 degrees Fahrenheit and nighttime temperatures fall below 50 F. Following a cold snap, plant activity slows, and the need for more TWITTER: @COTTONFARMING

aggressive defoliant rates increases. By the time you read this Oct. 1, I will likely be recommending stiff rates of Folex and half the labeled rate of boll opener in our first shot. Almost every Tennessee acre from here on out will require a two-shot approach. Product and rate in the second shot will depend on what remains on the plant. I’m hopeful we will see a warming trend during the first week of October, since most in our area will be in the thick of defoliation Oct. 4-8. traper@utk.edu

TEXAS Ben McKnight Cotton harvest in the Lower Rio Grande Valley and Coastal Bend has more or less come to an end. As of mid-September, nearly 400,000 bales have been classed at the Corpus Christi office. Currently, the average mic from this office is 4.47. Reports of 1,100- to 1,250-pound yields have been common in both regions, with some fields yielding higher and others yielding lower. Harvest in the Winter Garden region has just started. In the Upper Gulf Coast, about 40% of the cotton crop has been harvested. Several growers made a strong effort to get as many acres harvested as they could prior to Hurricane Nicholas making landfall in the region. High winds and rainfall brought some damage to standing cotton, especially in fields closer to the coast. Early reports of yields and expected yields in the area are in the 2-bale range. In the Blackland Prairie, cotton defoliation and harvest preparation are well underway. Most are waiting to get equipment in the fields to get the crop out. Preliminary yield estimates in the Blackland Prairie are slightly above average at 1.5 bales, although many fields in the area may average 2 bales or slightly higher. Like much of the state, cotton in the Rolling Plains region is delayed in heat units, and the crop is behind where it normally would be. Warm, late-season temperatures have helped the crop progress in August and September, but most acres in the Rolling Plains will be harvested later than usual. bmcknight@tamu.edu

TEXAS Murilo Maeda As I write this in mid-September, we continue to make headway on the weather side. With cooler-than-normal temperatures throughout most of our growing season so far, the September heat has been appreciated. At this time last year, we had already seen temperatures in the 30s and 40s across much of West Texas. But this year, we are still holding steady in the low to mid 90s. Our first cold front is forecast to drop temperatures into the 50s around Sept. 20. But highs will remain in the upper 80s and low 90s through at least Oct. 1, which should be beneficial. Irrigated fields in the region look about as good as I’ve seen them since coming to Lubbock. Our dryland has also benefited from timely rainfall during the season and heat, as of late. Fields planted closer to the middle of May are starting to open and seem to be progressing well. Overall, I think the crop still has great potential, weather cooperating. Our main concern this season will continue to be fields planted toward the latter part of May and some even well into June. Historically, we cease to accumulate any heat units by mid-October. I anticipate harvest will have started, albeit slow, by that time. Our 2021 harvest aid guide has been posted on the Lubbock website at https://bit.ly/3kq3LiD. By the time you read our next Specialists Speaking column, we’ll likely be rolling full speed with harvest. Please stay safe out there pulling in those long hours. Wishing you and yours a blessed and bountiful harvest season! mmaeda@ag.tamu.edu OCTOBER 2021 | COTTON FARMING

Soil Liming And Lime Qualities

fter receiving a soil test report, the first thing to check is soil pH, which influences soil nutrient availability. Most nutrients are available at the soil pH of 6.5. Therefore, soil pH needs to be adjusted to the target pH either by applying lime for low pH (less than 6.0) soils or with elemental sulfur for high pH (greater than 7.5) soils. Liming is the most common practice. Soil Buffering Capacity

The lime rate depends on the initial and target soil pH and the soil’s buffering capacity (ability to resist the pH change). If the soil buffering capacity and the difference between initial and target soil pH are low, the lime rate would be low. However, for soils with high buffering capacity (low buffer pH), the lime rate would be high even for a small change in soil pH. Clay soils have higher buffering capacity and require a greater amount of lime for each unit increase of soil pH than silt loam soils. The Louisiana State University AgCenter Soil Testing and Plant Analysis Lab does not run buffer pH. It does indicate the unit change of soil pH with the addition of maximum 3 tons of lime and lets the farmers decide how much they want to spend, assuming more than 3 tons of lime may be too expensive. Target soil pH should be set at 6.3 for soybean and 6.0 for corn and cotton. Lime is required if the target soil pH is 0.2 unit more than actual soil pH. Lime takes six to nine months — depending on liming materials — to react with the soils and raise soil pH. It should be applied uniformly and incorporated in the fall. STATEMENT OF OWNERSHIP MANAGEMENT AND CIRCULATION 1. Publication Title: Cotton Farming 2. Publication Number: 0746-8385 3. Filing Date: October 2021 4. Issue Frequency: Jan - Dec 5. Number of Issues: 12x/year 6. Annual Subscription Price: Free to qualified subscribers 7&8. Mailing Address of Known Office/Headquarters: 875 W. Poplar Ave., Ste. 23, Box 305, Collierville, TN 38017 Contact Person: David Boyd (901-626-1730) 9. Publisher: Lia Guthrie, 7100 Black Bart Trail, Redwood Valley, CA 95470 Editor: Carroll Smith, 875 W. Poplar Ave., Ste. 23, Box 305, Collierville, TN 38017 10. Owners: Cornelia Guthrie, 7100 Black Bart Trail, Redwood Valley, CA 95470; Dr. David Scott Guthrie,Sr., 7100 Black Bart Trail, Redwood Valley, CA 95470; Morris Ike Lamensdorf, 17 S. Third St., Rolling Fork, MS 39159; Mary Jane Lamensdorf, 17 S. Third St., Rolling Fork, MS 39159 11. Known Bondholders, Mortgagees and Other Security Holders Owning/Holding 1% or More of Total Amount of Bonds, Mortgages or Other Securities: None 12. Tax Status: Has Not Changed During Preceding 12 Months 14. Issue Date for Circulation Data Below: September 2021 15.a. Total Number of Copies (net press run): (Average No. Copies each Issue During Preceding 12 Months – 22,421) (No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date – 21,753) 15.b.(1) Outside County Paid/Requested Mail Subscriptions: (Average No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months – 12,120) (No. Copies of Single Issue Nearest to Filing Date – 11,610) 15.c. Total Paid and/or Requested Circulation: (Average No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months – 12,120) (No. Copies of Single Issue Nearest to Filing Date – 11,610) 15.d.(1) Outside County Nonrequested Copies: (Average No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months – 10,157) (No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date – 10,057) 15.d.(4) Nonrequested Copies Distributed Outside the Mail: (Average No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months - 0) (No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date -0-) 15.e. Total Nonrequested Distribution: (Average No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months – 10,157) (No Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date – 10,057) 15.f. Total Distribution: (Average No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months - 22,277) (No Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date – 21,667) 15.g. Copies Not Distributed: (Average No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months - 144) (No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date - 86) 15.h. Total: (Average No. copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months – 22,421) (No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date – 21,753) 15.i. Percent Paid and/or Requested Circulation: (Average No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months – 54.4%) (No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date – 53.6%) 18. I certify that all information furnished above is true and complete. Lia Guthrie, Publisher

COTTON FARMING | OCTOBER 2021

Purity And Particle Size

The quality of liming materials — purity and particle size — is important to raise soil pH. Purity is determined in relation to pure calcium carbonate — calcitic limestone — that is rated as 100%. This rating is called calcium carbonate equivalent. The lime rate recommended by soil testing labs is based on pure calcitic limestone with 100% CCE. The lime application rate should be adjusted based on the CCE of the liming materials. For example, if the CCE is 80% and the recommendation is 2 tons of lime per acre, then 2.5 tons of lime (2 tons x 0.8) per acre should be applied. Another lime quality is particle size, or fineness factor, and is expressed as the percentage of liming material that passes through various sized screens. Finer particles are more efficient in neutralizing soil acidity (increasing soil pH). However, the liming materials should have a good distribution of both smaller and larger particles. The smaller ones can raise the soil pH quickly, and larger particles can have long-term control in neutralizing soil acidity. Both purity (CCE) and particle size (fineness factor) of the liming material are expressed together as effective CCE or effective neutralizing value. The higher the ECCE or ENV of the liming material the more efficient it is in increasing soil pH. Like CCE, the actual lime rate also needs to be adjusted with the liming material’s ENV if the recommendations are based on ENV. This feature is excerpted from an article by LSU AgCenter soil scientists Rasel Parvej, Brenda Tubana and Jim Wang.

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COTTON FARMING IS THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE GINNING INDUSTRY.

Promote Gin Safety On All Fronts This Season Most ginners are part of many organizations. Churches, clubs and service groups are all part of our lives and tend to have seasons. Maybe they are active spring, summer, fall and winter. Or perhaps like your ag organizations, they have two meeting seasons pinched between harvest and planting. We began the last of the summer meeting sessions recently, and it was great to see everyone face to face for a change. In this month’s article, I’m going to hit a couple of topics we really need to keep front of mind. The first is that even though I pray we may be through the worst of COVID, it’s still with us. We must deal with it whether we like it or not. You, as ginners — whether you’re the manager or the plant superintendent or the guy or gal working on the press — must get the cotton ginned. We have to treat this gin season similar to how we treated last season as far as COVID is concerned. We need to keep the gin running! The best way that can happen is to follow many of the same protocols we had last year. Keep groups of employees together, stagger shift changes, minimize congregating in break rooms, disinfect and clean. The variants of the virus going around (delta is the one that’s prevalent as I write this) seem to be better at getting by the vaccines than expected. The positive note is that if people are

vaccinated, the risk of bad illness or death is much less than without the vaccines. So keep up the vigilance. The safeguards you implemented last year will help minimize the negative impacts this year. If you had to shut down even following those precautions, odds are you won’t this year (assuming most are vaccinated). If you had a hiccup and lost a shift, likely you won’t lose the whole shift this year ... provided you keep up with protective measures. That’s all I’ll say on that. Put Safety Ahead Of Productivity The other topic is safety. I know … I know, I’m the guy who keeps writing the safety articles. But maybe that’s because that’s how I got into the ginning business. Being in this industry for more than 30 years now and being involved in safety for at least most of that time in one way, shape or form, we’ve seen a LOT of improvements. We rarely see one-armed ginners today. We rarely see people with hands in gin stands, lint cleaners or belts. We’ve improved in so many ways, but we obviously still have room for improvement. Rarely is not the same as never. Let’s see if we can make this year the year no one has to call the Occupational Safety and Health Administration to report a fatality or a serious injury.

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https://shop.lummus.com The new site features hundreds of our most common repair parts, and we are continually adding to it. And while you are online, check out the all-new Lummus Ag Technology website at www.lummus.com, featuring updated information related to the broad range of Lummus product offerings in Machinery, Parts, and Technical Service. Just more ways Lummus is prepared to serve you now and in the future.

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It starts with management attitude. A good written safety program followed up with management doing things safely carries a lot of weight with employees. When management is the first to put safety ahead of productivity, the rest of the crew will follow. So even though it seems like we just finished the last season and the new one is (or almost) here, think about your safety attitude. What message are you sending as a leader in the gin? Is getting the job done at all costs the message? Or is rewarding good, safe work more of a priority? Have you ever thought about making a big deal about doing the right thing? Employer Responsibility I know these comments seems preachy. But I’m currently attending a safety conference where a young woman explained how workplace accidents don’t just affect the employee and employer but their family and friends as well. She lost her dad to a workplace accident. She was given a scholarship from a charity that is supported by the group putting on this conference and is now a teacher. Our employees are our responsibility. They may only work for us for a season. They may be migrant workers who show up every year. They may be H-2A workers that we won’t see again. But they have parents, kids, spouses and siblings who depend on them. You depend on them, too. Let’s set the right attitude. Work on that safety program and keep to it during the season. Evaluate what didn’t work after the season is over and improve on it for the future. Let’s make this year the one we can say was the first time we didn’t have to call OSHA during the entire season, coast to coast and top to bottom. Dusty Findley, CEO of the Southeastern Cotton Ginners Association, contributed this article. Contact him at 706-344-1212 or dusty@southern-southeastern.org.

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TCGA Summer Interns’ Final Reports The Texas Cotton Ginners’ Association Summer Internship Program has hosted more than 30 individuals since it began in 2008. This year’s interns, Daylan Schulz and Lane Fischer, shared their initial and midterm experiences in August and September. Here are their final reports.

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Daylan Schulz — Texas A&M University I recently wrapped up the final week of my TCGA summer internship, which has truly been an unforgettable experience. In the past few months, I met so many people who helped pack my summer with valuable information and experiences. Specifically, I want to thank Mr. John Steelhammer and Mr. Paul Schwertner for allowing me to learn and evaluate firsthand how they run their specific gins on a day-to-day basis. I would also like to thank Mr. Aaron Nelsen for giving me the opportunity to take part in this internship, as well as placing me at these two locations with such great people. When listening to Mr. Nelsen speak at an Agriculture Systems Management Club meeting last spring, I remember him saying how tight knit the cotton industry is. After an entire summer working with individuals in cotton gins, I now have a better understanding of exactly what he meant by that statement. I remember the first portion of my internship in Mereta, Texas. After spending only five weeks with Mr. Schwertner and his employees, I did indeed feel like I was part of their family. Everyone was so welcoming and friendly. I spent the second half of my summer in Mathis, Texas, with Mr. Steelhammer at Coastal Plains Gin. I found the same to be

COTTON FARMING | OCTOBER 2021

true there — a group of people who treat each other like family. Leading up to cotton harvest, I helped complete the finishing touches on the gin. One task included replacing an outside cyclone, which took up a great deal of time due to its size and location. I also assisted other employees in replacing a section of the screw conveyor that ran across the top of the gin stands. The constant rain that swept across South Texas this summer was just enough to keep cotton out of the gin during my time there. But we managed to stay busy. When I left, local farmers were preparing for cotton harvest, and ginning was about one week away. I will never forget Mr. Steelhammer’s hospitality and numerous stories he shared with me. I will always cherish this past summer working at cotton gins during my TCGA internship. I appreciate the skills and information I learned along the way and will apply them to my career after I complete my degree next spring at Texas A&M. More importantly, I appreciate all the wonderful new friendships I made. Thank you for the opportunity! Lane Fischer — Texas A&M University I want to thank all of the people I have met along the way for their hospitality and welcoming me into the industry. Continuing my work at Taft Gin and preparing their module storage yard for the upcoming season, I calculated the needed grades that would be cut into the module yard to allow for proper drainage. I met with a local contractor to discuss how he should move dirt on the field with a John Deere 770 Grader. After completing the prep work, Mr. Taubert asked me to continue working on the module yard to design the placement of the groups of rounds. I began by retaking measurements of the yard at the gin and a remote yard. I did the math and made a calculator to see how many 8x24 groups I could fit at each site. Finally, I marked out the blocks on the yard and made maps for the module truck drivers. While working on the module yard project, I also spent time working in the gin. The seed flow rate to the seed barn had been an issue in the past, so Mr. Taubert asked me to learn how to use a magnehelic gauge to measure the airflow through the seed pipe. I took initial readings from various places on the pipe. We determined the seed blower speed needed to be increased. After changing the sheave on the blower motor, I took the same readings again, and the air flow was in an acceptable range. Now that Taft is ginning, Mr. Taubert confirmed that the seed is flowing much better to the seed barn. Uncooperative weather did not allow me to see cotton run through the gin, but I learned a great deal about the industry and the workings of a gin specifically. After finishing the internship, I will begin my fourth year working toward a biological and agricultural engineering degree from Texas A&M. I expect to graduate in May 2023. I want to give a final thank you to the TCGA and everyone I met along the way for the opportunities and experiences I had the pleasure of receiving. TCGA provided this information.

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My Turn A New Cotton Sack

uring my early could charge a drink and a snack on Daddy’s bill. A chi ld hood, t he Coke or a Pepsi with a Moon Pie was standard fare. cot ton on ou r I’m not sure why I thought a new cotton sack farm as well as would improve my picking skills, but it was like the that of our neighbors was call of the sirens that sailors hear on the ocean. I harvested by hand. I picked asked Uncle Emmett if I could charge it and pay him a l it t le cot ton, but not back when I picked some cotton. He didn’t try to talk enough to pretend the hot to me out of it or tell me I’d have to ask Daddy. He work shaped my outlook on sent me on my way with that new cotton sack and my life. However, It was because own charge account. of cotton that I got my first It didn’t take long for me to figure out that Robert Neil ex perience w it h buy i ng Richardson’s phenomenal weigh-ins had nothing Joiner something on credit. to do with having a bigger or better-looking cotton I often went to the field sack. What I found out was that long sack got heavy with Daddy to weigh up. There might be a dozen or when it was filled, and the highly welcomed breaks so folks there who had picked cotton all day. They from the hot work came less often. It took longer to pulled the fluffy cotton from the burrs and put it into fill up the sack, so it was longer between needing to their sacks, which they emptied onto burlap sheets at empty it on the sheet. It was longer between drinking the end of the rows. water from the mason jar in the shade at the end of Robert Richardson always had more cotton than the field. the others. His mother, Daisy, was part of the Lawson I paid for the sack but was glad to retire it when family. They had a reputation as strong, honest, Daddy bought a one-row tractor-mounted picker. I’d hard-working people had a good lesson about who were also blessed credit, a valuable “That new sack was packed full of easy with jovial dispositions. long-ter m rem i nder I admired Robert for lessons that thankfully linger on.” to use caution when always picking more spending money I don’t cotton than the others. I’m sure there were days he have. But perhaps there was another lesson of even was exhausted, but it didn’t show in his demeanor. more value. There’s an old saying, “All that glitters The cotton was weighed with a scale attached to a isn’t gold.” I didn’t realize it at the time, but Uncle sturdy pole about 6 feet long. A man stood on each Emmett helped me understand that adage. I believed end of the pole, and Daddy hung one of the tied the new sack would transform my picking to legendburlap sheets on the scale’s dangling hook. The men ary status. As I look back, it seems quite foolish to lifted the load off the ground, making sure it cleared. think that way even for a kid. Daddy wrote down the weight beside the name on But the thing that strikes me as even more foolish each person’s sheet. is how easy it is to ignore lessons already learned. It My approach to picking cotton was quite unre- can happen to any of us. We see that new cotton sack markable. Because of that history, I was given a short and are smitten. We like the fresh scent and smooth and well-worn sack for my expeditions to the field. It texture of the material. If we only had that new cotwas more than adequate to accommodate my efforts, ton sack, we’re certain life would be better. But I but that’s not how my young mind worked. didn’t need a new cotton sack to pick like Robert Joiner’s Store was just up the road from us. Uncle Richardson. What I needed was a new attitude and Emmett kept charge tickets for Daddy and most of more effort. That new sack was seldom filled to the the folks in the Third District community. He wrote top with cotton, but it was packed full of lessons that down when something was bought, then people set- thankfully linger on. tled up with him weekly or maybe monthly. I had — Neil Joiner some understanding of the concept of credit at an Vienna, Georgia early age. Twice a day, when we were working, we gneiljoiner@gmail.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 October 2021

Articles inside

Industry News

My Turn

Cotton’s Agenda

Editor’s Note