Cotton Farming - Cotton Consultant's Corner

	Click here to ask Trey Bullock a question or submit a comment about this month’s Cotton Consultant’s Corner.

Burndown Tips

1.	Apply the right product/ products and spray to kill “key weeds” at the proper size using the proper use rate. In some fields, to control certain weeds, such as primrose, marestail, etc., a tank mix is needed. But don’t overspray every field with a tank mix if one product will take care of most weeds across all of your acres. You can save money on some fields by not tankmixing.
2.	Save money by scouting your fields and making burndown recommendations on a field-by-field basis.
3.	Coverage is important. Be sure to put out enough water for the her-bicide to be effective. Follow the label on planting restrictions.

Trey Bullock
Bullock’s Ag Consulting
Hattiesburg, Miss

• Eleven years crop consulting experience
• B.S. degree in Ag Pest Management – Mississippi State
• Member of the Mississippi Ag Consultants Association
• CCA licensed
• Enjoys hunting, fishing and spending as much time as possible with his two young sons

In this Q&A interview, Bullock talks about the challenges he faces and the rewards he realizes as a consultant in today’s new ag environment.

What services do you offer and how do they contribute to your farmer client’s profitability?

I consult on cotton and peanuts in seven counties in south Mississippi. My services include soil sampling, equipment calibration, variety selection and GPS work. I also make recommendations for burndown, insecticides, PGRs and defoliation. I keep field-by-field records, including cost/acre and the total amount of product that was applied, which helps farmers determine their ROI.

What’s your approach to processing technology/product information that you eventually pass on to the farmer?

I attend as many meetings as possible. I also visit with basic manufacturers, industry personnel and other consultants, then determine which technologies/products fit our area and each client’s goals. Most of my clients are learning and studying their options at the same time that I am. We basically sit down and discuss everything together.

In your career, what’s been the biggest change for crop consultants?

The biggest change for me is trying to adapt to all of the new technologies. We as human beings at times get comfortable with what we are doing and would like to keep everything the way it is. But with innovative clients and new technologies, you either keep up or get left behind in a big hurry. Independent consultants can bring more added value to their business and to the farmer’s bottom line not only by keeping up with new technology but also expanding the services that they offer in their own businesses.

What has been the most rewarding part of your profession?

For me, the most rewarding part of my profession is a long list. However, I would say the most rewarding part is dealing with my clients and their families. It’s exciting to see their successes and feel like you had a part in it, as well as being appreciated.