Cotton Farming - Cotton Consultant's Corner

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

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Trent LaMastus
LaMastus Cotton Consultants, Inc.
Cleveland, Miss.

• BS degree in Biology from Delta State University
• Member of Mississippi Ag Consultants Assn. for 14 years
• Served 2-year term on MACA Board of Directors
• Consults on cotton, rice, soybeans, corn, peanuts & other crops
• Enjoys spending time with his wife of 10 years, Jennifer, and
sons, Stephen Trent, Jr. and William Tucker

In this Q&A interview, LaMastus talks about the chal -
lenges he faces and the rewards he realizes as a consul -
tant in today’s new ag environment.

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

As the needs of my clients have changed, I have tried to
evolve to fit their needs. I have adapted to the use of GPS
technology and begun grid and direct soil sampling. We
have used GPS to some degree with our overall scouting
program, including insects, weeds, PGR, drainage, defoliation, VR fertilizers and nitrogen recommendations and variety selections. My scouts and I probably spend more time in our client’s field than anyone else involved in his operation. The more information I can provide, the better he can make decisions that will affect his bottom line.

What have you found to be the best approach to processing information/ technology and sharing it with your farmer clients?

Being a member of the Mississippi Ag Consultants
Association has been an invaluable source of information,
industry contacts and great friends. I also rely very heavily on our MSU Extension Service. My area chemical reps and local distributor reps typically contact me directly with updates, and the companies are quick to e-mail or fax time sensitive information. After winter meetings I try to determine what might be of interest or value to my clients. I start calling and visiting them around January and February so we can share ideas about the coming season.

As we look to the future, how would you describe the role of the cotton consultant as the industry continues to evolve?

In the immediate future, I would describe the role of a Mississippi Delta crop consultant as a corn and soybean consultant. Having said that, the role of a cotton consultant is going to be more important than ever. We are entering a new era in pest management. In the Delta we are seeing higher levels of organophosphate-resistant tarnished plant bugs and many glyphosate-resistant weed species. Big acres are being shifted from cotton to grain, and we are likely to see an increase in populations of bollworm, plant bugs and stinkbugs. As growers adapt to new technology, they will
realize the benefit of having an unbiased opinion to help evaluate how best to use these resources. Who better to do that than the consultant out walking your fields twice a week from planting to crop termination?

What has been the most rewarding part of your profession?

I am truly blessed to be able to make a living doing something I enjoy so much. One of the most rewarding parts of my profession is getting to work with the best people in the industry – from my clients to Extension to chemical reps and dealer reps to fellow consultants and ag pilots. Some of my best relationships stem from my profession.