Production

Bad Verticillium Wilt Years Highlight Need To Choose Tolerant Varieties. • By Vicky Boyd, Managing Editor • Alan Monroe, who farms cotton north of Plainview, Texas, never thought much about Verticillium wilt and the need for selecting varieties with tolerance to the soilborne pathogen until 2017 Last summer’s cool, wet weather later in the growing season caused Verticillium wilt to explode, ... Read More »

Walmart has joined the Cotton LEADS program supporting responsible production practices by cotton producers. “Cotton is a major ingredient in many of our apparel and home textile products,” says Ken Lanshe, Walmart’s vice president, general merchandise, technical, quality and sustainability. “Through the Cotton LEADS program, Walmart hopes to learn from and collaborate on efforts that U.S. cotton farmers are taking ... Read More »

Properly cleaning and servicing the cotton picker each night or morning will result in better performance and lower potential of fire throughout the day. Most producers do a thorough cleaning from top to bottom before greasing, adding fluids, and inspecting and repairing. Here are some picker cleaning and servicing tips from Cotton Incorporated. Cleaning Procedures Check engine oil and coolant ... Read More »

Strategic Thinking Keeps Cotton In The Mix By Carroll Smith Editor Mississippi author David L. Cohn once said, “The Mississippi Delta begins in the lobby of the Peabody Hotel in Memphis and ends on Catfish Row in Vicksburg.” This region is proud of its history, which contains many colorful chapters populated by Indians, blues music and snowy white cotton fields. Gary ... Read More »

Protect yield and quality from cotton insect pests. By Carroll Smith Editor The boll weevil was a legendary cotton pest that tortured farmers for years. “Wanted” posters featuring the insect’s “mug shot” adorned the walls of many farm offices in South Texas. And songs were even written about the insect, including Brook Benton’s version in 1961. In this adaptation, the ... Read More »

Cotton and quail reflect the Southern traditions of this southwest Georgia operation By Carroll Smith, Editor When he was 18 years old, Larron Copeland purchased 30 acres from his father and began shaping what is now known as Showtime Farms in southwest Georgia. Today, he raises about 5,000 acres of cotton, corn, peanuts and soybeans with his wife, Laura, and ... Read More »

Missouri’s Rone Family Strives For Efficiency By Tommy Horton Defoliating and harvesting a cotton crop is like painting a picture. Unless everything is mixed together perfectly, the finished product won’t be that good. Some have even suggested that the entire exercise (defoliation and harvesting) is an art form, and it’s all about timing. Maybe that’s an exaggeration, but that is ... Read More »