Specialists Speaking- Zachary Treadway

Zachary Treadway
ARKANSAS

It’s hard to believe we are already in July, but here we are, just after America’s semi quincentennial, and we are well on our way to making a cotton crop. We are now in the dog days of summer in Arkansas as the rain has shut off and the heater has been turned to high. We are receiving increased spider mite calls, and I expect plant bug activity to pick up as corn begins to dry down.

This is the time of year where the majority of our crop is at its thirstiest and using the most water. In the past, we have observed a decrease in fruit due to lack of water during this part of the year, so, for our irrigated cotton growers, it is important to run those pivots or fill that poly pipe, and for our dryland producers, we pray for timely rains.

Also worth mentioning is plant growth regulators and not letting the crop get away from us. Timely use of PGRs such as mepiquat chloride can keep us from a major headache at harvest. As always, please reach out with any questions. Many thanks. [email protected]