Specialists Speaking- Zachary Treadway
Zachary Treadway
ARKANSAS
It is May 12 as I write this, and we are rolling in Arkansas and have been for several weeks. A dry spring allowed for early planting to move along without a hitch, and some cotton got planted in mid-April in South Arkansas. Fast forward to mid-May, and we are 40% done planting, compared to a 35% five-year average, and I suspect we will see a drastic increase in that number when the report comes out next week as the weather has been phenomenal this week. This is a drastic improvement from the previous two springs, which both provided substantial rain in April and May.
It is now the time of the season when we are paying attention to early season pests, which happens to be the prompt for this month’s comments. When I think of pests, I am thinking of both insects and weeds. The first 40 days from planting are a critical time in the life of a cotton crop, and it is vital to maintain a pest-free environment to ensure we are maximizing yield. Early in the season, thrips are a large concern and should be monitored closely. The current Arkansas threshold is between two and five thrips per plant with damage present. Plant bugs can also pose an early season issue and should be monitored as well.
This is also a vital time to control weeds. The critical weed-free period for cotton also falls within that first 40 days, and it is extremely important to keep weeds to a minimum, as to not hinder cotton growth. An effective burndown program, followed by pre-emergence application at planting, is a must in this endeavor as the only way to stay clean is to start clean. The cotton growing season can be long and tedious, and while we cannot make a crop in May, we can sure break one. As always, please reach out with any questions. Many thanks.
Zachary Treadway
ARKANSAS
