February 2020 Industry News

UT Releases Field Crop Insect Management Recommendations

The University of Tennessee Extension Service says the 2020 version of PB 1768, Insect Management Recommendations for Field Crops (and pasture), is now available online.

“The guide has gone through substantial revision this year and closely matches the content on the mobile friendly Disease and Insect Field Guides at https://guide.utcrops.com/,” says Scott Stewart, IPM Extension specialist. “Hard copies will be available soon and distributed through county Extension offices and at various educational meetings.”

National Cotton Council Says New Water Rule Is Practical

The National Cotton Council welcomes the Environmental Protection Agency and Corps of Engineers’ release of the Trump administration’s version of the “waters of the United States,” officially named the Navigable Waters Protection Rule.

NCC Chairman Mike Tate says, “This final rule removes many elements from federal control that were initiated by the previous administration. That includes features that contain water only in response to rainfall, groundwater, many farm and roadside ditches, prior converted cropland and stock watering ponds.”

The Alabama cotton producer says the NCC has worked tirelessly for this rule — an action that will restore power to states for controlling their own waters and their local land use and zoning issues.

“The U.S. cotton industry has long sought consistency and simplicity in water regulations,” Tate says. “All of agriculture deserves a common-sense and understandable rule.”

He says the NCC will continue to monitor the rule’s implementation.

World Ag Expo Will Display ‘Top 10 New Products’

world ag expoResults are in for the World Ag Expo’s Top-10 New Products Competition, with the winners being showcased Feb. 11-13, during the World Ag Expo in Tulare, California.

Exhibitors submitted new products for judging by a panel comprising farmers, ranchers and industry professionals. The Top-10 New Products competition is once again sponsored by Bank of America, according to a news release.

Winners will be noted on show maps, marked with “Top-10 Winner” flags at the show and recognized at an awards session at shows opening ceremonies, Feb. 11.

Among the winners were these cotton-related products.

Cotton Folding Attachment by Berbereia Engineering & Manufacturing, Tulare, California
Using the versatility of the Row Digger, this attachment will pick up the cotton laying in the ditch next to the irrigation border, push it up and away from the border, and lay it back toward the field as you drive perpendicular to the furrows.

• Jaltest AGV by Cojali USA Inc., Doral, Florida
Jaltest AGV is an all-makes, all-systems diagnostics tool for ag machinery (tractors, telehandlers, etc.) to get them back in the field in the shortest period of time. It allows users to connect, read and clear fault codes of different electronic control modules in vehicles but also perform advanced bi-directional controls such as regens or parts calibrations. Visit http://www.cojaliusa.com

• CPH Silt & Sand Separators by Epiphene Inc., Clovis, California
The CPH Separator offers unparalleled removal of clay, silt and sand down to 1/2 micron from irrigation water. It requires minimal pressure loss as low as 1 psi and protects primary filters by lightening the load and reducing frequency of flushing. It also offers primary filtration for pivots and low-pressure drip where only sand and silt are present, saving energy and water. Visit http://www.epiphene.com.

• MY20 8RX by John Deere, Olathe, Kansas
The 8RX is the next leap forward in tractor innovation with the all-new four-track machine form that delivers unmatched flotation, traction and ride quality. The company says it is the only fixed frame four-track configuration tractor on the market. Visit http://www.deere.com.

Cotton Trait Targets Tarnished Plant Bugs And Thrips

Tarnished plant bugs and thrips are important pests in cotton. Bayer has developed a new cotton trait named ThryvOn Technology that will provide cotton plants increased protection — and growers an additional tool — against these damaging pests.

tarnished plant bugs

ThryvOn Technology will represent the first trait in the industry designed to help cotton growers protect against these pests and help reduce the need for some insecticide applications.

Bayer says pending various factors such as regulatory approvals, ThryvOn Technology is expected to be available to cotton growers in the next few years — the early 2020s. It will be stacked with Bollgard 3 XtendFlex Technology, providing cotton growers the latest technology for insect pest and weed control.

Once launched, here are some expected benefits:

• Season-long protection against feeding damage from tarnished plant bugs and thrips through built-in trait technology.

• A potential reduction in the number of foliar insecticide applications needed for control of tarnished plant bugs (Lygus hesperus and Lygus lineolaris) and thrips.

• ThryvOn Technology will be stacked with the Bollgard 3 XtendFlex Technology.

Beginning this season and pending various factors such as regulatory approvals, growers will be able to see educational, academic test plots.

Agribusiness Conference Features Legal Issues, Ag Policy And Arkansas Economy

Arkansas State University Agri-business Conference, Feb. 20, will be held at the A-State Fowler Center and First National Bank Arena, Jonesboro, Arkansas. On-site registration begins at 7:30 a.m. in the Fowler Center.

The morning general session features presentations on the Arkansas economy, agricultural legal issues, and agricultural policy. Lunch will be served in the First National Bank Arena at noon. Afternoon sessions include presentations on commodity, credit and farmland markets.

A complete conference program and on-line registration is available at https://www.astate.edu/. There is no registration fee. For more information contact Astate_Agribus_Conf@astate.edu or 870-972-3221.

2020 Advanced Protection Program Offers Cash Rebates

Americot Inc. continues to offer cash rebates on select crop protection products when purchased in conjunction with its NexGen XtendFlex varieties.

Qualifying growers can earn a rebate up to $4 per acre or more, by bundling their seed purchase with essential herbicides, insecticides and Americot’s CottolyST Enhanced seed treatment.

The 2020 Americot Advanced Protection Program enables growers to select from several herbicide and insecticide products while helping to promote a stronger start and better yield potential for their cotton crops.

To qualify for the rebate, the purchase must include at least 40 units of NexGen XtendFlex cotton seed along with at least 60 gallons of Interline brand glufosinate herbicide or 120 gallons of InterMoc herbicide (or equivalent combined amounts of the two).

In addition, further rebates can be earned on purchases of Moccasin II Plus (S-metolachlor), Satellite (pendimethalin), and Argyle and Acenthrin insecticides, as part of this program.

Americot’s Advanced Protection Program is underway now and applies to any qualifying purchases made from Nov. 1, 2019, through Aug. 31. The offer is open to growers in all cotton-producing states in the United States where the NexGen brand of cottonseed is sold.

For more details about eligibility requirements and specific product choices, growers should contact their participating NexGen seed dealer or NexGen representative. Additional information may also be found at www.americot.com/programs.

Oklahoma/Kansas Launch Great Plains Cotton Conference

The Inaugural Great Plains Cotton Conference, Feb. 25-26, will be held at the Red Roof Inn – Airport, Wichita, Kansas. The 30-minute auxin training session listed for noon, Feb. 25, isn’t part of the official cotton conference. But Dr. Todd Baughman of Oklahoma State University has offered to conduct it.

The conference brings in experts from throughout the Mid-South to discuss different cotton issues. Go to https://bit.ly/2GrpLVu for event details or contact OSU cotton Extension specialist Seth Byrd at seth.byrd@okstate.edu.

New FiberMax Variety Set To Debut In 2020

BASF plans to launch one new cotton variety for the 2020 growing season, sticking to its belief that any new release should offer a benefit over existing ones.

“We tested five experimental lines last year and we’ll be launching just one,” says Kenny Melton, BASF western region agronomic manager during the recent Agronomic Performance Trials Summit in Austin, Texas.

“We want to make sure that what’s brought to the table is something that will fill a new niche. We want to make sure it adds something of value.”

Further down the development pipeline are varieties that have tolerance to four different herbicide modes of action and resistance to three types of insect pests.

The newest addition to the FiberMax family, FM 2202GL is designed for the Texas High Plains and eastern plains of New Mexico where growers still have to plant a Bt refuge, Melton says.

FM 2202GL has resistance to glyphosate and glufosinate herbicides, excellent Verticillium wilt tolerance and good bacterial blight resistance. It also has a semi-smooth leaf, moderate growth habits, a good fiber package and a storm tolerance rank of 5 out of 10. In trials, it has shown high yield potentials under both irrigated and dryland conditions.

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