CropMetrics 2018 Inaugural Precision Irrigation Summit
CropMetrics is a precision agriculture company specializing in precision irrigation management. The company is hosting a free Irrigation Summit, Feb. 14, at the Clarksdale Country Club, 905 Friars Point Road, Clarksdale, Mississippi.
The summit begins at 9:30 a.m. and concludes at noon. Industry leaders will discuss the “why” and “how” of precision irrigation and offer tips to maximize profit with the technology. Farmers, educators, retailers and anyone who cares about the future of agriculture and water is invited to attend.
To register, please visit cropmetrics.com/2018-irrigation-summit/
Global Retailer Joins Cotton LEADS Program
L.L. Bean, the Freeport, Maine-based retailer of outdoor gear and apparel, has confirmed its commitment to sourcing responsible cotton by joining the Cotton LEADS program. The global retailer joins more than 470 program partners that support the ongoing sustainable gains by United States and Australian cotton growers.
Tom Armstrong, senior vice president and chief merchandising officer for L.L. Bean, says, “For more than 105 years, we’ve helped folks enjoy the outdoors with thoughtfully made gear and apparel. To us, that means being thoughtful about the outdoors as well, which is why we partnered with the Cotton LEADS program. It is helping to ensure that the cotton we use is as responsibly produced as possible, with less water and fewer chemicals. Working with them is just one element of L.L. Bean’s overall and ongoing mission of sustainability.”
Mark Messura, senior vice president global supply chain marketing at Cotton Incorporated (a Cotton LEADS program founding organization), says, “Our Cotton LEADS partners recognize the investments in responsible production Australian and U.S. growers are making, along with their commitment to supporting improvements in cotton globally.
“These efforts come from the cotton producers themselves and impose no downstream costs on the supply chain.”
John Deere Harvesting Equipment Receives Award
The American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers have honored John Deere grain and cotton harvesting equipment with the 2018 AE50 Award.
It highlights the year’s most innovative product-engineering designs in the food and agriculture industry, as chosen by a panel of international engineering experts.
The CP690 Cotton Picker and CS690 Cotton Stripper were recognized for innovations in precision cotton-harvesting technologies that include moisture sensing, round module weighing, Harvest Identification, Cotton Pro and John Deere Operations Center Field Analyzer.
“This is the first time onboard moisture-sensing and round module weighing technologies are factory integrated into a cotton harvester to provide real-time data that corresponds to cotton quality,” says Matt Badding, John Deere marketing manager for harvesting equipment.
“These features help cotton producers preserve lint and seed quality while optimizing the overall production system to maximize yields and profits.”
For more information, visit John Deere at www.JohnDeere.com.
Five New Bayer Varieties Feature High Yields
Yield rules the day, and gin turnout adds to the power of five new Bayer varieties available in limited quantities for 2018 planting, according to a recent press release.
“Choosing the right variety for the right field to harvest the right yield is paramount to successfully managing a cotton crop,” says Jason Wistehuff, Bayer product manager for FiberMax and Stoneville cotton.
Here are the new 2018 FiberMax varieties.
• FM 2498GLT. Growers who want excellent yield potential with medium maturity can look to FM 2498GLT. This semi-smooth variety offers bacterial blight resistance and very good fiber quality potential. FM 2498GLT is adapted to the High Plains, Rolling Plains, Oklahoma, South Texas and East Texas.
• FM 2574GLT. Dryland production on the Rolling Plains feels like home for FM 2574GLT. With outstanding fiber potential and excellent yield potential, growers also can count on this variety for bacterial blight resistance and very good Verticillium wilt tolerance. This smooth-leaf variety also offers high gin turnout.
Here are the new 2018 Stoneville varieties.
• ST 5471GLTP. Growers from South Texas to Virginia can find outstanding yield potential and exceptional quality in ST 5471GLTP. With the three-gene protection of TwinLink Plus, the crop is less likely to need a worm treatment. Resistance to bacterial blight and very good tolerance to Verticillium wilt ensures this smooth-leaf variety starts strong and stays strong all season. ST 5471GLTP is broadly adapted for the Mid-Atlantic, Southeast, Delta and South Texas.
• ST 5818GLT. Dryland growers can look to ST 5818GLT for the high performance they need. With excellent yield potential and exceptional quality, this smooth-leaf variety offers early season vigor and maintains stable performance in a mid- to full- maturity environment. ST 5818GLT is adapted to the Mid-Atlantic, Southeast, Delta and South Texas.
• ST 5122GLT. With a quick jump out of the ground, ST 5122GLT delivers outstanding yield potential and fiber quality. This smooth-leaf variety fits the early to mid-maturity spot on the farm and offers very good tolerance to Verticillium wilt. ST 5122GLT is widely adapted to the Mid-Atlantic, Southeast, Delta, East Texas and Northern Rolling Plains.
Farmers can learn more about these varieties by contacting a member of their Bayer team or by visiting FiberMax.com and Stoneville.com.
Each of the five varieties offers the proven, flexible weed management from FiberMax and Stoneville cotton: LibertyLink and GlyTol.
For protection from worms, TwinLink and TwinLink Plus traits provide Bt protection against major lepidopteran pests, such as tobacco budworm, cotton bollworm, pink bollworm and beet armyworm. TwinLink offers two-gene protection. TwinLink Plus provides three-gene protection.
2017 Cotton Genetics Research Award Announced
Dr. B. Todd Campbell, a research geneticist at the U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service’s Coastal Plains Soil, Water, and Plant Research Center in Florence, South Carolina, received the 2017 Cotton Genetics Research Award.
The announcement was made during the 2018 Beltwide Cotton Improvement Conference, which convened as part of the National Cotton Council-coordinated 2018 Beltwide Cotton Conferences. In recognition, Campbell received a plaque and a monetary award.
Campbell, whose cotton breeding efforts have focused on cotton genetic resources, climate resiliency, and
germplasm enhancement, led the development and release of 10 high quality cotton germplasm lines, four randomly mated cotton populations, and 16 cotton germplasm lines.
One of his nominators, Dr. Jack McCarty, a research agronomist at the Southeast Area, Crop Science Research Laboratory at Mississippi State University, says Campbell has produced high-quality cotton germplasm. Evaluation of his lines under drought conditions on his research plots are invaluable to the development of improved cotton germplasm with genetic diversity for stress.
Another nominator, Dr. David Stelly, a professor in Texas A&M University’s Department of Soil & Crop Sciences, says Campbell continues to make unique and significant contributions to cotton breeding and genetics through his research. His programs encompass a wide range of conventional, non-conventional, technological and biotechnological approaches to cotton genetic research and improvements.
The Cotton Genetics Research Award was established in 1961 by U.S. commercial cotton breeders to recognize and encourage basic research in cotton genetics, cytogenetics and breeding. It is administered by the Joint Cotton Breeding Committee composed of representatives of the NCC, USDA, state experiment stations, Cotton Incorporated and commercial breeders.
Seed Treatment Offered To Guard Cottonseed Investment
PhytoGen TRiO seed treatment, the latest innovation from PhytoGen, is new for the 2018 planting season. Featuring industry-leading active ingredients, it protects against early season diseases, insects and nematodes, helping cotton to thrive all season long, according to a recent press release.
“PhytoGen TRiO seed treatment enables us to deliver the best and most advanced seed-applied technologies,” says Hank King, U.S. leader for PhytoGen. “This unique collection of chemistries will enhance our strong genetic and trait offerings, helping to protect our customers’ cottonseed investment.”
Available on PhytoGen brand varieties, PhytoGen TRiO seed treatment helps cotton thrive. This is what it features.
• Fungicides — Superior fungicide protection against Pythium, fusarium, black root rot and rhizoctonia.
• Insecticides — Broad-spectrum insect control of thrips and aphids.
• Nematicide — Multiple modes of action against root-knot nematode and reniform nematode.
PhytoGen TRiO also contains a biological protein that helps cotton establish a stronger root system for improved plant health that protects the plant and increases biomass.
PhytoGen TRiO seed treatment is also the new platform the company will use to deliver the most effective combination of seed treatments. It will be applied during the manufacturing process and will undergo rigorous quality control standards.
“By streamlining our seed-applied offering, we’re able to ensure it meets our high standards for PhytoGen cottonseed. We will also service and support TRiO just like anything else in our portfolio,” King says. “TRiO complements our PhytoGen Breeding Traits platform and has the ability to provide the enhanced early season protection growers need to safeguard their seed investment.”
Americot Adds Seven New Team Members In Key Geographies
Americot Inc., a leading supplier of premium cottonseed, has added seven new team members to its family: Karen Geldmacher, Southwest Region; Bryan Peyton, Midsouth Region; Scott Russell, Southeast Region; Mike Wood, Southeast Region; Jerrid Small, Louisiana; Cody Jones, High Plains Region; and Shane Osborne, High Plains Region.
“Due to our tremendous growth and customer demand in the last year, we continue to add highly talented agriculture professionals to our team,” says Chiree Fields, Americot general manager.
“I am extremely pleased they have all joined Americot and feel very fortunate we’re able to welcome them into the Americot family.”
For more information on Americot and NexGen brand cotton products, call 888-678-SEED (7333) or visit www.americot.com.
Arizona Agriculture Loses Another Hero
On my hero list, I have those who I call the quiet heroes. Sylvia Manterola, who passed away Jan. 10, was one of those.
Inheriting a rich Spanish and French Basque heritage, Sylvia Manterola was born in Winslow, Arizona, the oldest of three sisters and one brother. She grew up on the Tillman ranch 75 miles south of Winslow. She and her sisters were instrumental in helping their parents become American citizens.
Sylvia attended Arizona State University when it was Arizona State College and majored in business. While trying to decide what her career would be, she tragically lost her Dad at age 21 and began helping her Mom manage the family’s farm business. She quickly became the Chief Executive Officer. She was active in her church, the Arizona Wool Producers, Cattle Growers and Pinal County Farm Bureau.
In 2014, Sylvia Manterola received the Arizona Farm Bureau Heritage Award during AFB’s 93rd Annual Conference. The award is given to individuals and families who are involved in agriculture and have given extraordinary voluntary service to their industry and their Farm Bureau.
With never much fanfare, Sylvia simply did what had to be done. And, my take on how she approached things is that she was a bit stubborn. We’ve all been told that even when bankers and other business professionals told her to just sell the family business, she and the family remained steadfastly determined to succeed.
So, Sylvia Manterola is one of my heroes: Much is done; little is said. She was a doer and will always be loved and appreciated by family and friends.
— Julie Murphree
Arizona Farm Bureau Outreach Leader
Arizona Farm Bureau Nationally Recognized
Arizona Farm Bureau received American Farm Bureau Federation’s prestigious Pinnacle Award, the highest honor a Farm Bureau state can be awarded for program and membership achievement.
State Farm Bureaus were presented awards at the American Farm Bureau Federation’s 2018 Annual Convention & IDEAg Trade Show. The awards recognized excellence in implementation of outstanding member programs and membership achievement in 2017.
To earn the Pinnacle Award, Arizona Farm Bureau had to earn recognition in all four areas of programming excellence: Advocacy; Engagement and Outreach; Leadership and Business Development; and Membership Value.
The Awards of Excellence are presented to state Farm Bureaus that demonstrate outstanding achievements in four program areas: Advocacy; Engagement and Outreach; Leadership and Business Development; and Membership Value.
Because AFBF gives out six Pinnacle awards based on member size, Arizona joined Florida, Massachusetts, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Tennessee in earning top honors.
But the recognition didn’t stop there. Arizona Farm Bureau also earned the New Horizon Award this year. It honors states with the most innovative new programs. Other states that earned the recognition included Alabama, Massachusetts, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Virginia.
Arizona Farm Bureau President Stefanie Smallhouse accepted the New Horizon Award in recognition of the Farm to Football Program, designed to reach children with the agriculture story tied to a popular sport. In this case, it was football.
This is Arizona Farm Bureau’s second time to win the New Horizon Award.