There seems to be a never-ending list of government proposals that would make routine agricultural practices difficult or impossible to perform – and the latest from two federal agencies could bring a raft of new requirements aimed squarely at...
Thrips are tiny, but mighty, insects that have the ability to delay maturity and damage cotton in the very early stages of growth, and, if not controlled properly, reduce lint yield at harvest.
Gus Lorenz, University of Arkansas entomologist,...
Right now our cotton on the Coastal Bend is in the squaring stage of development. At this point, the primary pest that we worry about the most is the cotton fleahopper. This is a traditional pest that you'll find in the eastern and southern part of the state – and certainly more so than in the High Plains.
Every cotton insect pest has its own calling card. But when it comes to unpredictability and consistent threat potential, the plant bug is in a class by itself. Maybe that's why it continues to be a nemesis for...
Insect pressure trends throughout the Cotton Belt are fluid and ever changing. Even with cotton acreage in a general decline in California and Arizona, producers and researchers have maintained a strong focus on controlling insect pests.
Cooperative efforts between USDA/-...
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has announced that USDA is seeking applications from rural small businesses and agricultural producers for funding to make energy efficiency improvements or to install renewable energy systems. "Developing renewable energy presents an enormous economic...
FLORIDA David Wright
Farming is like life in that you never know what kind of turn it will take and what the issues will be. We had a slow start to planting cotton and peanuts in Florida, and corn was...
Nothing puts my mind at ease quite like driving a little stretch of highway between Slaton and Lubbock, Texas, on US 84. Ten miles of unencumbered highway marked by an endless horizon and, when in season, a pearlescent ocean...
OSHA has paid visits to two gins in Texas over the last 12 months. We have learned several lessons from these two visits. One of the main lessons we have learned is that the ginning industry has very...
I heard somebody recently say that it was a bit discouraging to see all of this cool, wet weather in May. And, I had to agree with that assessment. When a farmer is trying to plant cotton on time...
The NCC is working to ensure that U.S. cotton warehouses understand why compliance with the minimum shipping standard in the USDA Commodity Credit Corporation's Cotton Storage Agreement is vital to the cotton industry's health. The NCC's Board of Directors earlier this year approved a NCC Cotton Flow Committee recommendation that will give USDA the ability to see shipping order scheduling exchanges between merchants and warehouses.
When I looked at the weather map recently and saw that a large area of the Texas High Plains was receiving significant rainfall, I thought I was dreaming. The months have turned into years as this region has awaited...
Dr. Brooks Blanche, Cotton Development Specialist, Dow AgroSciences St. Joseph, La.
This winter and spring in the Mid-South will be remembered for recordbreaking cold temperatures and ample rainfall. While this has some advantages for reducing insect populations and recharging soil...
By Xi Jin, Manager of International Cooperation, China National Cotton Information Center Beijing, China
Value In Brands
The premium of cotton partly exists in quality, but mostly in brand. Tagging the cotton brand onto the end products will boost the value...
How will cotton transition payments be paid? This was a popular question raised at the education meetings. Due to the late passage of new farm legislation and necessary implementation timelines, new insurance products will not be available until the 2015 crop. To bridge the gap, upland cotton will have a transition payment for the 2014 crop. The payment equates to 5.4 cents/pound paid on all 2013 base acres and direct payment yield. The payment extends to
