“You can’t teach an old dog new tricks” is a saying first attributed to a 1530s animal husbandry book in reference to sheep dogs. I’d like to think it doesn’t apply to cotton growers and ag professionals. With that assumption, I’d like to propose two harvest-time challenges. • A Quick Plant Map. After defoliation but before harvest, take 5 minutes ... Read More »
Florida cotton has good yield potential at this point. Weather has been mostly good for growing and fruit set. Many of our growers use conservation tillage when planting but may plant into winter fallow weeds while some plant into cover crops. Our data over the years with cover crops shows that they can help with erosion control and moisture conservation ... Read More »
The 2020 season has been a challenging one thus far to say the least. As I write this June 2, our acreage is noticeably down due to prices and especially to the abnormally uncooperative planting weather throughout the large majority of our planting season. Many of our acres fell to prevented planting, other crops (primarily soybean), or both, although it ... Read More »
The hummingbirds that appeared in our backyard in March developed goose down to survive April and early May. Cotton seed planted in early May in North Alabama needed jackets and waders, while further south, they desperately thirsted for water. Spring finally turned the corner to warmer temperatures on May 12. In Central and South Alabama, soil moisture became extremely limited ... Read More »
As of mid-April, early planted cotton in the Texas Rio Grande Valley was squaring. There have been some isolated reports of early pressure from thrips and aphids. Early season scouting for these pests and understanding economic thresholds for each one is essential to developing and executing timely management practices. Postemergence herbicide applications should be in full swing in this region. ... Read More »
With planting underway and small seedlings emerging across the state, it is important to remember there are many things that can occur in the field affecting the survivability of those seedlings. Among those is seedling disease. Disease pressure can have a negative impact on seedling emergence and survivability, reducing stand and sometimes resulting in replanting. The two main seedling diseases ... Read More »
As we approach cotton-planting season, growers should be aware of all factors influencing initial crop establishment. By now, most have already selected varieties. It is time to focus on pieces of information that can assist you in making decisions during the planting process. When planting season rolls around, folks get busy. I encourage you to pay close attention to the ... Read More »
Cotton Farming One Grower Publications