Disease Control

CALIFORNIA UPDATE By Bob Hutmacher Extension Specialist/Agronomist University of California We had what seems like another “unusual” spring this year, with a warm mid-March that encouraged early plantings followed by cool and even cold weather on multiple occasions during April and...

Researchers Set Their Sights On Target Spot Control, But Several Questions Remain By Vicky Boyd Managing Editor Although researchers are gaining a better understanding of the fungal pathogen that causes target spot, they admit they still have a lot of unanswered...

Although cotton producers in the West have seen a decrease in Cotton Research and Promotion Program (CRPP) State Support Program (SSP) funding over the past few years due to the decline of cotton production in the region, the SSP...

Cotton research at the U.S. Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service Arid-Land Agricultural Research Center in Maricopa, Ariz., ensures that systems benefitting agriculture in arid and semi-arid Western regions are also important throughout the United States. The Arid-Land Agricultural Research Center...

Delivered As Promised The menu of cotton varieties from which to choose in 2017 includes a host of high-yielding, good quality selections. To help you get started, seed companies from across the Cotton Belt provided information about their headliners on...

It’s The Time Of The Season Late fall, early winter is the time of the season for slowing down a bit after a hectic harvest and contemplating which varieties will have the best fit in your operation in the upcoming...

The ABCs of variety selection may start with letters behind a variety name denoting insect resistance or herbicide tolerance technology, but they certainly do not end there. Beyond the letters are complex characteristics controlled by multiple genes – yield, fiber quality, stress response, disease resistance, plant type and relative maturity. “A” stands for area-appropriate. Consider performance data generated from the same area as your farm. Know specific field production constraints and choose varieties with appropriate disease resistance, nematode tolerance and moisture stress response. “B” is for broadening risk with more than one variety in more than one maturity class so harvest on large farms can be staggered. Broadened risk improves the odds of catching beneficial rains and avoiding widespread hail damage. “C” is for control. Stay grounded with input capabilities. Highhorsepower varieties in low-input situations can lead to quality problems. “Control” reminds me of the first cotton farmer to ask my advice on variety selection – my father, who passed away in May. Professional presentation of yield data did not impress him. He told me, “I can make these varieties yield. Show me something with the potential for good fiber quality. I have less control over that.”

The NCC Planting Intentions Survey shows less than a one percent increase in acreage for Missouri. Based on past reports, this may or may not happen with a lot depending on the weather. In the past, I have noticed that the Missouri intentions are usually overestimated.

Seed treatments are an important investment for cotton farmers to make each year. Most will say that it’s mindboggling to think about the front-end costs made in a crop before it ever comes out of the ground. But those same...

Regardless of where a consultant might scout his acreage, he will find some timely information at the 2014 Beltwide Cotton Conferences (BWCC) in New Orleans, Jan. 6-8. One of the main attractions will be the Consultants Conference scheduled on the...

By Amanda Huber Southeast Editor Consider the old adage, “No news is good news,” as a theme for cotton acreage in the Southeast in 2012. With adequate rainfall and no major problems, producers likely welcomed a low-key year, especially when the...

By Tucker Miller Drew, Miss. After reading my good friend Roger Carter’s memorable “My Turn” column, I realize how fortunate I am to be in the consultant profession. I was lucky enough to work for a man named Mike Sturdivant, who...

Kobin Worthy Worthy Cotton Pest Management, Inc./cotton farmer Cadaretta, Miss. (Consults in the Bootheel of Missouri, Sikeston area) In the summer of 1977, I started down a road that I had no idea of where it would take me. I...

By Brent Murphree Maricopa, Ariz. Cotton ginners have a slightly different take on cotton harvest than the producers who bring their crops to the gin. While producers focus on yields, micronaire and how quickly they can get their crops ginned, ginners are...

MISSOURI Mike Milam milammr@missouri.edu According to the Missouri Crop Progress and Condition Report for the week ending Aug. 12, cotton setting bolls and beyond was 81 percent, 10 days behind last year and 12 days behind normal. Cotton opening bolls was nine...