Because of excess rains and flooding to extreme drought conditions, many cotton producers were anxious to put the 2011 season behind them. Before it was completely out of mind though, Cotton Farming asked its readers to compare the progress of their 2012 crop to that of their 2011 crop at mid-season.
Following is a sampling of the many comments that we received on this topic, including the location of the respondents’ farming operations:
• “No moisture below the seed or plant root. Will not last long.” – Jones County, Texas
• “About the same as last year. Even though we planted earlier than last year, thrips damage caused a setback. They were hard to control this year.” – north Alabama
• “We had better moisture conditions at planting that resulted in better stands. We also had moisture to activate herbicides in most fields, resulting in better weed management.” – Don Clark, southwest Georgia
• “Soil moisture and stands are much better than a year ago. Last year at this time much of the dryland crop was just out of the ground as we went all of May and the first two weeks of June without rain. The April-planted cotton looks good. It has been 12 days since our last rain, and we are beginning to need another one, especially with high 90s to around 100 degrees in the forecast.” – Dooly County, Ga.
• “Looks good, but we need rain!” – southern Kansas
• “I got off to a great start in the third week of April and didn’t have to replant. In my worst Palmer field, we sprayed 29 ounces of Ignite over the top of one-inch 499 cotton. Cleaned it up! Followed by spot spraying with a handheld sprayer on an open 4020 two weeks later for ‘escapes.’ Roundup worked better this year. We nitrated before a big rain, and everything is looking excellent.” – Wiley Farrar, Atmore, Ala. (50 miles east of Mobile)
• “No moisture, severe thrips pressure, late planting. Some of my crop looks good; the other 60 percent is not so hot.” – southeast Missouri
• “Cotton in southwest Oklahoma looks much better than this time last year despite some hailstorms. Mois-ture has been good so far, but they’re forecasting at least two weeks of 102 to 110 degree days. I don’t think we will have enough irrigation to finish out a crop if we don’t continue to get some rain, but I am thankful for what we have gotten.” – Hollis, Okla.
• “Cotton is in pretty good shape for now. Got it in early with the warm spring and caught some good early rain. Starting to need some more rain now with the 100 degree days on the way.” – central Georgia
• “Cotton is better here than last year, but the temperatures are much lower. The crop was planted two weeks earlier this year and came up growing. However, resistant weeds are a bigger problem.” – northwest Louisiana
• “Planted earlier into marginal moisture, but got timely rains as needed to activate herbicides. Low insect pressure so far. Excellent growth and fruit set. Hate to sell for break-even prices at best.” – Mississippi Delta
• “We’re very dry in southeast Missouri – about 13 inches short on rain as of June 30. Expecting 105 degree temperatures for four to five days.” – New Madrid, Mo.
Web Poll Results
To participate in this month’s Web Poll, go to https://www.cottonfarming.com to cast your vote and share your comments. Please include your location. Results of the August poll will be reported in the September issue of Cotton Farming.
How would you rate the progress of your cotton crop at this time of the season (end of June, first week of July) as compared to 2011?
Same as last year – 10 %
Better than last year – 56 %
More challenges than last year – 34 %
August Web Poll Question
How do you view the status of the new Farm Bill and why?
(1) It will be written by Sept. 30 when the current Farm Bill expires.
(2) It will be written fairly soon after the November elections.
(3) It will be extended “as is” for another year.
Register your vote at www.cottonfarming.com