Cotton Farming June 2019

Cotton Farming ONE GROWER PUBLISHING, LLC

PROFITABLE PRODUCTION STRATEGIES

JUNE 2019

www.cottonfarming.com

Family Legacy Shines In ‘Forever Cotton’ Video

MY TURN

UGA Tifton Campus Celebrates Centennial

Across The Belt Cotton Planting Described As Mixed Bag In 2019

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Vol. 63 No. 6

Cotton Farming PROFITABLE PRODUCTION STRATEGIES

JUNE 2019

www.cottonfarming.com

F E AT U R E S

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FAMILY LEGACY SHINES West Texas producer Matt Farmer and his family’s operation are featured in a “Forever Cotton” video produced by The Cotton Board.

15

2019 TMC CONTEST

18

GINNING MARKETPLACE

The fifth annual Transform My Community contest — June 1 through July 31 — is open to eligible cotton farmers and consultants.

THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE GINNING INDUSTRY

TCGA director of technical services discusses how to deal with no match letters sent out by the Social Security Administration.

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2019 Planting

This year’s planting season has been a mixed bag with Mother Nature taking the reins in producing unusual weather in some areas of the Cotton Belt. Other parts of the U.S. cotton-growing region were somewhat dry and waiting on a rain to get seed in the ground. The lucky areas experienced good conditions that allowed farmers to get planted on time or early. The one constant is that no two years are alike when it comes to farming cotton.

DEPARTMENTS & COLUMNS

4 Editor’s Note 12 Industry News 5 Cotton’s Agenda 14 Specialists Speaking 6 Research & Promotion 22 My Turn ON THE COVER: Cotton is planted and up and growing on May 10 in California’s Central Valley.

Cover photo by Vicky Boyd.

Cotton C of the Yeonsultant ar 2019

CCOY NOMINATIONS OPEN

NOMINAT

ION

To nominate a deserving candidate for the Cotton Consultant of the Year Award (co-sponsored by Cotton Farming and Syngenta), fill out the form on Page 11 or online at cottonfarming.com/ccoy.

Deadline for nominations is July 31.

FORM The Cotton Consultant If you would (CCOY) represe of the like to nomin nts the consulta Year recogn who has ition, please ate a consu nt made take a mome ltant deserv to the cotton great contributions ing of this Please use nt to fill industry a separat outstanding out the through outstanding recomm e page for following endations customer biograp form. via letters relations, leadership members or emails hical/profession and innovati al are also on.

Recognized encoura from other farmers information. Additio ged to provide , consult nal Consultan of the cotton by fellow membe ants and support t’s Name: rs industry for the nomine industry, this award is given to Company e.

Name: the consulta only meets nt Mailing Address: these requiremwho not also exceeds ents but City: them.

Syngenta Phone: and Cotton State: magazine Farming — CCOY sponsors Email: In your own soliciting Zip: — are words, please your of the Year” tell us why 2019 recipien help in selecting Award. Additiona you the t, who will l pages may are nominating the Backgrou at a special be named consultan be attached, nd: celebration t above emailed or for the “Cotton February Friday, attached 28, 2020, Consultan to the online t at the Peabod nominatio Hotel in Memph n form. y is, Tenness The winning ee. person who consultant and the nominates receive a the winner two night hotel stay airfare to and Memphis.

The 2019 recipient CCOY also will be featured four-page in a salute in the Februar 2020 issue y of Cotton Farming.

Submit

by July nominations 31, 2019 .

Mail: Carroll 7201 Eastern Smith Ave. Germant own, TN 38138 Scan/Em ail: You can print csmith@onegrow out an electronic er.com the form located on version of the Web site at www.co Cotton Farming ttonfarm ing.com.

Nominat e online: cottonfa rming.co m/ccoy

Biograph attached

ical/Indu stry Involvem ent Backgrou to this form, nd. This emailed or information attached as well as to the online support nominatio letters may n form. be

Your Name: Mailing Address: City: Phone:

State: Email:

Sponso red by

Zip:

Cotton Farming

WEB EXCLUSIVE Dr. Shashadri Ramkumar, Texas Tech University, reports on a recent presentation by Berrye Worsham, president and CEO of Cotton Incorporated.

Worsham highlights three important aspects of cotton to enhance its demand. Go to www.cottonfarming.com for this Web Exclusive report.

DIGITAL OFFERINGS Keep up with the latest from Cotton Farming by signing up for the monthly E-News at www.cottonfarming.com.

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COTTON FARMING (ISSN 0746-8385) is published monthly January through December by One Grower Publishing LLC, 875 W. Poplar Ave., Suite 23, Box 305, Collierville, TN 38017. Periodicals postage paid at Memphis, Tenn. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Omeda Communications, Customer Service Department, P.O. Box 1388, Northbrook, IL 60065-1388 (Phone: 847-559-7578) (Fax: 847-564-9453). Annual subscriptions are $40. International rates are $55 in Canada/Mexico, $90 in all other countries for air-speeded delivery. Surface delivery not available due to problems in reliability.

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JUNE 2019 | COTTON FARMING

3

Editor’s Note

Cotton Farming

Carroll Smith

EDITORIAL/PRODUCTION Editor Carroll Smith csmith@onegrower.com Managing Editor Vicky Boyd vlboyd@onegrower.com

Technology, Know-How Change Everything

T

echnology is a tool that when paired with know-how can change our lives for the better. Over the past century, technology has revolutionized cotton farming. The list is extensive, but this issue of Cotton Farming talks about a few examples.

Joe West, assistant dean, University of Georgia Tifton Campus, has been at this facility his entire career. A centennial celebration was held recently to mark its 100th birthday. In the “My Turn” column on page 22, he describes some of the activities that took place at the historic event and reminisces about the revolution of both agriculture and the science of agriculture.

West recalls that only 115,000 acres of cotton were grown in Georgia in 1983 due to devastation perpetrated by the boll weevil. Then the Boll Weevil Eradication Program came to Georgia in 1987. Within five years of implementation, the program was a success, West says. “Today, there are more than 1 million acres of cotton grown here, quite a rebound for an industry almost destroyed by an invasive pest.” In addition to technology that led to the state’s huge increase in cotton acreage, he credits the know-how of the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Cotton Team to bring it to fruition.

West tells how the science of agriculture has evolved over 100 years, too. “It has moved from simple selection of desirable plants, basic fertility, and managing pests and pathogens to where we now use molecular markers, decode the genome of crops, apply advanced chemistries for pests, and employ precision ag technology in production and capture and process big data to make farming decisions.”

Great strides have been made in breeding technology to bring to market varieties that produce higher yields, show improved fiber quality, withstand more environmental stress, and aid in combatting cotton pests and disease. Incredible advancements in equipment technology have been achieved as well. On page 13, for example, West Texas cotton farmer David Warren describes adding certain precision components to his planter as the equivalent of “turning a pickup truck into a Ferrari.”

And when you combine human know-how behind the scenes and in the fields with these extraordinary tools, success will surely follow. The smarts of university and industry personnel, crop consultants, retailers and the farmers themselves are instrumental in taking today’s technology and turning it into profits at the end of the season.

That changes everything in the world of cotton production.

Carroll If you have comments, please send them to: Cotton Farming Magazine, 7201 Eastern Ave., Germantown, TN, 38138. Contact Carroll Smith via email at csmith@onegrower.com.

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COTTON FARMING | JUNE 2019

Southeast Editor Amanda Huber ahuber@onegrower.com Art Director Ashley Kumpe ADMINISTRATION Publisher/Vice President Lia Guthrie (901) 497-3689 lguthrie@onegrower.com Associate Publisher Carroll Smith (901) 326-4443 Sales Manager Scott Emerson (386) 462-1532 semerson@onegrower.com Production Manager Kathy Killingsworth (901) 767-4020 kkillingsworth@onegrower.com Circulation Manager Charlie Beek (847) 559-7324 For circulation changes or change of address, call (847) 559-7578 EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD David Burns – North Carolina David Lynch – South Carolina Bob McLendon – Georgia Larkin Martin – Alabama Mike Sturdivant Jr. – Mississippi Charles Parker – Missouri Jimmy Hargett – Tennessee Allen Helms – Arkansas Jay Hardwick – Louisiana Ronnie Hopper – Texas Ron Rayner – Arizona John Pucheu – California

ONE GROWER PUBLISHING, LLC Mike Lamensdorf President/Treasurer Lia Guthrie Publisher/Vice President ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COOPERATION: Cooperating with COTTON FARMING are various cotton producer organizations across the Cotton Belt. Many representatives of producer organizations serve on COTTON FARMING’s editorial advisory board. Opinions expressed and conclusions reached by contributors are not necessarily those of the cooperating organizations or the editors.

All statements, including product claims, are those of the person or organization making the statement or claim. The publisher does not adopt any such statement or claims as its own and any such statement or claim does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the publisher.

Copyright 2019 © ASSOCIATED PUBLICATIONS – One Grower Publishing, LLC also publishes RICE FARMING, THE PEANUT GROWER, SOYBEAN SOUTH and CORN SOUTH.

One Grower Publishing, LLC 875 W. Poplar Ave., Suite 23, Box 305, Collierville, TN 38017 Phone: 901-767-4020

COTTONFARMING.COM

Cotton’s Agenda Gary Adams

Driving Continuous Improvement The National Cotton Council wants to show that U.S. cotton not only is among the most sustainably produced fibers in the world but is striving to further reduce its environmental footprint.

Can U.S. cotton claim to be sustainable?

n U.S. cotton producers operate under one of the world’s most stringent regulatory environments and already possess a near 40-year track record of environmental improvement. Further, they continue working at becoming better stewards of their farming ecosystems through best management practices and the adoption of precision agriculture and other technologies.

Some in the textile supply chain, though, say that no definitive standard exists to measure sustainability. So, the NCC appointed a COTTON USA Sustainability Task Force, which sought input from those fiber end users.

That feedback was used to develop sustainability goals for A U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol pilot program is the U.S. cotbeing conducted this crop season. ton industry to reach by 2025: 1) a 13 percent increase in productivity (i.e. reduced land use per pound of fiber); 2) an 18 percent increase in irrigation efficiency; 3) a 39 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions; 4) a 15 percent reduction in energy expenditures; 5) a 50 percent reduction in soil loss; and 6) a 30 percent increase in soil carbon. To help the industry reach those goals and confirm U.S. cotton is responsibly produced, the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol was created.

How will the Protocol work? n First and foremost, the Protocol was developed to authenticate U.S. cotton’s sustainability. Producers will be asked to enroll in the voluntary program, then complete a 100-question self-assessment covering nine categories — soil health, nutrient management, water management, crop protection, harvest preparation, wildlife habitat, fiber quality, trace-

ability and farm management. The confidential questionnaire takes about 30-40 minutes to complete. Next, enrolled producers must agree to use the FieldPrint Calculator or other qualified data product to monitor the farm for best management practices. Enrollees’ final step is completing a statement of commitment to 1) responsible production practices to help safety/environmental awareness and 2) continuous improvement. Independent verifiers will review enrollees’ answers to ensure the Protocol requirements are being met.

We know the majority of cotton producers already conduct most of the practices covered in the Protocol assessment. However, using this formal data collection, measurement and verification procedure will enable U.S. cotton to avoid being excluded by our customers because of sustainability issues. We want to help the textile mills, brand and retailers meet their sustainability goals by sourcing U.S. cotton.

What is the timeframe? n The industry is launching a pilot Protocol program this month with full implementation scheduled for 2020. The Protocol is being managed by Ken Burton, who serves as the program’s executive director. The industry currently is enlisting groups, organizations and firms such as gins, merchants and marketing cooperatives, to assist in recruiting producer participants and in verification of information obtained. The information collected through the Protocol will be continually reviewed and Protocol producers will be able to monitor their sustainability progress — including comparing their numbers with those for their geographic region and/or entire Cotton Belt. Our belief is that through the transparency and accountability generated by the Protocol — U.S. cotton’s acceptance in the global supply chain will be significantly bolstered.

Gary Adams is president/CEO of the National Cotton Council of America. He and other NCC leaders contribute columns on this Cotton Farming page.

Twitter: @CottonFarming

JUNE 2019 | COTTON FARMING

5

RESEARCH & PROMOTION

Family Legacy Shines In ‘Forever Cotton’ Video

BY STACEY GORMAN COTTON BOARD DRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS

T

he Cotton Board’s “Forever Cotton” campaign offers a glimpse into the lives of some of the people who wear, cook with and grow cotton. The campaign illustrates what cotton means for producers and consumers and showcases the far-reaching impact the Cotton Research and Promotion Program has on people’s lives.

During the 2018 harvest season, The Cotton Board and a camera crew visited Matt Farmer in West Texas to chronicle the story of his family farming operation in Lamesa. The story that emerged highlights the sustainability of their land from generation to generation, the pride of their family’s farming legacy, and their approach to producing more fiber and more seed with fewer inputs.

Farmer Family Legacy Madison “Matt” Farmer and his wife, Dianne, have been farming for more than 30 years. Their operation consists of about 10,000 acres spreading across three counties in Texas. They have irrigated and dryland cotton acreage and also grow wheat, peanuts and milo.

The Farmers currently run their operation with their son-in-law Garron Morgan — a first-generation farmer.

Matt’s father-in-law, Arvis Woodell, was the second generation to farm the land. Woodell retired in 1991 and turned the family farm over to Matt and Dianne.

“Farming is all I ever knew, and I thought it was a great way of life,” says Woodell. “I’m so proud of my family for following in my footsteps.”

Matt Farmer says, “In family farms, there can be a lot of pressure. I want to continue to build on what Arvis and his granddaddy built, and then make sure there’s something for me to pass on to my children and grandchildren.

Dianne echoes Matt’s sentiment, saying, “We’ve tried to raise our kids with a lot of faith and a lot of pride in who they were and what they did, and pride in this land of which God allows us to be caretakers.”

Cotton Incorporated’s Agricultural and Environmental Research Department works alongside growers to spur innovation and foster sustainability, so new generations of farming families can continue walking the same turnrows.

In fact, Cotton Incorporated funds an average of 400 ag research projects each year.

“I was sharing with somebody the other day that a lot of times out here on the farm, you get to feeling like you’re on an island or you’re alone,” Farmer says. “And then you realize all the people you actually have working for you through Cotton Incorporated.”

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COTTON FARMING | JUNE 2019

The ‘Forever Cotton’ video featuring Matt Farmer and his family farming operation in West Texas highlights their sustainability practices, family pride and approach to producing more fiber and more seed with fewer inputs.

No-Till Farming Matt was one of the first producers in his area to adopt the practice of no-till farming, having started on their irrigated cotton in the mid-1990s.

“Where we have implemented no-till, it’s amazing to see the organic matter that has built up in the soil. It’s funny, what I’m planting into now I would have gotten rid of 10 years ago, just to make my cotton plant prettier. But we’ve learned it’s more important to protect the soil and hold our moisture.”

Farmer plans to start implementing no-till on his dryland. At the end of the 2018 season, they over-seeded their dryland fields with rye and then terminated the rye to help capture spring moisture. This year, they will plant right into that dryland cover crop.

“There’s a million things you can put on that cotton crop to try and make it better,” Farmer says. “But the advice my daddy gave me a long time ago is the best thing you can put on your cotton crop is your shadow. Cotton Incorporated understands that growers need to be in the field and are directly investing more than $13 million in 2019 into agricultural and environmental research.”

The Forever Cotton national campaign is running in both print and digital media. The video series featuring the Farmer family can be viewed on The Cotton Board’s website, and Facebook and YouTube pages.

To learn more, email Gorman at sgorman@cottonboard.org.

COTTONFARMING.COM

Cotton Consultant’s Corner

Battle Against Insect Pests Begins Again Hank Jones RHJ Ag Services Winnsboro, Louisiana

We consultants find ourselves matching wits yearly with creatures that weigh mere milligrams but can potentially inflict millions of dollars of damage to cotton. Thankfully, the past growing season will not be remembered as anything other than typical for me — same cast of characters, same set of problems. Bollworms have climbed the ranks again to attain the title of “main pest of interest.” With the advent of resistance to multiple Bt proteins, we are returning to the bollworm scouting techniques used more than 25 years ago. Thanks to our university entomologists, we are constantly updated with the best methods to manage this unfurling saga.

Cotton planting in 2019 is delayed but underway in north Louisiana.

I’ve not learned how to predict the future yet, but historically the later we plant cotton, the more insect problems we encounter. Most of the acres I consult this year will be cotton and corn. Consultants well know about the potential onslaught of tarnished plant bug populations migrating from corn into cotton.

Strategy To Control Tarnished Plant Bug Managing that migration can be intense and requires anticipation and endurance. Remember, plant bugs have no regard for producers or consultants. I scout cotton with this thought in mind: Plant bugs feel just as entitled to feed on squares and small bolls as a producer does to harvest those bolls. It sets the stage for an epic battle when I consider myself in competition with a tiny insect for a cotton fruiting position.

My focus in managing plant bugs is making sure I’ve scouted fields accurately. I typically use a sweep net to sample at pinhead square. It is crucial to stay ahead of plant bugs during the pre-bloom period. They are stealthy insects, and adults can damage small squares in quick time. A reduction in square retention is often a better reflection of the presence of plant bugs during the two to three weeks of squaring.

Around bloom, I use a black drop cloth to sample. During this time, I typically recommend applying Transform WG insecticide to combat tarnished plant bug. If pressure is heavy, I make a second application seven days later. This insecticide is reliable and keeps tarnished plant bug populations in check during the early bloom period. Transform also gives me confidence knowing the best plant bug product is out during the most critical time to make cotton. I am very pleased that Transform was again granted a Section 18 for Louisiana. Without it, I am convinced producers would have to spray two to three additional times with harsher chemistries.

I encourage everyone to persevere this year. Many have been dealt a bad hand up front. However, I’d like to think all the face cards are still in the deck waiting to be drawn. Keep drawing cards and don’t fold just yet!

• B.S., agronomy, Louisiana Tech University; M.S., entomology, Louisiana State University • Consulted for 18 years on cotton, corn, soybeans and rice • Graduate of the LSU AgCenter Agricultural Leadership Development Program Class 11 • Past president and current board member of the Louisiana Agricultural Consultants Association • Member of the National Alliance of Independent Crop Consultants and the Louisiana Cotton and Grain Association • Board member of the LSU AgCenter Agricultural Development Program and chairman of the Beltwide Cotton Consultants’ Committee • Married to Melanie. Three children: Stella, 10; Owen, 9; and Nina, 5 • Enjoys reading, deer hunting and playing guitar

Recap: Battle Against Insects Begins Again

1. The later we plant cotton, the more insect problems we have.

2. Consultants well know about the potential onslaught of tarnished plant bug populations migrating from corn into cotton.

3. My focus in managing plant bugs is making sure I’ve scouted fields accurately. I typically use a sweep net to sample at pinhead square. It is crucial to stay ahead of plant bugs during the pre-bloom period.

4. Around bloom, I use a black drop cloth to sample. During this time, I typically recommend applying Transform WG insecticide to combat tarnished plant bug.

5. If plant bug pressure is heavy, I make a second application seven days later.

Sponsored by

Trademarks of Dow AgroSciences, DuPont or Pioneer, and their affiliated companies or their respective owners. Transform WG is not registered by U.S. EPA for sale or use on cotton. Transform has Section 18 Specific Emergency Exemptions for use on cotton to treat tarnished plant bug in select states. Applications for Section 18 Specific Emergency Exemptions in additional cotton-producing states may be pending. To learn more about Transform, to see which states or political subdivisions thereof have Section 18 Specific Emergency Exemptions, to see the limitations on the use of Transform under the Section 18 Specific Emergency Exemption labels, and to find a list of retailers that may carry this product under a Section 18 exemption, call 800-258-3033 or email info@dow.com. Always read and follow label directions. © 2019 Corteva TM ®

t

COVER STORY

Across The Belt Cotton Planting Described As Mixed Bag In 2019

BY CARROLL SMITH EDITOR

T

JIMMY WEBB

This cotton was planted in Calhoun County, Georgia, April 24. Jimmy Webb, who farms near Leary, says he didn’t have to irrigate to get this cotton up, but he did have to water some later planted cotton to help it emerge after conditions became drier.

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COTTON FARMING | JUNE 2019

his year’s planting season has been a mixed bag with Mother Nature taking the reins in producing unusual weather in some areas of the Cotton Belt. Other parts of the U.S. cotton-growing region were somewhat dry and waiting on a rain to get seed in the ground. The lucky areas experienced good conditions, allowing farmers to get planted on time or early. The one constant is that no year is like any other when it comes to farming cotton.

“The San Joaquin Valley has experienced a very strange year,” says University of California Extension cotton specialist Bob Hutmacher. “In general, we had unfavorable weather for planting in March. It continued raining through the spring, and then we had a hailstorm on May 20. That’s very unusual here.

“Hail damage is not super widespread, but significant acreage is affected. I don’t expect a lot of lost acres, but yield potential will be reduced. It’s probably not enough to take out the field, but I would not recommend replanting Pima after a May 20 hailstorm.”

Hutmacher says May was cool, and farmers have had about half the heat units typically available that time of year. He doesn’t expect stellar yields like the ones reported in 2018 but says they will be in the moderate to better range if it warms up.

“Another example to illustrate how weird our weather has been here is that another 2 feet of snow fell above the 8,000-foot level in the Sierras during the third week of May,” Hutmacher says. “One of the big resorts announced it would probably be open through July 4 for skiing this year.”

In Texas, Extension cotton specialist Gaylon Morgan says the Rio Grande Valley looked good the first part of May, but the Coastal Bend had to replant a substantial amount of cotton because of the wet weather. Cotton in the Upper Gulf Coast was planted but is weeks behind normal. The good news is that most regions in Texas have good soil moisture.

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And because you don’t have to mix the two additives, it saves you a whole lot of time. Acenthrin is more effective and it’s more convenient. In fact, nothing else quite measures up. To learn more, contact your local UPL sales representative or distributor, or visit www.upi-usa.com.

Acenthrin and the UPL logo are trademarks of UPL Corporation Limited or its related companies.

Products manufactured for UPL NA Inc. 630 Freedom Business Center, King of Prussia, PA 19406. ©April, 2019. All rights reserved. www.upi-usa.com

TUCKER MILLER

Mid-South cotton farmers experienced an overload of wet weather and flooding during the 2019 planting season. However, Mississippi crop consultant Tucker Miller says there is still reason for optimism judging by the looks of this field planted April 29 in Glendora, Mississippi.

The Rain Set In Planting conditions in the Mid-South were wet, wet and wetter — a weather pattern that started back in October 2018.

During the first half of May, “Very little cotton had been planted in Mississippi, and some of what has will likely have to be replanted,” according to a report from Mississippi State University Extension cotton specialist Darrin Dodds.

“For those in the South Delta affected by flooding, it may be some time before any field activities begin.”

North-central Mississippi crop consultant Tucker Miller says most of his farmers got their planters back in the field May 22 for the final push after being knocked out by a round of rain.

“Most of my guys initially got started April 29,” he says.

“Then we had about 7 inches of rain, so we had to spot plant some of the crop to give it a chance to make it. All of my farmers are rolling now, and with the planting power they have, they will get it done in about five days if the weather holds up.”

Other Mid-South states experienced similar conditions during the 2019 planting season — a small percentage of cotton planted in April followed by some very late Mayplanted cotton.

Irrigated Planting In Georgia At the end of April, Georgia had planted about 12 percent of its crop, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Agricultural Statistics Service crop progress report.

University of Georgia Cooperative Extension agronomist Mark Freeman says, “This is significantly ahead of our previous five-year average of 7 percent. Although wet through most of the winter and spring, conditions in most parts of the state have become dry, and much of our planted acres tend to be on our irrigated lands.”

In mid-May, UGA Cooperative Extension agronomist Jared Whitaker conducted a survey that indicated about

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COTTON FARMING | JUNE 2019

50 percent of the state’s cotton had been planted. He also attributed planting progress being a little further along than normal because of good conditions in late April.

“Also, producers are trying to minimize their risk from losses that could occur at harvest by planting some cotton earlier than usual,” he says.

By the end of May, temperatures in Georgia were increasing, and the forecast indicated it would get even hotter, reaching 100 degrees Fahrenheit in some areas, according to the UGA Weather Network.

Calhoun County, Georgia, cotton farmer Jimmy Webb says he started planting April 24, and “everybody got kicked in pretty good in May.” He estimates his cotton was 80-85 percent planted May 23. “It’s dry right now and the ground is hard, so I am watering before I plant.”

All of Webb’s cotton acres are irrigated. He loves “watching the cotton grow” and shares short videos throughout the season with his Twitter followers — @Jlw1963Webb.

“I believe we are ahead of schedule this year,” Webb says. “After Georgia’s disaster last fall, I think we are shaping up to get off to a good start right now.”

In North Carolina, Extension cotton specialist Keith Edmisten says early planted cotton across the state was doing well, but cotton planted in mid-May was struggling due to lack of soil moisture.

“Conditions went from good to excellent to poor due to lack of rain,” he says.

In a planting conditions report posted online May 20, Edmisten and Extension cotton specialist Guy Collins, say, “We are now concerned about the rapidly decreasing soil moisture over most of our cotton producing areas. The forecast for Rocky Mount is for 0-20 percent chance of precipitation until it finally rises to 40 percent on May 30.”

Despite the varied weather conditions challenging farmers across the Cotton Belt this year, they are staying the course and determined to get their crop in the ground. The one constant is that no two years are alike when it comes to farming cotton.

COTTONFARMING.COM

Cotton Consultant of the Year 2019 NOMINATION FORM

The Cotton Consultant of the Year (CCOY) represents the consultant who has made great contributions to the cotton industry through outstanding customer relations, leadership and innovation.

Recognized by fellow members of the cotton industry, this award is given to the consultant who not only meets these requirements but also exceeds them.

Syngenta and Cotton Farming magazine — CCOY sponsors — are soliciting your help in selecting the 2019 recipient, who will be named at a special celebration Friday, February 28, 2020, at the Peabody Hotel in Memphis, Tennessee.

The winning consultant and the person who nominates the winner receive a two night hotel stay and airfare to Memphis. The 2019 CCOY recipient also will be featured in a four-page salute in the February 2020 issue of Cotton Farming.

Submit nominations

by July 31, 2019.

Mail: Carroll Smith 7201 Eastern Ave. Germantown, TN 38138 Scan/Email: csmith@onegrower.com You can print out an electronic version of the form located on the Cotton Farming Web site at www.cottonfarming.com.

Nominate online: cottonfarming.com/ccoy

If you would like to nominate a consultant deserving of this outstanding recognition, please take a moment to fill out the following form.

Please use a separate page for biographical/professional information. Additional recommendations via letters or emails from other farmers, consultants and industry members are also encouraged to provide support for the nominee.

Consultant’s Name: Company Name: Mailing Address: City:

State:

Phone:

Email:

Zip:

In your own words, please tell us why you are nominating the consultant above for the “Cotton Consultant of the Year” Award. Additional pages may be attached, emailed or attached to the online nomination form.

Background:

Biographical/Industry Involvement Background. This information as well as support letters may be attached to this form, emailed or attached to the online nomination form.

Your Name: Mailing Address: City:

State:

Phone:

Email:

Sponsored by

Zip:

Cotton Farming

Industry News The Cotton Board Hires Mississippi Native The Cotton Board has hired David Miller as its new Mid-South Regional Communication Manager. Miller’s territory includes Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri and Tennessee.

The Cotton Board’s RCMs work to ensure that stakeholders of the Cotton Research and Promotion Program in their respective territories are informed of the activities stemming from the program as conducted by Cotton Incorporated and administered by the Cotton Board.

The RCMs visit producers in the field, speak at industry meetings, participate in trade shows, and coordinate Cotton Incorporated producer tours.

Before joining the Cotton Board, Miller worked as Syngenta’s AgriEdge Specialist in Louisiana. In that role, he assisted cotton growers with data collection and record keeping software.

Miller, a Mississippi-native, obtained his degree from Mississippi State University.

“Having grown up around cotton all my life I’m excited about stepping into my new role as Mid-South RCM for The Cotton Board,” Miller says.

“I look forward to working with the cotton producers in my region and giving them insight into the groundbreaking research and promotion being done by the Cotton Research and Promotion Program.”

Remembering California Cotton Icon Fred Starrh The cotton industry mourns the loss of longtime industry leader, Fred Starrh.

He passed peacefully on April 16 at the age of 89 at home while under the care of his wife, Linda Starrh.

Starrh was born in Arizona on June 15, 1929, of humble circumstance, the youngest son of a family growing cotton in Pima County near Tucson.

In 1935, his parents, George and Mary, moved to a 30-acre patch of sandy earth near the town of Shafter.

Starrh grew up in the shadow of the Depression and the World War II. When his draft card was called during the Korean War, he obliged and was stationed at Fort Lewis, Washington, for two years.

It was while stationed in the Army

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COTTON FARMING | JUNE 2019

Cotton Farming Nabs An Ag Journalism Award The Fresno County (California) Farm Bureau recently held its 25th annual Journalism Awards. This year’s award winners were recently recognized at FCFB’s second annual “Bounty of Fresno County” event at Wolf Lakes Park in Sanger.

More than 25 entries were received from publications, websites, radio and television stations.

The award winners are Vicky Boyd, (pictured left) Cotton Farming magazine; Alexan Balekian, KSEE24 TV; Robert Rodriguez, Fresno Bee; and Patrick Cavanaugh, California Ag Today Radio. Boyd is managing editor of Cotton Farming and editor of its sister publication, Rice Farming.

Serving as judges were Westlands Water District Public Affairs Representative Diana Giraldo, farmer Liz Hudson of Hudson Farms and journalist Don Wright of Water Wrights.

he met Nancy Johnson, who would be his wife and partner of 54 years, and mother of his four children. Losing Nancy to cancer in 2009 was a tragic moment in Starrh’s life. In 2010, he found joy again with his marriage to Linda Colvard.

During his 68-year farming career, Starrh was heavily involved in the national and local cotton industry in California. He also was active in local agricultural water districts and grower co-operatives.

Starrh was an adviser to the National Cotton Council, president of Cotton Council International and chairman of Cotton Incorporated. He participated in local and state agricultural organizations and received many accolades during his career that are too numerous to list.

Starrh was also appointed to serve on the Cotton Agricultural Trade Advisory Committee and Cotton Marketing Committee by Secretary of Agriculture Ed Madigan during the George H.W. Bush administration, where he advised on the development of the 1990 Farm Bill.

EPA Again Issues Section 18s For Transform WG Insecticide Cotton and sorghum producers are applauding Section 18 emergency use exemptions from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for

Transform WG insecticide. Transform provides growers with an effective tool for controlling sap-feeding pests including major yield-robbers — tarnished plant bug in cotton and sugarcane aphid in sorghum.

States receiving Section 18s for cotton production include Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and select counties in Alabama.

States receiving Section 18s in sorghum include Alabama, Colorado, Georgia, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Texas and Virginia.

Applications for Section 18s are pending in additional cotton- and sorghum-producing states.

Tr a n s f o r m h a s s h o w n e x c e l lent control of tarnished plant bug, a perennially troublesome cotton pest. Louisiana crop consultant Jone with RHJ Ag Services LLC says the Section 18 emergency use exemptions are crucial for growers.

“Transform is a reliable insecticide that offers great control of a yield-limiting pest,” Jones says. “The reliability Transform offers for controlling tarnished plant bug is unparalleled.”

Transform WG insecticide has minimal impact on beneficial insects and won’t trigger flare-ups of spider mites or cotton aphids.

COTTONFARMING.COM

Industry News “Transform offers consistent performance and an alternate mode of action desperately needed to control the most economically important cotton pest,” says Dr. Angus Catchot, an entomologist at Mississippi State University.

“If we did not have Transform, we would rely more frequently on organophosphates and carbamates mixed with pyrethroids, which flare secondary pests, requiring even further control measures.”

To learn more, visit Transform.

Corteva.US.

NCC Thanks President For Steps To Advance USMCA Approval The National Cotton Council commends President Trump and his administration for the recent outcome of negotiations with Mexico and Canada to remove the U.S. Section 232 tariffs and the corresponding retaliatory tariffs.

“While cotton and cotton textile products have not been subject to retaliatory tariffs in these key markets, this action represents one of the necessary and significant steps to create a pathway for congressional approval of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement this year,” says NCC Chairman Mike Tate. “The cotton industry appreciates the focus by President Trump and the administration to remove the tariffs.”

The Alabama cotton producer says the NCC will continue to help educate members of Congress “on the importance of timely USMCA approval to restore certainty in the North American market, which represents significant export market share for both U.S. cotton and cotton textile products.”

BASF Launches 3 Stoneville Varieties BASF has released three additional Stoneville cottonseed varieties. Each one is tolerant to Liberty, Engenia and glyphosate herbicides and brings three-gene lepidopteran resistance, which decreases the likelihood that an application for worm control will be needed.

Here are the new varieties. } ST 4480B3XF: This is a new early to mid-maturity variety for farmers in Oklahoma, Kansas, all of West Texas, TWITTER: @COTTONFARMING

New Mexico and Arizona. It fits all kinds of acres and has good seed size, storm tolerance and a very good fiber package. } ST 4990B3XF: This variety has early season vigor and is suited to the eastern Cotton Belt, East and South Texas, the Rolling Plains, Oklahoma, the Southern High Plains, New Mexico and Arizona. It is an adaptable, early to mid-maturity variety, with strong emergence and a good fiber package.

} ST 5610B3XF: This is a medium-full maturing Bollgard 3 XtendFlex variety that will fit non-irrigated and irrigated production areas across the eastern Cotton Belt, East and South Texas, the Rolling Plains, Oklahoma, the Southern High Plains, New Mexico and Arizona.

It has a smooth leaf, medium plant height, and offers a high lint percentage and strong emergence.

To learn more, contact your BASF representative.

MAKE EVERY SEED COUNT MONITORING & MEASUREMENT

DAVID WARREN Lamesa, Texas

TECHNOLOGY UPS THE GAME IN WEST TEXAS “I farm mostly dryland cotton in sandy country. We run three, 16-row planters and have to get consistent seed placement and be super efficient crossing big acres. To accomplish this, I went all in with the Precision Planting system in 2017. The old planters have chains, sprockets and bearings that require a lot of maintenance. Precision Planting technology is a simple, computerized system. Planter maintenance is reduced, and our startup time is about 60 percent faster. All of the components are compatible and very user-friendly.

“The 20|20 monitor mounts in the cab and shows data points, including planter speed, seed singulation, downforce, furrow moisture and soil temperature to name a few. It also has a feature called Good Ride, which means the planter boxes are not bouncing, and you are getting accurate seed placement. We try to keep our Good Ride in the 97 to 99 percentage range.

“Another Precision Planting component we can’t live without is DeltaForce. It’s a hydraulic cylinder that mounts to the front of the planter box and controls downforce. DeltaForce varies the pressure applied to the row unit, so the pressure on the depth gauge wheels is constant. When the planter box is full of seed, this component lifts it up a little bit. As the box starts getting empty, it applies more downward force so the seed is planted at a consistent depth across the field. If you plant cotton too deep, it uses all its energy getting to the surface and won’t ever be a viable plant. If you plant it too shallow, the seed will dry out and may not germinate in this hot, windy West Texas environment.

“DeltaForce keeps the planter boxes from bouncing so we can increase our speed. In the past, we planted at 5 mph. Now we typically plant about 7 mph. Because this component reacts so quickly, we are getting seed up in our center pivot tracks. In the past, the planter just bounced over them. The Precision Planting technology streamlined our planting and increased yield at harvest because we have more uniform plants. Adding these components to your planter is like turning a pickup truck into a Ferrari. It’s pretty neat.”

20|20®, DeltaForce® and Precision Planting® are registered trademarks of Precision Planting LLC. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. ©2019 Precision Planting LLC.

precisionplanting.com JUNE 2019 | COTTON FARMING

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Specialists Speaking Set Early Season Priorities ALABAMA Steve M. Brown

ARIZONA Randy Norton

Among the specialists, I’m the new kid on the block, though I’ve been around the block several times and am no longer a kid. This is my 42nd crop, and I’m still learning… Alabama growers planted considerably more acres than normal in late April and early May. The aim is a half million acres and a million bales of cotton. We’re now well into postemergence weed control. The race against Palmer amaranth and other weeds demands the right tools at the right time, and it helps if growing conditions are favorable. Some products are more finicky than others, and for many, the window for success is very limited.

Timing is everything with post herbicides. A two-day delay can be costly. Price of treatment — products plus application — is the same whether on-time or not. But the results differ dramatically. The auxin products are excellent tools but require vigilance in stewardship.

On-target, timely applications make for good weed control and quiet(er) neighbors. Off-target concerns linked to auxins include physical spray drift, volatility and spray tank contamination. Regarding tank system clean out, the No. 1 point (beyond following label instructions) is vacating, emptying the sprayer. Empty. Clean. Rinse (3x).

Last year, I witnessed contamination from a mixing vat, which back-siphoned into a large water tank. Unfortunately, dicamba from an earlier Xtend application was applied at low rates to Enlist cotton.

While it was questionable initially, the Enlist cotton recovered nicely.

Keep in mind that non-traited cotton is extremely sensitive to 2,4-D but less so to dicamba. Conversely, the opposite is true (dicamba is harsher than 2,4-D) for non-traited soybeans, and to a lesser extent, peanuts. smb0165@auburn.edu

It has been an interesting spring planting season with significant weather events occurring throughout the planting window of April and May for most of the Arizona cotton crop. Predictions from the National Weather Service included forecasts for wetter and cooler than normal for the three-month period of March-May. Well, they did not disappoint. Most of the crop was planted at least two weeks later than normal and, much of the planted crop experienced less-than-optimal conditions during stand establishment. This resulted in some re-plant conditions throughout the state.

Cool, wet conditions during planting season followed a wetter-than-average fall and winter. This increased precipitation was a welcomed change from previous years with very little winter precipitation. However, it has resulted in increased desert vegetation and weeds that have the potential to harbor higher insect populations.

Some issues with false chinch bug have already been observed this season.

It is important to monitor young cotton for insect pest damage as it begins fruiting. Protecting early season fruit set is critical in setting the crop up for balanced vegetative/reproductive growth and realizing maximum yield potential. Monitoring fruit retention and vegetative/ reproductive balance can be done in an easy and quantitative way.

For instructions, go to cals.arizona.edu/crops and look under the cotton growth and development section. rnorton@cals.arizona.edu

ARKANSAS Bill Robertson A small percentage of our cotton was planted in April this season in Arkansas. As I prepare these comments, it looks like we could have some very late May-planted cotton. Our old rule of thumb that up to a 2 percent loss of yield potential may be experienced for every day planting occurs after May 20 still has merit.

The first 40 days in the life of a cotton plant sets the foundation for yield and fiber quality potential for the season. This includes the period from planting to squaring. A crop that emerges quickly and with good conditions for growth should be squaring 35 days after planting.

Pest management issues are generally the greatest concerns for our young crop. However, as we move into the next few weeks in June, other factors including fertility and soil moisture stress become more critical. In dry years, consideration for irrigating pre-squaring cotton may arise especially if new node production slows to five to six days.

We generally do not irrigate cotton at this time in the Mid-South.

Research demonstrates the importance of avoiding stress once squaring begins. Irrigation water management is our next big challenge. There are many programs, tools and practices available to help improve irrigation water-use efficiency. Everyone who uses plastic tubing should be using computerized hole selection. We want to go into squaring with a plant developing a new node every 2.5 to three days and have square retention greater than 80 percent. This puts us on track to having 9 to 10 nodes above white flower at first flower. brobertson@uaex.edu

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COTTON FARMING | JUNE 2019

FLORIDA David Wright Cotton planting got off to a good start in May and has good prospects this season so far. Most growers have a good plan for early season weed control and timely nitrogen applications, which usually occur about 40 days into the growing season. Timely management results in early fruiting and holding cotton to a reasonable height with growth regulators and adequate fruit loading.

Cotton is mostly planted using strip tillage, and weed control is always critical during June before lapping over row middles. Frequent rains bring flushes of weeds. It seems like June is the month for war with weeds. Be prepared to control weeds as growers get behind in planting due to weather or other factors. Planting may extend into June, delaying early season weed control and allowing weeds to get beyond the stage for good control. wright@ufl.edu

GEORGIA Mark Freeman Growers in Georgia historically plant about 20 percent of the state’s total acres in June. Management strategies for late-planted cotton should differ slightly from our earlier planted crop. When planting late, there is much less room for error. Establishing a good stand is crucial as there may not be time to replant.

If available, irrigate to ensure adequate moisture and prevent soil crusting. A rotary hoe is another option to break up soil crusting and allow seedlings an easier emergence.

Continued on page 16 COTTONFARMING.COM

2019 Transform My Community Contest Now Open

BY CARROLL SMITH EDITOR

T

he Transform My Community contest, inspired by Transform WG insecticide and sponsored

by Corteva Agriscience and Cotton Farming magazine, is a way for cotton and sorghum farmers and crop consultants to “transform” an aspect of their community with $25,000. As the program celebrates its fifth year, it’s inspiring and satisfying to see how this prize money has affected the lives of so many different people.

In 2019, Transform WG insecticide, PhytoGen and Pioneer have teamed up to open the contest to cotton and sorghum consultants and growers where Section 18 emergency exemptions have been granted for the use of Transform. Over the past four years, the Transform My Community contest has contributed more than $75,000 to local organizations.

The program began June 1 and runs through July 31. Entering the contest takes just a few minutes of your time. In 500 words or less, tell how your favorite organization or charity is working to help transform your community and how $25,000 would help. Also tell why, as a farmer or consultant, you need Transform WG insecticide to control pests, and what cotton or sorghum varieties you planted this year.

Recap Of Past Winners When the Transform My Community contest kicked off in 2015, cotton farmer A.J. Hood entered and won the grand prize on behalf of the Miracle League of Southeast Arkansas. Today, you can visit Seark Miracle League on Facebook to see kids enjoying the camaraderie of being on a team and enjoying “America’s sport” on a beautiful baseball field designed specifically for their special needs.

Tennessee cotton consultant Larry

Twitter: @CottonFarming

Last year, the Transform My Community grand prize was presented to Bogota Community Center in Bogota, Tennessee.

Kimery entered the Transform My Community contest in 2016, hoping to win the grand prize for the Carl Perkins Center for the Prevention of Child Abuse in Gibson County. His efforts paid off. In a check presentation ceremony, $20,000 was donated on Kimery’s behalf to help improve the lives of local children and their families.

In 2017, Mississippi cotton farmer Gary Dyksterhouse submitted an entry to support Delta Streets Academy in Greenwood. He was named the grand prize winner, and a check for $20,000 was donated on his behalf to help make “dreams come true” for the young men striving to reach their full potential.

Last year, Dyer County, Tennessee, cotton farmer Bettie Woods was selected as the grand prize winner. “I entered the Transform My Community contest with the hope of winning the $20,000 grand prize to help ensure the Bogota Community Center would continue to exist,” she says.

Go Online To Enter Moved by the Transform My Community contest’s success in investing

in the rural communities where our farmers live, Corteva has increased the grand prize to $25,000.

Go to TransformMyCommunity.com to access the contest entry form. Entries are judged on compelling need and tie-in to the Transform insecticide theme. The deadline to submit your entry is July 31.

Casey McGuire, Corteva Agriscience product manager — insecticides and specialty herbicides, says, “We are thrilled to be embarking on our fifth year of Transform My Community.

Including PhytoGen and Pioneer allows us to increase our impact and opens the program up to more growers and consultants.

“We are excited to see what meaningful transformations they make in their communities and look forward to the inspiring stories highlighted through this program. Transform My Community is yet another way Corteva Agriscience enriches the lives of those who produce and those who consume, for generations to come.”

JUNE 2019 | COTTON FARMING

15

Specialists Speaking Continued from page 14

Seeding rates should also be adjusted. In Georgia, top-end yields can be achieved with final plant stands of 1.5 plants per foot, which is often accomplished with seeding rates as low as two seeds per foot.

However, due to the compressed growing season for late-planted cotton, the crop does not have as much time to produce fruit on upper and outer fruiting positions. In this scenario, one would likely benefit from a slightly higher seeding rate to help ensure a sufficient stand as well as add additional stalks in the field.

From a crop management standpoint, take all steps to reduce or eliminate crop stress. Proper irrigation and insect management will prevent fruiting gaps, and a sound plant growth regulator program will limit excess vegetative growth, enhance early node fruit retention and promote crop earliness. Decrease nitrogen rates by 25-30 percent as excessive N can delay fruiting. Monitor plant fertility levels with tissue testing and apply additional nutrients as needed through sidedress or foliar applications.

As we get into the late planting window, farmers ask when to switch to an earlier maturing or short-season variety. In theory, it seems the early varieties would be a better fit in the shorter growing season. However, varieties with the highest yield potential are typically our best option in Georgia regardless of planting date. markfree@uga.edu

MISSISSIPPI Darrin Dodds John Fogerty (of Creedence Clearwater Revival fame) penned the lyrics “….yesterday and days before, sun is cold and rain is hard…..” as part of the song “Have You Ever Seen the Rain?” Growers throughout the Mid-South have seen enough rain over the past seven months to last for some time. As of this writing, very little cotton has been planted in Mississippi, and some of what has will likely have to be re-planted. In addition, for those in the south Delta affected by flooding, it may be some time before any field activities begin.

Given that nearly all of our crop will be planted after mid-May, a few management practices should be evaluated. Thrips: It is well known that thrips damage can delay maturity. Do not allow this pest to cause excess damage and potentially delay maturity. Nitrogen fertilizer rates: Carefully evaluate how much nitrogen you apply.

Extensive research has documented that excess nitrogen can delay maturity. Plant growth regulator applications: Most research suggests these applications have little impact on earliness and should be used to manage vegetative growth. Making adjustments now may help alleviate delayed harvest this fall. dmd76@pss.msstate.edu

LOUISIANA Dan Fromme As of May 9, Louisiana cotton planting is only about 30 percent complete. Consequently, a significant portion of our cotton crop will get in the ground during the second half of May. In Louisiana, peak yields can be expected from cotton planted no later than the second week of May. In past years, lint yields have been reduced as much as 20-25 percent in cotton planted after the middle of May until June 1. Cotton planted the early part of June can experience even greater yield reductions, and soybeans will become a better option.

LSU AgCenter entomologists recommend treating when immature thrips first appear on seedling cotton. Once cotton has reached the five true leaf stage and growing conditions are good, thrips control is no longer needed. When squaring begins, monitor fleahopper and

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COTTON FARMING | JUNE 2019

tarnished plant bug numbers. Cotton should be scouted for fleahoppers during the first three weeks of squaring. Detection can be difficult due to the flighty nature of these insects. Our entomologists recommend treating when 10-25 of these insects per 100 plants are found. These treatment levels may be adjusted to maintain between 70-85 percent first position square retention.

For tarnished plant bug control, pre-bloom threshold levels are 1025 plant bugs per 100 sweeps. Adjust pre-bloom treatment levels to maintain between 70-85 percent first position square retention. The Louisiana threshold for bloom to harvest is two to three tarnished plant bugs per 5 feet of black drop cloth, 10 plant bugs per 100 sweeps or 10 percent dirty squares. Occasionally, clouded plant bugs are found in Louisiana cotton. Pre-bloom and bloom threshold levels are the same as for tarnished plant bugs; however, each clouded plant bug should be counted as an equivalent to 1.5 tarnished plant bugs when determining treatment. dfromme@agcenter.lsu.edu

MISSOURI Calvin Meeks The cotton-planting season in the Bootheel has been wet, and fieldwork has been slowed by rain and cool weather. Some cotton was planted earlier in April in less-than-ideal conditions and should be observed closely. Later plantings toward the end of April into the first of May are soggy with flooding in many fields. Stand issues need to be caught early. With tight seed supplies, there may not be seed for a replant situation.

Because of issues surrounding thrips control with seed treatments, producers with early planted cotton in Missouri should keep an eye out for slippage and be prepared to make foliar applications if populations exceed thresholds. Adequate scouting is critical if seed was planted with just a base seed treatment.

Prevent early season weed pressure with residual herbicide applications. Even with the changes for 2019 applications of FeXapan, XtendiMax and Engenia, residual herbicide applications are needed to reduce early season pressure. They also will help preserve the technologies, especially after reducing total 2019 applications from four to two. Enlist growers should also incorporate residual herbicides.

Be mindful of off-target movement and complete mandatory training.

With the wet weather during April, cotton acreage may increase due to delayed corn planting. The U.S. Department of Agriculture planting predictions have the Bootheel at nearly 400,000 acres, and it looks like acreage may set a record in 2019. We’re all hoping for a successful and safe start to the season and more cooperative weather during the month of May. meeksc@missouri.edu

NORTH CAROLINA Keith Edmisten June is a busy time for cotton growers to sidedress nitrogen, apply layby herbicides and begin growth regulator applications where needed. At this writing, we have had decent weather for planting this year, which means the crop should, on average, be earlier than the past few years.

Therefore, these applications need to occur earlier, based on growth stage rather than calendar date. We recommend applying sidedress nitrogen about two weeks before first bloom.

Hopefully, this allows plenty of time for rain to move the nitrogen into the root zone. This is also a good time to consider starting mepiquat-based growth regulator applications. The cotton should have nine to 10 nodes two weeks prior to bloom if we have had normal rainfall. Height and potential earliness advantages from growth regulators can best be managed at this stage. It’s difficult to be timely with COTTONFARMING.COM

Specialists Speaking early bloom mepiquat applications if you have a lot of spread-out acreage. Applications made after early bloom are rarely helpful in terms of height control or offering earliness advantages.

With an early crop, growers should keep in mind that mepiquat applications will not likely be helpful in making the crop earlier to avoid cold weather or frost in the fall. The likely value of earliness this year is to get pickers in the field earlier for the portion of the crop you will harvest first. keith_edmisten@ncsu.edu

OKLAHOMA Seth Byrd As of early May, the 2019 Oklahoma cotton season has been defined by two words — cool and wet. In some areas, rainfall from late April through the first 10 days of May delayed fieldwork related to preparation or planting. Overnight low temperatures from the Panhandle stretching east across the northern border increased the risk for cotton planted in late April or early May, particularly if not emerged. These conditions also put a hold on any planting progress in areas dry enough to get equipment in the field. On the bright side, hopefully the moisture will allow rapid germination and emergence once seed goes in the ground.

By the time this issue reaches you, we should have a better idea of cotton’s status across the state. Ideally, we will avoid significant replants due to chilling injury. As a result of our May weather, we will likely see some issues with stand establishment due to low temperatures or cotton planted later than planned because of wet conditions.

As we move to the southwest areas of the state, the longer season length will help mitigate some of these issues. The ability to irrigate further lessens the damage. In the primarily dryland northern areas or extremely short-season Panhandle area, enhancing early season growth, minimizing stress and managing maturity become even more critical.

Thin stands often lead to excessive growth as plants compensate for the sparse population. This often requires more vigilant growth regulation. In delayed planting situations, it is critical to meet fertility demands and monitor for thrips pressure to limit a slowdown in growth and development. In both situations, weed control is key, as thin stands provide more opportunities for these pests to take over. Weeds also outcompete cotton for resources, making control in late-planted fields critical for enhancing maturity. seth.byrd@okstate.edu

TENNESSEE Tyson Raper Warm temperatures and a few dry days in late April and early May allowed many Tennessee farmers to begin planting. As I write this on May 9, I believe we have more than a third of our cotton planted. While another rain is forecast over the coming weekend, I suspect we will be full speed ahead next week.

Most recently, calls have focused on seed quality and last-minute variety placement information. Fortunately, many of the earliest planted fields have emerged quickly. Planting windows have been nearly ideal. However, if conditions change and marginal stands are noted, here are a few things to keep in mind. First, we only need one or two plants per row-foot for profitable yields. Since we typically seed at three to 3.5 seed per foot, we can achieve profitable yields with as little as 50 percent emergence.

Second, skips smaller than 3 feet are often not yield limiting. But the number and length of skips larger than 3 feet are considered yield restricting and should affect the decision to replant. Finally, seeding rates can be reduced slightly at later planting dates without yield penalties. Take a look at news.UTcrops.com if you want to see that data.

Hopefully, we will continue to have ideal planting conditions, and Twitter: @CottonFarming

this information will not have to be applied during 2019. Keep up with us at news.UTcrops.com and reach out to your local Extension agent if you have questions. Good luck! traper@utk.edu

TEXAS Gaylon Morgan Temperatures are ramping up in the Lower Rio Grande Valley, and the cotton is growing in response.

The earlier-planted cotton is approaching bloom while the later-planted cotton will be early squaring.

Heavy fleahopper pressure and some aphids are justifying insecticide applications. Due to variable weather, the Coastal Bend has had to replant a substantial amount of cotton this year. This has led to cotton just emerging in early May to cotton at early squaring. Preemptive boll weevil spraying in the Coastal Bend has occurred due to the pest’s return to several counties in 2018. These insecticide applications may lead to flaring of aphids in those areas.

With the wet conditions, weeds are getting ahead of farmers and stretching beyond the application window for Enlist and labeled dicamba products. Sequential applications are expected to obtain adequate control of these larger weeds. Despite the challenges, a full profile of soil moisture in the Coastal Bend is invaluable. Most of the cotton finally got planted in the Upper Gulf Coast but is weeks behind normal. Thrips pressure was low, but fleahopper pressure is high this year. Although growers had good subsoil moisture throughout most of the Rolling Plains, planting moisture was needed coming into May. Cold weather and on-off rainfall delayed some early planting but it was expected to ramp up the last week or so of May. With good soil moisture across most regions in Texas, we should expect increased weed management challenges. Growers need to do their best to target small weeds, use residuals and avoid off-target movement of the auxin herbicides. gdmorgan@tamu.edu

TEXAS Murilo Maeda As I write these comments the first week of May, a few producers are planting in the Texas High Plains.

Much of the area received a good rain May 7, with more in the short-term forecast. Hopefully, everyone is keeping track of soil temperatures and weather.

A handy planting conditions tool developed by Drs. Collins and Edmisten at North Carolina State University available at http://climate.ncsu.edu/cotton_planting can be used to help make planting decisions. As the crop emerges, keep an eye out for early season pests. Scouting is always important and often overlooked during the busy planting season.

According to Dr. Suhas Vyavhare, Extension cotton entomologist in Lubbock, “Seed treatments are usually effective in controlling thrips and wireworms, but problems may still occur under high insect pressure. Thrips damage cotton seedlings until the plants reach the fourto five-leaf stage. The presence of immature thrips indicates at-plant treatments are running their course and an additional insecticide application may be needed. Treat fields when the number of thrips per plant equals or exceeds the number of true leaves per plant. The best foliar insecticide application timing for thrips control is the one- to two-leaf cotton stage for maximum economic return. Wireworms are not a widespread issue in the region but can seriously affect plant stand in some cases. Early season scouting is critical to assist in making timely replant decisions if needed.”

As always, keep in mind that a good planting season, adequate stands and robust early crop growth can pay dividends, assuming Mother Nature cooperates. mmaeda@ag.tamu.edu JUNE 2019 | COTTON FARMING

17

COTTON

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Social Security Administration Sending Out Mismatch Letters About a month ago, we started hearing reports of ginners throughout the Cotton Belt receiving letters from the Social Security Administration. These letters state that there are a certain number of employees in their company whose data is not matching up with the SSA system. The SSA has sent out similar letters in the past, but it has been 10 years or so.

One difference in these new letters is that they do not give you the names that are mismatched, but only how many workers are affected. The SSA suggests you log into their Employer Report Status within Business Services Online system. If you log into this system, you can see which workers are affected, but you have to register with the SSA to get a login.

You are not required to log into the system. You can review your records manually and possibly ďŹ gure out which ones are mismatched on your own. If you don’t want to do this and would rather get the names from SSA instead, you must either call them directly or log into the system.

Cotton Ginners Marketplace

Response To SSA Letter Is Important It is important to understand that having a mismatch is no indication that the worker is not eligible to be working in the United States, and you should not use this letter as a reason to review whether a worker has legal work status.

On the other hand, you should not ignore the letter as Immigration and Customs Enforcement could use your lack of response to the letter against you. In other words, the receipt of this letter puts employers in a tough place. If you did receive a letter, you are in good company. SSA has sent out about 575,000 of them, according to reports.

Some common causes of a mismatch could include things like transposing a Social Security Number from the Social Security Card into your payroll system or misspelling a name in the payroll system. These types of errors should be corrected using the W-2C form. In other instances, the source of the errors will not be clear. If you are unable to determine why a name is not matching up in the SSA system, you should notify the employee of the issue and give them a chance to get it sorted out.

Your employees should understand that it is in their interest to get their mismatch sorted out. You are paying into the system for that employee, but the employee is not getting credit for those payments if the SSA cannot match the payment to a person in their system.

It is important not to ignore these letters. If you receive an ICE inspection in the future, the inspectors may check to see how you responded to these letters and potentially use your lack of response against you. The letters typically contain a 60-day deadline for response.

Seek Advice Before Taking Action If you have an employee who will not or cannot get their mismatch taken care of, you are put in a delicate position. Talk to

18

COTTON FARMING | JUNE 2019

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your association or your attorney before taking any action on this issue. How you handle the situation is very important.

In addition, seek your association or council’s advice if you find a worker who is not currently working for you but is likely to return in the future. It is important to handle these returning employees properly as well. The attorneys at Fisher Fillips have written an excellent article on this issue. It is available at https:// bit.ly/2VRwxhB. There has been a lot more information published on this issue, and we will not attempt to go through all the details in this article. If you have received a letter from the SSA, be sure to check with your ginners’ association right away to get additional details on how best to respond to it.

J. Kelley Green, TCGA director of technical services, contributed this article. Contact him at kelley@tcga.org.

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CCGGA Hosts 2019 Ginners School The California Cotton Ginners and Growers Association recently hosted the 2019 Annual Ginners School in Corcoran.

There were more than 100 attendees, including associate members who participated. Ginners received a wide variety of training from various industry representatives, including AgSafe, Jorgensen, J.G. Boswell, the Western Agricultural Processors Association, D&D Resources and Lummus Corp.

Ginners Session topics included bale handling safety, electrical troubleshooting, fire prevention, hydraulics safety, sexual harassment for supervisors training, as well as the annual safety contest. Participants were tested on topics including safe

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JUNE 2019 | COTTON FARMING

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Introducing the

“BALE SAVER”

*

by

INDECO PRODUCTS INC. The safety contest winners are, left to right, (standing) Eduardo Oregel, Daniel Moore, Estevan Hernandez, Javier Ceja and Joe Velasquez. The winners, left to right, (sitting) are Daniel Medrano, Elizabeth Orozco, Fernando Diaz, Javier Cervantes and Antonio Arreguin.

operational procedures of tools, fire suppression and related equipment, fall protection, lock out tag out as well as gin-specific questions relating to proper operation set up. Here are this year’s safety contest winners: ¢ Eduardo Oregel – J.G. Boswell ¢ Daniel Moore – Dos Palos Coop ¢ Estevan Hernandez – J.G. Boswell ¢ Javier Ceja – J.G. Boswell ¢ Joe Velasquez – J.G. Boswell ¢ Fernando Diaz – J.G. Boswell ¢ Antonio Arreguin – Olam Cotton ¢ Javier Cervantes – J.G. Boswell ¢ Elizabeth Orozco – J.G. Boswell ¢ Daniel Medrano – County Line Gin Inc. Gin managers heard updates from The Saqui Law Group — a division of Dowling Aaron — on hot topics in labor law and took part in the newly mandated two-hour sexual harassment for supervisors training. The association would like to thank all of the sponsors for helping make the event possible. It also thanks the gins and the ginning members who were in attendance.

Why use this

When you can use the

“BALE SAVER”

*

The California Cotton Ginners and Growers Association contributed this information.

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JUNE 2019 | COTTON FARMING

21

My Turn Celebrating A Century Of Service

G

reetings from the University of Georgia Tifton Campus! We have been celebrating a momentous occasion at UGA Tifton, and I would like to share that event with you. A bill passed by the Georgia General Assembly in August 1918 created the Georgia Coastal Plain Experiment Station, now UGA Tifton. Tifton was selected as the location for the station in May 1919.

On May 3, we held our centennial finale, which included a student research poster competition, a formal ceremony with UGA, the U.S. Department Joe West of Agriculture and agricultural leadership and the dedication of a Centennial Garden. The closing event Just as agriculture has evolved over 100 years, so ended with an ice cream social and the best fireworks one could imagine. The history of the Georgia Coastal has the science of agriculture. It has moved from simPlain Experiment Station is long and storied, and we ple selection of desirable plants, basic fertility, and properly celebrated the achievements and contribu- managing pests and pathogens, to where we now use molecular markers, decode the genome of crops, apply tions of so many men and women.

During our first 100 years, agriculture underwent advanced chemistries for pests, and employ precision ag technology in production a revolution across the and capture and process big board, leading to greater “I watched the campus grow data to make farming deciyields for the many crops and change and age.” sions. that we research. The same I have been at UGA has been true for cotton — a $901 million crop for Georgia farmers in 2017. With Tifton my entire career, first as a scientist and now five million acres of cotton in Georgia in 1916, the in leadership. It has been particularly rewarding to invasion of the boll weevil devastated the industry. By serve during the centennial. I watched the campus 1983, there were only 115,000 acres of cotton grown in grow and change and age. Imagine the challenges to maintain a campus approaching its 100th birthday. We the state.

Then one of the greatest success stories in agricul- have been fortunate — with the support of agricultural tural production occurred. The Boll Weevil Eradication stakeholders and the Georgia General Assembly — to Program came to Georgia in 1987, and within five revitalize the campus.

Vacant, but historic, buildings have been renovated, years of implementation, was a success. Today, there are more than 1 million acres of cotton grown here, providing space for the growing cadre of new scientists quite a rebound for an industry almost destroyed by an joining our campus and adding classrooms for students invasive pest. Prior to the program, up to 15 insecticide in our academic programs. We even recreated a formal sprays were necessary during a growing season. Now garden — a fixture in the early years of the campus but paved over for parking long ago. Designated the only two or three are needed.

These advances did not occur by accident. A Centennial Garden, it is a beautiful nod to our past as Cooperative Extension Cotton Team began in the well as a new beginning. It is populated with perenni1960s, taking the latest information to farmers and als that are all University of Georgia plant releases.

As UGA Tifton begins its second century, I cannot county agents. Experiment station scientist Shelby Baker bred new lines of cotton, and entomologist Gary imagine what agriculture will look like in 100 more Herzog was instrumental in boll weevil eradication years. The scientists and staff of UGA Tifton will conand other insect research. They stayed the course tinue their commitment to agriculture and farmers as when times were hard for cotton and established the we look forward to our second century of service. foundation for modern cotton research and production.

— Joe W. West Today, the cotton team is alive and well and includes Assistant Dean, University of Georgia Tifton Campus both researchers and Extension specialists. Perhaps joewest@uga.edu the team is as strong as it has ever been.

Cotton Farming’s back page is devoted to telling unusual “farm tales” or timely stories from across the Cotton Belt. Now it’s your turn. If you’ve got an interesting story to tell, send a short summary to csmith@onegrower.com. We look forward to hearing from you.

22

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