Cotton Farming March 2019

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Southeast Crop Poised To Rebound Cotton Consultant Of The Year Named

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Cotton Farming PROFITABLE PRODUCTION STRATEGIES

MARCH 2019

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F E AT U R E S

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BUILDING FOR THE FUTURE

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SC POISED TO REBOUND

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GINNING MARKETPLACE

Details released about the Texas Cotton Ginners’ Association Annual Meeting and Trade Show, set for April 4-5 in Lubbock.

South Carolina cotton farmers had a tough year in 2018, but steps are being taken to help them make a comeback this year.

THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE GINNING INDUSTRY

Dusty Findley, CEO of the Southeastern Cotton Ginners Association, talks about how labor continues to be an issue at the gin.

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TX Gin Growth

The number and sheer size of cotton gins in the north Texas High Plains continues to grow, fueled by burgeoning cotton acres. In addition, the fact that producers are buying expensive harvesting equipment and investing in large gins is a sign of long-term commitment to cotton and the industry’s growth. The quality of new gin equipment also leads to higher capacity without excessive fiber damage.

DEPARTMENTS & COLUMNS

4 Editor’s Note 21 Industry News 5 Cotton’s Agenda 24 Specialists Speaking 8 Southern Plains Report 34 My Turn ON THE COVER: Jerrell Keys is the general manager at Adobe Walls Gin in Spearman, Texas.

Cover photo by Vicky Boyd

2018 Cotton Consultant of the Year

Mark Scott 2018 COT TON CONSULTANT OF THE YE AR

Mark Scott, Lubbock, Texas, is the 37th recipient of this esteemed award. Read more about Scott on page 17.

Cotton Farming

WEB EXCLUSIVE The board of the Boll Weevil Eradication Foundation of North Carolina has announced the 2019 boll weevil assessment. To read this Web Exclusive report, go to www.cottonfarming.com.

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March 2019

Look for Corn South following page 32 in the Mid-South and Southeast editions of Cotton Farming. Stay informed and sign up for the monthly e-newsletter at www.cornsouth.com.

A Supplement to Cotton Farming and The Peanut Grower Magazines

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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MARCH 2019 | COTTON FARMING

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Editor’s Note

Cotton Farming

Carroll Smith

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

Livin’ On A Prayer Depicts 2018 Season

W

hen Bon Jovi’s hit song “Livin’ on a Prayer” was released three decades ago, it quickly rose to the No. 1 spot on the Hot 100 chart on Valentine’s Day 1987, according to Billboard. The lyrics particularly appeared to resonate with hard-working people trying to “hold on to what we’ve got.”

Today, the phrase “livin’ on a prayer” has evolved into an anthem of sorts for anyone who seems to be facing insurmountable odds but is determined to overcome them and succeed. To me, this sounds a lot like the business of agriculture.

One of the most obvious challenges cotton farmers face is the weather. It comes in all forms: wind, rain, hail, hurricanes and drought, just to name a few. On page 28, BASF’s Adam Hixson — whose territory includes West Texas — says, “The 2018 season was probably the roughest planting year since 2011, and 2011 was an epic drought. At the Lubbock International Airport, we saw 5 inches of rain last year when our average is about 18 inches. We don’t see a ton of rain anyway, but 5 inches was a drop in the bucket. Although we have some irrigated cotton, we need help from Mother Nature, too.”

Despite a daunting lack of moisture, the late-planted irrigated cotton pulled through and turned out pretty good. Farmers who had access to water were able to hold on to something even though most of the dryland acres were zeroed out.

In South Carolina, Clemson University’s Denise Attaway talks about the tough year cotton farmers had in 2018 with hurricanes, a government shutdown and trade issues. “Hurricanes Florence and Michael arrived during harvest, drowning the state and forcing farmers out of their fields,” she says on page 14. “In addition to hurricanes, farmers have been affected by the government shutdown, which kept government workers away from their offices and unable to assist growers.”

Whether in a literal or figurative sense, these producers were livin’ on a prayer in 2018, but they didn’t give up hope. Attaway says, “Reports during the South Carolina Cotton Growers Annual Meeting show steps are being taken to help farmers rebound in 2019.” Nathan Smith, a Clemson Extension agriculture economist who spoke during the meeting, says, “Based on what I see, cotton is set up to do well in 2019. If we produce as much as expected, we’ll need to increase our exports.”

The take-home here is although livin’ on a prayer tends to be used during agriculture’s desperate times, the phrase still holds hope for a successful outcome to those who keep the faith and work hard at what they do.

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 | MARCH 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.

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Cotton’s Agenda Gary Adams

Hoping To Erase Doubts The National Cotton Council characterized 2018 as a year with significant uncertainty and volatility in the world cotton market. It sees 2019 as having some important unknowns as well.

Is there a predominant unknown factor for 2019? n The ongoing U.S.-China trade dispute and the 25 percent tariff on U.S. cotton imported into China continues to be a wild card. Even with tariffs remaining in place, a projected expansion in world trade and the opportunity to backfill trade into other markets would allow U.S. exports in the 2019 marketing year to increase from 2018. But the increase would not be to the extent expected in the absence of tariffs.

Assuming a dispute resolution, NCC economists project China will increase mill use to 41.4 million bales and imports to 11.1 million bales in 2019.

If so, the United States could expect to export more cotton to China in the 2019 marketing year and gain back some of the market share NCC economists say projected 2019 market- temporarily lost when ing year U.S. exports of 17.4 million bales China — due to the would be the second highest ever behind 2005. tariffs — sought raw cotton from Brazil, Australia and other countries. The longer-term imposition of tariffs would dramatically increase the likelihood of permanent market share losses in China.

When this column was submitted in mid-February, NCC economists projected overall U.S. raw cotton exports to increase in the 2019 marketing year to 17.4 million bales from a projected 15 million bales in 2018. If realized, this would represent the second highest level

of U.S. exports behind 2005. However, when combined with projected U.S. mill use of 3.25 million bales, total 2019 offtake would fall short of this year’s expected production of 22.7 million bales. Thus, projected ending stocks of 6.1 million bales would be the highest since the 2008 marketing year’s end.

What are some other key factors? n The general economy’s overall performance will affect cotton demand. China’s economic growth has slowed, and Turkish mills are plagued by a weaker currency relative to the dollar. In addition to the tariffs, the uncertain economic outlook is weighing on the market.

What about cotton stocks and prices? n World production is estimated to increase by 7 million bales in 2019 to 125.5 million bales, which would be the highest level since the 2011 crop. World mill use is projected to increase to 126.5 million bales in 2019. Ending stocks in the 2019 marketing year are projected to decline by 1.3 million bales to 74.2 million bales, resulting in a stocks-to-use ratio of 58.7 percent. But stocks outside of China are projected to increase to a record level in 2019.

Based on the underlying assumptions and resulting cotton balance sheet, the stocks level outside of China in the 2018 marketing year along with higher projected production in 2019 may contribute to a more bearish tone for cotton prices in 2019. However, the increase in world cotton trade due to higher Chinese imports along with a resolution to the U.S.China trade dispute could provide some price support.

Additional details of the NCC’s 2019 Cotton Economic Outlook are on the NCC’s website at www.cotton.org/econ/reports/annual-outlook. cfm.

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

Twitter: @CottonFarming

MARCH 2019 | COTTON FARMING

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TEX AS COT TON :

BUILDING F THE FUTUR

ON :

FOR URE

COTTON FARMERS, GINNERS CELEBRATE THE GROWTH OF THE TEXAS COTTON INDUSTRY The original patent drawing for Eli Whitney’s cotton gin illustrates what is now one of the seven segments of the cotton industry. Today, Texas is experiencing a boom in its ginning infrastructure as several new gin plants appear across the state.

Even many existing facilities are increasing their capacity and efficiency.

To make sure cotton farming and ginning remain a viable part of the state’s economy, the Texas Cotton Ginners’ Association is a vigilant watchdog on issues that could affect our industry.

The TCGA Annual Meeting and Trade Show is one of the largest gatherings of cotton ginning equipment, supplies and affiliated businesses that provide parts or services to the ginning industry.

More than 130 exhibitors are eager to inform visitors about their products and services related to all things cotton.

Make plans to attend the show as Texas cotton builds for the future.

For more information, visit www.tcga.org.

TCGA ANNUAL MEETING AND TRADE SHOW APRIL 4-5, 2019 LUBBOCK, TEXAS

SOUTHERN PLAINS REPORT

Farmers, Researchers Interact In The Lone Star State

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otton Incorporated’s Agricultural and Environmental Research Department invests in regional research programs across the Cotton Belt. The AERD team regularly visits growers in the field and attends regional meetings to identify specific research needs within a production area.

Cotton Incorporated often partners with public sector programs, such as the U.S. Department of AgricultureAgricultural Research Service, state Extension programs and university programs to leverage Cotton Research and Promotions program research dollars. These partnerships serve cotton producers with more robust information and may lead to increased producer profitability.

Presentations And Feedback The Cotton Board recently hosted an all-day meeting in Lubbock, Texas, to bring together cotton producers and the researchers using their Cotton Research and Promotion Program dollars.

About 65 attendees from the Texas South Plains gathered at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research Center for the West Texas Cotton Research Update Meeting.

One of the goals was to update area producers on regional research projects being funded by Cotton Research and Promotion dollars. In addition, researchers had the opportunity to understand more about producer challenges and concerns.

Thirteen regional researchers representing programs from the USDAARS Plant Stress Lab, USDA-ARS Gin Lab, Texas Tech University College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, and Texas A&M AgriLife Extension and Research Center gave research presentations about their projects. Producers provided feedback and discussed the subjects of the pre-

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COTTON FARMING | MARCH 2019

BY SHELLEY HEINRICH SLATON, TEXAS

sentations, which ranged from plant genetics to plastic contamination.

“The willingness of the area researchers to engage with producers provided a unique setting and was essential to the meeting’s success” says Dr. Kater Hake, vice president of the Agricultural & Environmental Research Department for Cotton Incorporated.

Program Highlights Research presentations on Cotton Incorporated-funded programs included Fusarium wilt race, weed science, genetics, agronomic practices, gin contamination, cotton innovations and product development. Producers asked questions specific to their needs regarding irrigation, weed control, seed genetics and soil health.

FOV4 is a top concern for the region’s producers as they are close to the El Paso cotton-growing region where it was first found in Texas. Dr.

Tom Isakeit, professor and Extension specialist for Texas A&M AgriLife, discussed the progression of the research and the work being done to find Upland cotton genetics resistant to the disease.

Weed science and genetics also were discussed. Dr. Wayne Keeling, project leader for Cropping Systems/Weed Science at Texas AgriLife Research, talked about modes of actions for existing herbicide products. Dr. Jane Dever, Texas A&M AgriLife Research professor and cotton breeder, spoke about genetic improvements on the horizon for root-knot nematode resistant varieties as well as other soil borne diseases.

The group also toured the Fiber and Biopolymer Research Institute at Texas Tech University directed by Drs. Eric Hequet, Noureddine Abidi and Brendan Kelly.

Lubbock, Texas, cotton producer Julie Holladay says, “The West Texas Research Update offered a great opportunity for producers in our region to meet researchers from different sectors and discuss their projects that we all fund though the Cotton Research and Promotion Program.

“It’s easy to stay in our own tracks and not share our perspectives with each other, especially when it comes to research that exists beyond seed and production methods.”

This was the first regional research update meeting of its kind hosted by The Cotton Board.

Participants left with new information and a better understanding of how Cotton Research and Promotion dollars are being used for the profitability of their own farming operations.

Shelley Heinrich, sheinrich@cotton board.org, is the Cotton Board Southern Plains regional communication manager.

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TCGA ANNUAL MEETING & TRADE SHOW

Building For The Future Texas Cotton Ginners’ Association Annual Meeting And Trade Show Set For April 4-5 in Lubbock

BY TONY WILLIAMS TCGA EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT

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e have seen significant growth in Texas cotton production the past several years that has contributed to the building of several new gins and the expansion of existing gin plants. I believe this growth and increased ginning capacity means Texas will be a major player in providing quality cotton for domestic and foreign textile mills for decades to come.

Tony On the production Williams side, even with the challenges cotton farmers faced last year, an estimated 6.9 million bales are expected to top off 2018, resulting in another good year overall.

As TCGA President Larry Black says, “The growth of the cotton industry in Texas has been exciting to watch and be a part of.”

Production, Ginning Boom The theme for this year ’s Texas Cotton Ginners’ Association Annual Meeting and Trade Show is “Texas Cotton: Building for the Future.” We thought it was appropriate to recognize that Texas truly is building for our future as a major force in the world cotton market.

The TCGA Trade Show provides a great opportunity to keep these progressive wheels in motion. It is one of the country’s largest gatherings of cotton gin equipment manufacturers and other businesses that provide equipment, parts or services to the ginning industry. Visitors from all over the Cotton Belt and around

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COTTON FARMING | MARCH 2019

Lubbock Electric Co. received Best in Show — Division 1 during the Exhibitor Awards at the 2018 TCGA Annual Meeting and Trade Show.

VICKY BOYD

the world attend the event each year.

They come to learn about the latest developments in cotton ginning and to purchase equipment or services they need at their facilities.

Full-time gin employees can gain additional knowledge — especially regarding safety — and see the latest industry developments by attending the Southwest Ginners School, April 1-3. Many gin managers allow their employees to go to the school and then attend the show at the end of the week.

Variety Of Events Before the Annual Meeting and Trade Show kicks off, TCGA will host its annual golf tournament at Meadowbrook Golf Course on Wednesday, April 3. The show doors officially open at 9 a.m., Thursday, April 4, at the Lubbock Civic Center where more than 130 exhibitors

will be on hand to inform you about their products or services. The day concludes with the “Taste of Lubbock Party” that is open to all show attendees.

On Friday, show hours are from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. During this time, Plains Cotton Growers Inc. also will hold its annual meeting from 8:30 a.m. to noon in the Civic Center Banquet Hall. The day ends with TCGA’s Awards Dinner and Vegas Night Celebration at the Overton Hotel.

Tickets for the Awards Dinner may be purchased at the show registration booth. Everyone is invited to the Vegas Night Celebration, and no ticket is required. For more information, visit our website at www.tcga.org.

See you in Lubbock!

Contact Tony Williams at tony@tcga. org or 512-476-8388.

COTTONFARMING.COM

SPECIAL REPORT

California Ginner Named Hayden National Cotton Ginner Of The Year

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irk Gilkey, manager of Cross Creek II Gin in Corcoran, California, was recognized as the 2018 Hayden National Cotton Ginner of the Year for his years of service to the U.S. cotton industry.

The annual award is presented to a ginner who provided able, efficient and faithful cotton ginning service and continued those principles exemplified and practiced

by Horace Hayden, a former National Cotton Ginners Association executive secretary.

“This is well deserved and a long time coming for one of the industry’s tireless contributors,” according to a statement from the California Cotton Ginners and Growers Association.

Gilkey, born and raised in Corcoran, has deep roots in the cotton industry. He attended high school in Corcoran where he was a star football player. He was so good that he received a scholarship to play football at Arizona State University.

He left Arizona State and attended California Polytechnic State University where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in agricultural business management. In 1980, he was selected to tour the British Islands with a California rugby squad, which competed against British rugby teams.

Local And National Leader Gilkey is one of the most active ginners in the CCGGA. He has served for many years as a board member.

Gilkey also served as chairman in 1996 and was named the association’s recipient of California Ginner of the Year in 2000.

He has been a longtime ginner delegate to the National Cotton Council, NCC board member and past president, and chairman of the NCGA in 2010 and 2011. In addition, he has served either as chairman or as a member of most of NCGA’s comTWITTER: @COTTONFARMING

Kirk Gilkey, right, receives the Hayden National Cotton Ginner of the Year award loving cup from outgoing NCGA president Stanley Creelman. mittees and subcommittees. He served several years on the NCC’s Joint Industry Bale Packaging Committee and as chairman of the NCC’s Packaging and Flow Program Committee.

Currently, Gilkey is manager of Cross-Creek II Gin, general manager of Gilkey Farming Enterprises, and general manager of and a partner in, Gilkey Five. He also is a trustee for the Corcoran Methodist Church and the Corcoran Community Foundation.

Gilkey also served as past president of the Corcoran Chamber of Commerce and on the board of directors of Corcoran’s YMCA for more than 10 years.

California Legacy Previous California winners of the Horace Hayden award include Louie Colombini, Buttonwillow Ginning and Westside Farmers Co-op; Stan Creelman, Mid-Valley Cotton Growers; Michael Hopper, Farmers Co-op Gin; Loyd Colbert,

“This is well deserved and a long time coming for one of the industry’s tireless contributors.”

California Cotton Ginners and Growers Association Modern Ginning; Bob Faris, Elbow Enterprises; Ken Rowan, Broadview Co-op; Tom Miller; and Macon Steele, Producers Cotton Oil. The California Cotton Ginners and Growers Association would like to congratulate Kirk Gilkey, recognize all of his contributions to the California cotton industry and say job well done!

The National Cotton Council and the California Cotton Ginners and Growers Association contributed to this article.

MARCH 2019 | COTTON FARMING

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COVER STORY

Northerly Migration The gin stands were already installed as the walls go up on the Adobe Walls Gin’s new plant in 2017.

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COTTON FARMING | MARCH 2019

COURTESY TEXAS A&M

Construction of new and larger gins mirrors increasing cotton acres in the north Texas High Plains.

COTTONFARMING.COM

BY VICKY BOYD MANAGING EDITOR

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he number and sheer size of cotton gins in the north Texas High Plains continues to grow, fueled by burgeoning cotton acres.

Although the region doesn’t have the groundwater reserves it once had, it still has a better supply than the area to the south around Lubbock, which suffers from overdraft. Corn, once the mainstay of the High Plains, is being slowly replaced by more water-efficient cotton in rotations.

Thanks to higher-yielding, shorter-season varieties, cotton also can provide a higher potential return to growers during most years than traditional grain crops, says Darren Hudson, a professor of agricultural and applied economics at Texas Tech University in Lubbock.

“We’re well off our highs in the grains from a few years back, so producers have been looking for an alternative,” he says. “Instead of relying on corn or sorghum or wheat, which has been in the doldrums, growers are diversifying. Shorter-season (cotton) varieties have made it viable for them. Water restrictions are starting to bite a little bit in some areas for corn, so cotton is a little bit more miserly and you can get away with a little bit less water.”

In addition, the northern High Plains tends to have lower cotton pest pressures than farther south, further making the region attractive.

The fact that producers are buying expensive harvesting equipment and investing in large gins also are signs of long-term commitment to cotton and the industry’s growth, Hudson says.

Ross Rutherford, vice president of product management and marketing for Lummus Corp., which manufactures and installs gin equipment, agrees.

“In 1986, I remember first moving to Lubbock and seeing the traditional stripper varieties,” he says. “Now I see 4- to 5-bale cotton being grow in various areas of the High Plains. It’s gratifying and outstanding to see the strides we’ve made. All of the different (breeding) companies have improved yields, and more than just that, it’s the quality.

“I worked for two years in the San Joaquin Valley, and everybody knew California had topnotch cotton. Now cotton from any region in the U.S. is of sufficient strength, length and quality that it can be used in a multiple of applications.

And it’s not just the breeding part. The quality of ginning, the new machines that have been introduced to the markets — we can gin at higher capacity without creating excessive fiber damage.”

Cotton Moves North And nowhere is this new generation of machinery better exemplified than at Adobe Walls Gin in Spearman, Texas, billed as the largest ginning point in the United States and perhaps the world.

But Adobe Walls is not alone in growing to serve

TWITTER: @COTTONFARMING

Adobe Walls Gin General Manager Jerrell Keys has seen ginning boom on the Texas High Plains.

High Plains cotton growers. Lonestar Gin LP is building a $23 million gin plant project about 5 miles south of Pampa that can process more than 125,000 bales per year. It is scheduled for completion this fall.

And Ag Producers Co-op is building a new fourstand facility just outside of Spearman.

Several factors are driving the larger gins, with one of the more pressing being finding and keeping good workers, Rutherford says.

“When you’re competing in a place like Texas with the oil fields, we can’t pay those wages,” he says. “(Ginning) is a seasonal business. The oil fields are more year-round, and their pay scale is, in general, higher.

“Combine that with the technologies, and your year-round staff has to be higher-caliber from a technical standpoint. It’s not about down-time — it’s about up-time. Unless that gin is running efficiently and putting out bales consistently, it’s not going to be as profitable. It’s essential to maintain and optimize your up-time.”

Continued on page 33

MARCH 2019 | COTTON FARMING

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SPECIAL REPORT

South Carolina Cotton Crop Poised To Rebound In 2019

BY DENISE ATTAWAY CLEMSON UNIVERSITY

Shutdown Affects Agriculture In addition to hurricanes, farmers have been affected by the government shutdown, which kept government workers away from their offices and unable to assist growers.

South Carolina Commissioner of Agriculture Hugh Weathers says deadlines for farmers to apply for payments under the Market Facilitation Program have been extended. The shutdown began Dec. 22, 2018, causing a lapse in federal funding. It ended on Jan. 25. The deadline for the program was Jan. 15, but farmers were unable to apply because lack of funding closed Farm Service Agency offices on Dec. 28. The deadline will be extended for the number of business days FSA offices were closed.

Factors Affecting Optimism Despite the trying year in 2018, 2019 is looking better.

Nathan Smith, Clemson Extension agriculture economist, says he is encouraged by this year’s outlook. Farmers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas, Louisiana, eastern Texas and Southern Oklahoma are expected to plant 14 million acres of cotton with the potential for a 23 million-bale crop in 2019. Two key factors likely to contribute to a big 2019 cotton crop are poor prices for corn, soybeans and peanuts, and anticipated favorable weather conditions.

“Based on what I see, cotton is set up to do well in 2019,” Smith says. “If we produce as much as expected, we’ll need to increase our exports.”

In an update on cotton varieties, Jones says new lines are being bred to increase fiber length and strength.

Controlling insects is also important.

“South Carolina has best management practices for

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COTTON FARMING | MARCH 2019

Rain has kept many South Carolina cotton farmers from harvesting their crops.

CLEMSON UNIVERSITY

H

urricanes, a government shutdown and trade combined to create a tough year for South Carolina cotton farmers in 2018. But reports during the South Carolina Cotton Growers Annual Meeting show steps are being taken to help farmers rebound this season.

“We still have a lot of cotton in the fields,” says Michael Jones, Clemson University cotton specialist. “It’s gotten to the point where farmers may not even worry about it and just let it stay in the fields.”

Statistics from the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Agricultural Statistics Services show about 300,000 acres of cotton were planted in South Carolina in 2018. Hurricanes Florence and Michael arrived during harvest, drowning the state and forcing farmers out of their fields. “It was tough harvest season for sure,” says Carl Brown, cotton farmer and chairman of the South Carolina Cotton Board.

thrips that will work just fine for now,” says Jeremy Greene, entomologist at Clemson’s Edisto Research and Education Center. “Bt technology also continues to provide decent control of bollworm many caterpillar pests.”

Greene says plant bugs and whiteflies could be more of a problem in the state in the near future. In addition, he also talked about cotton leaf dwarf virus, also known as blue disease. This is a new virus transmitted by cotton aphids that could be extremely important in fields infected with the pathogen.

More Productive Crops Meeting participants heard about other projects researchers from the Edisto Research and Education Center are conducting to help make crops more productive for South Carolina farmers. Joe Mari Maja, a research sensor engineer, talked about how he and his team are studying how to build a more affordable harvester that will help farmers reduce labor costs.

In another research report, Michael Plumblee, Clemson Extension precision agriculture specialist, discussed research being conducted in the Mid-South to determine the effect of droplet size on cotton defoliation. Preliminary data suggest that specific combinations of harvest aids, carrier volume and droplet size could reduce the overall efficacy of defoliation rather than improving it.

Kendall Kirk, Clemson Extension agriculture engineer, says he has developed variable-rate nitrogen plans for cotton.

The Directed Rx system focuses on improving crop input placement to increase profitability. Farmers can use this variable-rate technology system to maximize nitrogen-use efficiency while maximizing cotton yields.

“This system maximizes profitability and helps farmers be better stewards of the environment,” Kirk says.

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Farmers Go Underground In The Root-Knot War

R

oot-knot nematode is one of the most costly and challenging pest problems in Southeastern row crop production. Common rotational programs that include cotton, soybeans and peanuts — which are all hosts for root-knot nematode — further complicate it.

One of the newest nematode weapons on the market is actually an old weapon – AgLogic aldicarb. Most growers remember it as “Temik,” which was most recently marketed by Bayer CropScience. Since Bayer pulled its support for the product and quit manufacturing aldicarb, it essentially had been unavailable to growers for about five years. Farmers essentially wrote it off as a viable option, thinking it would never come back.

When aldicarb emerged on the market again in 2016 under the name AgLogic, there was skepticism about the “new” product. Some wondered if it was really the same product with the same performance.

Testing The Ammunition Eddie Sholar is a cotton grower in Leesburg, Georgia.

He’s also a representative for R.W. Griffin in Douglas, Georgia, which sells AgLogic aldicarb.

“Growers were skeptical when aldicarb first came back,” he says. “In 2017, we started quite a few trials with AgLogic aldicarb comparing it with other products, such as imidacloprids. A lot of those trials were done in conjunction with growers who were also conducting seed trials.

We started seeing more plant vigor just like the old days with Temik, along with the yield response we had seen with Temik in the past.

“When growers found out there was about a 100 pound increase in yield with aldicarb, suddenly they were very interested. This was especially true if they had just been relying on seed treatments followed by foliar applications.

Treated seed was never a cure-all.”

Sholar uses aldicarb on his own operation.

“I put AgLogic under all my cotton last year,” he says. “In areas where I had a bad nematode problem, I increased the rate to 7 pounds per acre and also used a nematicide seed treatment. All my other cotton had 4.5-5 pounds per acre.”

It’s not all about nematodes, Sholar says. Early season thrips and aphids are also problematic.

“I’ve still got growers who plant base seed and spray acephate for thrips,” he says. “You can imagine in a bad thrips year how dinged up that cotton gets. A cotton seed that doesn’t have any protection from thrips gets really eaten up and torn up. It just takes a long time for the plant to come out of it.”

But it’s not just pest control alone. “Where we use aldicarb, I think we might get four or five days earlier maturity,” Sholar says. “I think we get more than just thrips and nematode control. It stimulates growth and comes out of the ground quicker and stronger.”

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COTTON FARMING | MARCH 2019

Protective gear is required while loading AgLogic aldicarb at planting. In addition, every rig should be calibrated each year to ensure accurate application.

Mother Nature Slams 2018 Unfortunately, that didn’t matter much for the 2018 harvest.

“My cotton acres in 2018 were the biggest I’ve ever seen in my marketing area,” Sholar says. “We had rain all season long so the dryland was right up there with the irrigated. We had a great start to the growing season, but Hurricane Michael blew our 3-bale cotton away. In general, most growers went from 3-bale cotton to 300 pounds.

We lost two and half to three weeks of harvest due to the hurricane.”

Despite the disappointment of 2018, Sholar says he is looking forward to 2019. Growers may have lost the battle in 2018 to the Michael factor, but there’s another war a’brewing.

“You don’t win every year,” he says. “You have to stay in the battle for the long term. I’m encouraged that we have some new options to fight root-knot nematode and other early season pest problems. In a time where it seems like our options are dwindling, it’s nice to have one that’s coming back.”

AgLogic provided this article.

COTTONFARMING.COM

Mark Scott 2018 COT TON CONSULTANT OF THE YE AR

Cotton Farming

PHOTOS BY KATHY DRAKE DABBS/DRAKE DESIGN PHOTOGRAPHY

Mark Scott met his wife, Denise, at the Texas Tech University Center in Junction, Texas. “Denise doesn’t see me much during the summer, but she has bought into what I do and has been very supportive,” Scott says. “She always says, ‘I can’t believe you get to work outside under this great blue sky, surrounded by luscious green cotton fields and such wonderful people.’”

A

“

lthough I grew up in Lubbock in the middle of the biggest cotton patch in the world, I wanted to be a horse veterinarian,” says Texas cotton consultant Mark Scott. “I completed my pre-vet medicine courses at Texas Tech University, applied to veterinary school and then decided to take a beginning entomology course to fill time while waiting for classes to begin in the fall. About halfway through the course, I realized I had found my passion. I changed my major to entomology and agronomy and couldn’t wait to get to school to learn about insects and agriculture.

“At that time, Texas Tech had the largest entomology undergraduate class in the nation. The industry was waiting in line to get entomology students from Texas Tech because we had so much practical field experience in production agriculture.

My first job in entomology was as a scout for the Texas A&M integrated pest management program north of Lubbock. I soon learned that entomology and field crop work are not black and white. Things are always changing. Mother Nature will throw you a curve ball when you are waiting for a fastball.

“After being offered a research assistant graduate position, I attended grad school where I met one of my mentors — Dr. Donald ‘Doc’ Ashdown — who took me under his wing. He was a brilliant entomologist and a person who made you think.

While driving out to our research trials, he constantly asked me questions. ‘What do you think happened in this field? What could that farmer have done differently?’ This exercise was very valuable to me because consulting is not just about regurgitating

facts. You have to gather a lot of information, try to figure out what’s wrong and decide what you can do to make things better.

“Another experience that made me start thinking seriously about being a consultant happened during an economic entomology class. A private consultant named Olan Moore came in and gave a presentation on what consulting really involves and how he ran his business. He piqued my interest in the profession at an opportune time.

“While in grad school, my friend, James Powell, and I were approached by a family of farmers northeast of Lubbock who were having bad bollworm problems in cotton and needed help checking their crops. We worked for them in the evenings and on Sundays and they paid us for our services. I consider this my first year to do independent crop consulting work.

“During the next year while I was still teaching classes and taking courses, I worked for John Hunter in my spare time around the Lubbock area. John was considered one of the pioneers of

consulting on the High Plains and later was honored as the 2005 Cotton Consultant of the Year. He called us ‘bug dogs’ because our job was to go out like a bird dog and find bugs instead of birds. As one of my mentors, John taught me a lot before he passed away. He also gave James and me our next big break in the independent consulting business.

“A group of farmers who all ginned their cotton at the same place contacted John about checking a large amount of acres about 60 miles southwest of Lubbock in the Brownfield/Wellman area. He told them he already had a big business and wasn’t able to take on more clients but suggested they hire James and me. John agreed to advise us on certain things, but we were going to do the majority of the work and make the recommendations. He said, ‘You guys partner up with me for one year, and the next year you can have it for yourselves. I have more than I can say grace over.’

“We agreed to this arrangement, and after the season ended, James and I broke off by ourselves and formed J&M Consulting. We worked together for about seven years, and in 1984, we went our separate ways. I started my own company as Mark Scott Consulting. Counting the paid consulting work I have done since 1978, I have completed about 40 years in the field as a private consultant.”

Today, Scott primarily consults on cotton, corn, grain sorghum and peanuts in Lubbock, Lynn, Terry, Yoakum and Gaines counties.

Consistent Performance Takes Precedence Scott describes his relationship with his farmer clients as both personal and professional. He has worked for some of them in the Brownfield area for 39 years and treats their crops like they were his own.

“Although these farmers are like family to me, my job is to be an objective, unbiased decision-maker,” Scott says. “I also have to be professional in what I do to keep these guys in business.”

As far as his consulting style, Scott says he is both conservative and aggressive. He is cautious about recommending new technologies and production methods until he sees they have

been proven in good, replicated research. In these economic times, he says he can’t ask his farmers “to spend money on just a guess. But if I see something new that does work and will make us money, I am all for it. Consistency is the key in cotton production.

“Another important aspect of my business is that I am a Christian and never go into the field alone. Every morning I ask the Lord to help me make the right decisions to help my farmers. I take my job very seriously because it affects so many people’s lives.”

Services, Relationships Go Hand In Hand When Scott first started consulting in 1978, he was basically a “bug guy” dealing with insects — bollworms, mites and boll weevils. Controlling these pests was critical to successful cotton production.

As time went on, he expanded his services to include soil sampling, varietal selection, plant population recommendations, plant growth regulator use, weed control, disease identification and management, and water-use efficiency.

“All of our services and input choices are important, but choosing the right varieties is particularly critical in this area to make sure they can withstand the weather and facilitate stripper harvest,” Scott says.

And his farmers appreciate the effort the Texas consultant makes on their behalf. For example, Scott has consulted for three generations of the Martin family, who farm 5,000 acres of cotton and 300 acres of peanuts along with other rotational crops near Brownfield, Texas.

“I value Mark’s opinion more than any other resource we have,” Glen Martin says. “He started working with my dad in the early 1980s and has been working with me since I started farming in 1984. Now he works with my two sons. Mark stays on top of the new technology and learns all he can to keep us competitive. But he is very conservative in his recommendations for treating our acres because he knows what it costs.

Mark is a good man and a friend.”

Jackie Burris, who also farms near Brownfield, says Scott has been a valued part of their operation for 38 years.

Mark Scott, second from left, has consulted for some cotton farmers in the Brownfield, Texas, area for decades. From left are Aaron Martin, James Martin, Glen Martin and Jackie Burris.

Texas cotton consultant Bob Glodt, left, and Mark Scott are both dedicated to helping their farmers stay competitive.

The Texas counties in which Mark Scott consults include Lubbock, Lynn, Terry, Yoakum and Gaines. “I have always had a passion for working with cotton,” he says. “She is a finicky beast, but I find it interesting and challenging.”

Extension and research people who are both knowledgeable and have common sense, which is very important in agriculture. Another part of my network consists of industry personnel, who have a tremendous amount of field experience and can tell me how to use their products in the most efficient manner.”

When asked about his reaction upon learning he was selected as the 2018 Cotton Consultant of the Year, Scott says he was speechless.

“My Syngenta rep, Dr. Brent Besler, called me one day last fall,” Scott says. “We talked about the crop and how it was doing before he broke the news. I was in disbelief at first and so humbled to have been selected for this award. I was grateful for all the letters that were written on my behalf and honored to be included in this great group of consultants that I highly respect.”

Mark Scott: Personal & Career History

“I can’t imagine producing a crop without Mark’s expertise,” Burris says. “He is dedicated to making sure everything is done right. Mark starts early and stays late — whatever it takes to get the job done. He always has a positive attitude about what is going on. Besides being our consultant, he has become a very good friend and is part of the reason we have been successful.”

Invaluable Network Of Colleagues Scott also stays in contact with and relies on fellow consultants, and university and industry personnel.

“I have good friends in my area who are independent crop consultants who I can call on any time to share ideas and information,” he says. “During the season, I talk almost every day to James Todd, a younger consultant whose strength is in herbicides and weeds. I also communicate with consultants in other Texas cotton areas and even in other states. It’s a network that helps my business tremendously.

“I also know university and industry individuals I have relied on for years. I wouldn’t be where I am in my business without them. In our area, we have some very capable

Cotton Consultant of the Year Award Recipients, 1981-2018 1981 Bob Stanford, Flagstaff, Ariz.

1982 Jep Gates, Memphis, Tenn.

1983 Dennis Bouchard, Minter City, Miss.

1984 John Nickelsen, Shafter, Calif.

1985 Dwight Lincoln, Portland, Ark. 1986 Grady Coburn, Cheneyville, La. 1987 Stanley Nemec, Snook, Texas 1988 Robert Moore, Hartsville, S.C. 1989 Curtis Wilhelm, Harlingen, Texas 1990 Mills Rogers, Cleveland, Miss.

1991 Clyde Sartor, Vicksburg, Miss.

1992 John Christian, Raymondville, Texas 1993 Billy McLawhorn, Cove City, N.C. 1994 Dwain Reed, Courtland, Ala. 1995 Barry Aycock, Parma, Mo. 1996 Ray Young, Wisner, La. 1997 Lonnie Bull, Cameron, S.C. 1998 Chuck Farr, Crawfordsville, Ark. 1999 Bob Griffin, Jonesboro, Ark. 2000 Roger Carter, Clayton, La. 2001 Harold Lambert, Innis, La. 2002 Lee Hutchins, Sinton, Texas

Career • Independent consultant with about 40 years’ experience • Completed a Bachelor of Science degree in entomology and a Master of Science degree in entomology, Texas Tech University • Established Mark Scott Crop Consulting in 1984 • Board certified in entomology • Consults on cotton, corn, grain sorghum and peanuts in Lubbock, Lynn, Terry, Yoakum and Gaines counties • Member of the National Alliance of Independent Crop Consultants • Member and past secretary/treasurer of the Texas Association of Agricultural Consultants • Member of the High Plains Association of Crop Consultants.

Served twice each as president and vice president • Member of the Entomological Society of America • Member of the Sigma Xi Scientific Research Honor Society • Served on numerous boards for various professional groups Family Life Scott was born and raised in Lubbock, Texas, and now resides in Slaton, Texas, with his wife, Denise. They have three children: Dr. Matt Scott and his wife, Eleanor; Ben Scott and his wife, Lindsay; Becky Britton and her husband, Josh; and five grandchildren: Brody Scott, Madeleine Scott, Hunter Scott, Jack Britton and Beau Britton.

When time permits, Scott loves to hunt, fish, be outdoors and spend time with his family. Denise, a retired schoolteacher, is a customer representative for AT&T.

2003 Danny Pierce, Princeton, N.C. 2004 Tucker Miller, Drew, Miss.

2005 John Hunter, Lubbock, Texas 2006 Jack Royal, Leary, Ga. 2007 Danny Moore, Marion, Ark. 2008 Ray Young, Wisner, La. (Lifetime Achievement Award) 2009 Joe Townsend, Coahoma, Miss.

2010 Mark Nemec, Waco, Texas

2011 Virgil King, Lexington, Miss.

2012 Tim White, Jonesville, La. 2013 Bob Glodt, Plainview, Texas 2014 Stan Winslow, Belvidere, N.C. 2015 Wes Briggs, Bainbridge, Ga. 2016 Tim Roberts, Dyersburg, Tenn.

2017 Paul Pilsner, Wharton, Texas 2018 Mark Scott, Lubbock, Texas

Cotton Farming

Industry News Phosphorus Is About Availability, Not Quantity Phosphorus is often fixed and not available to the plant. Avail T5 Phosphorus Fertilizer Enhancer from Verdesian Life Sciences helps unlock that P that is fixed in the soil, making it available for the plant.

Avail T5 slows fixation by temporarily binding the positively charged calcium, magnesium, aluminum, and iron. The result is more P in solution and the formation of more soluble forms of P minerals in soil.

Keeping P fertilizer more soluble allows phosphorus to spread into a larger volume of soil, increasing the opportunity for root interception.

Improved P solubility and root interception results in greater P uptake by the crop.

Recent analyses indicate that twothirds of the Avail T5 benefit is the increase in plant available P, and one-third is from the improved early start of the crop with better early root development that allows the plant to better tolerate stresses throughout the season.

To learn more about Avail T5, visit VLSCI.com, call 800-868-6446 or contact your Verdesian Life Sciences technical sales representative.

Mike Tate To Lead The National Cotton Council In 2019 Mike Tate, a cotton producer from Huntsville, Alabama, was elected National Cotton Council chairman for 2019.

Named during NCC’s recent 2019 annual meeting in San Antonio, Texas, Tate moves up from NCC vice chairman to succeed Ron Craft, a cotton producer from Plains, Texas.

A graduate of the NCC’s Cotton Leadership Program, Tate previously was a NCC director and has served on numerous NCC committees. He performed duties as a director and board adviser of the NCC’s export promotions arm, Cotton Council International, and has held multiple leadership positions in the NCC’s American Cotton Producers including as its chairman in 2016-17.

A past president of Southern Cotton Growers Inc., Tate also has held leadership positions in Cotton Incorporated, the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives and many TWITTER: @COTTONFARMING

state agricultural organizations.

He currently serves as a Staplcotn director.

Tate is the owner/manager of Tate Farms, a family-owned partnership in Meridianville, Alabama, where cotton is the principal crop of the 6,000acre Tennessee Valley operation. He also is president of Cotton Growers C o o per at i ve Gi n & War ehous e and has an interest in Tate Farms’ agri-tourism operation, “Cotton Picking Pumpkins.”

NCC Completes Slate Of Officers During 2019 Annual Meeting During the NCC’s 2019 annual meeting in San Antonio, Texas, Kent Fountain, a Surrency, Georgia, ginner, was named vice chairman.

Elected as NCC vice presidents are Kirk Gilkey, ginner, Corcoran, California, and Ron Harkey, warehouser, Lubbock, Texas. Re-elected as vice presidents are Robert Lacy, Jr, cottonseed processor, and Kevin

THRIVING IN COTTON Ken Hall grows PhytoGen® brand varieties on 100 percent of his cotton acres. He recounts his experience with the vigor, yield and fiber quality that helps him thrive. Hall says the Enlist ™ weed control system does an excellent job against glyphosate-resistant Palmer amaranth and morningglory. Since growing PhytoGen brand varieties with WideStrike® 3 Insect Protection, he has not made one overspray for bollworm or budworm.

Award-Winning Lineup Pays Off

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am a third-generation farmer in a family operation that rotates cotton and peanuts on 3,000 acres in Cotton farmer Worth and Turner counties, Georgia. We strip-till cotPoulan, Georgia ton using a wheat cover crop, and 90 percent of our acres are irrigated. Years ago, I planted the top three or four varieties from different seed companies spaced out over 1,800 acres. I watched them throughout the season and quickly found out the PhytoGen varieties jumped out of the ground and had the most vigor. Soon after that, I was 100 percent PhytoGen and have been ever since.

“Last year, we grew PHY 444 WRF, PHY 440 W3FE and PHY 480 W3FE. The standout variety was PHY 444 WRF, averaging nearly 1,600 pounds per acre. In areas where we have high nematode populations, we planted PHY 440 W3FE and PHY 480 W3FE. In 2018, one field of PHY 440 W3FE made 1,100 pounds per acre — a 300-pound increase over the PHY 444 WRF I had planted there the year before. PHY 480 W3FE has yielded exceptionally well, too. This variety is consistently in the 1,300-pounds-per-acre range on land with significant nematode populations.

“PhytoGen varieties also have great fiber quality. We won the University of Georgia cotton quality award in our area in 2010, 2016 and 2017 with a premium average of 2.85, 5.12 and 3.92 cents above loan, respectively. The 2016 season was exceptional, especially during harvest.

“In the past, we resorted to hand labor to rid our fields of hard-to-control weeds. Now we use a tank-mix of Enlist One and Liberty herbicides, which does an excellent job controlling glyphosate-resistant Palmer amaranth and morningglory. Farmers need to protect this technology by applying it right and putting it out on time.”

KEN HALL

®PhytoGen and the PhytoGen Logo are trademarks of PhytoGen Seed Company, LLC. ™®Enlist, Enlist Duo, Enlist One, the Enlist Logo and WideStrike are trademarks of Dow AgroSciences, DuPont or Pioneer, and their affiliated companies or their respective owners. Liberty® is a trademark of Bayer. The Enlist weed control system is owned and developed by Dow AgroSciences LLC. Enlist Duo® and Enlist One™ herbicides are not registered for sale or use in all states or counties.

Contact your state pesticide regulatory agency to determine if a product is registered for sale or use in your area. Enlist Duo and Enlist One herbicides are the only 2,4-D products authorized for use with Enlist crops. Consult Enlist herbicide labels for weed species controlled. Always read and follow label directions. PhytoGen Seed Company is a joint venture between Mycogen Corporation, an affiliate of Dow AgroSciences LLC, and the J.G. Boswell Company.

MARCH 2019 | COTTON FARMING

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TRAIT STEWARDSHIP RESPONSIBILITIES NOTICE TO FARMERS Monsanto Company is a member of Excellence Through Stewardship® (ETS). Monsanto products are commercialized in accordance with ETS Product Launch Stewardship Guidance, and in compliance with Monsanto’s Policy for Commercialization of Biotechnology-Derived Plant Products in Commodity Crops. This product has been approved for import into key export markets with functioning regulatory systems. Any crop or material produced from this product can only be exported to, or used, processed or sold in countries where all necessary regulatory approvals have been granted. It is a violation of national and international law to move material containing biotech traits across boundaries into nations where import is not permitted. Growers should talk to their grain handler or product purchaser to confirm their buying position for this product.

B.t. products may not yet be registered in all states.

Check with your representative for the registration status in your state. Insect control technology provided by Vip3A is utilized under license from Syngenta Crop Protection AG. ALWAYS READ AND FOLLOW DIRECTIONS FOR USE ON PESTICIDE LABELING. IT IS A VIOLATION OF FEDERAL AND STATE LAW to use any pesticide product other than in accordance with its labeling. NOT ALL formulations of dicamba or glyphosate are approved for in-crop use with cotton with XtendFlex® Technology. ONLY USE FORMULATIONS THAT ARE SPECIFICALLY LABELED FOR SUCH USES AND APPROVED FOR SUCH USE IN THE STATE OF APPLICATION. Contact the U.S. EPA and your state pesticide regulatory agency with any questions about the approval status of dicamba herbicide products for in-crop use with cotton with XtendFlex® Technology.

Cotton with XtendFlex® Technology contains genes that confer tolerance to glyphosate, dicamba and glufosinate. Glyphosate will kill crops that are not tolerant to glyphosate. Dicamba will kill crops that are not tolerant to dicamba. Glufosinate will kill crops that are not tolerant to glufosinate. Contact your Monsanto dealer or refer to Monsanto’s Technology Use Guide for recommended weed control programs.

Bollgard®, Respect the Refuge and Cotton Design®, and XtendFlex® are trademarks of Bayer Group. LibertyLink® and the Water Droplet Design® are registered trademarks of BASF. Agrisure Viptera® is a trademark of a Syngenta Group Company. Excellence Through Stewardship® is a registered trademark of Excellence Through Stewardship.

All other products, company names and trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Before opening a bag of seed, be sure to read, understand, and accept the stewardship requirements, including applicable refuge requirements for insect resistance management, for the biotechnology traits expressed in the seed as set forth in the Monsanto Technology/Stewardship Agreement that you sign. By opening and using a bag of seed, you are reaffirming your obligation to comply with the most recent stewardship requirements.

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COTTON FARMING | MARCH 2019

Industry News Brinkley, marketing cooperative executive, both from Lubbock, Texas; Joe Nicosia, merchant, Cordova, Tennessee; and David Hastings, textile manufacturer, Mauldin, South Carolina.

Re-elected as secretary-treasurer is Barry Evans, a producer from Kress, Texas.

NCC staff officers include Dr. Gary Adams, NCC president and CEO; Reece Langley, vice president, Washington Operations; and Craig Brown, vice president, Producer Affairs; and Dr. Jody Campiche, vice president, Economics and Policy Analysis. Dr. Bill Norman is vice president, Technical Services; Harrison Ashley, vice president, Ginner Services; John Gibson, vice president, Member Services; and Marjory Walker, vice president, Council Operations.

Louisiana Agriculture Hall Of Distinction Names 2019 Inductees The sixth annual Louisiana Agriculture Hall of Distinction honors this year’s inductees on Thursday, March 7. Ceremonies begin at 7 p.m. at L’Auberge Casino Hotel in Baton Rouge.

The Hall of Distinction recognizes those who have significantly contributed to the state’s agriculture community in farming, ranching, forestry, aquaculture, education and agribusiness. This year’s four inductees all made crucial contributions to Louisiana’s agriculture community: Grady Coburn, Jack Hamilton, George LaCour and Linda Zaunbrecher.

A native of Gueydan, Zaunbrecher is only the second woman to enter the Hall of Distinction. Her career is distinguished by her pioneering work in increasing leadership opportunities for women in agriculture. In 1984, she was the first woman elected to the Louisiana Farm Bureau State Board of Directors’ executive committee. She also helped create the Louisiana Farm Bureau Foundation, a scholarship program named in her honor.

A long-time farmer in Lake Providence, Hamilton is a Korean War veteran who passed away in 2001. He’s being honored posthumously for crucial innovations in cotton production and ginning. He was a driving force in the formation of the Louisiana Agricultural Corporation Self-Insurance Fund, which offers workers’ compensation coverage to employers across the state.

Grady Coburn, who will be inducted into the 2019 Louisiana Agriculture Hall of Distinction, started consulting on cotton in Louisiana in 1960s.

Coburn, of Cheneyville, is a longtime crop consultant and contract researcher. Over the past 40 years, he’s had an integral role in increasing producer profitability.

Coburn is a founding member of the National Alliance of Independent Crop Consultants and the Louisiana Agricultural Consultants Association, where he also served as president. He has developed a national reputation, and his advice is sought frequently when agriculture-related issues arise in Washington, D.C. A native of Morganza, George LaCour is respected worldwide for his expertise with sustainability and conservation in the cotton industry. In his work for the Cotton Research and Promotion Program, LaCour has traveled as far as China and Vietnam to share his knowledge with cotton production and has been a presenter multiple times for international meetings in Brazil.

He is a former president of the Southern Cotton Ginners and Louisiana Cotton Producers Association, as well as immediate past chairman of The Cotton Board.

The annual Hall of Distinction induction ceremony is presented by Louisiana Radio Network in cooperation with the LSU AgCenter, the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry, and the Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation.

Monsanto serves as title sponsor and First South Farm Credit is the presenting sponsor.

COTTONFARMING.COM

Specialists Speaking Prepare Now For Planting Season ARIZONA Randy Norton

TEXAS Murilo Maeda

Planting season will soon be upon us for the 2019 cotton season, and decisions are being made about the proper time to plant.

The temperature experienced by the seed during the first critical hours and days after planting will to a large extent determine emergence and eventual stand establishment.

Optimum soil temperatures for seed germination are between 60 and 65 degrees Fahrenheit. Temperatures between 55 and 60 F become marginal and below 55 F are dangerous. They likely will result in reduced seed germination and unacceptable stand establishment.

Additional factors may also add stress to the seedling, including salinity and low soil moisture content. These conditions, along with cool temperatures, can make obtaining a stand difficult. Soil temperatures typically reach the optimum range when air temperatures are more than 80 F for highs during the day and stay above 50 F for low temperatures overnight.

Waiting for adequate soil temperatures increases the likelihood of obtaining adequate seed germination and stand establishment. It reduces the chances you will have to decide whether to replant. A good forecast predicted for the first three to five days after planting is also critical.

The University of Arizona produces weekly advisories that include current soil temperature data along with a weekly forecast for the state’s cotton-producing regions. Look for this information on the University of Arizona Crop Information website cals.arizona.edu/ crops. rnorton@cals.arizona.edu

As harvest activities conclude in the Texas High Plains, our growers have time to reflect on the past season. There are a couple of things to keep in mind about planting. In the last issue of Cotton Farming, I mentioned this is a good time to plan your fertility program for the coming year, and it is worth repeating. With fertilizer prices trending higher for 2019 (especially nitrogen), it is important to set realistic yield goals and adjust fertilizer rates appropriately.

Dr. Katie Lewis, assistant professor of Soil Chemistry and Fertility at Texas A&M AgriLife Research in Lubbock, recommends sampling a little deeper into the soil profile (18 to 24 inches) to look for any residual nitrate-nitrogen. This may help you save a few dollars by crediting what is already there for the next crop.

Another important reminder is about the new requirements for auxin herbicides for 2019. Texas A&M AgriLife Extension will conduct several two-hour training sessions, covering both dicamba and 2,4-D technologies across the state in the coming months. We encourage everyone who plans to use them in the new cropping season to check with their local Extension office about an opportunity to take the mandatory training. We all need to continue being good stewards of the technology.

Results from the Texas High Plains Replicated Agronomic Cotton Evaluation (RACE) trials are available at http://varietytesting.tamu. edu/cotton/. mmaeda@ag.tamu.edu

ARKANSAS Bill Robertson Wet conditions have greatly limited field preparations through the fall and into early February.

This includes ruts in many fields that have yet to be addressed.

Cover crop plantings in the fall were reduced for those who planned to put them in. Many who did not get covers planted are looking at planting spring cover crops to help provide wind and blowing sand protection for cotton seedlings.

We hope cotton burndown programs will be put in motion soon.

Those who planted a cereal rye cover crop likely did so to improve soil health and help with pigweed control. They generally will want to delay rye termination as long as possible.

However, burndown programs should be timed ahead of the planter to address issues related to the “green bridge,” which can aid pest movement from a dying cover crop to an emerging cotton crop.

Remember that many of the early season cotton pests overwinter in broadleaf weeds. High levels of broadleaf plants or weeds in your cover crop will increase the potential that issues from a green bridge may occur.

Our immediate goal for the 2019 crop is to start with a good stand of healthy fast-growing cotton. This requires fields to be free of weeds and other pests at planting. A timely and effective burndown program is the first step. Contact your local county Extension agent for more information. brobertson@uaex.edu

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COTTON FARMING | MARCH 2019

TEXAS Gaylon Morgan Despite excellent to excessive soil moisture in most of the cotton production regions in Texas, the Lower Rio Grande Valley is starting the 2019 season with moderate drought conditions. However, growers are pre-irrigating when possible, and acres are expected to increase to 230,000.

In the Coastal Bend, a full soil moisture profile exists, but the ground is workable and fields are prepared for planting slightly more cotton than in 2018.

Moving up the coast, conditions are excessively wet, and little field or fertilizer work has been accomplished. This will lead to some prevented planting of grain crops and more acres in cotton (or soybeans) than expected, which was already predicted as double-digit increases. Blackland’s cotton acres are expected to increase in the double digits as well — especially in the North Blacklands — which is driven by price and an inability to plant winter wheat. The Rolling Plains also will increase cotton acres primarily because of the inability to plant wheat in the fall.

Cotton variety results from across the state are currently available at cotton.tamu.edu to help with planning for the 2019 crop.

Additionally, with good soil moisture and a favorable forecast, starting the season weed-free and using residual herbicides will be critical to a successful weed control system, regardless of the herbicide traits. As one of my colleagues says, the labeled dicamba and 2,4-D choline products should not be the hub of the wheel. They should be just one spoke and an option to be used only after a solid pre-emergence and residual weed control program has been implemented. gdmorgan@tamu.edu COTTONFARMING.COM

Specialists Speaking BELTWIDE COTTON SPECIALIST OF THE YEAR

The 2019 Beltwide Cotton Specialist of the Year, Dr. Tyson Raper (center with plaque), is pictured with previous honorees following the annual award dinner in New Orleans, Louisiana. Raper is the cotton and small grains specialist at the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture.

LOUISIANA Dan Fromme In Louisiana and around the Cotton Belt, thrips are considered the No. 1 early season seedling cotton pest. Dr. Sebe Brown, entomologist with the LSU AgCenter, says tobacco thrips compose the primary species infesting Louisiana cotton while western flower thrips are often present at lower numbers.

Dr. Brown goes on to say that with the absence of aldicarb (although we now have a commercially available aldicarb replacement named AgLogic), insecticide seed treatments dominate the early season cotton insect pest management landscape. As of 2019, there are only two seed treatment options: acephate and neonicotinoids.

Imidacloprid and thiamethoxam are the two most commonly used neonicotinoids. These treatments are offered alone or in combination with nematicides. Based on bioassay data generated over the past seven years, the LSU AgCenter does not recommend thiamethoxam alone as a seed treatment for cotton. Tobacco thrips resistance is the reason for this decision.

However, imidacloprid is still effective, and when used with the insecticide/nematicide thiodicarb (Aeris), provides very good thrips control. If Aeris is not an option, imidacloprid overtreated with acephate (6.4 ounces per hundredweight) is another viable option.

Acephate alone will control thrips; however, acephate has a significantly shorter residual than imidacloprid and the probability of returning with a foliar application is very high. Also, if you elect to overtreat cotton seed with acephate, the seed cannot be returned.

In-furrow applications of imidacloprid also work well controlling thrips. Four pounds of imidacloprid at 9.2 ounces per acre or 2 pounds material at 19 ounces per acre provide excellent thrips conTWITTER: @COTTONFARMING

trol. AgLogic — the generic replacement for Temik — has demonstrated satisfactory thrips control at the 3.3 and 4 pounds per acre rate. dfromme@agcenter.lsu.edu

TENNESSEE Tyson Raper Late fall and early winter of 2018 were filled with more rain than most can remember in Tennessee.

While several were able to complete a little “dirtwork” or establish covers, large expanses to the south even still have stalks to cut. I also notice fewer acres planted to cover crops as I drive through state than I have seen in previous years.

Unfortunately, 2019 has not brought the relief many hope for. Feb 6 brought flooding to several regions of Tennessee flooded on Feb. 6, and the five-day forecast today on Feb. 8 showed large amounts for the next week. If our pattern of inconsistencies and extremes holds, saturated conditions should break soon. They must.

Many recent calls have been about hill-dropping seed and target plant populations. Over the past few years, our data have again upheld the old, standard requirements. Yields are relatively stable as long as you have about 1.9 plants per foot, even in early to mid-maturing varieties.

Our crop’s ability to compensate for stand inconsistencies and concerns over lifting power of some of our highest yielding, relatively small-seeded varieties has supported a move back to hill-drop plates in acres with a history of crusting. Our data also support a modest reduction in seeding rates, especially for those nearing 50,000, planting larger-seeded, more vigorous germplasm.

Keep an eye on our blog or twitter for summaries of these trials and others at news.utcrops.com @TysonRaper. traper@utk.edu MARCH 2019 | COTTON FARMING

25

Specialists Speaking OKLAHOMA Seth Byrd While it’s too early to plant cotton in Oklahoma, March typically signals the start of preparations for the upcoming season. Two of the primary activities associated with this time of year are the application of herbicides — typically yellows — and fertility.

As we all know, starting clean (or weed-free) is one of the biggest keys to a successful cotton season. The value of using a yellow herbicide may depend on your production practices. Incorporation through tillage is typically the best method for achieving optimal activity from a yellow herbicide.

While some formulations can be watered-in through irrigation or rainfall, these herbicides rely on soil contact. Producers in minimal or no-till operations may want to weigh the cost-benefit to determine if there is another method to achieve a clean start.

The other area of focus this time of year is fertility. Using soil tests to determine nutrient levels and requirements at critical depths in the soil profile is by far the most reliable and efficient way to determine fertility needs. Oklahoma State University is home to an excellent soil testing lab. This is a great resource for producers or consultants regarding soil testing procedures or interpreting results.

For more information on soil testing or the OSU lab, contact your local county Extension office or go to http://soiltesting.okstate.edu/. seth.byrd@okstate.edu

MISSOURI Calvin Meeks I hope by the time this issue of Cotton Farming reaches you that the rain pounding the Bootheel since last fall has tapered off. Looking to the 2019 season, fieldwork should ramp up in March after being delayed by the wet fall. This means weed pressure over the winter most likely will be high due to excessive moisture and lack of tillage. With burndown approaching, I encourage you to incorporate residual herbicides into your burndown program to ensure a clean start.

In addition, I recommend taking a look at the seedling vigor presentation here at https://mizzoucotton.files.wordpress.com/2019/02/ mu-cotton-seedling-vigor-evaluations.pdf. Plan your planting around the vigor of the varieties you have chosen. It is always best to plant according to soil temperature and not the calendar.

But if one of your varieties was in the bottom 10 for seedling vigor, plant it later in the planting window. In general, the first plantings in Missouri have a greater threat of cool temperatures after seed is in the ground. This can lead to stand losses and cold damage, which reduce yield potential. Varieties with lower vigor will be affected more than others. I suggest your first plantings be varieties from the seed vigor top 10 list to get a good start for the year. meeksc@missouri.edu

MISSISSIPPI Darrin Dodds This year has begun much like 2018 ended — wet with little to no fieldwork completed. While we have some time in the Mid-South to prepare for cotton, those who are planning to plant corn into fields that were rutted up last fall may now want to consider how to handle this situation. Preliminary indications are that cotton acres will increase in Mississippi in 2019 compared to 2018.

The primary issue — other than fieldwork — leading into cotton planting season is pre-plant weed control. I almost thoughtlessly typed burndown weed control in the previous statement. However,

26

COTTON FARMING | MARCH 2019

if fieldwork is needed to remove ruts and get beds back in shape, at least some level of weed control will be accomplished through these operations.

If weed pressure is not excessive, fields will likely be worked without using an herbicide. However, the likelihood of freshly worked soil remaining relatively weed free through planting will depend on several factors.

In all likelihood, an herbicide application will be required prior to planting. If these applications are delayed and planting time is approaching, be aware of plant-back restrictions for the products you use. A failed stand, regardless of the reason, is not the way we want to start the 2019 production season. dmd76@pss.msstate.edu

FLORIDA David Wright Warm weather makes farmers think of having equipment ready for planting season. Many Florida farmers who were in the path of the hurricane are still clearing trees from around fields and field roads to gain access for planting and management.

Timing of the hurricane delayed harvest and led to fewer cover crops being planted. Farmers may have to contend with more winter weeds, too. With widespread use of conservation tillage, we recommend cover crops be killed three to four weeks prior to planting to reduce cutworm damage and seedling diseases under cool, wet conditions.

Starter fertilizer can be used to enhance early growth of cotton and will sometimes increase yields. Deciding what technology is best for your farm often depends on the type of weeds present and what neighbors will be growing in surrounding fields. wright@ufl.edu

NORTH CAROLINA Guy Collins The outlook for North Carolina cotton in 2019 appears to be positive despite the challenges we experienced in 2018. Attendance throughout our winter county meetings has been high, which we hope is a good sign for cotton acreage intentions. Several growers have suggested their acreage will increase from that of 2018, and a few farmers have indicated they will be planting cotton for the first time ever, or for the first time in several years.

We hope for favorable weather in March so timely fieldwork can proceed. I’ve included a few comments about burndown from our new cotton and corn Extension weed specialist, Dr. Charlie Cahoon, who hit the ground running with his applied research and Extension efforts. We’re glad to have him join our North Carolina State University Cotton Team.

Timeliness is critical for effective burndown strategies. Our primary target weeds are horseweed/marestail, as well as primrose and a few others. Scheduling burndown when weeds are small during March greatly increases the herbicide options to manage problematic weeds versus targeting larger weeds in April.

Delayed burndown can often narrow the range of effective options and complicate management. During March, try to make burndown sprays on relatively nice days when daytime highs are in the 60s. Avoid application when nighttime lows approach 40 degrees or less.

March also is a good time to make necessary field repairs. Heavy rains during the latter half of 2018 caused plenty of washes that need restoring before planting season. Additionally, it wouldn’t hurt to think about soil fertility and how significant rainfall may have affected fertility levels for the coming season. guy_collins@ncsu.edu COTTONFARMING.COM

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VIEWPOINT

Take A Look Back To Plan For Upcoming Season

BY ADAM HIXSON LUBBOCK, TEXAS

W

eather is the most challenging obstacle that faces any farmer. Around planting time in any given year in the Texas South Plains, High Plains and Panhandle, about 4 million to 5 million acres of cotton goes in the ground. Cotton is king in this area.

The 2018 season was probably the roughest planting year since 2011, and 2011 was an epic drought. At the Lubbock International Airport, we saw 5 inches of rain last year when our average is about 18 inches. We don’t see a ton of rain anyway, but 5 inches was a drop in the bucket. Although we have some irrigated cotton, we need help from Mother Nature, too.

In spite of the dry conditions, area farmers got the crop in during the normal planting window — May 5 through early June. However, very few dryland acres emerged due to no moisture at all. Most of the dryland acres were zeroed out last year.

Growers pre-watered their irrigated acres in 2018 so they could plant into moisture. But if they don’t receive rain during the season, even those acres are going to suffer. Cotton needs that supplemental moisture.

Some of the late-planted cotton looked good going into August since the summer wasn’t overly hot, and we had good heat units to help the crop’s growth. We also received some late rains, which resulted in a pretty good irrigated crop even if farmers planted into June.

Tough Harvest Conditions At harvest time, conditions were more difficult because of tropical moisture throughout the entire country. Pacific storms affected our area, and the Southeast was hammered by hurricanes. Weather challenged farmers both at planting and at harvest.

The rains started in September and didn’t end until mid-October. Warm weather and no early fall freezes in the Texas Panhandle led to some of the worst regrowth I have seen during the past seven years. Regrowth can stain the lint and slow harvest. It can cause trash in the cotton, which means the grades go down. That’s not a good day when you have worked all year to produce a profitable crop.

In our area, I think one of the most effective options to suppress and control regrowth is Sharpen herbicide. I like to take the leaves off, open the bolls and then finish off any regrowth or leaves left on the bottom of the plant with Sharpen added to the final defoliation/desiccation application.

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COTTON FARMING | MARCH 2019

•

Texas

• Resides in Lubbock, Texas.

• Currently works as the BASF technical service representative for West/Northeast Texas, Oklahoma and New Mexico.

• B.S. in entomology, Texas A&M University.

• M.S. in nematology, University of Florida.

• Ph.D. in weed science, North Carolina State University.

Field History, Variety Selection When farmers choose varieties for the upcoming year, they typically look back at what happened the previous year to help make their decision. For example, they may notice a Verticillium wilt problem in a field. In that case, they probably need to choose a variety with Verticillium wilt tolerance since the disease tends to occur in the same locations year after year. Their seed representative may recommend FiberMax since many of these varieties have shown good tolerance to Vert.

Farmers also look for varieties with drought tolerance since this appears to be an issue they have to deal with even on irrigated acres. The Texas Panhandle taps into water from the Ogallala Aquifer. As you move south from Lubbock, the water becomes less and less. BASF is working on some cotton varieties that focus on water-use efficiency we hope will be commercially available in the next five to seven years.

Where wheat has been the traditional cover crop planted in West Texas, I am seeing farmers having more interest in trying different types of cover. A cover crop typically is planted to “hold the ground down” during West Texas windstorms. It reduces the potential for topsoil to move around.

West Texas Weeds Problematic weeds in West Texas typically drive the herbicide program. Farmers use “yellow herbicides,” such as Prowl H2O, to control kochia and Russian thistle, which appear early in the season. The best time to put out residual herbicides is in March and April. I like to apply a residual prior to the weed’s emergence. Once kochia comes up and gets established, it’s difficult to control and resistant to several herbicide modes of action.

The No. 1 weed is Palmer amaranth. It starts to germinate in late April close to planting time and continues to germinate all the way through September. If you don’t control it throughout the growing season, its late-season emergence has the potential to cause yield loss. We recommend a strong preemergence herbicide at planting, followed by either Liberty or Engenia, depending on the type of cotton you have.

Future Looks Bright Even though West Texas cotton farmers faced obstacles in 2018, most are optimistic about the future. We have a lot of variety choices, and cotton is progressing in terms of weed control with the traits on the market today.

Before the new season begins, farmers can reflect on what they learned from last year and make the needed adjustments in their production plans to help ensure success in 2019.

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Labor Continues To Be An Issue It’s all over the news about how good the job market is. In many places, there are “help wanted” signs everywhere. Labor is tight.

In some areas, labor is tighter than others. It’s no great shock that the ginning industry relies on a largely migrant workforce.

With a tight labor market, able-bodied people who want to work can find work year-round. If you want a job, you have a job in most parts of the country, including a large portion of rural America. However, most people don’t want to work at a seasonal job no matter how good the pay may be. Additionally, in areas where local workers traditionally have come to work at a gin, many are moving out of the workforce for health and age reasons.

Focus Of Conversation Shifts Even though the season isn’t over yet in many places (it just won’t end), it’s not too early to start thinking about the upcoming season’s labor. This brings up the reason for my article.

Meeting season for the cotton industry — the time when organizations gather and people prepare for another crop — is in full swing. As we move from meeting to meeting, there are similar conversations that come up no matter what part of the country you are from. For example, people talk about machinery changes, trucking changes, harvester changes and unwrapper changes.

These topics used to be discussed with an eye toward getting the job done faster or more efficiently. Now they revolve around how to eliminate people. Labor is a driver in so many discussions today.

In my part of the world, a number of gins were concerned about finding enough people to run two shifts. Hurricanes Florence and Michael took care of that problem for this year, but in some ways the storms have made folks concerned about next year. The effects of such disasters linger.

People who had worked at gins in some areas are now working on recovery efforts and will be for a couple years. Construction, cleanup, infrastructure repair, etc. are claiming a number of field and gin workers for longer-term employment.

Dusty Findley, CEO of the Southeastern Cotton Ginners Association, contributed this article. Contact Findley at 706344-1212 or dusty@southern-southeastern.org.

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Secure Labor Now A gin used to have many more applicants than they had jobs, now they barely get enough to fill what they need. There are many outlets to find workers, but the purpose of this article is to encourage ginners to start securing the upcoming season’s seasonal labor force soon.

Make sure you have your current workforce contacts and stay in touch in the off-season. Recruit them to help find legal employees. Work on labor leasing contracts if that’s available or start discussions with local producers who use H-2A to try to maximize that effort. Whatever your way of recruiting and securing labor, it’s never too early to start, but it can often be too late.

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The Science Channel Features Cotton On Its ‘How It’s Made’ TV Show The cotton edition of “How It’s Made” recently aired on the Science Channel. The segment debuted on Jan. 24 at 9 p.m. and was filmed at Birome Gin Co. Inc. in Birome, Texas.

Using one of your digital devices, go to www.sciencechannel. com/tv-shows/how-its-made/full-episodes/cotton-rodeo-ropingchutes-asian-noodles-and-rotary-engines to view the show.

You will need to sign into your provider account to gain access.

According to the Science Channel website, “The ‘How It’s Made’ TV show explores how everyday objects or products we seldom stop to think about are made. In each episode, viewers learn how common items — such as dental crowns, corn whiskey, greenhouse tomatoes, rock climbing gear, pipes, luxury sports cars, traditional bookbinding and flight simulators — are manufactured in high-tech factories or processing plants around the world.”

TCGA Gets Involved Just to provide a little bit of history, one of the show producers called the Texas Cotton Ginners’ Association office out of the blue. Kelley Green and Tony Williams both communicated with him. The production crew was going to be in Texas for a specific two-week period around the first part of October.

TCGA staff put the “How It’s Made” production manager in touch with Gerry Kasberg with Birome Gin. The production manager wanted to film not only the ginning of cotton, but the harvesting of cotton as well. The Central Texas gin fit the desired time frame perfectly. The Texas Cotton Ginners’ Association sends a big thanks to Gerry and Lisa Kasberg and the staff at Birome Gin for working with the folks at “How It’s Made” to get the project done.

Enjoy watching the show!

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Wes Morgan To Lead National Cotton Ginners Association The Memphis, Tennessee-based National Cotton Ginners Association elected its 2019 officers on Feb. 8 during its annual meeting in San Antonio, Texas.

Here is the new slate: president – Wes Morgan, New London, North Carolina; first vice president – Curtis Stewart, Spade, Texas; second vice president – George LaCour Jr., Morganza, Louisiana; third vice president – Gene Seale, Pima, Arizona; and chairman – Stanley Creelman, Tulare, California. Harrison Ashley of Cordova, Tennessee, serves as NCGA’s executive vice president.

Morgan, who graduated top of his class at King’s College in Charlotte, North Carolina, in 1987, is manager of Rolling Hills Gin LLC in New London.

Having served on and chaired multiple NCGA committees, Morgan currently chairs the NCGA’s Legislative Committee and its Air Quality Subcommittee. He also is chairman of Southeastern Cotton Ginners.

Morgan was a participant in the National Cotton Council’s 2016 Emerging Leaders Program and currently serves as a NCC director and as a member of the NCC’s Cotton Flow Committee and Quality Task Force.

Also at NCGA’s annual meeting, Kirk Gilkey, manager of the Cross-Creek II Gin in Corcoran, California, was named the 2018 Horace Hayden National Cotton Ginner of the Year.

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COTTON FARMING | MARCH 2019

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In addition, Dr. Ed Barnes, senior director for Cotton Incorporated’s Agricultural and Environmental Research Division in Cary, North Carolina, received the NCGA’s 2018-19 Charles C. Owen Distinguished Service Award.

Cotton’s Calendar 2019 ¢ March 20: Staplcotn and Stapldiscount Board Meeting,

Greenwood, Mississippi ¢ March 21: Calcot Ltd. Board of Directors Meeting,

BakersďŹ eld, California ¢ April 4-5: TCGA Annual Meeting and Trade Show,

Lubbock Memorial Civic Center, Lubbock, Texas ¢ April 5: Plains Cotton Growers Quarterly Board

Meeting, Lubbock Memorial Civic Center, Lubbock, Texas ¢ April 5: Plains Cotton Growers Annual Meeting,

Lubbock Memorial Civic Center, Lubbock, Texas ¢ April 10-12: 2019 ACP Spring Meeting, Omni Dallas Hotel Park West, Dallas, Texas ¢ April 17: Plains Cotton Cooperative Association Board, Delegate Body & Marketing Pool Committee Meetings, Lubbock, Texas ¢ May 15: PCCA Board of Directors Meeting, Lubbock, Texas ¢ May 16: Calcot Ltd. Board of Directors Meeting, Phoenix, Arizona ¢ June 11-13: Cotton Incorporated Board Meeting, Omni Mandalay Bay, Dallas, Texas ¢ June 19: PCCA Board, Delegate Body & Marketing Pool Committee Meetings, Lubbock, Texas

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Continued Growth When the original Adobe Walls Gin was completed in 2006, it was a 5 “Less 1” layout with four 170 gin stands and a production of 50 bales per hour, says Jerrell Keys, Adobe Walls general manager. The original plant was funded by about 20 local growers, each of whom purchased shares, as well as a large investment by Windstar Inc. “It was state of the art,” Keys says. “For an individual plant, it was large. We just left that one line open, not knowing what the true growth potential was. Cotton was still a four-letter word to a lot of these corn growers.”

Three years later, Adobe Walls Gin added the fifth gin line, making the facility a 60-bale-per-hour plant. In subsequent years, the seed warehouse doubled in size.

Spurred by continued expansion of the north Texas High Plains cotton industry, Adobe Walls Gin began construction of a new $14.5 million plant in late 2016 adjacent to the existing one. The new facility, a 6 “Less 2” configuration that included four 234-saw gin stands, came online in late December 2017 and was fully functional shortly after Christmas of that year. A new seed warehouse, which can store 30,000 tons of seed, also was built in 2017.

The expansion was funded by Windstar Inc., the original grower-investors as well as outside investors who purchased new shares. With a capacity to run up to 280,000 bales per season, Adobe Walls became the largest ginning point in the United States.

Two more 234-saw gin stands along with a second press were added in time for the 2018 season, increasing the new plant’s capacity by about 50 percent. So the Adobe Walls

VICKY BOYD

Continued from page 13

The seed warehouse was built in 2018 as part of construction of Ag Producers Co-op’s new gin near Spearman, Texas. complex can now produce around 400,000 bales annually.

In spring 2018, Adobe Walls Gin also hit another milestone — it ginned its millionth bale of cotton.

More Acres Prompt Lonestar Gin Lonestar Gin LP broke ground on a new gin near Pampa in fall 2018, and construction should be finished by September, says General Manager Carey McKinney.

Although the facility is new and not an expansion of an existing gin, McKinney says several area gins and growers are investors in this one.

Much like elsewhere in the Texas High Plains, increased cotton acres were behind the new Lonestar gin.

“It’s just mainly the acres north of I-40 that are going more into a rotation of corn to cotton,” McKinney says.

The facility, which will feature six 234-saw gin stands and two presses from Lummus, will be able to produce more than 125,000 bales per year.

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33

My Turn From The Farm To The ‘Bar’

I

grew up in the little town able to assist him in getting some leased land to of Ropesville, Texas, start off and shared some equipment to help him get population 435, right in going. I remember telling Daddy when I was about the middle of the “world’s 15 and crawled off the John Deere in mid-July after largest contiguous cotton a 12-hour day that “I wasn’t going to be a damn farmer. I was gonna be a lawyer and shower in the patch.”

My maternal grandfather, morning before work instead of when I got home.”

Jerry Green, was a gin man- His response was that I liked to argue so much the ager. My paternal grandfa- bar would be a fine career choice.

At any rate, Daddy and Kenneth farmed sepather, Wilburn Chambers, was a gin manager and share- rately and as a partnership known as K&J Farms Charles holder in an Farm Center Inc., which I set up for them in my advisory capacity Chambers Gin and Elevator — an inde- as the family attorney. Yes, I made it through law pendent cotton gin between school and have the good fortune to represent many Lubbock and Ropesville. farmers and farm owners as part of my practice.

Fifty-five years later, I still remember helping my Unfortunately, Kenneth died of cancer at 46 and granddad and the head ginner, “Cotton” Kavitch, by Daddy a couple of years later. But the Latham Farm running the suction pipe in the overflow bin at the still exists. I am proud to say I inherited it and have it in a trust for Kenneth’s end of the gin stands. two kids.

Grandad Wilburn was I am fortunate that one also a cotton farmer and “His response was that I liked to he, my grandmother, argue so much the bar would be of the best farmers in the area, Mike Henson, farms Nadine, and my parents, a fine career choice.” it. We average about 2.8 James and Jerry Beth, bales per acre on the 120 bought the 153-acre “Latham” farm in 1961. Sadly, Wilburn drowned acres my dad and I put into subsurface drip irrigaon a fishing trip accident around 1963 so my dad tion. A dear family friend and excellent farmer, H. carried on the farming, eventually expanding his Joe Schwartz, died a few months back. He paid me the finest compliment a landowner can be paid when operation to 1,200 or so acres.

I was born in 1957 and my little brother, Kenneth, he told me I was taking care of the land like I was in 1961. My parents separated when I was 8 and taught. I get out to the farm quite often, go to the divorced four years later. But they got along well, annual meeting of the co-op gin, don’t argue with Mr. remained in the same town where my momma was Henson about farming decisions and get to “farm” a teacher and the school librarian for 33 years. We without all the pressure and debt.

Most people associate gambling with flashy casilived in “town” with my mom but grew up working on the farm. I learned to drive on a 3010 John Deere nos. To me, there is no bigger gambler than a farmer at age 10. When I was 16, my momma married walking in to meet with a reluctant or skeptical Charles Shannon ­— a cotton farmer and elevator banker, asking for hundreds of thousands or more in operating loans, knowing that a 15-minute hailman. They also have farmland they now lease out.

I began working at the local cotton gin on the storm can wipe out a year of blood, sweat and tears, weekends, holidays and after school until midnight. and still “put it all on the line.”

I drive to many rural counties in my chosen proIt was my first Social Security and minimum-wage job, and I thought I would never see another poor fession and see a lot of crops, equipment and labor. day. That was back in the day when a boy who While I often think “what if” I had farmed, I believe wanted to work could, and every one of my buddies I will stick to arguing for a living. and I were always looking for work.

– Charles Chambers Kenneth wanted to farm and obtained a degree Lubbock, Texas in ag economics from Texas Tech University in 1982 charleschambers_540@msn.com and immediately started farming. Our daddy was

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.

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