Cotton farming may 2018

Cotton Farming ONE GROWER PUBLISHING, LLC

PROFITABLE PRODUCTION STRATEGIES

MAY 2018

www.cottonfarming.com

Oklahoma Brothers Carry On Cotton Legacy

Big Boots To Fill

®

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Vol. 62 No. 5

Cotton Farming PROFITABLE PRODUCTION STRATEGIES

MAY 2018

www.cottonfarming.com

F E AT U R E S

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Big Boots To Fill

For many who knew him, southwest Oklahoma producer Murray Williams was a legend in cotton. He loved farming and giving of his time to serve the industry. Today, his sons Rann (pictured above) and Eddie operate M.R. Williams & Sons, which primarily consists of 4,000-plus acres of irrigated and dryland cotton. To Murray, cotton was always king, and Rann and Eddie are proud to continue his legacy.

DEPARTMENTS & COLUMNS

4 Editor’s Note 5 Cotton’s Agenda 10 Southeast Report

12 Industry News 16 Specialists Speaking 22 My Turn

ON THE COVER: This dryland field of FiberMax 2334GLT near Altus, Oklahoma, yielded 3.4 bales per acre.

Cover photo by Rann Williams.

2018 TMC CONTEST The fourth annual Transform My Community Contest — June 1 through July 31 — is open to eligible cotton farmers and consultants.

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MAXIMIZER CLUB FETED

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REMEMBERING EARL SEARS

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GINNING MARKETPLACE

The club recognizes cotton farmers who plant FiberMax varieties and harvest at least 1,000 pounds per acre under dryland conditions.

The industry leader served two tenures spanning more than 30 years with the National Cotton Council of America.

the official publication of the ginning industry

Dusty Findley, Southeastern Cotton Ginners Association CEO, discusses ways to keep gin safety at the top of your list. One of the keys is to control hazardous energy.

WEB EXCLUSIVE North Carolina cotton specialists Guy Collins and Keith Edmisten say it is important to evaluate and quantify the effects of deer feeding on young cotton. Replant decisions can be made in cases of significant stand loss or severe yield loss of surviving plants. Go online to www. cottonfarming.com for this Web Exclusive report.

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

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COTTON FARMING (ISSN 0746-8385) is published monthly January through December by One Grower Publishing LLC, 6515 Goodman Rd., Box 360, Olive Branch, MS 38654. 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.

Twitter: @CottonFarming

MAY 2018 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

Passing The Baton

L

ooking back on the history of a farming operation can sometimes involve measuring the growth in acreage, comparing yield results from one year to another, and calculating the return on investment for improvements made. Another aspect worthy of contemplation is the human element.

Most of today’s farmers enjoy talking about the generations that came before and the inspiration they still provide today. And more than a few farm office walls are adorned with paintings, old photos and other memorabilia that feature significant people and places from the past. All of the stories are interesting, whether grand or small.

Rann Williams’ grandfather, W.W. “Luck” Williams, was a small-time farmer who traveled with his family in a covered wagon from Texas to settle in southwest Oklahoma. (“Big Boots To Fill,” page 6) Luck’s son, Murray, started farming on halves with his father right after high school and went on to serve in numerous leadership positions to help further the cotton industry. He also loved farming and took great pride in keeping his fields weed free. Murray instilled those same values of service to the industry and working hard on the farm in his sons, Rann and Eddie, who are carrying on his legacy today.

“Dad was a pioneer and an innovator,” Rann says. “He was a deacon in the church, but out here on the farm, he pushed us. He expected a lot out of us. It’s an honor for both my brother and me to try to follow in his footsteps.”

Missouri Bootheel cotton farmer Patrick Turnage was also influenced by his ancestors. His great grandfather, John Willis, moved the family’s farming operation from Tennessee to the Missouri Bootheel in 1933. Even as a young boy, Patrick wanted to be a farmer more than anything. He spent countless hours following his grandfather and father around asking questions nonstop.

His daddy turned him loose on a combine when he was 10 years old, which — to Patrick — was monumental. “I felt like I became a real farmer that day,” he says. Patrick recounts other childhood memories related to farming in this month’s My Turn column on page 22. They run the gamut from getting his very own Motorola handheld two-way radio for Christmas one year to growing cotton in 8-ounce Styrofoam cups in the windowsill of his fourth grade class.

In the end, though, he is putting childhood things behind and shouldering the responsibilities of an adult.

“Like Papaw used to say, ‘The only thing that stays the same is change,’ and sometimes it weighs on you,” he says. “But, that’s farming.

And I hope it all works out.”

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 MAY 2018

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

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

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

Copyright 2018 © ASSOCIATED PUBLICATIONS – One Grower Publishing, LLC also publishes RICE FARMING, THE PEANUT GROWER, SOYBEAN SOUTH and CORN SOUTH.

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COTTONFARMING.COM

Cotton’s Agenda Gary Adams

Attention To Detail The National Cotton Council prepared a document that provides significant clarity regarding the new Seed Cotton Program that was contained in recently enacted legislation.

What’s the major policy change?

n As noted in the March column, the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 makes “seed cotton” (upland lint and cottonseed combined) eligible for the Agriculture Risk Coverage/Price Loss Coverage (ARC/PLC) policies in Title I of the 2014 farm law beginning with the 2018 crop year. There are three major decisions that must be made by farm owners and cotton producers: 1) electing coverage for seed cotton in either ARC or PLC, 2) choosing which option to update payment yields for upland cotton lint yields, and 3) deciding on the option for converting generic base acres to decoupled, crop-specific bases effective for the 2018 crop.

Payments under the new seed cotton ARC/PLC program for 2018 will be paid after Oct. 1 of the year the marketing year is completed – i.e. October 2019 for any 2018 crop year payments. Extra-long staple cotton is not eligible for the seed cotton program.

U.S. cotton industry members are urged to review a NCC-prepared Seed Cotton Program FAQ document.

What do producers need to know about the program?

n There are several rules and some options involved. That’s why the NCC initially posted a seed cotton program summary and other

documents on our website. We recently prepared a comprehensive “Seed Cotton Program Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)” document based on the numerous questions received during and following the educational webinars the NCC conducted for our members and interested stakeholders after the Act’s passage in February.

The FAQ document is organized by topic. Most of the questions focus on generic base conversion, yield update and yield/planting history. Among other topics addressed in the FAQ were: PLC/ARC election/prices/payments; the lint, cottonseed and seed cotton marketing year average prices; CRP land; landowner signatures/power of attorney; payment limits; the marketing loan program; and the Farm Service Agency’s implementation timeline.

For example, it was asked if STAX will continue to be available? The answer is that after the 2018-19 crop year, the legislation’s intent is that producers can choose between either enrolling in PLC/ARC or purchasing STAX on a farm.

At the time this column was submitted, the NCC was still awaiting answers to some questions asked during the webinars. Answers to these and other questions will be added to the FAQ document as they are acquired.

The NCC is working closely with USDA and the Congressional agriculture committees on the seed cotton program’s rulemaking and implementation process. Meanwhile, I strongly encourage industry members to review the FAQ document at www.cotton.org/econ/govprograms/seed-cotton-program.cfm where the program summary and other updates also reside.

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

MAY 2018 COTTON FARMING

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COVER STORY

Big Boots To Fill Oklahoma Brothers Carry On Cotton Legacy

BY CARROLL SMITH EDITOR

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COTTON FARMING MAY 2018

PAM CARAWAY

I

n 190 6, the year before Oklahoma was granted statehood, the Williams’ family traveled in a covered wagon from Texas and homesteaded east of Altus.

W.W. “Luck” Williams was a smalltime farmer, and his son, Murray — who loved cotton more than anything in the world — started farming fulltime right out of high school.

Today, Murray’s sons, Rann and Eddie, farm 2,900 acres of subsurface drip- and furrow-irrigated cotton in Jackson County. The remaining 1,800 cotton acres are dryland.

“We also raise wheat and have a cow-calf operation, but cotton was king to my father, and it is to me, too,” Rann says. “When choosing varieties, yield, quality and disease resistance inf luence our decision.

We work closely with Doug Cossey who not only is our seed rep but also a great friend I can call on day or night.”

I n 2 016 , 5 0 p er c ent of M . R .

Williams & Sons’ cotton acreage was planted to FiberMax varieties.

In 2017, they planted 100 percent FiberMax — FM 2334GLT and FM 1830GLT — and had their best crop ever. The irrigated cotton averaged 1,937 pounds per acre, and the dryland averaged 1,067 pounds per acre.

The highest yielding dryland field — planted to FM 2334GLT — picked 3.4 bales per acre. The highest yielding irrigated field — planted to FM 1830GLT — picked 5.64 bales per acre, resulting in a $1,253.55 net profit per acre. They also had an irrigated field of FM 2334GLT that picked 5.3 bales per acre.

“All the irrigated fields loaned for more than 55 cents per pound, and the highest was 55.41 cents,” Rann

Murray Williams — Rann Williams’ father — was named U.S. Cotton Farmer of the Year by Cotton Farming magazine and chairman of the Cotton Board in 1980. Today, in keeping with his father’s belief in service to the industry, Rann serves on the board of directors for Cotton Incorporated. says. “We also had a dryland patch that loaned like irrigated cotton — 54.81 cents per pound. All of our cot-

ton graded at the top of the scales.”

Their efforts were noted recently at a gathering of the Bayer CropScience COTTONFARMING.COM

Face Challenges With Confidence The 2017 season began with good soil moisture. Immediately after planting, the brothers applied a quart of paraquat with their John Deere R 4038 sprayer to clean up early season weeds before the cotton emerged. In late June, they put down a 43-ounce rate of Liberty in a post-emerge application.

“If you spray the weeds when they are 3 to 4 inches tall, you can knock them out,” Rann says. “We also use a 20-gallon rate of water when we apply Liberty, and it does a tremendous job.”

Roundup is applied in a separate application for grass control.

And at the end of the season, handhoe crews come in to clean up any escapes. It was common knowledge that Murray Williams took great pride in keeping his land weed-free, and his sons do what’s necessary to keep it that way, too.

Rann says their biggest challenge in 2017 was having to replant about 1,700 acres following a prolonged wet, cool spell right after the initial planting.

“Seedling disease set in, and the cotton was pretty sick,” he says. “The good news is that FiberMax stands Twitter: @CottonFarming

Deep Roots In Oklahoma Agriculture Editor’s note: This is an excerpt from the form submitted by the Williams family nominating Murray Williams for the Oklahoma Agriculture Hall of Fame in 2006. He was the first cotton farmer to receive this honor.

“He does what he loves and loves what he does.”

This statement describes Murray Williams’s lifelong love affair with agriculture. Williams is exemplary of the agriculture industry in Oklahoma. He was born the eighth child to W.W. “Luck” and Georgia Ann Williams….His legacy includes three generations of successful farming in Jackson County.

As a youngster, Williams milked cows on the family dairy farm, chopped and picked cotton, tended 4-H club show calves, and worked hard to help his family make a living during the Great Depression years of the 1930s….When he graduated from Ozark High School,…he began farming on the halves for his father in 1944. Williams started renting other land in 1949 and bought 160 acres in 1957. He and his wife, Lurlene, went on wheat harvest to Kansas and Nebraska for several years to help finance their purchases of Jackson County land. Today, he oversees a family farming operation consisting of almost 6,500 acres. As a tribute to Williams, both of his sons have followed in his footsteps and are partners with him in the farming In January 1980, Progressive operation.

Farmer magazine featured An innovative farmer, Williams has worked dili- 54-year-old Murray Williams gently for soil and water conservation. He was the — the new Cotton Board first farmer in Oklahoma in the late 1960s to use chairman from Altus, Oklathe new, state of the art, pre-plant cotton herbicide homa. He was described as a Treflan. Williams jumped at the opportunity and has “calm, soft-spoken man with had great success in weed control. A great deal of a subtle sense of humor.” change has occurred in Oklahoma agriculture over the past 40 years, and Williams has stayed abreast of the changes.

He was the first in this area to implement the installation of laser-guided drainage pipe that would aid in the removal of salt water from the soil to make the land productive again.

Williams was also the first to build tail-water pits that allow for recycling of irrigation water to help conserve water storage in Lake Lugert-Altus.

He operated the first four-row cotton picker in Oklahoma, built the first cotton module in the state, and along with his two sons owned and operated his own cotton gin from 1989 to 1998. Some of the same field hands have worked for him for over 30 years.

Being civic-minded, Williams has given generously of his time and financial support to make our state a better place to live. His family is active in the Altus First Baptist Church where he has served many years as deacon.... In addition, he has donated his land and time to Oklahoma State University for cotton test plots to further enhance cotton production in the state….

Williams has traveled the nation for the cotton industry. Not only has he served on the National Cotton Council, National Cotton Board and Cotton Incorporated board of directors, but his wife, Lurlene, served as Southwest Region Director of the National Cotton Women’s Committee.

Williams is deeply committed to his wife, his two sons, his daughter, his five grandchildren and his three great grandchildren. His roots are deeply planted in the rich, fertile farmland of Oklahoma.

COURTESY WILLIAMS FAMILY

Maximizer Club, which recognizes cotton farmers who plant FiberMax varieties and harvest at least 1,000 pounds per acre under dryland conditions. For the 2017 season, M.R. Williams & Sons was also recognized for having the most qualifying acres — 624 acres.

In addition, the Oklahoma farmers are three-year members of the FiberMax One Ton Club, which recognizes growers who harvested 2,000 pounds of lint on irrigated ground using FiberMax varieties.

Before passing away in October, Murray visited the farm and said he knew it was a great crop. Following harvest, the family calculated that the patriarch who started his career with small acreage had ginned more than 500,000 bales of cotton in his lifetime, including the 2017 crop.

“We counted this past year because Dad was alive when we started harvesting,” Rann says. “For us, it’s bittersweet that we had a record crop and he wasn’t here to see it through.

But he also would have been telling us we didn’t do something right because he was a perfectionist.”

behind their product and gave us free seed to replant.

“The field of 2334 that yielded 5.3 bales per acre and the field of 1830 that yielded 5.6 bales per acre were both replanted toward the end of

May — about two and a half weeks after they were initially planted.

Ironically, in 2016 we didn’t have to replant one single acre. That just goes to show how different two years will be.”

MAY 2018 COTTON FARMING

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Custom Harvesting For t he pa st 3 0 yea r s, M . R .

Williams & Sons has hired S&J Harvesting in Uvalde, Texas, to get their cotton crop out of the field.

The only exception was from 2011 to 2013 when the area was in a horrific

PHOTOS COURTESY WILLIAMS FAMILY

In-Season Practices The Williams brothers depend on their crop consultant, Andy Harrison, to watch for weeds and insects. Their No. 1 insect pest is early season thrips followed by fleahoppers. Rann says the Bt gene controlled the worms so they were not an issue in 2017.

Harrison also makes plant growth regulator recommendations. In 2017, they put out 10 ounces per acre of PGR in some fields and 24 ounces in others. They take soil samples to determine what nutrients are needed to meet their yield goal of 4-plus bales per acre. This year, the brothers applied gypsum to correct some high pH issues in the soil.

For efficiency, they take advantage of variable-rate application. They also have the capability to apply fertilizer through subsurface drip irrigation water. The system was designed and installed by Eco-Drip.

“We have about 750 acres under drip irrigation in addition to our furrow irrigated acres,” Rann says. “ T wo ir r igation crews work two 12-hour shifts seven days a week to keep everything running smoothly during the season.”

Rann Williams and his wife, Kerri, are surrounded by the farm’s record-breaking 2017 cotton crop. “We were so pleasantly surprised at the yield and so thankful to God for His blessings,” Kerri says. drought and the farm didn’t produce 1 bale of cotton.

“They can get the cotton out quicker than we can, and I can focus on making and marketing the cotton,” Rann says. “Jack Parker and his brother and their crew can bring in eight machines and knock out our acreage in a matter of days. Getting the cotton to the gin faster saves the quality, which is so important in the marketplace today.

“Sometimes I think Jack was prob-

ably born on a cotton picker. He can set a machine and not leave any lint on the stalk. Jack takes great pride in his work.”

T he c ot t on t h at c ome s f r om M.R. Williams & Sons is ginned at Humphrey’s Co-op where Rann sits on the board as vice president. The facility is in Jackson County south of Altus. They market 100 percent of their cotton through the seasonal pool at Autauga Quality Cotton Association in Prattville, Alabama.

Rann also sits on this board and works with Jeff Thompson, the company’s Mid-South manager.

Although they hire S&J Harvesting to pick the cotton, the Williams brothers have their own module truck and module-hauling business. They haul all of their own modules as well as the other farmers’ modules that Parker picks for. They also will custom haul for other gins if needed.

It ’s no sec ret that southwest Oklahoma can be a tough area to grow cotton at times. And farming consists of a lot of hard work. Rann says what keeps him inspired to keep going each day is building on his father’s accomplishments.

“To me, he’s a legend in cotton as evidenced by his service to agriculture,” he says. “Dad was a pioneer and an innovator. He was a deacon in the church, but out here on the farm, he pushed us. He expected a lot out of us.

It’s an honor for both my brother and me to try to follow in his footsteps.”

Jack Parker with S&J Harvesting in Uvalde, Texas, custom harvests 4,000-plus acres of cotton grown on the M.R. Williams & Sons’ operation in Jackson County, Oklahoma.

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COTTON FARMING MAY 2018

COTTONFARMING.COM

Transform My Community Contest Opens June 1

BY CARROLL SMITH EDITOR

I

Life-Changing Opportunities In 2015 — the Transform My Community Contest’s inaugural year — Arkansas cotton farmer A.J. Hood wrote a heartfelt commentary about the Miracle League of Southeast Arkansas’ efforts to raise money to build a baseball field for kids and adults with disabilities. After Hood was named the grand prize winner, Dow AgroSciences donated $10,000 to support the effort, and the SEARK Miracle League opened this spring.

Moved by the Transform My Community Contest’s success in connecting with long-term community development, Dow AgroSciences increased the grand prize money to $20,000 in 2016. Tennessee crop consultant Larry Kimery says he submitted an entry that year with the hope of providing significant funding to the Carl Perkins Center for the Prevention of Child Abuse. The money donated by Dow AgroSciences for his winning submission allowed the center to hire a full-time family advocate who works directly with children — who have been victims of child abuse — and their families.

In 2017, Mississippi cotton farmer Gary Dyksterhouse says, “The growth of Delta Streets Academy has outpaced its funding. I entered the Transform My Community Contest with the hope of helping the school fulfill its goal of combating the threat of hopelessness that is born out of poor education and lack of opportunity.”

T.Mac Howard, DSA head of school and executive director, says, “We are beyond ecstatic about the $20,000 TMC grand prize money Dow AgroSciences has donated to our Twitter: @CottonFarming

DOREEN MUZZI

“

t’s easy to make a buck. It’s a lot tougher to make a difference,” says Tom Brokaw, television journalist and author. And giving just a small portion of your time is always part of that equation.

The Transform My Community Contest, inspired

by Transform WG insecticide and sponsored by Dow AgroSciences and Cotton Farming magazine, is a way for cotton farmers and crop consultants to “transform” an aspect of their community with $20,000 prize money.

It just takes a few minutes to sit down and tell the story of an organization or charity that could benefit from this generous cash jumpstart.

The 2018 program begins June 1 and runs through July 31. The fourth annual Transform My Community Contest is open to cotton farmers and consultants where Section 18 emergency exemptions have been granted for use of Transform insecticide in cotton.

From left, Delta Streets Academy student Jaylin Jackson; cotton farmer and grand prize winner of the 2017 Transform My Community Contest Gary Dyksterhouse; DSA head of school and Executive Director T.Mac Howard; DSA student Brandon Lewis; Dow AgroSciences sales representative Jonny Spivey; and DSA student Imanol Moreno. school. This donation will allow our dedicated staff to continue to help mold and equip the young men who walk through our doors daily.”

Access Entry Form Online Mike Fox, insecticides product manager, Dow AgroSciences, says, “We are excited to be kicking off the fourth year of the Transform My Community Contest.

Dow AgroSciences is proud to help bring positive change and support to rural cotton-growing communities. It’s a privilege to work for an organization that cares so much about growers and their communities, and this program is just one of the many ways we are able to give back.”

On the entry form, tell why you need Transform insecticide or how it has helped protect your cotton yield from plant bugs. Also share how your favorite organization or charity (local FFA chapter, food bank, library, etc.) is working to help transform your community. Your idea could win $20,000 for your community and a $1,000 cash prize for you. Entrants also are encouraged to attach photos (if applicable).

Go to www.transformmycommunity.com June 1 to access the contest entry form. Entries are judged on compelling need, creativity and tie-in to the Transform insecticide theme. The deadline to submit your short essay is July 31.

MAY 2018 COTTON FARMING

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SOUTHEAST REPORT

Cotton On Mars In The Future?

T

he idea of growing cotton on Mars seems farfetched right now, but the future of cotton production and harvest has changed rapidly in the past 10 years. Today, Cotton Incorporated and Southeast researchers are developing technology for an army of small autonomous robots, often called swarm bots, that could revolutionize the way cotton is harvested, making it more efficient and profitable for U.S. growers.

Picture this — a swarm of small robots moving down rows of cotton with mechanical arms picking only the bolls that are open and ready. And then, those same robots deposit the fiber into containers where the ginning process begins as the robots move on to more cotton plants down the row. This is what Cotton Incorporated’s Dr. Ed Barnes, Senior Director, Agricultural & Environmental Research, is telling cotton producers to look for in the future.

“What we’re envisioning at Cotton Incorporated is an autonomous bot that could cover 11 acres a day and go through the field 25-30 times in a season,” Barnes says. The robot’s efficient picking style would also mean a swarm of them could finish harvesting in the optimum picking window and reduce the time bolls were exposed to the elements.

Robotic harvesting might dramatically improve fiber quality since bolls Researchers test the phenotyping data logger at the Edisto Research and Education Center in Blackville, South Carolina. The attached sensors on the aluminum extensions measure height, Normalized Difference Vegetation Index and temperature.

COURTESY OF DR. JOE MAJA CLEMSON UNIVERSITY

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COTTON FARMING MAY 2018

BY MONTY BAIN DADEVILLE, ALABAMA

would be picked as soon as they open.

The robots could travel the same rows again the following days as more bolls mature and open. The robots might also eliminate contamination because they only harvest the cotton fiber, never any of the plastic debris that tends to drift into cotton fields.

Harvest aids and defoliation could potentially be eliminated since the leaves could stay on the plant to protect the bolls. This can save cost for the producer and further improve cotton’s environmental footprint. These robots could be used in seeding, scouting, row-weeding and spraying. They also could provide important data, such as moisture measurements, nutrient management and pest regulation. And, no fuel will be needed.

The robots under development will be solar powered.

Barnes estimates the new technology could be field-ready within the next 10 years. The robotic harvesting technology is already here, and now research is being done to piece it all together to work for cotton.

“If robots could be programmed and adapted to do all these different tasks, it would be a game changer and a money saver,” he says.

Southeast Research Dr. Glen Rains, a University of Georgia ag engineer, is working on a robot prototype to identify open, optimal bolls in real-time speed. The bolls would then be harvested using a vacuum tube. On the prototype, a camera determines boll location and boll stage and then feeds that data back to a computer, which controls an arm to extract the fiber.

Dr. Joe Marj Maja, an electrical and computer engineer at Clemson University, is testing different methods to determine the best picking technology. He is working with vacuum tubes, spinner technology and multiple picking arms.

“The best picking solution may be a combination of all three methods,” Maja says. He is testing these methods in the field, adding sensors and working on extending battery life in the robots. “There will be applications for these technologies not only in cotton but in many crops in the near future.”

These Southeast researchers are just two of the many who are working on robotic harvesting technologies for cotton and other crops.

Next Steps While we’re waiting for the robot revolution, Barnes recommends staying on top of precision ag advances with regular visits to Cotton Incorporated’s producer education website, cottoncultivated.cottoninc. com.

Cotton Incorporated provides fact sheets, updates and monthly webinars about a variety of topics affecting the cotton industry.

Cotton Incorporated’s Agricultural and Environmental Research team is always looking for efficient and profitable ways to feed and clothe the world with cotton. Maybe growing cotton on Mars isn’t so farfetched after all.

Monty Bain is the Cotton Board’s regional communication manager for the Southeast. Email him at mbain@ cottonboard.org.

COTTONFARMING.COM

SPECIAL REPORT

Bayer Fetes Maximizer Club Farmers

Noble Laminack (left), Bayer sales rep based in San Angelo, Texas, presents Janet and Charles Braden of Garden City with an award for the highest yield.

PHOTOS BY VICKY BOYD

B

ayer CropScience recently welcomed 75 new members to the FiberMax Maximizer Club, which recognizes cotton growers who plant FiberMax varieties and harvest at least 1,000 pounds per acre under dryland conditions.

Their induction was based on yields from the 2017 season.

Altogether, 198 growers have qualified for the recognition since the program was inaugurated two years ago.

“There are a lot of challenges around producing on dryland,” says Steve Nichols, Bayer head of agronomic services, as he addressed attendees during the Maximizer awards banquet in Lubbock, Texas. “To achieve 1,000 pounds of lint on dryland acres is incredible. You have to rely on Mother Nature, and you have to be on your knees in prayer.”

Bayer also recognized three operations that topped all inductees for the 2017 season. Rann and Kerri Williams, M.R. Williams & Sons Inc., of Altus, Oklahoma, had the most qualifying acres — 624 acres. Charles and Janet Braden of Garden City, Texas, had the highest overall yield with 1,795 pounds per acre. And Tate and Jennifer Greer and Bart and Shawnda Greer, all of Greer Farms in Floydada, Texas, had the highest loan value — 54.84 cents per pound.

All 2017 Maximizer Club qualifiers were entered into a hat for the drawing for a Polaris Ranger XP 1000 EPS. Darren and Lorre Haseloff of Farwell, Texas, were selected the winner.

— By Vicky Boyd, Managing Editor

Stan Warren (left), Bayer sales rep based in Shallowater, Texas, presents Tate Greer and Bart Greer of Floydada with awards for the highest loan value.

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The increase in total cotton yields over four years of trials for SOAR micronutrients ranged on the higher end from 100 to 150 pounds per acre, depending on the season. For every one dollar invested in SOAR applications, the return at harvest showed at least a four dollar increase*. Let’s talk ROI. ®

Southeast Sales Representative

Michael Cobb • Mobile: 662.587.3763 MichaelC@ChemicalDynamics.com *To receive a copy of the SOAR field trials on cotton and learn more about how to improve your crop yields, please contact your sales rep Michael Cobb at: 662.587.3763

Order SOAR® from your favorite supplier or call 800.277.4950 4206 Business Lane • Plant City, Florida 33566

Always read and follow label directions carefully. ® SOAR is a registered trademark of Chemical Dynamics, Inc.

Twitter: @CottonFarming

CHEMICALDYNAMICS.COM MAY 2018 COTTON FARMING

11

Industry News Americot Inc., a leading supplier of premium cottonseed headquartered in Lubbock, Texas, has added six new team members to its family. They are Cade Holliday, Chase Samples, Deakin Stokes, Jarrod David, Joel Webb and Victoria Orman.

“Adding to our research and breeding capabilities, as well as continued expansion to our customer service team, is yet another example of Americot’s commitment to our customers and their needs, throughout the Cotton Belt,” says Chiree Fields, Americot general manager.

Cade Holliday joins Americot as a sales representative residing in Raleigh, North Carolina. Chase Samples is a research and germplasm specialist and will be working closely with the research team across the Cotton Belt, as well as supporting the Mid-South sales team.

Deakin Stokes, based in Lubbock, joins Americot as a sales representative in the South Plains region.

Jarrod David is a sales representative for the Northern Plains and Oklahoma.

Joel Webb, based in San Angelo, Texas, is a sales representative in the Rolling Plains region. Victoria Orman, also in the San Angelo area, is a sales representative in the Rolling Plains region.

For more information, call 888-6787333 or visit www.americot.com.

K-B Agritech Partners With Roundup Ready PLUS Incentive Program K-B Agritech announces that its award-winning Pattern Master Spray System will be available beginning immediately through Roundup Ready PLUS Crop Management Solutions.

Growers purchasing the Pattern Master System will save $1,440 for a typical 120-foot boom with nozzles spaced on 20 inches. The program runs through Aug. 31.

Studies conducted with water sensitive paper show a minimum 60 percent increased particle deposition with the Pattern Master System compared to the same nozzles and boom without the spoiler.

Pattern Master Spray Systems are designed to work with all sprayers including pull-types and self-propelled units. They are designed to

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COTTON FARMING MAY 2018

VICKY BOYD

Americot Expands Its Team

TCGA Ginner Of The Year Garry White, manager of Willamar Operating LP, was named this year’s Texas Cotton Ginners’ Association Ginner of the Year.

The company consists of a cotton gin and a grain elevator in Raymondville, Texas, and another grain elevator to the south in Sebastian, Texas. White says Willamar typically gins about 45,000 bales per year.

“We start early and we finish early,” he says.

Although it varies from year to year, white says they gin cotton for about 20 growers in the area. To do that, he counts on a good group of employees in season and out.

White shares his award with family, friends and employees at the Awards Dinner during the TCGA Annual Meeting and Trade Show.

From left are Jeff Turner, manager of Glasscock County Co-op Gin; Kelley Green, director of technical services, Texas Cotton Ginners’ Association; Jeff ’s wife, Sandy Turner; Garry White; Garry’s wife, Sonia White; Juan Serrato, Willamar Operating gin supervisor; Garry’s daughter, Danielle Haas; Larry Black, TCGA incoming president; and his wife, Cynthia Black. work with all single-orifice nozzles, even the TTI with 15-degree offset.

Spring-loaded spoilers are included for the breakaway sections in case of a ground strike.

Most sprayers can be retrofitted with Pattern Master kits in three to four hours using only a wrench and ratchet. Each kit comes with the required stainless steel hardware.

For more information, visit www. drt.ag or www.roundupreadyplus.com/ offer.

Transform WG Insecticide Receives Sections 18s For Use In 2018 Section 18 emergency use exemptions from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for Transform WG insecticide is welcome news to cotton and sorghum growers.

States receiving a Section 18 for the 2018 cotton production sea-

son include Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, Tennessee and Texas.

States receiving a Section 18 in sorghum for 2018 include Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Kansas, Georgia, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina and Texas.

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

“When infestations of plant bug reach threshold numbers, it is crucial to knock them down quickly,” says Jason Grafton, a crop consultant from Madison, Mississippi.

“If adverse weather is imminent, growers need to make sure the insecticide they are using has adequate time to work. Transform does exactly that.”

Equally important as the effective control provided by Transform is the minimal impact it has on beneficials.

COTTONFARMING.COM

Industry News Sorghum growers also have heralded the effective control of Transform on sugarcane aphid, as this devastating pest has continued a northward movement, afflicting sorghum fields in an increasing number of states.

Angus Catchot, Extension professor, Mississippi State University, reiterates the importance of the Section 18s of Transform for cotton and sorghum growers.

“Transform has proven very effective in controlling plant bug and sugarcane aphid infestations.” Catchot says. “These pests can be extremely damaging and Transform plays a critical role in our insect pest management programs.”

“The EPA granting Section 18 emergency use exemptions for both crops underscores the importance of Transform insecticide in controlling these potentially yield-robbing pests,” says Mike Fox, insecticides product manager with Corteva Agriscience, Agriculture Division of DowDuPont “We believe the action by EPA shows that the agency has listened to growers, consultants and university Extension experts, and continues to confirm the valuable role Transform insecticide plays in effectively controlling these devastating pests.”

To hear from farmers and consultants about their experience with Transform, go to TransformMyCotton. com and TransformMySorghum.com.

Visit with your local sales representative or field scientist to learn more about application recommendations in your area.

results in our own variety trials and on customers’ farms, so we’re excited — but not surprised — to see our varieties performing well in the Extension trials, too.”

PhytoGen W3FE varieties also include PhytoGen Breeding Traits that deliver in-plant protection against pests and diseases such as bacterial blight, verticillium wilt, root-knot nematodes and Race 4 Fusarium.

Every W3FE variety has a unique combination of PhytoGen Breeding Traits, including bacterial blight resistance.

For more information, contact your local PhytoGen territory manager or cotton development specialist, or visit PhytoGen.com.

Seed Cotton Sign-Up Workshops The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service will conduct a number of seed cotton program sign-up Workshops in May to help producers become familiar with the changes brought about through the recently reinstated government program.

All the events are free and share

the same agenda. Here is the pertinent information, including AgriLife Extension agent contacts for the meetings currently scheduled.

• May 8, Runnels County, 8-11 a.m.; Winters Community Center, 410 Novice Road, Winters; Marty Vahlenkamp, 325-365-5042.

• May 8, Tom Green County, 1-4 p.m.; Tom Green County 4-H Building, 3168 U.S. Highway 67, San Angelo; Josh Blanek, 325-659-6522.

• May 11, Hudspeth County, noon3 p.m.; Angie’s Café, 1101 Knox Ave., Fort Hancock; Cathy Klein, 915-3692291.

• May 14, Jones County, 8-11 a.m.; Stamford High School Auditorium, 507 S. Orient St., Stamford; Steve Estes, 325-823-2432.

• May 17, Nolan County, 1-4 p.m.; Roscoe Collegiate ISD STEM Research Center, Interstate 20 Frontage Road, Roscoe; Zack Wilcox, 325-235-3184.

“Starting with the 2018 crop, producers of upland seed cotton will be able to participate in one of the two former ‘safety net’ programs introduced in 2014,” says Bill Thompson, AgriLife Extension economist.

Tide International USA, Inc.

PhytoGen Wins Extension Variety Trials Across The Cotton Belt PhytoGen cottonseed has been winning Extension yield trials from Texas to North Carolina in recent years — with back-to-back wins in several states. The geographies include Mississippi, Missouri, Texas, North Carolina and Virginia.

Hank King, U.S. leader for PhytoGen, says he’s excited to see these third-party wins in Extension trials and credits the success to PhytoGen genetics and traits.

“The PhytoGen team has worked hard to breed, develop and advance cotton varieties that help growers thrive with consistently high yields and excellent fiber quality,” King says. “We continually see excellent TWITTER: @COTTONFARMING

Tide Acephate 90WDG Insecticide

A superior formulation of dust-free water dispersible granules that dissolve quickly and uniformly into spray solution. Available from your local supplier.

To learn more about Tide USA and to see our complete line up of products call us or visit our website: www.tide-usa.com

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IN MEMORIAM: EARL WAYNE SEARS

Industry Remembers Leader For Devotion To Service

E

arl Wayne Sears was a national leader in the cotton industry known for his keen intellect, humble demeanor, long-standing friendships, and devotion to family, community and church.

He passed away on April 3 in Memphis, Tennessee, surrounded by his beloved wife of 69 years, Gwendolyn Moon Sears, and family. Sears died from complications of Parkinson’s disease, which he handled with his characteristic grace. He was 90 and had lived in Memphis for the past 47 years.

Sears served two tenures spanning more than 30 years with the Memphis-based National Cotton Council of America. He was the NCC’s executive vice president from 1978 to 1989. Throughout his career, Sears moved the U.S. cotton industry forward, including expansion of international markets — particularly in Asia.

No matter the many awards Sears received throughout his lifetime, he emphasized the achievements of his colleagues and his core belief that “devotion to service is fundamental to success.”

His 1952 Dawson County Outstanding Citizen Award set the tone for accolades in the years to come, including the National Outstanding Agricultural Award for Public Service from his alma mater, Texas Tech University; and the NCC’s Harry S. Baker Distinguished Service Award.

He also received the National Award for Agricultural Excellence from the National Agriculture Marketing Association — in part, for leading the way in advocating innovative Congressional farm legislation. He was inducted into the Cotton Industry Hall of Fame as well.

Strong Ties To Texas A native of Brownfield in West Texas, Sears was born and raised on his family’s farm, one of four brothers. His desire for higher education and service was spurred by a bevy of aunts and uncles with doctorates and his mother, Era, who filled the farmhouse with books.

He graduated from Texas Tech University in 1948 with a teaching degree in agriculture, and with a fiancée — Gwendolyn, a Texas Tech nursing student with whom he would spend the rest of his life. Sears immediately started teaching at Lamesa (Texas) High School. There he founded the school’s vocational agriculture program with FFA. Sears joined the NCC’s field services in 1952 and was appointed southwest area supervisor. He transferred to Memphis and later Dallas and was heavily involved in the formation of the Cotton Producers Institute, out of which grew today’s Cotton Incorporated.

Major Accomplishments In 1971, Sears returned to the Memphis headquarters and embarked on a campaign of extensive international travel. During his 11-year tenure as the NCC’s executive vice president, Sears’ major accomplishments included a

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marketing loan for U.S. cotton; improved bale packaging as part of a quality assurance program; advancement of the National Boll Weevil Eradication Program; and major growth in the Cotton Foundation’s research, education and communications programs. As executive vice president, he also oversaw major growth at the NCC. After retiring in 1989, Sears remained a consultant, coordinating the fund-raising effort for the Cotton Foundation to purchase a Washington, D.C. office building to house the NCC and CCI. Wherever Sears and wife Gwen have settled, the church has been a central focus in their lives. They also built homes for Habitat for Humanity, served the homeless and generously donated their time and resources to countless projects. Sears and his wife recently announced a major endowed FFA scholarship at Texas Tech, which is in addition to their joint endowment at Southwest Tennessee Community College in Memphis.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Texas Tech Foundation for the Earl and Gwen Sears FFA Scholarship Fund, Texas Tech University, P.O. Box 41081, Lubbock, TX 74909-1081, Attention: Steve W. Locke. To donate by phone, call 866-448-3888.

The National Cotton Council contributed this information.

COTTONFARMING.COM

SPECIAL REPORT

Arkansas Natural Resources Commission Offers Water-Saving Incentives

T

he Arkansas Natural Resources Commission is offering financial incentives in the form of tax credits to state farmers and landowners who make land improvements that help conserve water.

Among the projects that may qualify are building surface water reservoirs, land leveling, converting from groundwater to surface water, and installing certain irrigation water measuring and control devices.

are completed or the taxpayer may have to pay back the benefits.

For more information on the types of improvements covered, visit https:// bit.ly/2GV8B5f. To find out more about the application process and tax credits

available, visit the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission at http://www. anrc.arkansas.gov.

Individuals looking to apply for the incentives are encouraged to contact their local conservation district. 

Tax Credit Percentages Take reservoirs, for example. The commission will provide tax credits of up to 50 percent of the project or no more than $9,000 per year for a total of $90,000. An unused tax credit may be carried over for a maximum of 14 years.

The commission will provide a 10 percent tax credit on land leveling projects that conserve irrigation water. An unused tax credit may be carried over for a maximum of two years. The maximum amount one can claim for this project is $27,000.

For water meters, the commission is offering credits of 10 to 50 percent on devices installed on wells. The 10 percent is outside a critical groundwater area, with the 50 percent within a critical groundwater area.

Important Caveats An application must first be approved by your county conservation district, then submitted to the commission and approved before a taxpayer may begin construction and claim the credits.

Within three years of the issuance of your certificate of tax credit approval, the project must be completed, and you must submit an application for a certificate of completion to your local conservation district for final inspection.

Taxpayers may be eligible for a tax deduction in the amount equal to the difference between the project cost and the credit used.

All projects also must be maintained for at least 10 years after they Twitter: @CottonFarming

Š2018 SANDERS, OPTIGRO, PINNACLE logo and designs are all trademarks owned by Pinnacle Agriculture Distribution.

INNVICTIS name and logo are registered trademarks owned by Innvictis Crop Care, LLC MAY 2018 COTTON FARMING

15

Specialists Speaking Early Season Management CALIFORNIA Bob Hutmacher Changing weather patterns have again shaken up the 2018 planting season in the San Joaquin Valley.

The good news is we finally got some rain and snowpack in the late winter and very early spring, along with promise of at least a little more irrigation water.

The uncertain news includes delays in getting some fields planted due to cool, wet spells. This could again set us up for worse-than-normal pest pressure during squaring and early bloom. We will just have to see how May and June shape up.

We did have some earlier (mid- to late-March) plantings during the earlier warm weather that struggled in some areas. This was followed by a gap of a week or two with few plantings during wet and sometimes cool weather. At the time of writing this in mid-April, it appears that warming weather will encourage relatively rapid planting of the rest of cotton acreage.

Most management discussions the rest of the year will likely have to differentiate between recommendations for these different planting periods. What earlier looked like an ultra-dry winter and very uncertain irrigation water supply situation resulted in a range of strategies for pre-plant and early season irrigation applications. These will affect irrigation scheduling and strategies from here on out.

With the late rains and since cotton is no longer the dominant crop in many areas, it is important to review what the situations are in neighboring crops as your cotton progresses into square development in advance of flowering. If you want to successfully set early fruit on the cotton and go for high to very high yields, start monitoring the plants early (maybe by the seventh to eighth leaf).

Assess whether growth is progressing adequately, the presence of beneficial insect populations, and developing pest pressures.

A mixed batch of surrounding crops — including safflower, a wide range of vegetables, and continued tree and vine plantings — that often include weedy middles and more roadside/field edge weeds due to late rains. They can significantly affect the numbers of beneficials and pests as well as the timing when they show up in your developing cotton fields. Twice or at least once-a-week field evaluations starting at or before very early squaring can help give advance notice of developing problems warranting your attention. rbhutmacher@ucdavis.edu

MISSOURI Mike Milam Cotton producers are eagerly awaiting this planting season. Winter and early spring weather has been erratic to say the least. As of now, we have plenty of moisture with more expected during the next several weeks.

This season, producers will be limited on applying synthetic auxins. With the June 1 deadline, they will need to use a wide range of materials to keep resistant weeds under control. The use of pre-plant, overlapping residuals and post-plant chemicals will be necessary to keep the fields clean. With the growth rate for Palmer, a few days can make the difference between success and failure.

Farmers will need rainfall or center pivots to activate herbicides.

They also should keep a close eye on their fields. Unfortunately,

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every year we have some weather-related problems that keep producers from getting in the field in a timely manner. Wind speed and temperature inversions can play havoc on weed control. Using crews to remove the survivors will be important again this season.

Monitoring crop development with plant mapping can be important for making decisions about fertilizers, irrigation and growth regulators. It will be interesting to see the final acreage numbers that could increase beyond what is expected. milammr@missouri.edu

OKLAHOMA Seth Byrd By the time this issue of Cotton Farming reaches you, planting will likely have started across the Southwest region, and I will have officially begun my role as the Extension Cotton Specialist for Oklahoma. I had an amazing experience in Texas and want to thank the producers, industry representatives, my former colleagues and Plains Cotton Growers for providing this opportunity during my almost 2.5 years in Lubbock.

With the growth in cotton over the past three years, it’s an exciting time to be a part of cotton in Oklahoma. This position provides a tremendous opportunity to work with some of the best producers and researchers in the country in a rapidly expanding cotton state.

The extent of planting that has occurred within the state by early May will depend on the moisture and temperature situation as well as location. Dry conditions have been prevalent across the majority of the Oklahoma cotton territory throughout the spring and early winter. Although getting planted on time is one of the best ways to minimize risk in a short-season environment — particularly in the northwestern areas and into the Panhandle — planting into conditions that favor vigorous early season growth is also key.

Planting into adequate moisture and targeting planting in front of an eight- to 10-day period of favorable temperatures are common recommendations. Early season weed and insect pest control will also aid in ensuring rapid stand establishment and vigorous growth.

There is a lot of optimism coming off two very good years for Oklahoma cotton, and we’re all hoping for a successful and safe start to the 2018 season. seth.byrd@okstate.edu

TEXAS Gaylon Morgan The Lower Rio Grande Valley acreage will be about 200,000 acres this season. The earliest and latest planted cotton was squaring and cotyledon- to four-leaf stage the second week of April, respectively. Thrips were problematic early, transitioned into cotton aphids, and now fleahoppers are building.

Coastal Bend farmers completed their planting by mid-April, and soil moisture is still holding fairly well in the region with no major pest or agronomic issues to date. Cooler-than-normal temperatures and some heavy rainfall have caused stand establishment issues in the Upper Coastal Bend and Southern Blacklands.

Growers in these regions have to make management decisions on replanting.

Before deciding to replant cotton, remember that it has a tremendous ability to compensate for reduced stands. Assuming the stands are uniform and seedlings are healthy, cotton plant populations above 20,000 plants/acre should have zero to minimal yield COTTONFARMING.COM

Specialists Speaking or fiber quality losses on dryland or irrigated fields in South Texas.

Additionally, if the cost and risk associated with replanting are calculated, the lower plant populations are the most feasible option in most situations. However, at lower plant populations the individual plants tend to grow much larger. They will likely need additional plant growth regulators to keep height and diameter in check to allow for efficient harvesting.

It is worth reiterating the importance of starting the season weedfree and minimizing early season weed control in cotton. Also, effective pre-emergence and post-emergence soil residual herbicide applications are critical in providing flexibility for the weed control systems and minimizing the chances of herbicide resistance developing. See cotton.tamu.edu for the latest Weed Control Guide for Texas.

Most of the Rolling Plains region is still in need of substantial rainfall between now and planting time — mid-May to early June — to have adequate moisture for stand establishment. In the Northern Rolling Plains, growers are hoping to plant earlier and are looking at earlier maturing varieties due to the low micronaire problems that occurred in 2017. gdmorgan@tamu.edu

LOUISIANA Dan Fromme As we approach the middle of April, wet field conditions are prevalent throughout the state due to all the rainfall we have received during March and the first two weeks of April. Cotton planting will begin in the next one to two weeks if fields are dry.

Once the cotton stand has been established, nitrogen applications will be made for the upcoming season. Recom-

mended nitrogen rates are 60-90 pounds per acre for course-textured soils and 90-120 pounds per acre for high-clay soils. The lower recommended rates should be used on fields that are following soybeans, corn or legume cover crops or fields with a history of excessive stalk growth.

Do not apply more nitrogen than what is required by the cotton plant, since excessively high nitrogen rates can produce tall, rank cotton. Increased vegetative growth will hinder reproductive growth and ultimately yield. Furthermore, to limit excessive growth, producers will have to rely heavily on mepiquat chloride applications.

This will control plant height and decrease the potential for making the plant harder to defoliate at the end of the season.

Best management practices suggest making split applications of nitrogen, especially on sandy soils with a high leaching potential or soils with a high saturation potential due to denitrification losses.

For split nitrogen applications, a third to half should be applied at planting with the remainder being applied by early bloom at the latest. dfromme@agcenter.lsu.edu

ARKANSAS Bill Robertson The Prospective Plantings Report released March 29 by the U.S. Department of Agriculture-National Agricultural Statistics Service estimated cotton plantings in Arkansas at 480,000 acres, up 8 percent from the 445,000 acres planted last year. Many people feel this number could exceed 500,000 with favorable planting conditions in May. When pushing the limits on earlier-than-advised planting, replanting is sometimes necessary. When planting into cold soils, it is im-

BILL ROBERTSON/UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS

Bill Robertson, University of Arkansas cotton specialist, says it’s important to eliminate early season weed competition because the period from planting to first square is a critical time for the cotton plant.

TWITTER: @COTTONFARMING

MAY 2018 COTTON FARMING

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Specialists Speaking perative to use the highest quality seed. As seed size decreases, seed quality becomes more critical when planting in marginal conditions.

When determining if replanting is necessary, many factors should be considered. First, it is important to evaluate the current stand of plants that will survive. Establishing the occurrence of skips greater than 3 feet long — especially when this occurs simultaneously in adjacent rows — is critical.

Cotton’s ability to adapt and maintain yield potential at lower plant populations is often underestimated. If the decision to replant is difficult, it is usually best to keep the stand.

The period from planting to first square is a critical time for the cotton plant. Although water and nutritional requirements are low, cotton is not a very good competitor. Allowing weeds or other pests to overcome pre-squaring cotton will affect yield potential.

It is easy to sometime overlook the importance of early season weed control when we have the tools to clean up a weedy mess down the road. Place a high priority on early season weed management to avoid losing yield potential. It is difficult to regain and can be very costly. brobertson@uaex.edu

MISSISSIPPI Darrin Dodds Spring 2018 is shaping up to be similar to that of the past several years. As of this writing, fieldwork has been slowed by rainfall and cool weather. May is when things really start happening with respect to cotton in Mississippi. Traditionally, the bulk of our crop is planted in May. Over the past several years, decisions regarding management of several key pests have also occurred during this time.

All who have grown cotton recently are aware of the issues surrounding thrips control with seed treatments. Nearly all (if not all) seed treatments for thrips will be imidacloprid-based in 2018. Imidacloprid remains at least partially effective on thrips; however, some slippage in thrips control using imidacloprid has been observed. In short, consider over-treating seed or spraying in-furrow with acephate and/or be prepared to make foliar applications if thrips populations exceed thresholds.

Re-plant decisions are always one of the toughest calls to make.

We hope every seed will grow into a productive plant. The odds of this are likely slim to none. Keep in mind that cotton can tolerate a wide range of plant populations and still produce a very good crop.

If you do not have an excessive number of skips that exceed two to three feet in your final stand, and you have at least 15,000 to 20,000 healthy plants, keep the stand and proceed as you normally would. Research has shown that cotton can produce very good crops at low populations.

However, as we get deeper into the planting season we may potentially run out of time on the back end. I would keep a crop with a lower population that was planted May 1 compared to having a perfect stand that was planted May 31. dmd76@pss.msstate.edu

TENNESSEE Tyson Raper Early season management is critical for Tennessee. The difference among making a profit, breaking even or realizing a loss along the northern edge of the Cotton Belt may amount to as little as a few days.

Unfortunately, managing for earliness may be even more important for us this year. As I write this on April 5, the likelihood of having much April-planted cotton in Tennessee seems very slim.

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In May, we want a favorable five-day forecast of 65 degrees Fahrenheit soil temperature for planting. Place seed only deep enough to reach adequate moisture and ensure good seed-to-soil contact. After planting, it is important to quickly assess stands to determine if adequate populations and uniformity were achieved.

If stands or uniformity are marginal, make the decision to replant quickly.

In addition, properly apply residual herbicides to prevent early season weed pressure, use a recommended seed treatment to eliminate thrips pressure and follow up with a foliar spray as the first true leaf emerges to help move the plant quickly into squaring.

For additional information on managing for earliness, check out news.utcrops.com or find our Guide to Earliness Management (PB1830) on utcrops.com. traper@utk.edu

NORTH CAROLINA Keith Edmisten I have spent some time recently with our new cotton weed scientist, Dr. Charlie Cahoon. He was hired to primarily fill the duties performed by Dr. York in the past. Cahoon mentioned that the burndown season has been trying thus far due to cool, wet weather. This means we may have fields that missed a burndown altogether or are weedier than normal at cotton planting time.

The need to start the season clean cannot be overstated. For most fields, this means Gramoxone (or other paraquat brands) needs to be in the tank with our residual herbicides. Alternatively, growers planting XtendFlex cotton could use Roundup plus Engenia/XtendiMax/FeXapan (keeping in mind off-target movement). Enlist growers could use Enlist Duo behind the planter, especially where horseweed is troublesome.

Moving into the growing season, we cannot forget the fundamentals of weed control in this new era of weed management. Most importantly, remember that when dealing with herbicide-resistant weeds, rotate effective herbicide modes of action, use overlapping residual herbicides, and ensure no weed seed production. keith_ edmisten@ncsu.edu

FLORIDA David Wright Farmers spend time deciding which varieties of cotton to plant on different fields each year. Aggressive vegetative varieties should be planted on fields that may not produce excessive growth, or consider using several applications of growth regulators for vegetation control. Since cotton is slow growing for the first month after planting, consider applying either a seed treatment or in-furrow material to control thrips to prevent damage that slows early growth.

Farmers often bed the ground in the fall and plant cover crops before strip-tilling cotton in the spring. Or, they may bed fields in the spring and knock the tops off to plant into moisture where irrigation is not available. Irrigated fields can be planted without bedding and then watered if soil moisture is limited. It is desirable to get a uniform stand in five to seven days after planting for top yields.

Cotton is an excellent rotation crop for peanuts, and the higher prices favor a slight increase in cotton acreage. As a reminder for growers and researchers using XtendFlex cotton varieties with the intent of using XtendiMax herbicide with VaporGrip, there is mandatory dicamba training for everyone applying the material. wright@ufl.edu COTTONFARMING.COM

COTTON

Ginners Marketplace COTTON FARMING IS THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE GINNING INDUSTRY.

Keep Gin Safety At The Top Of Your List

plate 3/7/14 3:26 PM Page 1

Safety is always a topic that draws mixed reactions. I’ve written more safety articles and given more safety talks than I care to think about, but it’s something I feel is important. In the past couple of years, gins — along with many other industries — have been required to report their serious accidents directly to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. This has led to a significant number of interactions with the agency on many levels.

Whenever there’s an incident that requires you to call OSHA, it’s never a fun situation. You’re dealing with the injured worker, sometimes their family, the hospital, workers comp and… sometimes your ginners’ association safety guy. The last thing you want to do is call someone to let him know he may want to come by and go through your business with a fine-tooth comb in the middle of all that AND it’s ginning season. In this case, it’s the law, and fines often increase when accidents are reported late.

In the first year of required reporting, there weren’t any fines charged. Now they’re well over $3,000 in most cases. We’ve seen not only larger fines for late reporting but larger fines overall. What used to be a minor infraction now feels like a

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Make Energy Control A Priority If there’s one program or practice that everyone needs to be aware of and learn about, it’s energy control. Agriculture doesn’t have a prescriptive lockout/tagout program, but we are under an obligation to control hazardous energy. This means

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Run An Effective Safety Program What can we do about this? Well, the first thing is to do EVERYTHING you can to avoid having to call OSHA in the first place. This means using your resources (associations, insurance folks etc.) to develop and run a safety program. Make sure everyone is following it to the letter.

Cotton gins are considered agriculture by the Department of Labor. This means we can be less prescriptive and more creative in developing a program. Consider the injuries you’ve heard about — your association or insurance company can provide you with plenty — and think about how you’d prevent them in your gin. No two gins are exactly alike, so you need to make your program fit your gin.

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major issue. And let’s not even talk about the big infractions.

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MAYMAY 2018 2018 COTTON COTTON FARMING FARMING

all forms of energy, including but not limited to electricity, air, hydraulic and potential (that is held up in the air like a tramper).

Recently in the Southeast, most of the calls to OSHA could have been prevented by a more thoroughly developed energy control program. This year, let’s see if we can all put a program in place that keeps people from getting caught in machines that should have been stopped.

Looking to boost speed in your hydraulic lines?

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Book your project early to make it happen this year!

VICKY BOYD

Dusty Findley of the Southeastern Cotton Ginners Association contributed this article. Contact him at 706-344-1212 or dusty@ southern-southeastern.org.

TCGA/Texas Tech Scholarship Fund Helps Grow Cotton Industry’s Future

Cotton Ginners Marketplace

Cotton Farming magazine, co-sponsor of the Texas Cotton Ginners’ Association Annual Meeting and Trade Show, recently contributed $4,152 to the TCGA/Texas Tech Scholarship Fund. TCGA Executive Vice President Tony Williams, right, accepts the check from One Grower Publishing sales manager Scott Emerson at the Awards Banquet at the Overton Hotel in Lubbock. Each year, the magazine donates a portion of revenue from ad sales in the TCGA printed show program and ticket sales for the Exhibitor’s Luncheon.

“The proceeds we get from Cotton Farming magazine for scholarships at Texas Tech University are valuable in bringing

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COTTON FARMING MAY 2018

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future educated men and women into the cotton industry,” Williams says.

The Texas Cotton Ginners’ Association Summer Membership Meeting will be held at the Omni Frisco Hotel, Frisco, Texas, June 24-26. This hotel adjoins The Star event center, which is the home of the Dallas Cowboys. Visit www.tcga.org for more information.

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TCGA Life Member Award

COURTESY OF LUBBOCK ELECTRIC CO.

Steve Moffett, president, Lubbock Electric Co., was named the Life Member award recipient at the Texas Cotton Ginners’ Association Awards Banquet, April 6.

“Honoring Steve Moffett as a Life Member of the Texas Cotton Ginners’ Association was truly an enjoyable event,” says TCGA Executive Vice President Tony Williams. “Steve is so deserving of this honor for all the work he has done for the cotton industry and Steve Moffett is joined by ginners over his career wife Patsy in accepting the at Lubbock Electric Co. Life Member award.

It will be great to have him join this prestigious group of individuals at our annual gathering during the TCGA gin show.”

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RAM MANUFACTURING COMPANY 1333 E. 44th. ST. Lubbock, TX 79404 806-745-5552 Fax: 806-745-5582 rammfgco@rammfg.net www.rammfg.net

Lummus Corporation has available the following quality, high-capacity used gin machinery.

All machinery is offered “as is, where is” (unless noted otherwise) and is subject to prior sale.

“As is” machinery can be repaired/reconditioned for an additional charge.

1 – Consolidated 96” R-5000 Stick Machine* 2 – Consolidated 120” R-5000 Stick Machines* 1 – Lummus 60” overshot Standard Battery Condenser* 1 – Consolidated 72” undershot Standard Battery Condenser* 1 – Consolidated 72” undershot MC Battery Condenser* 1 – Belt-Wide 75-HP Flooded-Suction Hydraulic Booster Pumping Unit

1 – Lummus Bale Handling System for up-packing press 1 – Lot, miscellaneous Burner and Moisture Unit components (contact us for details) * - does not include any Steel Supports or Platforms

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Physical Address: 225 Bourne Boulevard • Savannah, Georgia 31408-9586 USA Mailing Address: P.O. Box 929 • Pooler, Georgia 31322-0929 USA Phone: (912) 447-9000 • Fax: (912) 447-9250 Toll Free (USA Only): 1-800-4LUMMUS (1-800-458-6687) Web Site: www.lummus.com • E-mail: lummus.sales@lummus.com

© Copyright 2017 Lummus Corporation TWITTER: @COTTONFARMING

MAY 2018 COTTON FARMING

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Cotton Ginners Marketplace

1 – Lubbock Electric Hydraulic Pumping Unit for Gin Dor-Les® or E.E. Dor-Les® Press (single reservoir with multiple motor/pump groups)

1 - Complete 2/141 Gin Plant consisting of: Unloading System with 15” diameter single-lane Powered Telescope, Rock Trap with Trash Vacuum, 72” Unloading Separator/Feed Control with Vacuum Wheel and Flight-Saver, and No. 50 Unloading Fan; First-Stage Drying/Precleaning System with Continental 3 MBTU Burner and No. 40 Push Fan, 54” Tower Dryer, 96” Continental Inclined Cleaner with Vacuum Wheel over 96” Horn 3-Saw Stick Machine (with double 96” x 24” Vacuum Wheels), Second-Stage Drying/Precleaning System with Continental 3 MBTU Burner and No. 40 Push Fan, 54” Tower Dryer, 96” Continental Inclined Cleaner with Vacuum Wheel over 96” Continental 2-Saw Stick Machine; Distribution/Overflow System with Continental 2-Stand Conveyor Distributor and 72” Automatic Overflow Hopper with Breaker Cylinder; Feeding/Ginning System with two (2) Continental 141-Saw Gins (converted) and 96” Comet Supreme Feeders; Lint Cleaning System with four (4) 66” wide Continental 16-D Lint Cleaners (two tandem arrangements); Condensing/Pressing System with 50” Moss Battery Condenser, 20” x 54” Continental Bespress, and Bale Handling System with Bale Push Cart (manual) and Bagger (powered); five (5) Smith 35/40 Centrifugal Fans (only one season of operation)

My Turn Motorola Radios, Windowsill Cotton

W

hen I was a digital bandwidth radios. But I still have the young boy, I original one with a Seal of Cotton sticker on it went every- plugged into the charger at the house.

I also used to sit in my dad’s lap and “help” where with my grandfather and daddy, drive the combine with my feet propped up on constantly bugging them the toolbox so I could touch the floor. One day I to let me drive everything. was cutting wheat with my father beside me. I I wanted so badly to be a remember Dad saying, “I have to go to the shop.

I will be right back.” And then he opened the farmer.

One day we were walk- door, walked off the ladder and left me driving ing through the John that machine by myself. I felt like I became a real Patrick Deere dealership. I was farmer that day. And I was 10 years old.

I loved farming so much that my school teachfollowing my grandfather Turnage like a dog on a leash, ask- ers knew not to put me next to the window. At ing one farming question the elementary school, I could see farm ground. after another. Papaw, why do we do this? Papaw, All I wanted to do was look out the window and critique the guy driving the tractor. why don’t we do that? Papaw, can I drive this?

My grades went up when I went to junior high He finally turned around and said, “Hey, I’ll tell because it was faryou what you can do. ther into town. There Why don’t you just be “For Christmas, I got my own wasn’t much to look a kid today?” The John at. However, I could Deere mechanics still Motorola handheld radio.” see the compress, and laugh about that.

I knew our cotton was For Christmas that year, I got my very own Motorola handheld two- in there. So I saw it come in on trucks from the way radio. I vividly remember thinking, “This gin and watched the buyers come by to pick it up means they want me to be on the farm, and some- year round.

When I was in the fourth grade at Westside body wants to talk to me about farming.” I felt like I had been called up to the big leagues. I had Elementary School in Caruthersville, Missouri, my teacher was Mrs. Ginny VanAusdall. For my made it to the show. I was a part of the team.

Before I got my own radio, if I needed to talk project, I grew cotton in 8-ounce Styrofoam cups to somebody, I had to stop one of the drivers and in the windowsill.

Today, her husband, Rogers, farms all around ask him to call my daddy. We didn’t have radios mounted in the tractors because we had a lot of us. We share four or five borders on different machinery and didn’t want to swap them from fields. He is an excellent grain farmer but wants to grow some cotton this year for rotational purone piece of equipment to another.

We all wore the walkie-talkies on our hips, but poses. He asked me if I would bed up the ground, my dad had a lapel mic. So I wanted a lapel mic, plant the cotton and pick it for him, and I agreed. too. It was connected to the radio with a wire, So from the fourth grade to 38 years old, I am which was longer than me. As a 10-year-old kid, I planting cotton for the VanAusdalls. That’s cool.

Today, our operation has grown, and my must have looked ridiculous walking around with responsibilities have, too. Like Papaw used that Motorola two-way radio and lapel mic.

When I went to Murray State University in to say, “The only thing that stays the same is Kentucky, I took it with me so I would have it change,” and sometimes it weighs on you. But, when I came home on the weekends. As soon as I that’s farming. And I hope it all works out. cleared the bluff just west of Dyersburg, I called — Patrick Turnage Dad, Papaw or Uncle Duke to see where they Pemiscot County, Missouri were and where they wanted me to go. cottonducks@hotmail.com Later, we updated the Motorola handhelds to 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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COTTON FARMING MAY 2018

COTTONFARMING.COM

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