Cotton Farming September 2021

Cotton Farming

®

ONE GROWER PUBLISHING, LLC

PROFITABLE PRODUCTION STRATEGIES

SEPTEMBER 2021

www.cottonfarming.com

Be Prepared For Fall Armyworms Deere Launches Two Larger Cotton Harvesters

As Cotton Prices Rally, Watch For Caution Signs

Talking Taxes E S TAT E P L A N N I N G

Texas Ag Law Specialist Discusses Estate, Gift And Capital Gains Taxes

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Vol. 65 No. 9

Cotton Farming PROFITABLE PRODUCTION STRATEGIES

SEPTEMBER 2021

www.cottonfarming.com

FE ATURES

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Talking Taxes

Tiffany Dowell Lashmet, Texas A&M AgriLife award-winning agricultural law specialist, provides an educational discussion of estate, gift and capital gains taxes. Becoming familiar with these federal taxes is important for estate planning. Lashmet also furnishes links to helpful sources for more information on the three topics. She lives in the Texas Panhandle with her husband, son and daughter.

DEPARTMENTS & COLUMNS

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Editor’s Note Cotton’s Agenda Southeast Report

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Industry News Specialists Speaking My Turn

ON THE COVER: Stars along a telephone pole in Lyndon B. Johnson National Grassland, Texas.

Cover photo by Jared Evans/unsplash.com.

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STAY AWARE OF MARKET RISK As cotton prices rally, caution signs grow on the road ahead. Consider break-even prices and increasing input costs when marketing your crop.

WEED GROWTH IN TEXAS Out-of-control weeds related to untimely rains since late spring hit Texas cotton producers.

BE READY FOR ARMYWORMS Regular rainfall has allowed the fall armyworm population to swell exponentially. The threshold for Georgia cotton is 15 larvae per 100 plants.

DEERE COTTON HARVESTERS John Deere introduces the larger and more efficient CP770 picker and CS770 stripper.

GINNERS MARKETPLACE

the official publication of the ginning industry TCGA summer interns, Daylan Schulz and Lane Fischer, share their mid-term reports from Coastal Plains Gin and Taft Gin and Seed Co., respectively.

WEB EXCLUSIVE The University of Tennessee weighs in on concerns about the number of fall armyworm moths in cotton. UT experts have compiled information regarding identification, scouting, treatment thresholds and management options. Go to www.cottonfarming.com for this Web Exclusive report.

DIGITAL OFFERINGS Keep up with the latest from Cotton Farming by signing up for the monthly E-News at www.cottonfarming.com. Look for the Cotton Farming E-News sign-up box in the upper right corner of the home page.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cottonfarming Twitter: @CottonFarming.

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, Tennessee, and at additional mailing offices. 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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SEPTEMBER 2021 | 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

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Be Prepared: Every Detail Counts

eveloping a strategic plan helps you be prepared unlike the main character in “Alice in Wonderland.” In the Hans Christian Anderson novel, Alice goes down the proverbial rabbit hole and winds up in an unfamiliar place for which she is not equipped.

While there, she encounters the Cheshire Cat sitting in the branches of a tree as she approaches a fork in the road.

“Which road should I take?” Alice asks.

“Where are you going?” the cat responds.

“I don’t know,” she says.

“Then either one will get you there,” the cat replies. The conundrum for Alice is that she has no plan in place for the situation in which she finds herself.

The theme for this issue of Cotton Farming is preparation. Know where your operation is headed and set goals to successfully realize its potential both short term and long term.

In the short term, Texas cotton farmers are facing out-of-control weeds after untimely rainfall since late spring. They need to embrace a strategy to take the pests out of the field before harvest because they can slow down cotton strippers and pickers. Lush, green weeds can also stain the lint.

In some areas of the Cotton Belt, fall armyworms are poised to threaten the crop. Farmers are warned on page 23 that “in any given year, multiple generations of fall armyworms occur. With the early and explosive start and until weather conditions change, producers can expect this pest to keep reproducing.” Before it’s too late, scout fields for these creepy crawlers and get familiar with management options to put into play if treatment thresholds are reached.

Your long-term strategic plan may involve updating some of your equipment.

If harvesters are on the list, check out the new and improved machines on page 20. Do your homework to determine what this type of investment will potentially contribute to the overall success of your operation down the road.

Succession also needs to be addressed. While developing an estate plan with the help of your attorney and accountant, be aware of how federal taxes can affect the outcome for the next generation or another entity who will be taking over the operation. The cover story on page 8 provides an educational overview of estate, gift and capital gains taxes.

And marketing your cotton may involve both short-term and long-term preparations. For tips to decipher this process, read “Stay Aware Of Market Risk.”

When navigating your way through all these topics, every detail counts.

Carroll If you have comments, please send them to: Cotton Farming Magazine, 7201 Eastern Ave., Germantown, TN 38138.

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COTTON FARMING | SEPTEMBER 2021

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 kkillingsworth@onegrower.com Audience Services Kate Thomas (847) 559-7514 For subscription changes or change of address, call (847) 559-7578 or email cottonfarming@omeda.com 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 2021 © ASSOCIATED PUBLICATIONS – One Grower Publishing, LLC also publishes RICE FARMING, THE PEANUT GROWER, SOYBEAN SOUTH and CORN SOUTH.

One Grower Publishing, LLC 875 W. Poplar Ave., Suite 23, Box 305 Collierville, TN 38017

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Cotton’s Agenda Gary Adams

Resurgence Required The National Cotton Council is hopeful that a continued world cotton demand recovery will reduce the fiber’s global stocks and solidify prices.

Where does world demand stand?

■ World cotton demand continues to recover. In

August, the U.S. Department of Agriculture projected world consumption of 123.3 million bales, which is 4.3 million bales more than the 2020-21 marketing year. If realized, this would be the highest level since the 2007 marketing year and the third highest level on record.

pre-COVID levels, the June spending level was 16% greater than in June 2019.

What about cotton production?

■ World cotton production is projected to increase

in 2021-22 largely due to higher production in the United States, Brazil, India, Australia and Mali, offsetting a 2.7 million bale decline in China.

USDA also released the first “survey-based” U.S. cotton production estimate in August. The U.S. crop is estimated to be 17.3 million bales for the 202122 marketing year, which is 2.7 million bales more than the previous marketing year, but down by more than 500,000 bales from USDA’s July estimate due to a slight increase in unharvested acreage and a lower yield in Texas. Based on crop conditions at the time of the survey, the decline was a bit surprising.

Following the report’s release, the December 2021 futures contract increased to more than 93 cents per pound. The trade likely will be closely monitoring Texas crop conditions over the next month and will be awaiting the September USDA report.

A positive development for cotton demand is that U.S. consumer spending on clothing/clothing accessories increased to a record level in June.

Following the large consumption decline due to COVID shutdowns and restrictions in 2020, world consumption made a remarkable 16.2 million bale recovery to reach 119.0 million bales for the 202021 marketing year. U.S. mill use is estimated at 2.5 million bales during the 2021-22 crop year, which, unfortunately, still is below pre-COVID levels.

Looking a bit further down the supply chain (specifically at U.S. retail), consumer spending on clothing/clothing accessories increased to a record level in June — as reflected in the Census Bureau’s published monthly U.S. retail trade data. Compared to

What’s the outlook for exports?

■ Based on available supply, USDA is projecting

lower U.S. exports in the 2021-22 marketing year of 15 million bales compared to 16.4 million bales in 2020-21. Ending stocks are estimated to be 3 million bales for the 2021-22 marketing year. U.S. ending stocks only have been under 3 million bales twice in the last decade.

The 2021-22 marketing year began with the lowest level of outstanding sales in five years due to low inventories of higher quality cotton. A further reduction in world ending stocks is projected for the 2021-22 marketing year to 87.2 million bales, which is 4.6 million bales less than last year. Tighter stocks likely will continue to support prices in 2021.

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

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COTTON FARMING | SEPTEMBER 2021

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Talking Taxes An Educational Discussion Of The Estate Tax, The Gift Tax And The Capital Gains Tax

BY TIFFANY DOWELL LASHMET TEXAS A&M AGRILIFE

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isclaimers: The first is that I am not a certified public accountant or an accountant. I’m here to offer just basic information but highly recommend that you consult with your attorney and tax professional for further advice or clarification. Second, there has been a lot of talk from Washington, D.C., about potential changes to some of these rules. The information in this Talking Taxes series will explain the law as it currently is written and applied, but everyone needs to be sure to pay attention to any changes that could be forthcoming.

E S TAT E

TA X

The first topic of discussion is the federal estate tax.  What is it? The estate tax, sometimes called the “death tax,” is a federal tax imposed when a person dies and transfers assets to someone other than a surviving spouse. It is essentially a tax on the right to pass assets to another person. Texas does not have a state-level estate tax, but some other states do.

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COTTON FARMING | SEPTEMBER 2021

 Who pays it? When the fair market value of the estate is worth more than the recognized exemption, the estate tax is owed. For 2021, the estate tax exemption is $11.7 million per person. This means that if the person’s estate is not valued at more than $11.7 million, no estate tax will be owed. Note it is the fair market value of the estate at the time of the person’s death that is used in the estate tax calculation. The cost basis (price paid for an asset in the past) is irrelevant.  How long will the $11.7 million exemption be in place?

This really is the magic question. Here’s the breakdown. Every year, the exemption amount is adjusted slightly for inflation. For example, it increased from $11.58 million in 2020 to $11.7 million in 2021. Current law has this $10 million (adjusted for inflation) value set to remain in place through 2025, at which point it will sunset back to the prior $5 million (adjusted for inflation) per person. To throw more uncertainty into the mix, keep in mind that this exemption amount can be modified by Congress.

While it is currently set through 2025, Congress could modify that amount.

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 What can a person do to avoid estate tax liability? There can be a number of options that a person can consider to avoid estate tax liability. The key, of course, is that this must be done prior to the person’s death for them to be effective. Anyone who thinks they could potentially have an estate tax issue should contact an attorney, accountant and/or other tax professional to see what steps might be best for their situation.  Where can I find additional information? For additional information on the estate tax, check out this podcast episode I did with Kitt Tovar from the Iowa State Center for Agriculture Law and Taxation — https://bit.ly/3gmsWjJ. Additionally, the Internal Revenue Service has some useful explanations on its website, including overviews and frequently asked questions. Go to https://bit.ly/2XIzd2S.  What potential changes have been discussed? Regarding the estate tax, there have been rumblings that the Biden administration may look to lower the lifetime exemption from the current $11.7 million per person to something far lower, such as $3.5 million/person. This was not included in the American Families Plan that was recently released.

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G I F T

 How is the estate tax calculated? If a person’s estate value is over the exemption amount, the tax liability will be 40%. For example, if a person died today with an estate valued at $12.7 million they left to their children, their estate tax liability would be $400,000. ($1 million x 40% = $400,000).  When is the estate tax due? If owed, the estate tax is generally due within nine months of the death.  What exemptions exist? There are certain exemptions from the estate tax.

First, any property left to a surviving spouse is not subject to the estate tax. This is due to the unlimited marital deduction, which allows unlimited assets to be passed to the surviving spouse with no estate tax liability. Keep in mind, however, that at the death of the second spouse, his or her estate would be left to someone else and would be subject to the estate tax if over the exemption amount. One additional note is that the law allows for portability between spouses. This allows the first deceased spouse to port over any unused portion of his or her estate tax exemption to the surviving spouse, thereby increasing the surviving spouse’s exemption.

For example, assume that the wife died in 2021 and used $1 million of her exemption. Portability would allow her to port her remaining $10.7 million over to her surviving spouse, which would then increase his exemption from $11.7 to $22.4 million. ($11.7 million + $10.7 million). To qualify for portability, the estate’s representative must file a Form 706 (estate tax return) within nine months of the death.

Second, there are certain deductions that may be taken from the gross value of one’s estate for estate tax purposes, including mortgages and other debts, estate administrations and property left to qualified charities.

TWITTER: @COTTONFARMING

TA X

The next topic is the federal gift tax.  What is it? The gift tax is a federal tax on asset transfers for less than fair market value. In other words, if you give an asset to someone or if you sell an asset and less than full consideration is paid, it is considered a gift subject to the gift tax.  Who pays it? Generally, the donor (person giving the gift) is responsible for the gift tax if it is owed.  How is the gift tax calculated? The gift tax rates range between 18% to 40% depending on the value of the taxable gift.

However, most people will not actually pay that amount due to the annual exclusion and the lifetime exclusion.  What is the annual exclusion? The annual exclusion is an amount below which the gift tax does not apply. Each year, the IRS sets an annual exclusion amount, and any gifts from one person to another falling below that exclusion are not subject to the gift tax. For 2021, the annual exclusion is $15,000. Importantly, the annual exclusion applies to each donee (gift recipient). This means that a person may give any other individual up to $15,000 in 2021 without gift tax implications. For example, a mother could give each of her four sons and each of their wives $15,000 this year without being subject to the gift tax even though the total amount gifted was $120,000.  What is the lifetime exclusion? The lifetime exclusion is a concept discussed in the estate tax section. For 2021, every person has an $11.7 million lifetime exemption. If a person makes a gift this year to another person worth more than $15,000, they are required to file a gift tax return. The gift giver will not, however, automatically owe the gift tax. Instead, the amount over the annual exclusion will be deducted from your lifetime exemption.

For example, if you give your child a gift of $25,000 in 2021, this is considered a taxable gift because it exceeds the annual exclusion. Because of that, you will have to file a gift tax return, and the $10,000 that exceeds the annual exclusion will be deducted from your lifetime exclusion. No gift tax will actually be paid until the lifetime exclusion has been exhausted.  When is the gift tax return due? Anyone who makes a taxable gift (one exceeding the $15,000 annual exclusion) must file a gift tax return (Form 709) by the normal tax filing deadline the year after the gift is made. Note, this gift tax return is required SEPTEMBER 2021 | COTTON FARMING

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CAPITAL

GAINS

TA X

The final topic for discussion is the federal capital gains tax.  What are they? Capital gains taxes are a tax due when a person sells an asset that has appreciated in value. For example, if a person purchased land that cost $400 per acre, and she sells it years later for $1,000 per acre, capital gains taxes would be owed on the $600/acre increase in value that has occurred since the time she acquired the land. Capital gains taxes only apply to “capital assets” such as stocks, bonds, jewelry, collectibles, artwork, vehicles and land.  Who pays it? Generally, the seller is responsible for paying the capital gains taxes owed. Note that capital gains taxes are only “realized” or owed when the asset is sold. If a person does not sell an asset, these taxes are not realized, no matter how much the value may increase.  How are capital gains taxes calculated? Capital gains taxes are broken into long-term capital gains and short-term capital gains. Long-term capital gains are owed on assets held for over one year. Long-term gains rates range from 0% to 20%, depending on a person’s tax bracket. Short-term capital gains are owed on assets held for less than one year. Short-term gains are taxed as ordinary income.

Keep in mind that capital gains for a year may also be offset by capital losses for the same year. Capital losses occur when a person sells an asset for less than he or she paid for it. Say a person purchased Stock A and Stock B, each for $100. Two years later, the person sells Stock A for $150 and Stock B for $50. The person’s net capital gain would be zero, and no capital gains taxes would be due for these stocks.

Note that the cost basis can be adjusted up or down depending on certain situations. For example, if improvements are made to a capital asset, thereby increasing the value, the cost basis may also increase. Conversely, if a person depreciates an asset, that may decrease the cost basis for the asset as well. There are numerous specific details to consider here that are beyond the scope of this article, so again, I recommend seeking advice from a licensed professional.  When are capital gains taxes due? Capital gains taxes are due by the normal tax deadline in the year following the sale of an asset.  What exemptions exist? There are certain exemptions to

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for any taxable gift, even if the lifetime exclusion has not been exhausted and even if no taxes are actually owed.  What exemptions exist? There are certain gifts excluded from the gift tax.

First, as discussed above, any gift worth less than the annual exclusion is not subject to the gift tax.

Second, there are educational and medical exclusions that may be available for a person paying school tuition or medical expenses for another person. There are particular requirements here, including that the person giving the gift must pay the school or medical facility directly. If this may be applicable to you, contact your accountant to ensure all requirements are met.

Third, any gifts made to one’s spouse are excluded from gift tax liability.

Fourth, gifts to political organizations are excluded.

Finally, gifts given to qualifying charities are deductible from the value of the gift made.  What can a person do to avoid gift tax liability? There can be options to consider to avoid gift tax liability. Before making gifts over the annual exclusion, a person should visit with his or her attorney, account and/or tax professional to discuss other strategies.  How can a person’s gift tax affect their estate tax liability?

This is a key point for people to understand. If a person gives taxable gifts during his or her lifetime, that directly affects the amount of his or her lifetime exclusion. Keep in mind, it is the value of that lifetime exclusion that dictates whether a person owes the estate tax or not.

This is a connection that may not seem obvious but could have major unintended consequences. For example, say that Pat has an estate worth $10 million. He does not worry about the estate tax, because he is below the $11.7 million lifetime exemption.

However, if Pat gifted land worth $2,015,000, he could have an estate tax problem. This is because Pat made a taxable gift that was $2 million over the annual exclusion. Thus, his lifetime exemption will be reduced by that $2 million, leaving him with $9.7 million. Because his estate is worth more than the lifetime exemption, he will owe estate tax.  Where can I find additional information? For additional information about the gift tax, the IRS has some useful explanations on its website at https://bit.ly/3gjSPRr, including overviews and frequently asked questions.

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COTTONFARMING.COM

options. Regarding real property, one may be a 1031 exchange, if the seller wishes to purchase like kind property with the proceeds from the sale. It is important to remember, however, that a 1031 Exchange does not completely eliminate the requirement to pay capital gains tax; rather, use of a 1031 exchange enables a person to defer the tax liability from the sale of real property, until the new like kind property acquired in the exchange is later sold.  Where can I find more information? For more information, listen to this prior podcast episode I did with Pat Dillon — https://bit.ly/3y2SuZd. (Disclaimer — the audio quality was not the best, so I apologize, but the information is useful!)  What potential changes have been discussed? Recently, capital gains taxes have been in the ne ws as mo dif ications have been mentioned by President Biden and included in his American Families Plan.

According to the White House summar y of the American Fami lies Plan (https://bit. ly/3D7y30Q), the capital gains tax rate would increase to 39.6% for households making over $1 million. The plan would also eliminate the stepped up basis for gains in excess of $1 million.

The plan contains the following language, “The reform will be designed with protections so that family-owned businesses and farms will not have to pay taxes when given to heirs to continue to run the business.” There also has been discussion of taxing unrealized gains at death, as opposed to only actual gains being realized when property is sold. This is an important topic, especially for agriculture, so keeping an eye on any forthcoming changes will be critical.

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capital gains taxes. Here are a couple of key ones to consider.

First, a person’s primary home is considered a capital asset, but the IRS recognizes an exclusion on capital gains earned through the sale of a primary residence. The exclusion is $500,000 for couples filing jointly and $250,000 for a person filing as single.

Second, there are certain retirement plans such as 401(k)s, 403(b)s, Roth IRAs and traditional IRAs that grow without being subject to capital gains taxes. This allows a person to buy and sell within a retirement plan without paying capital gains taxes.

Third, business inventory and depreciable business property is not subject to capital gains taxes.  What is a stepped up basis? One key concept related to capital gains taxes is that of a stepped up basis. This is particularly important for agricultural operations that have been passed from one generation to the next.

If a step up in basis is allowed, it changes the cost basis for an asset. Say Mom purchased her land for $500 per acre. When she died and left the land to her son in her will, it was worth $1,000 per acre. The step up in basis would allow the cost basis for the land to increase from $500 to $1,000 when it was inherited by the son. Thus, if he sells the land and it is worth $1,500, he will owe capital gains taxes on $500 ($1,500 – $1000), rather than on $1,000 ($1,500 – $500).

Importantly, with regard to transferring an asset at death, only those assets that are transferred at death, such as by will, by transfer on death deed, or

by Lady Bird deed, for example, will qualify for the step up in basis. If the asset was transferred prior to death, there would be no stepped up basis allowed. To read more about the pros and cons of transferring property before death, visit https://bit.ly/3g jKWuW.  What can be done to avoid capital gains tax liability?

There are options for a person to avoid capital gains tax liability, but a person should consult with an attorney, accountant and/ or tax professional before selling an asset to fully explore these

Tiffany Dowell Lashmet is an associate professor and Extension specialist in agricultural law with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension.

Visit her Texas Agriculture Law Blog at https://agecoext.tamu.edu/ resources/texas-agriculture-law-blog/. Contact Lashmet at tdowell@ tamu.edu or 806-677-5681.

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SEPTEMBER 2021 | COTTON FARMING

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SOUTHEAST REPORT

Cotton Family Pride

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BY MONTY BAIN DADEVILLE, ALABAMA

ately, I seem to find myself reflecting on the bright spots in my career in the cotton industry. We are not lacking good times or good people in this business.

The past 13 years of my cotton career have been spent working as the Southeast regional communication manager for The Cotton Board.

This job has given me the unique opportunity to have an insider’s view into all the work, advancements and accomplishments generated by the Cotton Research and Promotion Program. I always like to say that the cotton industry is a family. Though we’ve faced hardships over the years, it has found a way to rally together for the betterment of our industry through the program.

Just like photos in a family album, I’m able to look back on program milestones with fondness and pride. Call it reminiscing if you will, but I think it is important for the next generation of this cotton family to understand where we’ve come from to navigate to where we need to go in the future.

Since Cotton Incorporated was founded in 1970, their researchers have created new technologies that make cotton production more profitable.

Since Cotton Incorporated was founded in 1970 as the research and marketing partner for the program, its researchers have created many new technologies that make cotton production more profitable. Many of its innovations are familiar to those of us in the cotton industry, but you might not have known that program dollars were behind them.

From Research To Marketing

D u r i ng t h e p a st 5 0 ye ars , C otton Incorporated has funded thousands of agri-

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COTTON FARMING | SEPTEMBER 2021

cultural research projects at the farm level to help upland cotton producers increase yields; protect the crop from insects, weeds and diseases; and control costs. At the fiber level, Cotton Incorporated has worked to increase the demand for cotton through fabric innovations and marketing campaigns that open new doors for cotton and its products, making cotton the “fabric of our lives.” And it continues to conduct research and marketing to increase the value of cottonseed.

Cotton Incorporated has worked relentlessly to educate consumers about the benefits of cotton and to research and improve cotton production practices to increase producer profitability. From the creation of the first cotton module-builder and the introduction of the Seal of Cotton trademark in the 1970s to the work being done to share cotton’s sustainability story today, Cotton Incorporated has led the cotton industry forward for the past 50 years.

Upcoming Developments

I asked Dr. Ed Barnes, the senior director of agricultural research at Cotton Incorporated, what innovations we could be watching for in the future.

“Advances in automation technologies and advanced data analytics are providing new tools that will continue to make our cotton producers even more efficient and profitable in the future,” he says. “A good example is in a recent project with the National Cotton Ginners, U.S. Department of AgricultureAgricultural Research Service gin labs, Texas A&M and the Statistical Analysis System (SAS) we gained new insights to the ginning process.

One of the most exciting and necessary developments we are already seeing is autonomous vehicles coupled with machine visions systems to tackle herbicide-resistant weeds.”

Cotton Incorporated is in this for the long haul and is prepared to navigate the uncertain times ahead. As a program, The Cotton Board and Cotton Incorporated have established goals and strategies to ensure cotton remains viable and profitable for years to come.

I have all the faith in the world that the Cotton Research and Promotion Program will continue to thrive and serve the next generation of our cotton family well.

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

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UP

the BOTTOM LINE

A

Clemson University irrigation specialist has found using soil moisture sensors in fields can increase average net income by almost 20%.

Jose Payero, assistant professor and irrigation specialist housed at the Edisto Research and Education Center, is conducting on-farm trials to show farmers how using soil moisture monitoring technology can help them irrigate more efficiently. Soil moisture sensors were installed in six fields with different soil types in Allendale, Barnwell, Hampton, Lexington and Orangeburg counties in South Carolina. Each field was planted with either cotton, peanuts or soybeans.

“Soil moisture sensors were installed in each sensor field, while no sensors were installed in the companion fields,” Payero says. “Based on agronomic and economic data collected, we found the increased net income ranged from $87.30 per acre to $641.19 per acre or 7.6% to 63.5%. The average increased net income for all the six farms was $202.28 per acre or 19.42%.”

The sensor fields were irrigated using center-pivot systems. Farmers followed their standard irrigation practices to irrigate companion fields.

The farmers were trained to irrigate the sensor fields based on the collected soil moisture data using a few simple guidelines. They also were guided through installing and using the app to monitor the soil moisture level on their cell phones.

Continued on page 21

Research Shows Benefits Of Soil Moisture Monitoring Technology Clemson Extension Water Resources Jose Payero is part of the Clemson Cooperative Extension Service Water Resources Program Team. It consists of Extension specialists, associates and agents from around the state working together to address water quantity and water quality issues in South Carolina and beyond.

The team conducts community outreach and education programs, public involvement opportunities, and in-depth trainings and workshops for the citizens of South Carolina. The common goal is to foster stewardship and sustainable management of water resources for current and future generations.

These researchers and agents are working with the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources and South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control to update the State Water Plan. Part of Clemson’s efforts include the launch of the South Carolina Water Resources Center, which serves as a research facilitator. It also acts as a conduit for information necessary in the resource management decision-making and policy arenas of the state.

Agriculture is South Carolina’s largest industry with a $42 billion economic impact and 98,000 jobs directly supported.

The agribusiness industry has grown 23% over the past decade.

This industry depends on the weather to survive. The South Carolina state climate summary from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shows temperatures in the state have increased about 0.5 degrees since the beginning of the 20th century. Annual rainfall has been below average during most years in the 2000s — with 12 of the last 15 years being characterized by warm season drought conditions.

Information from the South Carolina State Climatology Office shows droughts are the second-most costly weather events after hurricanes. Irrigation can help crops grow during drought conditions.

To contact a member of the Water Resources Program Team, go to https://bit.ly/2W45Ebg.

Clemson University researchers are exploring technology to help farmers irrigate more efficiently and increase net income.

TWITTER: @COTTONFARMING

SEPTEMBER 2021 | COTTON FARMING

CARROLL SMITH

BUMP

13

Stay Aware Of Market Risk As Cotton Prices Rally, Caution Signs Grow On The Road Ahead

BY YANGXUAN LIU

UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA

C

otton prices surged recently to the lower 90-cents-per-pound range and even reached as high as 97.33 cents per pound for front month cotton futures (Cotton #2 Oct 21) Aug. 17.

Several contributing factors for the recent rally include:  The record-high stock market.  Speculation purchase of cotton futures.  Weak U.S. dollar.  Lower crop adjustment by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates Report.  Chinese purchases of U.S. cotton.

Looking ahead for this year’s cotton crop, producers need to be aware of the market risk and the potential decline in cotton prices.

Fuel is running out for the continued cotton prices. The weather conditions this year favor U.S. cotton production across the Cotton Belt. We could end up with a higher production level than expected with continuing favorable weather for the rest of the season.

Whenever there is an increase in supply, cotton prices tend to trend down.

Additionally, increasing COVID cases due to delta variant in the United States and globally could stall economic recovery after an early rebound and impose

14

COTTON FARMING | SEPTEMBER 2021

Table 1. The break-even prices for variable costs and total costs for Georgia cotton production from UGA 2021 Crop Comparision Tool updated May 2021.

Conventional Tillage

Strip Tillage

Irrigated

Dryland

Irrigated

Dryland

Break-even Price for Variable Costs*

$0.49/lb

$0.62/lb

$0.50/lb

$0.65/lb

Break-even Price for Total Costs*

$0.75/lb

$0.86/lb

$0.77/lb

$0.88/lb

*The break-even price is calculated assuming a cotton yield of 1,200 lbs/acre for irrigated cotton and 750 lbs/acre for dryland cotton. If producers have higher yields or fewer input costs, the break-even price for their operations could be lower or vice versa.

higher market risks.

As cotton prices tend to follow the stock market, there are increasing market risks for cotton. Furthermore, China has significantly increased the purchase of U.S. cotton for 2020-21. This is due to the Phase One Trade Deal. China agreed to purchase at least $40 billion worth of agricultural products for each of the two years (2020 and 2021). However, China’s purchase obligation under the Phase One Trade Deal will only last until the end of this year.

There is uncertainty for future years of Chinese cotton purchases. The recent high cotton prices might force overseas spinning mills to reduce cotton’s share of the spinning mixes and use more synthetic fibers. Thus, the demand for cotton is expected to drop.

With all of these factors, the pace of gains in cotton prices has slowed.

Consider Break-Even Prices

So what should producers do? Should they lock in the price for part of their 2021 crop or wait for the next round of price rallies to sell? As market uncertainty is unavoidable, the regret or feeling of missing the sale opportunity at the peak could be inevitable, too. When it comes to prices, producers need to look into whether they can lock in the prices

above their break-even points. Selling their cotton at break-even prices would ensure their operation will be economically sustainable. If they can sell their cotton above their break-even prices, it is a good marketing opportunity, and producers would profit from the sale.

According to the University of Georgia 2021 Crop Comparison Tool updated in May 2021 (Table 1), the break-even cotton prices for total costs in Georgia, which cover variable and fixed costs, range from 75 to 88 cents per pound.

At the current cotton prices, producers would be able to cover their in-season variable costs for planting, growing and harvesting (variable costs) and also be able to cover their long-term depreciation costs (fixed costs).

Increasing Input Prices

Cotton producers also need to be aware of increasing input prices. As the pandemic severely disrupted the supply chain, there is a shortage of inputs globally, resulting in these price increases.

Also, inflation pressure in the United States and globally further pushes input prices. With these increases, farmers need to be more cautious about input usage.

Dr. Yangxuan Liu is assistant professor, Agricultural and Applied Economics Department, University of Georgia. Contact her at Yangxuan.Liu@uga.edu or 229-386-3512.

COTTONFARMING.COM

CottonBoard.org

Untimely Rains Spur Out-Of-Control Weed Growth In Texas

BY ADAM RUSSELL TEXAS A&M AGRILIFE

Weeds Outcompete Crops

Plantings were delayed due to widespread rainfall that began in late April this year. Heavy rains saturated soils in many areas around the state initially, and sporadic rains continued to make fieldwork, especially weed control, difficult from the Coastal Bend to parts of the Panhandle.

Saturated soil and cloudy days also stunted crop growth progress. This delayed the canopy development that typically reduces the amount of sunlight available for weeds to germinate and grow.

Residual preemergent herbicide application effectiveness degraded over time as well, and weeds were allowed to compete with crops for sun, moisture and nutrients.

Nolte says moisture variability in individual fields with drier-to-saturated or flooded areas also resulted in a lack of uniformity in crop maturation.

There were some cotton fields with maturity ranging from 6-inch-tall plants to plants with blooms due to rainfall.

The lack of crop consistency exacerbated maturation issues.

There has also been an emergence of weeds that were rarely seen in areas of the state in previous seasons.

16

COTTON FARMING | SEPTEMBER 2021

TEXAS A&M AGRILIFE

O

ut-of-control weeds related to untimely rains since late spring hit Texas producers, according to a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service expert.

Rainy weather across the state created a convergence of problems related to weeds for producers of everything from row crops like corn, sorghum and cotton to forages, says Dr. Scott Nolte, AgriLife Extension state weed specialist, BryanCollege Station.

“The weather has impacted most every part of the state,” he says. “Many areas have a number of factors that are coming into play when it comes to weeds and weed control. It’s been a challenging season.”

Pigweed overrun a cotton field in Brazos County. Texas producers are facing a wide array of weed issues due to high moisture levels and widespread inability to access croplands for timely herbicide treatments.

“One of the most common calls we’ve been getting is about sedges,” Nolte says.

“They thrive in wet environments, and we’re seeing a variety of sedge species in areas we seldom see them. We’ve had a number of them brought in for identification and control recommendations.”

Looking For Relief, Rescue

Producers are also seeking control recommendations for fields in need of rescue from weeds, Nolte says. Weeds are easier to deal with via preemergent applications and by following with sprays that address newly emerged immature weeds.

The lack of timely applications has many producers seeking recommendations to fight mature grasses and vines.

Above-average moisture levels may allow producers to use some options like Liberty that are typically ineffective under drier conditions in areas like the Texas Plains or Panhandle.

However, at least one prevalent pest plant — pigweed — has producers concerned because it has become resistant to glyphosate in parts of the state. Pigweed is among the weeds representing major problems at harvest time because they interfere with mechanical harvesting equipment.

Nolte says producers with a history of glyphosate-resistant pigweed have other options, but another issue has been short supplies of certain products. Various international and domestic supply chain issues related to the pandemic and other factors have made locating specific herbicides difficult.

Nolte says there is also concern for cotton producers specifically because the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency placed a hard cutoff date — July 30 — on the use of dicamba-based products, Engenia and Xtendimax. Cutoff dates were typically related to the plant stage, he says, and AgriLife Extension sought an extension for producers in the Texas Plains but was denied by the agency.

Producers are also seeking recommendations on how to best apply herbicides, including aerial methods or highclearance tractors, he says. As the rains continue, it is important that farmers access fields to apply herbicides before harvest.

“With the cycle of rainfall, you might have two to three days for fields to dry before more rainfall prevents access again,” Nolte says. “So they’re looking for any way to spray fields so they can harvest as soon as it dries enough.”

COTTONFARMING.COM

Be Ready For Armyworms Conditions Favorable For Pest Populations To Build

BY AMANDA HUBER SOUTHEAST EDITOR

A Growing Army

The same conditions have played out in Texas and Florida.

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension forage specialist Vanessa Corriher-Olson has been inundated with inquiries about fall armyworms after dry conditions were followed by a cool front and rain. “I spent all of Friday taking calls on armyworms. The entire day.”

In Florida, wet fields have prevented

PHOTOS BYPAT PORTER/TEXAS A&M AGRILIFE EXTENSION

W

ill cotton avoid the march of fall armyworms that lay siege to hayfields, turf crops and vegetables this summer? From Texas to Arkansas and down to Florida, the mild winter and frequent rainfall have created a favorable environment for a population explosion of this pest.

According to the 2021 Alabama Pest Report, the number of fall armyworm moths (adults) being trapped is five times higher than at the same time last year, 585 on July 23 versus 114 on July 23, 2020, in Alabama.

Alabama Extension entomologist Katelyn Kesheimer says, “The frequency of rain creates a favorable environment for fall armyworm eggs and larvae to survive in large numbers. It also creates lush, green fields that attract armyworms. In some cases, producers are unable to access fields for control because of excess water.”

Fall Armyworm:     

Has an inverted Y on its head and four black dots on the other end.

Less than ½ inch long is easier to control and causes less feeding damage.

More than ½ inch long is more difficult to kill and is responsible for most of the damage.

Feeds on green matter and not dry or dead leaves.

Has a recommended threshold in Georgia cotton at 15 larvae per 100 plants.

timely hay harvest or insecticide applications, allowing the population to build much faster than normal.

“Typically from mid-June through early July, most farms harvest their first cutting of hay. That has not been the case this year, so the worms have had ample opportunity to feed and mature,” says Doug Mayo, University of Florida Extension agent for livestock and forages covering the Panhandle. “So not only has

the regular rainfall prevented field work, and hay harvest but it has also allowed the armyworm population to swell exponentially.”

What About Cotton?

Fall armyworm larvae feed on 60 different plant hosts including forage grasses, corn, alfalfa, cotton, peanuts, Continued on page 23

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TWITTER: @COTTONFARMING

SEPTEMBER 2021 | COTTON FARMING

17

Industry News

TCGA’s Kelley Green Honored Tony Williams, left, Texas Cotton Ginners’ Association executive vice president, recently recognized Kelley Green for his 30-year contribution as the TCGA director of technical services. Williams presented Green with a plaque and a Bass Pro Shop gift card during the TCGA summer membership meeting.

Green expressed appreciation and told the audience he could not think of a better organization to work for. He will step into the executive vice president role following Williams’ retirement in April 2022 following the conclusion of TCGA’s Annual Meeting & Cotton Trade Show.

time off through Sept. 30. (The federal government may extend the deadline).

Paid time off is allowed for those having a reaction to the COVID-19 vaccination.  Provide masks.  Encourage social distancing when possible.  Restrict repair access to the gin/ office to employees and authorized individuals.  Authorized non-employees entering gin should wear masks.  Clean and disinfect the office, gin and trucks frequently — every shift, if possible. Some gins used a sprayer with Vital Oxide brand disinfectant last year with success.

When in doubt, consult the O c c up at iona l Safety and He a lt h Administration’s “Protecting Workers: Guidance on Mitigating and Preventing the Spread of COVID-19 in the Workplace.”

Lawyer Discusses COVID-19 At TCGA Summer Meeting Gary McLaren of the McLaren Law Firm in Lubbock, Texas, was one of the featured speakers at the Texas Cotton Ginners’ Association summer membership meeting.

He has specialized in working with cotton gins for many years and is a highly respected source of legal expertise for the ginning industry.

TCGA regularly works with McLaren, especially on issues related to employment at the gin. After the meeting, there were several requests for a summary of McLaren’s remarks, which he provided.

Here they are:  Encourage getting COVID-19 vaccinations on a voluntary basis. For those wishing to mandate COVID vaccinations as a condition of employment, exceptions must be made for those employees declining the vaccination due to religious beliefs or medical conditions.  Allow for paid time off to get the COVID-19 vaccination. The Families First Coronavirus Response Act is allowing employers a tax credit on COVID-19

18

COTTON FARMING | SEPTEMBER 2021

LACA’s Hank Jones Named NCC Foundation Interim Trustee Long-time Louisiana Agricultural Consultant Association full member and current executive board secretary Robert “Hank” Jones of RHJ Ag Consulting in Winnsboro, Louisiana, has been named an interim trustee on the National Cotton Council Foundation board.

Jones also serves as chairman of the Beltwide Consultant’s Conference. In addition, he is a voting member of the National Alliance of Independent Crop Consultants.

Serving alongside Jones as an interim trustee on the NCC Foundation board is Rogers Leonard of Integrated Crop Consulting LLC in St. Joseph, Louisiana.

Leonard held an affiliate membership in LACA for many years while working within the Louisiana State University AgCenter system. He now serves LACA as a full member as an independent crop consultant.

These appointees are tasked with aid-

ing the process of establishing permanent board seats for cotton agricultural consultants across the United States.

Previously, independent agricultural crop consultants had no avenue for membership within the NCC. LACA recently joined the council as an affiliate member with the hope that its membership might pave the road for involvement to bring benefits to cotton consultants and their producer clients.

Pima Cultivars Show Improved Resistance To Fusarium Pima cotton is the predominant variety of cotton grown in California. It’s ideal for making premium fabrics for clothing and bed sheets. But Fusarium wilt disease, caused by a soilborne fungus, can devastate a cotton crop. It’s responsible for crop losses in several production regions in the United States and worldwide.

Researchers with the University of California, Davis, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service and other groups have been working for nearly 18 years to identify sources of resistance to Fusarium race 4 by field testing plant materials with different genetic backgrounds.

They have now developed three Pima cotton cultivars that show improved resistance to the disease, which is a big step toward creating commercial varieties for cotton growers and producers.

Bob Hutmacher, a physiologist in plant sciences at UC Davis and a cooperative Extension cotton specialist, has worked on aspects of this research since 2003. He says various strains of Fusarium wilt disease have been a problem in California for decades.

The newest Fusarium race 4 strain was initially discovered in the San Joaquin Valley in the early 2000s. It has since been detected in cotton fields in other U.S. cotton production regions, including El Paso, Texas, and Las Cruces, New Mexico.

Hutmacher says this type of fungal disease can likely survive in soil for decades. It also can easily move from place to place if infected soil particles get stuck on tractor tires, boots or shovels.

Planting resistant varieties can help prevent the spread.

This collab orative project also included work by researchers from UC Agriculture and Natural Resources and the Center of Genomics and COTTONFARMING.COM

Industry News Bioinformatics at Uzbekistan Academy of Sciences. Together they will make genetic plant material, including seeds of the newly developed Pima cotton, available to cotton breeders, geneticists and researchers.

The hope is that breeders and seed companies can develop products that eventually make it onto farms and fields.

“That’s the next step you wish for with all these types of materials,” Hutmacher says. “You make them available, demonstrate that there is improved resistance to a disease. Then the companies can pick it up from there and turn it into a variety with good yields and good fiber quality characteristics, so it has a place in the market.”

the pandemic.  Dr. Cristiane Pilon — Leveraging water management strategy in peanuts for greatest yield and seed quality.  Dr. Alex Stelzieni — Validating the non-thermal destruction of E. coli 0157:H7, STEC and surrogate E. coli during the manufacture of dry cured, ready-to-eat beef products.  Dr. Lawton Stewart — Grazing cotton residue to decrease hay feeding.  Dr. Kari Turner — Animal Institute: a

program for Georgia agricultural teachers.

This is the fourth year GFB has awarded grants to assist Georgia researchers working to find solutions to production, economic and marketing issues facing Georgia farmers.

Since 2018, GFB has awarded about $392,600 in research grants that have addressed beef, blueberry, cotton, forage, Christmas, fruit and pecan tree, peanut, poultry, soybean, and vegetable production issues.

GET READY FOR HARVEST WITH SHARPEN® HERBICIDE

GFB Funds Ag Research Georgia Farm Bureau has awarded almost $137,000 in grants to nine researchers at the University of Georgia College of Agriculture & Environmental Sciences. Their studies address production, economic or marketing issues Georgia farmers are experiencing.

Recipients of the 2021 GFB Agricultural Research Initiatives grants were recognized during the GFB Commodity Conference at the UGA Tifton Campus Conference Center.

“As federal and state funds for ag research decline, Georgia Farm Bureau feels it’s our job to step up and join other ag organizations in supporting research that benefits Georgia farmers,” says GFB President Tom McCall.

These are the recipients and their projects:  Dr. Emran Ali — Preventing postharvest fruit rot of Georgia blueberries: determining the organisms responsible and options for pre-harvest management.  Dr. Sudeep Bag — Epidemiology and impact of cotton leafroll dwarf disease on cotton in Georgia.  Dr. Lisa Baxter — Controlling smutgrass in bahiagrass pasture systems using integrated weed management.  Dr. Mark A. Czarnota — Developing phytophthora resistant hybrid firs by somatic embryogenesis.  Dr. Cesar L. Escalante — Sourcing interim replacements for H-2A foreign farm workers in Georgia farms during TWITTER: @COTTONFARMING

BY ADAM HIXSON

BASF Technical Service Representative

Part I: First Harvest Aid Application

In West Texas and Southwest Oklahoma, the cotton crop is a week to two weeks behind. Because we’ve had plenty of rain, some of the dryland fields look amazing. At the earliest, we will kick off harvest aid season at the end of September, going north to south. Farmers in the northern Texas Panhandle will be some of the first to start preparing the crop for harvest to avoid an early frost or freeze. Their main goal is to open bolls. When a frost or freeze is predicted in the next 14 days, I recommend cutting the top bolls in half. If the seed coat is brown and starting to string out, then it’s time to apply ethephon. If the seed coat is whitish or milky tan in color, and the weather is going to be in the 70s to 80s for the next seven to 10 days, let the top bolls continue to mature.

My earliest late September recommendation for the area north of Plainview is ethephon @ 32-48 fl oz/A followed by Sharpen® Herbicide @ 1 fl oz/A + MSO @ 1% v/v + AMS @ 8.5 lbs/100 gallons. I never like to go above the 1 fluid ounce application of Sharpen in the initial application. Applying it at a higher rate can stick leaves instead of giving them time to dry out and fall off the plant. One fluid ounce also allows you to use Sharpen in the second application. In the areas south of Plainview (Lubbock, Lamesa and Seven days after down to San Angelo), early to mid-October ® application of Sharpen is the key time for a harvest aid application.

Herbicide + ethephon I recommend applying Sharpen @ 1 fl oz/A + ethephon @ 32-48 fl oz/A, which will open the bolls and dry up the leaves. Sharpen is very fast, and you will see activity within a day or two.

This year, I expect weeds, such as Palmer amaranth, morningglory and bindweed, to be in the field at harvest time. If healthy and green, they will slow down harvest and stain the lint, causing dockage at the gin. Even if weeds are large, Sharpen will dry them down, crisp them up and get some of the leaves off, which improves the quality of your lint and the speed at which you can harvest. Also, Sharpen is one of the best PPO inhibitors for delaying regrowth that can also stain the lint.

If weather is coming, and you have 1- to 1 ½-bale cotton, my best one-shot harvest aid application recommendation is Sharpen + ethephon + a defoliant containing tribufos. This allows you to open bolls, desiccate and drop leaves, dry up weeds and prevent regrowth.

Always read and follow label directions. Sharpen and Kixor are registered trademarks of BASF. © 2021 BASF Corporation. All rights reserved.

SEPTEMBER 2021 | COTTON FARMING

19

Deere Launches Two Larger Cotton Harvesters More Fuel Efficiency And A Larger, More Compact Round Bale

BY VICKY BOYD MANAGING EDITOR

N

early four years in the works, John Deere’s larger and more efficient CP770 picker and CS770 stripper recently launched. The company will begin taking orders for the machines in October and anticipates the first deliveries in spring 2022, says Chris Murray, John Deere product marketing manager. They will replace the CP690 picker and CS690 stripper, respectively.

New Machine Highlights In its quest to boost all• John Deere 13.6-liter PowerTech around efficiency, John engine and hydraulic power Deere didn’t just supermodule. size the new harvesters.

• JDLink connectivity and Generation 4 displays.

Instead, about 75% of the • Five cup holders. design is new from the • USB and device charging ports. ground up, Murray says.

• Refrigerator under the instruc“There’s a lot of value tional seat. we’re delivering to our cus• Apple CarPlay and Android’s Auto. tomers,” he says, adding • Two options available for cab the machines target growinteriors. ers with at least 2,000 to 2,500 acres of cotton.

Many of the improvements were based on input from customers, both in the United States and internationally, he says.

Larger Engines

Both harvesters feature the new John Deere 13.6-liter PowerTech engine and hydraulic power module to improve fuel efficiency by up to 20% for the CP770 and up to 15% for the CS770.

The CP770 picker can produce a larger, more compact round bale, spanning up to 96 inches in diameter. Currently, the

CP690 maxes out at 94 inches. This allows the CP770 to pack 8% more seed cotton into a module, resulting in a reduction in wrap and hauling costs of up to 8%. It also increases the number of acres that can be harvested per day by up to 5%.

Part of the CP770’s productivity increase is due to the new John Deere PRO16 HS Row Unit fitted with high-speed stalk lifters and ultra-fast cotton-grabbing spindles.

Improvements also enable the CS770 stripper to produce up to a 2% turn-out increase and wrap and hauling cost reductions of up to 12% compared to the CS690.

Wrap Integrity

Murray says John Deere has worked with the National Cotton Ginners Association, 550 gins nationally and plastic wrap manufacturer Tama USA to ensure plastic wrap integrity isn’t compromised with the larger, denser bales.

For stripper varieties, the John Deere offers the new SH12F, a 12-row folding header that makes the CS770 up to 48% more productive harvesting dryland cotton compared to the CS690 eight-row harvester.

The CP770 and CS770 cab interiors have also been redesigned and enlarged by 30 inches with operator comfort in mind.

Two options are available: a premium package and an ultimate package.

Both machines come standard with JDLink connectivity as well as Generation 4 displays. Both also come with five cup holders, several USB and device charging ports, a refrigerator under the instructional seat, and Apple CarPlay and Android’s Auto.

The ultimate package also includes heated and cooled leather seats with a massaging feature to reduce operator fatigue.

John Deere plans to launch the more efficient CS770 stripper (left) and CP770 picker this fall as replacements for the CS690 and CP690, respectively.

20

COTTON FARMING | SEPTEMBER 2021

COTTONFARMING.COM

Continued from page 13

Farmer Participation

Joe Oswald is a fourth-generation farmer at JCO Farms in Allendale County, South Carolina.

His family farm is participating in the study. They grow corn, soybeans, cotton, peanuts, oats, rye and sorghum, as well as run 150 head of Angus cattle. Because this is a study, farmers and researchers are learning as the research progresses.

“This year, we have been fortunate in that we haven’t had to run irrigation much on cotton, soybeans and peanuts,” Oswald says.

“Because corn requires more water, we had to water it earlier in the summer when conditions were dry.

“As for watering based on sensors we have in our soybeans, we have irrigated twice with that pivot on the test when the moisture gets to the threshold of -40 kPa. We did not irrigate the other half of the field, which is our control, because we would not have normally irrigated beans at that time.

“The sensor side of the field has had 1 inch more of irrigation than the other half, so we have had an increase in water usage on the sensor-side.”

Oswald is learning how to adjust his system to adapt to crop irrigation requirements.

“We may need to raise the threshold on beans so that irrigation isn’t triggered TWITTER: @COTTONFARMING

CLEMSON UNIVERSITY

Researcher-Developed Technology

The researchers use an irrigation scheduling tool called the Clemson Water Management System. It was developed

by Payero and uses sensors to collect and transfer data over a wireless network.

During the trials, soil moisture sensors were installed at four depths — 6, 12, 18 and 24 inches. Hourly data was collected automatically through a custom-made Internet-based system, transmitting data to a cloud server using a cellular network.

Although the results are for just one year, Payero says they look promising. He and his team are continuing on-farm trials on six farms this season and another six in 2022 to see if the results hold.

“This easy-to-use, affordable soil moisture monitoring system will help growers enhance water-use efficiency and increase profits while substantially reducing water and energy use, erosion and leaching of chemicals such as pesticides and soil nutrients,” Payero says. “It also will help growers apply water at optimum rates where needed.”

In South Carolina, Allendale County farmer Joe Oswald and Clemson researcher Dana Bodiford Turner install watermark soil moisture sensors for on-farm trials to show farmers how using soil moisture monitoring technology can help them improve irrigation efficiency.

Table 1. Increased net income by irrigating using soil moisture sensors obtained in six farms in South Carolina in 2020.

Farm

Crop

Farm 1

Increased net income with sensors ($/acre)

(%)

Cotton

141.76

13.7

Farm 2

Peanut

173.14

14.7

Farm 3

Soybean

641.19

63.5

Farm 4

Peanut

169.60

16.9

Farm 5

Peanut

87.30

7.6

Farm 6

Cotton

0.74

0.1

$202.28/acre

19.42%

Average

as early,” he says. “The beans at that time were not in bloom yet and do not require as much water as they do once they start setting pods. That’s why we didn’t irrigate our side.

“I don’t know if that will result in a higher yield on the sensor side but we will see after harvest. Over the past month, we have not run much irrigation at all. We have been blessed with timely rains.”

For More Information...

Farmers who need more information or who would like to try using the technology can contact Payero at jpayero@ clemson.edu.

The studies are part of a $500,000, three-year project funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service as an on-farm conservation innovation trial.

To learn more about efficient irrigation, watch these YouTube videos produced

by Clemson University: https://bit.ly/3y0QwIG and https://bit.ly/3y02FxM. Clemson University provided this article.

Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the USDA-NRCS or Clemson University.

SEPTEMBER 2021 | COTTON FARMING

21

Specialists Speaking

Preparing The Crop For Harvest ALABAMA Steve M. Brown

I once had a girl friend named “Earlene” (not her real name). Earlene was attending a pre-wedding function in Birmingham on a Saturday and had to travel through Decatur where I was working. With my boss’ permission, I invited her to spend Friday night with him and his wife and scheduled plans for dinner and the play, The Miracle Worker, which was about Helen Keller. Earlene agreed, and I looked forward to Friday.

Imagine my surprise on Thursday after work when I was driving in my boss’ neighborhood and saw in his driveway what looked like Earlene’s car.

It was! I changed directions and went in to greet Earlene. She was a day early but didn’t realize it. After supper I gave her a tour of the town and asked if she would be able to stay for Friday’s activities. She looked surprised and said, “No, I have to be in Birmingham by lunch tomorrow (meaning Saturday).” Earlene, being rather dignified and proper, covered her embarrassment even after I finally convinced her that it was Thursday and not Friday.

I still chuckle when I think about this almost 40 years after the fact.

Earlene was a day early. Early Earlene.

When it comes to timeliness of harvest in the Lower Southeast, we need a nudge from “Earlene;” that is, an urgency to get ‘er done, to gather the crop with great haste. Sure, peanut harvest and the hope of a few late bolls sometime delay us. How many years and miles I’ve driven across the region wishing I had a giant vacuum cleaner to suck up all the fully open cotton in fields with no picker in sight. I had hoped the roll picker would be the solution. What a machine! And the painful lessons of storms such as Michael and Sally serve as ready reminders of the vulnerability of our crop.

So as you prepare for harvest aid applications and get your pickers ready, remember Earlene. We had a good day, that Friday when she was EARLY. cottonbrown@auburn.edu

ARKANSAS Bill Robertson

The crop production report for Arkansas released in August by the U.S. Department of Agriculture-National Agricultural Statistics Service estimated cotton production at 980,000 bales, down 23%, or 297,000 bales, below last year. Based on conditions as of Aug. 1, lint yield is expected to average 1,161 pounds per harvested acre, down 18 pounds from last year. Our five-year lint yield average is 1,150 pounds per harvested acre. Producers expect to harvest 405,000 acres of cotton, down 120,000 acres from 2020.

Weather patterns in 2021 generally resulted in making a late crop even later. Currently, yield potential appears to be on track or slightly better than our five-year average. This crop’s potential is still very good, and we could possibly see increased yield estimates with favorable weather.

However, pushing a crop and chasing bolls that have little affect on lint yield and profitability could cut into yield and quality potential. An almost perfect September for maturing our crop coupled with wise management is needed for us to have a shot at reaching record yields we have grown accustomed to achieving. This season has not been easy or cheap and likely will not get any easier.

The first fields planted are not always the first to be harvested. Knowing our most mature fields is critical in harvest management. Boll slicing may be our best tool to evaluate maturity this year. As we progress toward the end of this season, we must continue to manage the crop in a timely fashion with a goal of getting pickers in the field mid-September. Contact your local county Extension agent for more information. brobertson@uaex.edu

22

COTTON FARMING | SEPTEMBER 2021

ARIZONA Randy Norton

As we approach the final stages of the cotton season, decisions are going to be made regarding crop termination and harvest preparation. A few items to keep in mind include boll maturation timelines and harvest aid application timings. First, remember that an accumulated 600 heat units (86/55 degrees Fahrenheit threshold) are required for a fresh bloom to become a harvestable green boll with completed fiber development. Depending on location in the state, this number of heat units will take 20-25 days to accumulate.

Adequate soil-plant water relations are required for proper boll maturation and fiber development. Determining the date for final irrigations will be based on a decision to take a set of fresh blooms to harvest. A typical scenario might be a set of blooms that opens Sept. 15 will need through approximately the first few days of October to mature properly. Non-water stressed conditions during this period are important to properly mature that set of bolls. Depending on several factors, including evaporative demand, precipitation, soil texture, etc., a final irrigation around Sept. 15-20 should be sufficient to mature that boll set.

Once the final irrigation has been applied, thoughts move to harvest prep application timing. Typically, the rule of thumb of two times the late season irrigation interval is sufficient time for the crop to mature and be ready for a defoliant application. This will also depend on weather conditions, soil type, crop vigor status, etc. Another good indicator is the percentage of open bolls in the field. Typically, 60% open bolls needs to be achieved prior to any harvest prep applications. If using a desiccant such as sodium chlorate, percent open boll should be in the 80% or greater range. For more information on these topics and others, visit the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension website at extension.arizona.edu. rnorton@cals.arizona.edu

FLORIDA David Wright

For the past four to five years, tropical storms have occurred during cotton harvest. Some growers fared well while others who had planted either earlier or later than normal had open cotton when the storm came through, so they lost yield and quality. Having adequate picking capacity when crop is ready to harvest can help ensure that the cotton that produced is harvested and sold.

Cotton is the rotation crop for peanuts in the Florida Panhandle. Peanuts are harvested before cotton harvest starts even though both crops may be ready. Many growers may get custom harvesters to pick cotton while they are harvesting peanuts. Some seasons with several tropical storms have helped growers make the decision to hire custom pickers.

Likewise, plan where to locate bales so cotton is not standing in water if a large rain occurs and water ponds for a week or two. Bales should be located near the road on high ground where they can be moved to the gin even under wet conditions. We suggest not putting bales under power lines as trees fall on the lines, which may start fires. Many bales have burned or couldn’t be moved with wires laying on them. Hurricanes have blocked field roads with downed trees so have more than one exit from fields for the bales.

Service your pickers before harvest season. If spindles, moisture pads and doffers need replacing or adjusting, this can be done in the winter when time is less critical. Well-adjusted pickers will pick cleaner and save time before the next storm occurs. wright@ufl.edu Continued on page 24 COTTONFARMING.COM

ALABAMA COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SYSTEM

Scouting with a sweep net, like the one shown here, is the best way to find armyworms in the beginning of the larval stage. The threshold for Georgia cotton is 15 larvae per 100 plants.

Continued from page 17

soybeans and most vegetable crops. University of Georgia Extension entomologist Phillip Roberts says most cotton varieties with three-gene Bt traits are still providing control.

“All of the three-gene Bt cottons — Bollgard 3, TwinLink Plus and WideStrike 3 — still provide very good control of fall armyworms. The two-gene WideStrike, because it includes both the Cry1Ac and Cry1F genes, also provides very good efficacy against this pest.

“The two-gene Bt cottons Bollgard II and TwinLink are not quite as efficacious, and we see a little drop in control.”

As hay is harvested and other green matter dries out, fall armyworms will come looking for something fresh to eat, and cotton may eventually be on the menu.

As Roberts reminds producers, “None of the cotton varieties are immune to caterpillar pests, so we still need to scout and use good integrated pest management practices.”

A Warning To Be Ready

In any given year, multiple generations of fall armyworms occur. With the early and explosive start, and until weather conditions change, producers can expect this pest to keep

reproducing. Larvae are the damaging stage but do not eat as much for the first 10 days. At this stage, they are small and easier to control. The last four days before pupation is when their appetite ramps up and they are most damaging to crops and difficult to control.

Scouting is the best way to find armyworms in the beginning of the larval stage. A sweep net should be standard equipment for scouts and producers. The threshold for Georgia cotton is 15 larvae per 100 plants. Caterpillars that are less than ½ inch long are easier to control and cause less feeding damage. Caterpillars more than ½ inch long are more difficult to control and will likely need higher insecticide rates. A list of products can be found in the Georgia Pest Management Handbook on the UGA cotton Extension website. Scouting for fall armyworms should be ongoing until defoliation.

Corriher-Olson says, whether in forages or row crops, it is critical that producers have pesticides ready for applications as soon as armyworm numbers near the recommended threshold.

“The big question is how long will they be a problem, and the answer is until the first killing frost,” she says.

“Armyworms are not a ‘spray once and they won’t be a problem’ kind of thing.”

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SEPTEMBER 2021 | COTTON FARMING

23

Specialists Speaking

MURILO MAEDA

Irrigated field with cover crop near Lamesa, Texas

Continued from page 22

GEORGIA Camp Hand

For those who read my last installment in Specialists Speaking, I would like to apologize as I feel I may have jinxed us. At the time I wrote it, our crop looked great.

Now, as a consultant recently told Dr. Phillip Roberts, our crop resembles a Clint Eastwood movie… “The Good, The Bad and The Ugly.” As of Aug. 16, the good stuff looks really good, and the bad stuff... well it’s not so good.

The recent rainfall amount we have received has prevented some of the crop from taking up nutrients and developing a root system. This is greatly delaying maturity in much of our late-planted crop. Recent weather has made harvest preparations complex, to say the least. The lack of sunlight and profuse amounts of rain across the state in July and August have resulted in aborted fruit, along with other issues. This leads to complications when determining when to defoliate the crop. It is important, when evaluating the crop for defoliation, that we use two methods to ensure that both are accurate. When determining defoliation timing, keep in mind you don’t want to defoliate more than you can pick in a timely manner in the next 10 to 14 days. Getting our crop off in a timely manner is a major key to producing the high-quality crop our industry demands.

Additionally, many of you will remember from Using Pesticides Wisely trainings that the No. 1 drift complaint in Georgia last year was defoliants. The lessons learned at UPW trainings for on-target pesticide applications apply to all pesticides and should be kept in mind when initiating

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COTTON FARMING | SEPTEMBER 2021

defoliation. I will be interacting with all of you (in-person or virtually) in the coming weeks and months to discuss many of these topics. I look forward to these conversations. As always, your local UGA county Extension agent and specialists are here to help! Reach out if you have any questions. camphand@uga.edu

LOUISIANA Matt Foster

On Aug. 12, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency reported 101,851 planted acres of cotton in Louisiana, which is down about 48% from the 10-year average of 195,500 acres. Hot and dry weather conditions over the past few weeks have caused cotton to mature relatively quickly in some areas of the state. Some fields are past cutout or five nodes above white flower.

Growers with access to irrigation are irrigating to finish out the crop, and dryland growers are hoping for a rain. Potassium deficiencies have been popping up around the state as well as some target spot (around 1%). Some open bolls are present; however, a portion of our crop won’t have open bolls until early September. Overall, the cotton crop is average to below average.

As growers prepare for the 2021 cotton harvest, defoliation timing principles should be taken into consideration. Growing up, I often heard farmers and consultants say, “Timing cotton defoliation is an art.” There are several accepted defoliation timing methods, each with pros and cons. The three most common methods for timing cotton defoliation include 60% open boll, four nodes above cracked boll or 1,050 heat units beyond cutout.

COTTONFARMING.COM

Specialists Speaking Prior to defoliation, growers should inspect the uppermost harvestable boll by cutting a cross-section. A boll is considered mature if it is difficult to cut with a knife and seed coats are tan/brown or black. Once a dark seed coat has formed, defoliation will not adversely affect yield on those bolls. For more information regarding cotton defoliation, please see the LSU AgCenter cotton harvest aid publication at www.lsuagcenter. com/topics/crops/cotton/agronomy. mfoster@agcenter.lsu.edu

MISSISSIPPI Brian Pieralisi The 2021 cotton season has been tough for Mississippi growers. At this point in August, on average our crop is three weeks behind schedule and highly variable in terms of yield potential. As I travel the state looking at cotton, planting date seems to be the most important factor influencing crop development. In most cases, earlier planted cotton looks far better than later planted cotton. This is primarily due to the environmental challenges we faced from the end of May through mid-June. The three weeks of cool, wet weather caused a delay in maturity that has remained with the crop the entire season.

Cotton in our region is fruiting a few nodes higher than normal, which is putting pressure on the middle and top crop to produce and hold fruit to maximize yield potential. We have had good heat unit accumulation over the past couple weeks, which has proven to be beneficial in stacking fruit on the nodes. Plant bug pressure has been high since early bloom, causing reductions in fruit retention if not treated in a timely manner.

As harvest quickly approaches, environmental factors will dictate our success in making a crop. A hot, relatively dry August and September is needed to accumulate enough heat units to compensate for the later-than-normal crop. Hopefully, we can avoid an unseasonable cool snap early in September and miss a couple of tropical rains. I think some farmers will pick cotton in late September this year, but it appears the bulk of the crop will be harvested during October. bkp4@msstate.edu

NORTH CAROLINA Guy Collins We are always on edge during September to see what the fall weather will bring. A rain or two during this time isn’t necessarily a problem. It can help finish out the top crop or add weight to lint, potentially help harvest aid efficacy (compared to severely dry weather) and help get our cover crops started for next year.

Prolonged wet or cloudy weather, or even heavy, intense rains and winds during this time can do more harm than good.

Light, intermittent rains with sufficient sunshine are much preferred during September and October, although we have little control over this.

We hope insect management will be completed by the time this is read.

As we move into September, growers should pay special attention to defoliation and harvest timeliness.

A significant portion of our crop is later-than-normal, which could influence what products we use and rates of some harvest aids, in addition to prevailing temperatures and sunlight during the time when later cotton matures. However, we have some early cotton, too. It would behoove us to pay close attention to when each field reaches maturity and is ready for defoliation. If the two-week forecast looks favorable, there’s no need to wait to defoliate cotton that is ready. The same applies to harvest.

In many cases, mature cotton could be defoliated earlier in September and harvested earlier-than-normal, which may help avoid weathering losses on some acres if we experience tropical weather during the harvest season. Similarly, timely defoliation and harvest can help us avoid the “November trap” when dew or rainfall doesn’t dry as quickly, and harvest hours begin to diminish rapidly. guy_collins@ncsu.edu TWITTER: @COTTONFARMING

OKLAHOMA Seth Byrd

Much of the cotton across the Cotton Belt has one thing in common this year — being behind. That describes a lot of the cotton in Oklahoma as well, most of which is one to three weeks behind where it would ideally be as I write this in mid-August. As we move into September, it will be key to monitor crop growth and development.

Like in many other cotton-producing areas, September is a critical month in Oklahoma. By this point, the crop has developed whatever fruit load we expect to harvest. It’s now a matter of having favorable weather conditions to achieve high yields and quality. The last effective bloom date for most of Oklahoma’s acres occurs in late August.

By early September, the fruit that will make up the bulk of harvested lint will be at 1- to 2-week-old bolls, or older.

Expectations were high as we entered September a year ago, although an early cold snap and a cooler-than-normal month affected both the yield and the quality of the 2020 crop. A repeat of that in 2021 would be even more harmful given where much of the crop is regarding development. However, a mild September could allow us to capitalize on a crop that has great fruit retention up to this point, primarily due to timely rains and shorter periods of extreme temperatures this summer than typically experienced in Oklahoma.

As usual, September will dictate much of the success, or lack thereof, this season. Monitor the progress of the bolls set in late August to get a better idea of when the crop might reach the optimal window for harvest aid applications. It’s also a good idea to keep an eye on the overall progress of both boll maturity and natural crop senescence to determine what issues need to be addressed, and what products can address them when the time comes to make that harvest aid application. seth.byrd@okstate.edu

TENNESSEE Tyson Raper

As I write this Aug. 12, Tennessee’s crop is one of the latest maturing we’ve ever seen. Things are drying out, but the chances for rain are relatively high over the next few days. If we catch another rain, I suspect many will be tempted to push past the typical insecticide termination dates during the first week of September and continue to manage insect pests until mid-September. The risk is investing more money into positions that have a low likelihood of maturing.

But the potential reward may justify the added expense, especially considering how few fruiting positions we had by our last effective flowering date.

I would be surprised if we are defoliating before the October comments arrive, but defoliation and boll opening in Tennessee will likely be under cooler-than-ideal conditions. Expect to use stout rates of ethephon and tribufos to open and defoliate the crop. This year, the trick will be properly identifying and monitoring the uppermost harvestable boll while watching the forecast. traper@utk.edu

TEXAS Ben McKnight

As of mid-August, the weather-related challenges many Texas cotton growers experienced earlier in the year continue to extend the growing season. The cotton crop in the Central and Southern regions of the state is anywhere from two to three weeks behind an average year in maturity. In the Lower Rio Grande Valley and Coastal Bend, harvesting is just beginning. In both regions, several fields are variable regarding plant maturity and boll load.

Low areas in fields where inundated conditions persisted after abundant rainfall are not going to contribute to overall yield as much as areas in the field where drainage occurred quicker. Early reports of yield estimates in both regions are in the 2- to 2.5-bale range. To further complicate the onset SEPTEMBER 2021 | COTTON FARMING

25

Specialists Speaking of harvesting the crop, delayed plant growth regulator applications due to weather conditions have resulted in plants with rank growth, which will present additional challenges with getting the crop out of the field. Additionally, mature cotton plants in areas with abundant soil moisture have been more difficult to defoliate before harvest.

In the Upper Gulf Coast growing region, earlier planted cotton is starting to crack bolls and later planted fields are at cutout. High daytime temperatures lately have helped cotton maturity progress, but cooler conditions experienced throughout most of the growing season still have cotton maturity delayed compared to other years. Much of the cotton in the Upper Gulf Coast has matured past the point of warranting an insecticide application, and growers are counting down the days until the onset of harvest aid application.

Timely mid- to late-season rainfall in the Blackland Prairie may boost cotton yields in the region to above average. Fields lacking the capability to drain water quickly in some areas have considerable variability in the crop.

Overall, the cotton crop in this region has recovered nicely from early and midseason weather. Most of the cotton in the Blackland Prairie is at or approaching cutout.

Cotton in the Rolling Plains growing region has also benefitted from timely rainfall following high daily temperatures. These warm temperatures have aided with crop progression maturity, and earlier planted fields are in bloom. Like other production regions around the state, average cotton maturity in the Rolling Plains is delayed compared to other years. bmcknight@tamu.edu

TEXAS Murilo Maeda Cotton has come a long way since planting back in May and June. In general, we are looking at a great crop this year, although some of it is definitely late. Our weather has been rather mild this season compared to years past. By Aug. 9, we had seen 22 days with temperatures above 100 degrees Fahrenheit in 2020, whereas this year we have had a total of six days. We continue to be behind schedule on heat unit accumulation with differences between our longterm averages and this year’s increasing since I last wrote to you.

Through the first half of August, rainfall has been isolated across West Texas. Places with sandier soils have already started to see the effects of drier conditions with some fields wilting by mid- to late afternoon. The short-term forecast, however, includes some rain chances for the region, which would be timely.

Aphids have recently started to show up in many locations, so growers are urged to keep an eye out for them. Dr. Suhas Vyavhare, Extension entomologist at Lubbock, recommends scouting fields twice a week since aphid numbers can increase rapidly. About 50-60 leaves should be checked throughout the field, from top, middle and lower portions of the plants. The action threshold is 40-60 aphids per leaf prior to the first cracked boll. That number decreases significantly to about 10 per leaf after bolls start opening due to the potential affect on lint quality and harvest and ginning efficiency. mmaeda@ag.tamu.edu

MURILO MAEDA

Drip-irrigated field near Brownfield, Texas.

The center pivot in the background was not used this season.

26

COTTON FARMING | SEPTEMBER 2021

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Ginners Marketplace COTTON

COTTON FARMING IS THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE GINNING INDUSTRY.

TCGA Interns Share Mid-Term Reports The Texas Cotton Ginners’ Association Summer Internship Program has hosted more than 30 individuals since it began in 2008. The internships give college students a chance to see what cotton ginning may look like as a career path.

TCGA hopes that the program will continue to produce quality young men and women who are ready to enter the workforce after they graduate.

This year’s interns are Daylan Schulz and Lane Fischer, who both attend Texas A&M University.

Schulz is majoring in agricultural systems management. He is from Abbott, Texas, and has spent many hours working on a farm. Last summer, Schulz interned with the U.S. Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service Ginning Laboratory in Lubbock. He developed an interest in cotton gins and said he looked forward to working for gins during the summer.

He also had the opportunity to shadow a couple employees at the United Agricultural Cooperative in El Campo, Texas. Schulz began his TCGA internship with Lone Star Farmers Cooperative in Mereta, Texas, and will complete the program at Coastal Plains Gin in Mathis, Texas.

Lane Fischer is majoring in biological and agricultural engineering. He is a Lubbock native and spent some time working at BC Supply. His father, Clifford Fischer, works as an engineer for BC Supply and is a graduate of the same department at Texas A&M. Lane is a member of Aggie Pullers — a group that designs and builds a tractor for competitive pulling each year. He also leads the robotics team competition in the department. Lane began his internship at Highway 67 Gin in Miles, Texas, and will complete his internship with Taft Gin & Seed Co. in Taft, Texas.

In the August issue of Cotton Farming, Schulz and Fischer talked about their initial experiences as TCGA interns. This month, they share their mid-term reports.

Cotton Ginners Marketplace

Daylan Schulz — Texas A&M University The second half of my internship I was assigned to Coastal Plains Gin in Mathis, Texas, where I have been working with the owner, John Steelhammer, and his employees. Since I arrived, we have worked through the gin, completing the finishing touches for the fast-approaching cotton season. It is now right around the corner.

The first assignment I assisted with was installing the recently repaired screw conveyer. This task primarily consumed my first week on the job.

Since completing the install, several other employees and I have been conducting final checks throughout Daylan Schulz the gin. We want to make sure each and every piece of equipment is ready when the first module makes its way down the module feeder.

For the majority of my first week in Mathis, it seemed like all it did was rain, as was the case across most of the state of Texas. However, soon after the rain ceased, the cotton quickly

28

COTTON FARMING | SEPTEMBER 2021

began turning white. As I type this, I can hear John walking around the gin saying, “We are 10 days out,” which means it is crunch time. I look forward to my final few weeks here in Mathis, as I feel I still have a lot left to learn. Benjamin Franklin once said, “Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn.” My involvement during the next couple of weeks as cotton starts rolling into the gin will be very exciting. Until then, you may find John and me dining at our favorite lunch spot, Luby’s, in Corpus Christi.

Lane Fischer — Texas A&M University For the second half of my Texas Cotton Ginners’ Association internship, I have been working at Taft Gin and Seed Co. I would again like to thank my hosts, Mr. Kyle Taubert and the rest of the employees, for their hospitality. Upon arriving in Taft, Mr. Taubert explained some of the different challenges cotton gins face, depending on what climate they are located in. Here in Taft, they have to deal with larger amounts of rain than their northern counterparts. Storing modules becomes a problem when parts of the module yard flood during the ginning season. Mr. Taubert gave me the task to improve the drainage of the module yard. After researching Lane Fischer field mapping and water flow, I have made a map of the elevation changes of the field. Next, I will determine where and what grades need to be cut to best allow the water to drain. It has been fulfilling to apply the engineering methods I learned in class to a real-world problem.

I also have been learning from Ginny Winsauer, chief financial officer and office manager, about how to deal with employees and some of the business aspects of running a cotton gin. In addition, I have learned how to diagnose a problem and do the yearly maintenance on a Continental bale press.

I am looking forward to the next steps and the eventual completion of my module yard project. Also, I am excited for ginning season to start, so I can experience a running cotton gin. I want to thank Mr. Aaron Nelsen and the rest of the Texas Cotton Ginners’ Association for giving me this internship opportunity.

The Texas Cotton Ginners’ Association provided this information.

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29

My Turn Savoring The Memories

I

t was so ironic when I to pursue an opportunity in the National Cotton Council recently received an email communications services department. It also helped that message from Carroll the owner of the Memphis Showboats was cotton merSmith asking if I want- chant Billy Dunavant. I would never have been given the ed to contribute a My Turn chance to work at the NCC had it not been for the help column for the next issue of of this cotton leader.

Cotton Farming.

I listened and tried to learn as much as I could about Suddenly it brought back the cotton industry during my 13 years there. Mentors memories when I was the edi- such as Earl Sears, Gaylon Booker and Dorothy Robtor of this magazine and would erson showed a lot of patience for any new staffer ask the same question of any- trying to understand the complicated nature of an Tommy body connected to the cot- industry with seven segments — each trying to find Horton ton industry. I always tried to profitability in a volatile economic environment. make it seem like an easy task It was sometimes a bit overwhelming — especially for the person I was conversing with on the phone. I said in 1987 when I was accompanying a group of industry it was like writing a letter to your best friend. leaders on a tour of East Coast newspaper editorial All I can say six years after retiring as editor in 2015 boards at the New York Times, Washington Post, USA is there is never enough space to put all of a person’s Today and Wall Street Journal. At every stop on that thoughts into this column. But have no fear. I won’t go tour, I whispered a little prayer that I wouldn’t totally overboard in the nostalgia department. I will simply embarrass myself. Divine intervention came to the ressay that looking back it cue again.

“It was a privilege and honor to was a privilege and honor I also gained a betto have worked in the ter understanding of the have worked in the cotton industry industry when I became cotton industry for nearly 30 years — 13 years in editor of Cotton Farming for nearly 30 years.” the communications serin 2000 after being manvices department of the National Cotton Council and aging editor for six months. To walk through cotton more than 16 years at Cotton Farming. fields with farmers across the Belt is an experience I For a person who was working in a completely unre- will never forget. Each farmer had a story to tell, and it lated field as a newspaper sports writer from 1968 until was rewarding when I could share those stories.

1983, the cotton industry was the last thing on my mind.

I retired in 2015 for a very good reason. My mothNewspaper jobs took me from Memphis to Fayetteville, er was battling cancer and eventually passed away in North Carolina; Greensboro, North Carolina; Jackson, 2016. She loved reading Cotton Farming and always Mississippi, and back to Memphis. When you’re a sports gave me positive feedback every month even if the writer, you have to be ready to move when another topics were complicated. For someone who had grown opportunity presents itself. up in a sharecropping family that moved from town to Even when the Memphis Press-Scimitar closed in town in the 1930s, that was high praise. It’s one thing 1983, the cotton industry still wasn’t on my radar screen. to receive reactions from industry leaders across the I didn’t want to pick up and move out of town anymore country after writing a story. But there was something so I found myself as the public relations director for a special when my mother offered her opinion. I always pro football team — the Memphis Showboats of the listened to her.

United States Football League. This was an exhilarating, I am glad the cotton industry allowed me to be a part enjoyable and memorable adventure. Unfortunately, it of this experience for nearly three decades. The memoonly lasted two years when the league’s anti-trust suit ries will never die, and I cherish every friendship made. against the National Football League failed.

I probably could have moved out of town again, but I — Tommy Horton was tired of being a traveling gypsy. That is when one of Memphis, Tennessee my newspaper friends (Cotton Nelson) encouraged me tommy.horton64@gmail.com 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 | SEPTEMBER 2021

COTTONFARMING.COM

AMERICA’S COTTON HARVEST LEADER SINCE 1952!

ALL NEW! COTTON FORK Bale Handler • Front end load er or 3-point hitch • Penetrates bales easily!

• D urable 6" x 84" sharpened forks • Ad justable stand for off-season storage

Retrofit kit for your existing spear model available

COTTON SPEAR Bale Handler • Proven performanc e - hundreds of thousands of bales moved over the last 10 years!

• S talk-free transpor t to your gin

ROUND MODULE TRANSPORT TRAILER 8-Module C apa cit y • Hydraulic Ramps available • All-new metal floor or traditi onal wood en d eck available

For more information and to view a video of the Cotton Spear, go to www.kbhequipment.com.

(800) 843-5241 • www.kbhequipment.com P.O. Box 670 • 395 Anderson Boulevard • Clarksdale, MS 38614

GAIN HARVEST-TIME SAVINGS It’s your machine. We just built it.

When we set out to build new versions of our revolutionary cotton harvesters, we went to the experts – cotton growers like you.

What we heard was that you need a faster, more cost-efficient harvest.

So we started with a clean slate and ended up with two of the most impressive machines available: the CP770 Cotton Picker and CS770 Cotton Stripper. We built a new power plant and row units, and redesigned the module building and handling system.

But the bottom line is the bottom line, and these machines deliver serious harvest-time savings. So give yourself a pat on the back. You helped us build the most advanced cotton harvesters in the world. Ones that will help you gain ground in your operation.

See what you have to gain JohnDeere.com/Cotton