Cotton Farming November 2023

ONE GROWER PUBLISHING, LLC

PROFITABLE PRODUCTION STRATEGIES

NOVEMBER 2023

www.cottonfarming.com

State Specialists Wrap Up The 2023 Season

Deer Damage In The Southeast

2024

SEED VARIETY GUIDE

S:7.125"

S:10"

Learn more about PhytoGen and the Enlist® weed control system at ProvenPhytoGen.com.

Trademarks of Corteva Agriscience and its affiliated companies. The Enlist® weed control system is owned and developed by Corteva Agriscience LLC. © 2023 Corteva. (09/23) BR CAAG3PHYG057

™®

T:10.75"

The best way to succeed this season is to be ready for the ones that follow. And with the proven data and results of PhytoGen® cottonseed, you can be confident your operation is ready to flourish for seasons to come.

Vol. 67 No. 11

PROFITABLE PRODUCTION STRATEGIES

NOVEMBER 2023

www.cottonfarming.com

FE ATURES

16 WRAPPING UP THE SEASON

As the year winds down, state cotton specialists discuss the impact of local 2023 weather patterns, yield variability in different areas and more.

2024

SEED

22 SOUTHEAST DEER DAMAGE

Producers across the Southeast states are experiencing significant issues with deer damage to their cotton. Researchers are exploring potential solutions.

VARIETY GUIDE

24 GINNERS MARKETPLACE

the official publication of the ginning industry Check out the development of a new I-9 Employment Eligibility Form, TCGA interns’ final reports and news from the Texas Cotton Gin Museum.

8 2024 Variety Options The menu of cotton varieties from which to choose in 2024 includes a host of high-yielding, good quality selections. Check out the roster in Cotton Farming’s 2024 Seed Variety Guide.

Before placing your order, be sure to do your homework. Discuss priorities with your consultant and seed representative to match your operation’s needs with outstanding cotton characteristics and traits.

WEB EXCLUSIVE Tiffany Lashmet, who writes the Texas Agriculture Law Blog for Texas A&M AgriLife, has posted an entry titled “2023 USDA Land Values Summary.” For cropland, the nationwide average value increased 8.1% to $5,460/acre. 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.

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

DEPARTMENTS & COLUMNS

4 Editor’s Note 6 Cotton’s Agenda 14 Industry News

16 Specialists Speaking 22 Southeast Report 26 My Turn

ON THE COVER: This beautiful field of open cotton at sunset illustrates the farmer’s reward at the end of the season.

Cover photo by Alexander Lechtchinski/Dreamstime

SUPPLEMENT

2024 Hybrid Guide

ONE GROWER PUBLISHING, LLC

Southern Production & Marketing Strategies

A Supplement to Cotton Farming and The Peanut Grower Magazines

November 2023

Look for Corn South following page 26 in the Mid-South and Southeast editions of Cotton Farming.

To have industry news and content delivered directly to your inbox, sign up for the monthly e-newsletter at www.cornsouth.com.

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.

INSTAGRAM: @COTTONFARMINGMAGAZINE

NOVEMBER 2023 | COTTON FARMING 3

Editor’s Note Carroll Smith

EDITORIAL/PRODUCTION Editor Carroll Smith csmith@onegrower.com Southeast Editor Amanda Huber ahuber@onegrower.com

N

Giving Thanks

ovember is a special time for everyone involved in agriculture. For the cotton folks, harvest is over or winding down, and the crop is waiting its turn at the gin to be processed. Hopefully, everyone had a successful year and is giving thanks for bountiful yields.

And what better time to celebrate than Thanksgiving Day on the fourth Thursday in November? Family and friends gather around the table to enjoy an abundance of food and drink and reflect on the blessings of the past year. The initial Thanksgiving is credited to the pilgrims, who held a feast after their first harvest in October 1621. The tradition has continued through the years and is truly an agrarian holiday.

“Everything about Thanksgiving — the food we eat, the clothes we wear, even the dinner table itself — comes to us from agriculture,” according to a blog post by University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences dean Andra Johnson, who is also director of the Florida Cooperative Extension Service. “So this Thanksgiving, why not thank our farmers? There are many ways you can even do this in person.”

Johnson’s suggestions include visiting your local farmers market, which is “a great way to have a family outing, meet local farmers and find the freshest ingredients for your holiday feast,” he said. “If you’re looking for something to do after Thanksgiving that’s more relaxing than a movie or a Black Friday sale, consider rounding up the family for a weekend drive to a local agritourism business. We are thankful for our farmers every day, and we hope that you will be, too.”

In addition to being thankful for the farmers who produce our crops, this issue of Cotton Farming explores other entities to be thankful for in the cotton industry. For example, we are thankful to the cottonseed companies and university programs that make sure you have high-yielding good quality varieties.

Check out the 2024 Seed Guide on pages 8-13 to help you make your selections for the upcoming season.

We also are thankful for Cotton Council International. This organization is “the National Cotton Council’s export promotions arm that elevates U.S. cotton fiber and manufactured cotton products around the globe with its COTTON USA™ trademark.” As noted in the headline of Cotton’s Agenda, they definitely are “taking care of business,” and for that we are thankful.

Every segment of the cotton industry plays an important role to ensure the success of our commodity. For that effort, we are all grateful. As the holiday season draws near, Cotton Farming wishes all of you a Happy Thanksgiving!

Carroll

Associate Editor Cassidy Nemec cnemec@onegrower.com Digital Content Editor Katie Guthrie Art Director Ashley Kumpe ADMINISTRATION Publisher/Vice President Lia Guthrie (901) 497-3689 lguthrie@onegrower.com Associate Publisher/Editor-In-Chief Carroll Smith (901) 326-4443 Associate Publisher/Sales Scott Emerson (386) 462-1532 semerson@onegrower.com Production Manager David Boyd dboyd@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 2023 © ASSOCIATED PUBLICATIONS – One Grower Publishing, LLC also publishes RICE FARMING, THE PEANUT GROWER, SOYBEAN SOUTH and CORN SOUTH.

One Grower Publishing, LLC

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

4 COTTON FARMING | NOVEMBER 2023

875 W. Poplar Ave., Suite 23, Box 305 Collierville, TN 38017

COTTONFARMING.COM

Cotton’s Agenda Gary Adams

Taking Care Of Business Cotton Council International, the National Cotton Council’s export promotions arm, is elevating U.S. cotton fiber and manufactured cotton products around the globe with its COTTON USA™ trademark.

What is CCI’s mission?

■ With more than 65 years of experience, CCI continues its mission of making U.S. cotton the preferred fiber for mills/manufacturers, brands/ retailers and consumers. Promoting this value-added premium worldwide delivers profitability across the U.S. cotton industry and drives export growth of U.S. fiber, yarn and other cotton products. CCI’s reach, in fact, extends to more than 50 countries through 20 offices.

South farm and gin, a farm and warehouse in Texas, and a Pima farm in California; observe cotton research in North Carolina and Mississippi; and tour a USDA cotton classing office. They also met with U.S. cotton exporters and had briefings from CCI, the NCC, Cotton Incorporated, the American Cotton Shippers Association, the Texas Cotton Association, the Lubbock Cotton Exchange, AMCOT, the American Cotton Producers, the Delta Council, Plains Cotton Growers, Inc., the Western Cotton Shippers Association, and Supima.

This was a very important event for boosting U.S. cotton export performance. That’s because the 15 countries represented on the tour account for 92% of U.S. cotton export sales, based on data from the 2022/23 marketing year.

What were some other key CCI activities in 2023?

The 15 countries represented on the recent COTTON USA Orientation Tour account for 92% of U.S. cotton export sales, based on data from the 2022/23 marketing year.

How did the recent COTTON USA Orientation Tour help?

■ Some of U.S. cotton’s largest textile mill customers from 15 countries visited the U.S. Cotton Belt in early October to learn more about our high-quality U.S. cotton fiber and to enhance business relationships aimed at boosting U.S. cotton exports. Participants included executives from 27 companies in Bangladesh, China, Colombia, El Salvador, Guatemala, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Pakistan, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey and Vietnam. They got a firsthand look at the types and qualities of our fiber and met with industry representatives from North Carolina to California.

Specifically, this biennial tour enabled these important U.S. cotton customers to visit a Mid-

■ The Bangladesh government announced it would relax its nearly-five-decade-long fumigation requirement on U.S. cotton imports – an action that removed a significant export barrier for U.S. cotton to Bangladesh - a top 10 export market for U.S. cotton in 2022. This move came after CCIsponsored a Bangladesh Ministry of Agriculture delegation visit to the U.S. Cotton Belt where those officials saw firsthand how U.S. cotton bales do not harbor boll weevils due to the highly successful Boll Weevil Eradication Program.

Among other positive events was a CCI-hosted annual COTTON DAY in Jakarta that attracted nearly 400 Indonesian textile industry personnel.

CCI was able to celebrate the importance of U.S. cotton to Indonesian mills and expand our fiber’s usage. Specifically, the attendees learned 1) about the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol’s impact on escalating U.S. cotton’s sustainability and 2) how they could achieve peak performance with U.S. cotton through COTTON USA SOLUTIONS® and its five business-building programs that show how using U.S. cotton can boost a textile mill’s productivity, efficiency and profitability.

Gary Adams is president/CEO of the National Cotton Council of America.

6 COTTON FARMING | NOVEMBER 2023

COTTONFARMING.COM

Created for yield setters, innovators and good ol’ fashioned troublemakers.

Introducing Stoneville® Cotton with new Axant™ Flex Herbicide Tolerance Technology, cotton’s FIRST quad-stacked herbicide trait. Engineered to come up stronger and yield higher. Legacies are built by trailblazers.

Always read and follow label directions. Axant is a trademark and Stoneville is a registered trademark of BASF. © 2023 BASF Corporation. All rights reserved.

Availability of cottonseed containing the Axant Flex technology for the 2024 growing season and beyond is subject to many factors, and such seed may not be available in all cotton-growing areas. Commercial sales of cottonseed containing the Axant Flex technology will be subject to contractual terms and conditions and stewardship obligations, which may include, among other requirements, audit rights, liquidated damages applicable to growers, and restrictions on where the crop resulting from such seed may be sold, transferred and/or exported. Alite™ 27 herbicide (EPA Reg. No. 7969-433) is not registered for use on isoxaflutole-tolerant cotton nor available for sale for such use. Information on using Alite 27 herbicide on isoxaflutole-tolerant cotton is provided for educational purposes only and is not intended to promote the sale of this product. Any sale of Alite 27 herbicide after registration is obtained for use on isoxaflutole-tolerant cotton shall be based solely on the EPA-approved product label, and any claims regarding product safety and efficacy shall be addressed solely by the label. Alite 27 is currently not available for sale.

1

Alite 27 herbicide is a US EPA Restricted-Use Pesticide.

2024

SEED VARIETY GUIDE

Yield, Quality And Traits

T

by Cotton Farming magazine. Discuss priorities with your consultant and seed representative to match your operation’s needs with these outstanding characteristics and traits. And then place your order for the upcoming 2024 season with confidence.

he menu of cotton varieties from which to choose in 2024 includes a host of high-yielding, good quality selections.

To help you get started, seed companies from across the Cotton Belt provided information about their headliners on pages 8-13 in the annual Seed Variety Guide published

Variety

Maturity

Micronaire Leaf Type

Staple Length G/Tex

Comments

PHY 332 W3FE

early-mid

4.2-4.6

semi-smooth

38

32.3-32.5

High-yielding, broadly adapted variety with the Enlist cotton trait and WideStrike 3 Insect Protection. Early to mid-maturity with superb fiber quality, including lower micronaire. BB, RKN and REN resistant.

PHY 360 W3FE

early-mid

4.7

semi-smooth

37

30.4

High-yielding W3FE variety with PhytoGen Breeding Traits for RKN resistance and bacterial blight resistance.

PHY 400 W3FE

early-mid to mid

4.4-4.6

semi-smooth

37-38

32.6-32.9

Mid-maturing, medium height variety with bacterial blight and RKN resistance. This top-yielder performs well on irrigated and nonirrigated land; responds very well to PGRs, higher inputs and productive soils. Excellent seedling vigor.

PHY 411 W3FE

early-mid to mid

4.7-4.8

semi-smooth

35-36

32.1 -32.2

Very broadly adapted, high-yielding variety throughout the Upland-growing regions.

Includes resistance to bacterial blight, root-knot nematodes and reniform nematodes.

Features Enlist cotton trait and WideStrike 3 Insect Protection.

PHY 415 W3FE

mid to mid-full

4.6-4.8

semi-smooth

37-38

33.4-33.5

Broadly adapted, mid-maturing Upland variety with a medium plant height and moderate PGR requirements. Resistant to root-knot nematodes and bacterial blight.

PHY 443 W3FE

mid

4.8

semi-smooth

38

33

High-yielding, mid-maturing variety featuring the Enlist cotton trait and WideStrike 3 Insect Protection. Resistance to bacterial blight and both reniform and RKN nematodes.

PHY 480 W3FE

mid

4.3

semi-smooth

36

32.2

Industry-leading RKN resistance in mid-maturing W3FE variety with very good fiber quality and yield stability.

PHY 500 W3FE

mid-full

4.4

smooth

37

33.6

One of the most consistent varieties available. Broad adaptation, fits across a wide range of soil types from the Mid-Atlantic to the Southeast and across West Texas.

Top-yielder with excellent fiber characteristics. Bacterial blight and RKN resistance.

PHY 545 W3FE

mid-full to full

4.4

semi-smooth

36

32.2

Aggressive growing full-season variety adapted to the lower Southeast. Features the Enlist cotton trait and WideStrike 3 Insect Protection. Bacterial blight and RKN resistance.

PHYTOGEN Upland

Southwest Plains Upland PHY 136 W3E1

early-mid

4.0

semi-smooth

36.8

30.3

Early-to-mid-maturing variety for the Southwest market. W3E1 trait package combines the Enlist cotton trait and WideStrike 3 Insect Protection. Offers high yield potential and weed management options without a glyphosate-tolerant trait.

PHY 205 W3FE

very early

4.4

semi-smooth

35.2

30.1

Very early, short-statured plant broadly adapted across north and south of Lubbock.

Responds well under moderate-to-good water. Loaded with yield protection traits against bacterial blight, RKN, reniform and Verticillium wilt.

PHY 210 W3FE

early

4.2

smooth

36.8

30.6

Early maturity. Excellent storm tolerance and excellent Verticillium wilt tolerance.

PHY 250 W3FE

early

4.1

smooth

37.1

30.2

High-yield potential, early maturing W3FE variety selected for the Northern High Plains for its storm tolerance, earliness and consistency. Stable micronaire. Excellent Verticillium wilt tolerance and smooth leaves.

PHY 300 W3FE

early-mid

4.1

semi-smooth

36.2

29.4

Broadly adapted, early to mid-maturing W3FE variety with outstanding yield potential from dryland to good irrigation capacities. Has excellent storm tolerance and semi-smooth leaves. Resistant to bacterial blight; Verticillium wilt tolerance.

New varieties for 2024 in blue

8 COTTON FARMING | NOVEMBER 2023

COTTONFARMING.COM

Variety

Maturity

Micronaire Leaf Type

Staple Length G/Tex

Comments

PHYTOGEN (continued) PHY 332 W3FE

early-mid

4.2

semi-smooth

37.4

30.5

Early mid-maturing, with full yield protection package, offering bacterial blight resistance and both RKN and reniform nematode resistance with high fiber strength and good Verticillium wilt tolerance.

PHY 350 W3FE

early-mid

4.2

semi-smooth

36.8

29.4

Early to mid-maturing, highly RKN-resistant variety with broad adaptation and excellent Verticillium wilt tolerance.

PHY 390 W3FE

early-mid

4.0

semi-smooth

36.5

31.1

High-yielding, early-to-mid-maturing variety featuring the Enlist cotton trait and WideStrike 3 Insect Protection with bacterial blight and RKN resistance. Excellent seedling vigor.

PHY 394 W3FE

early-mid

3.9

semi-smooth

37.8

29.3

Excellent seedling vigor and excellent Verticillium wilt tolerance. Resistant to bacterial blight and RKN. Broadly adapted and responds to moderate to good water.

PHY 400 W3FE

early-mid

4.1

semi-smooth

36.5

30.2

Mid-maturing, medium-height, semi-smooth leaf variety with PhytoGen Breeding Traits for bacterial blight and RKN resistance. This top-yielder fits and performs well on irrigated and nonirrigated land. Responds very well to PGRs. Very manageable.

Responds well to higher inputs and productive soils. Excellent seedling vigor.

PHY 411 W3FE

mid

4.4

semi-smooth

35.2

30.8

Very broadly adapted, high-yielding variety throughout the Upland-growing regions.

Includes resistance to bacterial blight, root-knot nematodes and reniform nematodes.

Features Enlist cotton trait and WideStrike 3 Insect Protection.

PHY 415 W3FE

mid

4.2

semi-smooth

37.4

31.2

Broadly adapted, mid-maturing Upland variety with an aggressive growth that fits sandy soils. Resistant to both root-knot nematodes and bacterial blight.

PHY 443 W3FE

mid

4.4

semi-smooth

36.2

31.0

High-yielding, mid-maturing variety featuring the Enlist cotton trait and WideStrike 3 Insect Protection. Broadly adapted in dryland to good water. Bacterial blight, RKN and reniform resistant.

PHY 480 W3FE

mid

4.1

semi-smooth

36.8

30.0

Industry-leading RKN resistance in mid-maturing W3FE variety with very good fiber quality and yield stability.

PHY 490 W3FE

mid

4.1

semi-smooth

36.5

31.8

Broadly adapted variety for the Southwest market with excellent seedling vigor, tolerance to vert wilt and very good storm tolerance.

PHY 545 W3FE

mid-full

4.3

semi-smooth

35.5

29.8

Broadly adapted in dryland to good water. Bacterial blight and RKN resistant. Strong W3FE variety that fits well south of Lubbock, the Rolling Plains and Oklahoma.

PHY 807 RF

mid

4.5

semi-hairy

46

47.8

Excellent yielding Pima variety that provides superior quality. Roundup Ready Flex and tolerant to Fusarium Race 4.

PHY 861 RF

mid

4.2

semi-hairy

50

46.2

Roundup Ready Flex for weed control and excellent tolerance to Fusarium Race 4.

Another jump in yield and fiber quality potential to market-leading Pima varieties.

PHY 881 RF

mid

4.5

semi-hairy

48

46.2

Broadly adapted, medium to full statured. High-yield potential with the ability to yield up to 9% higher than PHY 805 RF. Tolerant to Fusarium Race 4.

Pima

DYNA-GRO Bollgard 3 ThryvOn with XtendFlex Technology DG 4484 B3TXF

early-mid

4.6

smooth

1.17

31.2

Very broadly adapted from Upper Gulf coast of Texas through Upper Midsouth region and over to the upper and lower Southeast area. Good fiber quality and seedling vigor.

DG 4497 B3TXF

early-mid

4.6

smooth

1.17

31.2

Best fit in Texas and across nothern tier of the cotton belt to NC/VA. Excellent water stress tolerance. Above average fiber quality and excellent Verticillium wilt tolerance.

DG 4530 B3TXF

mid

3.8

smooth

1.23

32.6

Adapted specifically to the Mid-South region and parts fo the Upper Gulf Coast of Texas.

Medium-tall plant type that will require PGR management. Above average fiber quality and good seedling vigor.

4.3-4.7

semi-smooth

1.11-1.15

29-31

Adapted to Texas, Arizona, Mid-South, Upper Southeast and East Coast. Very good storm tolerance and early season vigor. Very good irrigated or dryland. Best performance on silt loams. Manage early with plant growth regulators.

Bollgard II XtendFlex Cotton DG 3385 B2XF

early

Bollgard 3 XtendFlex Cotton DG 3387 B3XF

early-mid

4.35

smooth

1.16

30.5

Best adapted to West Texas and Oklahoma. Medium-short plant with good fiber quality and seedling vigor. Excellent Verticillium wilt tolerance, bacterial blight resistance and root-knot nematode tolerance.

DG 3402 B3XF

early-mid

4.25

smooth

1.21

30

Broadly adaptable to Texas and the Southeast. Excellent seedling vigor and fiber quality with bacterial blight resistance. Excellent storm tolerance.

DG 3422 B3XF

early-mid

4.15

smooth

1.17

30.1

Root-knot nematode and reniform nematode tolerance. Broadly adapted to Texas and the Southeast. Above average Verticillium wilt tolerance and Race 4 Fusarium wilt tolerance. Good fiber quality with excellent storm tolerance.

New varieties for 2024 in blue TWITTER: @COTTONFARMING

NOVEMBER 2023 | COTTON FARMING 9

Variety

Maturity

Micronaire Leaf Type

Staple Length G/Tex

Comments

DYNA-GRO (continued) DG 3425 B3XF

early-mid

4.28

smooth

1.21

32

Broadly adapted across Texas, upper Midsouth and the Carolinas with above average fiber quality. Excellent tolerance to water stress.

DG 3456 B3XF

early-mid

4.04

smooth

1.15

27

Broadly adapted across the Cotton Belt. Medium plant height with a solid fiber package. Aggressive PGR management recommended.

DG 3469 B3XF

early-mid

4.4

smooth

1.16

30.5

Best adapted to West Texas and Oklahoma. Medium plant height with good fiber quality and excellent seedling vigor. Provides Verticillium wilt tolerance and bacterial blight resistance.

DG 3470 B3XF

early-mid

4.62

smooth

1.16

30.2

B3XF version of DG 2570 B2RF. Broadly adapted across U.S. Southern Cotton Belt.

Medium to tall plant height. Very good seedling vigor.

DG 3511 B3XF

mid

4.77

smooth

1.17

34.7

Broadly adapted across the Rolling Plains and Coastal Texas. Excellent performance potential in Mid-South and Southeast with bacterial blight resistance

DG 3519 B3XF

mid

4.37

???

1.24

33.6

Medium plant and easy to manage with PGR. Excellent fiber characteristics and yield potential from Texas to the Mid-South and Southeast. Very good storm tolerance with baterial blight resistance and reniform nematode tolerance

DG 3503 B3XF

mid

4.01

smooth

1.23

32.5

Excellent fiber quality with very good seedling vigor. Specifically adapted to the lower Midsouth region of Mississippi, Louisiana, and southern Arkansas.

DG 3528 B3XF

mid

4.07

smooth

1.22

30.6

Adapted to Upper Texas Gulf Coast, Mid-South, and Southeast. Excellent yield potential with bacterial blight resistance in a medium plant heigh variety.

DG 3535 B3XF

mid

3.9

semi-smooth

1.17

28.4

Broadly adapted across the Cotton Belt. Outstanding performance on both irrigated and dryland ground. Medium plant height with a good fiber package. Aggressive PGR management recommended.

DG 3555 B3XF

mid

4

semi-smooth

1.24

32.2

Adapted to Texas and the Delta. Excellent Verticillium wilt tolerance and bacterial blight resistance. Excellent fiber quality and seedling vigor.

DG 3570 B3XF

mid

4.5

semi-smooth

1.16

30.2

B3XF version of DG 2570 B2RF. Broadly adapted across U.S. Southern Cotton Belt on irrigated as well as dryland acres. Medium to tall plant height. Very good seedling vigor.

DG 3615 B3XF

mid-full

4.47

smooth

1.17

31.5

Excellent seedling vigor and storm tolerance combined with Verticillium wilt tolerance and bacterial blight resistance. Adapted to Texas, Delta and Southeast environments.

DG 3644 B3XF

mid-full

4.4

smooth

1.17

30.5

Best grown in the Delta region. Medium-tall plant type that should be managed aggressively with PGRs. Root-knot and reniform nematode resistant.

DG 3799 B3XF

full

4.6

smooth

1.17

32.2

Best grown in Lower Southeast and Delta regions. Very full-season maturity. Bacterial blight resistance and Verticillium wilt tolerance. Manage tall plant type aggressively with PGRs. Very good fiber strength and good length.

DG H929 B3XF

early

4.3-4.7

semi-smooth

1.12-1.14

31-33

Enhanced with Halo salt tolerance. Adapted to West Texas and similar environments with saline soil types. Good storm tolerance with bacterial blight resistance and good Verticillium wilt tolerance

DG H959 B3XF

mid

4.3-4.7

semi-smooth

1.11-1.15

29-32

Enhanced with Halo salt tolerance. Good seedling vigor. Adapted to Southern Cotton Belt and the Carolinas. Good storm tolerance with bacterial blight resistance and good Verticillium wilt tolerance

DG H357 B3XF

mid

4.3

semi-smooth

1.18

31

Enhanced with Halo salt tolerance. Has best fit in West Texas and other areas with saline soil types. Good storm tolerance with bacterial blight resistance and good Verticllium wilt tolerance.

DG P224 B3XF

mid-full

3.65

smooth

1.47

33.8

ELS-type fiber quality in an upland cotton variety. Adapted to Southern High Plains and Rolling Plains of Texas. Excellent storm tolerance with root knot nematode tolerance.

Recommended for irrigated acres only with strict management.

STONEVILLE Stoneville Cotton ST 4595B3XF

early-mid

4.2

semi-smooth

1.17

29.6

Outstanding yield with a good fiber package. High turnout and easy to manage plant type. Fits most soil types/very stable. Three-gene lepidopteran resistance, which decreases the likelihood that additional worm control measures will be needed. Widely adapted across the Cotton Belt.

ST 4990B3XF

early-mid

4.4

semi-smooth

1.18

30.2

Has early-mid maturity. Performs well in high-yielding environments. Good fiber package. Three-gene lepidopteran resistance, which decreases the likelihood that additional worm control measures will be needed. Widely adapted across the Cotton Belt.

ST 4993B3XF

early-mid

4.5

semi-smooth

1.14

31.8

Consistent high yielder. Resistant to bacterial blight. Good storm tolerance. High gin turnout. Easy to manage with early-mid maturity. Three-gene lepidopteran resistance, which decreases the likelihood that additional worm control measures will be needed.

Widely adapted across the Cotton Belt.

ST 5091B3XF

early-mid

4.1

semi-smooth

1.15

28.6

Three-gene lepidopteran resistance, which decreases the likelihood that additional worm control measures will be needed. Consistent high yielder and good fiber package. Good plant type for all soils.

New varieties for 2024 in blue

10 COTTON FARMING | NOVEMBER 2023

COTTONFARMING.COM

Variety

Maturity

Micronaire Leaf Type

Staple Length G/Tex

Comments

FM 1621GL

early

4.3

semi-hairy

1.13

30.4

Outstanding yield potential. Good storm tolerance. High gin turnout. Root-knot nematode tolerant. Well suited for High Plains of the Southwest and Far West.

FM 1888GL

early-mid

4.1

semi-smooth

1.15

30.6

Outstanding yield potential. Stable performance across the High Plains region.

Resistant to bacterial blight. Good storm tolerance. A good fit for High and Rolling Plains of the SouthWest.

FM 2202GL

mid

4.2

semi-smooth

1.11

31.5

High yield potential. Very good Verticillium wilt tolerance. Bacterial blight resistance.

Good fiber package. Adapted for Southwest, South Texas and Far West.

FM 1830GLT

early-mid

4.2

smooth

1.19

31.2

Excellent yield potential. Excellent Verticillium wilt tolerance. Outstanding fiber package. Well suited for the Southwest, Far West and South Texas.

FM 1911GLT

early-mid

3.9

semi-smooth

1.15

29.7

Excellent early-season vigor and storm tolerance. Very good fiber package with strong yield potential. High gin turnout. Very good root-knot nematode and Verticillium wilt tolerance with two-gene worm protection. Resistant to bacterial blight. Well suited for High and Rolling Plains of the Southwest.

FM 2334GLT

mid

4.2

smooth

1.2

30.4

Excellent yield potential and outstanding fiber quality. Two-gene worm protection. High gin turnout. Excellent Verticillium wilt tolerance. Well suited for the Southwest and Far West.

FM 2498GLT

mid

4.6

semi-smooth

1.15

29.9

Excellent yield potential. Outstanding early-season vigor. High gin turnout. Resistant to bacterial blight. Two-gene worm protection. Well suited for the Western Cotton Belt.

Very good Verticillium wilt tolerance.

FM 1730GLTP

early-mid

4.1

semi-smooth

1.16

31.9

Very good root-knot nematode and Verticillium wilt tolerance. Resistant to bacterial blight. Excellent fiber package. High gin turnout. Three-gene lepidopteran resistance decreases the likelihood for additional worm control measures. Well suited for the Southwest, Far West and South Texas.

FM 1953GLTP

early-mid

4.3

semi-smooth

1.17

30.9

High performance in varied environments. Resistant to bacterial blight. Excellent fiber quality, yield potential, heat tolerance. Good early-season vigor. Three-gene lepidopteran resistance Well suited for South Texas, Rolling Plains of the Southwest and OK.

FM 2398GLTP

mid

4.5

semi-smooth

1.14

30

Excellent yield potential. Has high gin turnout. Very good Verticillium wilt tolerance.

Resistant to bacterial blight. Three-gene lepidopteran resistance, which decreases the likelihood for a bollworm control application. A good fit for the Western Cotton Belt.

FIBERMAX FiberMax Cotton

NEXGEN Bollgard 3 ThryvOn with XtendFlex Cotton NG 3327 B3TXF

early-med

4.2-4.5

semi-smooth

37-38

28-29

New in 2023! Possesses exceptional seedling vigor and an aggressive growth habit.

Excellent yield potential and fiber quality with outstanding performance across multiple soils and environments.

NG 4335 B3TXF

medium

4.3-4.5

semi-smooth

37-38

29-31

New in 2023! Broadly adapted medium to tall plant. Top-end yield potential and excellent fiber quality and will thrive in both dryland and irrigated environments.

NG 4343 B3TXF

medium

4.2-4.5

smooth

38-39

30-31

New in 2023! Top-end yield potential and excellent fiber quality. Very easily managed, responsive to PGR‹s and broadly adapted to both dryland and irrigated scenarios.

NG 4350 B3TXF

medium

4.1-4.3

smooth

38-39

31-33

New in 2023! Outstanding yield potential, excellent fiber package, premium staple length. Broadly adapted across multiple soil types making it a good fit across the Belt.

Bollgard 3 XtendFlex Cotton NG 3195 B3XF

early-med

4.3-4.5

smooth

36-37

30-31

Early-med variety offering good heat tolerance and consistent performance. High yield potential and high turnout.

NG 3299 B3XF

early-med

4.6-4.7

smooth

36-37

32-33

Impressive storm tolerant variety with high turnout and easy management. It is sure to be a great fit anywhere early-medium maturing varieties are preferred.

NG 3930 B3XF

early-med

4.1-4.5

semi-smooth

37-38

29-30

Widely adapted early-med maturing variety with a great disease package and excels on most soil types in dryland or limited water scenarios.

NG 4098 B3XF

medium

4.3-4.5

semi-smooth

38-39

33-35

Outstanding staple and overall fiber quality! Widely adapted and very easily managed.

Excellent heat tolerance and very good disease package to protect yield potential.

NG 4190 B3XF

medium

4.3-4.5

smooth

37-38

29-30

Excellent yield potential and fiber quality on both dryland and irrigated acres. This variety is sure to have a fit in multiple regions across the Belt!

NG 4936 B3XF

medium

4.1-4.5

smooth

37-39

29-31

Top-end yield potential with an excellent fiber package. Performs very well anywhere a medium maturity variety in prefered across the Cotton Belt.

NG 5150 B3XF

med-full

4.3-4.5

smooth

37-38

29-30

With excellent heat tolerance, this variety is broadly adapted and will perform well where medium to full maturing varieties are preferred.

NG 5711 B3XF

med-full

4.1-4.5

smooth

37-39

30-32

High yield and outstanding fiber quality variety with best-in-class disease package.

Wide adaptability and easy to manage for a growthy plant.

New varieties for 2024 in blue TWITTER: @COTTONFARMING

NOVEMBER 2023 | COTTON FARMING 11

Variety

Maturity

Micronaire Leaf Type

Staple Length G/Tex

Comments

NEXGEN (continued) Bollgard II XtendFlex Cotton NG 3406 B2XF

early-med

4.4-4.6

semi-smooth

36-37

29-31

Excellent yield and fiber quality. Extremely widely adapted.

NG 4545 B2XF

medium

4.0-4.7

smooth

36-37

32-33

Excellent variety for all scenarios across Texas South Plains and OK. Excellent vigor and disease tolerance to Verticillium wilt and bacterial blight.

NG 3500 XF

early-med

3.7-4.6

smooth

36-37

31-32

Widely adapted to the Plains of Texas and Southwest Oklahoma. Proven disease tolerance, yield and qualityr.

NG 4792 XF

medium

3.7-4.6

smooth

36-37

32-33

Widely adapted to South and Rolling Plains of Texas in an indeterminate growing variety. Outstanding disease package.

4.5-4.9

smooth

37-39

36-38

University of Arkansas variety. Exceptional fiber quality with yield potential to match, in a conventional variety.

XtendFlex Cotton

Conventional Cotton AM UA48

early

DELTAPINE BRAND Bollgard 3 ThryvOn Cotton With XtendFlex Technology DP 2328 B3TXF

mid

4.7

smooth

37.8

29.0

Bollgard 3 ThryvOn Cotton With XtendFlex Technology* variety with strong yield potential and fiber package.

DP 2317 B3TXF

early-mid

4.5

smooth

37.8

3.0

Bollgard 3 ThryvOn Cotton With XtendFlex Technology* variety with strong yield potential and resistance to bacterial blight.

DP 2211 B3TXF*

early

4.4

smooth

37.8

28.8

Bollgard 3 ThryvOn Cotton With XtendFlex Technology* variety with strong yield potential in early-maturing genetics.

DP 2131 B3TXF*

early-mid

4.4

smooth

38.0

29.8

Bollgard 3 ThryvOn Cotton With XtendFlex Technology* variety with outstanding yield and fiber quality potential.

Bollgard 3 XtendFlex Cotton DP 2333 B3XF

mid

4.6

smooth

37.8

29.5

Bollgard 3 XtendFlex cotton variety with strong yield potential and resistance to bacterial blight.

DP 2335 B3XF

mid

3.8

smooth

38.7

29.6

Bollgard 3 XtendFlex cotton variety for West Texas with a strong fiber package and resistance to bacterial blight and tolerance to Verticillium wilt.

DP 2349NR B3XF

mid-full

4.3

smooth

36.5

29.0

Bollgard 3 XtendFlex cotton variety with resistance to root-knot nematodes and bacterial blight.

DP 2239 B3XF

mid

4.4

smooth

38.4

30.0

Bollgard 3 XtendFlex cotton variety with high yield and strong fiber quality potential.

DP 2115 B3XF

early

4.6

semi-smooth

37.5

30.6

Outstanding yield potential in short-season growing environments.

DP 2123 B3XF

early-mid

4.4

semi-smooth

36.2

30.4

A DryTough dryland cotton variety for the West Texas market showing strong seedling vigor and ability to perform under heat- and drought-stressed growing conditions.

DP 2127 B3XF

early-mid

4.7

smooth

36.8

30.4

A top Deltapine variety showing solid performance across the Cotton Belt with high yield potential in an early to mid-maturity with good indeterminacy.

DP 2141NR B3XF

mid-full

4.7

semi-smooth

38.0

32.8

Bollgard 3 XtendFlex cotton variety showing resistance to both reniform and root-knot nematodes with outstanding yield potential.

DP 2143NR B3XF

mid-full

4.4

semi-smooth

36.6

30.4

Bollgard 3 XtendFlex cotton variety for the Southwest that has shown resistance to reniform and root-knot nematodes and moderate tolerance to Verticillium wilt.

DP 2012 B3XF

early

4.3

smooth

38.3

30.6

Yield potential and fiber quality similar to DP 1646 B2XF in an early maturity with bacterial blight resistance.

DP 2020 B3XF

early-mid

4.3

semi-smooth

38.8

30.9

Broadly adapted, offering high yield potential and excellent fiber length with bacterial blight resistance.

DP 2022 B3XF

early-mid

4.3

semi-smooth

37.7

30.3

Bred for the northern High Plains with good seedling vigor and bacterial blight resistance.

DP 2038 B3XF

mid

4.5

smooth

36.2

29.8

Extremely high yield potential, good fiber quality with bacterial blight resistance and broadly adapted.

DP 2044 B3XF

mid-full

3.6

semi-smooth

38.8

32.5

Bred for the dryland fields in West Texas, offering excellent seedling vigor and bacterial blight resistance.

DP 2055 B3XF

full

4.5

smooth

39.5

30.7

Adapted for full-season markets across the Cotton Belt with high yield potential and excellent fiber quality potential.

DP 1908 B3XF

early

3.9

smooth

38.4

31.6

Excellent fiber length and strength and strong emergence, with resistance to bacterial blight for the Texas Panhandle.

New varieties for 2024 in blue

12 COTTON FARMING | NOVEMBER 2023

COTTONFARMING.COM

Variety

Maturity

Micronaire Leaf Type

Staple Length G/Tex

Comments

DELTAPINE BRAND (continued) DP 1948 B3XF

mid-full

4.2

semi-smooth

39.0

31.2

Yield potential similar to DP 1646 B2XF with an excellent fiber quality and staple length adapted to the South Texas and Southern Rolling Plains regions.

DP 1820 B3XF

early-mid

4.0-4.5

semi-smooth

39.0

30.6-32.7

Excellent fiber length, micronaire and strength, plus resistance to bacterial blight.

Works well in West Texas, upper mid-South and Southeast.

DP 1840 B3XF

mid-full

4.4

smooth

39.0-39.2

30.7

Comparable to DP 1538 B2XF, with potential fiber quality advantage over DP 1725 B2XF and bacterial blight resistance. Works well in the Southeast and Carolinas.

DP 1845 B3XF

mid-full

3.8-4.2

semi-smooth

39.5-40.4

30.1-32.4

Yield potential similar to DP 1646 B2XF (in Texas) and fiber length similar to DP 1646 B2XF. Works well in Texas and the lower mid-South.

DP 1851 B3XF

full

4.6

smooth

38.4

31.8

Excellent combination of yield and fiber quality potential. Best fit in the lower midSouth, Carolinas and Southeast.

mid-full

4.1-4.5

smooth

37.7-39.4

29.2-31.1

Mid-full maturity variety with a broad fit across a range of environments, excellent yield potential and fiber quality.

DP 1909 XF

early

4.0

smooth

38.2

31.3

Open-boll type plant with resistance to bacterial blight for the Texas Panhandle, good emergence and an excellent fiber package.

DP 1822 XF

early-mid

4.3

semi-smooth

38.0

30.4

Good tough-acre performance potential with very good fiber length and strength and resistance to bacterial blight. Works well in East Texas.

Bollgard II XtendFlex Cotton DP 1646 B2XF

XtendFlex Cotton

Variety data is based on Beltwide testing except for Pima varieties, which are based on testing in California and Arizona. Ratings are based on 2016 to 2021 Deltapine brand research. * To learn availability of this product in your area, contact your local sales representative. Commercialization is based on multiple factors, including successful conclusion of the regulatory process. The information presented herein is provided for educational purposes only, and is not and shall not be construed as an offer to sell.

ARMOR SEED XtendFlex Cotton ARMOR 9413 XF

early-mid

4.2-4.5

smooth

37-38

31

Bacterial Blight resistant, with a moderate tolerance to Verticillium wilt for the West TX down to the Rolling Plains market. Good fit on dryland and irrigated acres. Consistent fiber quality across environments coupled with high yield potential. Moderate to large seed size with excellent emergence and vigor.

ARMOR 9442 XF

early-mid

4.2-4.5

smooth

38

31

Early-mid maturity non-Bt product for West Texas. Moderate resistance to Verticillium wilt, with premium fiber and stable yield potential.

Bollgard 3 XtendFlex Cotton ARMOR 9371 B3XF

early-mid

4.5-4.6

semi-smooth

37-38

31-34

Broad-acre fit product. Very good emergence and early season vigor. High yield potential across all environments, packaged with excellent fiber.

ARMOR 9383 B3TXF

early-mid

4.4-4.6

semi-smooth

37-38

30

First introduction of ThrvyOn trait technology for the upper Mid-South. This variety has shown the ability to travel across broad acres across the early-mid to mid maturity areas. Its full Bacterial Blight resistance package allows for placement on continuous cotton acres. Large seed size leads to excellent emergence and early season vigor.

ARMOR 9512 B3XF

mid

4.1-4.4

semi-smooth

37

31

Mid-maturity variety for West Texas and the Rolling Plains. Medium growth habit that is easy to manage with an above average Verticillium wilt rating and strong seedling vigor.

ARMOR 9831 B3XF

full

4.5-4.6

semi-smooth

37-38

31-32

Excellent yield and fiber. Outstanding performance on light to sandy soils. Very good early season emergence and vigor. Responds well to PGRs. Very good defensive package including bacterial blight resistance.

SEED SOURCE GENETICS Conventional Cotton SSG UA 107

early

4.5-4.9

smooth

35-39

30-33

Tall plant, widely adapted. Disease resistance: bacterial blight, Fusarium wilt.

Tolerant to Verticillium wilt and tarnished plant bugs. Good supply in 2023.

SSG UA 114

early

4.5-4.9

medium-hairy

35-39

30-33

Widely adapted. Disease resistance: bacterial blight, Fusarium wilt. Tolerant to Verticillium wilt and tarnished plant bugs. Good supply in 2023.

SSG HQ210CT

mid-early

4.5-4.8

smooth

35-37

28-30

Smooth-leaf picker type.

SSG UA 222

mid-early

4.0-4.5

semi-smooth

36-39

29-33

Widely adapted, high-yielding picker type. Disease resistance: bacterial blight, Fusarium wilt. Tolerant to Verticillium wilt and tarnished plant bugs.

SSG UA 248

early

4.62

slightly hairy

36-39

33.2

SSG UA 248 yielded 1,095 lbs/A compared to the yield of SSG UA 48 of 997 lbs/A at four sites in Arkansas — a 10% increase. This equals about $55 per acre at a lint price of 55 cents per pound.

New varieties for 2024 in blue TWITTER: @COTTONFARMING

NOVEMBER 2023 | COTTON FARMING 13

TRAIT STEWARDSHIP RESPONSIBILITIES NOTICE TO FARMERS Bayer is a member of Excellence Through Stewardship® (ETS). Bayer products are commercialized in accordance with ETS Product Launch Stewardship Guidance, and in compliance with Bayer’s Policy for Commercialization of Biotechnology-Derived Plant Products in Commodity Crops. Commercialized products have been approved for import into key export markets with functioning regulatory systems. Any crop or material produced from this product can only be exported to, or used, processed or sold in countries where all applicable regulatory requirements have been met. Growers should talk to their grain handler or product purchaser to confirm their buying position for this product.

ALWAYS READ AND FOLLOW PESTICIDE LABEL DIRECTIONS. It is a violation of federal and state law to use any pesticide product other than in accordance with its labeling. NOT ALL formulations of dicamba, glyphosate or glufosinate are approved for in-crop use with XtendFlex® Cotton. ONLY USE FORMULATIONS THAT ARE SPECIFICALLY LABELED FOR SUCH USES AND APPROVED FOR SUCH USE IN THE STATE OF APPLICATION. Contact the U.S. EPA and your state pesticide regulatory agency with any questions about the approval status of dicamba herbicide products for in-crop use with XtendFlex® Cotton.

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

Check with your representative for the registration status in your state. Products with XtendFlex® Technology contains genes that confer tolerance to glyphosate, glufosinate and dicamba. Glyphosate will kill crops that are not tolerant to glyphosate. Glufosinate will kill crops that are not tolerant to glufosinate. Dicamba will kill crops that are not tolerant to dicamba. Contact your seed brand dealer or refer to the Bayer Technology Use Guide for recommended weed control programs. Insect control technology provided by Vip3A is utilized under license from Syngenta Crop Protection AG. Bollgard®, Respect the Refuge and Cotton Design®, Roundup Ready Flex® and XtendFlex® are registered trademarks of Bayer Group.

Liberty® and LibertyLink® Logo are registered trademarks of BASF Corporation. Agrisure Viptera® is a registered trademark of Syngenta Group Company. Excellence Through Stewardship® is a registered trademark of Excellence Through Stewardship. All other products, company names and trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Before opening a bag of seed, be sure to read, understand and accept the stewardship requirements, including applicable refuge requirements for insect resistance management, for the biotechnology traits expressed in the seed as set forth in the Technology Stewardship Agreement that you sign.

By opening and using a bag of seed, you are reaffirming your obligation to comply with the most recent stewardship requirements.

14 COTTON FARMING | NOVEMBER 2023

Industry News California Legislation Boosts Drone Use In Agriculture According to the California Farm Bureau, farmers will soon face fewer obstacles in getting approved to use drones for aerial applications. This development is thanks to a bill signed into law by Gov. Gavin Newsom that will modernize the California Department of Pesticide’s certification process.

Growers of various commodities have touted the technology’s ability to improve worker safety, lower labor costs and boost crop yields. However, farmers say an outdated regulatory process has made it difficult for them and their employees to get licensed to use drones to spray pesticides and biological treatments.

Latest Details For 2023 MSU Row Crop Short Course The annual 2023 Row Crop Short Course will be held at the Cotton Mill Conference Center in Starkville near the campus of Mississippi State University on Dec. 4–6, 2023.

Lunch will be provided each day.

Additionally, a social mixer and dinner will be held Monday evening at the Cotton Mill Conference Center. A social event and steak/shrimp dinner will be held at 6 p.m. at the Cotton Mill Conference Center on Tuesday.

All meals are provided free of charge if you preregister prior to Nov. 21.

Registration after Nov. 21, including at the door, is $40 which includes all meals. For more information, contact Mary Margaret Earp at 662-325-2311 or me800@msstate.edu.

MSU has blocks of rooms available at Courtyard by Marriott, Comfort Suites and Hampton Inn. To register and get more hotel information, go to https:// bitly.ws/X62p.

Largest French Fashion Brand Joins The Trust Protocol The U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol (Trust Protocol) is pleased to announce the membership of Kiabi. Founded in 1978 in Northern France and with 579 shops Continued on page 19

2024 NAICC

Annual Meeting & AG PRO EXPO

January 15-19, 2024 • San Antonio, Texas

www.NAICC.org

COTTONFARMING.COM

A Successful Season Begins at the Seed It’s said that seed selection has the highest impact on yield potential, making or breaking the season before it even begins. Choosing right is paramount. This means not simply choosing any seed that’s proven successful, but choosing one that fits the specific needs of your fields— taking into account your weather, your soil types and your pest pressure. As you assess both your fields and historic yield, you’re already evaluating what worked well — and what didn’t — because data tells a story.

Selecting the right variety When choosing the right variety, key factors growers evaluate are the yield and fiber quality potential in a certain variety, followed by the weather conditions, maturity timing, and protection against weeds, insects and disease. Not only does the cotton need to withstand in-season pressures and weather concerns, but it also needs to perform as consistently as possible in even the toughest growing conditions.

“Growers don’t need to be reminded of the many factors out of their control,” said Steve Nichols, BASF Southern Region Agronomy Lead. “But variety selection? That’s something they can control. With help from BASF Agronomic Solutions Advisors and Agronomic Services Team1, growers can have peace of mind knowing they chose the right variety for their unique field conditions, backed by multiple years of performance data and field operations.”

A tradition of success BASF knows that every grower’s field is different, even from the farm down the road. And with more than 125 years of combined innovation, FiberMax® and Stoneville® cotton brands are a great place to start when selecting the right seed. Here are some of the most successful varieties that growers have recently planted within the last year.

Stoneville 4595 Bollgard® 3 XtendFlex® cotton: Consistent high yield performance on irrigated fields with good soil fertility3 □

Stoneville 5091 Bollgard 3 XtendFlex cotton: A work horse variety that performs well on mixed soil types3 □

Stoneville 4990 Bollgard 3 XtendFlex cotton: Proven performer in the fields3 □

□ FiberMax 1621 GL cotton: Strong emergence with high yield potential3 □ FiberMax 1730 GLTP cotton: Yields well even in heat and offers protection against key insects with good tolerance to verticillium wilt and root knot nematodes along with bacterial blight resistance3

FiberMax 2398 GLTP cotton: Excellent yielding variety with very good Verticillium wilt tolerance and bacterial blight resistance3 □

□ FiberMax 2498 GLT cotton: Outstanding emergence, very strong yield potential variety in both irrigated and dryland production3

Forecasting the future With the introduction of Axant Flex herbicide tolerance technology and Axant Flex TwinLink® Plus Insect Control Technologies, BASF is the first and only to offer a quadruple herbicide trait stack in cotton in the U.S. market2 to help cotton growers gain control over yield-robbing, resistant weeds like Palmer amaranth. New Stoneville® cotton varieties with Axant Flex technology also incorporate three-gene insect control traits and protection from root-knot and reniform nematodes, as well as resistance to bacterial leaf blight and excellent tolerance to Verticillium wilt and other key diseases. Both are now bred into the best-in-class germplasm offered by BASF. This robust combination of traits delivers increased yield potential and protection from yield loss, even under pressure. ™

“The seven experimental varieties we’re evaluating this year have the strongest native trait packages of any offerings we’ve had in the history of FiberMax or Stoneville cotton,” said Nichols. “Robust research and development and cotton breeding programs have delivered on providing tolerance against reniform and root knot nematodes and resistance to certain diseases. This innovation will pave the way in protecting yields and improving the ability to get the most out of the genetics for high yield potential and excellent fiber quality.”

Innovation is at the root of high-quality seed solutions to help growers sustain their operation for generations to come. To learn more about high-performing varieties in your area, contact your local BASF agronomist or visit FiberMax.com or Stoneville.com.

Stoneville 4993 Bollgard 3 XtendFlex cotton: Excellent bacterial blight resistance and excellent performance in the western Cotton Belt3 □

Seed selection is solely the responsibility of the grower. Grower should make seed selection decisions utilizing relevant information available to grower at the time seed selection is made, including, without limitation, tests, trials, practices, agronomic factors, and suitability of seed for the intended growth when used under grower’s local conditions. Under no circumstance should Information (as defined in footnote 3 below) provided by BASF be considered a recommendation or advice as to what seed to select and it is up to grower to determine to what extent, if any, grower should rely upon the Information provided by BASF.

1

Availability of cottonseed containing the Axant Flex technology for the 2024 growing season and beyond is subject to many factors, and such seed may not be available in all cotton-growing areas. Commercial sales of cottonseed containing the Axant Flex technology will be subject to contractual terms and conditions and stewardship obligations, which may include among other requirements restrictions on where the crop resulting from such seed may be sold, transferred and/or exported. Alite 27 herbicide (EPA Reg. No. 7969-433) is not registered for use on isoxaflutole-tolerant cotton nor available for sale for such use. Information on using Alite 27 herbicide on isoxaflutole-tolerant cotton is provided for educational purposes only and is not intended to promote the sale of this product. Any sale of Alite 27 herbicide after registration is obtained for use on isoxaflutole-tolerant cotton shall be based solely on the EPAapproved product label, and any claims regarding product safety and efficacy shall be addressed solely by the label.

2

After EPA approval of Alite 27 herbicide (EPA Reg. No. 7969-433) registration allowing use on isoxaflutole-tolerant cotton, Alite 27 herbicide may only be used on isoxaflutole-tolerant cotton.

Crops not containing a gene expressing an HPPD protein will not be tolerant to Alite 27 herbicide.

Individual results may vary. BASF strives to provide accurate and complete information, descriptions, content, illustrations, images, and data (collectively referred to here as “Information”) as such Information is reasonably available to BASF at time of compilation or disclosure. When the Information is based on experience with tests, trials, or practices, such Information is provided by BASF as closely as possible to such experiences. Information may also be based on general observations. However, BASF cannot guarantee the Information in any form whatsoever; therefore, the Information is provided on an “AS IS” basis and without any guarantee, either express or implied, including, without limitation, that the Information is accurate or complete. BASF does not accept any liability whatsoever in the cultivated product that differs from what was provided in or through the Information.

3

Always read and follow label directions.

Alite and Axant are trademarks and FiberMax and Stoneville are registered trademarks of BASF. Alite 27 is a US EPA Restricted Use Pesticide. © 2023 BASF Corporation. All rights reserved.

Specialists Speaking

Wrapping Up The Season TEXAS Ben McKnight

As I write this Sept. 27, the North Carolina crop is highly variable, as is normal. As mentioned in my previous article in the September issue, I stated that August and September would be very telling. That has certainly been the case this year. Due to the late maturity of our crop (during July and early August), we were more reliant than normal on cooperative weather during August, specifically

on timely rains.

For most of our cotton production area, August brought extreme heat and dry weather. One or two rains and milder temperatures would’ve likely had a much different outcome, but we can’t control the weather. August’s heat and dry weather rapidly accelerated maturity — to the point that most areas were too early rather than too late. Unfortunately, most cotton ceased blooming altogether with time left on the table to mature more blooms into bolls.

A few of the southernmost counties and a large portion of the Blacklands received some timely rains in August, and yields will reflect that. For the remaining majority of our acreage, yields will vary depending on soil type even within the same field, rainfall amounts and/or irrigation capabilities. Yields will likely range from 500 pounds to 700 pounds on the lower end and 900 pounds to 1,100 pounds on the upper end, with exceptions outside of that range. Most of what we have is a bottom crop, with little to no top crop in dryland areas impacted by drought. Thankfully, neither the remnants of Idalia, nor Ophelia, took much of our bottom crop from us.

At this point, defoliation has been underway for a couple of weeks for the earliest acres and will likely be widespread during the first week of October. We are anxiously awaiting sunny conditions to return so that we can hopefully dodge any additional losses due to hardlocking or another tropical event. With cooperative October weather, I would expect most of this crop to be harvested by early to mid-November as maturity is no longer a concern, with the exception of the areas that received rain in August and thus have better yield potential. guy_collins@ncsu.edu

STEVE M. BROWN

As the 2023 growing season begins to wind down for several growers across Texas, it is now apparent that many similarities in the challenges that growers faced last year in the 2022 growing season were once again experienced this year.

For many parts of the state, rainfall received early in the growing season brought promise of better conditions, but around mid- to late-May, Mother Nature brought us another very hot and very dry summer. In the South, East and Central portions of the state, the majority of dryland fields have been yielding slightly below average to well below average in some cases. In contrast, many irrigated fields with timely and abundant irrigation capabilities have produced some fantastic yields.

As we transition into fall, it’s never too early to begin putting a game plan together for next year’s cotton crop. Fall and winter weed control continues to become increasingly important, especially when combatting herbicide-resistant weed populations. Many of the species with herbicide resistance across the state, including Palmer amaranth and tall waterhemp, can emerge and enter the reproductive life cycle very quickly.

Keeping these weed pests from producing additional seed over the fall and winter prior to a killing freeze is a big step in the right direction for starting clean next year. Additionally, soil testing over the fall and winter months can assist in determining the plant nutrient needs going into the next growing season.

One of the biggest decisions to begin considering in the next few months is which varieties to plant in 2024. Evaluating variety testing results can take much of the guesswork out of determining which varieties are performing consistently with yields and fiber quality in your area. In December, the Texas A&M RACE trial results will be published online at varietytesting.tamu.edu, and I encourage all growers to take a look at this year’s results to gather more information on commercial cotton variety performance in their area. bmcknight@tamu.edu

NORTH CAROLINA Guy Collins

16 COTTON FARMING | NOVEMBER 2023

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CCOY Cotton Consultant of the Year established 1981

Hank Jones 2022 CCOY AWARD RECIPIENT

Louisiana native Hank Jones was chosen by his peers as the 2022 Cotton Consultant of the Year. “Getting to work with a crop you are fascinated by and emotionally attached to is just who we are,” he said.

Jones said he is motivated by his farmers who keep his battery charged and always ready to start a new year. He also enjoys saying “yes” to leadership opportunities within the industry.

Specialists Speaking GEORGIA Camp Hand

It is my favorite time of year but also a hard time of year.

We go, go, go all year long to grow a crop, and now it’s time to hurry up and get it out! I was talking to a grower and asked which time of year was more stressful, planting or harvest? They told me harvest by far. This is a busy and stressful time of year, so please be safe and careful out there.

As I write this Oct. 6, some cotton has been harvested and a few gins have started running in Georgia. I haven’t heard any yields from growers quite yet, but we have picked some plots in Tifton. So far, our cotton is picking better than I anticipated. I hope that is the case for everyone! I imagine a lot of this has to do with the fact that our August was not extremely conducive for boll rot/hardlock. So, this year we made a bottom crop and actually may get to harvest it!

As of the day I am writing this, fiber quality looks good. A little extraneous matter, but some of that is likely hold over from last season.

Feels like we are a little behind on harvest this time, but it’s still early. I’ve heard multiple people say the cotton isn’t opening up quite as fast as they’d like, which is slowing down defoliation a little bit.

As of the first week of October, we have a long way to the finish line in Georgia, even though this Specialists Speaking topic is “Wrapping Up The Season.” As things begin to wind down, be on the lookout for county production meeting schedules and such. We are looking forward to getting out on the road again this spring and

seeing everyone.

Let’s continue to be timely with harvest, and be safe out there. As always, if you ever need anything, your local UGA county agent and specialists are here to help! Don’t hesitate to reach out. camphand@uga.edu

MISSISSIPPI Brian Pieralisi

Mississippi cotton harvest is in full swing as I write this article the first week of October 2023. This crop season has produced a wide range of yield variability across the state.

Tracking from north to south, cotton yields decline in a linear trend. Most of this decline can be attributed to increased drought conditions and higher temperatures during the months of July and August. Central Mississippi and most of the Delta are picking respectable yields. One thing that’s going for our growers is the weather, which has been dry enough to give adequate time for a successful harvest.

With cooler temperatures on the horizon, it’s a good idea to have defoliants applied to cotton before we get into the cooler weather. Sunny, warm days have expedited maturity and many of the top bolls can be opened with ethephon.

It’s never too early to start picking varieties for next year. MSU variety trials are currently being harvested and preliminary data will be available soon. With the dry fall we are experiencing, it’s a good time to focus on fertility. Best of luck! bkp4@msstate.edu Continued on page 20

“Every growing season is unique,” Jones said. “New fields, new technology, new varieties, different weather conditions, and new folks in the industry give my job a dynamic I would probably not encounter had I chosen another realm in which to work.”

STEVE M. BROWN

Cotton Consultant of the Year sponsored by

Cotton Farming 18 COTTON FARMING | NOVEMBER 2023

COTTONFARMING.COM

Industry News Continued from page 14

in 25 countries, Kiabi is committed to sustainable sourcing and driving positive social and environmental change in fashion retail.

Kiabi’s “2030 Vision” aims to integrate positive fashion and sustainability with 72% of its products already designed using sustainable fibers and a goal to see this figure reach 100% by 2025, thus reducing energy and water usage while limiting pollution and habitat degradation in the supply chain.

Cotton already represents 70% of the raw material used in Kiabi’s products.

By utilizing the program’s proprietary Protocol Consumption Management Solution to track U.S. Cotton and/or Protocol Cotton, they will be provided full supply chain transparency.

Kiabi will also have the ability to use Protocol Consumption Units for internal calculations of Scope 3 emissions or making proportionate environmental claims on products.

The Trust Protocol is the only sustainable cotton system that provides quantifiable, verifiable goals and measurement and drives continuous improvement in six key sustainability metrics — land use, soil carbon, water management, soil loss, greenhouse gas emissions and energy efficiency. It is also the first to offer article-level supply chain transparency to members.

Dr. Gary Adams, President of the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol, said, “We’re pleased to welcome Kiabi to the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol and supporting their commitment to sustainable cotton sourcing. We look forward to providing them with measurable, verifiable data and outcomes as they pursue their environmental and social goals.”

For more information, please visit TrustUSCotton.org.

Arkansas Offers Imaging And Drone Education In November Imagery provided by satellites and unmanned aerial vehicles — commonly known as drones — is already changing the way producers farm their crops. As this technology becomes more prevalent, the Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service is adapting to ensure that it will be able to provide growers, consultants and other industry professionals with modern tools for success.

INSTAGRAM: @COTTONFARMINGMAGAZINE

Jason Davis, who joined the University of Arkans as System Div ision of Agriculture as an Extension pesticide application specialist in 2014, has been studying remote sensing technologies since 2019 when he acquired a UAV pilot license.

That same year, the Arkansas Plant Board granted the Division of Agriculture three-year access to a drone, and Davis began incorporating it in a drift analysis project.

Davis, along with Aurelie Poncet,

assistant professor of precision agriculture and remote sensing for the Division of Agriculture, will present two in-service training seminars for Extension agents in November.

“Through an Extension scope, I’m trying to bridge the gap and make some of these technologies more accessible and practical to agents, consultants and producers alike,” Davis said.

Agents interested in attending the upcoming training should contact Davis at jdavis@uada.edu.

Perfect Peanut Partner Cotton Varieties Made for Peanut Country

Russell Nuti, Ph.D.

F

or farmers planting cotton near peanuts, one simple change makes management a whole lot easier.

Throughout the South, cotton and peanuts are a common rotation with fields planted near one another — sometimes across the turnrow.

Producers growing cotton and peanuts have long dealt with the challenge of 2,4-Db applications drifting from peanuts into cotton.

With dicamba-tolerant cotton, the problem doubled: Growers had to avoid both 2,4-Db drift from peanuts into dicamba-tolerant cotton and dicamba from cotton into peanuts.

Now there's a better fit for cotton planted near peanuts — what some are calling the “perfect peanut partner.”

PhytoGen® W3FE varieties have the Enlist® cotton trait for labeled Scan for videos, tips applications of Enlist One® and Enlist Duo® herbicides with 2,4-D and more! choline. Because growers commonly use 2,4-Db to control weeds in peanuts, there are distinct synergies between crops.

“You can plant peanuts adjacent to PhytoGen W3FE varieties and spray Enlist herbicides in your cotton even if peanuts are downwind, because peanuts are considered a compatible crop in the product use guide for Enlist herbicides,” said Russell Nuti, Ph.D., PhytoGen cotton development specialist. “Another advantage is that growers can spray Enlist One herbicide or Enlist Duo herbicide on their PhytoGen W3FE varieties, triple rinse the tank, and then spray 2,4-Db in their peanuts. Because they never have to put dicamba in the tank, growers have the option to increase efficiency by using one sprayer for both crops.”

Nuti also pointed out that PhytoGen W3FE varieties come with other advantages.

Fields planted to a cotton-and-peanut rotation often have high populations of root-knot and reniform nematodes. Many PhytoGen W3FE varieties offer built-in resistance to both of those nematodes, protecting roots and allowing plants to make better use of available water and fertilizer. That’s especially important during hot summer days later in the season when less water is available. Plus, PhytoGen cottonseed is well-known for early season vigor, helping plants get off to a great start. “Add in high yield potential, and you get a great package for growing cotton in peanut country,” Nuti said. “PhytoGen W3FE varieties truly are the perfect peanut partner.”

™® Enlist, Enlist Duo, Enlist One, PhytoGen and the PhytoGen Logo are trademarks of Corteva Agriscience and its affiliated companies. Enlist Duo® and Enlist One® herbicides are not registered for sale or use in all states or counties. Contact your state pesticide regulatory agency to determine if a product is registered for sale or use in your area. Enlist Duo and Enlist One herbicides are the only 2,4-D products authorized for use with Enlist® crops. Consult Enlist herbicide labels for weed species controlled. Always read and follow label directions. © 2023 Corteva.

NOVEMBER 2023 | COTTON FARMING 19

STEVE M. BROWN

Specialists Speaking

Continued from page 18

MISSOURI Bradley Wilson

Cotton harvest is underway in Missouri. We were able to get a small percentage of the acres out before a cool front with rainfall moved in. There are still a portion of acres needing a second application of defoliant.

With cooler overnight temperatures setting in, we will need to switch from hormonal defoliants to herbicidal defoliants to get the remaining leaves off.

I believe cotton yields are going to be above average in the Bootheel.

We would have had impressive yields in 2023, but rainfall and cloudy conditions reduced the top portion of the crop in late July and early August. Cotton yields will likely average 1,100 pounds to 1,200 pounds across the Missouri Bootheel in 2023. Future forecasts look to be optimal for cotton harvest with some small chances for rainfall over the next few weeks. brwilson@missouri.edu

TENNESSEE Tyson Raper

Tennessee is beginning to move deeper into cotton harvest but, as I write this on the fifth of October, only a few gins are running at the moment. The first to harvest have been relatively happy with our crop but noticed slightly lower yields than they initially estimated. Boll retention has been relatively high for most of our acres, but a few people I’ve visited with lately have asked why yields weren’t greater than realized based on boll counts.

Boll numbers are obviously important to us as agronomists — we spend a considerable amount of time attempting to retain as many fruiting positions as possible — but yield is more simply (and likely more appropriately) considered a function of number of seeds per acre times the weight of fiber per seed. If you consider this, Dr. Hal Lewis’ description of cotton yield, instead of boll count, our realized yield begins to seem more understandable. Although seed counts per lock were relatively high in the Tennessee crop for much of the season, seed count per lock in the bolls set last on our crop have been running lower (four to seven instead of seven to nine).

We will know much, much more about the 2023 crop by the time you

20 COTTON FARMING | NOVEMBER 2023

read this — and I suspect many will continue to be impressed with what I believe may still be the best crop we’ve ever had in the state. For those who aren’t quite seeing the weights you expected from the number of bolls you retained, you might want to turn your attention to seed count per acre. traper@utk.edu

ALABAMA Steve M. Brown

On this last day of September, predicting our final state yield average is akin to picking the SEC football champs for 2023. Unfortunately, we know who it is NOT going to be, but which team will emerge as the best of the best remains a guess. The initial USDA estimate for Alabama was 902 pounds per acre; the September number was reduced to 870 pounds per acre.

Early yield reports are discouraging. Yes, we’ve seen some good cotton, but we are not yet calibrated to link “looks” to pounds. Seed counts per lock are closer to six rather than eight or nine. Considerable cotton looks stressed, stunted and sparsely fruited. While true yields are never a beauty contest, an ugly field usually disappoints. We have too much cotton that fits this description.

First reports range from 300 pounds per acre to 1,300 pounds per acre, but most have fallen between 500 pounds and 800 pounds. Our guess is that our final average will fall between 750 pounds per acre and 800 pounds per acre. Maybe — hopefully — we will be surprised. Given the present dry conditions, color grades, at least, should be quite good.

Heat and dry weather punished our crop as it did much of U.S. Cotton Belt. Southwest Alabama averages 50-plus inches of rain a year, with totals up to 60 inches to 80 inches in recent seasons. Many parts of that region experienced 10 weeks with little to no rainfall after mid-July. Tough conditions! It was unusually hot everywhere.

To date, the forecast for a “wetter-than-normal” fall has not materialized. Much of our state is dry and getting drier each week. I recall the late summer and fall of 1994. I thought it would never rain again, but when it did, we rarely had five consecutive days without precipitation until the following May… and we picked cotton into March.

Prevailing dry conditions should result in us picking most everything we set on the plant, as opposed to losing bolls to rot and hardlock. If so, gin numbers could be better than I have suggested. Hope so. cottonbrown@ auburn.edu COTTONFARMING.COM

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SOUTHEAST REPORT

Deer Damage In Southeast Cotton

A

s The Cotton Board’s Southeastern regional communications manager, my territory includes Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia. The concerns I hear from cotton producers in the field typically vary from state to state. However, as I have visited with growers throughout the spring and summer this year, cotton producers in all my states have voiced one common concern. Producers are experiencing significant issues with deer damage to their cotton.

In the early season, deer were eating the buds out of the field causing producers to replant their cotton. Later in the season, deer have continued to damage cotton and affect yields.

This has become a top issue and concern with growers across the entire

BY MONTY BAIN Southeast.

DADEVILLE, ALABAMA Scott Graham, Auburn Unviersity Extension specialist says that deer in Alabama are their No. 1 problem. In a survey asking about deer damage to row crops, he reported that farmers said cotton was affected by deer more than soybeans, peanuts, corn and small grains in Alabama.

Potential Solutions

Alabama cotton producer Nick McMichen is no stranger to deer damage. As a possible solution, McMichen has planted soybeans and Sunn hemp around his cotton to entice the deer to graze there rather than his cotton. Eddie McGriff, an Auburn Extension agent, explained that Sunn hemp is a summer legume with prolific growth, even under intense deer pressure. “To make this an effective alternative, the Sunn hemp must be planted before the cash crop, so that it is growing and is attractive to the deer,” McGriff said.

Several other strategies are being tried across the region to combat deer damage in cotton. Many of the cotton producers I have spoken with have special hunting permits to help reduce the deer population, but the sentiment remains that producers can’t farm all day and shoot deer all night.

Camp Hand, University of Georgia cotton specialist, thinks that population management is a good approach. “Using deer hunters to hunt on a producer’s land could work, but only if the hunters are committed to shooting doe and aren’t only wanting to hunt for a trophy buck,” Hand said. He also mentioned potential liability issues for farmers by allowing hunters on their land. “It’s going to take producers, deer hunters and state game wardens working together to maintain and control the problem,” he said.

Guy Collins, the North Carolina cotton specialist, states there has been plenty of work done on deterrents and repellents, but unfortunately none seem to work consistently. Collins also mentioned the use of high fences around fields as a deterrent.

“The high fences work but they are expensive to install and farm-

22 COTTON FARMING | NOVEMBER 2023

ers that rent land have little incentive to invest in a long-term solution like fences on land that they don’t own,” said Collins.

Additionally, he noted that moving equipment in and out of fields with fences would become a major obstacle for producers.

Corey Heaton, Clemson University Extension wildlife specialist, says they’re doing everything they can to figure out a solution. “Deer are quickly becoming the modern-day boll weevil in terms of cotton yield loss,” explained Heaton. He reported that after looking at three years of studies measuring the economic effects of deer damage, he estimates an average loss of 360 pounds of lint per acre.

Cotton Incorporated’s Role

Cotton Incorporated’s Vice President of Agricultural and Environmental Research, Dr. Ryan Kurtz, says the issue of deer damage in cotton is one that Cotton Incorporated is keeping a close eye on. “We are seeing the damage caused by deer in the Southeast, and we hear the producers’ frustrations. Cotton Incorporated is supporting researchers in multiple states who are working on this issue,” he said.

While no single solution is likely to work in all areas, Cotton Incorporated is committed to being part of the solution and is optimistic that with more time and effort solutions will be found. Kurtz also urges cotton producers who are seeing deer damage in their cotton to report their damage to their local Extension agents and discuss potential solutions.

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

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Ginners Marketplace COTTON

COTTON FARMING IS THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE GINNING INDUSTRY.

NEW I-9 Published The U.S. Citizen and Immigration Services has announced the development of a new I-9 Employment Eligibility Form. All new hires or re-hires after Nov. 1, 2023, must use this form.

The latest form is now only one page and is expected to be simpler for both employers and employees. There are also new instructions for the new form and the ability to use it with E-Verify if you have “remote” employees. While this last bit isn’t necessarily the most important for cotton gins, we wanted to make you aware of it just in case.

The updated I-9 form can be found by going to www.uscis. gov/i-9. Please follow that link to download the form, instructions and M-274 Handbook. The new form is for new hires, re-hires and re-verification. The re-verification process is supposed to be clearer and easier to understand, which and when certain documents need to be re-verified.

More information on the new form can be found at the I-9 Central page. The M-274 Manual is longer and has specific instructions for H-2A employers and continues to contain language that seasonal workers are considered continued employment. This is only if the employee leaves solely because the work ran out and came back when the work returned. Otherwise, you need to file a new I-9 or use the re-verification section, Supplement B (Formerly Section 3).

breaks and must be fixed before starting back up. Every hour of downtime that goes by, it can cost the gin upwards of $1,000.

I have also had the chance to see how module trucks pick up and deliver modules to our gin. Smith Gin Co-op started ginning cotton on Aug. 1. I was amazed by all the movJosiah ing parts that clean and move cotton from the Keck module feeder to the press, seeing every machine clean cotton, extracting the seed, and finally watching the hydraulic press make a bale.

I would like to thank Tyler Cross for teaching me about the management of a cotton gin. I would also like to thank Aaron Nelsen and TCGA for this amazing internship.

Riley Grider During my final weeks as a TCGA intern at Edcot Coop in Odem, I worked alongside some of the best ginners I have met.

After walking through gins all over Texas, I finally had the opportunity to see cotton flow through a gin. From starting up to ginning cotton, I learned that choke-ups and problems are in-

The Southeastern Cotton Ginners Association provided this information.

* * * * *

TCGA Summer Interns Wrap Up Final Reports Since August, we have followed the experiences of the Texas Cotton Ginners’ Association’s two summer interns — Josiah Keck and Riley Grider — through their reports to TCGA.

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Cotton Ginners Marketplace

Josiah Keck During my last weeks at Smith Gin Co-op in Odem, Texas, I learned a lot from Tyler Cross. Cross has also been teaching me where the gin makes and loses money. The cotton gin profits off the time a farmer’s cotton takes to be ginned. The gin also makes money off the seed, trash and mote bales.

Where the gin loses the most money is in downtime. Downtime is when the cotton gin is not running and something

An informative email summary of your gin’s daily performance.

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evitable, and that your gin efficiency depends on how good your crew is.

Working alongside Hector and Jesus Cruz, I was taught how to unchoke the gin, replace motors and change bearings. Along with this, I learned basic troubleshooting skills and managerial qualities while working with Riley Daniel Luehrs in the office. I cannot stress Gryder how welcoming everybody was in South Texas — from letting me ride in pickers/strippers, picking up cotton in a module truck, and watching the entire ginning process firsthand, my experience was more than I could have imagined.

Overall, I would like to thank everyone involved in the process, from Aaron Nelsen who helped me at the TCGA offices to Daniel Luehrs and the board at Edcot Coop, my experience was anything but lackluster. I’d like to thank all the ginners who taught me and the producers who made it all happen. This was a great experience that opened many doors along the way.

* * * * *

News From The Texas Cotton Gin Museum Museum Director Steph Jarvis recently shared some news aboout the Texas Cotton Gin Museum in Burton, Texas. It is the oldest operating cotton gin in the United States. Here is what Jarvis had to report: Introducing Nick And Stormee 2023 ushered in changes for all of us, and the Texas Cotton Gin Museum is no exception! This year saw the arrival of

not one, but two new employees — Nick Hankins and Stormee Smoot! They were both thrilled to join our team this past June.

The role of program’s coordinator has traditionally been undertaken by an individual; however, it was necessary to split part of the full-time position into two part-time roles, which means double the fun!

You’ll see Nick working on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursday mornings. Stormee is here on Thursday afternoons, Fridays and Saturdays. Having two part-time employees means more flexibility, and it allows both of their individual strengths to shine. You may have already met them, but if you haven’t, come on by and say hi!

Where Do We Get Our Cotton?

In January 2023, TCGM received an awesome donation of over 1,600 pounds of seed cotton (that included four different varieties) thanks to the Cotton Improvement Lab at Texas A&M University. A large amount of the cotton was then ginned at the 34th annual Burton Cotton Gin Festival on April 15 and made two bales. For more information on the origin of the cotton, we spoke with Marshall Tolleson, a Texas A&M research specialist: “The seed cotton we donated was from one of our highquality fiber development projects,” he said. “These lines are being tested for their ability to spin superior yarns on different spinning technologies including ring and vortex frames. It takes around 10 years for a new variety to be developed from the initial cross to the agronomic evaluation tests that yielded the cotton we donated. These lines in particular are the result of 30 years of research by Texas A&M. The bales of cotton that the museum ginned are a reflection of the cotton-growing heritage of the region but are filled with fibers bred for the future.”

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My Turn The Embodiment Of Hard Work

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r o w i n g u p i n engaged on a Friday night and were BOTH in fields Houston, Texas, counting cotton squares the next morning. Since I’d I was not exact- graduated and started working, weekends were the ly surrounded by only time we had together. Most of that time was spent much in the way of agricul- in and between cotton fields. ture. However, my grandI grew to respect Mark and his work ethic over the father was a corn and hay years. I could see how his heart poured into every farmer near Waco, Texas, so field. He still agonizes over each recommendation I did get to spend summers because he knows what helps make a better crop in fields watching him work. comes at a cost for the farmer. I can truly say he loses I remember knowing he got sleep and frets over each crop as if it were his own.

Carol up every morning way before Many nights we’ve been up at 3 a.m. watching a line of Nemec the sun did, made himself storms, praying we would get the right amount of rain. breakfast and was in the field But only rain, not hail, ice, high winds or tornadoes. before the rest of us woke up.

Some years, we got all five on the same fields.

During harvest, he didn’t come in for lunch, so my Now that we’ve been married almost 29 years, I’ve granny and I brought lunch to the field. Those were learned much more about the industry and Mark. I’ve the days before cell phones, so it was always a game to learned those RARE days we get lunch, we wait until figure out where we would find his tractor. I still look AFTER the daily farm report so he can hear the weather at those fields near 12th Street and see us sitting on the and market forecast. I’ve learned we don’t take summer tailgate of his two-toned Chevrolet pickup eating. family vacations, to adapt to long work days and that Papa eventually had to he’s going to give 110%. pull back from crop work But I think our best “I just thought I knew what hard and focus more on cattle. contribution to cotton work was then.”

I loved going with him to and agriculture is how feed in the evenings. This mu ch ou r d au g hte r, was his life. So much so, there were times I’d hear him Cassidy, loves it. I’m so proud she’s been raised to calling cows in his sleep. I should’ve known then the understand and appreciate the role of a farmer and the ultimate example of hard work. crops they provide for our country and others. Most I grew up, went to college, planned on a career in a children these days don’t have any idea what’s involved big city and wasn’t around agriculture much more. Then in getting the jeans they wear or the bread they eat. I God chuckled. Just as I was about to graduate from once said I was convinced Cassidy was the only 10 year Texas A&M University and move back to Houston, I old (at that time) who knew the difference between met Mark Nemec. He grew up working fields and learn- good bugs and bad bugs in a cotton field. She loves ing from his dad, Mr. Stan Nemec, to scout and check agriculture and feels incomplete without fields in her for bugs. life in some way. Mark couldn’t be more pleased!

That summer, Mr. Nemec’s best friend passed away Now it’s “My Turn” to be proud and grateful. Mark suddenly. Though Mark was not then working in ag, was recognized as Cotton Consultant of the Year (2010), when Mr. Nemec was contacted about helping farm- the only second-generation winner of this award after ers finish their season, he recommended Mark. Mark his dad, Stanley Nemec (1987). In my world, he is conworked two jobs that summer to get them through sultant of the year every year. And Cassidy is now assothe season. Enough farmers asked him to stay that he ciate editor of Cotton Farming magazine, editor of Rice turned to consulting fulltime. That was 29 years ago. Farming magazine and editor of Soybean South.

Today, Mark still works for a handful of those original My Papa would be so very proud. farmers and now even some of their sons. For them, I will always be grateful.

— Carol Nemec I just thought I knew what hard work was then.

Hewitt, Texas I should’ve known what I was in for when we got mjnconsulting@att.net

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.

26 COTTON FARMING | NOVEMBER 2023

COTTONFARMING.COM

WAKE UP WITH US! Season four of The Cotton Board’s Cotton & Coffee Zoom series is underway. This series asks the cotton-growing community to wake up with The Cotton Board, and in the time it takes to drink a morning cup of coffee, get an update from the Cotton Research and Promotion Program. This is a great way to see how the assessment dollars collected by The Cotton Board are being spent to increase the demand for and profitability of cotton. Each virtual Zoom session includes a 30-minute presentation and concludes with time for discussion and questions. Cotton & Coffee is held on the third Tuesday of each month at 7:30 am Central. Pre-registration is required, so please visit cottonboard.org/cotton-coffee if you'd like to register and participate.

COTTONBOARD.ORG/COTTON-COFFEE

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