Cotton Farming June 2022

ONE GROWER PUBLISHING, LLC

PROFITABLE PRODUCTION STRATEGIES

JUNE 2022

www.cottonfarming.com

Watching History Unfold Evolution Of Cotton Insect Control, 1971-2021

Zero-Tolerance Approach To Control Cotton Weeds

Nominations Open For 2022 CCOY

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We make it our mission to provide profitable production strategies to our farmers with information to improve their bottom lines.

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Cotton Farming

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Vol. 66 No. 6

PROFITABLE PRODUCTION STRATEGIES

JUNE 2022

www.cottonfarming.com

FE ATURES

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8 50 Years Of Insects Dr. Ron Smith, Auburn University entomologist, began his career when boll weevils were the dominant cotton insect in Alabama. At the time, the goal of a new U.S. Department of Agriculture-Extension cotton IPM educational initiative was to increase awareness of a management approach to controlling cotton pests by incorporating scouting and economic thresholds. Enjoy his observations of the past five decades.

DEPARTMENTS & COLUMNS

WEED ERADICATION As a member of Operation Weed Eradication (OWE), BASF is partnering with many in the agricultural industry to help bring solutions to persistent weeds.

NPE KICKS OFF SEASON 15 This year the 13 Class of ’23 cotton variety candidates under evaluation will include an especially diverse lineup of maturities and pest trait platforms.

THE PILOT IS THE HERO Serving the ag and forestry sectors for 100 years, America’s aerial application industry of piloted aircraft is the truest means of getting it done.

GINNERS MARKETPLACE

the official publication of the ginning industry All cotton gin managers should review their overhead seed house safety and maintenance procedures before the start of the 2022 cotton ginning season.

CCOY NOMINATIONS OPEN ONLINE To nominate a deserving candidate for the 2022 Cotton Consultant of the Year Award, co-sponsored

by Cotton Farming and Syngenta, fill out the form online at cottonfarming.com/ccoy. Deadline for nominations is July 31.

Cotton Consultant of the Year 2022 NOMINATION FORM

CCOY

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

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

The Cotton Consultant of the Year (CCOY) Award marks more than four decades. The award recognizes a consultant who has made great contributions to the cotton industry through outstanding customer relations, leadership and innovation.

It honors a consultant who not only meets these requirements but also exceeds them.

Syngenta and Cotton Farming magazine — CCOY sponsors — are soliciting your help in selecting the 2022 recipient, who will be named at a special celebration Friday, Feb. 24, 2023, at the Peabody Hotel in Memphis, Tennessee.

The winning consultant and the person who nominates the winner receive a two-night hotel stay and airfare to Memphis. The 2022 CCOY recipient also will be featured in a four-page salute in the February 2023 issue of Cotton Farming.

Submit nominations

by July 31, 2022.

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

Nominate online: cottonfarming.com/ccoy

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

State:

Phone:

ZIP:

Email:

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

Background:

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

Your Name: Mailing Address: City:

State:

Phone:

Email:

ZIP:

Sponsored by

4 Editor’s Note 12 Industry News 5 Cotton’s Agenda 16 Specialists Speaking 6 Research & Promotion 22 My Turn ON THE COVER: A sneak peek at some of the insects Dr. Ron Smith encountered over the past 50 years.

Cover graphic by Vecteezy.com.

WEB EXCLUSIVE In Alabama, deer feeding in cotton has risen sharply over the past few years. Deer damage can cause severe stand losses, delayed maturity and yield reductions. In some cases, entire fields or large portions of fields can be lost, and replanting is costly in both time and money. Can a border crop of sunn hemp help? Go to www.cottonfarming.com for this Web Exclusive report.

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.

TWITTER: @COTTONFARMING

JUNE 2022 | COTTON FARMING

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Editor’s Note

Cotton Farming

Carroll Smith

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

Navigating The Past, Present And Future

W

hy should you study history? According to the Department of History, University of Wisconsin-Madison, “Because history gives us the tools to analyze and explain problems in the past, it positions us to see patterns that might otherwise be invisible in the present — thus providing a crucial perspective for understanding (and solving!) current and future problems.”

Let’s consider this concept in the context of cotton insect and weed pests.

Past: Ron Smith, Auburn University entomologist and professor emeritus, said, “The past 50 years of cotton production and insect management have evolved in many, and in some instances, unexpected ways.” In the cover story on page 8, he shares his personal observations of the cotton insect world and some of the products and traits developed and used to control the pests.

Join Smith on his journey from the boll weevil, which nearly bullied cotton out of our agricultural landscape, to the sucking pests and the bug complex of today. See what the Alabama entomologist predicts for the future of cotton insect control.

Present: In the cotton weed pest arena, Palmer amaranth — aka pigweed, carelessweed, king of weeds, etc. — is still the bane of the cotton farmer most everywhere in the Cotton Belt. When left to grow undeterred, this competitive, annual broadleaf weed can reach heights close to 10 feet or more. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, one plant can produce as many as 250,000 seeds to carry on its legacy. To add insult to injury, USDA reports that Palmer amaranth populations “have developed resistance to multiple classes of herbicide with different modes of action, including glyphosate, making it very difficult and expensive to control, especially on productive farmland.”

Future: Because resistance is now part of the equation, Adam Hixson, BASF technical service representative, said, “Taking those last few weeds out is very important to long-lasting, complete weed control.” On page 13, he discusses Operation Weed Eradication, which promotes a zero-tolerance approach to controlling cotton weeds. Although weed eradication may come across as a lofty goal, so did boll weevil eradication back in the day, and we see now how that turned out.

“An eradication mindset means going the extra mile to take out the last weed standing before it produces seed,” Hixson said.

The take-home message to keep moving forward successfully — not only in the world of cotton but also the world of agriculture — is learn from the past, live in the present and anticipate the future with a positive, open mind.

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

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COTTON FARMING | JUNE 2022

Assistant 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 2022 © ASSOCIATED PUBLICATIONS – One Grower Publishing, LLC also publishes RICE FARMING, THE PEANUT GROWER, SOYBEAN SOUTH and CORN SOUTH.

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COTTONFARMING.COM

Cotton’s Agenda Gary Adams

Positive Participation Producer participation in the voluntary U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol sustainability initiative should keep growing with a streamlined enrollment process.

Why is participation important?

■ To help with a two-prong vision: 1) setting a

new standard in sustainable U.S. cotton production via continuous improvement in six key sustainability metrics: land use, soil carbon, water management, soil loss, greenhouse gas emissions and energy efficiency and 2) making increased transparency a reality by making aggregated and verified environmental metrics from Trust Protocol producer participants available to brands/retailers in the fashion/textile industries. This will help them satisfy their customers’ desire for sustainable products.

In fact, almost all the top 100 global brands/retailers have created lists of sustainable raw materials (including cotton) and have committed to sourcing 100% from those lists over the next 5-10 years.

ducers must: 1) review/sign their privacy statement; 2) select their gin, marketer and crop consultant (if applicable); 3) complete their farming profile, 4) complete their self-assessment questionnaire for their 2022 farming operation; 5) commit to strive for continuous improvements; and 6) complete their “Fieldprint Analysis” on fields that constituted at least 10% of their previous year’s cotton fields and harvest data (i.e. from 2021 harvest). Completing these steps makes them a Trust Protocol member for 2022 and eligible to market their 2022 crop as Trust Protocol cotton. Producers who have completed enrollment for the 2021 crop only need to update steps 2, 3 and 4. Send questions to the Grower Help Desk at growers@trustuscotton.org.

Along with the three-year enrollment feature, producers now can authorize account access for their crop consultant who can enter information on their behalf at www.TrustUSCotton.org. Also, if producers utilize the John Deere Operations Center, they can pre-populate up to 40% of the data needed to complete their “Fieldprint Analysis” through the platform. Additional enrollment enhancements are being developed.

Any other participation benefits?

Producer enrollment in the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol doubled each year from 2019 to 2021, and now growers can enroll for three years.

How is industry participation going?

■ The Trust Protocol enrollment closed for the 2021 season on April 30 with more than 660 producer members enrolled representing more than 1.2 million cotton acres. More than 100 U.S. gins are members and interested in increased roles. Also, there are more than 35 brand and retailer members and more than 650 mill and manufacturer members.

In May, the 2022 enrollment was made quicker and more efficient by allowing producers to commit to enroll their 2022 through 2024 crops. The enrollment steps were streamlined so that to enroll, pro-

■ A significant benefit is that enrolled producers who complete their data entry in the Trust Protocol will be eligible for a potential redistribution of program revenue. Another potential benefit may come from producer participation in USDA’s new Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities program. The U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol has submitted a proposal for that program, whereby USDA could finance partnerships to support the production/marketing of climate-smart commodities via a set of pilot projects lasting one to five years. Pilots will provide technical and financial assistance to producers who: 1) implement climate-smart practices on a voluntary basis on working lands; 2) pilot innovative and cost-effective methods for quantification, monitoring, reporting and verification of greenhouse gas benefits; and 3) market the resulting climate-smart commodities.

Gary Adams is president/chief executive officer of the National Cotton Council of America. He also serves as president of the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol.

TWITTER: @COTTONFARMING

JUNE 2022 | COTTON FARMING

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RESEARCH & PROMOTION

Cotton’s Blue Jeans Go Green Program Continues To Thrive

C

otton Incorporated’s Blue Jeans Go Green denim recycling program has been around since 2006, offering consumers a way to give their old denim new life by transforming it into something new. Since the program’s inception, more than four million pieces of denim have been recycled, diverting more than 2,100 tons of denim from landfills.

Thriving In Sustainability

Originally, all denim collected was converted into UltraTouch Denim Insulation, for use in homes and building projects. However, as the program has continued to evolve, so has what’s been able to be recycled along with expanded end uses for recycled denim.

The Blue Jeans Go Green program is now able to accept insulation liners often used in meal kits to keep food fresh and temperature controlled in transport. To prevent single use, the denim insulation liners can be sent back and recycled again (and again).

The program has worked with leading natural cotton fiber insulation manufacturer Bonded Logic Inc. for more than 15 years. Now, along with old denim, insulation liners from meal kits can be recycled to make new insulating material for various applications. These range from housing insulation to thermal packaging liners for meal kits and pet bed and industrial mattress inserts.

Since the program’s inception, more than four million pieces of denim have been recycled, diverting more than 2,100 tons of denim from landfills.

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COTTON FARMING | JUNE 2022

BY STACEY GORMAN WARREN, ARKANSAS

Cotton Incorporated’s Director of Consumer Marketing, Brand Partnerships Andrea Samber manages the program.

“The Blue Jeans Go Green program continues to thrive because the program is grounded in sustainability, and it helps to close the loop on cotton’s circularity,” she said. “It offers our endemic brands and retailers — along with non-endemic businesses and organizations — a turnkey way to participate and meet their social responsibility goals, while educating and engaging consumers in the process.”

Collaborating To Improve

The Blue Jeans Go Green program continues to evolve and gain momentum, engaging new collaborators and offering new initiatives on a regular basis.

L i tt l e Sp o on B e l i e v e s Bi g i n Sustainability — In an ongoing effort to launch sustainable solutions throughout 2022, leading baby and kid’s food and nutrition company, Little Spoon, committed to all boxes using insulation liners made from recycled denim manufactured

by Bonded Logic Inc., helping to reduce millions of pounds of textiles thrown out every year while ensuring Little Spoon meals and snacks stay cold and fresh.

Customers can return their liners for free for continued recycling — alongside any old denim — to be reused in the Blue Jeans Go Green program.

Texas FFA Recycling Program — Selecting Cotton’s Blue Jeans Go Green denim recycling program as their com-

munity service project for 2021, the Texas FFA core team promoted to fellow students and community the importance of cotton sustainability and awareness about textile recycling during the spring. In July 2021, the Texas FFA held their annual convention in Fort Worth, Texas. More than 5,000 pieces of denim were brought to the convention by the 11,000 attendees.

Inspiring Big Imaginations — Last fall, the program invited readers of The Week Junior to design a T-shirt inspired

by Cotton’s Blue Jeans Go Green denim recycling program. More than 700 readers aged 8-14 from across the country shared their creative ideas on what doing good in denim means to them and how old denim can be transformed into useful products like insulating material.

Judges from The Week Junior and Cotton Incorporated were blown away by the submissions. The judges selected three winners and used their designs to create limited-edition T-shirts.

Every Piece Pledge — To celebrate Earth Day this year, the Blue Jeans Go Green program launched Every Piece Pledge, encouraging consumers to make a lasting commitment to recycling and wearing sustainable clothes, like cotton. Taking the pledge is one small step that can serve as a helpful reminder that denim, made from cotton, can be recycled and transformed to do good for the earth.

If you would like to get involved and recycle your old denim or meal kit liners through the Blue Jeans Go Green program, there are couple of ways you can participate. First, you can drop your denim off at a local retailer or event. Or, you can print a free shipping label and mail in your old denim or meal kit liners thanks to a collaboration with Zappos for Good program. For information on local drop offs or to get a free shipping label and mailing instructions, visit bluejeans gogreen.org.

Stacey Gorman is The Cotton Board’s director of communications and may be reached at sgorman@cottonboard.org.

COTTONFARMING.COM

Cotton Consultant’s Corner

Early To Mid-Season Insect Pest Control Trey Bullock Bullock’s Ag Consulting Hattiesburg, Mississippi

I grew up in Greenwood in the heart of the Mississippi Delta where I worked for consultant Jim McCrory every summer in high school and through college. After graduating, I had an opportunity to move to Hattiesburg, Mississippi, where I checked cotton and ran the Boll Weevil Eradication Program for about two years before opening Bullock’s Ag Consulting in 1996.

Although last season was wet, we had one of our better cotton crops. I’m always amazed that we can plant a small cotton seed, and it does what it does. To me, that’s a sense of accomplishment.

Tarnished Plant Bug, Thrips And Worm Control Our biggest concerns regarding early to mid-season insect pests are thrips and tarnished plant bug. I cover 22 counties and start seeing a lot of plant bug problems in the areas closer to the Mississippi River about two hours west of here. They show up early and stay until we get the crop finished. Plant bugs reproduce and go through many generations in the corn and then start pounding our cotton fields. We try to plant corn 15 to 20 miles away from the cotton rather than having the two crops sit turnrow to turnrow to each other.

In areas where we have high plant bug populations, we apply Transform® WG insecticide tank-mixed with Diamond insecticide shortly before bloom. We put out another shot of Transform about 14 days later. Two shots seem to help a whole lot more than just going out with one thinking you’re going to clean everything up.

In peanuts, the primary product I use to control thrips is Intrepid Edge® insecticide. I’ve also used it in cotton for thrips control when the weather turns cool, the cotton is damaged or just not growing. To me, Intrepid Edge is a good option because it doesn’t disturb the beneficials or flare any other pests.

To control worms this year, all our cotton varieties contain threegene Bt technology. We’re hoping that by planting these varieties, we can avoid making worm control applications. We also decided to go with this preventative approach to try to keep the sprayers out of the field so we are not burning diesel. There is not room for any kind of waste this year.

But at the end of the day, we do have high crop prices. That will help a lot. These farmers and their consultants are innovative and will figure out ways to offset some of the challenges we are facing.

We need to pray the good Lord will provide the proper weather to make good cotton and that we can make the best decisions in the environment we are in right now.

• Bachelor’s degree in ag pest management, Mississippi State University, 1994.

• Started Bullock’s Ag Consulting, located in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, in 1996.

• Consults on cotton, peanuts, corn and soybeans in 22 counties south of Interstate 20.

• Sits on the board of directors of the Mississippi Agricultural Consultants Association. Also served as past president.

• Active participant in Mississippi’s Fishing with Legends, which connects combat veterans to the great outdoors.

• Wife Cassie. Two sons: Bryce and Blake.

• Enjoys hunting, fishing and spending time with his family.

Recap: Early To Mid-Season Insect Control

▼

1. Our biggest concerns regarding early to mid-season insect pests are thrips and tarnished plant bug.

2. Where we have high plant bug populations, we apply Transform® WG insecticide tank-mixed with Diamond insecticide shortly before bloom.

3. We put out another shot of Transform about 14 days later.

4. I apply Intrepid Edge® insecticide in cotton for thrips control when the weather turns cool, the cotton is damaged or just not growing.

5. To me, Intrepid Edge is a good option because it doesn’t disturb the beneficials or flare any other pests.

Sponsored by

TM ® Trademarks of Corteva Agriscience and its affiliated companies. Transform® WG and Intrepid Edge® are not registered for sale or use in all states. Contact your state pesticide regulatory agency to determine if a product is registered for sale or use in your state. Isoclast ® is a registered active ingredient. Always read and follow label directions. © Corteva 2022.

CASSIDY NEMEC

COVER STORY

Representing about 250 years of cotton insect management experience are Ron Smith (center), and cotton consultants from left, Grady Coburn, Louisiana; Jack Royal, Georgia; Tucker Miller, Mississippi; and Ray Young, Louisiana.

Watching History Unfold Fifty Years Of Evolution In Cotton Insect Control — 1971-2021.

BY RON SMITH

AUBURN UNIVERSITY

I

t has been quite a journey to have been a part of the most evolutionary period in cotton insects. I began my career as part of the new U.S. Department of AgricultureExtension cotton IPM educational initiative in 1972 when boll weevils were the dominant cotton insect in Alabama.

The goal of the program was to increase awareness of a management approach to controlling cotton pests, a program which incorporated scouting and economic thresholds. It has become widely recognized as integrated pest management (IPM).

icals in this class had acute human and mammalian toxicity.

The phosphate chemistry had excellent activity on the boll weevil but brought resistance in tobacco budworm and secondary pests, such as spider mites and whiteflies. Heavy use of phosphate insecticides also caused major problems with delayed maturity of the crop. This problem was so pronounced that a special session was added to the January 1976 Beltwide Cotton Research and Control Conference.

Organophosphates

In 1976, the pyrethroid class of chemistry became available, initially under an Environmental Protection Agency-issued emergency use permit (EUP). In 1978, pyrethroid insecticides (Ambush, Pounce and Pydrin) received full but conditional registration and became the major player in cotton insect con-

During the mid-1970s, our primary cotton insecticide was the organophosphate class of chemistry — products such as methyl parathion and Guthion, which were characterized by fast-acting activity but short residual. In addition, most chem-

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COTTON FARMING | JUNE 2022

Introduction Of Pyrethroids

COTTONFARMING.COM

ALTON N. SPARKS JR., UGA, BUGWOOD.COM

Boll weevil

trol for the next decade.

For several years, pyrethroids were highly effective on most all cotton insects. Insect losses were very low, yields reached higher plateaus and maturity issues disappeared. Due to extended residual from pyrethroids, insecticide application intervals for boll weevils could be extended from five to seven days.

However, during the decade of the 1980s, tobacco budworms became resistant to the pyrethroid class of chemistry in some areas of the Cotton Belt.

Boll Weevil Eradication

Tarnished plant bug

LISA AMES, UGA, BUGWOOD.COM

After more than a decade of development, comprehensive plans to eradicate the boll weevil were finalized in the early 1980s. One of the driving forces for eradication were concerns that boll weevils might develop resistance to the organophosphate chemistry, a possibility which would have wrecked the U.S. cotton industry.

Pyrethroids had activity on the weevil but were not as effective as the phosphates and were initially significantly more expensive. The boll weevil never developed resistance to the phosphates; in fact, the phosphate insecticide malathion was the primary insecticide used for eradication.

The Boll Weevil Eradication Program began in northeastern North Carolina in the early 1980s. In the fall of 1986, the eradication effort reached Alabama, and by the summer of 1995, no economic losses to the boll weevil could be found anywhere in the state.

During the active eradication program period (1986-1995), insecticide-resistant tobacco budworms and impossible-to-control beet armyworms caused yield losses beyond anything ever observed or previously recorded.

Bug Complex Threatens

Bt Varieties Commercialized

At the end of the 1995 season — given resistance to tobacco

SCOTT BAUER, USDA-ARS, BUGWOOD.COM

Tobacco budworm

TWITTER: @COTTONFARMING

budworms — the outlook for the future of cotton production in Alabama was bleak. Fortunately, genetically altered Bt (Bollgard) cotton varieties, which had been evaluated for the previous four seasons, were commercialized.

The new technology was readily adopted by Alabama growers, and 77% of the 1996 acreage was planted to Bollgard varieties. This rapid adoption was primarily in self-defense following the heavy losses to worms in previous years. However, planting this new technology brought with it rules and regulations never experienced before by growers.

Word was spoken that growers would never have to treat for worms again. This proved to be incorrect when in late July 1996, news of bollworm escapes in the Brazos River area of Central Texas spread across the Cotton Belt.

Some growers wanted to give up on the new technology immediately. However, over the following years, entomologists and growers learned more about what to expect from Bollgard cotton varieties and how to manage escape bollworms, which could be controlled with a minimum of well-timed pyrethroid sprays.

The following 10 years proved to be good for growers with overall improved yields and minimal insect losses and control costs.

It was during this low-spray environment that the bug complex became more damaging. In north Alabama and the MidSouth states, the tarnished plant bug had to be monitored and managed more closely. In central and south Alabama, as well as the remainder of the Coastal Plains of the southeastern United States, stink bugs became the dominant economic insect.

By the time better stink bug management was adopted, single Bt gene Bollgard technology began to lose its effectiveness and escape bollworms were more widespread. Experts had warned this would happen. The single Bt gene was nearly 100% effective on tobacco budworm but considerably less effective on the bollworm species.

Anticipating this, Monsanto had begun work on stacking a second Bt gene, which was commercialized in 2009 and reduced the escape bollworm problems by about 90%. It was followed by Bollgard III in 2018. WideStrike from Dow AgroSciences with two Bt genes was introduced in PhytoGen varieties in 2005 and was followed by the third gene (WideStrike 3) in 2014.

The diamide chemistry developed by Dupont is now available and highly effective on most worm species when applied timely (small larvae) or in the egg stage. What would have been a significant development had it not been for the introduction of Bt technology back in 1996, was the introduction (1996-98) of spinosad (Tracer) chemistry by Dow AgroSciences.

JUNE 2022 | COTTON FARMING

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Snails

RON SMITH, AU, BUGWOOD.COM

Southern green stink bug

AUBURN UNIVERSITY

JACK T. REED, MSU, BUGWOOD.COM

Western flower thrips

Cutworm

AUBURN UNIVERSITY

JOSEPH LAFOREST, UGA, BUGWOOD.COM

Silverleaf whitefly

Sucking Pests, Bug Complex

More recent years of cotton insect control have been dominated by the emergence of sucking pests, such as aphids, spider mites, thrips and whiteflies (silverleaf), and the bug complex — plant bugs, stink bugs and leaf-footed bugs.

As we moved into this reduced foliar spray era following the elimination of the boll weevil and tobacco budworm, our chemical tools became more selective. The new caterpillar insecticides do not control sucking pests or the bug complex, and the sucking pest insecticides do not control the bug complex or escape bollworms.

Several insecticides targeted for the bug complex give limited control of sucking pests or escape caterpillars. Tankmixes of two or more insecticides are again often necessary.

Addressing New Advances

The future will likely continue to be dominated by our current conditions. New advances may be limited. Few new chemistries will be developed. Development cost of chemistry cannot be recouped from cotton usage alone, as was done in the earlier years. New chemistry developed today must find market share with other agronomic crops, along with vegetables, fruits and nuts.

New advances will likely come in the form of genetics. These advances take years of research and often encompass more reg-

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COTTON FARMING | JUNE 2022

ulatory hurdles than chemicals.

A thrips-lygus gene is nearing the marketplace and is available for planting this year through the Deltapine Stewarded Ground Breakers Field Trials. Based on research, this gene may prove most effective on thrips with moderate activity on plant bugs, but it will not help on stink bugs.

Staying Ahead Of Resistance

Our future may be described as a “stay ahead of resistance” in the decades ahead. Resistance issues are present today in the following species: thrips, plant bugs, bollworms, spider mites, aphids and possibly other species.

The greatest challenge in entomology is staying ahead of resistance and managing sporadic pests such as slugs, snails, cutworms, grasshoppers, three-cornered alfalfa hoppers, leaf-footed bugs and others. Reduced tillage has been a great advancement. However, this practice has created numerous cracks that are being filled by sporadic pests that require management inputs.

In summary, the past 50 years of cotton production and insect management have evolved in many, and in some instances, unexpected ways. What an evolution and what a ride for an Extension entomologist over the past five decades.

Dr. Ron Smith is professor emeritus at Auburn University.

COTTONFARMING.COM

Cotton Consultant of the Year 2022 NOMINATION FORM

CCOY The Cotton Consultant of the Year (CCOY) Award marks more than four decades. The award recognizes a consultant who has made great contributions to the cotton industry through outstanding customer relations, leadership and innovation.

It honors a consultant who not only meets these requirements but also exceeds them.

Syngenta and Cotton Farming magazine — CCOY sponsors — are soliciting your help in selecting the 2022 recipient, who will be named at a special celebration Friday, Feb. 24, 2023, at the Peabody Hotel in Memphis, Tennessee.

The winning consultant and the person who nominates the winner receive a two-night hotel stay and airfare to Memphis. The 2022 CCOY recipient also will be featured in a four-page salute in the February 2023 issue of Cotton Farming.

Submit nominations

by July 31, 2022.

Mail: Carroll Smith 7201 Eastern Ave. Germantown, TN 38138

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

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

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

State:

Phone:

Email:

ZIP:

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

Background:

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

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Industry News

Craig Rohrbach Named TCGA Ginner Of The Year Craig Rohrbach’s friends and family gathered at the Texas Cotton Ginners’ Association Awards Dinner to celebrate him being named the TCGA Ginner of the Year.

Front row, from left: Rachel Anaya, Chuy Anaya, Chris Breedlove, Darcy Rohrbach, Riley Rohrbach, Craig Rohrbach, Connie Taylor, Bryan Taylor, Terri Sorley, Robin Howard,

U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol Doubles Grower Participation The U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol announced that grower participation for the 2021/22 crop doubled since the program’s pilot last year. The Trust Protocol’s mission is to bring quantifiable and verifiable goals and measurement to the key sustainability metrics of U.S. cotton production.

The initiative’s vision is to set a new standard in sustainable cotton production where full transparency is a reality and continuous improvement to reduce our environmental footprint is the central goal.

The program’s core values include a commitment to U.S. cotton’s legacy of authenticity, innovation and excellence, environmental stewardship, caring of people, and personal and corporate integrity.

“During our second year we doubled the number of U.S. cotton growers in the program with an estimated 1.1 million cotton acres enrolled,” said Dr. Gary Adams, president of the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol.

“Our grower members are global leaders when it comes to sustainable cotton production, and as supply chain membership continues to grow, producers are encouraged to join the initiative to help ensure there is enough cotton in the system to meet demand.”

Virtually all the top 100 global brands and retailers have created lists of sustainable raw materials and publicly committed that 100% of their sourcing will come from these lists over the next 5-10 years.

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COTTON FARMING | JUNE 2022

Denise Christian, Katherine Bezner and Tracy Devault.

Back row, from left: Luke Rohrbach, Coleman Young, Scott Meeks, Colton Bison, Annie Williams, Ryan Williams, Ken Sorley, Mark Howard, Vick Christian and Kendall Devault.

Rohrbach has been the general manager at Parmer County Cotton Growers in Farwell, Texas, since 2006.

The Trust Protocol was designed to meet and exceed the rigorous criteria for these lists.

To learn more or begin enrollment, growers can visit TrustUSCotton.org or reach out to the Grower Help Desk at growers@trustuscotton.org. Additionally, producers who enroll in the program and complete their data entry will be eligible for a redistribution of program revenue.

The Trust Protocol has welcomed more than 600 brand, retailer, mill and manufacturer members since its launch in 2020. This includes J.Crew, Madewell, Levi Strauss & Co. and Gap Inc., as well as global apparel manufacturer Gildan.

The U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol is aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, recognized by Textile Exchange and Forum for the Future, and part of the Sustainable Apparel Coalition, C otton 2025 Sust ainable C otton Challenge, Cotton 2040 and Cotton Up initiatives. The program has also been recognized and published in the ITC Standards Map.

Stoneville Ginner School Registration Continues Ginners, gin managers and superintendents are encouraged to register for the last of three Ginner Schools — the Stoneville Ginners School being held at the USDA Agricultural Research Service ginning laboratory in Stoneville, Mississippi, June 8-9.

There is no on-site registration, and credit cards can be used for online reg-

istration at www.cotton.org/ncga/gin school/index.cfm where course descriptions/more information are available.

Course levels I, II and III and continuing education courses will be offered.

Levels I, II and III programming feature practical information on all aspects of ginning. Topics range from gin safety and maintenance to drying/moisture restoration systems and seed cotton/cottonseed handling systems.

The continuing education courses will include topics such as the use and practical application of variable frequency drives, gin upgrades and increasing capacities, air pollution controls, labor issues and H2-A, press rebuilds to increase press capacities, and stabilizing catastrophic injuries.

Cotton Sustainability Field Day To Be Held June 22 At Judd Hill Make your plans for June 22 to attend the Cotton Sustainability Field Day at the Judd Hill Foundation Farm in Trumann, Arkansas. Registration opens at 8 a.m.

Judd Hill Farm Tours begin at 9 a.m.

Highlighting the importance for marketing U.S. cotton by documenting sustainability practices will be discussed at 11 a.m. Presentations will be made by The Soil Health Institute, U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol and Staplcotn Cotton.

Lunch will be provided.

Enrollment opportunities for the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol begin at 1 p.m.

To register for the field day, go to https://bit.ly/3PP5IDd. COTTONFARMING.COM

Operation Weed Eradication Controlling Cotton Weeds With A Zero-Tolerance Approach.

BY CASSIDY NEMEC ASSISTANT EDITOR

A

ADAM HIXSON

s a member of Operation Weed Eradication (OWE), BASF is partnering with many in the agricultural industry to help bring solutions to persistent weeds found in row crops.

OWE’s website states “Led by BASF, Operation Weed Eradication, a US-based initiative, is supported by a coalition of industry leaders and weed scientists with one goal: providing our farmers the relevant tools, insights and information to help battle resistant pigweed on farm.”

Palmar amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri) and kochia (Kochia scoparia L.) are two of the main weeds posing a threat in cotton, according to Adam Hixson, BASF technical service representative.

“Just one plant producing its seed can spread across that field in exponential growth in the coming years. It’s extremely resistant to numerous herbicides and numerous modes of action, so taking those last few weeds out is very important to long-lasting, complete weed control,” Hixson said.

He said it is good to pay attention to soil temperatures so as to know germination timing. When that is known, residuals can be better timed. “It’s important to get it before it comes up,” he said.

Last Weed Standing

In addition, Hixson explained the importance of getting every last weed before getting to a point where they begin to spread. “When we think about weed control, we need to think about that last weed standing in the field.”

The Operation Weed Eradication website discussed this as part of the “eradication diligence” component of OWE. “An eradication mindset means going the extra mile to take out the last weed standing before it produces seed.”

In addition to eradication diligence, OWE looks at chemical control and traits (covering proper application, adding in appropriate residuals and finding “multiple, effective sites of action to prevent resistance”), as well as cultural and mechanical practices that help to disrupt seed germination. These practices include:  Implementing narrow rows for canopy development.  Planting cover crops to assist in suppressing weed growth.  Tillage and cultivation to uproot emerged weeds.  Crop rotation to allow multiple herbicides and practices to be put into play for weeds.

Role Of Residuals

Hixson emphasized to start the year with strong residuals at planting to keep up with key timing for weed control.

“What I like to recommend is one of those typical cotton residual herbicides at planting combined with some sort of postemergence herbicide. I like to use paraquat at planting… once you get in season, say three to four weeks after planting, you really need to start thinking about your next application that would be some sort of post herbicide combined with a TWITTER: @COTTONFARMING

Palmer amaranth — the king of weeds — can produce huge amounts of seed per plant. “It’s extremely resistant to numerous herbicides and numerous modes of action, so taking those last few weeds out is very important to long-lasting, complete weed control,” said Adam Hixson, BASF technical service representative. residual herbicide… for us it’s either Liberty or Engenia, plus Outlook.,” he said.

Don’t Ignore Field Perimeters

Hixson noted the importance of controlling weeds around the fields in addition to the fields themselves as seed can be rapidly spread while entering and leaving fields.

“If you’re able to control the area around your fields, spray it with something very simple, some sort of burndown… sometimes growers think about the weeds in their fields and not the weeds outside of their fields and how they can potentially drag them [seeds] in as they’re moving equipment to their fields.”

BASF launched OWE in 2019 and continues to work in helping growers eliminate weeds on their farms.

“I think it’s a good mindset to have, and I think it’s important that we are surrounding ourselves with both industry partners and university weed science professors that are really on board with our message.”

More information on Operation Weed Control can be found at www.operationweederadication.com JUNE 2022 | COTTON FARMING

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New Product Evaluator Program: Season 15 Bollgard 3 Cotton Being Evaluated For The Class Of ’23.

T

he Deltapine seed brand’s New Product Evaluator (NPE) program kicks off its 15th season in 2022, celebrating a milestone of helping raise yield potential and improving production across the Cotton Belt.

During this momentous year, the 13 Class of ’23 cotton variety candidates under evaluation will include an especially diverse lineup of maturities and pest trait platforms.

“The cotton variety candidates being evaluated this season showcase the diversity of elite germplasm and strength of the Deltapine cotton breeding and development program, which allows us to test this many products across a wide range of germplasm backgrounds, biotech trait platforms, maturity and native trait combinations,” said Eric Best, Deltapine cotton product manager. “Each of these variety candidates has the potential to be in a Deltapine bag for planting in 2023.”

Evaluating New Candidates

Deltapine NPE growers across the Cotton Belt will have the opportunity to evaluate four Bollgard 3 ThryvOn Cotton with XtendFlex Technology cotton variety candidates in stewarded field trials. These four candidates range from early maturity to mid-full maturity and have potential to increase the Deltapine Bollgard 3 ThryvOn Cotton with XtendFlex Technology product offering. Pending regulatory approvals, ThryvOn Technology will be the industry’s first biotech trait to provide protection against tarnished plant bugs and thrips species.

In West Texas, the Deltapine Texas cotton breeding program investments are paying off as candidates with regionally adapted genetics are advanced into the NPE program.

The southwestern NPE growers will evaluate two Bollgard 3 XtendFlex and two XtendFlex cotton variety candidates showing outstanding performance potential in this region.

For the Mid-South and Southeast, there are five Bollgard 3 XtendFlex variety candidates to evaluate this season, including two lines with root-knot nematode resistance. The five candidates range from early maturity to mid-full maturity and will have high yield potential similar to the past two classes of Deltapine brand commercial cotton varieties.

Program Advancements

“Nothing advances in this program unless it offers an improvement or something extra over current Deltapine products in the market, and each new cotton variety is evaluated and approved for performance by the Deltapine NPE growers,” Best said.

Since 2008, the Deltapine NPE program has become an industry standard for involving cotton growers in precommercial cotton variety evaluation and commercialization.

Milestones of the program since 2008 include:  Launch of DP 1044 B2RF in 2010 – the best-selling cotton variety in Texas for four years.  Bollgard II XtendFlex cotton varieties launched in 2015.  DP 1646 B2XF launched in 2016, which quickly became the top-planted variety in the United States.

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COTTON FARMING | JUNE 2022

Eric Best, Deltapine cotton product manager, evaluates a New Product Evaluator plot in Georgia.  Bollgard 3 XtendFlex cotton varieties launched in 2018.  Class of ’20 and ’21 cotton varieties raise the bar on Bollgard 3 XtendFlex performance potential.  Deltapine Bollgard 3 ThryvOn Cotton with XtendFlex Technology cotton varieties advanced in 2021.

NPE Grower Reviews

NPE growers involved in the program have trust and confidence in new Deltapine products. Here is what NPE growers had to say going into year 15: Coley Bailey in Mississippi said, “The NPE program has allowed me to adopt new varieties quicker and plant more acres to them because I have the confidence they can perform, and the variety performance is getting better when you look at where we were in yield potential in 2008 compared to today.”

Jason Rackler in West Texas said, “The NPE program allows growers to work with Deltapine to identify the various challenges we face on our West Texas dryland and irrigated acres.

As a result of this partnership, Deltapine continues to focus on delivering variety candidates that fit our diverse region. We look forward to continuing this partnership the next 15 years.”

Neil Lee in Georgia said, “Local growers stop by NPE plots and the gin to ask about the varieties because they are confident in the real-farm information being collected on these new varieties.”

More than 200 NPE growers across all regions of the Cotton Belt will plant and evaluate large-scale plots of Deltapine Class of ’23 variety candidates this season, growing and managing them through harvest. Their feedback will help determine the Class of ’23 cotton varieties, which will be announced in December. For more about the Deltapine NPE program, visit Deltapine.com/NPE. Deltapine contributed this information.

COTTONFARMING.COM

The Pilot Is The Hero

BY JULIE MURPHREE

More Bang For The Buck

“Abnormally wet weather conditions … make aerial application an indispensable tool for ensuring high yields,” said Andrew Moore, CEO of the National Agricultural Aviation Association, in an article regarding aerial application and challenging conditions. He went on to explain that while unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV, also known as drones) technology is Arizona Farm improving, even large UAVs used for agriculBureau features ture are slow. So far, the typical UAV sprays a video on this on average seven to 10 acres an hour. During topic at https:// a 10-hour day of applications, this equates to bit.ly/3JgcSw0. only 70 to 100 acres treated per UAV. Of note, aircraft used for aerial application hold between 100 and 800 gallons of product. UAVs don’t have payloads approaching anything this size, nor can they achieve speeds even close to the 90 to 150 mph speeds piloted ag aircraft travel across a field during an application.

“The USDA estimates the average farm size in the United States is 444 acres, and the most important principle in combatting a pest is to eradicate it immediately before it spreads,” Moore said. “A single manned aircraft can spray upwards of 2,000 acres a day. This is one of the benefits of manned aerial application that is unmatched by current UAV technology.”

Perhaps Moore’s bias shines through because he represents aviation that has a pilot in the cockpit. But when large acreage becomes part of the equation, Arizona’s farms are even bigger than the USDA’s 400-acre average.

Did You Know?

Technology continues to advance the phrase, “more with less.” Both the National Agricultural Aviation Association and USDA point out that since aerial application can result in greater crop harvest yields, less land is being used for agricultural production, preserving wetlands and ecosystems important to TWITTER: @COTTONFARMING

NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL AVIATION ASSOCIATION

C

oming from a family of pilots, I was again struck by the power of aviation when I read that a single aircraft flown by a pilot can spray thousands of acres in a day. Still, some might say, “So what?” Our farmers and ranchers don’t think “so what” when they’re faced with wet soil conditions, remote locations, rolling terrain or dense plant foliage while battling a powerful and rapidly moving pest infestation. For Arizona, it’s also about large tracts of land.

I landed on this topic thanks to Arizona Department of Agriculture’s Jack Peterson, associate director of the Environmental and Plant Services Division. “Aerial application professionals [pilots] are often underappreciated — all they do to prepare, to be licensed, the concerns they face, the technology they use and so much more.”

Serving the agriculture and forestry sectors for 100 years, America’s aerial application industry of piloted aircraft is still the truest means of getting it done big, fast and right. Large and often remote areas can be treated quickly, far faster than any other form of application, especially when pest infestations are quickly destroying the crops.

Today’s manned aircraft used in agriculture applications come equipped with built-in crash protection. carbon sequestration and wildlife habitat.

According to the NAAA, aerial application is conducted in all 50 states by licensed pilots, treating an average of 130 million acres of cropland each year — basically 28% to 30% of all croplands in the country. Not only do pilots have to hold the traditional pilot’s license, but they also must be an ag operator under FAA oversight.

Additionally, they must renew their license in crop protection from the pesticide regulatory agency in the state, most commonly the state’s department of agriculture. These rigorous standards ensure protection for the pilot, for agriculture and for the security of our food system.

Plus, manned aerial application isn’t just for agriculture.

Nearly 100% of forest protection applications are made by the agricultural aviation industry. In addition to agricultural aviation, the industry provides firefighting and public health application services to combat disease-carrying mosquitoes.

Findings from the latest NAAA survey (2019) reveal the industry has grown. In the previous survey (2012), NAAA reported approximately 1,350 ag aviation businesses in the United States. The results of the 2019 survey report approximately 1,560 ag aviation businesses today are operational, a 15.5% increase.

“Knowing all that these applicators must contend with and know, the outdated term of endearment no longer fits. They are not ‘crop dusters,’ they are professional aerial applicators,” said Arizona Department of Agriculture’s Peterson.

Ultimately, while technology in traditional and non-traditional aerial application improves, wet soil conditions, remote locations, rolling terrain and dense plant foliage — along with hundreds of acres requiring treatment — continue to drive the use of a trained and licensed pilot in a cockpit. Plus, plant-nutrient application and even cover crop seed spreading drive the use of manned aircraft, again most often because of vast areas to cover.

Julie Murphree is the Arizona Farm Bureau outreach director. This article originally appeared in the January issue of Arizona Agriculture.

JUNE 2022 | COTTON FARMING

15

Specialists Speaking

2022 Planting Progress FLORIDA David Wright

Cotton crop production costs have historically increased 3% to 5% yearly, but they have doubled for the year 2021 to 2022 for most inputs. Cotton technology helps farmers manage the crop through the technology in the seed and seed treatment, and financial risks have increased, making it necessary that high yields are made.

Irrigation for cotton has increased due to these increased production costs putting more strain on surface and ground water.

Our research has shown that high yields can be made without irrigation if proper rotations were used and cotton was planted after winter grazing (rye/oats). Cotton grown after winter grazing versus after cover crops without grazing has greater rooting depth. It also has higher soil nitrate and water uptake. This leads to yields achieved without irrigation comparable to those of irrigated cotton in a continuous peanut/cotton rotation without winter grazing.

As energy costs get higher, growers can look at benefits of cover crops and use of strip tillage, along with better rotations. Cotton yields after winter grazing have increased by 10% to 30% or more, resulting in a system that decreases risks to the grower while being able to integrate livestock for more diversity in the farm operation.

June is critical for cotton management (weed control, nitrogen, growth regulator) to get early fruit set for early maturity to reduce potential pesticide and irrigation needs. Most N needs of the crop should be met during the month of June as the cotton is squaring, and no N should be applied later than the third week of bloom. wright@ufl.edu

GEORGIA Camp Hand

In South Georgia, the gnats are coming out. This signifies two things: 1. Field season is in full swing, and 2.

It is getting hot out there.

It has warmed up fast, the sun shines brightly, and lately, it seems like there has been a slight to heavy breeze every day. For many, these are signs of the sweet summertime that Kenny Chesney refers to in his song “Summertime.” But some growers in Georgia could use a rain.

As I write this May 16, rains have been hit or miss across the state. From the conversations I have had with county agents, it seems like the growers that have gotten rains have been able to take advantage and get their crop planted. Meanwhile, some growers I have talked to say, “Yep, I could see it from my house, but I didn’t get a drop. (*Insert neighbor’s name here*) got an inch on their entire place, but it missed me.” Although this is the case, even the folks that are getting the rains are losing moisture quickly.

I talked to one of our station directors on the phone this morning who said they got exactly what they needed last Friday (a long, slow rain, totaling an inch), but with the wind, intense sun and rising temps, they are losing moisture quicker than they would like. Even folks who planted into moisture are considering replanting because the seed imbibed water and began germinating. But those seed have now died because the moisture was gone so fast. Although this pattern-like drying out at some point in May seems to be the “norm,” it doesn’t make it any less frustrating.

Even though this is the case across our state, we are amazingly “on par” with our planting progress. The crop progress report for May 16 currently has us at 39% planted, which is slightly behind our five-year average of 42% planted. This bodes really well for us because we can get our crop planted in a hurry when the moisture is there. Ideally, we would

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COTTON FARMING | JUNE 2022

want to spread out planting dates and disperse that risk a little bit. But if our backs are against the wall, we can make it happen.

If you have any questions, your local UGA county Extension agent and specialists are here to help! camphand@uga.edu

NORTH CAROLINA Keith Edmisten

We had some good planting weather in the later part of April followed by a typical cool spell in early May. Temperatures returned to normal by mid-May. As I am writing this, we are probably 60% planted and should be near 90% by the end of the week (May 20) if rains do not delay planting.

It is still too early to tell how much replanting may go on, particularly with the cotton planted during the cool spell in early May. Additionally, localized hailstorms on the evening of May 16 may necessitate replanting in some fields.

Soil temperatures and the weather outlooks are good as of May 16 and hopefully will allow growers to complete planting by May 25. Growers will be able to turn their attention to weed control and evaluating thrips pressure. We will likely have some cotton in June that is still young enough to suffer thrips damage if the pressure is heavy. keith_edmisten@ncsu.edu

TENNESSEE Tyson Raper

Tennessee had a rather challenging corn planting window with few opportunities to put that crop in during April. Fortunately, a very good window opened on the first day of May and while a few used the first few days of that window to wrap up corn planting, most had switched into cotton by May 5.

As I write this on May 16, I suspect the state may be close to 75% planted. Severe thunderstorms moved through over the past weekend (5/13-5/15), and some isolated hail damage has been reported.

But generally speaking, the rain has been welcomed.

The thrips forecast model by North Carolina State suggested our earliest planted cotton may move past the susceptible growth stage with little pressure, and it looks like that may come true. The model currently suggests pressure for cotton planted late last week and through this week to be considerably higher.

Keep in mind that we have seen a shift in product efficacy, and acephate is no longer providing the same level of control at the rates we used a few years back. While increasing the rate of acephate applied is an option, likely the better option is choosing another product. By the time you read this in June, Dr. Sebe Brown with the University of Tennessee will have additional information on rates and product selection on our website at news.utcrops.com. traper@utk.edu

ALABAMA Steve M. Brown

I’m concerned. It is mid-May, and we’re DRY, very dry, with little prospects for change over the next couple of weeks … except for escalating temperatures. The majority of our crop is yet to emerge, and we’re proceeding to plant into marginal soil moisture or in some cases, almost no moisture at all. We’re in trouble.

Maybe I’m overly biased by what I see day in and day out. Reports from distant parts of Alabama suggest conditions better than I encounter most days. Hopefully, things are better than I perceive.

COTTONFARMING.COM

Specialists Speaking I realize we’re “small potatoes” in the cotton world and that if a single hill didn’t come up in Alabama, the market would hardly notice. But the December futures price, which marched right past the $1.25 mark on May 12, indicates there are lots of production challenges across the Belt and maybe the entire globe.

This is unprecedented territory for a crop that is not yet fully in the ground. What an opportunity!

The rise in December futures reflects the steepness of our challenges. Dry weather. Labor issues. Shortages of crop protection chemicals, equipment and parts. Soaring costs for fertilizer, chemicals, fuel, etc.

Stand establishment is an obvious big, early step in this pursuit. Given prevailing conditions, we’ll probably have to live with less than ideal populations in some fields. If you’re aiming to make a crop, a half-stand is better than no stand. Even with counts around one plant per foot, assuming consistency of stand and minimal three-foot skips, we can make strong yields … if the weather turns and we get some relief.

If we can just get the crop out of the ground… cottonbrown@ auburn.edu

MISSISSIPPI Brian Pieralisi

Cotton is off to a good start in Mississippi! I wanted to lead off with this statement because it’s been quite a while since this statement has been true — at least in our region. Soil temperatures reached 65 degrees during the last few days in April. Despite a couple of cool nights, cotton growers experienced two weeks of great planting weather during the optimal planting window. The biggest concern facing growers was having adequate moisture for a stand.

As I write this May 16, the majority of Mississippi cotton acres are in the ground. Warm day time temperatures have expedited the emergence process, with many acres experiencing a successful stand. I have received few reports of emergence issues. Recent rains provided enough moisture for most marginal stand areas while activating PRE herbicides, which puts the crop in pretty good shape for this time of the year.

Some of the older cotton is experiencing high thrips pressure, which needs to be addressed to avoid maturity delays. It’s time to consider nitrogen management strategies. With increased fertilizer costs, N-use

efficiency is important, especially if considering reducing rates. Therefore, splitting applications to minimize N losses could be beneficial in reduced N scenarios.

Finally, properly managing plant growth is best when started early. If the crop is not managed properly and early with PGRs, the result could be excessive vegetative growth and an unwanted rank canopy. It’s best to be proactive rather than reactive in terms of a PGR management strategy. bkp4@msstate.edu

ARKANSAS Bill Robertson

This is the fourth year in a row that cool and wet weather has significantly slowed cotton planting. Planting progress the last three seasons was slow, with approximately half of our intended acres in the ground mid-May. However, the last few seasons represent our best years on record regarding yield per acre.

The 2022 Crop Progress report by USDA-NASS estimated cotton planting at 53% on May 15. Favorable weather forecast is encouraging that we can get most of our crop in by May 20. Our old rule of thumb that up to a two% loss of yield potential may be experienced for every day planting occurs after May 20 is an important consideration for late-season planting decisions.

The first 40 days in the life of a cotton plant sets the foundation for yield and fiber quality potential. Pest management issues are generally the greatest concerns for our young crop. However, as we move into the next few weeks in June, other factors including fertility, soil moisture and stress become more critical.

Irrigation water management is likely our next big challenge. There are many programs, tools and practices available that producers can use to help improve irrigation water-use efficiency. Everyone who uses poly pipe should be using Delta Plastics’ Pipe Planner, a computerized hole selection tool.

We want to go into squaring with the plant developing a new node every 2.5 to 3 days. This will put us on track to having 9 to 10 nodes above white flower at first flower that we need in Arkansas to achieve the yield potential we want and need. Contact your local county Extension agent for more information. brobertson@uada.edu

The majority of Mississippi cotton acres are in the ground. Warm day time temperatures have expedited the emergence process, with many acres experiencing a successful stand.

TWITTER: @COTTONFARMING

JUNE 2022 | COTTON FARMING

17

Specialists Speaking LOUISIANA Matt Foster

Cotton planting in Louisiana is almost complete. This year’s crop was planted very quickly due to ideal weather and field conditions. As I write this May 13, approximately 90% of the crop has been planted, compared to approximately 45% this time last year. Temperatures have been excellent and most cotton is emerging within four to six days. Replanting is occurring in some areas due to soil crusting issues, and some planting operations will cease this week due to dry field conditions. Overall, the crop is looking good so far.

In Louisiana, cotton is generally planted in mid-April to mid-May. Fortunately, the majority of our cotton crop this year will be planted during the optimal planting window. Research has shown that cotton planted in late May to early June can see up to a 25% reduction in lint yield.

With dry field conditions currently delaying planting in some areas of the state, some of the 2022 cotton crop may be planted later. For late-planted cotton, growers may need to fine tune their management practices for insect control, N fertilization and plant growth regulator (PGR) in order to avoid a delayed harvest. Thrips damage and excess N can delay maturity. Late-planted cotton often grows more vigorously compared to an early planted crop, so a timelier PGR approach is often needed. mfoster@agcenter.lsu.edu

TEXAS Murilo Maeda

By the time you receive this issue of Cotton Farming, we will have passed our first insurance deadline of May 31 for counties in our northern-most areas (mostly those in the Texas Panhandle). The June 5 and 10 deadlines will be soon approaching as well, however, for areas around and south of Lubbock.

As I write this in mid-May, the region has finally seen some widespread rainfall in a straight line from Denver City (Southwest) to Canadian (Northeast), going through Lubbock but generally favoring areas east of I-27. Rainfall amounts ranging from a trace to as much as 2.5 inches, with localized higher amounts, were seen. However, when considering the big picture, this isolated event was unfortunately not enough to even make a dent in the severe drought we currently see in the region.

In fact, the May 12th drought monitor still has 100% of the northern and southern high plains region under extreme or exceptional drought.

This has been the driest Jan. – April period on record for us (yes, even “beating” 2011). While planters have been rolling already, many are still waiting on a good planting rain and/or dusting in their crop. According to the May 9th USDA-NASS Texas crop progress report, 22% of cotton acres have already been planted across the state (up 2% from the previous week and just 2% below last year’s planting progress).

We expect planting activities to significantly ramp up in the next few

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COTTON FARMING | JUNE 2022

weeks as our growers consider planting capacity and calendar dates. Assuming we can get enough moisture to get this crop up and alive, we are likely looking at a late crop that will need to be managed for earliness accordingly. When you receive the July issue of Cotton Farming, we’ll have a much better idea of what our planted acres look like. I will be sure to update you at that time. mmaeda@ag.tamu.edu

TEXAS Ben McKnight

As of early May, approximately 22% of the 2022 cotton acres have been planted in Texas. This is about right on par with planting progress over the past five years.

Dry conditions prevail across much of Texas, and soil moisture is short or very short in 82% of the state.

Cotton is blooming in the Lower Rio Grande Valley as hot, dry conditions continue to persist in the region. Cotton in the LRGV is beginning to show signs of moisture stress, and growers with the capability to irrigate have started running water across fields.

Further north in the Coastal Bend, cotton acres will be reduced this year due to a tremendous lack of moisture. Preliminary reports anticipate 100,000 or more acres to be zeroed out due to drought conditions and poor or no emergence.

In the Upper Gulf Coast, soil moisture conditions have been better than the Coastal Bend, but things are beginning to dry out rather quickly. Some of the earliest planted cotton in this region is progressing past matchhead square, and insect scouting has shifted towards keeping an eye out for fleahopper pressure. Growers in this region have also started to water cotton on irrigated fields.

Cotton acres in the Blackland Prairie region received some much-needed rainfall in the second week of May, and some areas received two to three-inches of precipitation. Most of the cotton fields that I’ve looked at recently in the Blacklands have an average growth stage of two to three true leaves, but there are still some fields just now emerging with recent rainfall. Thrips damage has been quite prevalent in several areas within the Blacklands this year, but timely applications have done a good job preventing further damage.

Moisture conditions in the Rolling Plains are similar to much of the state, and growers there are awaiting additional rainfall and soil moisture to get the crop planted. bmcknight@tamu.edu

ARIZONA Randy Norton

With the planting season behind us and the crop off to a good start across the state, we begin to look at early and mid-season management. For the most part, the spring planting season has been kind with very little need for replanting across the state. Healthy root systems developed early will lead to vigorous and efficient plants moving into the middle part of the summer.

With the cost of inputs, specifically fertilizers, it is critical to be as efficient as possible to maximize utilization of applied fertilizers by the crop. Research has demonstrated that the most efficient and best-utilized application of nitrogen (N) fertilizer occur when those applications are made during the crop growth window of first square to peak bloom. Applications made prior to first square are typically less efficient as uptake of N by the crop does not pick up significantly until first square.

We have also learned that applications made after peak bloom tend to lead to delayed maturity and a crop that is difficult to defoliate efficiently.

Targeting the application window of first square to peak bloom will maximize N uptake by the crop and reduce the potential for losses to the system beyond crop uptake. For more information on this topic and other related to mid-season crop management, visit our website at extension. arizona.edu/crops-soils. rnorton@cals.arizona.edu COTTONFARMING.COM

Ginners Marketplace COTTON

COTTON FARMING IS THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE GINNING INDUSTRY.

Stay On Top Of Seed House Safety And Maintenance Elevated seed houses are valuable for short-term seed storage, wet seed storage and gins with limited yard space. Design improvements allow overhead seed houses to be an efficient method for loading trucks from flat-storage houses and gins.

When fully loaded, a double-hopper seed house can weigh 200,000 pounds or more. Structural integrity is critical.

Volatile weather can put older seed houses at risk, especially those not properly maintained. Through the years, moisture and chemicals from seed along with humidity cause the inevitable — rust and corrosion. Since the damage primarily occurs inside the seed house, it is out of sight and mind. If a structural failure occurs, personnel are at risk of injury.

All cotton gin managers should review their overhead seed house safety and maintenance procedures before the start of the 2022 cotton ginning season.

Observe Safety Checklist  Never go beneath a seed hopper that contains seed.  Provide proper fall protection for all ladders and catwalks.  Do not ever enter the seed trailer or climb on the side walls of the trailer while beneath a hopper that contains seed.

 Post decals, “DANGER – DO NOT ENTER AREA BELOW HOPPER DOORS WHEN SEED IS IN STORAGE HOUSE.” These are free from your local ginning association or from www.cliffgranberrycorp.com  Contact your ginning association or loss control representative to get a copy of the “Cottonseed System Safety Policy” for employees, visitors and outside contractors, such as seed haulers. This is also available at www.cliffgranberrycorp.com.  Be sure to use all other known gin safety procedures daily.

Maintenance And Repair Tips  All proper safety precautions including the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) should be taken by all personnel who perform maintenance and repairs.  Clean out all seed.  Clean hopper panels to remove seed oil.  Smooth the inside surfaces of the hopper panels again.  Carefully examine the entire seed house for stress fractures and loose hardware, especially if industrial vibrators have been used.  Remove rust and corrosion.

Lummus Ag Technology wants to express its appreciation to our many loyal customers for their continued support and business. With the challenges we face in our industry, we are continually working to evolve and adapt to changing market conditions and customer needs.

Lummus offers a wide range of products and services, all geared to help your operation be efficient and profitable. Regardless of the project scope, contact Lummus to discuss your goals and needs to ensure your success.

Just a short list of items we offer:  Gin Dor-Les® and E.E. Dor-Les® Press upgrades 16” diameter Bottom Ram Conversion Hydraulic Tramper/Pusher Conversion Premier™ III Series Hydraulic Pumping Units Press Rebuilds (strain rods, boxes, sills, etc.)  Quality OEM Repair Parts  Unmatched Technical Service

Cotton Ginners Marketplace

 All-new complete Gin Plants  Ginning Machinery (individual machines, stand-alone systems, presses, etc.)  Press Consoles and Main Control Consoles  Burner and Moisture Unit Gas Train/Controls upgrades  Air Monitoring and Fire Detection Kits  DGC 2020 Gin and Feeder Controls

The future is bright! Cotton prices have optimism at levels we haven’t seen in a while. A renewed commitment to customer service has Lummus excited for the future – join us as we move forward!

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TWITTER: @COTTONFARMING

Physical Address: 225225 Bourne Boulevard • Savannah, Georgia 31408-9586 Physical Address: Bourne Boulevard • Savannah, Georgia 31408-9586USA USA Mailing Address: P.O. Box 929929 • Pooler, Georgia 31322-0929 USA Mailing Address: P.O. Box • Pooler, Georgia 31322-0929 USA Phone: (912) 447-9000 • Fax: (912) 447-9250 Phone: (912) 447-9000 • Fax: (912) 447-9250 TollToll Free (USA Only): 1-800-4LUMMUS (1-800-458-6687) Free (USA Only): 1-800-4LUMMUS (1-800-458-6687) Web Site: www.lummus.com • E-mail: lummus.sales@lummus.com Web Site: www.lummus.com • E-mail: lummus.sales@lummus.com

2022 Lummus ©© 2022 Lummus AgCorporation Technology

JUNE 2022 | COTTON FARMING

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Benefits Of The Catwalk Best industry practices include using a trailer-viewing catwalk mounted on the outside of the vertical columns, about 9.5 feet above the driveway. This structure provides a good vantage point to see into the tops of the trailers to determine when to open and close the hopper doors.

Jim Granberry, president of Cliff Granberry Corp., contributed this article. Email jim@cliffgranberrycorp.com or call 972-381-8899.

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TCGA Scholarship Has Been Established To Honor Tony D. Williams At the Texas Cotton Ginners’ Association’s member reception, Barry Street announced a scholarship had been established honoring TCGA’s Tony Williams, who officially retired at the end of April after 33 years of service.

Williams has served as the organization’s executive vice president for nearly all his tenure with TCGA. The official name of the newly established scholarship will be the Tony D. Williams Endowed Scholarship for Cotton. Williams will be engaged moving forward on the requireTony ments for scholarship and the completion of Williams the scholarship framework.

The association thought this would be a great way to honor Williams for his service. If you would like to contribute to the scholarship online, please visit https://bit.ly/3yJ3aAq. To contribute by mail, checks should be made payable to Texas Tech Foundation. Just note “Tony D. Williams Endowed Scholarship for Cotton” on the check. Send your gift to: Texas Tech Foundation, Box 42123, Lubbock, TX 79409.

If you have any questions regarding the scholarship, please contact Aaron Nelsen at the TCGA office (512-476-8388).

Thank you for your consideration.

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CCGGA’s Rodriquez Completes Prestigious Ag Leadership Program

through the books we read, people we met and the unforgettable experiences we lived.”

Rodriquez ended her remarks by encouraging her classmates.

“As we move forward in our lives, I challenge us to continue to be open minded, inquisitive, empathetic, passionate, resilient and grateful. Leave your impact on your families, communities, ag industry and the world.”

Truly words to live by, not just for her colleagues, but for all of us.

CCGGA President and CEO Roger Isom remarked after the event, “Priscilla was made for the CALF program, and the CALF program was made for her. The association is incredibly proud of her for this accomplishment, and her speech is indicative of her growth and just the type of leader she has started to become. The association and the agricultural industry are lucky to have her.”

Cotton’s Calendar  June 2-7: Cotton Growers Warehouse Association Annual Convention, Hyatt Centric Park City, 3551 N Escala Ct, Park City, Utah  June 8-11: Cotton Warehouse Association of America Annual Convention, Coeur d’Alene Golf & Spa Resort , Coeur d’Alene, Idaho

June 15: PCCA Board, Delegate Body & Marketing Pool Committee Meetings, Lubbock, Texas

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June 16: Calcot Board of Directors Meeting, Phoenix, Arizona

June 22-24: ACSA’s Annual Convention, The Ritz-Carlton Lake Tahoe, Truckee, California 

 June 29-30: 2022 Arizona Cotton Ginners Annual Meeting, Little America Hotel, Flagstaff, Arizona  July 17-20: Southern Southeastern Mid-Year Board Meetings, Sheraton Bay Point, Panama City Beach, Florida 

July 21: Calcot Board of Directors Meeting, Phoenix, Arizona

Aug. 2-4: American Cotton Producers-Cotton Foundation Summer Meeting, Little Rock Marriott, 3 Statehouse Plaza, Little Rock, Arkansas 

 Aug. 17: PCCA Board, Delegate Body & Marketing Pool Committee Meetings, Lubbock, Texas  Aug. 23: PCCA South Texas Area & Marketing Pool Committee Meetings, Corpus Christi, Texas  Aug. 24-26: NCC Mid-Year Board Meeting, Hyatt Regency Newport Beach, California

Sept. 20: PCCA Board of Directors & Annual Meetings, Lubbock, Texas

Cotton Ginners Marketplace

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A journey that lasted for more than 27 months began Oct. 10, 2019, and came to a conclusion Feb. 5, 2022, for Priscilla Rodriquez, California Cotton Ginners and Growers Association director of regulatory affairs.

The journey included meetings that covered more than 125 days, not including travel and study time. It included trips to Atlanta, Georgia, and Washington, DC, as well as Germany, Poland and the Czech Republic.

Rodriquez was one of 24 members of the historic Class 50 of the California Agricultural Leadership Foundation program who completed their program where it began at California State University-Fresno in February. Disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, but not deterred, Class 50 weathered the storm to complete their business.

Rodriquez had the distinct honor of addressing the commencement for Class 50 by giving the opening speech.

She began by stating, “We started this program as strangers, quickly became friends and ultimately family. The bonds and friendships created through the program will continue on for years to come. We may all have different stories, but one thing is true for all of us. This program made a lasting impact

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COTTON FARMING | JUNE 2022

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Sept. 26: Calcot Board of Directors Meeting, Phoenix, Arizona

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Sept. 27: Calcot 95th Annual Meeting, Phoenix, Arizona

 Oct 19: PCCA Board, Delegate Body & Marketing Pool Committee Meetings, Lubbock, Texas 

Nov 18: Calcot Board of Directors Meeting, California

Dec 14: PCCA Board, Delegate Body & Marketing Pool Committee Meetings, Lubbock, Texas 

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My Turn Cotton Memories

S

o often I hear myself say, Washington. And — then suddenly it seemed like — we “What a wonderful life were off to Memphis, Tennessee, in 1982.

I have had.” Recently, Cotton Bales, cotton pictures, cotton everything soon someone said, “Tell me decorated our Memphis home as Jerome took over the about it.”

Field Director’s job — and later became Deputy Director I thought, what would I say? — at the USDA’s Field Office in Memphis. Visiting cotton How would I describe what I fields, cotton gins and cotton offices throughout the Midhave experienced in my 89 South was next on our agenda. And then that sudden years? request by Jerome for me to take him to the grocery store And, before I could think of to learn what a bar code was became a key moment. what I wanted to say, I looked The nation’s cotton crop had long been classed by hand Anne around at some of the photo- and recorded by hand. Jerome was instrumental in develBoyd graphs and memorabilia in my oping and implementing the HVI machine, which would cotton-filled house and thought class the cotton and use a bar code. Basically, it brought I would want to include a lot about how cotton has been the classing of cotton into the computer age. a major part of my life. But before I get there, let me start The problem was most farmers were very skeptical of with some other memories that come to mind as I look any new system. Especially one that the government was around my home. forcing upon them. So, Jerome not only had to recruit I see my “War Rations Book” issued to me at the age of and train staff to operate the new system, but he also had 8. I remember sitting by the radio back in western North to negotiate with individuals and organizations, both Carolina listening to the President of the United States inside and outside the government.

(Franklin D. Roosevelt) saying The annual Mid-South Gin that the Japanese had bombed “A home filled with cotton Show here in Memphis was Pearl Harbor in Hawaii — and a wonderful memory, and memories we continue to always that we were at war. we often attended all the various The next memory I see is our cotton meetings from coast to treasure today.” high school graduation yearbook coast. I think the cotton meetings from 1951. That book reminds me that I first met my held in New Orleans, Louisiana, are among my fondest. future soulmate in seventh grade when we were seated For many years, we grew a small patch of cotton in alphabetically. He ­— Julius Jerome Boyd — sat in the seat our backyard. Hal Lewis sent us seed every year. Guess I behind me, Anne Bischoff. better add modules to my cotton memory list. So many After high school graduation, it was off to college for changes. both of us — me to Western Carolina in Cullowhee, My wonderful family is pictured all over this house.

North Carolina, and Jerome to North Carolina State in Our two sons and daughter graduated from the Raleigh. And then his military picture greets me. After University of Tennessee in Knoxville. Our wonderful two years at N.C. State, Jerome served for a couple of grandchildren graduated from Ole Miss, Notre Dame years in the military. Marriage pictures are everywhere and the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, from that day, Jan. 23, 1954.

Maryland. Those pictures of graduations and fun times And then, after serving his time in the U.S. Army, sit among the cotton items and memories.

Jerome returned to N.C. State to finish school and started We still gather the family together almost every Sunday working part-time with the State Extension Service in night for what someone lovingly labeled “gather at five Elizabethtown, North Carolina. and eat at six.”

In June 1959, his 42-year cotton career began in Cotton on the mailbox, cotton on the front porch, cotColumbia, South Carolina. He worked as a field represen- ton bales and pictures throughout the house let you know tative and cotton classer in Columbia. Shortly thereafter, you are entering a home filled with cotton memories we we were transferred to the Atlanta, Georgia, office before continue to treasure today. we packed up and moved to the suburbs of Washington, — Anne Boyd D.C. We lived in Fairfax, Virginia, for 17 wonderful Cordova, Tennessee years while Jerome worked out of the USDA’s office in boyds777@bellsouth.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.

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COTTON FARMING | JUNE 2022

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Gin Up Interest, Gin Up profits Advertise in Cotton Ginners Marketplace “I’m convinced that cotton ginners read Cotton Farming.

The Cotton Ginners Marketplace section provides a high return on investment for our advertising dollars.

For many years, Cotton Farming has been an important part of our marketing efforts.”

Jim Granberry, president of Cliff Granberry Corp. of Dallas, Texas

• Generate leads, drive sales, INCREASE PROFITS! • 21,000 farmers, ginners and crop consultant subscribers • Place classified ads for equipment, sales and help wanted

Cotton Farming

Contact Associate Publisher/Sales Scott Emerson at 386-462-1532 or semerson@onegrower.com to advertise

FOCUS As challenges for producers mount this season, our team is working tirelessly to provide the latest in profitable production strategies to help boost your bottom line.

Cotton Farming To advertise, contact Associate Publisher/Sales Scott Emerson, 386-462-1532 or semerson@onegrower.com 24 COTTON FARMING | JUNE 2022 COTTONFARMING.COM