Rain Rain Go Away Come Again Another Day Recorder Notes

April 06, 2022 Post a Comment

Here is this week's issue of AgFax Southwest Cotton, sponsored by the Southwest team of PhytoGen cottonseed.

OVERVIEW

N deficiencies are apparent in the Upper Gulf Declension, where deluge later deluge has kept many fields flooded. The southern Blacklands are also seeing excessive rain, as is the Coastal Bend. Only cotton fiber is resilient and can frequently handle more h2o pressure than other crops, notes Ben McKnight, College Station-based AgriLife cotton fiber specialist.

Many Panhandle growers made planting deadlines, but farmers further south toward Lubbock are trying to get from behind the 8 ball, as wet conditions still have planters parked and a June 5 insurance deadline fast budgeted.

Minimal insect pressure is a positive for southern Texas fields. But don't get complacent. Kate Crumley has the latest on scouting for thrips, fleahoppers and cotton aphids.

CROP REPORTS

Randy Boman, Windstar Cotton Agronomics Managing director, Edmonson, Texas:

"I have multifariousness trials in Western Oklahoma that only received over 2 inches of rain. That was good, but overall the rain is a little untimely for that area and into the Texas Panhandle and parts of the South Plains. Many growers couldn't purchase a rain south and southwest of Amarillo this leap. Now, they can't get the crop completely planted due to excessive rainfall.

"With the rain and cool weather, much cotton will be late. Guys from down near Plainview up to Dawn and the Summit of Texas Gin kept missing rain early. They are in a clasp, beginning hoping for rain and now trying to get their crop in the basis. In the northern Panhandle toward Sunray, planting was completed on fourth dimension for many growers. Earlier fields are seeing plants up to nearly the outset true leaf. Those plants need to be managed well.

"They should be monitored for thrips to forestall any crop damage, especially that far north. Seed treatments start fizzling out on fields planted early. Plants need to exist good for you to capture rut units before fall weather hits them.

"Warmer weather condition is the key heading into June. Information technology's needed to crank upwards the cotton. We're seeing strong cotton prices – but we demand something to sell."

Rex Friesen, Southern Kansas Cotton Growers Co-op, Winfield:

"With the wet, cool atmospheric condition on elevation of higher grain prices, Kansas cotton fiber acres will likely exist down dramatically. We could come across close to forty% fewer cotton wool acres than last year. Several weeks of rain and cool temperatures have prevented most growers from planting cotton wool. People who planted in narrow windows take a adept stand up. Now they wonder how proficient the crop volition exist downwardly the route.

"Several weeks agone, growers in southwest Kansas were praying for rain later on wheat was drying up and it was also dry to plant summer crops. Then they started communicable rain and many got more than they bargained for. Cotton fiber growers who own large bale harvesting equipment will probable still plant cotton if they tin can, but those without cotton fiber equipment are looking more than at corn or milo. Nosotros'll know more in several weeks. Warm, dry out atmospheric condition would help everyone."

Kate Crumley, Texas A&G AgriLife IPM Amanuensis, Jackson, Wharton and Matagorda Counties:

"Since it has been and so moisture, areas of Upper Declension cotton are exhibiting nitrogen deficiency symptoms. Waterlogged weather can also delay constitute maturity. I've received a few questions on PGR considerations with our contempo rainfall. Likely the best arroyo with our current conditions is to use a PGR at moderate rates one time fields accept dried. Decisions should exist fabricated on a field-by-field basis.

"Insect pressure has been minimal. Even so, if you accept younger cotton, thrips are yet out in that location. Cotton fleahoppers are also nevertheless around. Fleahopper feeding causes squares to drop. The threshold for fleahoppers is 15 to 25 per 100 plants. Plants tin can recover from and compensate for foursquare loss, simply communicable fleahoppers early tin prevent heavy damage.

"Check for fleahoppers by inspecting the plant terminals once they commencement squaring. I look at 25 plants per terminate in the field and ordinarily check 100 plants total in an 80-to-100-acre field. Cheque more if the field is larger. Many fleahoppers are nymphs, well-nigh the size of aphids, but wait like smaller versions of the adults without wings. They are more mobile than aphids.

"The threshold for cotton wool aphids is 50 per leaf. If you see aphid mummies in the field that's a skillful thing. Parasitoid wasps lay eggs in the aphids. The aphid forms a mummy while the wasp larvae is pupating inside. These beneficial wasps, lady beetles and lacewings, can knock dorsum aphid populations. Treatment for aphids is rarely justified, but if you do make up one's mind to treat for aphids, do not use a pyrethroid. Pyrethroids kill beneficial insects every bit well as your target insect, but pests such equally aphids bounciness back much quicker than their predators. Their loftier reproductive rate will let their numbers to soar afterward a wide-spectrum insecticide awarding kills all their predators.

"For other crops, at that place are armyworms in pastures and sorghum. With the rain we've gotten I'm not sure any control measures have been made. Fungicide applications take been going out against northern leaf blight and southern rust in corn the past couple weeks."

Emi Kimura, Texas A&Grand AgriLife Extension Area Agronomist, Vernon:

"It is the same story hither as in many other cotton wool areas where there has been and so much untimely rain. Producers haven't been able to plant much at all. They had nigh 6 inches of pelting in the Haskell and Munday areas and more is expected on the northern Rolling Plains.

"It is hurting irrigated producers the most considering they need to become the crop in. Dryland producers typically plant later on to take advantage of skilful soil moisture. I haven't seen much cotton wool up. Peanuts are besides late in getting planted.

"Wheat is about ready for harvest merely it is also muddied for combines to become into the field. If it keeps raining my next concern is sprouting in the head. Libation weather condition helped to heave yield potential, merely we need drier weather to harvest."

Suhas Vyavhare, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Entomologist, Lubbock:

"With the excessive rain and cool conditions, planting has been slow. As a result, things are quiet insect-wise. Thrips are not yet a problem. If cotton fiber is upwardly, rain is likely washing them off. Merely growers still need to be on the lookout for thrips and wireworms. If there are wireworms, growers might need to replant.

"Thrips tin can infest the plant as before long as they come out of the ground. If young thrips are apparent on very young plants that indicates seed treatments are not doing their jobs. If growers must spray, they should make applications at near the beginning true leaf. That'south the ideal time."

Ben McKnight, Texas A&Grand AgriLife Extension Cotton fiber Specialist, College Station:

"It's very moisture and another organization blew through last night. There are reports of ii inches and perchance more. There have been more than 6 inches of rain in recent weeks.

I've had many questions on how long cotton can handle flooded conditions. Cotton is fairly resilient compared to other crops. It can handle flooded fields for about seven days, depending on how much of the institute is underwater. There is a natural urge to hit it with a growth regulator, but make sure that's a prudent determination. Cotton wool is simply sitting in that location in a lag stage. Information technology will take a while for it to vigorously get-go normal growth patterns. If PGRs are applied too soon when plants are in early maturity, it could hurt yields. Exist cautious when applying PGRs early.

"I'm driving through the Brazos Lesser this morn (June one). I've noticed earlier planted cotton is performing ameliorate than afterwards planted fields. Guys were able to get their residual herbicides out and weed control is better than the later on stuff. I saw ane field of later cotton wool that had pigweed about 1.5 anxiety tall. I'yard afraid that volition require some hoe work.

"At that place are also thrips in the later cotton wool that'due south at 2 to three leaves. Seed treatments are typically cleaved downwards past that fourth dimension, so spraying will be needed in those situations."

Tim Ballinger, Ballinger Innovative Agriculture, Dumas, Texas:

"Northern Panhandle growers had a good atmospheric condition window to go their cotton planted before the May 31 insurance deadline. But a contempo line of rain and absurd temperatures slowed emergence. Early cotton was stunted from absurd weather before we saw the 80s last week. Then a connected catamenia of thunderstorms and rain accompanied by low temps has slowed growth. Almost cotton wool is either just emerging or at cotyledon. Much took 14 days to emerge. Nosotros're due to warm upwardly this calendar week but it isn't pegged to reach the 80s until Fri. We should encounter cotton at beginning true leaf by then.

"As growth continues, we'll begin treatments for thrips. Herbicide applications will also be considered, every bit a few Kochia weeds escaped burndown applications in March and April. Pigweed escapes are also showing up. Most pre-emerge treatments are property off pigweed, just escapes volition require spraying. When we treat for thrips, we'll also apply either glyphosate or glufosinate herbicides to control the weeds.

"A few farmers halted corn planting to get cotton in the ground. Corn that's up is yellowish due to the cool, wet weather. We just got started on conventional and seed milo planting almost May xx.

"Wheat is enjoying the overnice rain and irksome grain filling. Much dryland wheat is at half grain fill to the soft dough stage. Both the irrigated and dryland wheat looks expert and guys are carrying it to harvest due to strong grain prices. That'southward even with many dairies from Dumas to Dalhart trying to purchase wheat silage for their forage needs."

Murilo Maeda, Texas A&K AgriLife Extension Cotton Specialist, Lubbock:

"When I commencement moved hither folks told me we don't complain about rain — and I am not. But nosotros demand to dry out out to terminate planting. Most of our region has seen significant rainfall the past few weeks. Areas along Hwy 84 from Muleshoe to Sweetwater through Lubbock received 2.5 to 3.5 inches of rain in the past 5 days. With our first insurance deadline of May 31 passed for the northern counties, our focus is now on the June 5 deadline for folks around Lubbock.

"Quite a few planters have been running, merely many are parked due to wet fields. Rain continues to exist in the forecast and our challenge is to become this crop planted on time. While southern counties can plant through June 10, growers in the Lubbock region should consider shorter maturity varieties if planting practices extend much from here.

"Along with the pelting, strong winds and hail have been reported, so information technology may be later this week earlier we have a full picture of what damage to the early crop looks similar."

David Drake, Texas A&One thousand AgriLife Extension IPM Agent, Northeast Texas:

"We are wet and take merely about 25% of our cotton fiber planted. We have another week to terminate but received another four inches of rain yesterday (May 31). Cotton that'due south upwards looks good in higher elevated spots, but not so well in lower areas.

"Nosotros expect to run across high thrips numbers. Growers need to watch closely for them because there are lots of grasses and weeds that are hosts for thrips and other bugs. I suspect nosotros'll likewise meet fleahoppers when cotton wool begins squaring. Worms aren't in the picture nevertheless, only we know in that location are areas s of us with worms.

"Wheat is set up for harvest if growers could get in and get it out. Some fields were hurt by the freeze, which will cost them yield harm. Spotty hail likewise hurt some wheat production. Corn looks expert if growers got their nitrogen and herbicides practical on a timely ground. The same goes for soybeans and sorghum. They're a mix of excellent to poor."

Justin Chopelas, JWC Consulting, Odem, Texas/Coastal Curve:

"We just finished the wettest May on record and it's raining the first day of June. In over xx years of ingather consulting, I can't call up this long a duration of wet fields. The ingather is 95% bloomed. But information technology'southward so waterlogged nosotros're doing all we can to keep it from growing away. We're flying on Pix applications, and I see the demand for further PGR treatments as the ingather progresses.

"It's a problem getting caught up on everything. We couldn't sidedress and couldn't get herbicide work done. Yields could be limited to almost 900 pounds per acre if the rain continues. However, right now there'due south a hell of a corn and grain crop. Corn could striking 150 bushels per acre, which is strong for the Littoral Bend. Sorghum could hit 7,000 bushels. So, at that place is a bright side, but nosotros withal demand warm, dry atmospheric condition to help the cotton."

Randy Norton, University of Arizona Extension Cotton Specialist, Safford:

"We're planting our last cotton trial correct now (June one). It's all cotton-following grains, so it's afterward than usual. Overall, nigh 99% of the land's cotton is planted. We have cotton fiber in beginning bloom around Yuma and some still but coming up elsewhere. So far things expect adept, although there has been some replanting. Spring has been a little libation than usual, with fewer days over 100 degrees. But the 100s are mutual now in the lower desert growing areas.

"Water is a concern. While areas in Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas are seeing much rain, nosotros're dry, even for Arizona. At that place's promise for summer monsoons. Atmospheric condition forecasters are predicting it. Nosotros hope those forecasts are authentic."

Jaime Lopez, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Amanuensis, Frio County:

"Cotton is at about the 4-leaf stage. It'south coming forth just it's belatedly. Many farmers waited considering we were pretty dry out up until May. I've not heard of any thrips so far only guys are scouting for them. They will also need to watch for fleahoppers as plants get gear up to square. There is no disease force per unit area in cotton.

"Right now, we're in the middle of planting peanuts after merely finishing wheat harvest. Wheat yields were poor. We will be skillful to get 25 to 30 bushels per acre compared to a normal of twoscore bushels. The freak snowstorm and common cold temperatures got u.s.a..

"Corn looks good, and sorghum is merely heading. We're harvesting sweet corn right now."

ALSO Of import

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Texas Blacklands: Cool, Wet Conditions Delay Wheat Harvest, Cause Problems in Corn, Cotton fiber

Thompson on Cotton fiber: Uncertainties Could Lead to Possible Rally Strength

Shurley on Cotton: Choppy Trade on Weather Doubt, Support Remains

Cleveland on Cotton wool: Less Backing and Less Filling

Weekly Cotton wool Market Review – USDA

AgFax Southwest Cotton is published by AgFax Media LLC

Ernst Undesser , Editorial Manager. Information technology covers cotton product in Arizona, Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas.

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