As is always the case, cotton is all the board from dry seed in the ground waiting on that rain, to the small percentage of cotton acres on the other end of the spectrum which are near squaring and making good progress.
However, it is the majority in between which is of most concern. We have many acres of dryland which are up that will run out of moisture soon before the end of June for sure if it does not come a rain. And then both dryland and irrigated acres which have been exposed to all sorts of stresses such as wind, blowing sand, seedling disease, or chilling injury.
My estimates, as of the writing of this article in mid-June, is that we have approximately 60% of our cotton acres that will have a visit from an insurance adjuster. This is based on very poor viable cotton plant stand counts. Tough situation.
Here are my priorities as we go into July:
• Fertility – Where are you at in reaching your realistic yield goal? Be prepared to seize the moment to fertilize.
• Irrigation – Most plants still need to root down. But make sure not to allow undo stress on irrigated cotton plants as they move into squaring – you can induce square shed.
• Weed Control – Hopefully, you have a good at-plant burndown and residual in place. I am seeing quite a bit of pigweed emergence and volunteer milo. This hot weather may not be very conducive for Liberty. Roundup applications are doing a good job of catching most everything besides the pigweed and marestail.
• Plant Map – What is the plant telling you? Will it need a plant growth regulator with good moisture, heat, and fertility? • Insect Scouting – Never let
• Insect Scouting – Never let your guard down. Watch the thrips, wireworms, Lygus, and fleahoppers in cotton.