COTTON A great majority of our cotton acres went in the last week of May through the first 10 days of June. So, very little cotton is yet to square. Earlier planted cotton which survived all sorts of challenges has 1-4 first position squares, with very good retention (+90%). No fleahoppers have been found on cotton causing issues based on my scouting efforts. I can find fleahoppers though in field margins hanging out on silverleaf nightshade; a few Lygus are present as well and other weed species. So, be vigilant and scout frequently. We want to achieve better than 70% square retention after the first 3 weeks of squaring. I will mention that I did find a solitary cotton aphid in a terminal down around Ropesville on Tuesday (6/24), lady beetles were present as well.
Based on plant mapping information our internode length is very tight (average less than 0.5”). When temperatures go back into the mid 90’s, if we continue to receive some rainfall, and you get your fertility in place, I might anticipate more rapid growth over the next month. Since we are a few weeks behind ideal growth development, I would highly recommend a light dose (4-8 oz) of a plant growth regulator (mepiquat chloride) over the next few weeks (by July 15). This can help with fruit retention, balance out vegetative growth with reproductive growth, and can enhance maturity at end of season. Also, if we do have a late growth spurt it will be easier to manage having already accumulated some PGR ppm into the plant.
Fortunately, we still have humidity to extend the use of glufosinate (Liberty) herbicide as a burndown for postemerge weed control. Be sure to include a good residual.
CORN Corn leafhoppers have been detected in Lubbock County by Dr. Pat Porter. We are currently using vac detection equipment in area fields to check for presence here locally.