Cotton producers here on the Plains of Texas have most everything ready to go, or at least those things in their control. Plans A, B and possibly C are ready to implement as conditions change.
One item which most are good about – but sometimes need a gentle reminder of – is making sure they have a crop consultant lined up. When times are tough, there is no better investment than having a crop consultant on the payroll. A good consultant checking insect pests can pay for themselves in one trip through a field by either finding or not finding a problem. A well-timed growth regulator or adjustment in fertility, irrigation and weed control is invaluable, as well. If a producer here on the Texas High Plains needs help with this, I would refer them to the High Plains Association of Crop Consultants. Contact me for more information.
Another item I would like to mention. We often rely on established weather stations for soil temperatures when watching for “go time”. Well, nothing wrong with weather stations, but know their limitations. For one thing, permanent weather stations are placed in a non-tilled, pasture-like situation. Usually there is native grass in the immediate area, and then it could also be surrounded by other plants like small brush – basically, a much different environment than what we have in-field.
If you are one of those producers trying to grow extra-long staple (ELS)/Pima cotton here on the Texas High Plains, you are going to be watching that soil temperature like a hawk over the next few weeks, as you must get planted before the end of April.
My suggestion is always to put out your own thermometers. I would mark a spot and place a thermometer at 2-, 4- and 6-inch depths. Normally, our upland planting allows us the luxury of waiting until we hit a consistent 65 degrees in May. You are not going to have that in April. I would target 60-degree average for seven days at that 4- to 6-inch depth average, with a range no less than 55 degrees. Right now, we are at 58 degrees with a range of 52 to 63 degrees.
Be safe and Godspeed!