Cotton Grower® magazine’s CROP SCAN AgReport for early May shows planters are beginning to roll in most parts of the Cotton Belt as temperatures rise, but wet weather is putting a damper on planting progress in the upper Mid-South. Cotton is up in south and central Texas, while west Texas growers still need more moisture than some recent showers have provided.
Crop Consultants.
Planters are ready, soil temperatures are good and getting better, and yet we just have not had a good widespread rain event. That has been the pattern – isolated rain on less than 10% of the land area, and the remaining 90% receives less than a tenth of an inch rain. Makes it very difficult to plant right now, at the same time, knowing we lose the “earliness” advantage.
Looking at early season pests, we are not anticipating any wholesale problems. Thrips have seemed to be very light in their current host of wheat. Wheat acres have struggled this winter and spring, which, in turn, has not encouraged high numbers of thrips. Producers must still scout and be prepared to manage thrips. Wireworms are present on more and more acres here on the Texas Southern High Plains. Seed treatments are the best management tool. The same goes for nematodes. A good seed treatment or in-furrow nematicide plus a resistant/tolerant cotton variety is recommended.
Weed pressure has generally been light this winter/spring period as well, as it is reflective of the lack of moisture. Trust me: you know that once we do receive rain or start irrigating, weeds will come. So, be ready to respond if you do not have a preferred preplant, preemergent herbicide in place.
Fortunately, we have the best producers in the world on the job.
Praying for rain!