According to the latest West Plains IPM Update from Texas A&M AgriLife, crop conditions across Hockley, Cochran, and Lamb counties continue to move forward, with cotton development approaching the bloom stage.
The July 9 report by Extension Agent Kerry Siders states that cotton ranges from the four-true-leaf stage to 13 true leaves, with square set averaging around 90 percent. Siders noted that he has not seen any blooms yet, aside from some volunteer cotton, but said the most advanced fields currently have six firstposition squares. He explained that cotton typically reaches bloom at about eight nodes above white flower, meaning these fields still need to develop three additional squares. Based on that growth rate of about one square every three days, Siders estimates the first bloom could occur around July 18 in the most progressed fields, with a majority of acres blooming after that date.
The report noted that cotton insect pests have decreased compared to two weeks ago. Siders said he observed cotton fleahoppers only occasionally during the scouting program and saw no Lygus or stink bugs. According to Sliders, grasshoppers are also present along field margins near rangeland, adding that beneficial insects and arachnids are showing up in good numbers in some fields, which, according to Sliders, are likely feeding on low populations of single cotton aphids that are difficult to detect.
Siders said weeds remain the most widespread issue, with Palmer amaranth being the primary concern, followed by kochia and Russian thistle. He also added that these weeds can serve as hosts for insect pests, making control efforts especially important.
Additionally, many cotton fields remain in a slow earlyseason growth pattern, though Siders said more moderate temperatures and potential rainfall could help crops improve in the coming days. Sliders said he remains optimistic but emphasized the need for general rainfall during July.
The report identified several priorities for producers in the coming days, including continuing weed control efforts, advancing fertility programs with a goal of completing fertilization by the end of July, scouting cotton for square- robbing insects, monitoring milo for sugarcane aphids, and protecting peanut crops from disease as they reach 60 days after planting.
Siders also highlighted cotton fleahoppers as the primary insect of concern at this time. While widespread problems are not expected, he said producers should continue monitoring fields closely during the squaring period. He added that scouting intervals may need to be shortened to every three to four days when conditions favor population increases in surrounding vegetation. Sliders also added that the economic thresholds for fleahoppers are 25 to 30 insects per 100 terminals, combined with less than 90 percent square set during the first week of squaring, less than 85 percent during the second week, and less than 75 percent from the third week through first bloom. Siders noted that as plants grow and develop a stronger fruit load, they can tolerate higher pest populations, and treatment is rarely needed after the first bloom unless square retention is already low.
For any questions or concerns, Siders can be reached at his office at (806) 8943150 or by email at kerry.siders@ag.tamu.edu.