Normally at this time the question “when do I shut the irrigation water off?” is raised. This year it has been more of a statement - “I know I should probably keep watering but....”.
I would just remind you that on cotton those last bolls set which you want to harvest and contribute to yield must be 40 days old before the plant undergoes any significant moisture stress, or stress which it can recover from by the next morning. In other words, a boll was formed on August 10th will be 40 days old on September 19th. So, until 9/ 19 the plants in that situation can wilt in the heat of the day but need to fully recover from that wilt by the next morning. If not the quality and weight of that boll will suffer. If you do not or cannot continue water on some of this cotton know the ramifications.
Fortunately, insect pests have mostly ran their course for the season. Cotton aphids have declined inmost fields this week, and some beneficial insects are moving back in to help. A few low numbers of Lygus and stinkbugs can still be found but boll damage is less than 1%.
Cracked and open bolls are becoming more common. Hopefully harvest aids will be effective. Here is the link to a couple of videos on the “how, what and when” on harvest aids I made a few years ago: https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=Fb0f7ZzPoI4 http s ://www. youtube. com/ watch?v=eMZPaHY zybw