The 2023 crop has seen more insect pressure than was present last year. However, the balance of beneficial bugs to pests has these IPM agents feeling optimistic.

While Uzbekistan is different than West Texas in terms of structure, history and climate, farming isn’t. “It’s funny how just talking farming, we can all face the same challenges regardless of geographic location,” said Lloyd Arthur, Crosby County producer.

Last August, PCG predicted 60% to 70% abandonment in the High Plains region for the 2022 crop. Turns out, the estimate was conservative as the actual percentage was just shy of 80%.

The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service will offer the required private Pesticide Applicators Training ( PAT) in Levelland on Thursday, August 17. This training is required by the Texas Department of Agriculture before taking the exam to obtain the license. A private pesticide applicator is a person who uses or supervises the use of a restricted-use or state limited- use pesticide or a regulated herbicide for the purpose of producing an agricultural commodity. This license is not for those receiving monetary compensation for a pesticide application.

Since 2006, Cotton Incor-porated’s Blue Jeans Go Green program has collected denim (made from cotton) so it can be recycled back to its original fiber state and transformed into something new. To date, the program has diverted 2,100-plus tons of denim from landfills and recycled more than 4 million pieces of denim.

Cotton ranges from just beginning to bloom with more than 6 nodes above white flower (NAWF) to past physiological cutout with 2 NAWF. Using our IPM scouting fields as a representation of area cotton crop, we see that 82% of fields are in bloom; and 36% of fields have reached physiological cutout ( 5 NAWF) this week. For those fields we need approximately 400 more heat units (HU) to accumulate to be safe from bollworms. With the current weather trend of +20 heat units per day, those fields which have reached cutout should be safe from bollworms around August 23. The remaining 64% of the cotton acreage has such a wide range of maturity levels that it would be difficult to be as certain of when it will be safe from worms. I would approach these later maturing fields from this angle. We historically say our last effective bloom date ranges from August 20 (out on state line) to August 25 (near Ropesville). These are dates in which a boll can be formed, have time to mature, and contribute to yield. Therefore, if we continue with this weather pattern into September, and we are accumulating 20 HU/day, we can add 20 days to these dates. Thus, would give us a target of September 9-14 for those late fields needing to be scouted and protected from worm issues. The point being is that NAWF is an important gauge of maturity and can help project time needed to be safe from worms and even manage irrigation.

Child care centers closing across state An unprecedented number of child care centers are expected to close across the state as pandemic relief funding ends, the Texas Standard reported. A survey conducted by the Texas Association for the Education of Young Children of about 1,600 child care programs indicated 44% were likely to close their doors without additional funding. Federal pandemic relief funds ended for most centers in June.

The Commissioner’s Court of Lamb County held their regular meeting on Friday, July 28th, at the Lamb County Courthouse to discuss a nine-item agenda. The five Consent Agenda items to be considered are: a) Consider and take appropriate action on minutes from previous meeting(s); Regular Meeting, July 17, 2023.

The Littlefield Chamber of Commerce is gearing up to once again be able to provide free school supplies to the students in Littlefield. Last year, they had overwhelming support to provide for our local students, and they wanted to do the same event again this year.