According to the latest West Plains IPM Update from Texas A&M AgriLife, cotton conditions across the western South Plains are shaping up in a mixed bag this week.
According to the June 19 report by Extension Agent Kerry Siders, fields range from just-planted cotton to those recently lost to weather, with a small portion nearing first square. Siders expects many of those failed stands to shift into grain sorghum. While cotton can often recover from early setbacks, Siders notes that inconsistent stands may be better replanted with other crops, adding he cannot recommend growers move back to cotton after Juneteenth.
Siders also said that it is important from mid-June into July to prioritize the following: fertility should be adjusted early to match realistic yield goals, irrigation should support root development before peak demand, and weed control should remain a priority as moisture conditions allow herbicide applications like Liberty to work more effectively.
In the report, Siders also emphasized that as fields begin to square, staying aggressive on scouting is very important, especially for thrips in late-planted cotton and potential fleahoppers and Lygus. Siders also suggested considering split applications of nematicides like Vydate or Return if at-plant protection was missed, in fields with a history of nematodes.
In corn, the report shows that early-season monitoring has shown relatively low pest pressure overall. Although corn leafhoppers ( CLH) were found at two locations in Hockley County along sampling routes near FM 2130 and FM 1294 and were confirmed by Drs. Tyler Gilreath and Pat Porter last week, Sliders says that during a follow-up scouting on June 17, he found no more CLH. Sliders said this shows there are relatively few of them in the area currently and explains why he is not yet seeing any symptoms of the red stunt disease. Weekly sampling will continue in the coming weeks.
According to the Barker Research Farm Report, cotton planting is complete, and at the time of this report, Grain sorghum rotation plots on the west were scheduled to go in on June 19. The report also states that their east-northeast wheat plot has been harvested and will be used for summer fallow ahead of next year’s cotton rotation. Though cotton stands have reportedly been looking better in the systems and research plots thanks to recent warm weather and rains, weed pressure has become a major priority this week. According to the report, they have been using glufosinate (Liberty) and either Dual Magnum or Warrant to reduce reliance on dicamba.
For any questions or concerns, Sliders can be reached at his office phone at (806) 894-3150 or by email at kerry.siders@ag.tamu.edu.