Virginia:

Getting Good Stands

By Johnny Parker, Agronomist

Commonwealth Gin, Windsor, Virginia

May 16, 2008 - Soil moisture continues to remain very high.  Rainfall last night ranged from around a third of an inch to about a half inch.  Areas closer to Richmond and I-95 may have received heavier amounts locally.  Generally this type of rain was favorable for some of the cotton fields that have been planted over the last 7 to 10 days because it was just enough to keep the soil surface soft without repacking and sealing in cotton seedlings that are trying to emerge.  In addition, it was not too much rain to prevent farmers who are still planting from getting back into the fields pretty quickly. 

Overall, I am expecting that perhaps over the weekend but certainly by the first part of the week that there will be some fields and spots that will need pecking to insure a good stand of cotton.  Before pecking the cotton, be sure that the sprouts are anchored in good with a two inch long sprout deep into the soil and that the seedlings are showing signs of pushing but unable to penetrate.  Cotton that has been planted this week will need 10 days to emerge.  Cotton planted last week needs to be looked at.  There are also some clay hills that were planted very shallow and did not actually germinate until this past Sunday and are not ready to peck yet.