Can Cotton Cash-Flow, Even With Reduced Land Costs? Also, More Rain Delays 2010 Start

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AGRICULTURAL MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INC., East-Central Louisiana

By Tim White, Walter Myers, Wil Miller, Matt Myers, Lydia Ellett, Roger Carter and Chase Skipper

February 7, 2010

WEATHER – More rain predicted this week. No break from weather pattern in sight. Rain chances most days this week with 100% chance Monday night.

It will be time to begin watching the river stages soon if this pattern does not break. It is inevitable that those along the “Big Ditch” (Mississippi River) will feel the effects of flooding in the unprotected areas and seep water near the levees.

COTTON – Some farmers increasing acreage, some farmers decreasing acreage. Overall impact in our area will be fewer cotton acres in the southern area while higher acreage to the north. Some landowners lowering rent structure for cotton to entice more cotton acres. They figure that 15% rent on cotton is better than 25% on soybeans. And soybeans take more out of the soil than cotton.

Even at 15% it is difficult to get every farm to cash flow on cotton without cutting costs. Mixed fertilizer and/or lime is usually the first to go. And, yet, that is one area where we can get a serious yield boost on many soils.

There will be limited supplies of the 010 crop of DPL varieties. Do not plant a high percentage of acres in any of the newer varieties. Spread the risk by planting 4 – 5 of the new ones.

RICE TECHNICAL WORKING GROUP – Feb 22-25, Beau Rivage Resort, Biloxi, MS.

BURNDOWN – Less than 10% of burndown applied in our area. To date there have been only three days for applying burndown since January 1. If it wasn’t too cold, it was too wet or too windy.

We are late on corn burndown. As soon as it dries corn farmers will be planting if soil temps are warm enough. It is critical that corn ground be burned down ASAP. Corn trying to emerge and grow in green or dying vegetation will have reduced vigor and growth and reduced yields.

Call us for your burn-down recs; they are changing as we get closer to planting and as winter vegetation increases in size.

WHEAT – Some wheat yet to be fertilized with the first shot of fertilizer. Most wheat scheduled for second shot within next two weeks.

Wheat is water-logged, cold-burnt, and downright ugly in some fields. Wheat on higher or the best drained ground looks acceptable.

SOYBEANS – Get your seed ordered and put your eyes on them. Have germ and vigor tests run. We have a “cheat sheet” if anyone is interested in seeing what varieties we picked. Call and we can fax or email it to you.

And don’t forget to apply a pre-emerge on soybeans. Resistance management requires it. Valor has been our standard for several years, but there are several others that have looked good……Canopy EX and Authority MTZ. Valor has little grass activity, therefore the addition of Sequence (Dual + glyphosate) after soybean emergence or Prowl pre-emerge is suggested.

CORN – Ground temps still too cool, but with five days of sunshine soil temps will increase dramatically on exposed soils. However, we strong encourage all corn farmers to get their burndown out first and then wait to plant. Increase rates of glyphosate where label permits. Use 0.5 oz Basis or 1.0 oz of Resolve/ac. Add ¼ gal/ac of 2,4-D ester or 1/16 gal/ac of Clarity if you can wait to plant. Don’t forget the ammonium sulfate.

If we can run by ground then applying a full rate of Gramoxone plus atrazine plus FirstShot may be an alternative to enhance knockdown.

RICE –  If you will be using a residual in the burndown, then burndown now. Otherwise wait 2 weeks.

Farmers not planting any hybrid rice should at least “play” with a little this year. Clearfield rice should be put into an area on its own since Newpath and its sisters are tough on conventional rice. Pick 100 acres to the side so that you will have some experience with the newer varieties. Sure, the price is high, but also the gain. And hybrid rice can be very forgiving of later fertilization.

There was a little 745 left last week, but it was going fast.

Beyond the hybrids there are three varieties we would consider……..Cheniere, Cocodrie, and Catahoula.