“Growers are still measuring the damage received from the strong winds, up to 70 mph, that pounded the Texas Panhandle 2 weeks ago. They’re also looking at potential hail damage in the past week. Much cotton was either completely replanted, or had spot replants into existing stands. But when you replant in the Panhandle of northern Texas and Oklahoma in mid-June, you’re running the risk of being on the backside of the season with not enough heat units.
“Fortunately, parts of both panhandles and southwestern Oklahoma received rain the past weekend and Monday evening. It was spotty, but measurements ranged from less than an inch up to 5 inches at Grandfield, Oklahoma. I had 1.5 inches over the weekend in the Altus area. That will help dryland cotton that was waiting on moisture. It should also help growers still licking their wounds from wind and hail damage.”
Murilo Maeda, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Cotton Specialist, Lubbock:
“Conditions remain dry around the region, although the western half of the South Plains finally received precipitation on Monday (6/22). Totals varied from a few hundredths on the far west side to about 2 inches south of Lubbock.
“Although scattered, I have seen 4-to 5-leaf cotton that will also benefit from the moisture. The Panhandle received much-needed rainfall north of Amarillo. Today there are more rain chances to the west.
“With the recent rains one thing is certain, the weeds are coming. Growers need to keep an eye on the fields to make sure weeds are not getting ahead of us.”
Randy Norton, University of Arizona Extension Cotton Specialist, Safford:
“There is more resistant pigweed across the state. It is uncontrolled by glyphosate. More growers are using their supplies of dicamba, as well as Tavium. They are concerned about the resistance, and looking at various pre-emerge herbicides in their weed control programs. We need more chemistries because resistant pigweed just gets worse.
“We’re looking at temperatures 4 to 5 degrees above normal this week and will be watching for heat stress. Heat stress impacts plants worse during peak bloom. Most of the crop in central Arizona is going into first flower, so heat shouldn’t be as much of an issue. The Yuma area cotton is on the backside of peak bloom, but we will watch it closely. Eastern Arizona is just into blooming.
“There are few insect problems after the earlier issues with false chinch bugs. Lygus and other mid-season pests are quiet. Diseases aren’t yet a problem, but we expect potential rust issues when the monsoon season hits next month. We have not documented Fusarium FOV-4, but we’re monitoring for it.”
Danielle Sekula Ortiz, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension IPM Agent, Lower Rio Grande Valley:
“Verde plant bugs remain a problem along the coast. Numbers range from 5-to-10, to 20-to-25 per 100 sweeps. Those higher numbers definitely need spraying. They are calming down, but since sorghum harvest is in full swing, we expect a verde migration from sorghum into cotton. Hopefully, the majority of cotton will have hard enough bolls not to be affected.
“Whitefly numbers are increasing. They’re always a problem along the Rio Grande River, and we’re seeing more whiteflies in the mid-valley than normal. They will be more of an issue as bolls start to open and we receive more rain.
“Unlike areas further north, bollworm Bt resistance is not a big issue here. If growers have heavy pressure they should call me, but not if they find one or two. That’s no big deal.
“Sorghum is 70 to 75% harvested. There were sugarcane aphids a couple of weeks ago, and guys were advised to spray and prevent problems when combining.
“The nation’s first bale of cotton came from the valley. It was from close friends of my family, Mike and Elizabeth England of Mercedes. Congratulations to them.”
Haley Kennedy, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension IPM Agent, Runnels & Tom Green Counties:
“We just finished planting the dryland, while irrigated fields are advanced in growth. We’re everywhere from just emerging to match-head square.
“Insects, have been pretty quiet. There are a handful of fleahoppers on a few squaring fields. They are moving in from weeds. A few aphids are also present, but they’re just food for beneficials. Grasshoppers are a problem for some fields after all of the hot, dry weather.
“Guys started off clean and weed control remained strong. The issue now is whether to spray herbicide that needs rain to get soil incorporated. Many growers had dicamba purchased ahead of time, so that isn’t a major worry.”
AgFax News Links
Cleveland On Cotton: A Good Week In The Market…Sort Of 6-19
Weekly Cotton Market Review – USDA 6-19
Texas: 2 Counties Designated Natural Disaster Areas to Freeze, Excessive Moisture 6-22
Texas Upper Coast Cotton: Bollworms and Stink Bugs 6-22
Oklahoma Wheat Harvest Moves Ahead, Hindered by Weekend Rains 6-22
Oklahoma Wheat: Late Season Diseases of Note 6-19
Texas LRGV Cotton: 1st Bale of the Season Harvested 6-19
Texas: Researcher Leading to Better Corn Yields on Less Land 6-18
Texas High Plains Cotton: Slow Crop Development, Weeds an Issue – Podcast 6-18