Seems like we looked at more cotton this week than we did anything else. Here are a few things we have been seeing and a few reminders about cotton.
Aphids: They are definitely out there and on cotton. The killing fungus that we like to see move in and take them out is not going heavy yet. If aphids are in young cotton we don’t typically treat, but if the aphids are dragging cotton down and are on some of this younger cotton/replant cotton we have out there let’s treat. Assail has proven to be a product of choice in knocking them out. We can’t afford any more delays in some of this young cotton’s growth as we are already behind, so we recommend you give it some relief from aphids.
Cotton Leaf Roll Dwarf Virus: As we are in your fields around the county we are on the lookout for the Cotton Leaf Roll Dwarf Virus symptoms. We are trying to access its occurrence and figure out how it may be affecting our cotton crop. If you see anything out of the ordinary related to this virus, give us a call and we will be glad to follow up. What you will want to be looking for would be a random red plant. Later on in season look for plants that seem to be affected in the tops (not fruiting and having some leaves that are smaller and off-color and basically something that jumps out at you that just does not look right). Don’t pull the plant up just flag it. Because of how the virus can be tested for the cotton plant needs to be growing and not wilted or dead. Let us know and we will be glad to follow up.
Irrigation: Just a note. Don’t irrigate poorly when we do get some showers. Keep track of what you get and keep up with cotton’s weekly needs.
Stinkbugs and square/fruit retention: Keep an eye out for stinkbugs and square/fruit retention. We want to be 80% or better going into first bloom to have potential to make some better cotton. There is some square loss being seen due to what we refer to as 4 bract squares, so look closely when trying to determine why you lost some squares. There is nothing we can do about it but may help explain some loss of squares that are showing no sign of insect damage.
Fungicide applications: Considering fungicide applications to your cotton for foliar diseases? We have not proven this gives us a positive economic return but is warranted early on in the crop if we can identify the foliar disease as a potential problem. Consider your past experiences with a foliar disease in your operation and evaluate whether you feel like it hurt your production then make a decision on treatments early in the season.
FYI: I stumbled across this cool tip earlier in the week. When you see lightning strike and then count the number of seconds until you hear the thunder then that is how many miles away the lightning strike was right? Wrong. It takes 5 seconds for sound to travel one mile. So if you see lightning, count the number of seconds before you hear thunder and then divide that number by 5. Lightning strikes and you count ten seconds before you hear the thunder, the lightning strike was 2 miles away. Not far! If you can hear thunder, you’re close enough to be hit by lightning. Sheltering indoors or in an enclosed car is your safest bet. Don’t count on the folk wisdom that lightning never strikes the same place twice to protect you. That one is just plain wrong. For example, lightning strikes the top of the Empire State Building an average of 23 times per year.