It got a little stormy Wednesday night—some wind and hail in spots around. Still feels like August outside. This will mostly be the water update.
Peanuts: Stay on top of white mold programs; our current weather situation can cause it to grow rapidly. It’s important to remember that a crop’s water requirement includes both irrigation and rainfall. On hot, dry days, irrigation efficiency becomes especially critical. Most center pivot systems operate at approximately 85% efficiency, meaning that only 85% of the water applied is actually available to the crop. Avoid the extremes of under- or over-irrigation. Research shows that excessive irrigation can reduce yield as significantly as inadequate irrigation. Moreover, over-irrigation incurs greater costs, as it not only reduces yield potential but also leads to unnecessary energy use and diminished profitability. Implementing accurate record keeping and a well-planned irrigation scheduling strategy can enhance profitability in several ways: by optimizing water application, reducing energy costs, and potentially increasing yields. Monitoring soil moisture, weather conditions, and crop growth stages together can help ensure timely and efficient irrigation decisions.
Cotton: Cotton planted the first of May should now be squaring and approaching first bloom, if it hasn’t already reached that stage. Bloom typically occurs around nine weeks after planting, and water demand begins to increase significantly at this point. The period from first flower to first open boll—approximately 9 to 17 weeks after planting—is the most water-sensitive phase in cotton development. During this critical window, the crop may require up to 1.5 inches of water per week, or approximately 0.2 inches per day, to support optimal growth and boll development. Understanding soil characteristics is essential for effective irrigation management. Most soils in our region have a Soil Water Holding Capacity (SWHC) of about 1 inch per foot of soil. However, only about 50% of that water is available for plant uptake. For example, a cotton plant with an 18-inch rooting depth has access to roughly 0.75 inches of plant-available water at field capacity. Under these conditions, the crop may need irrigation every 3 to 4 days, depending on rainfall and irrigation system efficiency. Avoiding water stress during this stage is critical. Inadequate moisture can limit vegetative growth and reduce the number of fruiting sites, ultimately impacting yield potential. Weather conditions also play a significant role—cooler, cloudier days reduce evapotranspiration, while hot, sunny weather accelerates water use and may necessitate more frequent irrigation. Cotton still looks good; be mindful of plant bugs and small pockets of whiteflies.
Corn: Southern Rust is still out there, but if your corn is hitting the hard dough stage, you’ve made it. No sign of tar spot yet. For most of you, it’s time to start looking for the milk line. The milk line becomes visible shortly after corn enters the dent stage. This stage begins when a small dent forms at the crown of each kernel, typically around 31 to 33 days after silking. Approximately seven days later, the milk line appears and begins separating the milky endosperm from the hard starch accumulating at the top of the kernel. As the grain matures, this starch layer progresses downward toward the cob. To monitor kernel development, collect 6 to 8 ears from various locations across the field to obtain a representative sample. Break each ear in half and examine the kernels to observe how far the milk line has moved from the outer edge of the kernel toward the inner cob. Maintaining adequate soil moisture is critical during this phase, especially when the milk line is between 50% and 75% down the kernel. Turning off irrigation too early can lead to a 15–20% yield loss due to stress during grain fill. Adequate moisture also prevents the plant from drawing energy from the stalk to complete kernel development, which can weaken stalk integrity and increase the risk of lodging. Keep the water on.