Cotton Farming, July 2014

Cotton FarmingCotton Farming®

www.cottonfarming.comwww.cottonfarming.com

PROFITABLE PRODUCTION STRATEGIES JULY 2014 ONE GROWERPUBLISHING, LLC

IMPORTANCE OFWATER SCIENCE

WATERSTEWARDS

USE CARE INWASHING DENIM

WEST/SOUTHWEST FARMERS CONTINUE AS EXCELLENT

WATERSTEWARDS

IMPORTANCE OFWATER SCIENCE

USE CARE INWASHING DENIM

WEST/SOUTHWEST FARMERS CONTINUE AS EXCELLENT

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COTTON FARMING JULY 2014 3

D E P A R T M E N T S & C O L U M N S

Cotton FarmingPROFITABLE PRODUCTION STRATEGIES JULY 2014Vol. 58 No. 7

www.cottonfarming.com

4 Editor’s Note6 Cotton’s Agenda18 Industry News

20 Specialists Speaking26 My Turn

F E A T U R E S

ON THE COVER: An irrigated Arizona cotton field thrivesduring the early part of the season.

CARING FOR DENIMCotton Incorporated offers some tips on the bestway to launder and care for denim.

16

VIEWPOINT EDITORIALTexas consultant Bob Glodt always encouragesproducers to learn more about water science.

8

Of all the important resources today’s farmer needs,nothing is more important than water. For that reason, it iscritical that innovative initiatives are implemented tomaintain access to reliable water supplies. Conversely, inother areas, farmers must be proactive in irrigationefficiency when adequate rainfall is unpredictable.

Quest For Water 10

COTTON FARMING (ISSN 0746-8385) is published monthly January through December for $40 per year by One Grower Publishing LLC, 1010 June Road, Suite 102, Memphis, TN 38119. PeriodicalsPostage paid at Memphis, TN. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Sunbelt Fulfillment Services, 307 Southgate Court, Brentwood, Tenn. 37027-7987 (Phone: 615-377-3322) (Fax: 615-850-5319). International rates are $55.00 in Canada/Mexico, $90.00 in all other countries for air-speeded delivery. Surface Delivery not available due to problems in reliability.

GINNING MARKETPLACEDusty Findley says it’s important to learn to dealwith hot temperatures while working in the gin.

23

Cotton Farming Senior Writer Carroll Smith takes a closer look atnew developments in irrigation technology in Mid-South cottonproduction. Look for her Web Exclusive special report atwww.cottonfarming.com.

WEB POLLRESULTS

WEB EXCLUSIVE

If you irrigate, what type of systemdo you use and why?

Go to www.cottonfarming.comfor the results.

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4 COTTON FARMING JULY 2014

Editor’s Note

Every summer Cotton Farming takes a closer look at a topic thatnever seems to go out of date. It’s as relevant today as it was 10, 20or 30 years ago. The circumstances have changed, but the messageis still the same. Water management and the need for reliable

water supplies are becoming even more critical for today’s cotton farmers.We can blame the lack of water on a lot of things – climate change, urbanversus rural populations or lack of stewardship. Fact is, farmers can’t pro-duce crops without this precious resource.

The good news, as you’ll find out in this month’s magazine, is that cottonproducers have been doing their part to protect and manage water for along time. Maybe the general public isn’t aware of this trend, but that’swhere our industry has a good story to tell. For those persons living in theWest or Southwest, it’s hard not to notice how farmers have had to adjustto challenging scenarios.

In California and Arizona, a serious drought continues to plague bothstates. Water allocations were drastically reduced in California, causingmany farmers to make hard decisions about what crops they’ll continue togrow. In Arizona, different regions in the state have dealt with droughtsfor nearly 16 years. But, just like their farmer friends in California, thefolks in Arizona are employing irrigation technology and conservation mea-sures to find a way to “do more with less water.”

Hopefully, some dreaded water restrictions won’t become even moresevere as the battle rages on about who has priority on water from sourcessuch as the Colorado River. For that reason, ag leaders in both stateswon’t give up the fight to protect farmers’ access to these water sources.

In the Southwest – and primarily Texas – this is the fourth year somekind of drought has affected agriculture. Granted, much-needed rainoccurred in parts of the state in early June, and it rescued the High Plains,which was in dire need of moisture to get this year’s crop started on time.However, the water crisis is still with us and hasn’t gone away.

As you’ll see in our cover story on pages 10, 11 and 12, organizationssuch as the Texas Alliance for Water Conservation (TAWC) are taking anactive role in helping farmers employ the best possible water conservationpractices while protecting the Ogallala Aquifer, which supplies the irriga-tion water for the High Plains. A spirit of cooperation and a greater aware-ness of the overall water issue exists today – no matter what region of theBelt is examined. Farmers are making good use of every drop of water.

In case you were wondering, that is called progress.

If you have comments, send them to: Editor, Cotton Farming Magazine,1010 June Road, Suite 102, Memphis, Tenn., 38119. Or send e-mail to: [email protected].

Tommy Horton

Water Management:Priority For Farmers

One Grower Publishing, LLC1010 June Road, Suite 102, Memphis, Tennessee, 38119

Phone: 901-767-4020

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COOPERATION: Cooperating withCOTTON FARMING are various cotton producer organizationsacross the Cotton Belt. Many representatives of producer organiza-tions serve on COTTON FARMING’s editorial advisory board.Opinions expressed and conclusions reached by contributors arenot necessarily those of the cooperating organizations or the edi-tors. All statements, including product claims, are those of theperson or organization making the statement or claim. The pub-lisher does not adopt any such statement or claims as its ownand any such statement or claim does not necessarily reflect theopinion of the publisher.Copyright 2014

ASSOCIATED PUBLICATIONS – One Grower Publishing,LLC also publishes RICE FARMING, THE PEANUT GROW-ER, SOYBEAN SOUTH and CORN SOUTH.

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Lia Guthrie PUBLISHER/VICE PRESIDENT

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Cotton FarmingCotton Farming ®

David Burns – North Carolina David Lynch – South Carolina

Bob McLendon – GeorgiaLarkin Martin – Alabama

Mike Sturdivant Jr. – Mississippi Charles Parker – Missouri

Jimmy Hargett – TennesseeAllen Helms – Arkansas

Jay Hardwick – Louisiana Ronnie Hopper – TexasRon Rayner – Arizona

John Pucheu – California

EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD

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WHAT CUSTOMERS WANT

Quality CottonPhysical parameters are no longer the only indicators for the

quality of cotton. New characteristics have come into play when referring to quality. Sustainability, transparency and socialcompliance are increasingly important to the end consumertoday although the definitions and understanding of these termscan vary considerably. During my 10 years of working in thejeans industry, critics often question how clean our supply chainis. Those brands and retailers that are motivated to continuouslyreduce their environmental impact are a strong force. Both gov-ernmental and non-governmental organizations are pushingtoward this continuous improvement. Governments are impos-ing legislation, standards and controls, while activist groupslaunch media campaigns to point at non-compliant industries,companies and products.

Setting The StandardThe public opinion gets shaped, and the industry is rightfully

forced to take action. Consumers then start to pull by buyingproducts from those companies that show their clients they careabout the quality of their supply chain. Besides the push andpull, there is the drive of the industry itself. A supply chain that

provides transparency, traceability and facts is the best evidencefor quality. There is no better way to answer critics, authoritiesand consumers than by allowing them into the kitchen. Theinnovations in technology have helped develop the Field PrintCalculator used in Bayer’s e3 cotton program. Together, with thephysical excellence of FiberMax and Stoneville, this makes ashowcase of the new standard for quality cotton.

In the years to come, the industries involved in cotton have tofocus on further innovation and integration of links in the chainto optimize traceability and transparency. Not only will thiscontribute to a higher quality product, it will create economicbenefits and opportunities.

Sponsored By

“A supply chain that providestransparency, traceability and facts

is the best evidence for quality.”– Dion Vijgeboom

Quality CottonIs Definitely Sustainable

By Dion VijgeboomIndependent Advisor

To The Denim IndustryAmsterdam, Netherlands

Dion Vijgeboom is convinced that quality cotton is sustainable in today’s environment as consumers continue to demand more transparency.

From Fiber To Fabric• New parameters for quality.

• Sustainability remains a priority.

• Industry must become proactive.

• Consumers want verification.

• Ultimate objective – transparency.

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Cotton’s AgendaMark Lange

Recently-passed legislation will provide our nation’s farmers and ranchers with more reasonableon-farm fuel storage regulations.

What’s in the legislation?■ Before it was signed into law in mid-June byPresident Obama, the Water Resources Reformand Development Act (WRRDA) was over-whelmingly approved by the House (412-4) andSenate (91-7). The WRRDA authorizes the con-struction of major navigation and flood riskmanagement projects. Of additional significanceto agriculture is that the new measure also con-tains language designed to give farmers andranchers some relief from EPA’s SpillPrevention Control and Countermeasure(SPCC) rule on farm storage tanks of fueland oil.

Prior to WRRDA’s passage, SPCC regulationsrequired those operations with more than 1,320gallons of above-ground fuel and oil storagecapacity and could reasonably be expected todischarge oil to waters of the United States tohave spill prevention plans. The new measureincreases the thresholds at which farm and

ranch operations are required to comply withaspects of the rule. Operations with an aggre-gate aboveground storage capacity of less than2,500 gallons are not required to comply withthe rule. Operations with aboveground tank

storage capacities greater than 2,500 gallonsand less than the lesser of 6,000 gallons and theadjustment quantity established by a yet-to-be-completed USDA/EPA study, and no reportableoil discharge history are not required to complywith the rule.

Owners or operators would be able to self-certifySPCC plans for any operation with aggregateaboveground storage capacity less than 20,000gallons and greater than the lesser of 6,000 gal-lons and the aforementioned adjustment quanti-ty, and no reportable oil discharge history. Aprofessional engineer will be required to certifya plan on operations where there is an individ-ual aboveground storage capacity greater than10,000 gallons, an aggregate storage capacitygreater than or equal to 20,000 gallons, or areportable oil discharge history. The lawexcludes all containers on separate parcels thathave a capacity of less than 1,000 gallons fromthe aggregate storage capacity of a farm. It alsoexcludes all containers holding animal feedingredients approved for use in livestock feed bythe Commissioner of Food and Drugs.

What relief had previously been sought?■ Sen. James Inhofe (R-OK) and Rep. RickCrawford (R-AR) led efforts to obtain SPCCrelief. Crawford introduced the FarmersUndertake Environmental Land Stewardship(FUELS) Act. The NCC supported that legisla-tion which would have raised the compliancethreshold requirement to a more realistic andpractical level and allowed self-certificationrather than requiring a detailed plan by a pro-fessional engineer. Inhofe added an amendmentto the WRRDA legislation to exempt all tanks of1,000 gallons or less from the rule and toexclude from compliance with the rule all farmswith an aggregate tank storage capacity of 2,500gallons or less. Agricultural organizations,including the NCC, expressed support for theseprovisions.

Mark Lange is the president and chief executive officer for the National Cotton Council of America.He and other NCC leaders contribute columns on this Cotton Farming page.

Achieving Reasonable Reform

A newly-signed bill in Congress provides more reasonable on-farmfuel storage regulations.

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Larry WaltonField Scientist, Dow AgroSciencesTupelo, Miss.

Growers focused on maximizing cotton yield in the Mid-South must beprepared to manage plant bugs. For a successful ending to any season,Larry Walton says growers must plant on time, scout constantly and care-fully plan insecticide treatments. Now in his 34th cotton season, Waltonknows that no one can predict how heavy plant bug pressure will be, butthe Mid-South field scientist for Dow AgroSciences knows everybody canprepare to manage this devastating pest.

This year started off good for cotton in the Mid-South. Growers startedplanting around the third week of April. Based on the current forecast,growers in Walton’s home state of Mississippi planted about 400,000acres in 2014, a significant increase from 2013.

Planting early gives growers a greater chance of starting harvest at thebeginning of October, which means better weather. Those who don’t har-vest until late November or early December often experience rain andcolder temperatures, which can make a mess of defoliation and harvest-ing. Planting in that late April to early May window gives growers the bestopportunity for high germination and a robust stand.

Scout For Plant BugsAt first or second true leaf, growers likely need to spray for early season

thrips. As the cotton begins squaring, growers and consultants must scoutclosely for plant bugs and monitor square retention on the cotton plants. Inmost years, the plant bug population begins to increase after this time. Asthe crop nears first bloom and as a host crop such as corn begins to drydown, plant bug populations can explode. At this time, it is important forgrowers to be armed and ready with their weapon of choice.

Dow AgroSciences’ research for the past six years shows back-to-backapplications of Transform WG insecticide at a rate of 1.5 oz/A at or nearfirst bloom provide a yield advantage 75 percent of the time comparedwith other plant bug products. Large-scale experiments conducted in 2013for Dow AgroSciences by crop consultants in Louisiana, Mississippi,Arkansas and Missouri showed back-to-back applications of Transform ator near bloom was the breadwinner, yielding 49 more pounds of lint thanthe commercial standards, on average.

As a new class of chemistry, Transform can help extend the effective-ness of organophosphates, neonicotinoids and synthetic pyrethroids.Effective at low use rates, Transform has a minor impact on beneficialinsects, including lacewings and lady beetles, which provide natural con-trol of spider mites and aphids. And when it comes to aphids, Transformprovides unsurpassed control.

At the end of the day, the key to a successful harvest is scouting fieldsevery few days for pests and making timely applications to keep insectsunder threshold.

1. For a successful ending to any season, growers must plant on time,scout constantly and carefully plan insecticide treatments.

2. As the cotton begins squaring, growers and consultants must scout closely for plant bugs and monitor square retention on the cotton plants. In most years, the plant bug population begins to increase after this time.

3. As the crop nears first bloom and as a host crop such as corn begins to dry down, plant bug populations can explode. Be armed and ready with your weapon of choice.

4. Dow AgroSciences’ research for the past six years shows back-to-back applications of Transform WG insecticide at a rate of 1.5 oz/A at or near first bloom provide a yield advantage 75 percent of the time compared with other plant bug products.

5. Transform can help extend the effectiveness of organophosphates,neonicotinoids and synthetic pyrethroids. Effective at low use rates, Transform has a minor impact on beneficial insects.

Recap: Manage Plant Bugs To Score Higher Yields▼

• Grew up in a small community on a cotton/cattle farmin Northeast Mississippi, where Walton learned at an earlyage how to chop and hand-pick cotton

• Began career as a cotton scout in 1977 in the Mid-South Delta

• Worked with Mobil Chemicals (1978) and Elanco (1979-81)as a research assistant while attending undergraduateand graduate school. Completed agricultural degrees fromMississippi State University in 1979 and 1981

• Started with Rohm and Haas (R&H) in 1981 as a researchscientist; then to Dow AgroSciences (DAS) in 2001, whenDAS purchased R&H

• Currently a senior research scientist with a personal goalof completing 40 years in agricultural research

• Married 32 years, he and his wife, Marilyn, have one son,one daughter, one grandson and one granddaughter

• Avid hunter and fisherman

Sponsored By

Manage Plant BugsTo Score HigherYields

Cotton Consultant’s Corner

®Trademark of The Dow Chemical Company (“Dow”) or an affiliated company of Dow. Transform WG is not registered for sale or use in all states. Contact your state pesticide regulatory agency to determine if a product is registered for sale or use in your state. Always read and follow label directions.

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This is my 34th year as an agricultural consultant onthe Texas High Plains. As I look back over thoseyears, I am amazed at the advancements that havetaken place. The way producers farmed 34 years

ago is certainly different from today. However, one thingthat hasn’t changed over all these yearsis that water is a yield-limiting factor,and there is no substitute for water.

From 2006 to the present, I havebeen involved in working with seedcompanies in testing varieties or genet-ically modified cotton plants for water-use efficiency on my research farmlocated in Hale County, Texas. I havelearned a lot about water in the processof conducting these trials, and, as aresult, my emphasis in consulting isnow centered around helping myclients better understand the relation-ship between water and yields.

From working in water-use efficiencyresearch, I have come to the unshake-able conclusion that regardless of where you farm in theUnited States, there is nothing a producer or an agriculturalconsultant can devote time to that is more important thanunderstanding water use. More specifically, this wouldinclude the relationship between water and the soil and therelationship between water and crop demand. It does notmatter where you farm or whether the majority of the waterthat nourishes your crop comes from rainfall, irrigation or acombination of both; the more you learn about water thebetter producer or consultant you will become.

So, if you want to take the first step, my advice would beto begin tracking potential evapotranspiration (PET) modelsfor the crops you grow, regardless of where you farm. In theTexas High Plains, we are fortunate that the Texas Alliancefor Water Conservation (TAWC) has developed a website(www.tawcsolutions.org) devoted entirely to this pur-pose. This website allows a producer to use the Texas TechUniversity Mesonet weather sites for developing potentialevapotranspiration models for just about every productionarea in the Texas High Plains.

The Texas Alliance for Water Conservation had its first“water course” for producers in the spring of this year.

TAWC currently has plans to implement a more detailedand comprehensive course on water management that willbe available to producers in this region. I see the benefit offarmers learning the science behind water managementbefore I can be effective in assisting them with the day today water management decisions.

Since we have limited rainfall and limited irrigationreserves in this area, knowing precisely when or when notto apply water is crucial information. From working withwater-use efficiency research, it has become clear to me thatproducers in my area should be irrigating cotton between 60and 70 percent of potential evapotranspiration. Yep, youread that right. I advocate irrigating at a specific level thatis well below 100 percent of crop demand. And the reason?

We don’t accumulate enough heatunits each year to irrigate at higherlevels without a corresponding poten-tial for immaturity when we receiveour first killing freeze.

And how much can you make doingthis? It is not uncommon to consis-tently produce between 2.5 and threebales per acre if you have a little helpfrom Mother Nature. Also, when irri-gating at 60 to 70 percent of PET,there are pre-bloom irrigation strate-gies that must be followed for thistechnique to be successful. Under-standing the soil water-holdingcapacity is also extremely crucialwhen irrigating at any given percent-

age of potential evapotranspiration.I have found that many producers in this area select

cotton varieties based on trial results that were irrigated farabove their capacity to irrigate. The highest yielding vari-eties under heavy irrigation are often not the highest yield-ing varieties when irrigated at 30, 50 or 60 percent of poten-tial evapotranspiration. We are learning that it is importantto grow a variety that will perform well at a specific or tar-get irrigation level. In our area, seed companies are workinghard to develop this type of information. I also think it ishigh time that every major agricultural university in theUnited States offers comprehensive courses in water (water101, 201, 301 and 401) for the agriculturalists who willserve farmers and the agricultural community in the future.

If you want to better understand water as it relates to cot-ton production, a good place to start is reading an onlinearticle entitled, “How a Cotton Plant Grows.” Go to(http://www.extension.org/mediawiki/files/3/38/Cotplantgrows.pdf).

Contact Bob Glodt via email in Plainview, Texas, [email protected].

VIEWPOINT

Understanding Water Science

BY BOB GLODTPLAINVIEW, TEXAS

• Native of San Antonio. Was raised in San Angelo.• Currently resides in Plainview, Texas.• Ag consultant for 34 years.• Former president of National Alliance of Independent

Crop Consultants.• Earned B.S. in entomology from Texas A&M.• Owns Agri-Search, Inc., in Plainview.• Advisor to Texas Alliance for Water Conservation.• Married to wife Barbara, a retired schoolteacher. Texas

•

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Blame it on weather patterns,urban expansion, water rights’battles or politics. No matterwhere you live in California or

Arizona, the hottest issue today for cotton farmers comes down to onetopic – a historic drought.

When you have a situation inCalifornia where some farmers arepaying 50 or even 100 times more forwater, it demonstrates the severity of

the crisis. If a farmer lives close to areliable water source, he’s one of thelucky ones. If he depends on waterfrom a watershed affected by the cur-rent drought, the odds are good that adreaded water cutoff notice hasalready been issued.

Simply put, California farmers mustsurvive with a lot less available wateras they deal with the current crisis.Many hoped that a good snowpack this

past winter would solve part of theproblem, but that didn’t happen. Thecontinuing drought and weather pat-terns put the brakes on anythingresembling normal water supplies forthe season.

Drought To RememberFrom a historical standpoint, the

current drought in the country’slargest agricultural state is in a


Every DropCounts

BY TOMMY HORTONEDITOR

COVER STORY

Western Farmers Trying To Cope With Serious Drought

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category all by itself. The U.S. DroughtMonitor, which tracks weather trendsacross the country, says that theentire state of California is in a severedrought for the first time since 2000.

According to U.S. climatologist MarkSvoboda, the current drought is a once-in-a-generation event. Nothing com-pares to it with the possible exceptionof 1976-77. But, since then, the state’spopulation has nearly doubled whilewater supplies have remained aboutthe same.

California producer Don Cameron,general manager of the TerranovaRanch 25 miles southwest of Fresno,farms approximately 7,000 acres, witha mix of conventional, organic andbiotech crops, including organic pima

cotton, upland cotton, seed product,tomatoes, biotech alfalfa, corn and adiversity of other annual crops.Perennial crops grown include organicand conventional walnuts, convention-al wine grapes, almonds, pistachios,olives and prunes. In all, 26 crops aregrown on the farm.

“This is our third year of drought,”he says. “Some farmers have put inwells to somehow survive the situa-tion. Even the ones who normallyreceive no less than 60 percent of theirallocations are down to 40 percent.We’ve never seen conditions this bad.”

Cameron also says the crisis is madeworse because of so many state envi-ronmental regulations. And, eventhough an El Niño weather pattern

might bring more rainfall in the com-ing months, it would be too late to helpthis year’s crops.

Desperate MeasuresHow will cotton farmers and others

get through this year? Cameron saysmost will “do whatever they have to doto hang on, and hope for a better situa-tion next year.”

He adds that farmers already aredoing everything they can to surviveby using drip irrigation and minimiz-ing water use on anything grown ontheir land. The real answer for nextyear is a heavy snowpack and plenty ofrainfall throughout the state.

Veteran California Extension cottonspecialist Bob Hutmacher echoes

Water Conservation Will Help Texas Farmers Survive

Texas farmers have a reputa-tion for producing excellentcrops – even when a droughtmoves into its fourth consec-

utive year.Yes, the recent rains in the High

Plains were welcome and helped cot-ton producers finish planting. And,even though some areas didn’treceive rain, it was a welcome breakfrom the devastating weather trendof recent months.

If the drought accomplished any-thing in the last three years, it madefarmers even more aware of theimportance of water conservation.

Serious Water StrategiesNobody has a better perspective on

that statement than Rick Kellison,project director for the Texas Alliancefor Water Conservation (TAWC).This group is comprised of farmers,researchers and state and local agen-cies collaborating to develop strate-gies for reducing water use.

“I think our farmers will continueto be efficient in their water conser-vation even when this drought miti-gates,” he says.

Initiatives such as irrigating only ahalf circle of cotton, while devotingthe other half to a crop such aswheat, have proven successful. Use ofLow Energy Precision Agriculture(LEPA) irrigation continues toincrease along with sub-surface drip.

In some cases, Kellison has seenconsistent increases in revenueusing these irrigation approaches.

Texas Extension cotton specialistMark Kelley is proud of how HighPlains producers have embracedmanagement practices that createmore water efficiency.

“The encouraging thing is that ourfarmers are efficiently using thewater they have,” he says. “Theyaren’t pouring water on the crop justbecause they have it. LEPA systemsare being utilized effectively.”

Kelley also sees the continued ben-efit of cover crops, which maintainresidue and organic matter. That, inturn, increases infiltration and lesswater runoff.

Producer Chad Brown, who farmssouth of Lubbock, has dealt with hail,heavy rains and 90 mile-per-hourwinds in the past few weeks. He says

he has a chance to keep his irrigatedcotton going, but he is racing againstthe clock.

“We are doing the best we can, butit will be tough,” he says. “The cottonwas barely coming up.”

Widespread SignificancePerhaps the best perspective comes

from Jim Bordovsky, Texas AgriLiferesearch scientist and ag engineer.He has preached irrigation efficiencyfor many years.

“When you spend your entirecareer working on water-use efficien-cy, it’s good to see this kind of aware-ness being created,” he says.“Everybody is running out of water,and this message applies to theentire country.”

Texas cotton producers have continued to use innovative irrigation technologyto conserve water during the past three years of a serious drought.



Cameron’s comments. He says it hasbeen a “chilling experience” to see thedrop in cotton acreage this year, and itis all due to drought and serious lackof available water.

“Taking care of feed needs for thedairies and protection of the producers’investments in perennial crops such astrees (almonds, walnuts, pistachios)and grapes (wine, table and raisin) hasreally had a huge impact on plantedacres of our typical crops such as cot-ton,” says Hutmacher.

Similar Problem In ArizonaIn neighboring Arizona, the water

crisis is similar but somewhat differ-ent, according to state Extension spe-cialist Randy Norton.

If a cotton farmer is in the westernpart of the state and close to theColorado River, he probably hasenough water. However, 2014 is thefirst year for a reduction in water com-ing down from the lower basin states.

“Unless something changes, therecould very well be restrictions enactedin 2016,” says Norton. “This obviouslywould be unprecedented. It is prettyserious and will affect farmers.”

How serious? Norton says LakeMead, located on the Colorado Riverand the largest reservoir in the coun-try, is at 40 percent capacity, and nowthere is concern about having enoughwater capacity to generate electricity.The lake hasn’t been at full capacitysince 1983 due to a combination ofdrought and increased water demand.

Depending on where a farmer islocated in Arizona, there has beensome kind of drought in the state for

16 years. For that reason, Norton saysfarmers have anticipated that waterrestrictions might tighten at somepoint in the future.

If those restrictions become reality,farmers would have to decide whetherto put in more sub-surface drip irriga-tion in certain areas. Or, they mightleave some acreage fallow and shiftcrops to another location.

“Sometimes the water problemsseem to get lost in the shuffle inArizona,” says Norton. “It seems thatway when you compare our situationto California.”

Arizona farmers are already makingplans to become more efficient in theirwater use.

For instance, is it better to use amajority of that water upfront to devel-op a structure on the plant? Thatapproach is being studied.

“Basically, it comes down to this,”says Norton. “No matter how challeng-ing this issue is, we have to keep fight-ing the good fight and not give up.”

Contact Tommy Horton at (901) 767-4020 or [email protected].

How Can A Western FarmerSurvive Current Drought?• Implement more drip irrigation.• Move crops to different locations.• Increase water conservation.• Consider rainwater runoff storage.• Gain access to new water sources.• Maintain proactive attitude.

In Texas, low energy precision agriculture (LEPA) irrigation remains efficient.Cotton Farming

CCOY2013 Cotton Consultant of the Year

Bob Glodt

I work with extremely supportivegrowers, who have been verypatient at times when patiencewas in order. My goal is to helpthem understand the science ofwater management, which is acomplex issue.

I believe I can be more valuableto my clients in the long term by explaining the intricacies ofwater management rather thanjust telling them when to waterand how much to apply.

The Cotton Consultant of theYear (CCOY) is determinedby a select group of the top consultants in the nation. To becounted among this group is thehighest honor of my career.

CCOY nomination form, page 13

Cotton Consultant of the Year sponsored by

TEXAS CONSULTANT KEEPS THEFOCUS ON WATER MANAGEMENT


Consultant’s Name:

Company Name (if applicable):

Mailing Address:

City: State: Zip:

Phone: Fax: Email:

In your own words, please tell us why you are nominating the consultant above for the “Cotton Consultantof the Year” Award:

Background:

Biographical/Industry Involvement Background:

Your Name:

Address:

City: State: Zip:

Phone: Fax: Email:

Sponsored by

The Cotton Consultant of the Year

(CCOY) represents the consultant

who has made great contributions

to the cotton industry through

outstanding customer relations,

leadership and innovation.

Recognized by fellow members of

the cotton industry, this award is

given to the consultant who not only

meets these requirements but also

exceeds them.

Syngenta and Cotton Farmingmagazine, CCOY sponsors, are

soliciting your help in selecting the

2014 recipient, who will be named

during a special celebration during

the National Cotton Council’s 2015

Beltwide Cotton Conferences.

The winning consultant and the

person who nominates the winner

receive two nights’ hotel stay and

airfare to the 2015 Beltwide, which

will be held in San Antonio, Texas.

In addition, the 2014 CCOY

recipient will be the subject of a

four-page salute in the January

2015 issue of Cotton Farming.

Please send your nomination form byAugust 22, 2014 to:Carroll Smith, 1010 June Road, Suite 102 Memphis, TN 38119Fax: (901) 767-4026 Scan/Email: [email protected] can print out an electronic version ofthe form located on the Cotton FarmingWeb site at www.cottonfarming.com.

If you would like to nominate a consultant deserving of this outstanding recognition,

please take a moment to fill out the following form.Please use a separate page for biographical/professional information. Additional

recommendations via letters or emails from other farmers, consultants and industrymembers are also encouraged to provide support for the nominee.

Cotton Consultant of the Year 2014

N o m i n a t i o n F o r mN o m i n a t i o n F o r m

Cotton Farming

2014 CCOY nom form FINAL_ Consultant Nomination 2004 6/9/14 9:11 AM Page 13


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In a cascade of notices, theCalifornia Water ResourcesControl Board told junior water-rights holders in the state’s

major watersheds recently toimmediately stop divertingwater. The board says extremedrought leaves the watershedswithout enough water to serveall water-rights holders.

Cutoff notices went to about2,700 junior water-rights hold-ers in the Sacramento Riverwatershed and northern delta;nearly 700 in the Russian Riverwatershed, upstream of the DryCreek confluence; and about1,600 junior water-rights hold-ers in the San Joaquin Riverwatershed and southern delta.

Water-rights holders receiv-ing curtailment notices weregiven seven days to file a confir-mation notice that they’ve ceaseddiversion to avoid any “unnecessaryenforcement proceedings.”

The water board says the cutoffs will last until further notice, andwarned that water-rights holdersin other watersheds and those holdingsenior rights could face cutoffs incoming weeks.

“California farmers and ranchersknow better than anybody that rainshaven’t come in abundance for the lastcouple of years,” says Chris Scheuring,California Farm Bureau Federationenvironmental attorney. “But, aspainful as curtailment is for manyfamily farmers, the state board is try-ing to do its job, which is to administersurface water rights developed after1914 on the basis of seniority, and cur-tail junior rights first when there’s notenough water to serve everybody.”

Legal Rights DefinedThe state’s water-rights system has

been established and tested in the

courts to arrive at a defined approachto water allocation in times of short-age, he says, “and that’s very impor-

tant in the current drought, which isamong the most severe ever recorded.”

But, while the board’s action was notunexpected, Scheuring says, “there areissues of due process, the board’s meth-ods for calculating supply and demand,how it quantifies public trust and pub-lic health and safety needs, and howvoluntary curtailment agreementsalready in place will be handled.”

Future shortages could be avoided orminimized through construction ofadditional water storage and appropri-ate reform of regulations that havelimited storage in existing reservoirs,he says.

The water board acknowledgedwater-rights holders in several water-sheds – including much of the lowerSan Joaquin River Basin and southerndelta – are developing local, coopera-tive agreements to share availablewater and avoid curtailment. Theboard says it would consider honoringthese voluntary agreements, as longas they don’t result in water being

taken from more senior water-rightsholders or unreasonably harm fishand wildlife.

Curtailment Areas IdentifiedThe Sacramento Valley cur-

tailments target water diver-sions in creeks and rivers drain-ing to the Sacramento River andthe northern delta. The water-sheds where curtailments areoccurring include the Pit,McCloud, Feather, Yuba andAmerican rivers, as well as theSacramento River Delta.

From the perspective of waterrights holders in the SacramentoValley, David Guy, executivedirector of the Northern Califor-nia Water Association, says cur-tailments were not unexpected.

“We’ve looked at the hydrologyand think there’s justification for

the post-1914 curtailments,” he says.“But, as we look at supplies and therights of pre-1914 and riparian waterrights holders, it becomes very tricky. Idon’t think the state water board hasthe hydrologic justification for that(additional curtailment) right now.”

Stored Water Not AffectedGuy says people with water in stor-

age need to remember that previouslystored water is not subject to anyimmediate curtailment.

“What this kind of year shows us isthat water storage, like in a (proposed)Sites Reservoir, would add a tremen-dous amount of value,” he said. “If wehad Sites online this year, there’s agood chance we’d have 400,000 acre-feet to 500,000 acre-feet of water.Wouldn’t it be nice to have that watersitting upstream right now?”

Kate Campbell is an assistant editor ofCalifornia Farm Bureau’s Ag Alert.Contact her at [email protected].

California DroughtCausing Water Cutoffs

SPECIAL REPORT

BY KATE CAMPBELLCALIFORNIA FARM BUREAU

California’s Water Resources Control Board hasissued warnings to junior water-rights holders inthe state’s major watersheds.

14B_CF 11/13 template 6/16/14 8:42 AM Page 14


Agriculture Secretary TomVilsack has announced thatfarmers, ranchers and land-owners committed to protect-

ing and conserving environmentallysensitive land were able to sign up forthe Conservation Reserve Program(CRP) beginning June 9. The Secretaryalso announced that retiring farmersenrolled in CRP could receive incen-tives to transfer a portion of their landto beginning, disadvantaged or veteranfarmers through the TransitionIncentives Program (TIP).

“CRP is one of the largest voluntaryconservation programs in the country,”says Vilsack. “This initiative helpsfarmers and ranchers lead the nationin preventing soil erosion, improvingwater quality and restoring wildlifehabitat, all of which will make a differ-ence for future generations.”

Vilsack continued, “The average ageof farmers and ranchers in the UnitedStates is 58 years, and twice as manyare 65 or older compared to those 45 oryounger. The cost of buying land is oneof the biggest barriers to many inter-ested in getting started in agriculture.The Transition Incentives Program isvery useful as we work to help newfarmers and ranchers get started.”

Important IncentivesThe Conservation Reserve Program

provides incentives to producers whoutilize conservation methods on envi-ronmentally-sensitive lands. For exam-ple, farmers are monetarily compen-sated for establishing long-term vege-tative species, such as approved grass-es or trees (known as “covers”) to con-trol soil erosion, improve water qualityand enhance wildlife habitat.

CRP consists of a “continuous” and“general” sign-up period. Continuoussign-up for the voluntary programstarted June 9. Under continuous sign-up authority, eligible land can beenrolled in CRP at any time with con-tracts of up to 10 to 15 years in dura-tion. In lieu of a general sign-up this

year, USDA will allow producers withgeneral CRP contracts expiring thisSeptember to have the option of a one-year contract extension. USDA willalso implement the 2014 Farm Bill’srequirement that producers enrolledthrough general sign-up for more thanfive years can exercise the option toopt-out of the program if certain otherconditions are met. In addition, thenew grassland provisions, which willallow producers to graze their enrolledland, will enable producers to do sowith more flexibility.

The Transition Incentives Programprovides two additional years of pay-ments for retired farmers and rancherswho transition expiring CRP acres tosocially disadvantaged, military veter-an or beginning producers who returnthe land to sustainable grazing or cropproduction. Sign-up also began onJune 9. TIP funding was increased bymore than 30 percent in the 2014Farm Bill, providing up to $33 millionthrough 2018.

Flexibility For ProducersAs part of the 2014 Farm Bill, par-

ticipants meeting specific qualifica-tions may have the opportunity to ter-minate their CRP contract during fis-cal year 2015 if the contract has beenin effect for a minimum of five years

and if other conditions are also met.The USDA Farm Service Agency

(FSA), which administers CRP, willcoordinate the various CRP programopportunities. For more information onCRP and other FSA programs, visit alocal FSA county office or go online towww.fsa.usda.gov.

Both the CRP and TIP were reau-thorized by the 2014 Farm Bill. TheFarm Bill builds on historic economicgains in rural America over the pastfive years, while achieving meaningfulreform and billions of dollars in sav-ings for taxpayers.

Since enactment, USDA has madesignificant progress to implement eachprovision of this critical legislation,including providing disaster relief tofarmers and ranchers; strengtheningrisk management tools; expandingaccess to rural credit; funding criticalresearch; establishing innovative pub-lic-private conservation partnerships;developing new markets for rural-made products; and investing in infra-structure, housing and communityfacilities to help improve quality of lifein rural America.

USDA has contributed information forthis article. For more details on CRPand TIP programs, interested partiescan go to www.usda.gov/farmbill.

Protecting EnvironmentTIP, CRP Programs Still Important

SPECIAL REPORT

In this Arkansasfield, the differencebetween grazedand ungrazed pas-ture is noticeableunder an intensivegrazing system.The pastures areseparated by anelectric fence andare on a three-weekrotation.

15B_CF 11/13 template 6/16/14 8:42 AM Page 15


The chief executive officer ofLevis Strauss, Chip Bergh,recently made headlines bysharing some unusual advice

for those of us who wear denim jeans.What is his advice? Don’t wash yourjeans, ever. He says keeping jeans outof the washing machine will makethem last longer and also added thatless washing equals greater environ-mental sustainability. But what aboutall those germs we generate whilewearing the jeans? Bergh suggestedfreezing the jeans to kill contaminates.

Vikki Martin, director of qualityresearch and product evaluation atCotton Incorporated, would warndenim wearers to take the “freeze yourjeans” advice with a grain of salt.

“You cannot kill everything by freez-ing,” she says. “Think about food safe-ty. If you let something sit out at roomtemperature too long and then freezeit, you run the risk of getting sickwhen you thaw it out again.”

Big Questions About WashingInstead, she says, “Denim care is

dependent on how you use your denim.Personal habits and personal aesthet-ics will determine just how manytimes you are comfortable wearing apair of jeans before laundering, but forcasual wear three to four wears beforewashing is certainly feasible.

“Alternatively, if you’re wearingyour denim for a day’s work in whichyou are exposed to environmental ele-ments or expect to naturally perspirefrom your efforts, then you probably dowant to consider washing those jeansafter wearing,” says Martin.

She has the following tips on properdenim care:■ Before laundering denim, alwayscheck the sewn-in tag for specificcare instructions.■ Invest in quality detergent to helpextend the life of denim jeans.■ To preserve the color of denimjeans (especially dark washes), turnthem inside out before laundering,then line dry.■ If denim jeans are overly stiff, soak

them overnight in a washing machinewith water and a cupful of fabricsoftener. Run the load normally thenext morning.

Confidence In CottonMost importantly, Martin says that

when you finally do wash your jeans,you can be confident that if they arecotton-dominant, they will indeedwash completely clean.

“Knowing what you’re getting andhow to care for it will help extendthe life of your jeans or any garment,”she says.

From dungarees to designer denim,blue jeans have historically been all, ormostly, cotton. When the price of cot-ton fiber reached a record high threeyears ago, some brands and manufac-turers sought to cut costs by dilutingthe cotton with higher percentages ofman-made fibers. Cotton prices havesince returned to more competitive lev-els, but the denim category remainsrife with man-made fiber additives.

The Cotton Board, which administersCotton Incorporated’s Research andPromotion Program, contributed infor-mation for this article.

Use Care WhenWashing Denim

RESEARCH & PROMOTIONTrait Stewardship Responsibilities

Notice to Farmers

Commercialization is dependent on multiple factors, including successful conclusion of the regulatory process. The information presented herein is provided for educational purposes only, and is not and shall not be construed as an offer to sell, or a recommendation to use, any unregistered pesticide for any purpose whatsoever. It is a violation of federal law to promote or offer to sell an unregistered pesticide.

Monsanto Company is a member of Excellence Through Stewardship® (ETS). Monsanto products are commercialized in accordance with ETS Product Launch Stewardship Guidance, and in compliance with Monsanto’s Policy for Commercialization of Biotechnology-Derived Plant Products in Commodity Crops. Commercialized products have been approved for import into key export markets with functioning regulatory systems. Any crop or material produced from this product can only be exported to, or used, processed or sold in countries where all necessary regulatory approvals have been granted. It is a violation of national and international law to move material containing biotech traits across boundaries into nations where import is not permitted. Growers should talk to their grain handler or product purchaser to confirm their buying position for this product. Excellence Through Stewardship® is a registered trademark of Biotechnology Industry Organization.

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ALWAYS READ AND FOLLOW PESTICIDE LABEL DIRECTIONS. Roundup Ready® crops contain genes that confer tolerance to glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup® brand agricultural herbicides. Roundup® brand agricultural herbicides will kill crops that are not tolerant to glyphosate. Bollgard II®, Genuity Design®, Genuity Icons, Genuity®, Ground Breakers®, Respect the Refuge and Cotton Design®, Roundup Ready® and Roundup® are trademarks of Monsanto Technology LLC. LibertyLink and the Water Droplet Design® is a registered trademark of Bayer. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. ©2014 Monsanto Company. MDIC-CF-14013LC

These jeans are in the archives of LeviStrauss & Co. and are the oldest jeanson record although they actually looklike many jeans worn today with the“distressed” look.



Farmers havethrown openthe doors ofthe machine

shed, greased up thegears and crankedup their diesels. It’sfarming season!

With Congress insession only a few

days between now and August, thisalso is a good time to gear down andthrottle up on agriculture’s importantpolicy priorities.

In February, thousands participatedin the Farm Immigration campaign tobring attention to farmers’ and ranch-ers’ labor challenges. That samemonth, more than 600 business organi-zations, including Farm Bureau,signed a letter urging House leadersto move forward quickly with immigra-tion reform legislation.

Since then, the engine has idled abit, and we can’t let that happen. It’stime to tell Congress to refuel immi-gration reform. Without a legal, stablesupply of labor, farmers will continueto face labor shortages and lost crops,and the public will face the loss of eco-nomic activity from agriculture andthe risk that more of their food willcome from other countries.

Some in Congress are working torenew tax policies that expired lastyear. Congress has allowed the work ofaddressing these tax provisions to pileup like a stack of off-season invoices.

One of the most important tax provi-sions for farmers and ranchers isenhanced small business expensing,which helps them upgrade to more effi-cient and environmentally friendlyequipment, purchase livestock andbuild certain farm structures. Becausefarmers operate on tight margins, theability to deduct these expenses imme-diately can give a farmer a way tosmooth out volatile fluctuations infarm income.

Congress also needs to extend timelytax credits for renewable energy

production, donations of conservationeasements, food donations to charita-ble groups and other tax provisionsthat help farmers and ranchers be pro-ductive and profitable while helping toachieve societal goals.

To keep a crop healthy, the farmermust keep an eye out for pests andanything in the field that doesn’tappear to be thriving. The EPA’s“Waters of the U.S.” rule threatens todrain the vigor from routine conserva-tion and farming activities. Landown-ers would have to secure federal per-mits to make ordinary changes to theircropland, build fences or other struc-tures or apply fertilizer or pesticideseven in parts of fields that are wet onlyduring rainstorms.

EPA wants to classify these areasthat shed rainfall and features such asotherwise dry ditches as “waters of theU.S.” subject to federal regulation.Farm Bureau is asking Congress toweed out that proposal, and we com-mend the 231 representatives and 46senators who have signed letters urg-ing EPA to “Ditch the Rule.”

Congress has a lot of fallow groundleft to plant. “Growing conditions” inCongress have been less than optimal.Germination might seem slow, but wemust plow ahead with our legislatorsand get our farm work done in antici-pation of the harvest season ahead.

Bob Stallman is president of theAmerican Farm Bureau Federation.

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Cotton Board PromotesLisa Droke To Senior VP

The Cotton Board has announcedthe promotion of Lisa N. Droke tosenior vice president of finance andadministration. Droke is the CottonBoard’s first ever senior vice president.

“Lisa is a proven results-orientedsenior financial executive with vastexperience and a broad skill set,” saysWilliam A. Gillon, president and chiefexecutive officer of the Cotton Board.

Since joining the Cotton Board in2009, Droke has successfully imple-mented new investment strategiesthat have significantly strengthenedfunding for the Research and Pro-motion Program.

“Not only has Lisa been an asset tothe Cotton Board in regards to finan-cial administration, she has made con-siderable contributions to the overallhealth of the cotton industry. Shemakes it a priority to visit cottonproducers on theirfarms and has agenuine desireto learn asmuch as shecan abouteveryone’s

operation,” says Gillon.Droke earned a bachelor’s degree

and a master’s degree in businessadministration from the University ofMemphis. Prior to joining the Cotton Board, Droke served as vice president and controller in thecorporate accounting group forHarrah’s Entertainment.

NCC Announces DatesFor This Year’s PIE Tours

The National Cotton Council (NCC)has scheduled tour dates and locationsfor the 2014 Producer InformationExchange (P.I.E.) Program.

The P.I.E. program provides cottonproducers with the opportunity tomaximize production efficiency andimprove yields and fiber quality by: 1)

gaining new per-spectives in suchf u n d a m e n t a lpractices as landp r e p a r a t i o n ,planting, fertil-ization, pest con-trol, irrigationand harvesting;and 2) observingfirsthand diverse

farming practices and the unique waysin which their innovative peers haveadopted new and existing technology.

This season, Mid-South producerswill see operations in California onJuly 13-17; Far West producers willtravel to Arkansas, Missouri andTennessee on July 27-August 1;Southwest producers will visit NorthCarolina and Virginia on Aug. 3-8; andSoutheast producers will tour Texas onAug. 17-22.

Sponsored by Bayer CropSciencethrough a grant to The CottonFoundation, the P.I.E. program is nowin its 26th year and has exposed morethan 1,000 U.S. cotton producers toinnovative production practices inregions different from their own. TheNCC’s Member Services staff, in con-junction with local producer interestorganizations, conducts the program,including participant selection.

John Deere Rolls OutSprayer For Larger Farms

With the introduction of the R4045Sprayer, John Deere is adding a higherhorsepower, large capacity self-pro-pelled sprayer to the lineup of 4 Seriessprayers introduced in 2013.

Industry News

18 19_CF 11/13 template 6/19/14 8:25 AM Page 18


See Bollgard II® XtendFlex™ Cotton in action in Ground Breakers® Field Trials Under Use Permit:

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Pending regulatory approvals. Not available for sale or commercial planting. This information is for educational purposes only and is not an offer to sell Bollgard II® XtendFlex™. This product is not yet registered or approved for sale or use anywhere in the United States. Commercialization is dependent on multiple factors, including successful conclusion of the regulatory process. The information presented herein is provided for educational purposes only, and is not and shall not be construed as an offer to sell, or a recommendation to use, any unregistered pesticide for any purpose whatsoever. It is a violation of federal law to promote or offer to sell an unregistered pesticide. Details of these practices can be found in the Trait Stewardship Responsibilities Notice to Farmers printed in this publication. ©2014 Monsanto Company. MDIC-CF-14013

The R4045, which replaces the com-pany’s 4940 Sprayer, offers the highapplication rates, productive sprayspeeds and all the technology and com-fort that ag service providers and largeproducers need to cover large fieldsquickly and efficiently.

Dave Mulder, product line managerfor John Deere application equipment,says the new sprayer offers the perfor-mance, productivity and versatilitythat farmers and ag service providersneed in a rugged, fully-integrated,three-season machine. The R4045shares a similar frame and chassisdesign, as well as the standard andpremium CommandView II PLUS caboptions, as its R4030 and R4038family members.

For details on the new John DeereR4045 and other 4 Series Sprayers,visit www.JohnDeere.com.

Valley Irrigation OffersNew Sprinkler Application

Valley Irrigation is offering a newsprinkler application option for produc-ers who rotate crops of varyingheights. AquaDock drop hose dockingstations support two ground clearancesin one drop hose assembly. Producers

can easily change the drop hose heightfrom the ground using a lift pole toplace the sprinkler head into the dock-ing station.

This new Valley product offeringwas designed to provide a convenientway to change drop hose length and toimprove crop production, says DaleShelton, a Pasco, Wash., farmer whoholds the patent on AquaDock.

AquaDock allows producers to tailorwater application to varying cropclearances without compromising uni-formity or efficiency – two essentialelements in yield and profit, says Jerry

Gerdes, product manager for waterapplication at Valley Irrigation.

“AquaDock maintains a high level ofuniformity when growing high crops,”Gerdes says. “If the drops are left low,they can drag through the plants caus-ing dry rings, which can affect yield.”

AquaDock is available for newmachines and for retrofitting existingpivots. Docking stations can be mount-ed directly to the U-pipe or they can clamp around the span.

For more information about Aqua-Dock and other sprinkler options, visitValleyIrrigation.com.

Industry News

18 19_CF 11/13 template 6/16/14 8:46 AM Page 19


Specialists Speaking

Long Season Nears Crucial MidpointFLORIDA David Wright

It is very important to protect bolls that are beingset in July as 90 percent of the yield is often set dur-ing this month. Plant bugs and stink bugs havebecome more of a problem with corn being grown inthe rotation. Most of the stink bugs will come out ofcorn as it starts drying down, and this is normally inlate July in the Deep South, but much of the corn is

about two weeks later than normal due to later planting and coolerweather early in the season.

Most producers have to spray very little except for the suckingpests since most cotton varieties are protected by Bt proteins. Goodscouting is important for managing growth, weeds and insects andcan result in high yields if managed properly. Keeping cotton growthunder control has advantages for controlling insects and in defolia-tion. There is potential for high yields this year, and that will be veryimportant with prices where they are. [email protected]

ALABAMA Dale MonksOur family farmed vegetables, soybeans and bur-

ley tobacco in southern middle Tennessee all throughmy “growing up” years. We saw droughts, floods andeverything in between. I have heard Ron Smith men-tion on several occasions that he has never seen twoyears alike. Ron has a lifetime devoted to cotton andunderstands a lot more about the crop than I ever

will. Back on our farm in Skinem, Tenn., my dad used to say that hehad rather try to “work out a crop” in a wet year than during adrought. That seems to be the sentiment at Society Hill (“The Hill”)where we gather several mornings each week at Walters’ Gas andGrill to discuss farming and philosophy, and to solve world prob-lems. In our community we don’t complain about rain in June andJuly because we have seen too many seasons dry up early.

This year’s early rains pushed cotton planting later a couple ofweeks and forced producers into other options. Low areas of somefields that we were accustomed to planting were left unplantedbecause the soil stayed saturated for so many weeks. The 2013 cropwent through heavy rains, cooler temperatures and delays but turnedout excellent yields because of good weather at the end.

We hope that this year will turn out well with the sunshine andexcellent soil moisture that we had in June. Follow us on Twitter at“AU Crop Specialists” or online at [email protected]

MISSOURI Mike MilamThe Missouri cotton crop is doing better than I

expected with all of our rainfall during the plantingseason. According to the Crop Progress andCondition Report for the week ending June 9, 35 per-cent of the crop is considered fair, 51 percent goodand seven percent excellent. Since much of our cotton was planted after the optimal planting date, it

is surprising that we have 11 percent squared compared with thefive-year average of six percent. The Southeast region has 34 percentof our soils with surplus moisture.

It would be nice if we could just hang on to this moisture untilthe usual July and August drought phases. Since May 1, the Cardwellweather station has had 11.02 inches of rainfall. Last year, during thesame period, we had slightly more than eight inches of rain. With

the alternating wet and dry conditions, it has caused some problemswith activation of herbicides. This morning, I saw cotton that wasrecovering from standing water in a low end of the field. We havehad a few problems with thrips, and it seems that spray driftis increasing.

It will be interesting to see how the remainder of the year playsout. Insect numbers weren’t bad during the early season but couldrebound. Resistant pigweed will continue to be a problem, so pro-ducers will need to make timely sprays. [email protected]

NORTH CAROLINA Keith EdmistenThe crop appears to be ahead when you consider

last year, but much of the crop is behind when youlook at long-term averages. Cool nights and dryweather have contributed to this. Producers will befacing growth regulator decisions in July and thepotential response to growth regulators. Dry weatherin June makes the lower internodes on the plant

shorter. This is fairly common for us in North Carolina and is one ofthe reasons we don’t rely so much on height-to-node ratios or totalplant height in making growth regulator application decisions.

Looking at the last fully expanded internode gives us a much bet-ter idea of the current growth potential and is not influenced by ear-lier plant growth. The internode of interest is the largest of the inter-node above or below the fourth mainstem leaf down from the top onthe plant. If this measurement is averaging more than 2.5 inches, theplant is showing growth potential that may need to be slowed downwith growth regulators.

The N.C. Cotton Field Day this year will be held at the UpperCoastal Plain Research Station at Rocky Mount on Sept. 10. Theschedule will be different than in past years. We plan to start at theEast Carolina Ag & Education Center (1175 Kingsboro Road) wherethe National Cotton Council will make a presentation on the FarmBill. We will then move to the station for lunch and tours followinglunch. [email protected]

LOUISIANA Dan FrommeAlthough a little behind, the Louisiana cotton crop

is looking very promising. Since planting was initiat-ed, temperatures have been fairly moderate. DD60saccumulated for the past 60 days are about 14 per-cent below the average of the previous six years.Most of the cotton is beyond being susceptible tothrips. Soil moisture is very good in most parts of the

state. As of June 13, most of the cotton fields are squaring. PGRapplications will be going out to manage plant height and excessvegetative growth.

Earlier planted fields in central Louisiana will be approaching firstbloom in about 10 to 14 days. Since squaring began, insect pressurefrom aphids, fleahoppers and plant bugs has been low throughoutmost parts of the state. Square set is looking very good with fieldshaving 80 to 85 percent square retention or higher.

As cotton fields in Louisiana reach early bloom, an effectivemethod for producers to determine vigor or the amount of horse-power the cotton plant has is to count the number of nodes abovewhite flower (NAWF). NAWF is measured by counting the numberof nodes above the lowest first position white flower on the cottonplant. The last node to be counted at the top of the plant will be theuppermost node that has an unfurled mainstem leaf larger than a

20 21 22_CF 11/13 template 6/18/14 1:26 PM Page 20

quarter (greater than one-inch diameter). Factors that influenceNAWF at early bloom are maturity differences in varieties, soil mois-ture conditions, insect pressure and disease. At early bloom, NAWFcan be at five or six under drought-stressed conditions to 10 or moreunder optimum growing conditions. [email protected]

GEORGIA Guy CollinsAs I write this on June 9, Georgia’s window for

late-planted cotton will be ending in just a few days(June 15). Some areas experienced warmer and drierweather during early June. However, rainfall has gen-erally been sufficient in getting this crop off to a goodstart. All in all, the 2014 crop is in pretty good shape,with some cotton recently emerged, while earlier

planted cotton is now squaring.A few replants were necessary in areas that received intense pack-

ing rains early on. However, most fields resulted in decent stands.The big wave of thrips appeared to be later than normal this year.This pest is very consistent for Georgia producers and is expected inmost years.

For earlier planted cotton that has begun squaring or is approach-ing this stage, PGR decisions will likely be on most producers’minds, as well as irrigation decisions. Regarding PGR management,producers should keep in mind that final plant height should be tallenough to support a decent boll load but short enough so that thelikelihood of severe fruit shed and delays in maturity are reduced.Look for signs of vigorous growth and apply rates that are appropri-ate for the plant size, variety and environment (irrigated versus dry-land). Field history, especially in irrigated fields, can be useful whendetermining the likelihood of excessive growth. [email protected]

TEXAS Gaylon MorganThe cotton crop across the state is much improved

over last month’s article with some very timely rainsacross most of the major cotton production regions.The Rio Grande Valley’s dryland cotton crop looksbetter than it has in many years despite the cropbeing seven to 14 days behind average maturity.Rains from the Coastal Bend up through the

Blacklands in late May completely turned the cotton crop aroundfollowing a dry spring and erratic temperatures.

Cotton began flowering in the Coastal Bend during the first weekof June, and cotton throughout South Texas remains behind normalin maturity. The potential for a dryland cotton crop in the RollingPlains was looking bleak last month. Now, with multiple rain eventsin late May and early June, producers have had good planting mois-ture and have been pushing hard to get their crops planted ahead ofplanting date deadlines.

Statewide, cotton planted acres jumped more than 750,000 acres,from 62 percent to 85 percent between June 1 and June 8, accordingto USDA-NASS. Regarding management, we can expect someincreased early season weed pressure in the Rolling Plains.

For those producers who did not use pre-plant incorporated orpreemergence herbicides to reduce the early season weed pressure,it will be even more important to use multiple mode-of-action post-emergence herbicide programs to prevent and manage glyphosateresistant weeds. [email protected]

ARKANSAS Bill RobertsonAs costs continue to increase, the key to remaining

profitable is to improve efficiency continuously. Anexample of increasing costs was shared with me by aproducer comparing current costs to those from2008. His nitrogen costs have increased 65 percent,phosphorous and potassium up 78 percent and thesame horsepower tractor up 57 percent. Meanwhile,

the price received for his cotton increased only 5.5 percent.The 2012 Environmental and Socioeconomic Indicators Report,

compiled by Field to Market: The Alliance for SustainableAgriculture, documents the continuous improvements of the indus-try. U.S. cotton producers use 75 percent less irrigation water to pro-duce a pound of cotton today as compared to 1980. Great improve-ments are also seen for increasing land-use efficiency and reducingsoil erosion, energy use and greenhouse gas emissions per pound ofcotton produced. Preliminary research presented at the 2014Beltwide Cotton Conferences sponsored by the National CottonCouncil and Cotton Incorporated indicates that producers who weremore efficient with these factors were also more efficient withmoney spent on the crop, producing more pounds of cotton per dol-lar spent. [email protected].

CALIFORNIA Bob HutmacherIrrigation water supply problems remain a primary

limiting factor that will drive most management deci-sions and options this year in the San Joaquin Valley.In addition to irrigation district water limitations thatrestrict the timing and amount of available betterquality district water, we have a lot of producers rely-ing on groundwater well pumping as a secondarywater source, or in quite a few cases, their only

source of irrigation water this year.It is a good thing that cotton is quite a salt-tolerant crop, since a

wide range of salinity levels exist in groundwater wells across thevalley. Insect pests in the early season this year have not been toomajor of a problem in most fields I have visited, but high levels ofthrips slowed down growth in quite a few upland/acala fields thisyear, and some limited cases of early aphids and mites have requiredattention in some fields. With all of our water limitations, there maynot be many opportunities to make up for early square and fruit loss-es by extending the fruiting period into the fall and going for a topcrop. The water just may run out and prevent that option. For these


For up to the minute cotton market information

Experience means credibility. Listen to two experienced farm broadcasterswho keep their listeners updated on news

that affects your farming operation.

And each week listen to the Cotton Insider Report from Tommy Horton, Editor of Cotton Farming magazine.

The Mississippi AgriNews NetworkAg Voice of the Delta

Louisiana Agri-News NetworkLouisiana’s Source For Ag News

John WinfieldFarm Director

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Don MolinoFarm DirectorLa. Agri-News

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Tommy HortonEditor

Cotton Farming magazine


reasons, it is an especially good year to be super attentive to identify-ing and controlling developing populations of lygus that pose signifi-cant threats to fruit retention.

As of the second week of June, first post-planting irrigations havebeen made in many fields during the past two to three weeks, andthat puts us on a little earlier than normal schedule. This reflects thewarm weather we have been having and also is related to some“kick-start” from irrigation water. Most producers likely put the firstof their splits of nitrogen fertilizer on prior to this most recent irriga-tion, with perhaps one more application before the next irrigation.

No one wants nitrogen to be the yield-limiting factor in yourfields, but if irrigation water limitations are one of your productionproblems this year, it can be important to try and reduce applied Nsince you may not have the water to go for a really long fruitingcycle with growth extending well into the fall. It is not generally aproductive practice to use water and fertilizer to “build” a relativelylarge plant in the hope of lots of fruiting sites, and then short it forwater, stressing it hard during the flowering and boll loading period.

Many producers with water limitations are using every row oralternate row for drip irrigation this year and are deficit irrigatingtheir cotton (applying less water than full crop water needs for highgrowth rates and high yields). These producers should plan evenmore than ever to “spoon feed” nitrogen to their plants to maintainacceptable N supply while not encouraging excessive vegetativegrowth that they cannot sustain. [email protected]

ARIZONA Randy NortonThe majority of the crop is now in bloom with

some of the western part of the state approachingpeak bloom. It appears that the cotton acreage inArizona increased slightly from last year with about170,000 planted acres. Approximately 10,000 acresin the state are planted to Pima cotton this year. Thisis up dramatically from recent years where Pima cot-

ton acreage has hovered around 1,000 to 3,000 acres. Management of Pima cotton takes on a slightly different approach

when compared to the upland varieties. Advances have been madeover the past 10 to 15 years in breeding Pima varieties that are moredeterminate than the older varieties that were grown in Arizona dur-ing the 1980s and 1990s, but they are still relatively indeterminatewhen compared to upland varieties. Care should be taken in man-agement of vegetative growth as Pima cotton has a tendency towardmore vigorous vegetative growth.

Managing the vegetative/reproductive balance through the properuse of plant growth regulators (PGRs) becomes even more criticalwhen growing Pima varieties. Evaluating the crop through collectionof height-to-node ratios (HNR) and percent fruit retention (FR) areexcellent ways of evaluating the balance between vegetative andreproductive growth. Another easy technique that can serve as aquick indicator is to evaluate the length of the internodes. For moreinformation on this topic and others go to cals.arizona.edu/[email protected]

VIRGINIA Hunter FrameUpon taking the position of Virginia’s cotton spe-

cialist in 2012, I immediately received questionsabout foliar feeding cotton during the bloom periodwith potassium and nitrogen. A key principle toremember in any soil fertility/plant nutrition program,regardless of the crop to be grown, is that the essen-tial plant nutrients are classified in groups based on

plant demand. Nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium are the primarymacronutrients, meaning that plants need these nutrients in the high-est quantities. Sulfur, magnesium, and calcium are considered the

secondary macronutrients because plants need less of these nutrientsthan the primary macronutrients but still in greater quantities thanthe micronutrients. Micronutrients are needed in the smallest quanti-ties but can still limit yield if deficiencies occur.

Why is this classification important when discussing foliar feed-ing? The quantity of nutrients applied is limited when foliar feeding,especially when applying nitrogen and/or potassium. As the nitrogenand potassium application rates increase, the risk for crop injury alsoincreases. A typical foliar feeding program in cotton may include 10pounds of potassium nitrate (13-0-44) applied in 15 gallons of water.This application supplies 1.3 pounds of nitrogen and 4.4 pounds ofpotassium per acre.

To put this into perspective, cotton during peak bloom has apotassium demand of three to four pounds per acre per day. Thisfoliar application results in enough potassium for a little over a day,assuming 100 percent crop use efficiency. A producer would haveto apply this application every other day during the bloom period ifusing foliar feeding as his primary fertility program component.

It is best to start with a solid soil-applied fertility program for themacronutrients and use a foliar program in a supplemental role. Usetissue/petiole sampling to aid in decision making for applying foliarnitrogen and potassium during the bloom period. I recommendapplying nitrogen and potassium during the first three weeks ofbloom to get the most bang for your buck. [email protected]

NEW MEXICO John IdowuThe season started with prolonged cold spells in

different parts of New Mexico, which affected germi-nation and emergence of cotton. In some cases, pro-ducers had to replant after unexpected cold weatherthat affected young seedlings. Recently, in the easternpart of the state, severe hailstorms were recorded inmany areas, which affected several cotton fields and

many other crops.Some farmers who had severe hail damage in eastern New

Mexico are in the process of deciding whether to terminate the exist-ing cotton crop for another summer crop.

While there have been some rains in the cotton-growing regionsin the east, there has been no rain in the southwest, which is anothermajor cotton production region. Farmers had to rely on deep wellsfor their irrigation needs early in the season, but about two weeksago, the Elephant Butte Irrigation District released water into canalsfor Doña Ana County, which is the second largest cotton producingcounty in New Mexico. Farmers will receive six acre-inches of waterfor irrigation this year compared to 3.5 acre-inches in 2013.

Apart from hail damages in the east, there has been no seriouspest or disease problem. Fields in southwestern New Mexico arelooking good. [email protected]

MISSISSIPPI Darrin DoddsI have learned in my short career that there is no

such thing as a normal year. 2014 has proven that tobe true in a number of ways. Much of the Mississippicotton crop was planted in three to four time frames.These time frames occurred in three- to five-dayblocks that were squeezed in between rainfall events.Although the focus of this issue of Cotton Farming is

on irrigation, excess water was the story early on in our cotton.Rainfall and other environmental conditions made application of

preemergence herbicides difficult in several instances, which hascreated management headaches for farmers throughout Mississippi.However, as the old saying goes, we are only 10 days away from adrought. By the time you are reading this, we will likely be layingpoly pipe and pumping water. [email protected]


Specialists Speaking


COTTON FARMING IS THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE GINNING INDUSTRY.

Be Careful In The HeatWhen Doing Gin RepairsWe’re fortunate to live in what some people

call the Sunbelt, but we call it the Cotton Belt.The winters are normally (last year excepted)mild, and spring and fall are usually beautiful.The summers… well they’re SUMMER. Hot andhumid. Did I mention it was HOT!?

This is also the time when a LOT of work isdone on gins to get them ready for the comingyear. After a long gin season like some placeshad – either because of a big crop or just strungout harvest – it’s not uncommon to take a couplemonths off and evaluate what broke and whatneeds repair. Then, during the summer, we getthe stuff together and start repairing. Did I men-tion it was HOT? In my own experience, workingin the top of the gin in July or August is a recipefor disaster.

While gins rarely lead to heat exhaustion orheat stroke type of illnesses, it’s no secret thatwe can have bad accidents in the off-season justlike in gin season. The difference is that duringthis time of year, accidents are usually trips andfalls and few due to power and machinery relat-ed injuries. Some have wondered how many ofthese falls may have had a heat-related compo-nent. When a person is overheated, it’s easyto become disoriented or lose your balance.Judgment can also be impaired when someoneis overheated.

Since most gins have roofs and large bay doorswith a good breeze, it’s fairly easy to avoid theextremes of heat exhaustion and heat stroke.Staying out of the sun during the hottest part ofthe day can go a long way. Where heat can be abig factor is working in the top of the gin. Alwaysdo this as early in the day as possible. If youplan to do a lot of hot work, start at 6:30 a.m.and knock off by 3:30 p.m. Drink a lot of water.

Keep an eye on each other. Work high in thegin early and move down to the concrete by thehottest part of the day. Take plenty of breaks.These seem like they’re silly common sense tips,but they can be tips that may save your life orthat of one of your friends. Be careful whenworking in the heat.

Dusty Findley of the Southeastern CottonGinners’ Association contributed this article.Contact him at (706) 344-1212 or via email [email protected].

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Water is a pre-cious andv a l u a b l ecommodity

on the High Plains ofTexas. As a farmer on theHigh Plains, I often won-der how many times overmy career I will reflectupon the words, “If we hadhad just one more rain.” Alongtime family friend toldmy wife, Kim, at churchone day, “Your husbandwill pass from this world

one day wishing for one more rain.” In a region that averages 18 inches of rainfall

per year, it is hard at times to scratch out a livingoff the land. My wife and our three sons Tanner,Tyler and Turner have been blessed with manybountiful crops over theyears although we havehad our share of disap-pointments as well. Ourrainfall generally comesin thunderstorms dur-ing the growing season that can bless you withprecious moisture or bring hail that can wipe out asummer’s work in 10 minutes. That is the natureof farming in our semi-arid region of God’s Earth.

It often has been said about our little part of theworld’s largest cotton patch that this country canpromise less and give more than anywhere in theworld. We have been in the grips of THE mostsevere three-to-four year drought recorded in ourarea of the Texas Panhandle since records startedbeing kept in the late 1800s, surpassing the recordof the Dust Bowl era by an astonishing eight inch-es less rain than that period in history. Here atmy home place just north of Littlefield, Texas, werecorded 2.9 inches of rainfall in 2011, 2.4 inchesin 2012, and 10.6 inches in 2013. So far this year,we have been blessed with 9.6 inches of rain.

About 60 percent of our region is dryland and 40percent irrigated. We’ve had a great success storyhere in irrigated agriculture on the High Plainsfor close to 70 years. I always have viewed irriga-tion as the best investment in my operation. Myfellow producers and I strive to use our water as

efficiently as possible and have invested greatamounts of capital in improving our irrigation sys-tems and water use efficiencies.

Our irrigation truly is supplemental to our aver-age rainfall. You must, first and foremost, haveconservation practices that allow you to takeadvantage of every drop of rain we receive on ourland. We use our irrigation to bridge across thosedry periods. We have come a long way from openditch flood irrigation, to hand-moved sprinklerpipe, gated irrigation pipe, side roll sprinklers,center pivot irrigation to today’s most efficient sys-tems of underground drip irrigation. We use soilprobes and high-tech computer-based soil mois-ture monitors to track our crop’s water use andneeds throughout the season.

We have found that you can use a practice oncotton called deficit irrigation, supplying lesswater than the plant’s total needs, and it tricksthe cotton into thinking it has plenty of water for

its needs and holdsits fruit longer wait-ing for that Augustrain we wish for somuch. We are learn-ing that we can con-

centrate our water application to the fruiting peri-od and still be successful in our yields while usingless water. Fertigation of our irrigation water is afrontier that I believe is just taking off and will bea great tool as we micromanage our water and fer-tility programs. We can and will learn to do all ofthis better as time moves forward.

Through these irrigation practices and genetics,we are growing two to three times the amount ofcotton per acre with half the irrigation water thatwe did when I began farming 26 crops ago. That isan environmental success story that is worthy ofmention. We as farmers can do a better job attelling our success stories. We are the ultimateconservationists, and it is time that we sharethese stories and let the world know that weintend to help clothe and feed the world for gener-ations to come on the High Plains of Texas, whileat the same time nurturing our land to supportfuture generations of family farms in West Texas.

– Brad Heffington, Littlefield, [email protected]

Doing More With Less Water

My Turn

Cotton Farming’s back page is devoted to telling funny or unusual “farm tales” from across the Belt. Now it’s your turn. If you’ve got an interesting tale to tell, send a short summary to

[email protected] or fax to (901) 767-4026. We look forward to hearing from you.

BradHeffington

‘We as farmers can do a better jobat telling our success stories.’

26_Don Cameron My Turn #2 6/16/14 8:48 AM Page 26


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Documents

Cotton Farming, July 2014