This cropping season began like so many other years in the past. The favorable temperatures early were followed by rainfall and cooler weather. In some instances, cotton was submerged for several days. According to the past several Missouri Agricultural Statistic Service Reports, we were only able to get 2-3 days of planting done each week. However, on the University of Missouri Extension Agriculture Web page, there is still a category for drought information for Missouri producers.

            As is typical at this time of the year, some of the emerging cotton looks good and some of it doesn’t. There is usually some replanting each year, so I suspect that this year will be no different. Some of the replanting will go to soybeans because of the higher prices this year. We still have plenty of time to get our cotton and other crops into the ground well within the optimum planting dates. The weather forecast for the next 10 days has many days in the 80-90 degree range with good temperatures at night. The seedlings should emerge quickly.

            Taking a look at the climatic data from two Dunklin County weather stations at Clarkton and Cardwell, we see better than expected average 2" bare soil temperatures. From April 20, the Cardwell station reported only 3 days of soil temperatures of less than 65 degrees. Clarkton had 5 days of 65 degrees or less. Yesterday, the soil temperature highs were 86.9 and 84.9 degrees, respectively, for the Clarkton and Cardwell stations.

            As I have mentioned in the column previously, the growth and development for our crops is temperature driven. In cotton, we measure the heat units as Degree Days above 60 degrees and in rice we use the DD-50 measure. Rice and cotton growth stages can be predicted using models such as the Arkansas DD-50 program and COTMAN, respectively.

            I have baited two insect traps that I run each week in conjunction with Dr. Michael Boyd, research and extension entomologist, at the Delta Center. One trap is for tobacco budworms and the other is for the cotton boll worm. I wanted to see if we would have much activity early since we didn’t have a cold winter. When we start collecting the data, this information will be available through the pest management newsletter that is sent out weekly during the season.

            The Boll Weevil Eradication Program is in a pivotal year. Last year was excellent overall and it is expected that this year will also be good. The program is on schedule and we should see further reductions in weevil counts. I checked earlier with Pat McCrate, who is in charge of the program in Region II. There were a limited number of traps run during the winter, but overall there were few weevils trapped. The traps are being placed now and are being baited with the pheromone to attract the weevils. The actual trap counts will not begin until May 13^th. As most people are aware, the weevils that emerge prior to squaring cotton, will not survive.

            Keep in mind that 70 percent of the weevils trapped in Missouri last year were caught south of Highway 412. Once the diapause treatments were applied last fall in Mississippi and East Craighead counties in Arkansas, there was a noticeable drop in trap catches in the South end of Dunklin County within two weeks. Similar results were noted in the other Arkansas ridge counties and in Tennessee. In areas with fewer weevils, the trap density is reduced from 1 trap per 4 acres to 1 per 6.5 acres. This will also result in savings to the program.

            One of the reasons that I am optimistic for this year, is that I expect that most of the cotton will be planted during the optimum planting period, the cotton will be more uniform, and the cotton will be harvested earlier. If this happens then, the program can save money by having fewer malathion applications.

            While we have had a wet beginning and too much moisture in some fields, our season is just starting. As I mentioned earlier, we have about 10 days which is forecast for little or no rain. In the sandy fields, the situation can change very rapidly. We can easily go from too much to too little, especially when we experience the higher temperatures.

            When we get a lot of rain early in the season, there is a tendency for the crops to put out their roots near the surface. Under dryer conditions, we see the plants developing deeper roots so that it will have enough moisture.

            We have been blessed with good climatic conditions for the past three years so we can always hope that they will continue. This is so important for our producer’s financial well being.