"At Your Service" Newspaper Column

 

Michael R. Milam

Agronomy Specialist and County Program Director

For Daily Dunklin Democrat-At Your Service

August 25, 2006

USDA Cotton and Wool Report bullish on Missouri cotton

            The USDA Cotton and Wool Report of August 14, 2006 has a yield projection of 1030 lbs/acre for the Missouri cotton crop. The August report is the first one of the year that has yield projections and most of us who keep up with this report eagerly wait for this first reflection of yield potential. We are very fortunate having the crop that has developed under our environmental conditions.

            The reason that I say we were fortunate is that all states will not have a decent crop this year. For example, the Texas High Plains has lost about a million acres of their crop due to drought and poor stands with very little yield potential. Alabama has about 75 percent of its cotton rated as very poor or poor. Texas has a projected yield statewide of 583 lbs/acre and Alabama has a projection of 430 lbs/acre. In the Delta region, we are in a dead heat with Arkansas with an estimated 1032 lbs/acre and way ahead of Louisiana, Tennessee, and Mississippi with 883, 863, and 840 lbs/acre, respectively.

            This is such a difference from our beginning this year. The Missouri Crop Progress and Condition Report of June 4 showed that our crop was rated as 21 percent poor, 42 percent fair, 33 percent good, and 4 percent excellent. Now the August 20, Missouri Crop Progress and Condition Report shows 5 percent poor, 22 percent fair, 65 percent good, and 4 percent excellent. Back in June when writing a column on the first forty days of the cotton crop being the most important, I indicated that I thought that it was safe to not predict another record cotton crop. Wrong again, the projection is only 24 lbs/acre from our best crop at 1054 lbs/acre harvested in 2004.

            We are also very fortunate compared with the rest of the state. In the August 18^th Missouri Crop and Livestock Reporter, Gene Danekas, Director of the Missouri Agricultural Statistics Service, indicated that much of the state is suffering. He indicated that Mother Nature is showing who is in charge. With conditions that had a promising start, the prospect for a bumper crop has diminished over the past 3-4 weeks due to high temperatures and lack of rainfall. Relief during August is not normally the case in Missouri. A look at the Drought Monitor shows that much of the state is rated between moderate to extreme drought. We also have more acres under irrigation than much of the state. According to this report, the Missouri cotton production is expected to be over one million bales, which is estimated at 19 percent above last year’s record.

            The reason for the turn around for our cotton has been due to both temperature and rainfall. The increase in temperature has certainly been good for our cotton. However, I have seen articles in Delta Farm Press related to too much heat can be detrimental. While the articles suggest that even in a record year such as 2004, in Mississippi, it was estimated that the yield could have been 124 lbs/acre higher if not for the high temperatures. I am always more concerned with the high night time temperatures. During the day, the plants use photosynthesis to make vital plant components and at night the respiration process will use some of the energy to keep itself cool. When the night temperatures reach 80 degrees, then the plant will have a zero balance of carbohydrates during the day or it could actually have a negative balance. I have looked at the overnight lows at Clarkton and saw that we had a week of night temps in the middle 70’s. The nights the past few days have been much cooler at night.

            Many producers have told me that they have received very timely rainfall during the season. When averaging at least one good rain a week, it helps to keep the plant growing properly. One factor that hurts the plant more than high temperatures is to be drought-stressed at the same time.

            Generally, insects were not a problem for most of the year. We had a few thrips, plant bugs, and now several species of moths that are requiring attention. However, the boll load has been good and we are drifting toward defoliation and harvest.

            As I mentioned, the higher temperatures has increased our yield potential. However, it can have an impact on fiber quality. In general, higher temperatures result in shorter fiber cotton. When this cotton is harvested, it generally has higher micronaire readings. For this reason, the Hal Lewis method of timing defoliation might be useful during the early season. After following the protocol of harvesting the hand samples, the ginning and the micronaire samples would indicate which fields to defoliate first. This method has been very important to Missouri producers. Now many consultants offer the service. In addition, the Delta Regional Soil’s Laboratory located at the Delta Center offers the service for $10 per sample. This test has been useful in preventing many bales from being in the penalty range, but it also allowed the producer to get the highest micronaire value and increased yield without being penalized.

            As usual, for the rest of crop season, we are dependent on favorable climatic factors to mature the crop out and to insure a timely harvest.

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