"At Your Service" Newspaper Column

 

Michael R. Milam

Agronomy Specialist and County Program Director

For Daily Dunklin Democrat-At Your Service

September 26, 2006

Observing field patterns is part of the planning process

            The Missouri Crop Progress and Condition Report of September 10 indicated that for cotton the percent of open bolls increased to 55 percent which is at least five days ahead of last year and the average. The crop condition was listed as 5 percent poor, 22 percent fair, 67 percent good and 6 percent excellent. 

            The Delta Farm Press Daily electronic edition quoted the USDA Cotton and Wool Report of September 13 as being 100,000 bales less than the August projection. I looked up the report and was particularly interested in the Missouri estimate. The projection was 2 lbs/acre higher than last month at 1032 1bs/acre.  The drop in production was due to states such as Alabama and Texas where the abandonment rate was so high. There were 2 and a half million acres lost beltwide with an abandonment rate of 16 percent. Missouri is estimated to lose only 5000 acres which is fairly close to our average. The beltwide yield is estimated to be 762 lbs/ac which is the lowest since 2003.

            According to the USDA report, the September projection has been above the final harvest figures eight times and below the final harvest 12 times.

            As I drive around cotton country, I am able to make many “windshield” observations. Of course, a more detailed analysis must be made by the producers and consultants. This time of the year, it is easy to spot patterns. By going into the fields and making notes, planning can begin for next year’s crop. I see patterns of uneven fertilizer distribution. Height and color differences show up nicely before fields are defoliated.

            Premature defoliation should be analyzed to determine the cause. For example, nematodes, nutrient deficiencies, and excess soil acidity can be responsible for this condition. The best way to shut the plant down is to have a heavy boll load. I have seen fields this year that shut down early because the root system and other parts of the plants shut down.

            Each year, I see patterns of drainage problems. This can be corrected by grading the fields and installing pipes. The solution is to call the Dunklin County Soil and Water Conservation District at 888-2480, extension 3. There is state and federal cost-share for improvements made to the land.

            On occasion, there may be pockets of poorly developed cotton in fields. This can be due to nematodes or vascular wilts. We have both verticillium and fusarium wilt in our fields. Cutting the stalk will reveal the brown discoloration. Verticillium is more prominent at this time of year because of the cool nights and rainfall.

            Plant mapping can be a very beneficial tool. After the leaves are removed, it is easy to see where the fruit is located and determine the timeframe that the fruit was lost. This will help with planning irrigation and insect control for next year.

            Other things to look for at this time of year are weed escapes, insect damage, and trouble areas. Soil sampling is recommended to help diagnose why fields do not produce as expected.

            Micronaire is one of the fiber quality measurements and it is a measure of fiber maturity or fineness. The high, strength long fiber Egyptian cotton varieties grown in the Southwest and California are exceptionally suited for fine woven articles of clothing. The upland cotton varieties that we grow are much thicker and are not suitable for many high-end uses. There is a correlation between high micronaire and yield. So the goal is to allow the cotton to develop as long a possible without going into the penalty range. Although the penalty is not as much as it was previously, high “mic” cottons do not spin as well

As I mentioned in a previous column, there is a tendency for micronaire (mic) to be high under the environmental conditions that we have had this year. Preliminary reports from the Delta Center and from consultants have shown that some fields have been projected to be in the penalty range. There are variety differences and the environmental conditions have certainly favored high “mic.” With high heat units, there is certainly enough cellulose being added during the daily layering on the inside of the fiber. Also with the shorter fibers, there is a tendency for high “mic” conditions.

            High micronaire can be managed with the Hal Lewis method. For more information, call David Dunn at the Delta Center at 379-5431. He can also provide the instructions for taking the sample. The cost of this service is $10 per sample.

            Final plant height and vegetation cover is very important consideration. With some of the rank conditions due to rainfall or irrigation and the higher fertility rates, we are seeing more boll rot this year. In some cases, the bolls were damaged by insects which provide entry by fungi. A solution to this problem is a more vigorous approach with the growth regulators such as Pix or one of the generic materials widely available.

            Aerial photographs such as those provide by In-Time, Inc. can be very useful for planning purposes. These will provide a grower or a consultant with areas in the field that need to be checked out often referred to as ground-truthing.

            We have much potential for this year’s cotton, but better planning can help increase both produce better yields and also reduce unneeded inputs.

University of Missouri Extension programs are open to all.

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