There have been a number of calls after the heavy rain event (>3” for a large area of West TN) Friday and Saturday (May 31 and June 1) about whether to try to replant cotton late or perhaps switch crops and replant back to soybean. Many of these calls are from folks who are pretty frustrated as a number of the cotton fields in question have already been replanted once. In several cases they were planted the week before last (Week of May 19) and received 3 plus inches of rain the end of that week as well which caused the need for replant the end of May.
My first thought to this question is do not pull the plug too quick on the late planted cotton. It indeed may be a raggedy stand in spots but if the majority of the field has a fairly uniform 1 to 2 plants/foot it may very well pencil out with more profit than a soybean crop that will be planted no earlier in many cases than the last half of June. Moreover, there are no assurances on the soybeans. Most notable because many of these cotton fields have pre applied herbicides on them that can be harmful to soybean.
Most folks know that a number of the pre applied cotton herbicides will provide weed control for 3 to 4 weeks of application. However, that is with less than a inch of rain. With the 3 plus inches we saw this weekend the cotton herbicide could concentrate lower in the profile and soybeans that emerge may do fine for a spell and then get into the pre applied cotton herbicide and go backward on stand.
As a result, I would put my limited time concentrating on harvesting this large wheat crop then deciding whether an intended cotton field should be replanted to soybean. In other words a bird in hand (this wheat crop) is worth two in the bush (cotton or soybean this fall).
Remember we have a big wheat crop that will likely be ready to harvest about the time you will be able to tell if the cotton stand is sufficient to keep. I for one would take priority with the wheat harvest which from the road appears to be a good crop then replanting a cotton field to soybean. This wheat crop will take longer than usual to get to the granary as it is a large crop. Moreover it will likely be a muddy, rut-cutting harvest in a number of fields. I know there are many things more fun than having to steer your combine with the brakes paddling through harvesting a muddy field. However, on the positive side it looks like it will likely be a good yielding wheat crop.
I would then recommend going back and checking the cotton stand as wheat harvest is winding down. Then you and your crop consultant can make a best guess estimate on the probable cotton yield. Weigh this cotton yield estimate against the calendar date and how much a potential soybean crop will make at the given planting date. Also, if pre plant or pre emerge herbicidies were applied to the cotton be sure to check the plant back restrictions to soybean. If you decide to stay with a cotton stand that is thin, be sure to do everything to manage for earliness. Right out of the gate do not apply more than 60 to 80 lbs of N. For other earliness tips please refer to Scott Stewart’s piece on cotton management for earliness.
