All posts by Tyson Raper, Cotton & Small Grains Specialist

Defoliating the last of our 2024 crop

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Here we are, at the end of one of the more challenging seasons we’ve experienced in the past 10 years.  Although some have reported disappointing yields, many have been pleasantly surprised and I believe our best crop may just now be beginning to be harvested.  Still, margins remain thin. Based on our current temperatures, we have an opportunity to shave a few cents off the budget in our last few defoliation applications.  In this blog, I cover some last-minute thoughts on defoliation timing and product selection. Continue reading


Cotton Tour THIS WEDNESDAY, Sept 11, agenda now available

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The 2024 UT Cotton Tour is NEXT WEDNESDAY, Sept. 11 at the West Tennessee Research and Education Center (605 Airways Blvd, Jackson, TN 38305).  Pesticide recertification and CCA points will be available.  Tulum will be catering lunch for us.

We will be spraying a defoliation demo tomorrow at the experiment station that will be along the tour route.  Additionally, we will have presentations from Dr. Sebe Brown on insect control, Dr. Larry Steckel on weed control, Dr. Heather Kelly on diseases, Dr. Avat Shekoofa on irrigation response, and Dr. Nutifafa Adotey on a fertility update.  I’m very happy to report the slate of speakers will again include Dr. Jake McNeal, our new Corn and Soybean Specialist who started last spring.  He will make a few comments about a few of the research trials he has established at WTREC and some preliminary results from a soybean desiccation study. The agenda for the event can be found by following this link. Look forward to seeing you there!


Thoughts on terminating irrigation and defoliating our early acres

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I’ve spent the better part of the past three days walking cotton throughout West Tennessee, and while I’m pleasantly surprised by our earliest planted acres, I’m concerned the crop in many areas may fall well-short of what we might have expected at the end of July. In this blog, I briefly share my thoughts on how I would approach terminating irrigation in 2024 and what I believe may be our best first-shot blend for defoliating our earliest acres. Continue reading


Considerations for PGRs and fungicides in an abnormally cool July

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A drastic change in weather pattern has brought cooler temperatures and rainfall into the forecast for the remaining days of July.  Recent calls have questioned how we might need to change our approach to plant growth regulation and fungicides, given this abnormal forecast.  In this blog, I highlight a couple of things to consider as we move into next week. Continue reading


TAPA Annual Meeting- July 22-24th- book rooms now!

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TAPA Meeting Registration : https://tapa.tennessee.edu/meetings/

The Lodge at Pickwick Landing
Below is the direct URL for attendees to book through. Group code is good through June 21!  You are welcome to call directly at 731-689-3135 x 0 or the call center at 888-867-2757 use code 25213. Continue reading


Yield potential and management of late planted cotton

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In almost every cotton-related conversation I had during early May, the conversation quickly turned to our excellent early planting window- a window which opened earlier in 2024 than any of recent memory.  Since then, most have fought to find an opportunity to mud in any acres and many are now considering shifting some farms to soybeans.  In this blog, I attempt to cover yield potential of a late planted cotton crop and highlight several very important factors to consider when planting cotton at the end of our ‘normal’ planting window. Continue reading