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 →

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 →

The 2024 MidSouth Cotton Defoliation Guide is now available online.  You can access the guide by clicking the above image or any of the embedded links within this post. This guide was compiled and is updated yearly by Extension Cotton Specialists from throughout the Mid-South.

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 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 →

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 →