All posts by Tyson Raper, Cotton & Small Grains Specialist

Upcoming Events

January 24, 2020 – Gibson County Extension Crop Production (Ed Jones Agri-plex) 8:00 a.m. – 2:45 p.m.  (Contact Philip Shelby for details)

January 30-31, 2020 – Cotton & Rice No-Till Conference (Memphis, TN)

February 3, 2020 – Henry County Extension Crop Production (Henry Co. Fairgrounds) 6 – 9 p.m. (Contact Ranson Goodman for details)

February 4, 2020 – Middle Tennessee Grain Conference (UT Space Institute in Tullahoma, TN)

February 6, 2020 – West Tennessee Grain and Soybean Conference (Dyer Co. Fairgounds, Dyersburg, TN)

February 7, 2020 – KY/TN Grain Conference (Russellville, KY)

February 11, 2020 – Haywood/Madison Extension Crop Production (Samuel T. Bryant Distillery, Jackson, TN) 9AM-12PM (Contact Jake Mallard or Lindsay Stephenson for details)

February 12, 2020 – Tennessee Agricultural Production Association Winter Agronomic Workshop (DoubleTree Hotel, Jackson, Tennessee) 8 AM – 4 PM

February 13, 2020 – Cotton Focus (West Tennessee Research and Education Center, Jackson, TN) 8 AM-12PM (lunch provided, pre-registration is not required)


2020 TN Cotton Variety Guide now available

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The 2020 TN Cotton Variety Guide is now available online.  This preliminary report serves as a precursor to the complete Variety Trial Results which will be published after the remaining samples have been ginned and classed. Summary tables from the 2019 season were calculated from five Official Variety Trials (OVTs) and nine County Standard Trials (CSTs) scattered throughout TN’s cotton producing counties. Continue reading


String-out, fall out, and estimating yield loss in cotton

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While the finish line is either within sight or has been reached by most, Tennessee still has several acres of cotton in the field.  Several have reported fall out, or seed cotton on the ground, on some of these acres.  There are several methods to estimate yield loss from fall out.  This article explains string-out, fall out, the method for estimating harvest loss from lock counts and covers potential sources of error in the estimate.  Continue reading


Picking cotton in below freezing temperatures

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With the arctic blast in the forecast and the substantial number of cotton acres left in the field, several have recently asked about how to keep water in their cotton pickers moisture system from freezing. Some operators occasionally mix a small percentage of methanol with water to lower the freezing point of water, but extreme caution must be used with this liquid since it is highly flammable. This post includes a brief demonstration concerning methanol/water mixtures and freeze points of different mixtures. Please note prior to using methanol or any other liquid in your moisture system you should consult the manufacturer.   Continue reading


Opening bolls immediately before a freeze

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The forecast lows for Thursday/Friday/Saturday/Sunday nights have bounced around over the past few days, but this morning they included a 26, 28, 28 and 31.  I’ve passed many fields with a large percentage of large bolls in the upper canopy still closed.  Today (10/29) is the day to make any last-ditch effort at opening those bolls; it is likely all bolls remaining closed after this weekend will freeze shut. Continue reading


REMINDER: Cotton Tour TOMORROW, Wednesday Sept. 4th

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The West Tennessee Research and Education Center (WTREC) would like to cordially invite you to the 2019 University of Tennessee Cotton Tour.  This event is scheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 4th at the WTREC (605 Airways Blvd., Jackson, TN 38301).  Registration will begin at 8:00 a.m. with the tour departing at 8:30.  The tour will end at noon with lunch. University of Tennessee Extension and Research personnel from across the state will be presenting on a wide range of topics including: fungicides and target spot, weed and resistance management, variety testing, defoliation, insect control, and drought mitigation, just to mention a few.  Pesticide Re-certification and CCA points will be available.