All posts by Tyson Raper, Cotton & Small Grains Specialist

26 Sep 2017

Defoliation as temperatures begin to drop

26 Sep 2017
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The past two weeks have been excellent for defoliation.  Clear skies, nighttime temperatures in excess of 65F degrees, and very few scattered showers have allowed many to shed green leaves and open bolls quickly.  Unfortunately, the end of this week is forecast to bring much lower nighttime temperatures; several nights are expected to hit the low 50s.  The good news-  chances for rain over the next week are slim, daytime temperatures are still relatively warm, and only a few days are forecast to be partly cloudy.  Still, as temperatures begin to drop, products and rates will need to be altered.   Continue reading →


14 Sep 2017

Defoliation strip trials placed, comments on harvest aids for Sept 14th

14 Sep 2017
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August felt more like September and the first few days of September forced many to rummage through the closet for a jacket.  Still, it appears we’ve been given an excellent window for harvest aids over the next 10 days; the temperatures in the forecast bring all products back to the table.   Continue reading →


09 Sep 2017

2017 MidSouth Cotton Defoliation Guide

09 Sep 2017
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The Mid-South’s cotton crop is rapidly maturing and many of our acres will receive a harvest aid application soon after Hurricane Irma moves through the area.  There are many factors to consider in determining timing, products and rates.   In an effort to outline these decisions and provide harvest aid recommendations for the Mid-South, the 2017 Mid-South Cotton Defoliation Guide has just been updated by the MidSouth Cotton Specialists’ Working Group and is now available online.   To access the guide, click the image above or the included link.  Please keep in mind that this was compiled as a regional guide and should be used in conjunction with your previous experiences.

 


22 Aug 2017

Heat unit accumulation during 2017

22 Aug 2017
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Heat unit accumulation has been the big question over the past week.  Mild temperatures settled over Tennessee during early August and there is some concern that the crop may not be maturing as quickly as noted in years past.  While I agree the weather has been quite comfortable, we are currently very close to the 30 year average heat unit accumulation trend noted from 1980-2010.

Continue reading →


28 Jun 2017

Managing cotton plant growth during 2017

28 Jun 2017
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Over the past 10-14 days, our cotton crop has really taken-off.  Rains and warmer temperatures have promoted rapid growth over the past week and Plant Growth Regulator (PGR) applications will begin within the week on much of our crop.  Now that the root zone has expanded and N uptake has begun to increase exponentially, expect very rapid plant growth in areas which have adequate moisture.  Several points should be considered when attempting to regulate growth in 2017. Continue reading →


20 Jun 2017

Cotton Nitrogen Management, 2017 comments

20 Jun 2017
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For much of West Tennessee, the time frame in which to apply Nitrogen (N) is quickly closing.  After accumulating an impressive number of DD60s last week and catching a nice rainfall over the weekend, the crop is beginning to grow rapidly.  This post intends to highlight a few key points in proper N management with recent research results while touching on some exciting in-field experiments. Continue reading →