Tyson Raper and Larry Steckel
During the 2014 growing season, the University of Tennessee Cotton Variety Testing program was given an opportunity to evaluate several of the new Monsanto Bollgard II® XtendFlex™ cotton varieties. Given the recent de-regulation of this trait, many may find this data of interest. (De-regulation of dicamba applications to these varieties is still pending.) Continue reading
The 2015 Cotton Focus Agenda is now available online. This year’s meeting will be held at the DoubleTree (1770 Highway 45 Bypass) in Jackson, TN on Thursday, February 12th. Registration begins at 8:00 AM with opening remarks beginning at 8:30 AM. Specialists from the University of Tennessee, Mississippi State University and the National Cotton Council will Continue reading
I’ve recently received several calls concerning N applications on wheat. Although this cold front has made it easier to get across wet fields, it is still early for the first split in a late winter/early spring split-N application approach. To make the most of the first split, target ‘spring greenup’, or the period in which wheat breaks dormancy and begins to grow rapidly (typically Feekes 3 or Zadoks 25). Delaying applications until this point can help ensure the applied N is available to the developing crop by reducing the potential for N loss. The current N demand of the dormant crop Continue reading
The 2014 TN Cotton Variety Trial Results Publication (PB1742) is now available online. This document contains detailed results from all harvested trails in the 2014 University of Tennessee Cotton Variety Testing program. This expanded publication follows the recently published summary publication, 2015 TN Cotton Variety Guide (W285), which was released a few weeks ago.
The tech-trait diversity in the top performers highlights the excellent yield potential, stability and fiber quality currently available in commercial cultivars irregardless of tech platform. Given many of these currently-available varieties have been moved forward into new tech-trait platforms, it appears producers will be deciding between several very viable options for many years to come. Continue reading
The 2015 TN Cotton Variety Guide is now available online. This document summarizes results from the 2014 University of Tennessee Cotton Variety Testing program and serves as a precursor to a full release of trial results in PB 1742 to come within the next few weeks. Continue reading
With our fly-free date of October 15th just around the corner, several of us are beginning to think about wheat planting. As we enter this wheat season, I hope you will find utility in our hot-off-the-press 2014 Tennessee Wheat Quick Facts Publication (W 321)which is now available online. This document is Continue reading
Ms. Lindsay Griffin and I will be walking the Hardeman County Defoliation Trial at 7:30 AM this Thursday (10/9/2014) at the corner of 15 and 64 in Whiteville, TN. This trial received a stout single-shot rate of defoliant last Monday (9/29). Treatment descriptions can be found below. Continue reading
There comes a point late in the season where defoliation timing begins to lean more heavily on the forecast and historical temperature normals associated with the current date than our maturity measurements (NACBs, %open, uppermost harvestable boll maturity as determined by the sharp-knife technique, etc.). In West Tennessee, I would argue that we are very rapidly approaching that time frame. The 5 day forecast here on the 28th day of Sept. for West TN indicates the next few days appear to be very favorable Continue reading