All posts by Tyson Raper, Cotton & Small Grains Specialist

Preliminary Tennessee Official Cotton Variety Trials’ yield and turnout now available

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We have finished ginning all collected Official Variety Trial samples and I expect to have the remaining fiber quality data back from the USDA Classing Office in Memphis any minute now.  We are on track to have the complete results from both the Official Variety Trials and the County Standard Trials weeks earlier than normal.  Still, I wanted to share some of the preliminary results with you now. Continue reading


What to expect as temps drop into the 30s, boll opening and boll maturity hereon

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Conversations this week have centered on the forecast lows over the coming weekend, boll maturation at temperatures averaging below 60F, and slow activity of defoliants and boll openers.  In this blog, I briefly tackle each of these issues. Continue reading


Defoliation thoughts as we move into October

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This has been a big week for defoliation.  Most of the calls have consisted of one or two questions.  First, how long should I wait on acres that are nowhere near ready and second, what is the concoction when the weather is this cool?  In this blog, I share a few thoughts on timing and some results from a strip trial we completed in cool conditions during 2020.

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Pond Aeration Field Day in Covington Oct 18th

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On October 18th at 10:00 am there will be a pond meeting on aeration.  Fisheries Biologist Bob Robinson from Kasco aerators will be discussing everything about aerators.  He will even have a couple of types there to see.  The meeting will be at:

468 Charlie Owen Rd in Covington TN.

There is a covered pavilion with picnic tables and chairs as well as a restroom.  Memphis Net and Twine and Kasco are sponsoring our lunch so I will need a head count.  Please call the office at 901-476-0231 or email me at beckymuller@utk.edu or Jeff Via at 901-476-0231 or jvia@utk.edu if you plan to attend.


REMINDER: Cotton Tour this WEDNESDAY, 9/21 @ 8AM

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The West Tennessee Research and Education Center (WTREC) would like to cordially invite you to the 2022 University of Tennessee Cotton Tour.  This event is scheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 21st at WTREC (605 Airways Blvd., Jackson, TN 38301).  Registration will begin at 8:00 a.m. with the tour departing at 8:15.  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 pertinent topics. Pesticide Re-certification and CCA points will be available. The agenda can be found by clicking here.  Looking forward to seeing you there!


Impact of Drought on Residual Soil Nitrate

Abnormally dry soil conditions as a result of rainfall amounts far below average during this corn growing season present unique nutrient management decisions after harvest, particularly for growers considering wheat crop this fall. This article will address two key questions that may come handy in making management decisions: Is there be considerable amounts of residual soil N left after the 2022 corn crop? and if the residual soil nitrate is sufficient to meet N demand of the wheat crop in the fall? Continue reading


2022 Cotton Tour scheduled for Sept 21st @ 8AM

The West Tennessee Research and Education Center (WTREC) would like to cordially invite you to the 2022 University of Tennessee Cotton Tour.  This event is scheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 21st at 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 pertinent topics. Pesticide Re-certification and CCA points will be available. Check back on the blog for an agenda in the coming weeks.