All posts by Tyson Raper, Cotton & Small Grains Specialist

30 Mar 2023

2022 USDA NASS Estimated County Average Yields for Corn, Soybean, and Wheat in Tennessee

30 Mar 2023
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Posted on behalf of:

S. Aaron Smith, Associate Professor and Extension Crop Marketing Specialist
Beck Bowling, Extension Specialist
Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics
University of Tennessee

Below is a summary of USDA NASS Estimated County Yields for Tennessee. Data is displayed for all available counties as of March 28, 2023. Additional data can be found at:
https://quickstats.nass.usda.gov/

To view this article in PDF form with all attached figures, please click the image above. Continue reading →


23 Mar 2023

Assessing freeze damage to jointing wheat: what to look for and what to expect

23 Mar 2023
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The front which moved through this past weekend (3/18-3/20) brought low temperatures down within a few degrees of records set back in 1965.  Based on the growth stage and temperatures observed, I believe we will see damage in some of our wheat.  In this blog article, I cover basic information on the conditions that led to the injury and how best to assess the level of injury in your wheat crop following a freeze near jointing. Continue reading →


07 Feb 2023

Cotton Focus is WEDNESDAY (Feb 8th); agenda now available

07 Feb 2023
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Cotton Focus will be held Wednesday, Feb. 8th, at the West Tennessee Research and Education Center (605 Airways Blvd, Jackson, TN 38301).  The agenda has been finalized and we are very excited about our speaker line-up.  Points will be provided and the event will conclude with lunch from Tulum.

Additionally, the annual meeting of the Tennessee Boll Weevil Eradication Foundation (TBWEF) will be held after lunch in Room 127 of the West Tennessee Ag Research & Education Center at Jackson.  All producers are invited to attend.

Looking forward to seeing each of you there!


23 Jan 2023

2023 Cotton Focus on Wednesday, Feb 8th

23 Jan 2023
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The 2023 University of Tennessee Cotton Focus is coming up on February 8th from 8AM to 1PM in Jackson, TN at the West Tennessee Research and Education Center (605 Airways Blvd Jackson, TN 38301).  Lunch will be provided and CCA, Commercial Applicator and Master Row Crop Points will be available.  Tulum will be catering lunch.

We have several excellent guest speakers that will provide very valuable insight into several important decisions that we will have to make during 2023. Additionally, we have several industry updates that you will not want to miss.  We look forward to seeing you there!


21 Dec 2022

2022 Tennessee Cotton Variety Trial Results Publication (PB 1742) now available online

21 Dec 2022
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The 2022 Tennessee Cotton Variety Trial Results Publication (PB 1742) is now available online.  Included within these results are ten large strip trials (CSTs) testing 13 XtendFlex commercial varieties, four large strip trials (CSTs) testing 6 Enlist commercial varieties, and six small plot trials (OVTs) testing 40 experimental and commercial varieties.

Special thanks to all of the agents and producers who helped generate this data.  Additionally, thanks to the USDA Classing Office in Memphis for assisting with this effort.  If you have any questions on location response or variety placement, please do not hesitate to reach out directly to your county agent.


07 Dec 2022

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

07 Dec 2022
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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 →


06 Oct 2022

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

06 Oct 2022
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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 →


29 Sep 2022

Defoliation thoughts as we move into October

29 Sep 2022
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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.

Continue reading →