More times than not, when a cotton planter left a TN field in 2022, a thunderstorm bringing ~2″ of rain and cool weather would arrive 3 days later. I’ve walked more replants this year than ever before and unfortunately the old saying ‘if you are on the fence, keep it’ rarely applied; in many fields, we weren’t anywhere near the metaphorical fence. Still, Tennessee’s ragged cotton crop has generally turned the corner and mid and late June have been cotton weather; our earliest cotton reached early bloom well prior-to the 4th. In this blog, I cover a few things to keep in mind as we begin to apply PGRs to more acres and look to push a few slower farms into ‘taking off’.
30
Jun
2022
Managing cotton plant growth as we move into July
30
Jun
2022
Large rainfall events and cool weather in late May strained Tennessee’s cotton crop. In some areas, individuals are considering replanting cotton that failed to emerge or cotton that appears to be just sitting. In other areas, reports of damaged or desiccated cotyledons have been reported and healthy, large cotyledons are hard to find most anywhere. In this blog, I cover a few rules of thumb to consider when determining whether or not to keep the stand and give a few words of advice to those that are considering May 30-something cotton. 
Strong thunderstorms brought heavy rainfall and isolated hail to some areas of the MidSouth last weekend (5/13-5/15). Reports of hail damage have not been widespread and many welcomed a rather helpful rainfall event. Still, those who caught hail are assessing their damaged stand and those who caught the heaviest rainfalls are trying to determine if a replant is warranted. In this blog, I summarize some recent research conducted by the MidSouth Cotton Specialists’ Working Group on hail damage and planting date/populations and discuss the applicability of those findings to our current situation. 
The Extension Cotton Specialists’ Working Group, with funding from Cotton Inc and support from a number of seed companies, has been studying seed quality and the impacts marginal seed have on in-season performance since 2020. I planted the 2022 seed quality trial last Thursday (April 28th) with the expectation that even the best treatments would struggle, based on the forecast. To my surprise, each time I checked the forecast temperatures increased and rain chances shrunk. Some of those treatments emerged yesterday and they rowed this afternoon (pictured above). The planting window that I thought would help separate excellent seed from marginal seed just might make everything look great! 
The National Cotton Council is seeking engagement from cotton crop consultants to help facilitate the enrollment of cotton producers in the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol. The Trust Protocol is an industry-led sustainability initiative that proves, measures, and verifies the sustainability of U.S. cotton. This seminar will provide information and benefits regarding the Trust Protocol so that you as the consultant can assist your producer with the enrollment process. Cotton producers are invited and encouraged to attend as well to learn more about the Trust Protocol and enroll. Consultants have the ability to enroll in the Trust Protocol and then, once linked with their enrolled producer, can enter field level information on behalf of the producer. Complete enrollment in the Trust Protocol prior to the end of March will allow producers to enroll their 2021 crop data and bales.