Adverse conditions experienced during or after cotton planting can negatively impact cotton seedlings and result in seedling death. If severe, stresses can reduce stands to unprofitable yield potentials. Unfortunately, cool nights, excessive rainfall and marginal seed quality from some seed lots have increased reports of failed stands. Determining whether to accept or replant a marginal stand of cotton is a particularly challenging decision since many factors must be considered. The purpose of this post is to highlight a few factors to consider while making the replant decision. Continue reading
Category Archives: Farm Management
Tennessee Weekly Crop and Weather Report
SOME FIELDS RECOVERING FROM WET WEATHER
CORN PLANTING BEGINNING
Coming off extreme wet weather, Tennessee farmers have had some dry days and are taking full advantage by applying burndown herbicides and anhydrous ammonia in drier fields in preparation for this year’s crop season. Fertilizer is being applied to hay fields and some corn is being planted. There were 4.9 days suitable for fieldwork last week. Topsoil moisture rated 3 percent short, 72 percent adequate, and 25 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture rated 1 percent short, 66 percent adequate, and 33 percent surplus. Continue reading at TN Crop Weather 04_01_2019. The U.S. Crop Progress report can be read at US Crop Progress 04_01_2019.
When should I resume picking?
Weather over the past few days has allowed our cotton crop to dry down substantially. Still, it is unlikely the areas which noted sprouting will be dry enough to pick until mid-week (Oct. 3). In this post, I cover the factors to consider and potential impacts should you rush into harvest before the crop has sufficiently dried. Continue reading
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Free Soil Testing for Pathogens
Don’t miss out on the opportunity to have your soil tested for parasitic nematodes and charcoal rot at no cost for Tennessee Farmers ($15 fee for out-of-state samples). Continue reading
Call of the Week: Roadway Safety with Blake Brown
In honor of National Farm Safety Week (September 16-22, 2018) we speak with Dr. Blake Brown on trailer safety – how to properly pull a trailer and avoid mistakes. Click to listen. Continue reading
Warm weather defoliation mixes (1 and 2 shot) with and without thidiazuron
Our forecast for the next 7 days contains ideal conditions for defoliating and opening bolls. In this blog, I cover my current 1 and 2 shot go-to mixes and briefly describe how I would approach defoliation without thidiazuron. Continue reading
Prevention of Plastic Contamination
https://youtu.be/GKnNTc3Qmxw
Although US cotton currently has a reputation as one of the least contaminated sources in the world, USDA-AMS Cotton Programs reported more ‘other extraneous matter’ during 2017 than ever before- primarily due to plastic. Beginning in 2018, a new remark for plastic contamination will be included in the classing process. Unfortunately, the negative financial implications associated with receiving a plastic remark could potentially spread beyond a single bale. As a result, I’ve personally heard several refer to plastic contamination as the biggest single threat to the US cotton industry. Continue reading
Don’t Forget, Milan No-Till Field Day is Thursday!
Visitors to the Milan No-Till Field Day can hear presentations on research involving corn, cotton and soybeans. Due to growing interest in cover crops, two tours (10 total presentations) will be devoted to that topic. New this year – a tour devoted to managing resistance, a tour on fragipans, and a producer-led panel discussing personal experiences with precision agriculture technology. Continue reading