Rains and warmer temperatures have promoted rapid growth over the past week. Now that the root zone has expanded and N uptake has increased exponentially, expect very rapid plant growth in areas which have adequate moisture as we move into flowering. For those who have not applied an early shot of a plant growth regulator (PGR), you should consider doing so very soon. Several points should be considered when attempting to regulate growth in 2015. Continue reading
Although most early planted upland corn looks pretty good for the year, I have had a number of discussions about about streaky, yellow corn and applying more nitrogen. Continue reading
With snow in the forecast, I hope you find some warmth in our hot-off-the-press 2015 Tennessee Cotton Quick Facts Publication (W 319) which is now available online. New this year are digital hyperlinks to all full-length UTIA publications. Simply click on the grey boxes or related QR codes describing the publication in which you are interested and your browser will do the rest. Keep losing your guide or tired of carrying paper guides around? Open this document with the reader on your mobile device (if Apple, your iBooks app) to have a digital copy at your fingertips at all times. Hyperlinks will still work!
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
Mark your calendars for the TAPA Winter Agronomic Workshop (Wednesday, February 11) and Cotton Focus (Thursday, February 12). Both meetings will be held at the Doubletree Hotel in Jackson, Tennessee. 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
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