Tom Barber, Arkansas Extension weed specialist, said management of glyphosate-resistant pigweeds costs 3-5 times more than managing acres without glyphosate-resistance. Losing an entire field or crop to pigweeds is even more expensive. When making herbicide applications, you want to get the most out of your investment, and one of the most important things to consider is timing.

It’s critical to treat pigweeds when they are small. Tom Barber said the same herbicide regimen (Liberty plus residuals) was applied to both plots, but the photo on the right shows better weed control when applications were made to smaller pigweeds.

Sam Garris, Mid-South technical service representative for Bayer CropScience, reminded Memphis attendees that the least profitable herbicide application is the one that doesn't work. That means growers need to understand the differences between herbicide modes of action and sites of action.

Sam Garris reminded growers that Liberty is a contact herbicide, and growers must apply Liberty herbicide differently than glyphosate to ensure plant coverage and efficacy. Growers should use spray nozzles that produce medium-sized droplets, and applications should include at least 15 gallons of water per acre. Garris said many growers try to use less water, but he reminded the audience, "Water is the least expensive thing you will put in the sprayer all season." His message was clear: Don't skimp on water for better Liberty herbicide activity.

Graham Smart of Greenleaf Technologies talked about spray efficiency at the Raising More Profit breakout sessions. He emphasized the importance of selecting the right spray nozzle based on your herbicide program.  With Liberty herbicide, a dual flat fan nozzle that produces a medium droplet size (250-350 microns) provides excellent coverage.

At the general session, Mississippi State University Extension Entomologist Angus Catchot said monitoring plant bugs on a weekly basis is the best practice early in the season. Protecting square retention is a key for crop profitability, he said.

When scouting cotton for plant bugs, Angus Catchot said growers should look for missing, blasted and flared squares at the top of the plant.

Ben Von Kanel, cotton trait development manager for Bayer CropScience, said TwinLink and TwinLink Plus (expected launch in 2016, pending regulatory approvals) are profitable solutions against lepidopteran pests. They help reduce insecticide applications, which means lower insecticide costs and fewer trips through the fields.

Ben Von Kanel said TwinLink has bollworm protection that is superior to Widestrike and similar to Bollgard II. TwinLink Plus will significantly improve Spodoptera (fall and beet armyworm) species control versus current two Bt gene products, he says. This slide demonstrates the performance of TwinLink and TwinLink Plus in a University of Tennessee trial.

A father and son duo check out a Bayer CropScience display featuring a colony of bees during the poster session of the Raising More Profit event. Because pollinators are critical to production agriculture, bee health education is important for protecting the sustainability and future profitability of cotton.