Cotton Seed Treatment Choices Will Be More Important In 2017

Maximizing early season thrips control will be more important than ever in 2017 due to the introduction and anticipated use of dicamba-tolerant cotton varieties, according to Mississippi State University cotton specialists.

An online news report from Angus Catchot, Extension entomologist; Jeff Gore, research and Extension entomologist; Don Cook, research entomologist; and Darrin Dodds, Extension cotton specialist, says that foliar applications for thrips control may be more difficult this season.

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“With the introduction and anticipation of numerous acres with the new herbicide traits resistant to dicamba, there will be NO INSECTICIDE tank mixes allowed,” the authors write. “If you have a thrips problem in 1-3 leaf cotton, you will not be able to add an insecticide in with the dicamba herbicide application for weeds, even if the two line up for an obvious tank mix. Separate applications will have to be made for weeds and insects, increasing cost.

“We have been told if you choose to do this anyway, you will be in violation of the label, which will be enforced to the fullest. There is a tremendous effort underway to minimize potential drift problems with these new herbicide traits. When multiple products are tank mixed, it has the potential to change droplet size, which may impact drift.

“At this time, the data are incomplete for insecticide tank mixes,” they point out. “We do not see this changing for the 2017 season.”

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The authors continue by reviewing the current efficacy of popular seed treatments against tobacco thrips and offer additional options for in-furrow and early season control.

The full article, including a ranking of seed treatments, can be found here.

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