Crop Scan AgReport – Cotton Shaping Up as Insect Threats Increase
July 13, 2020 
From the field level for mid to late July: Most cotton – with the exception of dryland fields in West Texas – is shaping up well, with PGR treatments on the schedule. Growers and consultants are keep a close eye on insect threats and treatments.
Chad Harrell owns and operates Harrell Agronomic Services in Northeastern North Carolina. The NC State graduate is a member of the North Carolina Agricultural Consultants Association and serves on the board of the North Carolina Cotton Producers Association.
“The cotton in our area is looking pretty good right now, but it is starting to get a little dry and it’s been hot. There’s not a lot of rain forecast. Our earliest planted cotton is starting to bloom, and I believe much of the acreage will be in bloom by next week.
“We are wrapping up the weed control programs. There is a little bit of Roundup going out with PGRs. We are applying some PGRs in spots that have gotten more rain.
“As far as pests go, plant bugs are picking up some, but they are spotty. Where we are treating, we are using Transform, and it seems to be working pretty well on the plant bugs. Aphids seem a little heavier than normal for this time of year, but still not at treatment levels. Moving forward over the next couple of weeks, we are going to be scouting for bollworms in the 2-gene cotton.“
Wes Briggs is an independent consultant that has worked with growers in Georgia, Alabama and Florida for more than 30 years. The Mississippi State University graduate covers about 10 counties in the tri-state area. He and his scouting team check primarily cotton, corn, peanuts, soybeans and some small grains. His services include weed, disease and insect management, along with fertility recommendations and variable rate soil sampling.
“The cotton here looks good. We have good fruit set and boll retention has been good. So right now, it is setting up nice for a good yielding crop. We’ve caught some good rains here and there, and the dryland cotton is looking good, too.
“We have some nematodes beginning to show up, but nothing too bad. We also have some whiteflies starting to show up, which is never a good thing because they are going to continue to get worse. I hate to see them this early. This is a pest that has become a real concern. They are hard to manage. We have not got anything at treatable levels yet, but the stress it puts on cotton during boll set can and will impact fruit retention.
“We still have some applications ongoing for weed control. We have layby rigs running and a good many farms that are not going to run them because of prices. But, those guys have done a pretty good job with early weed control. We have a fair amount of cotton getting its second over-the-top herbicide application, so we are still cleaning up weeds. We are not yet at the point where I would say we have 80% of our crop laid by. Pigweed is an ongoing challenge.”
Tucker Miller is a Mississippi-based independent private consultant for cotton, soybeans, corn, peanuts, rice and vegetables. He earned a BS in Agronomy and MS in Pest Management from Mississippi State University and is a member and past president of the Mississippi Agricultural Consultants Association.
“Most of the cotton producers in my area have received beneficial rainfall this last week. We always say the rain around July 4 is worth a million dollars. Growers in this area are finishing up layby applications this week. Most of our cotton is clean with a few exceptions, and we will be addressing these this next week.
“We are in to our second Lygus treatments on many farms, but some areas are still seeing low pressure. We are picking up light to moderate aphid pressure and will be applying a lot of Transform and Diamond this next week. We will also be applying our second application of PGRs this week, mixing with insecticides and alone in some cases. The rains the first part of July have our aggressive varieties kicking into high gear.
“Most all our cotton is blooming now, with only a small amount approaching bloom. Our square retention is very good at this time.
“We are expecting a bollworm moth flight this next week, but as of today we haven’t picked up any eggs or small worms. Our moth traps have a slight increase, but we aren’t flushing any moths yet.
“We haven’t started any irrigation yet, but a few dryer areas will be kicking off this next week. We will also be laying pipe where lay by has gone out.
“In the next weeks, we will be monitoring insects, growth regulators, irrigation needs, etc. It looks like we are in the game now till the end of August. I hope the wheels don’t run off for about five or six weeks, and we will be okay.”
Mark Nemec is a Texas independent agricultural consultant who covers the Blacklands and Brazos River Bottom area of Central Texas. He primarily checks cotton, wheat, grain sorghum and corn, as he has for the last 26 years.
“We’ve turned off hot and dry here in central Texas, with temperatures at or around 100 degrees and heat index of 105-115. Cotton is maturing rapidly. The farmers that can irrigate are trying to keep up, but it has been a struggle. We have a good fruit set, so the plants are very thirsty.
“We’ve had some worm pressure the last week or so. The 2-gene varieties are breaking down in the Irrigated high pressure areas. There are a good number of beneficials helping us out in the dryland where pressure is lighter so far. I’ve seen a few hot spots of spider mites we’ve treated. Stink bugs are also picking up and need attention.”
Kerry Siders is Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Agent-IPM for Hockley, Cochran and Lamb Counties. A Texas Tech graduate, he has been with Texas AgriLife Extension since 1990, providing education and applied research for weeds, insects, diseases, nematodes, growth regulators and harvest aids in cotton. He is a member of the High Plains Association of Crop Consultants.
“The Texas Southern High Plains has begun to settle in with very little dryland cotton acres remaining and two-thirds of the irrigated acres left to tend to. The most advanced cotton has just begun to bloom with most acres anticipating a July 22 bloom date. This is about 5 days behind a historic average. We are going into bloom with 8.5 nodes above white flower (NAWF). I anticipate this value decreasing as the impact of this heat begins to take full effect on the plant.
“The current weather pattern of +100-degree temperatures, combined with little to rain in the forecast, has many growers very concerned about water demands. Growers must do everything they can to achieve as much efficiency out of their irrigation systems as possible, but especially during these extreme dry-hot periods. Deliver irrigation water as close to the ground as possible to reduce evaporation losses. In other words, bubbler mode or drag hoses are much preferred over any sprinkler mode.
“Pest wise, fleahoppers have increased in numbers the last few days. Although square retention has been very good in most fields, continue to monitor fleahoppers and other square robbing insects such as Lygus sp. and stink bugs. As we move into flowering and boll development, we will change our focus from fleahoppers to aphids, mites and lepidoptera insects. Beneficial insects have become more noticeable in area fields, so try and conserve them for when they may be helpful.
“Finally, have layby weed control efforts completed soon and fertility programs totally in place by peak bloom (5 NAWF).”
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