# Is Cotton Turning Too Soon? Author: Jim Steadman Published: 2016-08-31 Canonical URL: https://www.cottongrower.com/cotton-production/harvest/is-cotton-turning-too-soon/ --- Cotton “turning” – the shift in canopy color from dark green to shades of yellow and red, or senescence – usually corresponds with the second or third week of football season. But Tyson Raper, University of Tennessee Extension cotton and small grains specialist, notes that a good portion of this year’s crop in the upper Mid-South is already turning…and kickoff for the first game is still a few days away. To help answer some of the questions and concerns he has been receiving from growers, Raper explains three factors from this season – heat, slight to moderate drought, and nutrient uptake – that have helped push the crop to this point. For the details, read Raper’s [recent post](http://news.utcrops.com/2016/08/cotton-turning-soon/#more-13673) on the UTCrops News Blog.