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Field and Forage Crops |
Last week, I mentioned that cotton growth was slow, the weather was cool, and that most of the state was in need of rainfall, with the possible exception of some of our far eastern counties. This week was more of the same. For the 15 to 20 percent of the cotton that has already been planted, if we can get through this very cold rainy Friday, we should be in better shape with the 80+ degree high temperatures expected next week.
Presently, levels of the 4 to 6 thrips species that migrate into cotton from wild and other cultivated hosts appear to be low. I would expect thrips flights into cotton to begin in earnest next week following a few days of warmer weather. That's in keeping with a past timeline of May 10 to 15 when our thrips calls often peak. This time also often coincides with some of our early-planted cotton reaching the 3-week stage when the seed treatments have played out.
Although I have not received telephone calls regarding cutworms, their damage to cotton seedlings often occurs during the first 2 and sometimes 3 weeks in May. Various forms of conservation tillage (such as stale seedbeds, no-till or strip till, and weed residue), especially if burned down less than about 2.5 or three weeks of planting, can support damaging levels of cutworms, which can then move onto the remaining green foliage (i.e., cotton seedlings). Scouting for cutworms and treatment based on a stand loss of about 10 percent along with live cutworms is recommended where possible, although the thoroughness of the scout, the size of the cutworms, the distribution of the damage and the density of the plant stand itself should be considered. Cutworm scouting is difficult, as these caterpillars invariably hide below the soil surface under clumps or within cracks during the day. So, as I mentioned last week, a history of cutworm damage in a conservation tillage cotton field, if known, may argue for insecticide treatment. This can be done cheaply with a broadcast or banded pyrethroid insecticide application prior to, during, or just after planting. That being said, reduced tillage cotton fields that are not in need of cutworm protection typically outnumber fields in need of protection by about 5 to 1.
With more cotton planted and warmer weather on the horizon, I should have more to talk about next week.
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Last modified on May 9, 2005 by Stephen J. Toth, Jr.