With a full profile of moisture in most parts of the Cotton Belt and an abundance of good cotton varieties and technologies targeted to each growing region, what does a grower need to do to get ready for 2019?
Dr. Gaylon Morgan, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension cotton specialist, has some suggestions. And though he may have Texas on his mind, these tips are excellent guidelines for all growers in all cotton geographies:
- In areas where cotton is going be planted after cotton, pay attention to pest issues that may occur with no rotation. Have the fields tested for nematodes and soil-borne diseases and select varieties accordingly. Strongly consider putting nematode resistant varieties on fields with a history of nematodes.
- Talk to your neighbors to find out which weed control technology they’re planning to use in order to minimize off-target movement – and challenges between neighbors. Communicate before purchasing seed so everyone can be on the same page and place similar technologies adjacent to one another.
- Pay attention to what’s in the sprayer. A lot of observed damage in fields last year came from the “self-inflicted wound” of tank contamination. Know which technology – XtendFlex, Enlist, Roundup Ready, LibertyLink or none – is in each field and treat accordingly. And, be sure to completely flush and clean sprayers after each use according to herbicide label directions.
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