The Turnrow
Autauga Quality Cotton an
Red, when printed on white or lig Red, when printed on dark backg
The Turnrow By: Jeff Thompson AQCA Manager May 2, 2018
I’m reminded of a runner whom after tireless preparations finds himself stuck in the starting block anxiously awaiting the gun to begin the race. Such has been the case with this year’s cotton crop. After weeks of extensive fieldwork, planters have been held up due to unseasonably cool temperatures. That’s all about to change as forecasts are calling for a warming trend and more favorable planting conditions. Of course, waiting was certainly the right call. With seed costs at a premium, they need to be given every opportunity to provide a viable stand. Though there will be very little April planted cotton, time remains on our side. Not to mention, historically, later planted cotton has outperformed that planted earlier. Below is the latest planting progress report.
Southeast Conditions As mentioned, planting will begin in earnest this week across much of the Southeast. Despite lingering cool nights, temperatures during the day are predicted to be on the rise warming soils sufficiently for planting. Burndown applications have proven to be very effective in providing a weed free environment getting us off to a good start in our fight against resistant weeds. When running planters keep a close eye on seeding rates as research has proven three seed per foot of row is optimum. Keep in mind the first 40 days following seedling emergence can greatly influence future performance. Anything that hinders foliar or root growth during this time will have an adverse effect on plant vigor season long. Therefore, our two biggest concerns, once we’ve obtained a stand, should be eliminating weed competition and preventing thrips damage. Expect moisture conditions to change throughout planting, especially in the droughty soils of the southeast. Fight the temptation to chase
Blue, whether on white or dark b
moisture, for when constantly adjusting planters we too often guess wrong. Southwest Conditions Cotton planters are rolling in parts of the High Plains as conditions remain very dry. Some areas have received some much needed rain over the past 10 days, but overall it’s been scattered and east of most cotton growing areas. Rain chances over the next 10 days have been lowered and even completely removed in some cases. Without a rain, most producers will plant their irrigated cotton first. Dryland, on the other hand, might get dry planted, or some will wait until closer to their insurance deadline to get it in last minute. Either way, the acres will be planted, it’s now a matter of when the rain will come. Early Weed Control The introductions of XtendiMax and Enlist technologies have greatly changed the landscape of cotton weed control. They provide numerous options, using both old and new chemistry. Though these choices may be overwhelming at first glance, to simplify consider them as part of an overall weed management strategy. This strategy should consist of four parts (1) burndown, (2) preemergence herbicides, (3) post herbicides, Choice Cotton Company 169 East Main Street Prattville, Alabama 36067
and (4) layby herbicides. At each step attention to weed size should be paramount. All herbicide treatments are most effective on weeds less than three inches tall, especially pigweed. Do not plant into emerged weeds, fields should be weed free from the start. Research has shown young cotton needs 8 weeks of weed free competition to produce maximum yields. (1) Burndown – I will briefly touch on this segment of the plan, as most of these applications have already been made. The most effective burndown herbicides are either, Direx, Gramoxone or Valor. (2) Preemerge herbicides – Treflan or Prowl (yellow herbicides) have been around for some time and offer our first residual line of defense. Since these can be broken down rapidly by sunlight they’re more effective when incorporated. Most importantly, independent of which technology is used, applying preemergent herbicides behind the planter is critical. Not only will this provide a few additional weeks of weed free competition, it will also lessen the pressure on our later post herbicide treatments. A tank mix combination of two or more herbicides with preferably different modes of action is recommended. Some suggestions are: Reflex + Warrant or Direx, Direx + Warrant, or Brake FX. The latter herbicide is relatively new. In tests, it has shown a propensity to provide 2 to 3 weeks longer residual than others but requires more rainfall for activation. Therefore, it too will need to be tank mixed with another residual herbicide for optimum control. Old standards such as Cotoran and Caparol are still effective and remain tank mix options. All of these herbicides are rate sensitive, which will vary according to soil types. Please consult University recommendations for the proper rates of these herbicides or others to prevent seedling injury. (3) Post herbicides – It’s at this stage where our choices of materials are greater. If using either of the Auxin technologies, Engenia or ExtendiMax should be applied 17 days after planting. Giving a tank mix label the addition of glyphosate or Liberty plus a residual such as Dual or Warrant will improve control. A similar second application minus the residual should be applied two weeks after the first post
treatment. If planting a tolerant variety, the old Liberty + glyphosate program is still very effective and may be a better choice in field situations where auxin drift could pose a serious problem. (4) Layby herbicides – A layby application is a must. Often as plant canopies begin to close it appears there is little or no weed pressure and the tendency is to bypass this application. In doing so, all too often, fields become inundated with weeds later in the summer. Aside from robbing yields they create a larger seed bank which must be dealt with next year. Herbicide choices to consider for layby would be Direx + MSMA or glyphosate + Direx. I would encourage everyone to consult their county agent or ag chemical distributor before making herbicide applications to obtain recommendations for your specific locations. But I highly advise using this four-pronged approach to successfully control weeds in cotton. Thrips Control It is safe to say thrips will be present in every cotton field, bar none. Seed treatments have become the control measure of choice due to their convenience and protection against ever present thrips. The most common of these are the neonicotinoid insecticides (Cruiser or Gaucho). Observing a decline in performance in recent years, it was feared thrips may be building up a tolerance to this class of insecticide. Unfortunately, recent laboratory tests confirmed these suspicions. Though cited in many locations across the Cotton Belt, resistance appears more prevalent in the upper midsouth and in the southern regions of the southeast. Even within the same class of insecticides, lab tests further indicated thrips resistance to Cruiser is significantly greater than that to Gaucho. Nonetheless, it requires a change in the way we manage thrips going forward. If using a seed treatment, Gaucho or Aeris would be preferred over Cruiser or Avicta. Another option would be a dealer applied seed treatment of acephate, a totally different class of insecticide, still effective on thrips. Acephate can also be sprayed in furrow if one is set up to make such applications. Aside from this, foliar insecticide applications are our only remaining option. The biggest problem with foliar applications is the timing because to receive maximum economic Choice Cotton Company 169 East Main Street Prattville, Alabama 36067
return, applications should be made at the one to two leaf stage. In the midst of planting it’s very difficult to get back around in a such timely manner. Recommended foliar insecticides are acephate, dimethoate or Bidrin. A more expensive choice would be Radiant, if the risk of flaring other insect pests is a concern. Keep in mind, conditions which hinder growth, such as cool temps and wet soils, make seedlings much more susceptible to thrips damage. Young plants are considered safe from thrips once they reach the four-leaf stage. Treatments beyond that are not economical. Delayed maturity is the greatest threat thrips pose to young cotton plants. Research has shown that where heavy cover crop residue exists, thrips pressure will be reduced. Monitor this pest closely to give your crop the best start possible and eliminate consequences later in the season.
Thrips Damage
AQCA News We have a few hundred bales to still be delivered from Oklahoma before our entire 2017 inventory has been received. These deliveries should be made within the next couple of weeks at which time auditors will begin their work to determine the final settlement on the 2017 crop. We will keep you updated as to their progress. On another note, if you haven’t already done so please return your Farm Verification Forms to our office. I have enclosed another form for
those who may have misplaced their original one. Since we have already begun marketing the 2018 pool this information plays a vital role in our efforts. Though the deadline for submitting the form is June 1, I encourage you to return it at your earliest convenience. Market Report One thing for certain, this market is nothing short of resilient. It’s like one of those Weeble toys, it wobbles but it won’t fall down. Over the past few weeks it’s shaken off tariff rumors, financial market woes, and West Texas rain prospects to immediately recoup any one-day losses that occurred. The December contract has been knocking on the door of 80 cents for weeks now. This ability to rebound time after time coupled with an impressive balance sheet leads one to believe a push through 80 cents is inevitable. Not surprisingly, this seems to be the sentiment of most market prognosticators. Thus, this in itself may be our greatest fear, for when everyone gets on the same side of the boat it often flips over. Strengthening demand is the cornerstone supporting this market. Last week’s export sales are a good illustration as 312,000 bales were sold for 17/18 giving us total sales of 16.9 million bales for the current marketing year. In addition, 259, 300 bales were sold for 18/19 giving us total sales of 3.5 million bales for the next marketing year. If we meet the USDA export estimate of 15 million bales, which currently we are on pace to do so, it’s conceivable we could begin the new marketing year with sales of 5.2 million bales already on the books. When you consider there is still 15 weeks remaining in this marketing year, whereby additional sales can be made, this number could become even greater. Fueling this demand is the ever-apparent global desire to become more environmentally friendly. As an industry we must latch on to this movement, encourage this concept and promote the natural characteristics of cotton every chance we get in hopes of gaining additional market share. Switching gears to the supply side of the equation, there remains a great deal of uncertainty. Though Texas has received some rainfall as of late and another weather system is expected later this week, it pales in comparison to what will be needed to make a crop. However, Choice Cotton Company 169 East Main Street Prattville, Alabama 36067
there is still time but it may be late June before we have a firm grasp on harvestable acres. I’ve spent enough time in the Southwest to know conditions can change rapidly from bleak to promising, or vice versa. Therefore, a good Texas crop is still in the cards though a bumper crop will be a stretch. The market will keep a close eye on this region of the country as it could eventually be the catalyst to push prices beyond 80 cents. Production hiccups of any kind anywhere could further squeeze already tight supplies providing fuel to a primed market. Finally, no market conversation would be complete without mentioning the one wild card, the spec community. The tug of war between the mills and these guys, for the most part, is unchanged. The specs still have the upper hand adding to their net long position now at 8.4 million bales. The mills, on a wing and a prayer, are hoping for a repeat of last year when the funds exited the market in mass, providing them an opportunity to price their unfixed cotton, which today is approximately four million bales on call based July. The situation is much different this year, though, compared to last. The December contract now poised to surpass 80 cents is in comparison to last year when it was feared huge supplies would plummet the market toward 60 cents. The improved fundamentals should entice specs to keep their long positions intact. All this said, our recent sideways trading pattern can be expected to continue at least until the July contract nears expiration and the tug of war winner is determined, or as crop conditions in the Southwest are better known. This gives those who have not priced any cotton a chance to do so on a portion of their crop, which we strongly recommend. If pricing some cotton at 80 cents is the worst mistake you make all year consider yourself very fortunate. However, considering we are on the crest of a market that has the potential to ignite. Holding on to some cotton wouldn’t be such a huge gamble, at least until we see how the next few weeks unfold. As always, we at Choice Cotton would welcome the opportunity to assist you in your marketing needs. Simply call 334-365-3369. Until next time,
Choice Cotton Company 169 East Main Street Prattville, Alabama 36067
Red, when printed on white or lig Red, when printed on dark backg
The Turnrow By: Jeff Thompson AQCA Manager May 2, 2018
I’m reminded of a runner whom after tireless preparations finds himself stuck in the starting block anxiously awaiting the gun to begin the race. Such has been the case with this year’s cotton crop. After weeks of extensive fieldwork, planters have been held up due to unseasonably cool temperatures. That’s all about to change as forecasts are calling for a warming trend and more favorable planting conditions. Of course, waiting was certainly the right call. With seed costs at a premium, they need to be given every opportunity to provide a viable stand. Though there will be very little April planted cotton, time remains on our side. Not to mention, historically, later planted cotton has outperformed that planted earlier. Below is the latest planting progress report.
Southeast Conditions As mentioned, planting will begin in earnest this week across much of the Southeast. Despite lingering cool nights, temperatures during the day are predicted to be on the rise warming soils sufficiently for planting. Burndown applications have proven to be very effective in providing a weed free environment getting us off to a good start in our fight against resistant weeds. When running planters keep a close eye on seeding rates as research has proven three seed per foot of row is optimum. Keep in mind the first 40 days following seedling emergence can greatly influence future performance. Anything that hinders foliar or root growth during this time will have an adverse effect on plant vigor season long. Therefore, our two biggest concerns, once we’ve obtained a stand, should be eliminating weed competition and preventing thrips damage. Expect moisture conditions to change throughout planting, especially in the droughty soils of the southeast. Fight the temptation to chase
Blue, whether on white or dark b
moisture, for when constantly adjusting planters we too often guess wrong. Southwest Conditions Cotton planters are rolling in parts of the High Plains as conditions remain very dry. Some areas have received some much needed rain over the past 10 days, but overall it’s been scattered and east of most cotton growing areas. Rain chances over the next 10 days have been lowered and even completely removed in some cases. Without a rain, most producers will plant their irrigated cotton first. Dryland, on the other hand, might get dry planted, or some will wait until closer to their insurance deadline to get it in last minute. Either way, the acres will be planted, it’s now a matter of when the rain will come. Early Weed Control The introductions of XtendiMax and Enlist technologies have greatly changed the landscape of cotton weed control. They provide numerous options, using both old and new chemistry. Though these choices may be overwhelming at first glance, to simplify consider them as part of an overall weed management strategy. This strategy should consist of four parts (1) burndown, (2) preemergence herbicides, (3) post herbicides, Choice Cotton Company 169 East Main Street Prattville, Alabama 36067
and (4) layby herbicides. At each step attention to weed size should be paramount. All herbicide treatments are most effective on weeds less than three inches tall, especially pigweed. Do not plant into emerged weeds, fields should be weed free from the start. Research has shown young cotton needs 8 weeks of weed free competition to produce maximum yields. (1) Burndown – I will briefly touch on this segment of the plan, as most of these applications have already been made. The most effective burndown herbicides are either, Direx, Gramoxone or Valor. (2) Preemerge herbicides – Treflan or Prowl (yellow herbicides) have been around for some time and offer our first residual line of defense. Since these can be broken down rapidly by sunlight they’re more effective when incorporated. Most importantly, independent of which technology is used, applying preemergent herbicides behind the planter is critical. Not only will this provide a few additional weeks of weed free competition, it will also lessen the pressure on our later post herbicide treatments. A tank mix combination of two or more herbicides with preferably different modes of action is recommended. Some suggestions are: Reflex + Warrant or Direx, Direx + Warrant, or Brake FX. The latter herbicide is relatively new. In tests, it has shown a propensity to provide 2 to 3 weeks longer residual than others but requires more rainfall for activation. Therefore, it too will need to be tank mixed with another residual herbicide for optimum control. Old standards such as Cotoran and Caparol are still effective and remain tank mix options. All of these herbicides are rate sensitive, which will vary according to soil types. Please consult University recommendations for the proper rates of these herbicides or others to prevent seedling injury. (3) Post herbicides – It’s at this stage where our choices of materials are greater. If using either of the Auxin technologies, Engenia or ExtendiMax should be applied 17 days after planting. Giving a tank mix label the addition of glyphosate or Liberty plus a residual such as Dual or Warrant will improve control. A similar second application minus the residual should be applied two weeks after the first post
treatment. If planting a tolerant variety, the old Liberty + glyphosate program is still very effective and may be a better choice in field situations where auxin drift could pose a serious problem. (4) Layby herbicides – A layby application is a must. Often as plant canopies begin to close it appears there is little or no weed pressure and the tendency is to bypass this application. In doing so, all too often, fields become inundated with weeds later in the summer. Aside from robbing yields they create a larger seed bank which must be dealt with next year. Herbicide choices to consider for layby would be Direx + MSMA or glyphosate + Direx. I would encourage everyone to consult their county agent or ag chemical distributor before making herbicide applications to obtain recommendations for your specific locations. But I highly advise using this four-pronged approach to successfully control weeds in cotton. Thrips Control It is safe to say thrips will be present in every cotton field, bar none. Seed treatments have become the control measure of choice due to their convenience and protection against ever present thrips. The most common of these are the neonicotinoid insecticides (Cruiser or Gaucho). Observing a decline in performance in recent years, it was feared thrips may be building up a tolerance to this class of insecticide. Unfortunately, recent laboratory tests confirmed these suspicions. Though cited in many locations across the Cotton Belt, resistance appears more prevalent in the upper midsouth and in the southern regions of the southeast. Even within the same class of insecticides, lab tests further indicated thrips resistance to Cruiser is significantly greater than that to Gaucho. Nonetheless, it requires a change in the way we manage thrips going forward. If using a seed treatment, Gaucho or Aeris would be preferred over Cruiser or Avicta. Another option would be a dealer applied seed treatment of acephate, a totally different class of insecticide, still effective on thrips. Acephate can also be sprayed in furrow if one is set up to make such applications. Aside from this, foliar insecticide applications are our only remaining option. The biggest problem with foliar applications is the timing because to receive maximum economic Choice Cotton Company 169 East Main Street Prattville, Alabama 36067
return, applications should be made at the one to two leaf stage. In the midst of planting it’s very difficult to get back around in a such timely manner. Recommended foliar insecticides are acephate, dimethoate or Bidrin. A more expensive choice would be Radiant, if the risk of flaring other insect pests is a concern. Keep in mind, conditions which hinder growth, such as cool temps and wet soils, make seedlings much more susceptible to thrips damage. Young plants are considered safe from thrips once they reach the four-leaf stage. Treatments beyond that are not economical. Delayed maturity is the greatest threat thrips pose to young cotton plants. Research has shown that where heavy cover crop residue exists, thrips pressure will be reduced. Monitor this pest closely to give your crop the best start possible and eliminate consequences later in the season.
Thrips Damage
AQCA News We have a few hundred bales to still be delivered from Oklahoma before our entire 2017 inventory has been received. These deliveries should be made within the next couple of weeks at which time auditors will begin their work to determine the final settlement on the 2017 crop. We will keep you updated as to their progress. On another note, if you haven’t already done so please return your Farm Verification Forms to our office. I have enclosed another form for
those who may have misplaced their original one. Since we have already begun marketing the 2018 pool this information plays a vital role in our efforts. Though the deadline for submitting the form is June 1, I encourage you to return it at your earliest convenience. Market Report One thing for certain, this market is nothing short of resilient. It’s like one of those Weeble toys, it wobbles but it won’t fall down. Over the past few weeks it’s shaken off tariff rumors, financial market woes, and West Texas rain prospects to immediately recoup any one-day losses that occurred. The December contract has been knocking on the door of 80 cents for weeks now. This ability to rebound time after time coupled with an impressive balance sheet leads one to believe a push through 80 cents is inevitable. Not surprisingly, this seems to be the sentiment of most market prognosticators. Thus, this in itself may be our greatest fear, for when everyone gets on the same side of the boat it often flips over. Strengthening demand is the cornerstone supporting this market. Last week’s export sales are a good illustration as 312,000 bales were sold for 17/18 giving us total sales of 16.9 million bales for the current marketing year. In addition, 259, 300 bales were sold for 18/19 giving us total sales of 3.5 million bales for the next marketing year. If we meet the USDA export estimate of 15 million bales, which currently we are on pace to do so, it’s conceivable we could begin the new marketing year with sales of 5.2 million bales already on the books. When you consider there is still 15 weeks remaining in this marketing year, whereby additional sales can be made, this number could become even greater. Fueling this demand is the ever-apparent global desire to become more environmentally friendly. As an industry we must latch on to this movement, encourage this concept and promote the natural characteristics of cotton every chance we get in hopes of gaining additional market share. Switching gears to the supply side of the equation, there remains a great deal of uncertainty. Though Texas has received some rainfall as of late and another weather system is expected later this week, it pales in comparison to what will be needed to make a crop. However, Choice Cotton Company 169 East Main Street Prattville, Alabama 36067
there is still time but it may be late June before we have a firm grasp on harvestable acres. I’ve spent enough time in the Southwest to know conditions can change rapidly from bleak to promising, or vice versa. Therefore, a good Texas crop is still in the cards though a bumper crop will be a stretch. The market will keep a close eye on this region of the country as it could eventually be the catalyst to push prices beyond 80 cents. Production hiccups of any kind anywhere could further squeeze already tight supplies providing fuel to a primed market. Finally, no market conversation would be complete without mentioning the one wild card, the spec community. The tug of war between the mills and these guys, for the most part, is unchanged. The specs still have the upper hand adding to their net long position now at 8.4 million bales. The mills, on a wing and a prayer, are hoping for a repeat of last year when the funds exited the market in mass, providing them an opportunity to price their unfixed cotton, which today is approximately four million bales on call based July. The situation is much different this year, though, compared to last. The December contract now poised to surpass 80 cents is in comparison to last year when it was feared huge supplies would plummet the market toward 60 cents. The improved fundamentals should entice specs to keep their long positions intact. All this said, our recent sideways trading pattern can be expected to continue at least until the July contract nears expiration and the tug of war winner is determined, or as crop conditions in the Southwest are better known. This gives those who have not priced any cotton a chance to do so on a portion of their crop, which we strongly recommend. If pricing some cotton at 80 cents is the worst mistake you make all year consider yourself very fortunate. However, considering we are on the crest of a market that has the potential to ignite. Holding on to some cotton wouldn’t be such a huge gamble, at least until we see how the next few weeks unfold. As always, we at Choice Cotton would welcome the opportunity to assist you in your marketing needs. Simply call 334-365-3369. Until next time,
Choice Cotton Company 169 East Main Street Prattville, Alabama 36067
