AgFax Cotton - Louisiana
By AgFax Media LLC, AgFax.com
OVERVIEW
What remains of Hurricane Harvey has moved into the Midsouth to varying degrees and could likely effect areas in western and northern Alabama along the way. More will be known next week about the effects on this year's cotton crop.
No reports of cotton being picked ahead of the storm and anyone planning on defoliating this week has probably held off. Cooler conditions have slowed crop development and overcast skies have triggered some shedding in the top of plants.
Insect treatments have pretty much wound down in cotton. Soybean loopers and redbanded stink bugs remain active in soybeans.
LOUISIANA CROP REPORTS
Sebe Brown, Northeast Louisiana Region Extension Entomologist
"More bolls are opening. People have been pulling back on insecticide sprays ahead of the storm (Harvey).
"The crop hasn't progressed much because we haven't had hot weather lately and the forecast calls for cooler conditions starting in the middle of next week – highs in the upper 70s and lows in the upper 50s at night. We're sure not breaking into the 90s. Based on the last long-term forecast I saw, the best we might expect is 88 or 89 as the season continues.
"People pulled back on defoliation ahead of the storm. If this rain hadn't materialized, we might have picked some this week. It's been raining off and on and we can't get in the field right now (8/30) to do anything. Some boll rot is apparent and we also can find target spot, although nothing widespread.
"In soybeans, redbanded stink bugs (RBSB) and loopers are still out there. Just because conditions cooled down, don't assume that insects have backed off. Enough pressure is out there in places that we may have to spray once a week or less – particularly for RBSB – to get through the season.
"A lot of insects do stop feeding with rain and cooler temperatures, but that's not the case with redbanded. It's maybe not as active in cool mornings, but it will pick up the pace as the day progresses. Don't let your guard down."