Rain Still Keeps Cotton From Resting Easy in the Soil

By Dr. Dan Fromme, LSU AgCenter/Extension Service Cotton Specialist

"We're 20% to 30% planted. Things stalled out this past weekend due to rain. A little more has been planted this week (as of 5/8) but we're about to get a deluge of rain over the next 3 to 4 days, so a lot of people are holding back. It's sprinkling right now.

"Temperatures are great for planting cotton if the rain would just hold off. People have been trying to work through all kinds of scenarios about how they should plant this week, like going shallow and hoping for the best. Growers like to have all their cotton planted by May 15, which will be a tough mark to hit if the forecast holds true.

"June 1 is kind of the unofficial very last planting date in Louisiana. We don't like to plant cotton in late May but this year soybeans aren't too attractive. But after June 1, we'll see any remaining ground going into beans."