AgFax Cotton - Louisiana

OVERVIEW

Oddly growing plants continue to be reported. Symptoms include aborted terminals, tangled branches and lost fruit set.

The late-planted Midsouth cotton crop is finding its feet. Much of our coverage area received ample rainfall from the short-lived hurricane, Barry. Most amounts were manageable and generally needed. In isolated spots, too much rain fell. On the western side of Louisiana, farmers needed rain but Barry shorted them.

Widespread bollworm numbers have yet to materialize, but spot spraying has been necessary. In particular, more egg laying is taking place in north Mississippi.

Plant bugs are picking up, especially in fields near corn. Stink bugs have demanded attention in places, too.

In soybeans, redbanded stink bugs haven't made a strong move outside of Louisiana, but entomologists warn that the threat remains.

LOUISIANA CROP REPORTS

Steve Schutz, Ind. Consultant, Coushatta, Louisiana: 

"Rank growth is our biggest problem, and that's in cotton where we couldn't apply Pix at pinhead square.

"Aphids and spider mites are around, but we haven't had to treat. Pests have been consistent but not overwhelming.

"Nearly every acre of soybeans at R-4 to R-5 in the Natchitoches-Shreveport area is being treated for redbanded stink bugs. The numbers aren't extremely high – about 2 to 5 per 25 sweeps, which is near the bottom of the threshold. We hit a hot spot occasionally with 10 per 25. That's nothing like a couple of years ago when they were running 20 and 30.

"Hurricane Barry gave us hardly anything. We wanted 2 inches of rain but received two-tenths.   

"We have corn at black layer, although in southwest Arkansas a good deal of the corn is still young. We're spraying a few milo fields for bollworms in north Bossier Parish."

Ashley Peters, Peters Crop Consulting, Crowville, Louisiana: 

"We're spraying plant bugs and doing Pix work on cotton that's trying to cut out. A bit more bollworm pressure has developed, and we're treating a few fields.

"Hurricane Barry was tough on one grower in Tensas Parish who received 5 to 6 inches of rain. Other than that, amounts were in the 1- to 3-inch range. That gave our corn and soybeans a nice drink. With one more solid rain, we also won't have to irrigate our older cotton again.

"Most of the corn is done, although we do have a few young, replanted fields. The crop is shutting down quickly and it won't be long before combines are running.

"Soybeans range from just at bloom to R-5. We're picking up a few redbanded stink bugs but haven't had to spray. That will likely change in the next 7 to 10 days. We sprayed bollworms this week in places."