Midsouth Cotton Report
By Laykyn Rainbolt and Owen Taylor
AgFax
Persistent rain in parts of the Midsouth is complicating application timing and raising concerns about wash-offs.
Plant bugs are triggering more treatments but no one is reporting overwhelming numbers. While populations are increasing, counts remain generally light, based on this week’s reports. With abundant rainfall through much of June, weeds also have remained lush and might still be holding at least some plant bugs out of cotton. In the last two weeks, treatments seemed to be more common where cotton adjoined older corn or soybeans that were no longer an attractive plant bug host.
Bollworms haven’t materialized to any extent in cotton or soybeans, but the moths have become more apparent. Instead of heading into those crops to lay eggs, some moths might be finding their way into later-planted corn. Wet spring weather forced farmers to spread out corn planting dates, so corn could remain a viable host somewhat longer this year and take a bit of pressure off other crops.
Spider mites and aphids remain mostly in the background.
In soybeans, redbanded stink bugs still require treatments in Louisiana. We heard unconfirmed reports about a few applications in Mississippi. But native stink bug species also are building in soybeans in certain areas.
Sebe Brown, Louisiana Extension Field Crops Entomologist
“It started raining on Friday (7/3) and it hasn’t stopped (as of 7/7). We probably have received 3 inches over that period.
“We are seeing a little spray wash-off due to the rain, and it’s also preventing people from making plant bug and stink bug applications when they want. As soon as the rain clears out on Thursday – hopefully – everyone will be running wide open, spraying for plant bugs and stink bugs.
“I haven’t heard of any bollworm applications going out yet, but I imagine that is coming soon. Our traps are still catching moths. In the northeastern corner of Louisiana, people are finding a lot of eggs. That hasn’t started in this area yet, but moths still have plenty of time to make it happen.
“In soybeans, redbanded stinkbugs (RBSB) are starting to show up, which is to be expected since some of our beans are beginning to turn. Our beans mostly range from R3 to R5, and a lot hit R5 just this week. Anyone who hasn’t already sprayed RBSB is probably getting ready to do so.
“A lot of guys are including their fungicide in the tank when they spray for RBSB. When possible, they are doubling up on those applications with the potential for rain in the forecast.
“Our beans look really good. The stand issues in 2019 weren’t as prevalent this year, and we didn’t encounter any real vigor problems. We have nice looking stands, ample soil moisture and promising yield potential. Unfortunately, soybean prices are sorry.
“With beans at $8-$9/bushel, farmers still want to protect them, but no one can afford to fully protect them at these prices.”
Richard Griffing, Griffing Consulting, LLC, Monterey, Louisiana
“Concordia Parish received between half an inch to 2 inches of rain yesterday (7/5), and right now it’s thundering all around me. We’ve been getting a lot of rain, and hopefully it will dry out by the end of the week.
“In my oldest cotton – planted in late March – I’m seeing a lot of shed because of the rain. That cotton started blooming on June 5. The rest of my cotton is only in the second week of bloom, so there’s not much shed in it.
“When this weather evens out after Wednesday, we’ll probably be applying diamides to our Bollguard 2 because we’re seeing a lot of moths, both in the field and in traps. Although moths are around, we aren’t finding many eggs, but we expect egg numbers to pick up in the next few days.
“I also expect to put out a good deal of Pix and plant bug materials over the next week, but we can’t do anything until the weather clears a little.
“Plant bugs have been fairly light, but I’ve already sprayed most of my cotton twice for them. The corn is drying down and plant bugs will go crazy in the cotton, I think.
“Pretty much all my crops are running early this year. Around September 1, I’ll be completely done except for a few acres planted behind seep water along the river.
“About 80% of our bean crop is early, and most are at R5.5. Some of the earliest beans are starting to turn and desiccation should begin in 2 weeks on them. Stinkbugs are building quickly as beans approach R6. It’s mostly a mix of redbanded and green with a few browns. Treatments are going out on a lot of fields.
“Our corn is beginning to dry down and we should begin harvest around early August.”