2017 Cotton Agronomic Update Jared Whitaker, Ph.D.

2017 Cotton Agronomic Update

2016 Review

May – September 2016 Precipitation Rank (from 1895 to 2016) July was 2nd driest on record since 1985 July 2nd hottest on record as well NOAA https://gis.ncdc.noaa.gov/maps/ncei/cag “Climate at a Glance Map”

May – September 2016 Average Temperature Rank (from 1895 to 2016) Only 5 years had higher temperatures since 1895 during May thru September July was 2nd hottest on record August was 10th hottest on record NOAA https://gis.ncdc.noaa.gov/maps/ncei/cag “Climate at a Glance Map”

Variety Selection

2015 UGA On-Farm Cotton Variety Performance Evaluation Program 19 Locations Variety Average Lint Yield (lb/A) LSD Letters Yield Different From Other 11 Varieties Frequency of Top Performance (% of 19 locations) Significance Level 5% 10% Above Trial Average Top 4 Top 3 Top 2 Top 1 DP 1538 B2XF 1,298 a 103 84 53 42 37 DP 1558NR B2RF 1,270 ab 72 21 16 CG 3885 B2XF 1,266 67 95 74 58 DP 1553 B2XF 1,254 abc 5 47 26 ST 6182 GLT 1,237 bcd 36 79 11 DP 1252 B2RF 1,211 cde 8 NG 5007 B2XF 1,188 def -17 PHY 333 WRF 1,179 efg -27 PHY 444 WRF 1,166 de -42 32 PHY 552 WRF 1,144 ef fgh -65 ST 4946 GLB2 1,131 gh -80 NG 3405 B2XF 1,097 f h -116

2016 UGA On-Farm Cotton Variety Performance Evaluation Program 20 Locations (9 Irrigated, 11 Dryland) Variety Average Lint Yield (lb/A) LSD Letters Frequency of Top Performance (% of 19 locations) Significance Level All 20 Locs. 8 Locs. < 1000 lb/A 12 Locs. > 1000 lb/A Above Trial Average Top 4 Top 3 Top 2 Top 1 PHY 444 WRF 1108 A 90 75 55 50 35 DG 2615 B2RF 1088 AB ABCD 60 45 40 25 PHY 496 W3RF 1068 ABC 15 10 CG 3885 B2XF 1064 BC 70 5 DP 1646 B2XF 1048 BCD BCDE DP 1538 B2XF 1046 CD 30 ST 6182 GLT 1030 CDE 20 NG 5007 B2XF 1029 ST 5115 GLT 1015 DEF PHY 333 WRF 991 EFG DE BX 1739 GLT 986 FG F NG 3522 B2XF 978 DP 1553 B2XF 976 E DG 3526 B2XF 971 G EF

2015 & 2016 UGA On-Farm Cotton Variety Performance Evaluation Program 44 Locations Variety All Trials 1000 < 1250 lbs/A Avg. Lint Yield All 44 Locs. 18 Locations CG 3885 B2XF 1076 A 763 DP 1538 B2XF 1067 AB 748 PHY 444 WRF 1046 ABC 728 ST 6182 GLT 1043 BC 717 BCD NG 5007 B2XF 1019 CD DP 1553 B2XF 702 1004 D 689 PHY 333 WRF 994 683 1000 < 1249 lbs/A > 1250 lbs/A 14 Locations 12 Locations 1193 1414 1172 1409 1168 1383 1160 1370 1126 1333 1122 1323 1095 1299

Key Points for Variety Selection CHOOSE VARIETIES BASED ON CONSISTENT, TOP PERFORMANCE OVT UGA ON-FARM COUNTY TRIALS UGA VARIETY CALCULATOR FIBER QUALITY CONSIDER TRAITS NEMATODES HERBICIDE DIVERSIFY TO SPREAD RISK VARIETIES MATURITY HARVEST 10

New Varieties for 2016 Enlist ExtendFlex 11

Variety Performance (other characteristics)

Fiber Quality of Bales Classed by December 31st at the Macon USDA Classing Office, 2008-2016 Year Color Grade 31/41 or better (% of crop) Bark/ Grass/ Prep Staple (32nds) Strength (g/tex) Mic Uniformity 2008 25 / 93 all < 1.0 34 28.7 46 80.2 2009 26 / 96 35 28.8 45 80.3 2010 50 / 90 29.9 48 81.0 2011 38 / 84 3.0 / <1 / 1.0 36 29.6 81.7 2012 46 / 91 12.4 / <1 / <1 29.1 47 81.5 2013 57 / 98 5.7 / <1 / <1 35.9 29.7 2014 62 / 87 3.4 / <1 / <1 35.6 29.0 81.3 2015 16 / 54 2.3 / <1 / 5.2 36.0 81.6 2016 82 / 96 3.1 / <1 / <1 29.8 82.0 Bales classed short staple (< 34) and high mic (>4.9) 2008: 16% & 21% 2009: 5% & 20% 2010: 16% & 9% 2011: 4% & 8.8% 2012: 1.4% & 20.5% 2013: 1.1% & 30.1% 2014:5% & 18.1% 2015: 2% &17.3% 2016: 5% & 19% Source: http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/

Cotton Fiber Quality and Impact on Profitability

Fiber Quality

Seeding Rates & Plant Stands Seedling Vigor

Cotton Seedling Vigor “DOESN’T MATTER TILL IT MATTERS” Understanding Vigor Differences in Varieties How to make decisions

Dryland Variety Trial Midville, GA; Planted 6-1-11 Planted into fair soil moisture 1” deep Rainfall – 0.9” (5-27), 0.7” (6-3), 0.4” (6-16) Pictures on 7-9-11 DP 1133 PHY 499 DP 1137 DP 1048

Dryland Variety Trial Midville, GA; Planted 6-1-11 into fair soil moisture 1” deep Rainfall – 0.9” (5-27), 0.7” (6-3), 0.4” (6-16) Pictures on 7-9-11 PHY 375 ST 5458 DP 1133

ST 4946 GLB2 DP 1252 B2RF

Seed Size Effect on Lint Yield (UGA On-Farm Variety Trials in 2013 & 2014) DP 1252 B2RF 78 1178 NG 5315 B2RF 82 1127 DP 1050 B2RF 87 1151 ST 6448 GLB2 92 1069 DP 1137 B2RF 1158 PHY 499 WRF 93 1119 PHY 575 WRF 94 1048 ST 4946 GLB2 116 1085 1252 1137 1050 5315 499 4946 6448 575

Seed Size as Predictor of Vigor Smallest Small Moderate Large DP 1555 B2RF 6100 ST 6182 GLT 4966 ST 5115 GLT 4783 PHY 444 WRF 4444 DP 1646 B2XF 5895 DP 0912 B2RF 4956 DP 1558NR B2RF 4774 FM 1944 GLB2 4318 DP 1252 B2RF 5761 ST 6448 GLB2 4944 PHY 333 WRF 4735 ST 4747 GLB2 4288 DP 1538 B2XF 5643 PHY 565 WRF 4934 PHY 375 WRF 4637 FM 1740 B2RF 3964 PHY 552 WRF 5549 PHY 499 WRF 4931 PHY 339 WRF 4582 ST 5458 B2RF DP 1553 B2XF 5402 DP 1321 B2RF 4900 ST 4946 GLB2 3926 DP 1050 B2RF 5183 DP 1137 B2RF 4884 DP 1518 B2XF 5100 PHY 496 W3RF 4836 PHY 575 WRF 4826 4500 < 4800 < 4500 > 5100 4800 < 5100

Seed Size as Predictor of Vigor (Seed Company) Smallest Small Moderate Large DP 1555 B2RF 6100 ST 6182 GLT 4966 ST 5115 GLT 4783 PHY 444 WRF 4444 DP 1646 B2XF 5895 DP 0912 B2RF 4956 DP 1558NR B2RF 4774 FM 1944 GLB2 4318 DP 1252 B2RF 5761 ST 6448 GLB2 4944 PHY 333 WRF 4735 ST 4747 GLB2 4288 DP 1538 B2XF 5643 PHY 565 WRF 4934 PHY 375 WRF 4637 FM 1740 B2RF 3964 PHY 552 WRF 5549 PHY 499 WRF 4931 PHY 339 WRF 4582 ST 5458 B2RF DP 1553 B2XF 5402 DP 1321 B2RF 4900 ST 4946 GLB2 3926 DP 1050 B2RF 5183 DP 1137 B2RF 4884 PHYTOGEN DP 1518 B2XF 5100 PHY 496 W3RF 4836 BAYER PHY 575 WRF 4826 DELTAPINE

PGRs & Varieties

PGR MANAGEMENT

UGA’s Relative PGR Requirements of Cotton Varieties (PGR REQUIRMENTS VARY – use only as guide) Whitaker - 2016 www.ugacotton.com Classification Varieties PGR Recommendations 1 Varieties with the most vegetative growth potential, require intensive PGR management CG 3885 B2XF DP 1050 B2RF DP 1137 B2RF DP 1252 B2RF DP 1538 B2XF DP 1553 B2XF PHY 499 WRF PHY 575 WRF DP 0949 B2RF DP 1048 B2RF DP 1555 B2RF DP 1646 B2XF Applications - MULTIPLE Initiation - PRIOR TO BLOOM Product – MC (all applications, rates vary) 2 Varieties with similar growth potential of 1st class, yet more responsive to PGRs or earlier in maturity DP 1454NR B2RF DP 1558NR B2RF CG 3787 B2RF DG 2610 B2RF DP 1639 B2XF PHY 565 WRF PHY 333 WRF PHY 552 WRF NG 5007 B2XF NG 5315 B2RF ST 6182 GLT ST 6448 GLB2 Applications – MULTIPLE, MOST CASES Initiation – Squaring to 1st Bloom Product - 1st application - Stance or MC - Sequential app. – MC only 3 Varieties may require PGRs, but pre-bloom initiation not typically necessary, could result in premature cutout, esp. in dryland conditions DP 0912 B2RF DP 1133 B2RF DP 1518 B2XF DP 1522 B2XF PHY 339 WRF PHY 375 WRF PHY 427 WRF PHY 444 WRF PHY 487 WRF PHY 495 W3RF ST 4145 LLB2 ST 5032 GLT ST 5115 GLT ST 5458 B2RF Applications – ONE to MULTIPLE Initiation - Bloom initiation likely sufficient Product- 1st app (Stance or MC, low rates) - seq. applications - Stance or MC 4 Varieties that may need no PGR applications, or almost always not applied prior to bloom AM 1550 B2RF FM 1944 B2RF FM 1845 LLB2 FM 1740 B2RF NG 1511 B2RF NG 3405 B2XF ST 4747 GLB2 ST 4946 GLB2 ST 4288 B2RF ST 5289 GLT Application – NONE to ONE Initiation - Bloom initiation almost always Product – Stance or MC (rates)

Planting Date Effect on Yield 2013 thru 2015, Tifton & Midville, GA

Cotton Defoliation Considerations in Georgia Jared Whitaker – UGA Extension Agronomist Guy Collins – NCSU Cotton Agronomist 32

Timeliness in Georgia Peanuts and other crops impact cotton harvest Size and range of cotton operation – harvest in order of planting or distance from home base Micronaire and weathering – delayed defoliation, delayed harvest Round-module harvesters BARK, SEED COAT FRAGMENTS, COLOR, ETC.

Other Cotton Stuff Yield issues this year Seed development (motes) Yield estimates Fiber Quality Skip-row cotton New varieties (Dow) Harvest aid recommendations