COTTON RESULTS POSTED

    Results from the 2011 Cotton Variety Trials conducted by Nueces County Extension Staff and cooperating farmers have been posted online at the Nueces County Extension website at; http://nueces.agrilife.org/ under the publications link.  A detailed report is available at this website or may be obtained in the County Extension Office upon request.  Yields were above average and with the limited amount of rainfall received during the growing season, growers were pleased with results.
    A Liberty Link Cotton Variety Trial was conducted by Darrell Lawhon in the Concordia area in which four varieties were evaluated.  The best performing variety was FiberMax 1845 LLB2 at 944 pounds of lint per acre, while the trial averaged 879 pounds of lint per acre.
    A Uniform Stacked-Gene Cotton Variety Trial was conducted by Jim Massey IV near Robstown in which nine commercial varieties were evaluated.  The best performing varieties in this trial with no statistical difference were PHY 499 WRF at 858 pounds of lint per acre and DP 1044 B2F at 804 pounds of lint per acre. The trial averaged 766 pounds of lint per acre.
    A Conventional Cotton Variety Trial was conducted by Edward and Russell Jungmann north of Bishop in which eight commercial varieties were evaluated.  The best performing varieties in this trial with no statistical differences were; ARK 222-12 at 994 pounds lint/acre, ARK 114-53 at 991 pounds lint/acre, ARK 9803-23-04 at 963 pounds lint/acre and SSG HQ210CT at 935 pounds lint/acre.  The trial averaged 934 pounds lint/acre.
    One cotton planting system that seems to be growing in popularity in recent years in the Coastal Bend is that of skip-row cotton.  In an effort to address the economics of comparing the skip-row vs. solid row or conventional planting system, a trial was established with Edward and Russell Jungmann north of Bishop.   The cotton variety PHY 375 WRF was  planted in a replicated study with four replications in a randomized complete block design in 30-inch row spacing.
    In the final analysis, there was not a statistical difference in lint yield per acre between the solid row and skip-row systems.  The solid row yield was 803 pounds of lint per acre while the skip-row yielded 729 pounds of lint per acre.  In a partial budget analysis, assuming a lint price from a USDA report on 9/29/11, the gross lint value ranged from about $750/acre for solid row vs. $690/acre for skip row.  If one factors in the input costs of each system, in this particular trial, there was a $7.95/acre advantage with the conventional system if you owned the cotton picker, and a $15.92/acre advantage with the conventional system if one used a custom operator to harvest.  In another year with different weather conditions, results might have been different, thus more side by side evaluation of these two production systems is needed and is planned.
    Another cotton trial that was conducted with Darrell Lawhon, near Concordia, evaluated different cotton plant densities.  Cotton variety FM 835 LLB2 was planted in a replicated study in a randomized complete block design with three replications at two, four, and six seed per foot, with seed costs per acre ranging from $34 to $102 per acre.  There was not a statistical difference in yield between the three planting densities and yields were as follows; 2 seed/ft - 822 lbs. lint/ac, 4 seed/ft - 869 lbs. lint/ac, and 6 seed/ft - 852 lbs. lint/ac.  However, when the seed cost is considered the 4 seed/ft is the most economical.  This same trial was conducted last year and the 4 seed/ft density was also the most economical as well.

New Ag Regs To Impact Producers

Recent developments in new Agricultural regulations impacting local farmers will be discussed at a meeting on Friday, October 21, 2011 at the Texas AgriLife Research & Extension Center in Corpus Christi (10345, HWY 44) from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.

            Topics of discussion will include the EPA On-Farm Oil/Fuel Storage Regulation or also referred to as the SPCC rule. As a result of this new regulation, certain facilities are required to develop plans that describe oil storage containers, emergency contacts, response personnel, and provide adequate countermeasures to a discharge of oil.  A representative from EPA will be available to review the regulation along with George Caldwell, Associate Director of Commodity and Regulatory Activities for Texas Farm Bureau.

            The requirements for tax exempt numbers for the purchase of certain items used in the production of agricultural and timber products become law in 2012. Procedures to obtain the tax exempt number will be discussed by Dr. Larry Falconer, Extension Economist.

            This meeting is being sponsored by the Texas AgriLife Extension Service and the Nueces and San Patricio County Farm Bureau.  For more details please call 361-767-5223.

Individuals with disabilities, who require an auxiliary aid, service or accommodation in order to participate in any of the mentioned activities, are encouraged to contact the County Extension Office at 361-767-5223 at least eight days before all programs for assistance.  Educational programs of the Texas AgriLife Extension Service are open to all citizens without regard to race, color, sex, disability, religion, age or national origin.

Continued Drought Requires Better Risk Management

            Dry weather and high input prices are making crop production and marketing risk management decisions even more difficult for 2012. A one day workshop focusing on Crop Risk Management will be held on Tuesday, October 25, 2011 at the Texas AgriLife Research & Extension Center at Corpus Christi (10345, HWY 44) from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.  The workshop will focus on incorporating crop insurance products with marketing strategies to help develop a marketing plan to manage production and marketing risk that improves overall farm risk management.

            The workshop will be conducted by Extension Grain and Cotton Marketing Specialists.  A new software tool will be demonstrated that will evaluate risk implications with various insurance alternatives.  The software will be made available to all workshop participants.  A market outlook for feed grains and cotton will be given with implications for planting and marketing decisions.  The workshop will conclude with a hands-on decision exercise where participants will choose crops, insurance products, pre-harvest market strategies and post-harvest marketing strategies.  This exercise is a realistic learning activity designed to integrate the discussion about crop mix, production costs, insurance, marketing, and risk.

            Registration fee is $20 per participant which includes lunch and workshop materials.  Pre-registration is required as space is limited so make your reservations early by contacting the Nueces County Extension Office at 361-767-5223.  Participants are asked to pre-register by Friday, October 21, 2011.  This workshop is being sponsored by Texas AgriLife Extension Service, Texas Ag Finance, Capital Farm Credit, Frontier Risk Management, and Secrest Crop Insurance.

Individuals with disabilities, who require an auxiliary aid, service or accommodation in order to participate in any of the mentioned activities, are encouraged to contact the County Extension Office at 361-767-5223 at least eight days before all programs for assistance.  Educational programs of the Texas AgriLife Extension Service are open to all citizens without regard to race, color, sex, disability, religion, age or national origin.