PREPARING COTTON FOR HARVEST

    As we try to wrap up the grain harvest for this year, it is now time to prepare our cotton crop for harvest.  To be successful in preparing our cotton for harvest we need to consider when to schedule defoliation, have good removal of foliage while at the same time facilitate boll opening and then schedule harvest operations.  Along with all of that, dry, sunny weather is also needed.
    There are several methods that one can use to help determine when to use harvest aids to begin defoliating cotton.  Here is a brief review of the more common defoliation-timing techniques.  The most widely used defoliation-timing method is based on a determination of the total percentage of bolls in the field that have opened.  The most common recommendation for defoliant application occurs when the field has 60 to 70 percent open bolls.
    Another method used to help determine when to defoliate cotton is the node above cracked boll (NACB), which focuses on the unopened portion of the crop.  The NACB is determined by locating the uppermost first-position boll that is cracked open with visible lint and counting the number of main-stem nodes to the uppermost harvest able boll.  Most recommendations suggest defoliation at four NACB.  If however, you have a low plant population or skip-row cotton, research has shown that you could probably wait until you have reached three NACB, as with this type of crop more yield will be coming from outer-position bolls and bolls on vegetative branches.
    The measure of accumulated heat units after cutout is yet another method one can use to help schedule defoliation.  A DD60 is a measure of accumulated heat needed for growth and development using a 60-degree temperature minimum.  Research has shown that defoliation could begin when 850 heat units past cutout have been reached.  Locally, in a few cotton fields that I have been monitoring this year, that were planted the last week of March, and reached cutout from June 23 - 27, 850 heat units past cutout will be reached by the end of this week and the beginning of next week.
    Finally, cotton growers should also visually inspect unopened bolls for maturity.  A boll is considered mature if it is difficult to slice in a cross-section with a knife, and seeds have begun to form a brown or black seed coat.  Once the dark seed coat has formed, defoliation will not affect yield of those bolls adversely.  Depending on temperature, cotton bolls need 40 to 60 days to mature.
    When planning to schedule defoliations, the farm’s harvest capacity should also be considered.  In general, defoliating only acreage that can be harvested within a 12-day period following the defoliation treatment will help reduce exposure of lint to weathering loss and possible grade discounts.  Should weather interfere during this time frame, the regrowth will need to be controlled adding to harvest costs.
    It seems that every year is different in regards to how harvest aids will react to the given cotton crop.  No one harvest aid or tank mix combination is the “silver bullet” for every field and all situations.  Harvest aid selection is often based on prior experience and price.  Thorough canopy coverage is essential for acceptable results with all harvest aids.  The carrier volumes should be between 10 and 15 gallons per acre.  While higher carrier volumes are not convenient, water remains the cheapest thing that you can put in the spray tank.
    With all of the rain recently, one could classify our cotton as “rank,” meaning that we have an ample supply of good foliage on the cotton plants with a dense leaf canopy.  Coverage with the defoliant product is challenging.  A common mistake is to increase rates in an effort to achieve better defoliation. However, increased rates are likely to cause leaf desiccation at the top of the plant because most spray solution is intercepted there. In rank situations, the best approach is to apply normal rates, keeping in mind that a second application is likely to be necessary. Rank cotton is generally more expensive to defoliate than normal cotton. However, if a good job is done on the first application, the second application may not require the high rates or complex tank mixes. Additionally, a boll opener can be more effective if added to the second application.
    I am planning to establish a Harvest Aid Trial again this year in some early cotton to evaluate how different treatments will work with this years cotton crop.   Plans are to establish the trial on the Claude Otahal Farm, just southeast of Robstown at the intersection of FM 892 and FM 2826 in the southwest corner.  Defoliation results from this test will be posted on our web site at http://nueces-tx.tamu.edu/pubcat.cfm?COUNTY=Nueces&CatID=2757

SUNFLOWER HARVEST PRODUCES GOOD YIELDS

The above normal rainfall we have seen this growing season has helped to contribute to some good sunflower yields.  Last week I collected data from a Sunflower Hybrid Test that I conducted with Allen and Ross Moench of Agua Dulce.  Four oilseed hybrids were evaluated in a replicated test that was planted on March 13, 2010 and harvested on July 14, 2010 with a John Deere Combine and weighed with an electronic weigh wagon.
    Yield results from the test were Pioneer 63M91 at 2,095 pounds per acre Syngenta 3731 at 2,030 pounds per acre, and Triumph 678 at 1,854 pounds per acre, of which when the data was analyzed, there was not a statistical difference between these three hybrids.  Croplan 378 produced a yield of 1,554 pounds per acre, but had a significantly lower plant population, which certainly had an impact on yield.   Bushel weights in the test ranged from 28 to 34 pounds, while the entire test yield averaged 1,883 pounds per acre.  A detailed report will be available soon from the Nueces County Extension Office.  The support of Allen and Ross Moench  and seed companies for cooperating with this test is appreciated.          

COTTON WORKSHOP TO FOCUS ON CUTOUT TO HARVEST

    The rainfall events of the last two weeks have certainly hurt the mature grain sorghum crop, but cotton has been a beneficiary to some extent.  Yes, there have been cotton squares shed, and this can be alarming when one looks at the edge of a field and finds numerous squares washed out on the end of the turn-row, but those squares are coming from second and third fruiting positions. The most valuable squares and bolls are located in the first position on the plant.
    Some of our early planted cotton will be nearing the time to begin defoliation around the first week of August based on heat unit accumulations.  To address critical management issues during this time of crop development, a Coastal Bend Cotton Management Workshop will be held on Wednesday, July 21, 2010 with the focus on “Cutout to Harvest.”   The workshop will be held at the Texas AgriLife Research and Extension Center at 10345, State Hwy 44, just west of the Corpus Christi Airport.
    Registration will begin at 1:00 p.m. followed by the program at 1:30 p.m and will conclude by 4:30 p.m.  Workshop topics and speakers will include the following; Overview and Current Crop Conditions by Dr. Juan Landivar, Resident Director of the Research Center, Insect Management to Harvest, Dr. Roy Parker, Extension Entomologist, Post-Eradication Boll Weevil Management, Dr. Mike Brewer, AgriLife Research Entomologist, Environmental Factors affecting Defoliation and Boll Opening by Dr. Carlos Fernandez, AgriLife Research Scientist, and the science behind How a Cotton Leaf Drops and Bolls Open by Dr. Landivar. Using Computer Online Tools, namely the weather station network,  to help schedule defoliations will be discussed  by Jeffrey Stapper, County Extension Agent - Agriculture/Natural Resources, while Dr. Larry Falconer, Extension Ag Economist will review the Outlook for Marketing the 2010 Cotton Crop and the economics of using pickers vs. strippers at harvest. Other topics to be discussed will include Harvest-aid Recommendations, including rates and timing.
    Participants in the workshop will be awarded CEU’s toward their Pesticide Applicator and Certified Crop Advisor Licences.  The workshop is being sponsored by the Texas AgriLife Extension Service and Texas AgriLife Research.  More details are available from the Nueces County Extension Office at 361-767-5223.

Educational programs of the Texas AgriLife Extension Service are open to all people without regard to race, color, sex, disability, religion, age, or national origin.  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 eight days before all programs for assistance.

ALEX HURTS MATURE SORGHUM

As I surveyed the county on July 6, 2010, the amount of water that was still moving from west to east toward the Gulf was amazing!  Rainfall amounts from Alex range from five to more than 9 inches.  Mature sorghum took a hit from this excessive rainfall event.  Fields of mature sorghum have grain dropping from the heads to the ground in an alarming rate in some locations.

For the most part this is what is occurring, the grain drop is being caused by the grain kernel sprouting, the radicle (sprout) is pushing against the glume, forcing the grain to fall. There are some differences between hybrids, some have tighter glumes, and the other big difference was the stage of maturity at which the grain was during the big rains.

So the big question is, how much yield loss are we going to see from this grain drop?  Here is a method to calculate your potential yield loss as it relates to grain on the ground.  Depending on seed size, 16 to 21 seeds per square foot represent a loss of one bushel or 56 pounds per acre.  So take several random counts in a given field, on a square foot measurement, and this will give you some idea of what you might expect regarding yield loss from grain on ground.

PREPARING GRAIN SORGHUM FOR HARVEST

    Early planted grain sorghum will be reaching physiological maturity very soon and preparing grain for harvest will begin soon.  Grain sorghum growers can obtain higher prices if their sorghum meets market moisture specifications.  To help meet those specifications, growers may apply harvest aids.
    When harvest aids are applied properly, harvest is made more efficient and combining is faster, with no reductions in grain weight. Grain from the entire field will have a uniform moisture content, resulting in few “hot” loads and price discounts.  To keep the grain from losing weight, it is critical that growers apply the harvest aids at the proper time, which is once the grain reaches physiological maturity and the average grain moisture drops below 30 percent. If harvest aids are applied prematurely, both yields and grain quality will be reduced.
    Physiological maturity can be determined by sampling grain with a grain moister tester and also looking at the kernels for a black layer which indicates that the crop is mature.  Pictures of a black layer can be found in a publication L-5435 - “Harvest Aids in Sorghum,” that can be found at the following web address: http://agrilifebookstore.org/
    There are only two products labeled for use as harvest aids: sodium chlorate (containing a fire retardant) and glyphosate. For satisfactory results, good spray coverage is needed for both products. Eight to 10 gallons per acre (GPA) of solution by ground or 3 to 5 GPA by air is recommended.
    Sodium chlorate, which can cause fires if it is not mixed with a retardant, is a chemically active salt that desiccates the plant. Growers may apply up to 6 pounds per acre. This product is sold under various trade names and concentrations of active ingredient per gallon. For good desiccation, the weather must be hot and dry.
    Glyphosate, a common herbicide, will kill the plant. Producers may make a single application of up to 2 quarts per acre. Once it is applied to sorghum, the plants move the glyphosate to the growing point over a 5- to 6- day period. Weeds that are actively growing when the product is applied will also be destroyed.  Use a sprayable grade of ammonium sulfate at a rate of 17 pounds/100 gallons of water or a prepackaged sulfate formulation to condition the water and improve effectiveness. There is a 7-day waiting interval between application and harvest. The crop is usually ready seven to 10 days after application.
    This year most sorghum plants are healthy, and there should be no need to worry about crop lodging after harvest aid applications. Studies have shown that healthy sorghum treated with harvest aids will stand well for up to three weeks after treatment. After 30 days, lodging can be significant. Growers should only treat those acres that can be harvested within 10 days to two weeks after application.
    To avoid any premature lodging, inspect the field before the application. Look for stalk degradation from diseases such as charcoal rot, which will cause premature lodging during natural dry down or after harvest aids are applied.
    As always when using farm chemicals, read and follow label directions carefully before applying the product.

GRAIN STORAGE OPTIONS REVIEWED

    Very good growing conditions during this crop season in the Coastal Bend of Texas are resulting in a grain crop that has the potential to produce some excellent yields, and then there is the old saying, “don’t count your chickens before they are hatched,” but one needs to consider the scenario of a bumper grain crop.  A bumper grain crop will likely pressure existing area grain storage and handling facilities during and after harvest. Grain producers might want to evaluate their options, including grain bags for temporary storage.
    Grain storage in the area is largely a “warehouse” approach to temporarily holding grain after harvest until it can be sold. A  bumper grain crop will back up delivery trucks at area elevators, cause harvest delays, and finally storage capacity can be exceeded. So, producers are left pondering what cost-effective options are available to store grain at harvest.
    One such option according to Mac Young, Risk Management Specialist with Texas AgriLife Extension Service, is grain storage bags. This is a relative new technology that offers producers an alternative for short-term storage. Airtight polyethylene bags were first introduced in the United States in the early 1980s to store forage.  Increased U.S. grain production, spurred by a growing world economy and ethanol production, are posing new challenges for handling and storage facilities. The high cost of building new facilities may not be cost-effective for most individuals, users, grain merchants and commercial elevators, according to Young.
    Mac Young along with Roy Parker, Extension Entomologist and Steven Klose, Extension Risk Management Specialist,  recently conducted a study that provides a comparative illustration of the estimated producer costs for storing and handling grain at local elevators, in on-farm storage bins, and in grain bags. According to Young, the results show that grain bagging has a cost advantage over on-farm and commercial storage. Storing grain in bags can compliment on-farm and commercial storage in any crop year. Grain bags at least offer a viable option for short-term storage during bumper crop years and the potential for reducing harvest delays.
The estimated cost of storing grain in grain bags ranged from $0.22 to $0.24 per bushel as compared to on-farm storage ($0.33/bu. to $0.34/bu) and commercial storage($0.72/bu. to $0.74/bu).
    Storing grain in bags has its advantages and disadvantages which must also be considered. Advantages include: harvest flexibility with less harvest delays and more storage in good crop years, minimal capital investment, reduced storage costs and less moisture loss, the storage environment reduces insect management expenses, and,  finally flexibility in crops planted.  The disadvantages will include: bags are temporary storage and you cannot warehouse receipt grain stored in bags, cannot load or unload bags in wet weather, when calculating farmer and landlord shares - determining how much grain is stored is difficult, bags can be damaged by rats, birds and other animals, high moisture grain cannot be placed in bags, and bags must be placed on solid, level, well-drained sites.
    A management decision to store all or part of a crop in grain bags must be weighed based on a producer’s ability to handle risk, individual business preferences, labor availability, and marketing issues, according to Young.  More information regarding the study done in 2009 comparing the economics of grain storage bags can be found at the following web address; http://coastalbend.tamu.edu/Extension/Risk%20Management/Grainstoragebags.pdf

Crop Tour - Friday, June 11

    The Annual Nueces County Crop Tour will take place on Friday, June 11 with registration at 8:30 a.m. at the Texas AgriLife Research and Extension Center at 10345, State Hwy 44, just west of the Corpus Christi Airport, followed by the tour bus departing promptly at 8:45 a.m.

    In addition to touring the traditional cotton and grain sorghum variety tests, and a cotton plant population study the tour will also feature a tour of the new Drought Research Laboratory.  Other topics to be addressed during the tour event will include; New Grain Sorghum and Cotton Technology, Weed Herbicide Resistance Management, Sorghum Harvest Aids,  Algae Research in Coastal Bend, Boll Weevil Eradication and Pesticide Laws.

    Pesticide applicators and Certified Crop Advisors will be able to obtain 3 CEU’s for participation in this event which will conclude by 2 p.m.  The tour is being sponsored by the Nueces County Extension Crops Committee, Texas AgriLife Extension Service  and numerous agribusinesses.  Those planning to participate should contact the Nueces County Extension Office by Thursday, June 10 at 361-767-5223.