GENERAL SITUATION

Hot, dry conditions continue to persist across the Southern Blacklands. Grain sorghum is just beginning to be cut and some fields of the earliest planted corn are probably dry enough to be combined. Cotton ranges from bloom to cracked boll.

COTTON INSECTS

The majority of the cotton is at 1-2 NAWF (nodes above white flower). Fields of replanted cotton are at 5-7 NAWF. Fields of cotton that have a full fruit load are shedding the majority of the remaining fruit left on the plant. As a result, only the fruit in which growers might expect to harvest need to be protected. This means any bolls that are still soft on the outside of the boll wall when squeezed between ones fingers.

Note: Attached is an article written by John Robinson, Extension Economist from Weslaco that addresses economics of late-season inputs in cotton. This article is a great tool to help address if any late season inputs into your cotton crop are justified.

Aphids pressure is variable among and in fields. Many fields have aphids at moderate levels in spots, but no fields are infested throughout. Beneficial levels are increasing in fields with aphids, but at a somewhat of a slow rate. Depending on how much a particular field is infested with aphids is key to helping decide if an insecticide application is justified at this point in the season.

Cotton bollworm/tobacco budworm (CBW/TBW) pressure has decreased over the past 7 days. Egg counts are ranging from 0 - 6 per 100 plants and larval counts are ranging from 0 - 14 per 100 plants. Most fields are averaging 0 -2 eggs and 1-3 larvae per 100 plants checked.

Cotton bollworm/tobacco budworm (CBW/TBW) pressure has decreased over the past 7 days. Egg counts are ranging from 0 - 6 per 100 plants and larval counts are ranging from 0 - 14 per 100 plants. Most fields are averaging 0 -2 eggs and 1-3 larvae per 100 plants checked.

Boll weevil activity has been variable over the past week. Punctured square counts are ranging from 0 - 36 per 100 squares checked. Currently, most fields are averaging 6 to 10 punctured squares per 100 squares checked which has about doubled from last week.

WEEKLY TURNROW MEETINGS