Educational programs conducted by Texas AgriLife Extension serve people of all ages regardless of socioeconomic level, race, color, sex, religion, handicap or national origin. The information given herein is for educational purposes only. References to commercial products or trade names is made with the understanding that no discrimination is intended and no endorsement by Texas AgriLife Extension is implied. i

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The success and achievements of any Extension program depend on the support and participation provided by area producers, agribusinessmen and others. Appreciation is extended to the following producers for their cooperation, support and participation in the 2011 Northwest Plains Integrated Pest Management Program: Clay Grant Tim Black Chris Bass Steve Bell John Saylor Daniel Schacher James Brown JeDon Gallman Gil DeLeon Kelly Kettner Marshall Pool Davy Carthel Tyler Black Steve Bass Jordan Pool Kendal Devault Mark Williams Ryan Williams Ronnie Altman Terry Parham

Acknowledgment is also extended to the following members of Texas AgriLife Extension for their support: Curtis Preston CEA Bailey County Benji Henderson CEA Parmer County Miles Dabovich District Extension Administrator, Lubbock Galen Chandler Regional Program Director, Amarillo David Kerns Extension Entomologist, Lubbock Pat Porter Extension Entomologist, Lubbock Ed Bynum Extension Entomologist, Amarillo Mark Kelley Extension Agronomist, Lubbock Calvin Trostle Extension Agronomist, Lubbock Brent Bean Extension Agronomist, Amarillo Jason Woodward Extension Plant Pathologist, Lubbock Peter Dotray Extension Weed Specialist, Lubbock Dana Porter Extension Irrigation Specialist, Lubbock Steve Paz Extension Computer Specialist, Lubbock Charles Allen Extension Entomologist and IPM Coordinator, San Angelo David Ragsdale Department Head, Entomology, College Station Chris Sansone Associate Department Head, Extension Entomology, College Station

Acknowledgments are also extended to the following people who provided program support: Luke Carpenter Demonstration Technician, Bailey-Parmer Counties Ray White Demonstration Technician, Bailey-Parmer Counties Mary Jo Schacher Office Manager, Bailey County

Bailey-Parmer Integrated Pest Management Committee Cody Copland Ron Anderson Chris Bass Kelly Kettner Ryan Willians Ben Rejino

iii

2011 Northwest Plains IPM Program Summary Monti Vandiver, Extension Agent - IPM, Bailey & Parmer Counties

Relevance Agriculture is the foundation of the economy in Bailey and Parmer Counties, 569,700 acres of cropland are intensively managed for maximum production and profitability. The Northwest Plains Integrated Pest Management Program is an educational program designed to promote a pest management strategy that will meet an individual’s production goals in the most economically and environmentally sound manner possible. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is a systematic, information-intensive approach which depends on an understanding of the entire production system. It strives to use several complimentary tactics or control methods to manage pests which makes the system more stable and subject to fewer production risks.

Response The Northwest Plains Integrated Pest Management Program is directed by a program area committee consisting of six individuals including agriculture producers, consultants, and agriculture businessmen. The committee actively participates in the identification of the targeted audience, planning, and implementation of the program. Seventeen Bailey and Parmer County producers actively participated in the scouting and applied research program components and many more participated in other mechanisms. Educational activities included: • Weekly field visits (50 fields) using electronic data collection methods via cellular phones with internet access; a report generator was developed to create pest management reports. The basis for the system is Google Docs and Google forms • Information gathered on these visits were delivered and interpreted to the individual producers via a scouting report • Scouting reports were distributed electronically or regular mail and in person, at site, or by phone • Pest management plans were developed and implemented based on these consultations • 21 local and area wide applied research and result demonstration projects initiated • Northwest Plains Pest Management News (15 issues, 465 individuals/issue, 3 websites) • Weekly radio show on Fox Talk 950, Lubbock • Group meetings and newspaper articles were used to distribute educational information area wide; 16 presentations at producer and professional meetings • 17 CEUs offered • 8 published abstracts, Extension publications, posters, and Fact Sheets

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. The Texas A&M University System, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the County Commissioners Courts of Texas Cooperating

1 AgriLifeExtension.tamu.edu

Results Retrospective post evaluation instruments were administered to clientele to determine the relevance, quality and value of the Northwest Plains IPM program. The survey was completed by 46 producers, consultants, ag retailers and ag industry representatives who were either directly or indirectly involved in the Northwest Plains IPM Program. Those producers which answered acreage questions reported 31,036 acres of crop production.

• Survey responses show that clientele value pest management information and unbiased research provided by the NWP IPM Program; the following charts summarize those responses.

IPM Information Unbiased Research

3% 5% No Value No Value 51% 46% Somewhat Valuable 54% 41% Somewhat Valuable Valuable Valuable Very Valuable Very Valuable

• Production technologies are more readily adopted based on one’s ability to observe them in research and demonstrations under local growing conditions. Agreement rating 4.6 out of 5 possible.

• 95% of respondents state that Integrated Pest Management reduces risks associated with crop production

• 95% of respondents state that Integrated Pest Management maintains or increases yields while reducing input costs resulting in increased net profits

• The AgriLife Extension IPM Program works with growers and consultants to develop, promote and implement pest management strategies which reduce the use of pesticides. Eighty seven percent (87%) of clientele indicate that IPM program educational activities have resulted in reduced pesticide use by an average of 22.1% in recent years.

• If 15% of the 569,700 acres of cropland in the Northwest Plains eliminated only one pesticide application savings to producers would be $1.03 million.

• The IPM Program works to improve clientele awareness of Integrated Pest Management issues; the following chart summarizes survey responses documenting improvement levels

Appropriate IPM Tactics and Timing Pest Treatment Thresholds Impact of Natural Enemies Pest Pressure

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% No Improvement Improvement Significant Improvement

2 • Producers who responded to the survey indicate that they are likely to adopt Extension best management practices consistent with a sound IPM Program as shown below

Practice Will Not Undecided Probably Will Definitely Will

Manage pests based on IPM Principals 7% 7% 47% 40%

Utilize established economic / action 0% 0% 53% 47% thresholds Adopt pesticides and/or management 0% 13% 40% 47% options based on Extension testing Adopt varieties/hybrids based on 0% 13% 27% 60% Extension research

• In an attempt to valuate the IPM Program across various crops, producers were asked to estimate the value/acre the IPM Program has had in recent years on their farms. The following chart is a graphical representation of their responses.

$50.00 $40.00 $30.00 $48.46 $40.00 $42.50 $20.00 $33.46 $10.00 $- Cotton Corn Grain Wheat Sorghum

• The average estimated total Extension IPM Program value provided by survey respondents in $ per acre considering all crops and educational activities is $61.82/acre

Summary It is apparent that the Northwest Plains IPM Program is not only a valuable program to Northwest Plains agriculture but is an essential part of it. Using producer provided IPM Program values for various crops and only acreage reported in the survey for those crops the cumulative IPM program value is $1.27 million for those operations (15 producers reported acreage). In an attempt to quantify the economic impact of total Northwest Plains Integrated Pest Management Program, if the total program value assigned by producers, consultants, ag retailers and ag industry representatives of $61.82/acre is multiplied by a very conservative 10% of NWP cropland the IPM Program value to the industry in this 2-county area is in excess of $3.5 million. For any production system to be sustainable it must be profitable and it is clear that the Northwest Plains IPM Program enhances sustainable agriculture in the Northwest Plains of Texas.

Detailed evaluation results of the Northwest Plains IPM Program are interpreted back to the program planning committee to determine program effectiveness and value, establish a programming baseline and enhance future program planning. With the help of the Northwest Plains IPM Committee, the Northwest Plains IPM Program is marketed and interpreted to key stakeholders, agribusinesses, civic groups, and the County Commissioners Court.

4 2011 Southern High Plains Integrated Pest Management Program

Manda Anderson, Extension Agent – Integrated Pest Management, Gaines County Brant Baugh, former Extension Agent – Integrated Pest Management, Lubbock County Tommy Doederlein, Extension Agent – Integrated Pest Management, Lynn and Dawson Counties Dustin Patman, Extension Agent – Integrated Pest Management, Crosby and Floyd Counties Scott Russell, Extension Agent – Integrated Pest Management, Terry and Yoakum Counties Kerry Siders, Extension Agent – Integrated Pest Management, Hockley and Cochran Counties Monti Vandiver, Extension Agent – Integrated Pest Management, Parmer and Bailey Counties

Relevance Agriculture is the foundation of the economy in the Southern High Plains; cropland is intensively managed for maximum production and profitability. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is a systematic, information- intensive approach which depends on an understanding of the entire production system. It strives to use several complimentary tactics or control methods to manage pests which makes the system more stable and subject to fewer production risks. The Texas AgriLife Extension IPM program is an educational program designed to promote a pest management strategy that will meet an individual’s production goals in the most economically and environmentally sound manner possible. Programs are educational by design and focus on informing producers about IPM techniques to control weeds, diseases and insects, as well as agronomic management practices such as varietal selection, irrigation and fertility management.

Response The IPM Programs are directed by program area committees (7) which include agriculture producers, consultants, commodity group and agriculture business representatives. The committees actively participate in the identification of the targeted audience, planning, and implementation of the program. IPM Programs operate in cooperation with the Texas Pest Management Association, whose membership includes representatives from the local committees, producers and commodity organizations from across the State. Educational activities included: • 6,014 field visits, 86 producers, 19,200 acres • Newsletters: 83 issues, 24,580 individual newsletters distributed (also published on numerous websites) • 107 applied research and demonstration projects initiated, 6 pest monitoring projects • Mass media: Weekly radio show on Fox Talk 950, 31other radio, 88 newspaper articles • Group meetings: 261 presentations at producer and professional meetings reaching 9,696 people directly • 147 CEUs offered via group and individual methods • 26 peer reviewed and/or proceedings publications • 56 scouts and 203 consultants trained • 58,213 total direct ag contacts • 13 local IPM Steering Committee Meetings

AgriLifeExtension.tamu.edu 5

Numbers of Research and Demonstration Trials Initiated in 2011* Insect/Mite Disease Weed Variety/Hybrid Agronomic Other Management Management Management Testing Trials Trials 39 20 2 33 6 7 *These trials were conducted in cotton, corn, grain sorghum, wheat and peanuts

Results Retrospective post evaluation instruments were administered to clientele to determine the relevance, quality and value of the IPM program. The survey was completed by 156 producers, consultants, ag retailers and ag industry representatives who were either directly or indirectly involved in the IPM Program. Those respondents which answered acreage questions reported 179,443 acres of crop production.

• The AgriLife Extension IPM Program works with growers and consultants to develop, promote and implement pest management strategies which reduce the use of pesticides. Eighty nine percent (89%) of respondents indicate that IPM program educational activities have resulted in reduced pesticide use by an average of 27.5% in recent years.

• If only 10% of the 3.5 million acres of cotton planted in the High Plains eliminated only one pesticide application potential savings to producers could exceed 2.8 million dollars and could potentially reduce pesticide load on the environment by 87,500 lbs.

• The average estimated Extension IPM Program value provided by survey respondents in dollars per acre considering all crops is $46/acre

Summary It is apparent that the Texas South Plains IPM Program is not only a valuable program to Texas agriculture but is an essential part of it. Using producer provided IPM Program values for various crops and only acreage reported in the surveys for those crops the cumulative IPM program value is 8.2 million dollars for those operations. In an attempt to quantify the economic impact of total South Plains IPM Program, if the total program value assigned by producers, consultants, ag retailers and ag industry representatives of $46/acre were applied to South Plains cotton acreage alone the potential economic impact of the IPM Program would exceed 80 million dollars. This does not account for any economic benefit which may come from other crops such as corn, grain sorghum, peanuts, and wheat. For any production system to be sustainable it must be profitable and it is clear that the Texas IPM Program enhances sustainable agriculture in the South Plains of Texas.

For more information on the individual IPM programs you visit the following web pages and click on the desired publication to view additional program summaries.

http://bailey.agrilife.org/publications http://crosby.agrilife.org/publications http://dawson.agrilife.org/publications http://gaines.agrilife.org/publications http://hockley.agrilife.org/publications http://lubbock.agrilife.org/publications http://terry.agrilife.org/publications

AgriLifeExtension.tamu.edu 6

2011 Educational Activities

Clientele reached: Data derived from the end of year summary of the Extension monthly reporting system.

Farm Visits 1,119 Newsletter Issues Prepared 18 Newsletters distributed 9,094 Direct Ag Contacts 25,546 Other Direct Contacts 2,051 News Releases 17 Radio/Television Interviews 39 Result Demonstrations Established 21 Presentations Made 34 Continuing Education Units (CEU) Offered 30

Activity Highlights Applied Research Projects Northwest Plains Pest Management Newsletter Northwest Plains Scouting Program (3,300 ac) Private Applicator Training and Testing Llano Estacado Cotton Conference Beltwide Cotton Conference Posters NM Ag Science Center Field Day Home/Horticulture IPM Weekly Radio Program Newspaper interviews/releases Cotton Field Day Guest Speaking Opportunities NM Ag Expo Ag in the Classroom Bollworm Resistance Monitoring Project Curry County, NM CEU Meeting Web based sorghum headworm threshold Agriculture Business, Marketing and Risk calculator Management Programming

Program Support Funds Grant Funds $25,000.00 Producer Contributions $17,754.00 “In Kind” Contributions $13,580.00 Total Support $56,334.00

2011 at a Glance

The following is a brief overview of the 2011 production season. Copies of the Northwest Plains Pest Management News published in 2011 have been included in the appendix of this report to further document environmental conditions, crop conditions, and pest pressure.

The year started off with extreme cold temperatures near -10 degrees F in early February followed by a historically hot and dry summer. Environmental data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) weather stations located in the Northwest Plains of Texas indicate significantly higher temperatures mid May thru August, continuing to a lesser degree through October (Figure 1). Area last and first frost dates were May 5 and October 27. Accumulated heat units (DD60s) from May 1 through October 22 were 138% of the area long term average (Figure 2). Precipitation ranged from approximately 4.95 to 7.51 inches versus the long term average of 18.9 inches (Figure 3).

Corn The Northwest Plains corn crop was considered poor to fair overall. Corn silage yields were reported from 6 to 28+ tons per acre. The average corn yield according to the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) District 1-N was 138 bu/acre and 87 bu/ac in District 1-S, 70% and 50% of the 10 year average respectively. Irrigation demands were extreme. Northwest Plains (NWP, Bailey and Parmer Counties) corn producers planted over 84,733 acres of corn in 2011 down from 99,000 in 2010. Approximately 3.4% of planted acres were failed; excluding many acres that were harvested for silage prematurely in attempt to salvage at least some crop income.

2011 Pest Pressure: Overall moderate to heavy Southwestern Corn Borer light Spider Mites moderate to very heavy Fall armyworm light to very heavy

Cotton Cool early May temperatures delayed planting of many cotton fields, but temperatures dramatically increased to record levels June – August and into September. Very warm fall temperatures allowed continued cotton development later into the fall than normal. Irrigated yields were proportional to irrigation capacity and the dryland crop was basically non-existent. With a few exceptions fiber properties were very good. Approximately 187,994 acres of cotton were planted; 51.7% of those acres failed due to extreme environmental conditions.

2011 Pest Pressure: Overall light Thrips moderate Cotton Fleahopper very light Lygus very light Aphids light Bollworms light to moderate

Grain Sorghum The average sorghum yield according to NASS was 32 bu/acre. Northwest Plains sorghum producers planted 25,553 acres of sorghum in 2011 down from 27,100 in 2010; 4.8% of planted acres were failed.

2011 Pest Pressure Overall light-moderate Greenbugs light Yellow sugarcane aphid very light Spider mites light to moderate Headworms light to moderate Fall armyworm moderate

Wheat 177,730 acres of wheat were planted in the fall of 2010, a fair amount was intended for forage and grazing purposes. 59,000 acres were harvested for grain in 2011 with an average irrigated yield of 21 bu/ac and 12 bu/ac dryland; 14.4% of planted acres failed. Extremely dry conditions and freeze damage took a heavy toll on the crop. Wheat streak mosaic, triticum mosaic, High Plains virus and to a lesser extent barley yellow dwarf virus infested some of the crop.

2011 Pest Pressure Overall light to moderate Greanbugs light to moderate Russian wheat aphid light to moderate Disease light to moderate

Figure 1. Daily high and low temperatures from 4 weather stations versus the 30 year long term average in the Northwest Plains of Texas, April 1 – October 22, 2011.

Figure 2. Accumulated heat unit data from 4 weather stations in the Northwest Plains versus the 30 year long term average (DD60 May 1 – Oct 22, 2011).

Figure 3. Precipitation data from 4 weather stations in the Northwest Plains (2011) versus the 30 year long term average.

2011 Applied Research and Demonstration Projects

Unbiased applied research which evaluates new technologies and pest management options is an integral part of Texas AgriLife Extension programming; the following projects were conducted in 2011.

• Evaluation of Preventive Insecticides for Control of Western Flower Thrips in Irrigated Cotton in the Northwest Plains of Texas, Kendal Devalt Farm • Developing an Action Threshold for Thrips in Irrigated Cotton on the High Plains of Texas, Tim Black Farm • Efficacy of Declare® Insecticide for Control of Greenbugs and Russian Wheat Aphids in Wheat and Impact to Natural Enemies • Evaluation of Several Curative Spider Mite Management Options in Corn, Davy Carthel Farm • Beltwide Evaluation of Preventive and foliar Over-spray Insecticides for Control of Western Flower Thrips in Irrigated Cotton, James Brown Farm • Evaluation of Fungicides and Application Timing in Corn, Terry Parham Farm • Evaluation of Several Experimental Spider Mite Management tactics in Corn, JeDon Gallman Farm • Development of a Binomial Sampling Plan to Estimate Thrips Pressure in Cotton • Evaluation of the SmartStax Transgenic Corn System for Fall Armyworm Suppression in Corn, Ronnie Altman Farm • Replicated Cotton Variety Trial Comparing New GT and GL Varieties to a Producer Standard, Daniel Schacher Farm • Managing Thrips Using Organically Approved insecticides in Cotton, Jimmy Wedel Farm • Monitoring Corn Earworm / Cotton Bollworm for Resistance Development to Transginc (Bt) plants • Evaluation of Several conventional and biological seed treatments in cotton, Marshall Pool Farm • Replicated Agronomic Cotton Evaluation (RACE) in an Irrigated Production System, Chris Bass Farm • Replicated Cotton Variety Trial in an Irrigated Production System, Marshall Pool Farm • Systems Agronomic and Economic Evaluation of Cotton Varieties, Mark Williams Farm • Evaluation of Herbicide Residue the Following Year After Application in Transgenic Sorghum, Chris Bass Farm • Un-replicated Large Scale Demonstration of cotton varieties in a limited irrigation production system • Replicated Large Plot Corn Hybrid Trial, Kelly Kettner Farm • Johnson Grass Genetic Survey • Water Quality Survey

Cotton Seed Treatment Trial Marshall Pool Farm, Muleshoe, TX - 2011

Monti Vandiver Texas Agrilife Extension Service

Objective: To evaluate and compare cotton seed treatment combinations in a conventional tilled irrigated production system. Seed treatments evaluated in the trial were: 1. Base (Apron + Maxim + Nuflow M + Nusan 30) 2. Base+Bion (Apron + Maxim + Nuflow M + Nusan 30 + Bion) 3. Avicta Complete Cotton (ACC) (Base + ACC) 4. ACC+Bion (Base + ACC + Bion) Materials and Methods: This test was conducted in a commercial cotton field near Lariat, TX and was irrigated using pivot sprinkler irrigation system. The test was a RCB design with 3 replications. Plots were 6- 30 inch rows wide × 2500 ft in length. Treatments included 4 different cotton seed treatment options. Plant population and structure data were collected during the growing season. Whole plots were machine harvested using a JD 7460 harvester with a field cleaner November 1. Gin turnouts for lint and seed were determined from grab samples taken by plot at harvest and ginned at the University of Missouri Extension Center at Portageville. Lint samples were submitted to the Texas Tech University - Fiber and Biopolymer Research Institute for HVI analysis, and USDA Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) loan values were determined for each variety by plot. Data were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) and when a significant F test was observed, mean separation was performed using the least significant difference (LSD) at the 5% probability level. Production Practices • Seeding rate - 64,000 seed/acre • At planting insecticide/nematicide - Temik 3 lbs/acre • Weed management – Treflan 1 qt/ac PPI, Direx 1 qt/ac PRE, Roundup OTT • PGR – Stance 3 oz/ac at pinhead square, match head square followed by mepiquat chloride 16 oz/ac at full bloom • Irrigation - Full Results and Conclusions The ACC and ACC+Bion had significantly better seedling vigor and greater plant stand compared to the Base seed treatment as well as other slight differences in plant structure and mapping data (Table 1). The greatest lint yield and total crop value was observed in the ACC+Bion treatment (Table 2). No significant differences were observed in fiber properties (Table 3). Acknowledgements: I would like to acknowledge and thank the following for their contributions to this trial: Marshall Pool, Producer; Jordan Pool, Producer; Scott Fuchs, Phytogen; and Curtis Preston, CEA-Ag.

PHY 367 WRF Base M/Bion 2.7 ab 19.7 ab 6.8 a 8.9 a 24.3 a 8.8 a 14.0 ab 17.0 a 8.1 ab 5.2 b PHY 367 WRF ACP/Bion 3.3 a 23.0 a 6.8 a 9.0 a 24.7 a 8.0 b 13.4 b 16.5 a 7.6 b 5.4 ab PHY 367 WRF ACP 3.0 a 22.3 a 6.9 a 8.6 a 24.5 a 8.8 a 13.3 b 16.5 a 7.5 b 4.6 b PHY 367 WRF Base M 2.0 b 18.0 b 6.9 a 8.9 a 25.7 a 8.2 ab 15.0 a 17.8 a 9.1 a 6.7 a

LSD (P=.05) 0.7 3.4 NS NS NS 0.5 1.2 NS 1.0 1.4 CV 13.6 8.31 4.08 5.42 3.21 3.2 4.23 2.96 6.09 12.37 Grand Mean 2.75 20.75 6.84 8.87 24.8 8.44 13.92 16.93 8.08 5.48 Treatment Prob(F) 0.0219 0.0373 0.9421 0.7434 0.2209 0.0291 0.0463 0.0588 0.0266 0.0382 Means followed by same letter do not significantly differ (P=.05, LSD) Mean comparisons performed only when AOV Treatment P(F) is significant at mean comparison OSL. 1FFB first fruiting branch 2NAWF nodes above white flower 3UCB uppermost cracked boll 4UHB uppermost harvestable boll 5NACB nodes above cracked boll

16 Table 2. Harvest results from a LESA irrigated cotton seed treatment trial, Marshall Pool Farm, Muleshoe, TX, 2011. Description Turnout Lint Yield Loan Crop Value Part Rated % lint lbs/ac $/lb $/ac

PHY 367 WRF Base M/Bion 0.338 a 1639 b 0.5372 a 880.46 b PHY 367 WRF ACP/Bion 0.347 a 1780 a 0.5362 a 954.59 a PHY 367 WRF ACP 0.340 a 1617 b 0.5388 a 871.52 b PHY 367 WRF Base M 0.344 a 1597 b 0.5392 a 861.02 b

LSD (P=.05) NS 110 NS 54.37 CV 1.05 3.32 0.64 3.05 Grand Mean 0.34 1658.42 0.54 891.9 Treatment Prob(F) 0.073 0.0233 0.6914 0.0197 Means followed by same letter do not significantly differ (P=.05, LSD) Mean comparisons performed only when AOV Treatment P(F) is significant at mean comparison OSL.

17 Table 3. Fiber properties from a LESA irrigated cotton seed treatment trial, Marshall Pool Farm, Muleshoe, TX, 2011. Description Mic Length Unif. Strength Rd +b Leaf Part Rated units inches % g/tex brightness yellowness units

PHY 367 WRF Base M/Bion 4.17 a 1.11 a 82.8 a 30.3 a 79.7 a 8.4 a 3.3 a PHY 367 WRF ACP/Bion 4.17 a 1.12 a 82.9 a 30.2 a 80.9 a 8.5 a 3.7 a PHY 367 WRF ACP 4.17 a 1.13 a 83.1 a 30.4 a 81.2 a 8.6 a 2.0 a PHY 367 WRF Base M 4.07 a 1.12 a 82.0 a 30.9 a 80.8 a 8.5 a 3.3 a

LSD (P=.05) NS NS NS NS NS NS NS CV 3.48 1.14 0.85 2.62 1.54 2.01 39.35 Grand Mean 4.14 1.12 82.71 30.46 80.67 8.48 3.08 Treatment Prob(F) 0.7838 0.4529 0.3437 0.7321 0.526 0.4754 0.4147 Means followed by same letter do not significantly differ (P=.05, LSD) Mean comparisons performed only when AOV Treatment P(F) is significant at mean comparison OSL.

18 MANAGING THRIPS USING ORGANICALLY APPROVED INSECTICIDES Monti Vandiver Texas AgriLife Extension Service Muleshoe, TX David Kerns Texas AgriLife Research and Extension Center Lubbock, TX Brant Baugh Texas AgriLife Extension Service Lubbock, TX Megha Parajulee Jane Dever Mark Arnold Texas AgriLife Research and Extension Center Lubbock, TX

Abstract

Thrips are a recurring problem to seedling cotton in the Texas High Plains. It has been estimated that thrips impact to the High Plains cotton industry in 2010 was in excess of $6 million. Two replicated trials were conducted in commercial organic cotton fields; one in Bailey County near Muleshoe, TX and the other in Lubbock County near Idalou, TX to evaluate the efficacy of numerous OMRI approved insecticides for thrips suppression in cotton and to determine yield benefits of those insecticide applications. Thirteen OMRI approved foliar insecticides and and untreated check were compared. Thrips pressure was less than normally experienced and variability was high within the trial. Never-the-less Aza-Direct (8oz), Entrust, Bugitol, and Saf-T-Side + Ecotec did provide some suppression of thrips in this trial but residual activity may be limited. Entrust appeared to curb colonization to a greater degree. No treatment provided any benefit in lint yield.

Introduction

Thrips are a recurring problem to seedling cotton in the Texas High Plains. It has been estimated that thrips impact to the High Plains cotton industry in 2010 was in excess of $6 million. In irrigated cotton where thrips populations are historically high (usually areas where there is a significant acreage of wheat) many conventional growers may choose to utilize preventative insecticide seed treatments and/or foliar remedial insecticide treatments to control thrips. One of the most challenging factors facing organic cotton producers in the Texas High Plains is the effective management of early-season thrips in an organic production system. In this study we investigated the efficacy of numerous Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI) approved insecticides for thrips suppression in cotton. Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI) provides organic certifiers, growers, manufacturers, and suppliers an independent review of products intended for use in certified organic production, handling, and processing.

Materials and Methods

Two tests were conducted in commercial organic cotton fields; one in Bailey County near Muleshoe, TX and the other in Lubbock County near Idalou, TX. At the Muleshoe site, ‘FiberMax 958’ was planted 3 May 2011 on 30- inch rows and irrigated using LESA center pivot irrigation system. At the Idalou site, ‘FiberMax 989’ was planted 20 May 2011 on 40-inch rows and irrigated using furrow irrigation. In both tests, plots were 4-rows wide × 100 ft long. Plots were arranged in a randomized complete block design with 4 replicates. Treatments included 13 OMRI approved insecticides and an untreated check (UTC) (Table 1). All insecticides were applied in accordance with their respective label recommendations. Insecticide applications were made weekly, beginning at emergence through the 5 true leaf stage. Treatments were applied in a 10 inch band directly over the top of the crop row with a CO2 pressurized backpack sprayer and hand held boom equipped with hollow cone nozzles. Thrips were counted before treatment as well as 3-4 and 7-8 days after each insecticide application. Five to ten plants/plot were collected, washed in an alcohol solution; adult and immature thrips collected in solution were filtered out and counted under a dissecting stereo scope. Samples collected were also separated by life stage and identified to species. Plant damage ratings, from 1 to 5, were assessed when most plants had reached the 4 true leaf stage. Entire plots were harvested November 11 (Muleshoe) and 19 (Idalou) using an IH cotton stripper harvester equipped with integral small plot

19 scales. Bur cotton grab samples were taken from each plot. The samples were ginned at the Texas A&M Agriculture Experiment Station in Lubbock, Texas. Data were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) and when a significant F test was observed, mean separation was performed using the least significant difference (LSD) at the 5% probability level. “Box and whisker” plots were created using Sigma Plot 10.0; the “whiskers” represent the greatest and least values, the top and bottom of the box are the upper and lower quartiles, the black line within the box is the median and the white line within the box is the mean.

Table 1. Treatments and application detail from 2 organic thrips management trials, Muleshoe and Idalou, TX, 2011. Trade name Common name Rate GPA Untreated ------Repeller Garlic juice 6.4 fl-oz/ac 2.5 Aza-Direct1,2 Azadirachtin 6 fl-oz/ac 2.5 Aza-Direct1,2 Azadirachtin 8 fl-oz/ac 2.5 Aza-Direct + PyGanic 5%1,2 Azadirachtin+ Pyrethrins 6 + 9 fl-oz/ac 2.5 SucraShield1 Sucrose esters 1% v/v 20 Entrust1 Spinosad 2 oz/ac 20 Cedar Gard Cedar oil 1 qt/ac 20 Pest Out1 Cotton seed/Clove/Garlic oils 1 gal/100 gal 20 Pyganic 5%2 Pyrethrins 18 fl-oz/ac 50 Bugitol Capsicum /Mustard oils 96 fl-oz/100 gal 50 Saf-T-Side + Ecotec Petroleum oil + Rosemary/Peppermint oil 1 gal + 1 qt/100 gal 50 Saf-T-Side + PyGanic 5%2 Petroleum oil + Pyrethrins 1 gal + 9 fl-oz/100 gal 50 Surround WP1 Kaolin 25 lb/ac 50 1Ag-Aide added to spray mix at 8 fl-oz/100 gal (adjuvant) 2Constant BUpH-er added to the spray mix at 0.125% v/v (pH = 6)

Results and Discussion

Due to very low thrips pressure and a later planting date at the Idalou site, data were insufficient to make any reasonable conclusions and will not be presented. The later planting date at this site reduced the thrips exposure period and resulted in more vigorous plants compared to the Muleshoe site further diluting the Idalou data.

Environmental conditions at the Muleshoe site were harsh; extremely dry, warmer than normal, and very windy (Figure 1). Thrips pressure, in general, was significantly lower compared to historical observations likely due to harsh conditions and lack of alternative hosts to support and bridge thrips populations until cotton emergence.

High and Low Temperatures in Degrees F, Muleshoe, TX 125 100 75 50 25 5/16/2011 6/8/2011

2011 High 2011 Low Ave High Ave Low

Figure 1. High and low temperatures from 2011 vs. the 30 year long term averages.

20 The cotton was very slow to develop, 11 days were required from emergence until the 1st true leaf stage (5-16 to 5- 27). Thrips numbers slightly exceeded the established action threshold of one thrips per true leaf by 23 May and remained above action threshold through 27 May but no significant difference was observed between any treatment (Table 2).

Table 2. Thrips numbers and action threshold. Date Thrips/ True Leaf1 Threshold2 5/20 .51 1 5/23 1.2 1 5/27 1 1 5/31 .86 2 6/3 1.2 3 6/7 .89 4 6/10 .21 4 6/14 .36 5 1Grand mean thrips per true leaf 2Established action threshold is 1 thrips/true leaf.

Thrips pressure remained below threshold through the rest of the sampling period and no significant treatment differences were present between treatments. Data were further analyzed by calculating seasonal means by treatment and days after treatment (DAT) (Figures 3 and 4).

3-4 DAT 7-8 DAT 3 3

2 2

1 1 Total thrips Total per plant Total thrips Total per plant

0 0

Entrust Bugitol Entrust Bugitol Repeller Pest OutPyganic Repeller Pest OutPyganic Untreated Surround Untreated Surround Sucrashield Cedar Gard Sucrashield Cedar Gard

Aza-DirectAza-Direct 6 fl-oz 8 fl-oz Aza-DirectAza-Direct 6 fl-oz 8 fl-oz Saf-T-Side + Ecotec Saf-T-Side + Ecotec Aza-Direct + Pyganic Saf-T-Side + Pyganic Aza-Direct + Pyganic Saf-T-Side + Pyganic

Figures 3 and 4. Seasonal mean thrips per plant 3-4 and 7-8 DAT

While no statistical differences were observed when comparing all treatments, seemingly consistent numerical trends were noted. In an effort to clarify some data variability, a data analysis was performed which only included treatments which looked to have had a notable consistent numerical benefit based on the box and whisker plots. This analysis indicated a significant difference in seasonal thrips pressure 3-4 DAT (Figure 5). The high rate of Aza- Direct, Entrust, Bugitol, and Saf-T-Side + Ecotec had significantly fewer thrips/plant compared to the UTC. The same analysis showed no differences 7-8 DAT which may indicate very short residual activity of treatments.

Figure 5. Treatment limited seasonal mean thrips per plant 3-4 DAT

The percentage of immature thrips of a population is a good indicator of that population’s ability to colonize; a higher percentage of immatures suggests a higher degree of colonization. Forty seven to forty eight percent (47- 48%) of the thrips population were immatures 3-4 and 7-8 DAT and no treatment affect was noted. When data from all post treatment sampling dates were merged and analyzed, the Entrust treatment had a significantly lower percentage of immature thrips compared to all other treatments (P = 0.10) (Figure 6). Based on this data, Entrust appears to suppress colonization to a greater degree compared to the other treatments.

Figure 6. Seasonal means of the percent immature thrips.

Western flower thrips (WFT) were the dominant species identified but a significant number of onion thrips (OT) were also present (Figure 7).

Figure 7. Thrips species distribution, Muleshoe, TX - 2011.

Damage ratings, where 1 was least damage and 5 was greatest damage, taken at the 4 true leaf stage on 7 June showed Entrust with lowest damage with a rating of 2; Aza-Direct, Pyganic and Bugitol had statistically similar

22 damage ratings (Figures 8 and 9). The reason Saf-T-Side + Ecotec, which tended to have a favorable reduction in thrips, failed to exhibit a reduction in damage is uncertain. Typically, damage ratings must exceed 3 to elicit a yield response.

Figure 8. Plant damage ratings 7 June. Figure 9. Typical cotton plant with 4 true leaves and a damage rating of 2

The trial yielded very well, the mean lint yield across all treatments was 1125 lbs/acre and no differences between treatments were observed (Figure 10).

Figure 10. Lint yield in lbs/acre.

Conclusions

Thrips pressure was less than normally experienced and variability was high within the trial. Never-the-less Aza- Direct (8oz), Entrust, Bugitol, and Saf-T-Side + Ecotec did provide some suppression of thrips in this trial but residual activity may be limited. Entrust appeared to curb colonization to a greater degree. No treatment provided any benefit in lint yield. This trial should be repeated under better environmental conditions which would support higher thrips pressure. Based on this data rate adjustments should also be investigated and efforts should be concentrated on the more promising insecticides.

Acknowledgements

Project sites were provided by Jimmy Wedel, Muleshoe, TX and Steve Neff, Idalou, TX. This project was funded by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture.

Evaluation of Several Miticides in Irrigated Corn Davy Carthel Farm, Friona, TX - 2011

Monti Vandiver Texas Agrilife Extension Service Objective: Evaluation of several registered and unregistered miticides for Banks grass mite (BGM) suppression in tassel stage irrigated corn. Treatments: 1. Oberon @ 4.25 oz/ac 4. Zeal @ 2.0 oz/ac 2. Oberon @ 6 oz/ac 5. Untreated check 3. Onager @ 10 oz/ac Materials and Methods: This test was conducted on a producer’s field located near Friona, TX. The experiment was arranged in a RCB with 4 replications. Plots were 4 rows wide (38 inch centers) by 40 ft long. Miticides were applied 20 Jul with a CO2 pressurized hand-carried backpack sprayer calibrated to deliver 18.8 gpa through hollow cone (TX10) nozzles (2 per row) at 50 psi. An overhead boom with nozzles placed 19 inches apart was used. The Oberon and Onager treatments were mixed with a crop oil concentrate at a rate of 1 pt/acre. A nonionic surfactant was mixed with the Zeal treatment at 0.15% v/v. Pretreatment spider mite counts were taken 19 Jul before treatment (Pretrt) and post-treatment counts taken at 7 and 15 days after treatment (DAT). Spider mites were sampled by collecting 5 leaves per plot. The leaf sampled was either the 4th or 5th leaf up the plant from the lowest bottom leaf with at least 1/3 of the leaf green. Motile mites were counted with the aid of an Optivisor binocular magnifier, model DA10. Data were analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) and when a significant F test was observed, mean separation was performed using the least significant difference (LSD) at the 10% probability level. Results and Conclusions The BGM populations decreased each week in all plots due to heavy natural enemy numbers, primarily six spotted thrips. All miticide treatments numerically reduced mite numbers by 7 DAT but statistical significance was outside parameters (treatment prob(F) =.1788). A significant % control was noted when comparing treated plots to the UTC and ranged from 48- 68%; no difference was observed between miticide treatments. By 15 DAT predatory thrips had reduced mite numbers in the untreated check to near zero and no usable data were collected and will not be presented. No miticide treatment had a significant impact on immature or adult predatory thrips when compared to the UTC. Acknowledgements: We would like to acknowledge and thank the following for their contributions to this trial: Davy Carthel, producer; Russ Perkins, Bayer CropScience; Bill Odle, Valent; and Keith Major, Gowan.

Educational programs conducted by Texas AgriLife Extension Service serve people of all ages regardless of socioeconomic level, race, color, sex, religion, handicap or national origin. The information given herein is for educational purposes only. References to commercial products or trade names is made with the understanding that no discrimination is intended and no endorsement by Texas AgriLife Extension Service is implied.

25 3/26/2012 (SpiderMite(BCS-2011)) AOV Means Table Page 1 of 1 Texas AgriLife Extension Service

Trial ID: Val2012 Protocol ID: Location: Davy Carthel Farm Study Director: Project ID: Investigator: Monti Vandiver Sponsor Contact:

Rating Date 7/19/2011 7/19/2011 7/19/2011 7/19/2011 7/27/2011 7/27/2011 7/27/2011 7/27/2011 7/27/2011 Rating Type Mites 6SThrips ImmThrips Tot Thrips Mites CONTRO 6SThrips ImmThrips Tot Thrips Rating Unit /leaf /leaf /leaf /leaf /leaf %UNCK /leaf /leaf /leaf Trt-Eval Interval -1 DA-A -1 DA-A -1 DA-A -1 DA-A 7 DA-A 7 DA-A 7 DA-A 7 DA-A 7 DA-A Treatment Rate Name Rate Unit 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 UTC 29.10 a 0.25 a 0.25 a 0.5 a 7.15 a 0.0 b 0.65 a 2.10 a 2.8 a Oberon 4.25 fl oz/a 31.75 a 0.40 a 0.20 a 0.6 a 1.90 a 67.7 a 0.45 a 1.20 a 1.7 a COC 1 pt/a Oberon 6 fl oz/a 36.20 a 0.25 a 0.05 a 0.3 a 1.40 a 66.6 a 0.35 a 0.90 a 1.3 a COC 1 pt/a Onager 10 fl oz/a 31.75 a 0.60 a 0.20 a 0.8 a 1.40 a 60.3 a 0.20 a 1.80 a 2.0 a COC 1 pt/a Zeal 2 oz/a 22.75 a 0.30 a 0.25 a 0.6 a 2.30 a 47.7 a 0.45 a 1.95 a 2.4 a NIS 0.15 % v/v LSD (P=.10) 19.681 0.456 0.265 0.55 4.493 29.29 0.417 1.141 1.29 CV 51.53 100.54 110.82 78.69 125.99 47.97 78.73 56.93 50.74 Grand Mean 30.31 0.36 0.19 0.55 2.83 48.46 0.42 1.59 2.01

Replicate F 0.570 1.140 0.286 0.751 1.755 4.906 0.268 3.010 2.334 Replicate Prob(F) 0.6456 0.3724 0.8348 0.5426 0.2092 0.0189 0.8470 0.0722 0.1255 Treatment F 0.399 0.664 0.609 0.694 1.880 5.898 0.988 1.296 1.352 Treatment Prob(F) 0.8054 0.6288 0.6639 0.6104 0.1788 0.0073 0.4507 0.3258 0.3072 Rating Type CONTRO = control / burndown or knockdown Rating Unit %UNCK = percent of untreated check ARM Action Codes T1 = [C2]+[C3] THT[1,5] = Henderson-Tilton([1],[5]) T2 = [C7]+[C8]

Means followed by same letter do not significantly differ (P=.10, LSD) Mean comparisons performed only when AOV Treatment P(F) is significant at mean comparison OSL.

Roundup Ready Bt Cotton Variety Trial Marshall Pool Farm, Muleshoe, TX - 2011

Monti Vandiver Texas Agrilife Extension Service

Objective: To evaluate and compare 5 Roundup Ready Bt cotton varieties in a conventional tillage irrigated production system. Varieties evaluated in the trial were DP0912B2RF, PHY367WRF, PHY375WRF, PHY499WRF, and ST 4288 B2F. Materials and Methods: This test was conducted in a commercial cotton field near Lariat, TX and was irrigated using pivot sprinkler irrigation system. The test was a RCB design with 3 replications. Plots were 6- 30 inch rows wide × 2500 ft in length. Treatments included 5 different cotton cultivars with the similar seed treatment packages planted May 5. Plant population and structure data were collected during the growing season. Whole plots were machine harvested using a JD 7460 harvester with a field cleaner November 1. Gin turnouts for lint and seed were determined from grab samples taken by plot at harvest and ginned at the University of Missouri Extension Center at Portageville. Lint samples were submitted to the Texas Tech University - Fiber and Biopolymer Research Institute for HVI analysis, and USDA Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) loan values were determined for each variety by plot. Data were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) and when a significant F test was observed, mean separation was performed using the least significant difference (LSD) at the 5% probability level. Production Practices • Seeding rate - 64,000 seed/acre • At planting insecticide - Temik 3 lbs/acre • Weed management – Treflan 1 qt/ac PPI, Direx 1 qt/ac PRE, Roundup OTT • PGR – Stance 3 oz/ac at pinhead square, match head square followed by mepiquat chloride 16 oz/ac at full bloom • Minimal verticillium wilt • Irrigation - Full Results and Conclusions PHY 499 and ST 4288 higher seedling vigor ratings compared to other varieties (Table 1). Slight differences were observed in the location of the first fruiting branch, and total nodes/plant. PHY 499 was the tallest variety in the trial, 27 inches at cutout. Top lint yields and total crop value/acre were observed in the PHY 499, DP 0912 and PHY 375 varieties (Table 2). Slight differences were observed in micronaire, length and color but did not result in significantly different loan values (Table 3). PHY 499 is a longer season variety than normally planted in the Northwest Plains of Texas, more data is needed to determine its suitability in a short season. Acknowledgements: I would like to acknowledge and thank the following for their contributions to this trial: Marshall Pool, Producer; Jordan Pool, Producer; Scott Fuchs, Phytogen; and Curtis Preston, CEA-Ag.

Trade names of commercial products used in this report is included only for better understanding and clarity. Reference to commercial products or trade names is made with the understanding that no discrimination is intended and no endorsement by Texas AgriLife Extension Service and the Texas A&M University System is implied. Readers should realize that results from one experiment do not represent 27conclusive evidence that the same response would occur where conditions vary. Table 1. Vigor ratinmgs, plant stand and plant mapping results from a LESA irrigated cotton variety trial, Marshall Pool Farm, Muleshoe, TX, 2011. g Description Vigor plants/10' FFB1 NAWF2 Height UCB3 UHB4 Total Nodes Nodes NACB5 Part Rated rating plants node nodes inches node node nodes nodes nodes Rating Date 6/6/2011 6/6/2011 7/22/2011 8/12/2011 DP 0912 B2RF 3 b 22 a 7.0 bc 8.5 a 25.2 b 8.9 a 14.0 a 17.4 bc 8.0 a 5.1 a PHY 367 WRF 3 b 22 a 6.9 c 8.6 a 24.5 b 8.8 a 13.3 a 16.5 c 7.5 a 4.6 a PHY 375 WRF 3 b 19 a 7.1 bc 9.2 a 26.1 ab 9.6 a 15.0 a 18.0 ab 8.9 a 5.4 a PHY 499 WRF 4 a 23 a 7.8 a 8.7 a 27.0 a 9.3 a 15.3 a 18.5 a 8.5 a 6.0 a ST 4288 B2F 3.7 a 24 a 7.2 b 8.6 a 24.6 b 8.9 a 14.9 a 18.5 a 8.7 a 6.0 a

LSD (P=.05) 0.49 NS 0.34 NS 1.534 NS NS 0.936 NS NS CV 7.75 12.6 2.49 4.79 3.2 4.66 5.24 2.8 8.81 20.9 Grand Mean 3.33 22.07 7.2 8.72 25.47 9.1 14.5 17.79 8.3 5.4 Treatment Prob(F) 0.0033 0.4077 0.0018 0.3558 0.0248 0.1952 0.0655 0.0051 0.2229 0.5087 Means followed by same letter do not significantly differ (P=.05, LSD) Mean comparisons performed only when AOV Treatment P(F) is significant at mean comparison OSL. 1FFB first fruiting branch 2NAWF nodes above white flower 3UCB uppermost cracked boll 4UHB uppermost harvestable boll 5NACB nodes above cracked boll

28 Table 2. Harvest results from a LESA irrigated cotton variety trial, Marshall Pool Farm, Muleshoe, TX, 2011. Description Turnout Lint Yield Loan Crop Value Part Rated % lint lbs/ac $/lb $/ac DP 0912 B2RF 0.359 a 1754 a 0.5350 a 938.26 ab PHY 367 WRF 0.340 b 1617 bc 0.5388 a 871.52 bc PHY 375 WRF 0.356 a 1719 ab 0.5357 a 920.52 ab PHY 499 WRF 0.354 a 1782 a 0.5400 a 962.21 a ST 4288 B2F 0.332 b 1534 c 0.5385 a 826.23 c

LSD (P=.05) 0.01269 133.56 NS 69.69 CV 1.94 4.22 0.53 4.1 Grand Mean 0.35 1681.27 0.54 903.75 Treatment Prob(F) 0.0054 0.0133 0.2363 0.0123 Means followed by same letter do not significantly differ (P=.05, LSD) Mean comparisons performed only when AOV Treatment P(F) is significant at mean comparison OSL.

29 Table 3. Fiber property results from a LESA irrigated cotton variety trial, Marshall Pool Farm, Muleshoe, TX, 2011. Description Mic Length Unif. Strength Rd +b Leaf Part Rated units inches % g/tex brightness yellowness units DP 0912 B2RF 4.5 a 1.10 c 82.7 a 31.2 a 81.4 a 8.1 b 3.7 a PHY 367 WRF 4.2 b 1.13 ab 83.1 a 30.4 a 81.2 a 8.6 a 2.0 b PHY 375 WRF 4.2 b 1.11 bc 82.6 a 29.6 a 81.8 a 8.3 ab 3.3 a PHY 499 WRF 4.2 b 1.13 ab 83.0 a 31.9 a 80.9 a 8.1 b 4.3 a ST 4288 B2F 4.4 ab 1.14 a 82.8 a 30.5 a 81.6 a 8.2 b 3.3 a

LSD (P=.05) 0.236 0.0214 NS NS NS 0.274 1.14 CV 2.93 1.02 0.79 3.47 0.46 1.76 18.17 Grand Mean 4.27 1.12 82.86 30.71 81.37 8.29 3.33 Treatment Prob(F) 0.0404 0.0139 0.8456 0.2049 0.1143 0.0217 0.0163 Means followed by same letter do not significantly differ (P=.05, LSD) Mean comparisons performed only when AOV Treatment P(F) is significant at mean comparison OSL.

Evaluation of Several Miticides in Irrigated Corn Jedon Gallman Farm, Friona, TX - 2011

Monti Vandiver Texas Agrilife Extension Service Objective: Evaluation of several registered and unregistered miticides for Banks grass mite (BGM) suppression in tassel stage irrigated corn. Treatments: 1. Fenpyroximate @ 16 oz/ac 4. Oberon @ 4.25 oz/ac 7. Comite II @ 48 oz/ac 2. Fenpyroximate @ 24 oz/ac 5. Onager @ 10 oz/ac 8. Untreated check 3. Fenpyroximate @ 32 oz/ac 6. Zeal @ 2.0 oz/ac

Materials and Methods: This test was conducted on a producer’s field located near Hub, TX. The experiment was arranged in a RCB with 4 replications. Plots were 4 rows wide (36 inch centers) by 40 ft long. Miticides were applied 21 Jul with a CO2 pressurized hand-carried backpack sprayer calibrated to deliver 10 gpa through hollow cone (TX6) nozzles (2 per row) at 40 psi. An overhead boom with nozzles placed 19 inches apart was used. The Oberon and Onager treatments were mixed with a crop oil concentrate at a rate of 1 pt/acre. A nonionic surfactant was mixed with the Fenpyroximate treatments at 0.25% v/v and with Zeal treatments at 0.15% v/v. Pretreatment spider mite counts were taken 20 Jul before treatment (Pretrt) and post-treatment counts taken at 7, 14 and 21 days after treatment (DAT). Spider mites were sampled by collecting 5 leaves per plot. The leaf sampled was either the 4th or 5th leaf up the plant from the lowest bottom leaf with at least 1/3 of the leaf green. Motile mites on a leaf were counted with the aid of an Optivisor binocular magnifier, model DA10. Data were analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) and when a significant F test was observed, mean separation was performed using the least significant difference (LSD) at the 10% probability level. Results and Conclusions The BGM populations decreased each week in all plots due to heavy natural enemy numbers, primarily six spotted thrips. All miticide treatments significantly reduced mite infestations by 7 DAT and none differed significantly from each other but the greatest level % control was observed in the high rate of Fenpyroximate, Oberon, Onager, and Zeal treatments. By 14 DAT predatory thrips had reduced mite numbers in the untreated check to near zero. No usable data were collected at 14 and 21 DAT and will not be presented. No miticide treatment had a significant impact on immature or adult predatory thrips when compared to the UTC. Acknowledgements: We would like to acknowledge and thank the following for their contributions to this trial: Jedon Gallman, producer; Russ Perkins, Bayer CropScience; Bill Odle, Valent; Keith Major, Gowan; and Scott Ludwig, Nichino.

31 3/26/2012 (SpiderMite(Nichino-2011)) AOV Means Table Page 1 of 1 Texas AgriLife Extension Service

Trial ID: Port2011 Protocol ID: Location: Jedon Gallman Farm Study Director: Project ID: Investigator: Monti Vandiver Sponsor Contact:

Rating Date 7/20/2011 7/20/2011 7/20/2011 7/20/2011 7/28/2011 7/28/2011 7/28/2011 7/28/2011 7/28/2011 Rating Type Mites 6SThrips ImmThrips Tot Thrips Mites CONTRO 6SThrips ImmThrips Tot Thrips Rating Unit /leaf /leaf /leaf /leaf /leaf %UNCK /leaf /leaf /leaf Trt-Eval Interval 0 DA-A -1 DA-A -1 DA-A -1 DA-A 7 DA-A 7 DA-A 7 DA-A 7 DA-A 7 DA-A Treatment Rate Name Rate Unit 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 UTC 81.10 a 0.30 a 0.40 a 0.7 a 2.55 a 0.0 c 0.20 a 2.05 bc 2.3 bc Fenpyroximate 16 oz/a 41.70 a 0.35 a 0.50 a 0.9 a 0.85 b 39.3 b 0.35 a 1.75 bc 2.1 bc NIS 0.25 % v/v Fenpyroximate 24 oz/a 33.90 a 0.50 a 0.40 a 0.9 a 0.85 b 39.8 b 0.10 a 1.40 bc 1.5 bc NIS 0.25 % v/v Fenpyroximate 32 oz/a 57.55 a 0.50 a 0.50 a 1.0 a 0.50 b 74.5 a 0.20 a 2.80 ab 3.0 ab NIS 0.25 % v/v Comite II 48 fl oz/a 51.50 a 0.30 a 0.65 a 1.0 a 1.30 b 36.9 b 0.60 a 3.75 a 4.4 a Oberon 4.25 fl oz/a 60.95 a 0.25 a 0.35 a 0.6 a 0.60 b 69.6 ab 0.20 a 1.00 c 1.2 c COC 1 pt/a Onager 10 fl oz/a 36.45 a 0.35 a 0.40 a 0.8 a 1.20 b 46.0 ab 0.50 a 1.70 bc 2.2 bc COC 1 pt/a Zeal 2 oz/a 30.65 a 0.35 a 0.35 a 0.7 a 0.45 b 43.1 ab 0.35 a 2.55 ab 2.9 ab NIS 0.15 % v/v LSD (P=.10) 40.795 0.494 0.442 0.69 0.902 33.93 0.295 1.470 1.55 CV 68.1 111.89 81.94 69.83 71.44 63.87 77.6 56.85 52.4 Grand Mean 49.23 0.36 0.44 0.81 1.04 43.65 0.31 2.13 2.44

Replicate F 1.283 0.375 1.094 0.120 1.423 5.619 2.862 0.235 0.377 Replicate Prob(F) 0.3062 0.7720 0.3737 0.9475 0.2641 0.0055 0.0612 0.8708 0.7705 Treatment F 1.031 0.204 0.312 0.247 3.411 2.660 1.980 2.112 2.383 Treatment Prob(F) 0.4393 0.9809 0.9404 0.9675 0.0136 0.0389 0.1068 0.0874 0.0583 Rating Type CONTRO = control / burndown or knockdown Rating Unit %UNCK = percent of untreated check ARM Action Codes T3 = [C2]+[C3] THT[1,5] = Henderson-Tilton([1],[5]) T4 = [C7]+[C8]

Means followed by same letter do not significantly differ (P=.10, LSD) Mean comparisons performed only when AOV Treatment P(F) is significant at mean comparison OSL.

Evaluation of Preventative Treatments and Foliar Over Sprays for Control of Thrips in Cotton, 2011

Cooperator: James Brown, Producer

David Kerns, Monti Vandiver and Bo Kesey Extension Entomologist-Cotton, CEA-IPM Bailey/Parmer Counties and Extension Program Specialist-Cotton

Bailey County

Summary:

The thrips population was low in this study so little useful information was generated. Essentially, Temik, Aeris and Avicta all performed well under low thrips pressure and foliar over sprays were unnecessary. The objective of this study was to determine the benefits of using foliar over sprays behind preventative applications of Temik, Aeris and Avicta Complete Cotton. Interestingly, at 28 days after emergence, adult thrips seemed to be more prevalent where the over sprays occurred. Perhaps adult thrips prefer to colonize where other thrips are not present.

Objective:

The objective of this study was to determine the benefits of using foliar over sprays behind preventative applications of Temik, Aeris and Avicta Complete Cotton.

Materials and Methods:

This test was conducted in a commercial cotton field near Muleshoe, TX. The field was planted on 10 May on 40-inch rows, and irrigated using pivot sprinkler irrigation. The experimental design was a 4 x 4 factorial with 4 replicates. Plots were 4-rows wide × 100 ft in length.

The main factors were the preventative treatments which included: 1) untreated, 2) Aeris 3) Avicta Complete Cotton and 3) Temik at 5 lbs-product/acre. Aeris and Avicta CC are seed treatments, while Temik was applied in-furrow at planting at approximately 1.5-inches in depth.

The secondary factors were applications of foliar applied Orthene 97 at 3.0 oz- product/acre at: 1) untreated, 2) 1-2 true leaves (TL) stage, 3) 3-4 TL stage and 4) 1-2 and 3-4 TL stages. Foliar sprays were applied on a 50% band with a CO2 pressurized hand-boom sprayer calibrated to deliver 10 gpa through Teejet XR8003VS extended range flat spray tip nozzles (1 per row) at 30 psi.

Beginning at the cotyledon stage, 5 plants per plot were collected into 1-pt jars containing 50% isopropyl alcohol. These samples were filtered and the WFT were counted using a stereo microscope. In addition to counting thrips, damage was assessed by subjectively rating each plot on a 1 to 5 scale where 1 = no damage, and 5 = extensive damage.

The middle two rows of each plot was harvested on 25 Oct using a mechanized cottons tripper with an integrated scale. Grab samples were ginned at the Texas AgriLife Research and Extension Center in Lubbock, TX to determine lint turnout values. Data were analyzed with ANOVA, and means were separated using an F-protected LSD (P ≤ 0.05).

Results and Discussion:

Because of very cool conditions post planting, this test was very slow to emerge. Thrips at this location were comprised on approximately 80% WFT and 20% OT. During the first two weeks post crop emergence, the thrips populations in this test were very low and there were no significant differences among treatments for thrips or damage, and no interactions were detected (Table 1).

By 10 Jun, 21 DAE, conditions had become hot and the plants were developing quickly (Table 2). At this time the thrips population was still low, averaging about 1 thrips per plant and no significant differences were detected among treatments. At 28 DAE, on 17 Jun, the thrips population was still well below threshold; however significant interactions were detected for adult and total thrips. Usually by 28 DAE, none of the preventive at-planting treatments maintain activity when the thrips population is predominately WFTs. Thus, the significance of this interaction is not clear and appears to lack biological significance (Table 3). However, it was interesting that adult thrips seemed to be more prevalent where the over sprays occurred. Perhaps adult thrips prefer to colonize where other thrips are not present.

None of the preventive (Factor A) treatments benefitted from any of the foliar over sprays of Orthene (Factor B). At no time was damage due to thrips high in this test, although plots that received Aeris, Avicta or Temik, regardless of the foliar overspray, did have slightly less damage than the untreated (Table 2). At 28 DAE, damage in the untreated had a mean rating of 2.25 which should not result in a reduction in yield. Consequently, there were no differences among treatments in yield.

Acknowledgments:

Appreciation is expressed to National Cotton Council and the Plains Cotton Improvement Program for financial support of this project.

Disclaimer Clause:

Trade names of commercial products used in this report are included only for better understanding and clarity. Reference to commercial products or trade names is made with the understanding that no discrimination is intended and no endorsement by the Texas A&M University System is implied. Readers should realize that results from one experiment do not represent conclusive evidence that the same response would occur where conditions vary.

35 Table 1.

27 May 3 Jun cotyledon stage 1 true leaves stage (7 DAE & pre-foliar)a (14 DAE & pre-foliar)a No. thrips per 5 plants Damage No. thrips per 5 plants Damage Treatment/ rating rating formualtionc adults immatures total (1-5) adults immatures total (1-5) Factor A Temik 15G 0.00 a 0.00 a 0.00 a 1.00 a 0.19 a 0.00 a 0.19 a 1.00 a Avicta CC 0.00 a 0.00 a 0.00 a 1.00 a 0.09 a 0.00 a 0.06 a 1.00 a Aeris 0.00 a 0.00 a 0.00 a 1.00 a 0.13 a 0.00 a 0.13 a 1.00 a Untreated 0.13 a 0.00 a 0.13 a 1.00 a 0.06 a 0.06 a 0.13 a 1.13 a

Factor B 1-2 TL 0.06 a 0.00 a 0.06 a 1.00 a 0.06 a 0.06 a 0.19 a 1.00 a 3-4 TL 0.00 a 0.00 a 0.00 a 1.00 a 0.13 a 0.00 a 0.13 a 1.00 a 1-2 & 3-4 TL 0.00 a 0.00 a 0.00 a 1.00 a 0.13 a 0.00 a 0.13 a 1.00 a Untreated 0.06 a 0.00 a 0.06 a 1.00 a 0.13 a 0.00 a 0.13 a 1.00 a

A*B interaction ns ns ns ns ns ns ns ns Means in a column within a factor followed by the same letter are not significantly different based on an F protected LSD (P ≥ 0.05). aDAE = days after emergence. bAvicta Complete Cotton is a mixture of Avicta 500FS at 0.15 mg(AI)/seed, Cruiser 5FS at 0.34 mg(AI)/seed, and Dynasty CST 125FS at 0.03 mg(AI)/seed; Aeris is a mixture of Gaucho Grande 5FS at 0.375 mg(AI)/seed and thiodicarb at 0.375 mg(AI)/seed; Avicta CC and Aeris were applied as a seed treatments; Temik was applied in-furrow at planting at 5 lbs-product per acre; foliar treatments consisted of Orthene 97 at 3 oz-product per acre.

36 Table 2.

10 Jun 17 Jun 2-3 true leaves stage 5 true leaves stage (21 DAE & 7 DAAP1)a (28 DAE & 7 DAAP2)a No. thrips per 5 plants Damage No. thrips per 5 plants Damage Yield Oct Treatment/ rating rating 25 formualtionb adults immatures total (1-5) adults immatures total (1-5) (lbs-lint/ac) Factor A Temik 15G 4.75 a 0.50 a 5.25 a 1.00 a 9.44 0.00 a 9.44 1.00 b 1951.87 a Avicta CC 3.69 a 0.38 a 4.06 a 1.00 a 7.69 0.31 a 8.00 1.00 b 1863.81 a Aeris 3.63 a 0.31 a 3.94 a 1.00 a 7.63 0.13 a 7.75 1.06 b 1834.04 a Untreated 5.88 a 0.94 a 6.81 a 1.00 a 9.81 0.38 a 10.19 2.25 a 1999.59 a

Factor B 1-2 TL 3.69 a 0.13 a 3.81 a 1.00 a 10.69 0.31 a 11.00 1.38 a 1867.19 a 3-4 TL 4.50 a 0.94 a 5.44 a 1.00 a 8.06 0.06 a 8.13 1.38 a 1881.58 a 1-2 & 3-4 TL 5.88 a 0.19 a 6.06 a 1.00 a 10.44 0.25 a 10.69 1.25 a 1951.16 a Untreated 3.88 a 0.88 a 4.75 a 1.00 a 5.38 0.19 a 5.56 1.31 a 1949.39 a

A*B interaction ns ns ns ns P = 0.004c ns P = 0.003c ns ns Means in a column within a factor followed by the same letter are not significantly different based on an F protected LSD (P ≥ 0.05). aDAP = days after planting; DAAP = days after foliar application. bAvicta Complete Cotton is a mixture of Avicta 500FS at 0.15 mg(AI)/seed, Cruiser 5FS at 0.34 mg(AI)/seed, and Dynasty CST 125FS at 0.03 mg(AI)/seed; Aeris is a mixture of Gaucho Grande 5FS at 0.375 mg(AI)/seed and thiodicarb at 0.375 mg(AI)/seed; Avicta CC and Aeris were applied as a seed treatments; Temik was applied in-furrow at planting at 5 lbs-product per acre; foliar treatments consisted of Orthene 97 at 3 oz- product per acre. cSee Table 3 for interaction.

Table 3. 17 Jun 5 true leaves stage (28 DAE & 7 DAAP2)a Treatment/formualtionc No. thrips per 5 plants

Factor A Factor B adults total

Untreated 7.50 cde 7.50 cde

1-2 TL 2.75 d 2.75 de Temik 15G 3-4 TL 8.50 bcd 8.50 cde

1-2 & 3-4 TL 19.00 a 19.00 a

Untreated 0.50 e 0.75 e

1-2 TL 13.75 abc 14.25 abc Avicta CC 3-4 TL 7.25 cd 7.50 cde

1-2 & 3-4 TL 6.25 cd 9.50 bcd

Untreated 9.25 bcd 9.50 bcd 1-2 TL 9.50 bcd 9.50 bcd Aeris 3-4 TL 7.25 cd 7.25 cde 1-2 & 3-4 TL 4.50 c 4.75 de Untreated 4.25 d 4.50 de 1-2 TL 16.75 ab 17.50 ab Untreated 3-4 TL 9.25 bcd 9.25 bcd 1-2 & 3-4 TL 9.00 bcd 9.50 bcd Means in a column within a factor followed by the same letter are not significantly different based on an F protected LSD (P ≥ 0.05). a DAE = days after planting; DAAP = days after foliar application. b Avicta Complete Cotton is a mixture of Avicta 500FS at 0.15 mg(AI)/seed, Cruiser 5FS at 0.34 mg(AI)/seed, and Dynasty CST 125FS at 0.03 mg(AI)/seed; Aeris is a mixture of Gaucho Grande 5FS at 0.375 mg(AI)/seed and thiodicarb at 0.375 mg(AI)/seed; Avicta CC and Aeris were applied as a seed treatments; Temik was applied in-furrow at planting at 5 lbs-product per acre; foliar treatments consisted of Orthene 97 at 3 oz- product per acre.

Evaluation of Several Fungicides in Irrigated Corn Terry Parham Farm, Muleshoe, TX - 2011

Monti Vandiver and Jason Woodward Texas Agrilife Extension Service Objective: Evaluation of several fungicides for disease suppression, primarily grey leaf spot (GLS), in tassel stage irrigated corn. Treatments: 1. Headline SC @ 6 oz/ac 5. Stratego YLD @ 4 oz/ac 1. Headline AMP @ 10 oz/ac 6. Evito @ 2 oz/ac 2. Priaxor @ 4 oz/ac 7. Untreated Check 3. Quilt Ecel @ 10.5 oz/ac Materials and Methods: This test was conducted on a producer’s field located near Muleshoe, TX; the experimental area was planted to a corn hybrid susceptible to GLS. The experiment was arranged in a RCB with 4 replications. Plots were 4 rows wide (30 inch centers) by 50 ft long. Fungicides were applied at tassel with a CO2 pressurized backpack sprayer calibrated to deliver 15.8 gpa through TwinJet® Twin Flat Spray Tips (TJ8002VS) nozzles at 60 psi. An overhead boom with nozzles placed 30 inches apart was used. A nonionic surfactant was mixed with the fungicides at 0.25% v/v. No GLS lesions were apparent at application. The ear leaf was sampled at the full dent stage on 5 plants per plot and the number and weighted value of GLS lesions were estimated. The weighted value was based on the number and size of GLS lesions where small (<0.5 in), medium (0.5-1.0 in) and large (>1.0 in) lesions were assigned a a value of 1,2 or 3 respectively (i.e. i.e. 0 small, 28 medium and 20 large lesions resulted in a weighted value of 116). Both silage an grain yield data were collected. Data were analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) and when a significant F test was observed, mean separation was performed using Fischers' Protected least significant difference test (P=0.05). Results and Conclusions The fungicide treatments numerically reduced the on the ear leaf but no statistical significance was observed. No difference was present in either wet weight or dry matter silage yields. Grain yields were highly variable ranging from 179 to 214 bu/ac but no significant difference was observed between treatments and did not correspond to the number and/or weighted value of GLS lesions. Acknowledgements: We would like to acknowledge and thank the following for their contributions to this trial: Terry Parham, producer; Jarman Seed, provided hybrid corn seed; and BASF.

Table 1. Silage and grain yield and disease ratings from a replicated fungicide trial in corn, Terry Parham Farm, Muleshoe, TX, 2011. Silage weights (lb/plot) Gray leaf spot Yield Treatment Rate1 Wet matter2 Dry matter2 Lesions per leaf3 Weighted value4 (bu/A) Non-treated control --- 10.9 4.4 13.7 225.3 184.5 Headline SC 6.0 11.1 4.6 7.1 63.5 213.5 Headline AMP 10.0 10.9 4.5 7.6 95.8 208.5 Priaxor 4.0 11.0 4.4 7.4 95.0 176.9 Quilt Xcel 10.5 11.2 4.6 9.0 106.8 181.8 Stratego YLD 4.0 10.6 4.5 2.5 27.3 178.6 Evito 2.0 10.2 4.3 11.3 157.3 190.8 LSD5 ns ns ns ns ns ns 1 Rates included NIS at 0.25%. 2Data are the sum of five plants per plot. 3Average number of GLS lesions per ear leaf. N=5 leaves per treatment per plot. 4 A weighted value was assigned based on the size and number of the lesions. Small (<0.5 in), Medium (0.5-1.0 in) and Large (>1.0 in) were assigned a value of 1, 2 and 3, respectively. (i.e. 0 small, 28 medium and 20 large lesions resulted in a weighted value of 116). 5 LSD = Fischers' Protected least significant difference test (P =0.05).

40 DECLARE AND SUFOXAFLOR INSECTICIDES FOR CONTROL OF GREENBUGS

IN WINTER WHEAT – 2011

E. D. Bynum

Texas AgriLife Research and Extension Center

6500 Amarillo Blvd., West

Amarillo, TX 79106

Phone: 806-677-5612

Fax: 806-677-5644

E-mail: [email protected]

M. Vandiver

E-mail: [email protected]

Greenbug (GB); Schizaphis graminum (Rodani)

The trial was conducted in a sprinkler pivot irrigated wheat field near Friona, TX with treatments

(Table 1) being applied on 11 Apr. Applications were made with a hand-carried CO2 pressurized boom calibrated to spray 14.5 gpa and held ca. 20 in. above the wheat. There were 5

(XR8002VS) nozzles on 20 in. centers which treated the middle 8 ft of each 11 ft wide plot. The experiment was arranged in a RCB with 4 replications. Plots were 11 ft wide by 35 ft long. The

GB density (nymphs and adults) was counted from each of two linear ft drill row per plot.

Counts were taken three days before treatment 8 Apr (Pre-trt) and at 14 Apr (3 DAT), 18 Apr (7

DAT), and 22 Apr (11 DAT) days after treatment (DAT). Data were analyzed using PROC

41 GLM analysis of variance (SAS, 2009) and means were separated with Tukey’s studentized

range test (P=0.10).

On 8 April (pretreatment count), GB averaged 39.76 per linear row ft across all treatments and no statistical differences among treatments. At each of the 3, 7, and 11 DAT counts, all treatments had fewer GB than the untreated and all of the insecticide treatments did not differ

statistically. However, at 3 DAT three of four sulfoxaflor treatments and one Declare treatment

had statistically similar numbers of GB as the untreated. And, at 7 DAT, both of the Declare

treatments without the mixture with Nufos had statistically similar GB numbers as the untreated.

Then by 11 DAT none of the insecticide treatments were statistically similar to the untreated.

This may indicate the insecticide efficacy of both Declare and sulfoxaflor is initially slower than

the applications of Declare plus Nufos, Lorsban Advanced, and Warrior II. The handling

properties of sulfoxaflor was good and phytotoxicity was not detected.

Table 1.

Mean GB / Linear Row Ft Drill Row

Treatment / Rate, lb Pre-trt 3 DAT 7 DAT 11 DAT formulation AI /acre

Declare 1.25CS 0.0125 32.0 a 1.0 b 7.8 ab 5.13 b

Declare 1.25CS 0.015 50.9 a 4.3 ab 7.5 ab 0.75 b

Declare 1.25CS+ 0.01 + 36.5 a 2.3 b 5.0 b 0.5 b Nufos 4E 0.188

Sulfoxaflor 50WG 0.011 41.3 a 10.2 ab 6.5 b 1.5 b

Sulfoxaflor 50WG 0.016 36.3 a 9.8 ab 6.1 b 2.75 b

Sulfoxaflor 50WG 0.022 34.9 a 3.67 b 4.1 b 0.63 b

Sulfoxaflor 50WG 0.033 42.6 a 6.3 ab 3.6 b 0.5 b

Lorsban Advance 0.25 32.0 a 1.0 b 0.8 b 1.13 b

Warrior II 0.031 63.0 a 2.8 b 0.4 b 2.5 b

Untreated 28.1 a 13.5 a 15.9 a 12.25 a

P> F (Anova) 0.1949 0.0002 <0.0001 <0.0001 aMeans in a column followed by the same letter are not significantly different according to Tukey’s studentized range test (P=0.10, SAS Institute 2009).

43 Part II. Materials Tested for Arthropod Management

Brand Form- Common Composition Manufacturer

Name ulation Name

Declare 1.25 CSgamma- 3-(2-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoro-1- Cheminova, Inc.

cyhalothrin propenyl)-2,2-dimethyl,cyano(3- Research

phenoxyphenyl) methyl ester Triangle Park,

Nufos 4E chlorpyrifos O,O-diethyl-O-(3,5,6-trichloro-2- Cheminova, Inc.

pyridinyl) phosphorothioate Research

Triangle Park,

50WG sulfoxaflor N-[methyloxido[1-[6- Dow

(trifluoromethyl)-3- AgroSciences,

pyridinyl]ethyl]-γ4- LLC

sulfanylidene]cyanamide Indianapolis, IN

Lorsban 3.755 chlorpyrifos O,O-diethyl-O-(3,5,6-trichloro-2- Dow

Advanced pyridinyl) phosphorothioate AgroSciences,

LLC

Indianapolis, IN

Warrior II 2.08 CS Lambda- [1(S*),3 (Z)]-(±)-cyano-(3- Syngenta Crop

cyhalothrin phenoxyphenyl)methyl-3-(2- Protection, Inc.

chloro-3,3,3-trifluoro-1-propenyl)- Greensboro, NC

2,2-

dimethylcyclopropanecarboxylate

Glytol Cotton Variety Trial Daniel Schacher Farm, Muleshoe, TX - 2011

Monti Vandiver Texas Agrilife Extension Service

Objective: To evaluate and compare 4 Glytol cotton varieties to a standard Roundup Ready variety in a strip tilled irrigated production system. Varieties evaluated in the trial were FM 2011GT, FM 9101GT, FM 9103GT, FM 9250GL and FM 9058F. Materials and Methods: This test was conducted in a commercial cotton field near Muleshoe, TX and was irrigated using pivot sprinkler irrigation system. The test was a RCB design with 4 replications. Plots were 6- 30 inch rows wide × 2500 ft in length. Treatments included 5 different cotton cultivars with the similar seed treatment packages planted May 11. Plant population and structure data were collected during the growing season. Whole plots were machine harvested using a JD 7460 harvester with a field cleaner November 7. Gin turnouts for lint and seed were determined from grab samples taken by plot at harvest and ginned at the Bayer CropScience gin lab. Lint samples were submitted to the Texas Tech University - Fiber and Biopolymer Research Institute for HVI analysis, and USDA Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) loan values were determined for each variety by plot. Data were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) and when a significant F test was observed, mean separation was performed using the least significant difference (LSD) at the 5% probability level. Production Practices  Seeding rate - 56,000 seed/acre  At planting insecticide – Aeris seed treatment  Weed management –Roundup OTT, Roundup + Dual OTT, Roundup OTT  Harvest aid – ethephon + Folex + ET  Irrigation – limited  Fertility – 100 lbs/ac N, 30 lbs/ac P2O5, 20 lbs/ac S Results and Conclusions Slight differences were observed in plant stand, early season vigor at 4-6 true leaves and in early bloom plant height (Table 1). FM 2011 exhibited the greatest lint yield even though it was the shortest variety in the trial. (Table 2). All varieties had similar numbers of bolls/12 feet and percent open bolls October 12. FM 2011 had the best storm proof rating of 7.8 vs. the trial average of 6.9. Mean fiber property values are presented in Table 3, plot samples were combined and classed by variety and could not be analyzed. Acknowledgements: I would like to acknowledge and thank the following for their contributions to this trial: Marshall Pool, Producer; Jordan Pool, Producer; Daniel Olivier, Bayer CropScience; and Curtis Preston, CEA-Ag.

FM 2011GT 4.3 a 21.5 ab 8.0 a 7.0 a 6.3 a 15.3 a 16.2 c FM 9058F 4.5 a 22.5 a 7.0 bc 7.9 a 6.5 a 15.9 a 16.5 bc FM 9101GT 4.0 a 19.0 b 6.8 c 7.7 a 6.3 a 15.5 a 17.0 ab FM 9103GT 4.5 a 22.8 a 7.5 ab 6.9 a 6.6 a 15.0 a 17.5 a FM 9250GL 4.5 a 24.3 a 8.0 a 7.6 a 6.6 a 15.3 a 16.9 ab

LSD (P=.05) NS 3.17 0.63 NS NS NS 0.703 CV 7.27 9.34 5.48 8.82 7.84 3.06 2.72 Grand Mean 4.35 22 7.45 7.38 6.43 15.39 16.8 Treatment Prob(F) 0.1586 0.0383 0.0025 0.2009 0.7745 0.1523 0.0135 Means followed by same letter do not significantly differ (P=.05, LSD) Mean comparisons performed only when AOV Treatment P(F) is significant at mean comparison OSL. NAWF = nodes above white flower SDVIGOR = seedling vigor VIGOR46 = vigor at 4-6 true leaf stage NFFB = node of first fruiting branch NAWF = nodes above white flower EBTN = early bloom total nodes EBHGT = early bloom plant height

46 Table 2. Late-season plant mapping and harvest results from a LESA irrigated cotton variety trial, Daniel Schacher Farm, Muleshoe, TX, 2011. Description Height Total Nodes Bolls/12' Open Bolls Storm Lint Yield Part Rated inches nodes bolls % open rating lbs/ac Rating Date 8/12/2011 8/12/2011 10/12/2011 11/7/2011

FM 2011GT 14.4 b 17.5 b 47.3 a 56.5 a 7.8 a 635 a FM 9058F 15.6 a 18.8 a 47.5 a 47.6 a 7.0 b 471 d FM 9101GT 16.6 a 17.8 b 54.3 a 51.2 a 7.0 b 591 b FM 9103GT 16.1 a 17.2 b 43.5 a 46.1 a 5.5 c 564 bc FM 9250GL 15.5 ab 18.0 ab 40.8 a 47.5 a 7.0 b 551 c

LSD (P=.05) 1.092 0.927 NS NS 0.74 30 CV 4.53 3.37 21.51 24.74 7.05 3.5 Grand Mean 15.64 17.84 46.65 49.78 6.85 563 Treatment Prob(F) 0.0124 0.0312 0.4318 0.7601 0.0004 0.0001 Means followed by same letter do not significantly differ (P=.05, LSD) Mean comparisons performed only when AOV Treatment P(F) is significant at mean comparison OSL.

47 Table 3. Fiber property and loan value results from a LESA irrigated cotton variety trial, Daniel Schacher Farm, Muleshoe, TX, 2011. Description Turnout Mic Length Strength Unif. Loan Part Rated % lint units inches g/tex % $/lb

FM 2011GT 38.0 4.0 1.12 31.3 82.2 0.5551 FM 9058F 35.3 4.7 1.15 29.6 82.9 0.5726 FM 9101GT 37.5 4.8 1.11 31.4 82.3 0.5698 FM 9103GT 36.8 4.5 1.13 29.7 81.6 0.5685 FM 9250GL 35.5 4.8 1.13 32.9 82.1 0.5674

Development of a Binomial Sampling Plan to Estimate Thrips Populations in Cotton to Aid in IPM Decision Making, 2011

Cooperators: James Brown, Boyd Jackson, Chad Harris, Texas Agrilife Research and Extension Center- Halfway, TX, AgCares- Lamesa TX and Jimmy Wedel, Producers

David Kerns, Mark Muegge, Monti Vandiver, Warren Multer, Dustin Patman, Bo Kesey and Megha Parajulee

Extension Entomologist-Cotton, Extension Entomologist-Cotton, EA-IPM Bailey/Parmer Counties, EA-IPM Glasscock/Reagan/Upton Counties, EA-IPM Crosby/Floyd Counties, Extension Program Specialist-Cotton and Research Entomologist-Cotton

South Plains, High Plains, Permian Basin, Trans Pecos

Summary:

Thrips are a serious early-season pest of cotton throughout much of the U.S. cotton belt. They have been demonstrated to cause a 21% average yield loss to irrigated cotton on the Texas High Plains. Currently, much of the cotton on the Texas High Plains is protected from thrips damage preventively by the use of in-furrow and seed-applied insecticides. However, where thrips are not perennial pests, preventive insecticide use may not be necessary and foliar curative actions may be more economical. Additionally, many growers are interested in eliminating at planting preventive pesticide applications for thrips management as a means of reducing early season production costs. Currently, thrips in Texas are sampled using a whole plant inspection method where all the thrips are counted. This technique is time consuming, tedious, difficult, and may lead to inaccurate results depending on the scout’s experience. Enumerative sampling can also increase sampling effort relative to a presence absence sample plan. Thus, the efficiency of visual sampling was compared to a cup sampling method. Additionally, binomial or presence/absence sampling was compared to enumerative sampling for both sampling methods.

Objective:

Objectives of this study are as follows: 1. Develop and compare enumerative and

49 binomial sampling plans for estimating thrips densities in seedling cotton, 2. Evaluate to thrips sampling techniques (visual & cup), 3. Develop the most cost reliable sample plan and method for making thrips management decisions in seedling cotton.

Materials and Methods:

Data for this study collected from commercial cotton fields across 14 different locations in the panhandle, South Plains, Rolling Plains and west central regions of Texas. Thrips were sampled in each cotton field that was left untreated by foliar and/or preventative treatments for thrips. Every leaf from individual plants were examined for thrips from crop emergence to the 5 true leaf stage. Fifty sampling bouts per field were conducted for each sampling method. Each sampling bout consisted of three plants. Thrips data were recorded as thrips per 3 plant sample unit for all analyses.

Two sample plans (enumerative and binomial) and methods (visual and 16oz plastic cup) were evaluated (Figure 1). Individual plants were removed from the soil by gently grasping the cotton stem at the soil line and pulling straight up. Then the cotton plant was either subjected to visual or the cup sample method. Visual inspection was accomplished using a sharpened pencil to pry apart folded or creased leaf tissue to expose hidden thrips then adults and nymphs were counted and recorded. The cup method was employed by inserting the cotton plant into the cup and shaking vigorously for several seconds to dislodge any thrips on the plant into the cup. Adult and nymph thrips dislodged into the cup were counted and recorded, then discarded.

Taylor’s parameters were determined for combined thrips adult and nymph age classes. This was done because thrips age classes are not currently differentiated when scouting and making management decisions for thrips in cotton. Because plant age can influence thrips spatial pattern, sample data was separated into 6 age classes, with 0 representing the cotyledon stage and numbers 1 through 5 represent 1 through 5 true leaves. Both methods were used to determine the proportion of cotton leaves infested to mean thrips density relationship (Wilson and Room 1983). The relationship of the mean and proportion of thrips infested cotton sample units was determined by:

P(I)=1-e-m[LN(amb-1)/(amb-1-1)]

where P(I)=the proportion of thrips infested leaves, a and b are parameters from Taylor’s power law (1961), and m=the mean density at which a management decision is needed. Taylor’s power law parameters were determined by iterative non-linear regression and used to develop the binomial and enumerative sample plans. As science based economic thresholds have not been established for thrips in cotton, an empirically derived nominal threshold of 1 thrips per cotton leaf was used in this study. The optimal fixed sample size for estimating this threshold for enumerative and binomial sampling was determined using the following equations presented by Wilson et. al. (1983b).

A consideration of cost, expressed as time to collect the sample, is especially important in selecting sampling methods and plans for use in commercial field monitoring programs. Relative-cost reliability was determined following Wilson (1994) and takes into consideration the time to take the sample and the required number of samples needed to make a management decision.

50 Results and Discussion:

Taylor’s power law effectively modeled the thrips mean/variance relationship for all plant age classes and both sample methods (Table 1). Regardless of sample method or plant age class thrips appeared to follow an aggregated spatial pattern as evidenced by Taylor’s parameter exceeding 1. However, neither sample method nor plant age class appeared to influence this spatial pattern as no trend was evident across plant age classes.

The relationship between observed and estimated proportion infested leaves was strong with R2 values in excess of 0.83 for both sample methods across all ages classes Because the nominal ET of 1 thrips per leaf is so low, regardless of plant age class, nearly all samples would be classified as infested thus, a truncated binomial sample plan was necessary to discriminate across thrips densities. A truncated binomial sampling plan requires the sample to have one or more thrips to be classified as infested. This value, referred to as a tally threshold, was determined for each age class based on how well the predicted proportion of infested plants modeled the observed proportion of infested plants. The tally thresholds for each class and sample method are presented in (Table 2) in addition to the required sample number for both enumerative and truncated binomial sample plans. (Table 3) lists the required proportion of infested plant samples needed to estimated the ET of one thrips per leaf.

The enumerative sampling plans required more samples, regardless of plant age class, to estimate the thrips ET=1 relative to the truncated binomial sample plans. Among the enumerative sample plans the cup method required fewer samples and less time to take samples relative to the visual sample plan (Table 2). The average sample times for the enumerative sample plan were 79.1 and 43.6 seconds per sample for the cup and visual sample methods respectively. Although, sample time has not been determined for the sample methods of the truncated binomial sample plan, both sample methods require fewer samples. Because fewer thrips counts are necessary to estimate thrips ET=1 the truncated binomial sample plans would presumably be more cost effective than the enumerative sample methods. Definitive answers will be determined during sample plan validation this year.

Acknowledgments:

This project was funded by Cotton Incorporated CORE Projects and in part by the Plains Cotton Improvement Program.

References:

Wilson, L.T. and P.M. Room. 1983a. Clumping patterns of fruit and arthropods in cotton, with implications for binomial sampling. Environ. Entomol. 12: 50-54.

Wilson, L.T., C. Pickel, R.C. Mount, and F.G. Zalom. 1983b. Presence-absence sequential sampling for cabbage aphid and green peach aphid (Homoptera: Aphididae) on Brussels sprouts. J. Econ. Entomol. 76: 476-479.

Wilson, L.T. 1994. Estimating Abundance, Impact, and Interactions Among Arthropods in Cotton Agroecosystems. In: Handbook of Sampling Methods for Arthropods in Agriculture. Eds. L.P. Pedigo and G. David Buntin. CRC Press, Inc. 714 pp.

Table 1. a and b of Taylor’s power law and coefficient of determination. Plant Age Class a b R2

Cup Sample Method

0 (Cotyledon) 1.1816 1.2221 0.74 1 True Leaf 0.8076 1.7784 0.97 2 True Leaf 1.4116 1.3177 0.97 3 True Leaf 1.0114 1.4243 0.94 4 True Leaf 0.7714 1.8247 0.99 5 True Leaf 1.724 1.2192 0.99 Visual Sample Method 0 (Cotyledon) 1.8400 1.0764 0.82 1 True Leaf 1.0320 1.6056 0.99 2 True Leaf 1.8062 1.2739 0.98 3 True Leaf 1.4344 1.5565 0.99 4 True Leaf 1.1967 1.5929 0.99 5 True Leaf 1.5833 1.5177 0.99

Figure 1. Visual sampling method (left) and cup sampling method (right).

52 Table 2. Required number of samples needed to estimate the nominal threshold of 1 thrips per cotton leaf. For the binomial sample plan, plant tally thresholds are given in parenthesis. Enumerative Binomial Sampling Sampling

Plant Age Class Cup Visual Cup Visual

0 (Cotyledon) 19 22 16 (3) 20 (3)

1 True Leaf 31 32 11 (3) 10 (3)

2 True Leaf 16 31 13 (4) 14 (4)

3 True Leaf 14 40 5 (4) 8 (4)

4 True Leaf 29 36 16 (6) 21 (7)

5 True Leaf 10 42 7 (6) 6 (6)

Table 3. Proportion infested (PI) samples needed at each plant age class to estimate and ET=1 thrips/cotton leaf.

Proportion Infested (PI)

Plant Age Class Cup Visual

0 (Cotyledon) 0.85 0.77

1 True Leaf 0.85 0.87

2 True Leaf 0.83 0.82

3 True Leaf 0.93 0.89

4 True Leaf 0.79 0.75

5 True Leaf 0.90 0.91

Evaluation of In-furrow and Foliar treatments for Thrips Control in Cotton, 2011

Cooperator: Kendall Devalt, Producer

David Kerns and Monti Vandiver Extension Entomologist-Cotton and EA-IPM Bailey/Parmer County

Parmer County

Summary:

Because thrips numbers were low in this test it is difficult to draw any concrete conclusions regarding the efficacy of any of the insecticides evaluated. However, we did note that Thimet at high rates (9.0 oz/100 row-ft) may be phytotoxic to cotton. Additionally, thrips tended to be highest where a pyrethroid was used.

Objective:

The objective of this study was to test the insecticidal efficacy of Thimet relative to Temik and to evaluate several foliar insecticides for control of thrips in cotton.

Materials and Methods:

This test was conducted in a commercial cotton field near Farwell, TX. The field was planted on 11 May on 30-inch rows, and irrigated using pivot sprinkler irrigation. The variety was FM 2011GT. The test was a RCB design with four replications. Plots were 4-rows wide × 100 ft in length. Thimet and Temik was applied in-furrow at planting at approximately 1.5-inches in depth. Foliar applications evaluated included Bidrin 8, Orthene 97, Radiant, Tracer and Ammo. Foliar sprays were applied on a 50% band with a CO2 pressurized hand-boom sprayer calibrated to deliver 10 gpa through Teejet XR8003VS extended range flat spray tip nozzles (1 per row) at 30 psi. Foliar applications were made on 27 May and 3 and 10 June.

Adult and immature western flower thrips were sampled by visually inspecting 10 whole plants per plot. Plant height was measured on 16 June as an assessment of phytotoxicity. Ten plants were measured per plot from the soil surface to the terminal using a straight-edge ruler.

Data were analyzed with ANOVA, and means were separated using an F-protected LSD (P ≤ 0.05).

Results and Discussion:

Due to the severe drought conditions experienced during 2011, thrips numbers were low in this test. At 16 days after planting (DAP) and prior to any foliar sprays thrips numbers were very low and there were no differences among treatments (Table 1). On 3 June, 21 DAP and 7 DAT, application 1, the Ammo treated plots had the more adult thrips than the untreated. None of the other insecticide treatment differed from the untreated. At 28 DAP and 7 DAT, application 2, there were no detectable differences in the number of thrips among treatments.

At 37 DAP and 7 DAT, application 3, there were more adult thrips in the Temik at 5 lbs/ac than in the untreated (Table 2). None of the other treatments differed from the untreated. This response is sometimes observed shortly after a in-furrow or seed treatment product loses residual activity. At 27 DAP, none of the soil applied treatment would likely still have any residual activity.

Plants treated with Thimet, particularly at the higher rates appeared to be stunted. Plant height measurements suggest that Thimet at 9.0 oz/100 row-ft exhibits phytotoxic effects on seedling cotton.

Acknowledgments:

Appreciation is expressed to AMVAC, Dow and the Plains Cotton Improvement Program for financial support of this project.

Disclaimer Clause:

Table 1.

27 May – cotyledon stage 3 Jun – 1 true leaf stage 10 Jun – 3 true leaf stage (16 DAP; pre-foliar) (21 DAP; 7 DAT APP1) (30 DAP; 7 DAT APP2) Treatment/ Thrips per plant Thrips per plant Thrips per plant Formulationa Rate amt product/acre immatures adults total immatures adults total immatures adults total Untreated -- 0.00a 0.00a 0.00a 0.03a 0.05bcd 0.08bc 0.00a 0.13a 0.13a Thimet 20G 3.3 oz/1000 row-ft 0.00a 0.10a 0.10a 0.00a 0.08a-d 0.08bc 0.00a 0.13a 0.13a Thimet 20G 6 oz/1000 row-ft 0.00a 0.05a 0.05a 0.00a 0.03cd 0.03c 0.03a 0.13a 0.16a Thimet 20G 9 oz/1000 row-ft 0.00a 0.08a 0.08a 0.03a 0.03cd 0.05bc 0.00a 0.15a 0.15a Temik 15G 3.5 lb 0.00a 0.05a 0.05a 0.00a 0.13ab 0.13ab 0.00a 0.15a 0.15a Temik 15G 5.0 lb 0.00a 0.03a 0.03a 0.00a 0.05bcd 0.05bc 0.00a 0.15a 0.15a Bidrin 8 3.2 fl-oz 0.00a 0.08a 0.08a 0.03a 0.05bcd 0.08bc 0.00a 0.15a 0.15a Orthene 97 3 oz 0.00a 0.08a 0.08a 0.00a 0.05bcd 0.05bc 0.00a 0.13a 0.13a Vydate C-LV 17 fl-oz 0.00a 0.00a 0.00a 0.03a 0.00d 0.03c 0.00a 0.23a 0.23a Radiant SC 1.5 fl-oz 0.00a 0.10a 0.10a 0.00a 0.10abc 0.10bc 0.00a 0.18a 0.18a Tracer 2.14 fl-oz 0.00a 0.03a 0.03a 0.00a 0.13ab 0.13ab 0.00a 0.08a 0.08a Ammo 2.5 EC 1.3 fl-oz 0.00a 0.15a 0.15a 0.05a 0.15a 0.20a 0.00a 0.10a 0.10a Values in a column followed by the same letter are not different based an F protected LSD (P ≥ 0.05). aVydate included Penetrator Plus at 1% v/v; spray pH = 6.

Table 2. 17 June – 5-6 true leaf stage (37 DAP; 7 DAT APP3) Thrips per plant Plant Treatment/ Rate amt Height Formulationa product/acre immatures adults total (inches) Untreated -- 0.28a 0.63bcd 0.90a 3.48a Thimet 20G 3.3 oz/1000 row-ft 0.08a 0.43d 0.50a 3.44a Thimet 20G 6 oz/1000 row-ft 0.15a 0.85abc 1.00a 3.36a Thimet 20G 9 oz/1000 row-ft 0.00a 0.68bcd 0.68a 2.93b Temik 15G 3.5 lb 0.05a 0.60bcd 0.65a 3.46a Temik 15G 5.0 lb 0.15a 1.10a 1.25a 3.60a Bidrin 8 3.2 fl-oz 0.13a 0.53cd 0.65a 3.36a Orthene 97 3 oz 0.10a 0.70bcd 0.80a 3.68a Vydate C-LV 17 fl-oz 0.10a 0.95ab 1.05a 3.59a Radiant SC 1.5 fl-oz 0.00a 0.60bcd 0.90a 3.52a Tracer 2.14 fl-oz 0.08a 0.55cd 0.50a 3.58a Ammo 2.5 EC 1.3 fl-oz 0.10a 0.83abc 1.00a 3.59a Values in a column followed by the same letter are not different based an F protected LSD (P ≥ 0.05). aVydate included Penetrator Plus at 1% v/v; spray pH = 6.

Replicated Corn Hybrid Trial Kelly Kettner Farm, Muleshoe, TX - 2011

Curtis Preston and Monti Vandiver Texas Agrilife Extension Service

Objective: Evaluate 10 Bt corn hybrids in a no-till sprinkler irrigated production system. Hybrids: 1. Channel 211-99 2. Channel 214-14 3. Croplan 6926 4. Dekalb 64-69 5. Dekalb 66-96 6. Integra 9676 7. Mycogen 2A7987 8. Mycogen 2V738 9. Pioneer 33D49 10. Pioneer 33Y75

Materials and Methods: • Experimental design - randomized complete block with 3 replications • Plot size – 6 rows (30 inch) X variable length - .35 acres/plot harvested • Planting date – April 28 • Seeding rate 32,000 seed/acre • Irrigation – full • Fertility (lbs/ac) – 10 tons manure + 350 lbs N (28-0-0-5) + Starter at plant • Previous crop - fallow • Heat unit accumulation (DD 50) – 4224 (nearest weather station) • Harvest date – September 23 • Yields adjusted to 15.5% moisture Data were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) and when a significant F test was observed, mean separation was performed using the least significant difference (LSD) at the 5% probability level. Results and Conclusions While this trial was planted in a full irrigated production system the extreme heat and moisture demands severely stressed the corn during grain fill and yields were reduced near 50%. Harvest moisture ranged from 12.5 to 21.67 for Channel 211-99 and Dekalb 66-96 respectively (Table 1). The Croplan 6926 and Mycogen 2A7987 exhibited the heaviest bu weight exceeding 58 lbs/bu. Lodging ranged from less than 1% in Croplan 6926 to more than 16% in Integra 9676 and Mycogen 2V738. The trial average yield was 7,228 with few separations between hybrids. Acknowledgements: We would like to acknowledge and thank the following for their contributions to this trial: Kelly Kettner, producer, Channel, CropLan Genetics, Dekalb, Integra, Mycogen and Pioneer.

Trade names of commercial products used in this report is included only for better understanding and clarity. Reference to commercial products or trade names is made with the understanding that no discrimination is intended and no endorsement by Texas AgriLife Extension Service and the Texas A&M University System is implied. Readers should realize that results from one experiment do not represent 59conclusive evidence that the same response would occur where conditions vary. Table 1. Harvest and yield data from a large plot replicated corn hybrid trial, Kelly Ketner Farm, Muleshoe Texas, 2011. Rating Date 9/23/2011 9/23/2011 9/23/2011 9/23/2011 9/23/2011 Rating Data Type Moisture BU Wt Lodging Yield/ac* Yield/ac Rating Unit % lbs % lbs BU Channel 211-99 12.5 e 57.3 cd 6.0 b 7605 a 136 a Channel 214-14 17.3 bc 57.5 bcd 2.0 bc 7449 ab 133 ab Croplan 6926 15.6 d 58.3 ab 0.7 c 7716 a 138 a Dekalb 64-69 16.3 cd 56.3 ef 2.3 bc 7681 a 137 a Dekalb 66-96 21.7 a 56.3 ef 5.0 bc 7174 abc 128 abc Integra 9676 18.0 b 56.0 f 16.7 a 7719 a 138 a Mycogen 2A7987 14.9 d 59.0 a 1.0 c 6961 abc 124 abc Mycogen 2V738 15.4 d 56.7 def 17.7 a 6908 abc 123 abc Pioneer 33D49 18.5 b 57.0 cde 2.3 bc 6372 c 114 c Pioneer 33Y75 18.8 b 57.7 bc 4.3 bc 6692 bc 119 bc

LSD (P=.05) 1.585 0.95 4.66 846.86 15.06 CV 5.45 0.96 46.8 6.69 6.66 Grand Mean 16.89 57.21 5.8 7227.76 129.06 Treatment Prob(F) 0.0001 0.0001 0.0001 0.034 0.0332 Means followed by same letter do not significantly differ (P=.05, LSD) Mean comparisons performed only when AOV Treatment P(F) is significant at mean comparison OSL.

Rating Unit % = percent BU = bushel * yield adjusted to 15.5% moisture

60 Agronomic and Economic Evaluation of Cotton Varieties

January 2012

Dr. Mark Kelley, Extension Agronomist - Cotton Mr. Chris Ashbrook, Extension Assistant - Cotton Texas AgriLife Extension Service Lubbock, TX

Characteristics commonly evaluated in small-plot testing include lint yield, turnout percentages, fiber quality, and earliness. Current small-plot variety testing programs are inadequate in scale and design to investigate the economic impact of new transgenic varieties with value-added traits. The objective of this project was to evaluate the profitability of cotton varieties in producers' fields in the Texas High Plains. Three replications of each variety were included at the Farwell and Plains locations with four replications at the Mount Blanco location. Plots were of sufficient size at Plains and Blanco to enable the combining of all replications of each individual variety into a single module at harvest. Each individual variety had at least three acres total (approximately one acre per plot with three replications equals three acres total). At the Farwell location, in order to include a greater number of varieties, plot sizes were reduced and grab samples were taken at harvest for ginning and fiber quality analysis. Plot weights were determined at harvest using a boll buggy with integral electronic scales. Modules from the Mount Blanco location were followed through the ginning process to determine lint turnout, USDA- AMS fiber quality, and CCC loan value.

In 2011 (a year characterized by extreme drought, high temperatures and unrelenting winds at planting) yields were well below normal. A total of three locations were initiated in 2011. Fourteen varieties were included at the Farwell and Mount Blanco sites, and the Plains location included 19 varieties. However, the Plains location was lost to extreme drought conditions and sustained high winds shortly after planting. The Farwell and Mount Blanco locations were well maintained by the cooperating producers, but the continued drought conditions took a toll on variety yields. Lint yields averaged 881 lb/acre and 441 lb/acre at the Farwell and Mount Blanco sites, respectively. Lint loan values derived from grab samples taken at harvest at the Farwell site averaged $0.5500/lb and ranged from a high of $0.5705/lb for FiberMax 2484B2F to a low of $0.5275/lb for FiberMax 1740B2F. Average loan values of commercially ginned bales from Mount Blanco ranged from a high of $0.5367 for FiberMax 9180B2F to $0.4895 for Deltapine 1032B2RF with a test average of $0.5095/lb. After adding lint and seed values and subtracting out ginning and seed and technology fee costs, the Farwell site net value per acre ranged from a low of $365.78 for Croplan Genetics 3006B2RF to a high of $615.78 for FiberMax 2011GT. A total of 4 varieties were in the statistical upper tier at this location and included FiberMax 2011GT, FiberMax 2484B2F, NexGen 4111RF and FiberMax 9250GL. The Mount Blanco site test average net value per acre was $214.74 and ranged from a high of $242.87 for FiberMax 2011GT to a low of $178.68 for Deltapine 1032B2RF. At this location, eight varieties were included in the statistical upper tier in terms of net value per acre, and included FiberMax 2011GT, FiberMax 9180B2F, Deltapine 1044B2RF, FiberMax 9103GT, NexGen 4111RF, FiberMax 9170B2F, All-Tex Dinero B2RF, and Deltapine 10R011B2RF. These data indicate that substantial differences can be observed in terms of net value/acre due to variety and technology selection. The differences in net value/acre, when comparing the top and bottom varieties were approximately $250 at Farwell and $64 at Blanco. Additional multi-site and multi-year applied research is needed to evaluate varieties across a series of environments.

62 Agronomic and Economic Evaluation of Cotton Varieties

February 2012

Dr. Mark Kelley, Extension Agronomist - Cotton Mr. Chris Ashbrook, Extension Assistant - Cotton Texas AgriLife Extension Service Lubbock, TX

Introduction

Small-plot cotton variety testing generally includes evaluation of genetic components but not genetics in concert with management programs. Characteristics commonly evaluated in small- plot testing include lint yield, turnout percentages, fiber quality, and earliness. Over the last several years, High Plains cotton producers have increased planted acreage of transgenic cotton (glyphosate- and glufosinate-herbicide tolerant and Bt insect-resistant types) from approximately 300 thousand in 1997 to approximately 3 million in 2010.

Industry continues to increase the number of herbicide-tolerant, insect-resistant, and "stacked gene" varieties. Liberty Link Ignite herbicide-tolerant varieties (from Bayer CropScience) were first marketed in 2004. The first commercial "stacked Bt gene" system (Bollgard II from Monsanto) was launched in 2004. Varieties containing Monsanto=s Roundup Ready Flex gene system were commercialized in 2006. Widestrike "stacked Bt gene" technology from Dow AgroSciences was available in some PhytoGen varieties in 2005, with additional Roundup Ready Flex "stacked" types in the market in 2006. Liberty Link with Bollgard II types were also commercialized in 2006. In 2011, Bayer CropScience made Glytol and Glytol stacked with Liberty Link available to producers in limited quantities. New transgenic varieties continue to be marketed in the High Plains by All-Tex, Americot/NexGen, Croplan Genetics, Delta and Pine Land/Monsanto, Dyna-Gro, the Bayer CropScience FiberMax/Stoneville brands, and the Dow AgroSciences PhytoGen brand. More transgenic varieties are expected to be released by these companies in the future. Additional cotton biotechnologies are also anticipated in the future. The proliferation of transgenic varieties in the marketplace is expected to continue over the next several years.

Current small-plot variety testing programs are inadequate in scale and design to investigate the economic impact of new transgenic varieties with value-added traits. The objective of this project was to evaluate the profitability of cotton varieties in producers' fields in the Texas High Plains.

Materials and Methods

For scientific validity, three replications of each variety were included at the Plains and Farwell locations, with four replications included at Mount Blanco. Plots at Plains and Mount Blanco were of sufficient size to enable the combining of all replications of each individual variety into a single module at harvest. Each individual variety had at least three acres total (approximately one acre per experimental unit with three replications equals three acres total). A randomized complete block design was used at all three locations. Unfortunately, the Plains location was abandoned due to poor stand establishment resulting from the harsh drought and windy conditions experienced shortly after planting. At the remaining locations, all weed and insect

63 control measures, if needed, and harvest aid applications were performed commercially or by cooperating producers. Plots were harvested with commercial harvesters by producers with assistance provided by program personnel. Individual location information was as follows:

Location 1: Farwell, TX – Parmer County At the Farwell location, fourteen varieties were planted to 30” straight rows on the flat on 10-May with a seeding rate of approximately 60,000 seed per acre. Varieties included 10 Bollgard II/Roundup Ready Flex, 1 Widestrike/Roundup Ready Flex, 1 Glytol/Liberty Link, 1 Glytol and 1 Roundup Ready Flex:

1. All-Tex Edge B2RF 2. All-Tex Rapid B2RF 3. Croplan Genetics 3006B2RF 4. Deltapine 1032B2RF 5. Deltapine 1219B2RF (10R011B2RF) 6. Dyna-Gro 2450B2RF 7. FiberMax 1740B2F 8. FiberMax 2011GT 9. FiberMax 2484B2F 10. FiberMax 9250GL 11. NexGen 2051B2RF 12. NexGen 4111RF 13. PhytoGen 367WRF 14. Stoneville 4288B2F

This location was under a Low Elevation Spray Application (LESA) center pivot irrigation system with a terminated wheat cover crop. Approximately 14.5 inches of pre-plant and in-season irrigation was applied and 2 inches of rainfall was accumulated during the growing season for a total of 16.5 inches. Plot size was 8 rows by variable length due to center pivot. Approximately 93 lbs NO3-N/acre were applied as 28-0-0-5 on 24-March. Weed control consisted of a pre- emerge application of Diuron (32 oz/acre) on 18-April, two post-emerge broadcast applications of Roundup PowerMax were applied on 4-June (with Orthene for thrips control) and 11-July. No plant growth regulators were required at this location. Harvest aids were applied on 12-October as a tank mix of Harvest Pro (ethephon – boll opener) and Folex (tribufos – defoliant). No sequential desiccant application was required for harvest. Plots were harvested on 10- November and grab samples were taken by plot and ginned at the Texas AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Lubbock. Resulting lint samples were submitted to the Texas Tech University – Fiber and Biopolymer Research Institute for HVI fiber analysis and CCC loan values were calculated.

64 Location 2: Mt Blanco, TX – Crosby County Fourteen varieties were planted to 40” raised bed rows on 9-May with an approximate seeding rate of 42,000 seed per acre. Varieties included 10 Bollgard II/Roundup Ready Flex, 1 Widestrike/Roundup Ready Flex, 2 Glytol and 1 Roundup Ready Flex only varieties:

1. All-Tex Dinero B2RF 2. Deltapine 1032B2RF 3. Deltapine 1044B2RF 4. Deltapine 1219B2RF (10R011B2RF) 5. FiberMax 2011GT 6. FiberMax 2484B2F 7. FiberMax 9103GT 8. FiberMax 9170B2F 9. FiberMax 9180B2F 10. NexGen 4010B2RF 11. NexGen 4012B2RF 12. NexGen 4111RF 13. PhytoGen 367WRF 14. Stoneville 4288B2F

The rows were circular due to center pivot LEPA irrigation system (sprinklers utilized for stand establishment). Irrigation capacity was 600 gpm over 200 acres for 3 gpm/a. Approximately 3 inches of pre-plant irrigation and 19.6 inches of in-season irrigation (10-May to 10-September) was applied from for an approximate total of 22.6 inches. Plot sizes were 8 rows wide by variable length due to circular rows. Two applications of 23 oz/acre Roundup PowerMax were applied during the growing season for weed control. Prior to planting, 100 lbs of 11-52-0 fertilizer was applied and an additional 30 lbs of N were applied using 32-0-0. An initial harvest aid application of Blizzard (0.6 oz/a) and First Pick (48 oz/a) was applied by the grower on 21- September and a sequential application of Gramoxone Inteon (24 oz/a) with NIS (0.25% v/v) was applied on 5-October. Harvest occurred on 25 and 26-October using the producer/cooperator harvesting equipment. Harvest material was transferred to a West Texas Lee Weigh Wagon with digital scales for plot weight determination. Replications were combined by variety into individual modules and followed through the commercial ginning process for lint and seed turnout. USDA-AMS classing office HVI fiber quality and CCC loan values were obtained from resulting bales.

Results

Agronomic and economic results by variety for Farwell and Mount Blanco are included in tables 1 - 10.

Location 1 - Farwell

Plant population, NAWF and storm resistance data are presented in table 1. Plant stands averaged 44,202 plants/acre on 6-June, and ranged from a high of 50,163 for FiberMax 1740B2F to a low of 34,404 for NexGen 4111RF. NAWF counts were conducted on 19-July, 26-July, and 2-August. Differences were observed for counts taken on all dates with 19-July counts different at the alpha=0.10 level. The test average on 19-July was 6.5 NAWF with a high of 7.1 for Deltapine 1219B2RF, and a low of 6.2

65 for All-Tex Rapid B2RF. Average NAWF decreased to 4.8 on 26-July with several varieties reaching cutout (NAWF=5). By 2-August, all varieties had reached cutout and a test average of 2.9 was observed. Storm resistance ratings (1-9 with 1 being extremely loose) were taken at harvest on 10-November and significant differences were observed among varieties. Values ranged from a high of 8.0 for FiberMax 2011GT to a low of 3.3 for All-Tex Edge B2RF. On 3-October, final plant map data were collected and are included in table 2. Significant differences were observed among varieties for all plant map parameters measured. Plant height averaged 17.8 inches and was greatest for NexGen 4111RF (21.4) and lowest for All-Tex Edge B2RF (15.2). Node of first sympodium averaged 7.1 and FiberMax 2484B2F had the highest with 8.1. Croplan Genetics 3006B2RF had the highest average number of mainstem nodes with 19.4 and the lowest number of nodes was observed for FiberMax 2011GT with 16.6. The test average for total mainstem nodes was 17.8. For height to node ratio, the test average was 1.0. Total fruiting branches was highest for Croplan Genetics 3006B2RF with 13.9 and lowest for Dyna-Gro 2450B2RF with 10.7. A test average open boll percent of 52.8% was observed and values ranged from a high of 71.5% for FiberMax 2011GT to a low of 31.9% for Deltapine 1219B2RF. Percent open boll differences were significant at the 0.10 level. Fruiting and fruit retention values were also recorded on 3-October and reported in table 3. Parameters measured included percent of total fruit from positions 1 and 2, total fruit (actual count), positions 1 and 2 retention percents, and total fruit retention (%). Significant differences were observed among varieties for all but total fruit. Total fruit retention averaged 41.1% and ranged from a high of 50.0% for FiberMax 1740B2F to a low of 33.1% for FiberMax 9250GL.

At the Farwell location, lint turnouts of field-cleaned bur cotton averaged 34.5% (Table 4). Bur cotton yields averaged 2547 lb/acre and ranged from high of 2771 lb/acre for FiberMax 2484B2F to a low of 2000 lb/acre for Croplan Genetics 3006B2RF. Lint yields ranged from 1040 lb/acre for FiberMax 2011GT to 640 lb/acre for Croplan Genetics 3006B2RF, and seed yields averaged 1276 lb/acre. Loan values derived from grab samples ranged from $0.5705 for FiberMax 2484B2F to $0.5275 for FiberMax 1740B2F. After applying loan values to lint yields, the test average lint value was $485.25/acre. When subtracting ginning and seed/technology costs from total value (lint value + seed value) net value averaged $520.39/acre across varieties. FiberMax 2011GT resulted in the highest net value with $615.78/acre and Croplan Genetics 3006B2RF had the lowest with $365.78/acre.

Classing data from grab samples are reported in table 5. Micronaire ranged from 4.7 for Croplan Genetics 3006B2RF to 3.9 for Deltapine 10R011B2RF. Staple was highest for FiberMax 2484B2F (35.4) and lowest for All-Tex Rapid B2RF (33.7). The highest uniformity, 82.2%, was observed in All-Tex Edge B2RF while NexGen 2051B2RF had the lowest with 79.1%. Fiber strength values ranged from a high of 32.2 g/tex for NexGen 4111RF and All-Tex Edge B2RF to a low of 27.4 g/tex for NexGen 2051B2RF. Leaf grades were mostly 1 and 2, and color grades were mostly 11 and 21 with a few 31 grades observed.

66 Location 2 B Mount Blanco

Plant population, NAWF and storm resistance data are presented in table 6. Plant stands averaged 32,107 plants/acre on 16-June and no significant differences were observed among varieties. NAWF counts were conducted on 19-July, 26-July, and 2- August. No differences were observed for counts taken on any date. The test averages were 5.6, 3.4 and 1.6 on 19-July, 26-July and 2-August, respectively. All varieties had reached cutout by the 26-July observation date. Storm resistance ratings (1-9 with 1 being extremely loose) were taken on 25-October just prior to harvest and significant differences were observed among varieties. Values ranged from a high of 7.0 for FiberMax 2484B2F to a low of 3.7 for Deltapine 1032B2RF.

On 9-September, final plant map data were collected and results are included in table 7. Significant differences were observed among varieties for most plant map parameters measured. Plant height averaged 17.8 inches and was greatest for NexGen 4012B2RF (21.6) and lowest for FiberMax 2484B2F (16.3). Node of first sympodium averaged 7.1 and FiberMax 2484B2F and FiberMax 9180B2F had the highest with 8.1. NexGen 4012B2RF had the highest total number of mainstem nodes with 17.7 and the lowest was observed for FiberMax 9103GT with 14.7. The test average for total mainstem nodes was 16.1. For height to node ratio, the test average was 1.1. Total fruiting branch differences were significant at the 0.10 level and values were highest for NexGen 4012B2RF with 11.1 and lowest for FiberMax 2484B2F with 8.7. A test average open boll percent of 83.7% was observed with no significant differences among varieties. Fruiting and fruit retention values were also recorded on 9-September and reported in table 8. Parameters measured included percent of total fruit from positions 1 and 2, total fruit (actual count), positions 1 and 2 retention percents, and total fruit retention (%). Significant differences were observed among varieties for all parameters. Total fruit retention averaged 31.9% and ranged from a high of 40.6% for PhytoGen 367WRF to a low of 26.7 for NexGen 4012B2RF.

Prior to harvest, it was observed that bolls across all varieties did not “fluff” after opening. After further investigation, it was determined that, on average, individual locks contained only 6-7 seeds. Typically, we would find 8-10 seeds/lock. Lint turnouts of field-cleaned bur cotton ranged from a high of 34.8% for Deltapine 1032B2RF to a low of 29.7% for Stoneville 4288B2F (Table 9). Lint yields averaged 441 lb/acre and differences were significant at the 0.10 level. FiberMax 2011GT had the highest lint yield with 481 lb/acre. Seed yields averaged 580 lb/acre. Loan values derived from commercially ginned bales ranged from $0.5367 for FiberMax 9180B2F to $0.4895 for Deltapine 1032B2RF. After applying lint loan values to lint yield, lint values ($/acre) ranged from $248.49/acre for FiberMax 2011GT to $196.08/acre for Deltapine 1032B2RF. When subtracting ginning and seed/technology costs from total value (lint value + seed value) net value averaged $214.74/acre across varieties. FiberMax 2011GT resulted in the highest net value with $242.87/acre and Deltapine 1032B2RF had the lowest with $178.68/acre.

Classing data derived from bales are reported in table 4. Micronaire averages were highest for Deltapine 1044B2RF with 4.6 and lowest for FiberMax 9103GT at 3.9. Staple average and was highest for FiberMax 9180B2F (33.8) and lowest for Deltapine 1032B2RF (31.9). The highest uniformity (80.4%) was observed in NexGen 4111RF. Strength values ranged from a high of 30.4 g/tex for NexGen 4111RF to a low of 26.0 g/tex for Stoneville 4288B2F.

67 Summary and Conclusions

These data indicate that substantial differences can be observed in terms of net value/acre due to variety and technology selection. The differences in net value/acre, when comparing the top and bottom varieties were approximately $250 at Farwell and $64 at Blanco. Additional multi-site and multi-year applied research is needed to evaluate varieties across a series of environments.

68 Acknowledgments

We wish to express our appreciation to the producer-cooperators: Mark and Ryan Williams, Mark and David Appling, and Rickey Bearden for providing the land, equipment and time to conduct these projects. Without the generous support and detailed ginning by the ginner-cooperators this work would not have been possible. Our thanks are extended to Heethe Burleson at Associated Cotton Growers Gin at Crosbyton.

69 Table 1. Inseason plant measurement results from the irrigated large plot replicated systems variety demonstration, Mark and Ryan Williams Farm, Farwell, TX, 2011.

Entry Plant population Nodes Above White Flower (NAWF) for week of Storm resistance

6-Jun 19-Jul 26-Jul 2-Aug 10-Nov plants/row ft plants/acre rating (0-9)

FiberMax 2011GT 2.8 47,500 5.7 3.6 2.1 8.0 FiberMax 2484B2F 2.8 48,610 6.3 4.6 2.4 5.7 NexGen 4111RF 2.0 34,404 7.0 4.8 2.7 6.3 FiberMax 9250GL 2.8 48,388 6.3 4.3 2.2 7.3 Deltapine 10R011B2RF 2.5 44,171 7.1 5.8 3.4 6.7 All-Tex Edge B2RF 2.5 44,392 6.6 4.7 2.7 3.3 FiberMax 1740B2F 2.9 50,163 6.3 4.1 3.1 6.0 Stoneville 4288B2F 2.8 48,610 6.5 5.1 3.3 5.0 Dyna-Gro 2450B2RF 2.6 44,836 6.7 5.1 3.0 6.7 PhytoGen 367WRF 2.6 44,614 6.3 5.4 3.5 5.0 Deltapine 1032B2RF 2.1 37,068 7.0 5.6 3.7 4.3 NexGen 2051B2RF 2.2 38,399 6.8 5.1 3.1 7.0 All-Tex Rapid B2RF 2.6 45,058 6.2 4.3 2.0 6.3 Croplan Genetics 3006B2RF 2.4 42,617 6.4 4.3 2.7 3.7

Test average 2.6 44,202 6.5 4.8 2.9 5.8

CV, % 9.8 9.7 7.2 11.8 19.4 7.6 OSL 0.0029 0.0026 0.0764† 0.0025 0.0095 <0.0001 LSD 0.4 7,194 0.7 0.9 0.9 0.7 For NAWF, numbers represent an average of 10 plants per variety per rep (30 plants per variety) For Storm resistance, ratings based on a scale of 0-9 where 9 represents maximum storm resistance. CV - coefficient of variation. OSL - observed significance level, or probability of a greater F value. LSD - least significant difference at the 0.05 level, †indicates signficance at the 0.10 level.

70 Table 2. Final plant map results from the irrigated large plot replicated systems variety demonstration, Mark and Ryan Williams Farm, Farwell, TX, 2011.

Entry Final plant map 3-Oct

plant height node of first fruiting (inches) branch total mainstem nodes height to node ratio total fruiting branches open boll (%)

FiberMax 2011GT 15.9 6.7 16.6 1.0 10.8 71.5 FiberMax 2484B2F 17.8 8.1 18.2 1.0 11.1 38.9 NexGen 4111RF 21.4 7.1 19.1 1.1 13.0 45.6 FiberMax 9250GL 16.7 7.9 18.0 0.9 11.1 60.3 Deltapine 10R011B2RF 18.9 7.1 18.3 1.0 12.2 31.9 All-Tex Edge B2RF 15.2 6.6 16.7 0.9 11.4 56.0 FiberMax 1740B2F 17.8 7.1 17.7 1.0 11.6 46.9 Stoneville 4288B2F 15.7 7.2 17.1 0.9 10.9 49.2 Dyna-Gro 2450B2RF 17.4 7.5 17.2 1.0 10.7 61.5 PhytoGen 367WRF 17.1 7.1 16.9 1.0 10.8 43.4 Deltapine 1032B2RF 20.3 6.7 17.6 1.2 11.9 56.3 NexGen 2051B2RF 16.6 7.1 17.9 0.9 11.9 59.5 All-Tex Rapid B2RF 18.3 7.1 19.1 1.0 13.0 57.4 Croplan Genetics 3006B2RF 19.4 6.4 19.4 1.0 13.9 60.1

Test average 17.8 7.1 17.8 1.0 11.7 52.8

CV, % 7.8 7.2 4.2 8.3 6.0 23.8 OSL 0.0003 0.0307 0.0005 0.0058 <0.0001 0.0509† LSD 2.3 0.9 1.2 0.1 1.2 17.5 For Final plant map, numbers represent and average of 6 plants per variety per rep (18 plants per variety) CV - coefficient of variation. OSL - observed significance level, or probability of a greater F value. LSD - least significant difference at the 0.05 level, †indicates significance at the 0.10 level, NS - not significant

71 Table 3. Final plant map results from the irrigated large plot replicated systems variety demonstration, Mark and Ryan Williams Farm, Farwell, TX, 2011.

Entry Fruiting and retention 3-Oct

% of fruit from 1st % of fruit from 2nd 1st position retention 2nd position retention position position total fruit (%) (%) total retention (%)

FiberMax 2011GT 59.5 21.6 8.7 43.2 30.3 36.46 FiberMax 2484B2F 47.4 25.8 11.4 45.4 44.3 43.11 NexGen 4111RF 39.2 28.1 12.2 36.6 39.1 35.30 FiberMax 9250GL 69.9 18.4 6.7 38.8 22.8 33.15 Deltapine 10R011B2RF 58.2 31.4 11.7 52.6 47.5 48.61 All-Tex Edge B2RF 67.0 20.2 9.5 52.1 29.3 41.87 FiberMax 1740B2F 50.1 31.8 11.7 50.5 54.3 49.99 Stoneville 4288B2F 70.4 19.2 9.4 57.7 29.8 45.47 Dyna-Gro 2450B2RF 60.7 23.5 8.4 45.0 32.4 38.87 PhytoGen 367WRF 61.5 24.2 9.4 50.4 34.9 42.23 Deltapine 1032B2RF 63.6 23.9 10.8 54.1 35.8 44.38 NexGen 2051B2RF 68.2 17.7 10.1 51.1 27.6 40.54 All-Tex Rapid B2RF 62.9 23.7 9.2 43.5 29.8 36.24 Croplan Genetics 3006B2RF 59.6 24.2 11.9 49.5 35.6 39.10

Test average 59.9 23.8 10.1 47.9 35.2 41.09

CV, % 12.8 20.1 22.2 11.8 25.4 12.5 OSL 0.0011 0.0217 0.1713 0.0041 0.0143 0.0121 LSD 12.9 8.1 NS 9.5 15.1 8.6 For Final plant map, numbers represent and average of 6 plants per variety per rep (18 plants per variety) CV - coefficient of variation. OSL - observed significance level, or probability of a greater F value. LSD - least significant difference at the 0.05 level, NS - not significant

72 Table 4. Harvest results from the irrigated large plot replicated systems variety demonstration, Mark and Ryan Williams Farm, Farwell, TX, 2011.

Entry Lint Seed Bur cotton Lint Seed Lint loan Lint Seed Total Ginning Seed/technology Net turnout turnout yield yield yield value value value value cost cost value

------% ------lb/acre ------$/lb ------$/acre ------

FiberMax 2011GT 38.1 47.2 2732 1040 1291 0.5533 575.30 193.63 768.93 81.97 71.18 615.78 a FiberMax 2484B2F 36.0 48.3 2771 996 1339 0.5705 568.49 200.87 769.36 83.12 85.34 600.91 a NexGen 4111RF 34.0 50.9 2689 915 1369 0.5670 518.95 205.39 724.34 80.66 60.47 583.21 ab FiberMax 9250GL 34.8 50.0 2692 938 1345 0.5618 527.13 201.77 728.90 80.77 73.91 574.22 ab Deltapine 10R011B2RF 34.3 47.7 2684 921 1280 0.5663 521.87 191.93 713.80 80.52 86.24 547.04 bc All-Tex Edge B2RF 34.7 50.7 2602 904 1319 0.5587 504.83 197.81 702.64 78.06 79.61 544.97 bc FiberMax 1740B2F 35.3 48.9 2636 930 1290 0.5275 490.51 193.47 683.99 79.09 85.34 519.56 c Stoneville 4288B2F 34.7 51.5 2523 876 1300 0.5477 479.59 195.03 674.61 75.68 85.34 513.60 c Dyna-Gro 2450B2RF 33.6 51.7 2584 869 1336 0.5415 470.64 200.36 671.00 77.51 83.17 510.33 c PhytoGen 367WRF 34.1 49.8 2568 875 1278 0.5428 475.18 191.72 666.90 77.03 84.47 505.41 c Deltapine 1032B2RF 36.7 49.1 2397 879 1176 0.5495 483.07 176.37 659.44 71.90 86.24 501.30 c NexGen 2051B2RF 33.1 52.6 2528 838 1329 0.5350 448.30 199.40 647.69 75.85 75.08 496.76 c All-Tex Rapid B2RF 31.6 51.6 2256 713 1163 0.5322 379.46 174.49 553.96 67.69 79.61 406.65 d Croplan Genetics 3006B2RF 32.0 52.3 2000 640 1046 0.5468 350.20 156.92 507.12 60.00 81.34 365.78 d

Test average 34.5 50.2 2547 881 1276 0.5500 485.25 191.37 676.62 76.42 79.81 520.39

CV, % 5.5 2.5 5.2 5.2 5.2 1.8 5.1 5.2 5.1 5.2 -- 5.9 OSL 0.0252 <0.0001 <0.0001 <0.0001 0.0001 <0.0001 <0.0001 0.0001 <0.0001 <0.0001 -- <0.0001 LSD 3.2 2.1 221 76 111 0.0167 41.89 16.70 58.47 6.62 -- 51.86 For net value/acre, means within a column with the same letter are not significantly different at the 0.05 probability level. CV - coefficient of variation. OSL - observed significance level, or probability of a greater F value. LSD - least significant difference at the 0.05 level. Note: some columns may not add up due to rounding error.

Assumes: $3.00/cwt ginning cost. $300/ton for seed. Value for lint based on CCC loan value from grab samples and FBRI HVI results.

73 Table 5. HVI fiber property results from the irrigated large plot replicated systems variety demonstration, Mark and Ryan Williams Farm, Farwell, TX, 2011.

Entry Micronaire Staple Uniformity Strength Elongation Leaf Rd +b Color grade

units 32nds inch % g/tex % grade reflectance yellowness color 1 color 2

FiberMax 2011GT 4.1 34.8 80.4 30.0 8.1 1.0 80.9 8.1 2.0 1.0 FiberMax 2484B2F 4.1 35.4 80.6 30.7 8.0 1.0 82.6 8.0 1.3 1.0 NexGen 4111RF 4.1 34.9 81.8 32.2 9.6 1.0 80.4 9.2 1.7 1.0 FiberMax 9250GL 4.4 34.9 80.0 29.3 7.2 1.3 81.2 8.0 2.0 1.0 Deltapine 10R011B2RF 3.9 34.8 80.5 30.6 8.8 1.0 80.4 8.7 1.7 1.0 All-Tex Edge B2RF 4.6 34.8 82.2 32.2 9.2 2.3 79.4 8.1 2.3 1.0 FiberMax 1740B2F 4.1 34.0 79.3 28.7 8.9 1.0 81.5 8.5 1.3 1.0 Stoneville 4288B2F 4.5 34.2 80.1 28.9 9.2 1.0 80.0 9.1 1.7 1.0 Dyna-Gro 2450B2RF 4.3 34.0 80.7 27.5 9.0 1.0 79.6 8.7 2.0 1.0 PhytoGen 367WRF 4.2 34.0 80.6 29.4 9.6 1.0 79.8 9.2 1.7 1.0 Deltapine 1032B2RF 4.2 34.3 80.8 29.5 8.9 1.0 81.7 8.6 1.7 1.0 NexGen 2051B2RF 4.4 33.8 79.1 27.4 8.2 1.3 81.0 8.0 2.3 1.0 All-Tex Rapid B2RF 4.5 33.7 79.8 28.9 8.4 1.0 80.5 8.3 1.7 1.0 Croplan Genetics 3006B2RF 4.7 34.7 81.6 28.5 9.0 2.3 77.9 8.1 3.0 1.0

Test average 4.3 34.5 80.5 29.6 8.7 1.2 80.5 8.5 1.9 1.0

CV, % 6.5 1.8 0.6 2.3 3.7 34.0 1.2 1.9 -- -- OSL 0.0485 0.0594† <0.0001 <0.0001 <0.0001 0.0016 0.0005 <0.0001 -- -- LSD 0.5 0.9 0.8 1.2 0.5 0.7 1.6 0.3 -- -- CV - coefficient of variation. OSL - observed significance level, or probability of a greater F value. LSD - least significant difference at the 0.05 level, †indicates signficance at the 0.10 level.

74 Table 6. Inseason plant measurement results from the irrigated large plot replicated systems variety demonstration, Mark and David Appling Farm, Mount Blanco, TX, 2011.

Entry Plant population Nodes Above White Flower (NAWF) for week of Storm resistance

16-Jun 19-Jul 26-Jul 2-Aug 25-Oct plants/row ft plants/acre rating (1-9)

FiberMax 2011GT 2.4 31,832 5.7 3.6 1.6 6.7 FiberMax 9180B2F 2.3 30,324 6.0 3.9 1.7 6.3 Deltapine 1044B2RF 2.5 32,167 5.8 3.6 1.9 5.0 FiberMax 9103GT 2.4 32,000 5.7 3.3 1.6 6.3 NexGen 4111RF 2.3 29,990 5.9 3.4 1.6 5.7 FiberMax 9170B2F 2.5 32,000 5.6 3.7 1.4 5.3 All-Tex Dinero B2RF 2.5 32,670 5.3 3.2 1.4 6.0 Deltapine 1219B2RF 2.7 34,680 5.7 3.4 1.6 4.0 NexGen 4012B2RF 2.5 32,837 5.7 3.0 1.6 5.7 Stoneville 4288B2F 2.5 33,005 5.7 3.2 1.5 4.3 PhytoGen 367WRF 2.4 30,659 5.8 3.7 1.6 4.3 NexGen 4010B2RF 2.5 32,167 5.7 3.1 1.7 5.3 FiberMax 2484B2F 2.6 34,345 5.0 3.0 1.4 7.0 Deltapine 1032B2RF 2.4 30,827 5.4 2.9 1.3 3.7

Test average 2.5 32,107 5.6 3.4 1.6 5.4

CV, % 7.5 7.7 9.9 16.1 22.6 12.4 OSL 0.3587 0.5254 0.7652 0.5107 0.8651 <0.0001 LSD NS NS NS NS NS 1.1 For NAWF, numbers represent an average of 10 plants per variety per rep (30 plants per variety) For Storm resistance, ratings based on a scale of 0-9 where 9 represents maximum storm resistance. CV - coefficient of variation. OSL - observed significance level, or probability of a greater F value. LSD - least significant difference at the 0.05 level, NS - not significant

75 Table 7. Final plant map results from the irrigated large plot replicated systems variety demonstration, Mark and David Appling Farm, Mount Blanco, TX, 2011

Entry Final plant map 9-Sep

plant height node of first fruiting (inches) branch total mainstem nodes height to node ratio total fruiting branches open boll (%)

FiberMax 2011GT 16.5 6.5 15.9 1.0 10.4 92.0 FiberMax 9180B2F 16.5 8.1 16.4 1.0 9.3 73.8 Deltapine 1044B2RF 18.7 7.3 16.5 1.1 10.2 85.6 FiberMax 9103GT 17.2 6.2 14.7 1.2 9.5 85.7 NexGen 4111RF 17.4 6.7 16.1 1.1 10.3 81.9 FiberMax 9170B2F 17.8 7.6 16.8 1.1 10.2 83.0 All-Tex Dinero B2RF 17.6 6.8 15.3 1.1 9.5 82.8 Deltapine 1219B2RF 17.3 7.2 16.2 1.1 10.0 77.9 NexGen 4012B2RF 21.6 7.6 17.7 1.2 11.1 90.4 Stoneville 4288B2F 17.4 7.1 16.2 1.1 10.1 85.2 PhytoGen 367WRF 17.0 6.4 15.6 1.1 10.2 77.5 NexGen 4010B2RF 18.3 7.0 16.9 1.1 10.9 84.4 FiberMax 2484B2F 16.3 8.1 15.7 1.0 8.7 85.6 Deltapine 1032B2RF 20.2 6.7 15.8 1.3 10.1 86.3

Test average 17.8 7.1 16.1 1.1 10.0 83.7

CV, % 9.1 6.2 4.3 7.4 7.8 9.3 OSL 0.0223 <0.0001 0.0032 0.0252 0.0822† 0.3438 LSD 2.7 0.7 1.2 0.1 1.1 NS For Final plant map, numbers represent and average of 6 plants per variety per rep (18 plants per variety CV - coefficient of variation. OSL - observed significance level, or probability of a greater F value LSD - least significant difference at the 0.05 level, †indicates signficance at the 0.10 level, NS - not significant.

76 Table 8. Final plant map results from the irrigated large plot replicated systems variety demonstration, Mark and David Appling Farm, Mount Blanco, TX, 2011

Entry Fruiting and retention 9-Sep

% of fruit from 1st % of fruit from 2nd 1st position retention 2nd position retention position position total fruit (%) (%) total retention (%)

FiberMax 2011GT 89.3 6.6 4.9 39.1 6.5 28.0 FiberMax 9180B2F 72.0 13.6 6.7 50.3 16.7 36.1 Deltapine 1044B2RF 87.2 5.9 6.0 49.9 6.8 29.5 FiberMax 9103GT 89.2 9.7 4.5 41.1 9.6 29.4 NexGen 4111RF 80.0 14.8 6.2 46.4 13.6 30.4 FiberMax 9170B2F 63.4 26.0 6.9 42.9 26.4 32.3 All-Tex Dinero B2RF 79.1 14.6 6.2 49.5 16.6 33.0 Deltapine 1219B2RF 84.1 11.1 6.1 50.0 13.6 36.5 NexGen 4012B2RF 83.4 15.8 5.9 43.2 13.5 26.7 Stoneville 4288B2F 84.5 10.4 5.8 46.6 10.1 29.1 PhytoGen 367WRF 69.0 20.2 9.1 56.2 31.2 40.6 NexGen 4010B2RF 77.0 16.6 6.6 45.7 17.5 30.7 FiberMax 2484B2F 68.1 14.7 5.6 41.5 16.9 32.2 Deltapine 1032B2RF 78.4 16.3 6.3 46.3 17.8 32.1

Test average 78.9 14.0 6.2 46.3 15.5 31.9

CV, % 11.3 40.5 17.1 10.1 42.9 10.6 OSL 0.0222 0.0196 0.0088 0.0101 0.0056 0.0024 LSD 15.0 9.5 1.8 7.8 11.1 5.7 For Final plant map, numbers represent and average of 6 plants per variety per rep (18 plants per variety) CV - coefficient of variation. OSL - observed significance level, or probability of a greater F value LSD - least significant difference at the 0.05 level.

77 Table 9. Harvest results from the irrigated large plot replicated systems variety demonstration, Mark and David Appling Farm, Mount Blanco, TX, 2011.

Entry Lint Seed Bur cotton Lint Seed Lint loan Lint Seed Total Ginning Seed/technology Net turnout turnout yield yield yield value value value value cost cost value

------% ------lb/acre ------$/lb ------$/acre ------

FiberMax 2011GT 34.1 40.9 1409 481 577 0.5170 248.49 86.47 334.96 42.26 49.83 242.87 a FiberMax 9180B2F 31.5 44.7 1456 458 651 0.5367 245.80 97.57 343.37 43.67 58.78 240.93 a Deltapine 1044B2RF 32.0 42.2 1477 473 624 0.5030 237.74 93.58 331.32 44.30 56.17 230.85 ab FiberMax 9103GT 32.0 44.7 1421 455 636 0.4949 225.16 95.38 320.54 42.64 49.83 228.07 ab NexGen 4111RF 31.5 40.3 1376 434 555 0.5135 222.76 83.27 306.03 41.28 42.33 222.42 abc FiberMax 9170B2F 32.5 43.8 1374 446 602 0.5192 231.43 90.29 321.71 41.21 59.74 220.77 abc All-Tex Dinero B2RF 30.5 41.5 1435 438 595 0.5176 226.47 89.26 315.72 43.04 55.73 216.95 abc Deltapine 1219B2RF 33.7 42.8 1329 448 568 0.5151 230.66 85.24 315.91 39.87 60.37 215.67 abc NexGen 4012B2RF 31.3 41.9 1363 427 571 0.5071 216.22 85.68 301.90 40.90 52.55 208.45 bcd Stoneville 4288B2F 29.7 41.9 1494 444 626 0.4929 218.89 93.94 312.83 44.82 59.74 208.28 bcd PhytoGen 367WRF 30.7 39.6 1437 441 569 0.5030 221.76 85.32 307.07 43.11 59.13 204.83 bcd NexGen 4010B2RF 30.6 33.4 1407 430 470 0.5103 219.37 70.46 289.83 42.21 52.55 195.07 cd FiberMax 2484B2F 32.8 45.9 1216 399 559 0.5137 204.99 83.78 288.77 36.48 59.74 192.55 cd Deltapine 1032B2RF 34.8 44.9 1152 400 517 0.4895 196.08 77.52 273.60 34.56 60.37 178.68 d

Test average 32.0 42.0 1382 441 580 0.5095 224.70 86.98 311.68 41.45 55.49 214.74

CV, % -- -- 7.8 7.8 7.8 -- 7.9 7.8 7.8 7.8 -- 9.9 OSL -- -- 0.0027 0.0798† 0.0001 -- 0.0109 0.0001 0.0152 0.0028 -- 0.0039 LSD -- -- 154 41 65 -- 25.23 9.68 34.88 4.63 -- 30.26 For net value/acre, means within a column with the same letter are not significantly different at the 0.05 probability level. CV - coefficient of variation. OSL - observed significance level, or probability of a greater F value. LSD - least significant difference at the 0.05 level, †indicates significance at the 0.10 level. Note: some columns may not add up due to rounding error.

Assumes: $3.00/cwt ginning cost. $300/ton for seed. Value for lint based on CCC loan value from commercially classed bales.

78 Table 10. USDA-AMS classing results of commercially ginned bales from the irrigated large plot replicated systems variety demonstration, Mark and David Appling Farm, Mount Blanco, TX, 2011.

Variety Color 1 Color 2 Staple Leaf Micronaire Remarks rd +b Length Strength Uniformity Loan

units units 32nds units units bales units units inches g/tex % $/lb

FiberMax 2011GT Mean 2.0 1.0 32.7 2.4 4.2 0/7 79.6 8.8 1.02 28.3 79.8 0.5170 Std Dev 0.0 0.0 0.8 0.5 0.1 0.3 0.2 0.02 0.9 1.0 0.0165

FiberMax 9180B2F Mean 1.8 1.0 33.8 1.9 4.2 0/8 79.6 9.0 1.05 29.1 80.1 0.5367 Std Dev 0.5 0.0 0.7 0.4 0.3 1.0 0.3 0.02 1.4 1.0 0.0150

Deltapine 1044B2RF Mean 2.0 1.4 32.1 2.1 4.6 0/7 76.9 9.8 1.01 28.3 79.3 0.5030 Std Dev 0.0 0.5 0.7 0.4 0.0 1.3 0.4 0.02 1.1 0.9 0.0121

FiberMax 9103GT Mean 2.3 1.6 32.7 2.7 3.9 2/7 76.3 9.7 1.02 27.1 78.4 0.4949 Std Dev 0.5 0.5 0.8 0.5 0.3 1.9 0.4 0.02 1.2 0.9 0.0277

NexGen 4111RF Mean 2.0 1.0 32.4 2.6 4.4 0/7 78.0 9.6 1.01 30.4 80.4 0.5135 Std Dev 0.0 0.0 0.5 0.5 0.1 0.3 0.2 0.02 1.1 0.7 0.0087

FiberMax 9170B2F Mean 1.9 1.0 33.1 2.0 4.1 0/8 80.3 8.8 1.03 28.3 78.5 0.5192 Std Dev 0.4 0.0 0.8 0.0 0.2 0.7 0.2 0.02 1.0 0.8 0.0154

All-Tex Dinero B2RF Mean 2.1 1.0 33.4 1.9 4.4 1/7 78.2 9.2 1.04 26.7 79.7 0.5176 Std Dev 0.4 0.0 1.3 0.7 0.1 0.9 0.3 0.04 2.4 1.1 0.0206

Deltapine 1219B2RF Mean 2.0 1.0 32.9 1.6 4.4 0/7 78.9 9.3 1.02 27.7 79.2 0.5151 Std Dev 0.0 0.0 0.7 0.5 0.1 0.4 0.2 0.02 0.6 1.1 0.0154

NexGen 4012B2RF Mean 2.0 1.1 32.3 2.1 4.2 0/7 78.4 9.2 1.01 27.0 79.2 0.5071 Std Dev 0.0 0.4 1.0 0.4 0.1 0.8 0.3 0.02 1.3 0.9 0.0174

Stoneville 4288B2F Mean 2.0 1.4 32.1 2.0 4.5 0/7 77.5 9.9 1.01 26.0 79.1 0.4929 Std Dev 0.0 0.5 0.4 0.6 0.1 0.7 0.4 0.01 1.7 0.5 0.0118

PhytoGen 367WRF Mean 2.0 1.9 32.4 2.3 4.3 0/7 76.4 10.1 1.01 26.9 79.4 0.5030 Std Dev 0.0 0.4 0.5 0.5 0.1 1.1 0.4 0.01 0.7 0.5 0.0120

NexGen 4010B2RF Mean 2.0 2.0 33.0 2.4 4.3 0/7 75.7 10.4 1.03 30.0 79.8 0.5103 Std Dev 0.6 0.8 1.0 0.5 0.4 3.1 0.8 0.02 1.1 0.6 0.0138

FiberMax 2484B2F Mean 2.0 1.2 32.8 1.8 4.4 0/6 78.8 9.2 1.03 26.1 79.1 0.5137 Std Dev 0.0 0.4 1.0 0.4 0.2 1.7 0.5 0.03 1.2 0.6 0.0221

Deltapine 1032B2RF Mean 2.0 1.4 31.9 2.0 4.4 0/7 77.7 9.6 0.99 26.3 78.1 0.4895 Std Dev 0.0 0.5 0.7 0.0 0.4 0.8 0.3 0.02 2.1 1.2 0.0107 79

Appendix

82 Volume 10 Issue 1 Bailey and Parmer Counties June 3, 2011

Spring 2011, a spring to forget! I can not remember a tougher spring to get a crop established. Non- irrigated cropland has no planting or deep moisture and will require large amounts of rainfall to make up the deficit. Crop establishment in irrigated production systems has been a struggle to put it mildly. High winds and extremely dry conditions have made it difficult to maintain adequate moisture in the seedbed. Cool nighttime temperatures earlier in May and application of additional irrigation have further compounded the issue by reducing soil * DD 60 based on May 1 temperature. ** Based on Muleshoe long term weather data 1971-2000 2011 has been the perfect storm as far as cotton goes. At this point in time we are on borrowed time sustain the plant after emergence. The following so far as cotton planting goes, every day that goes disease descriptions are from “Cotton Root by dramatically Disorders “ published by Cotton Inc. increases risk associated with Rhizoctonia solani crop maturity. This fungus causes cotton seed rot, lesions on the In addition sand hypocotyl and root rot in cotton damage seedlings. Rhizoctonia solani can cause disease associated with under a range of environmental conditions, but is high winds most damaging in cool, wet soil. Hypocotyl lesions are generally reddish brown in color and sunken. Exposed seed after wind storm have and continue to take Root lesions can be wet areas where the root their toll on the area cotton crop as well. appears as a string (the surrounding tissue has rotted away) or darker colored lesions. When more than At risk of piling on further Thielaviopsis (black one seedling disease pathogen is present, such root rot) and Rhizoctonia have further hampered as R.solani and Thielaviopsis basicola, then root cotton development. Many root systems have been lesions are brown in color. As the plant matures, the so compromised that they have been unable to hypocotyl area hardens and is not susceptible to damage. Management of R.solani i n v o l v es planting high quality seed, using a fungicide seed Daily Water Use*** treatment with activity on R.solani, planting when soil conditions are warm and rain is not imminent As of September 1, 2010 the Texas High Plains and, in severe cases, using Evapotranspiration (TXHPET) Network, North an in-furrow fungicide at Plains ET (NPET) Network and South Plains ET planting. (SPET) Network will no longer provide meteoro- Thielaviopsis basicola logical, reference ET and crop ET data due to in- This fungus causes a sufficient funding. For more information go to disease known as black http://bailey-tx.tamu.edu and click on “ET Net- root rot. The root system work”. turns black, particularly in Seedling Disease

83 Northwest Plains Pest Management News June 3, 2011 young plants,but the root tissue remains firm. It emergence and the week does not rot. However,if there is a disease complex following. Late involving several different fungi,then the black applications may provide color (necrosis)can be combined with actual root rot some personal satisfaction (softening of the tissue)and root death.This disease (revenge treatment) but can be severe when soil temperatures are cool. may not provide an Generally,soil moisture is not necessary to have economic return. If serious black root rot,though disease symptoms may infestation is assessed by Thrips be more severe when cool temperatures are visual plant damage you Pressure combined with wet soil. Once the soil temperatures will be late. warm, the black root systems will be sloughed off Fields with no preventative treatment (soil applied and the roots will appear white and healthy colored. or seed treatment insecticide) for thrips will likely An unusual exception is seen when soils are heavily require at least one and probably two foliar infested with this fungus,or when root- knot insecticide applications to keep thrips suppressed. nematode is present with T.basicola.Then, root Under extreme thrips pressure and poor growing symptoms may persist all season. Plants with black conditions a third insecticide application may be root rot can recover and produce high yields. justified. Foliar applications of acephate are very However,if cool spring weather is prolonged,plants effective but residual activity lasts less than a week. may be sufficiently delayed in their maturity and growth to the point that they will remain stunted all Do not assume that a preventative treatment is season. Management of this disease involves working, close inspection of plant leaves and planting when soil temperatures are warmer. terminals for adult and immature thrips will tell the Generally crop rotation of 1-2 years is not sufficient tale. to significantly reduce disease pressure.Seed applied fungicides like triademenol can provide I can not stress enough the need make timely limited protection, but only under low disease insecticide applications especially when a purely foliar thrips management strategy is employed. Well pressure. established and rapidly growing plants can tolerate Thrips more thrips pressure. The established action threshold for thrips is one thrips per true leaf. Moderate numbers of Adult thrips have been observed in area cotton and have begun to Adult thrips colonize untreated fields. Thrips are slender, straw colored insects about 1/15 inch long, with rasping and sucking Monti Vandiver mouthparts. Adults are winged but are not strong Extension Agent-Integrated Pest Management fliers but can drift long distances in the wind. Texas AgriLife Extension Service Cotton should be monitored closely to prevent 118 West Avenue C excessive damage. Once adults begin to infest Muleshoe, Texas 79347 emerging unprotected cotton it can be quickly 806-272-4583 overwhelmed. Local research on foliar only thrips management strategies indicate that the most http://txipmnet.tamu.edu important insecticide application is very early, at http://bailey-tx.tamu.edu/

The Texas A&M System, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the Commissioners Courts of Texas Cooperating

84 Volume 10 Issue 2 Bailey and Parmer Counties June 9, 2011

“Is this the worst Texas drought ever? The answer is no, but it certainly is one of the worst, according to Dr. John Nielsen-Gammon, Texas A&M University professor and Texas state climatologist. "Based on Palmer Drought Severity Index values, this is the third-worst drought Texas has ever seen in the month of May," Nielsen- Gammon writes in his blog, the Climate Abyss. * DD 60 based on May 1 "Records go back to 1895. May also marks the ** Based on Muleshoe long term weather data 1971-2000 end of the driest eight-month period on record." (precipitation, temperature and wind) have The worst droughts remain those in 1918 and adequate irrigation capacity to establish and 1956, according Nielsen-Gammon” (Southwest maintain a crop. Portions of some crops have Farm Press, June 7, 2011). been abandoned in order to save the rest on some farms and is being considered on many More information on the current Texas drought others. This is likely one of the toughest and wildfire alerts can be found on the decisions a producer must make; producers AgriLife Extension Service Agricultural tend to be an optimistic bunch and unwilling to Drought Task Force website at http:// casually give up on a crop. agrilife.tamu.edu/drought/ . Combines are “rolling” in area wheat. Yields Wind speed has declined over the last week or will likely be so which has given irrigated crops an disappointing in opportunity to switch from mere survival mode many if not most to growth and development. Significant crop fields due to severe losses may occur on many irrigated farms, drought, high which under normal environmental conditions winds, freeze injury, and plant Daily Water Use*** disease. As of September 1, 2010 the Texas High Plains The area corn crop actually looks pretty good Evapotranspiration (TXHPET) Network, North considering the current growing conditions but Plains ET (NPET) Network and South Plains ET some fields desperately need additional (SPET) Network will no longer provide meteoro- moisture to sustain the current growth and development pace. logical, reference ET and crop ET data due to insufficient funding. For more information go to Spider mites are present in some fields; http://bailey-tx.tamu.edu and click on “ET Net- infestations are at varying levels ranging from work”. 0 to 50% infested plants. Thrips are currently

85 Northwest Plains Pest Management News June 9, 2011 the key predator and are nowhere near what has been observed recently. abundant in most fields. Infestations of 50-90% of plants have been The application window observed in a few fields. I have been unable to for ground applied identify the exact species or determine damage preventative miticides is potential but their mere presence should rapidly approaching but warrant keeping a close eye on them. There is remember current Mite Pressure no established action level for spider mites on preventative miticides seedling cotton so management decisions will will only protect the leaves which are sprayed have to be based on field population dynamics and any subsequent growth will not be and injury symptoms. protected. Applications to 1 foot tall corn will only protect those leaves while applications to a larger canopy will protect more of the plant and provide a “bigger bang for the buck”. Currently environmental conditions are favorable for mite development so a preventative mite management plan may be appropriate especially in fields with a history of mite problems. Thrips continue to build in area cotton, infestation levels have ranged from less than 1/ plant to 7.8/plant. Soil applied and seed treatment insecticides have performed satisfactorily as a whole to this point but many have began to lose effectiveness. If immature thrips are present following soil applied or seed treatment then the treatment has lost or is losing its effectiveness. Foliar acephate has been providing very good control but residual activity should not be expected much longer Spider mites infesting cotton leaves than 5 days. The larger cotton gets the more thrips it can tolerate; the current established

action threshold for thrips in cotton is one per true leaf thru the fifth true leaf stage but Monti Vandiver Extension Agent-Integrated Pest Management under poor growing Thrips conditions that threshold Texas AgriLife Extension Service Pressure may need to be reduced. 118 West Avenue C Muleshoe, Texas 79347 Spider mites have been observed infesting 806-272-4583 some cotton fields. We have seen occasional mites on seeding cotton in previous years but http://txipmnet.tamu.edu http://bailey-tx.tamu.edu/

The Texas A&M System, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the Commissioners Courts of Texas Cooperating

86 Volume 10 Issue 3 Bailey and Parmer Counties June 16, 2011

Very hot and dry conditions with substantial winds continue to tax crop production in the Northwest Plains of Texas. Wind speeds have subsided from those experienced in May and crops have responded remarkably well. Corn, cotton and sorghum which is well established is now growing rapidly but is requiring substantial irrigation to maintain normal growth and development. Using general weather conditions and crop coefficients, crops * DD 60 based on May 1 are requiring 1.25 to over 2 inches of moisture ** Based on Muleshoe long term weather data 1971-2000 per week to sustain current growth and development. To compound that, the hot and Portions of some crops have already been windy conditions make sprinkler irrigation abandoned and abandonment is being systems much less efficient; the amount of considered on many others. If abandonment is irrigation water pumped, in most cases, is being considered one will have to consider significantly less than the actual usable crop contract delivery requirements and crop moisture applied. insurance implications in addition to current In a significant number of irrigated and all crop conditions and irrigation capacity. dryland fields, crop establishment has failed The area corn crop ranges from just emerged to despite continued efforts of producers. If over 24 inches in height. As corn development agriculture producers were not so resilient and continues its moisture demands will rapidly sky scrapers were available Will Roger’s increase. The following graph depicts corn observation after the stock market crash of moisture demands at various maturity stages 1929, “When Wall Street took that tail spin, assuming normal environmental conditions. you had to stand in line to get a window to jump out of, and speculators were selling space for bodies in the East River" might apply.

Daily Water Use*** As of September 1, 2010 the Texas High Plains Evapotranspiration (TXHPET) Network, North Plains ET (NPET) Network and South Plains ET (SPET) Network will no longer provide meteoro- logical, reference ET and crop ET data due to insufficient funding. For more information go to http://bailey-tx.tamu.edu and click on “ET Net- work”.

87 Northwest Plains Pest Management News June 16, 2011

Spider mites continue to activity should not be expected much longer persist in most corn fields; than 5 days. The larger cotton plants get the infestations are at varying more thrips they can tolerate; the current levels ranging from 0 to established action threshold for thrips in cotton 60% infested plants. is one per true leaf thru the fifth true leaf stage Currently environmental but under poor growing conditions that conditions are favorable Mite Pressure threshold may need to be reduced. for mite development so a preventative mite Spider mites that were observed infesting management plan may be appropriate some cotton fields have crashed for the most especially in fields with a history of mite part. The seeding cotton was likely not an problems. Remember current preventative adequate host plant for the mites to become miticides will only protect the leaves which are established but continue monitoring for mite sprayed and any subsequent growth will not be infestations as environmental conditions are protected. favorable for mite development. Applications to a larger canopy Large numbers of leaf miners have also been will protect more observed in some area cotton, of the plant and this is not necessarily abnormal provide a “bigger but they do appear to be bang for the persisting longer buck”. into the growing season than in the Thrips continue to infest most area cotton, but past. Just one infestation levels have been lower than more thing to expected. Thrips populations dynamics are also Leaf miner adult and mine, keep and eye on. photos by David Kerns different than observed in previous years; normally thrips populations would be well above 50% immature stage but we are seeing Much of the area wheat has been harvested and primarily adult populations. Lower thrips as expected wheat harvest is going to be very pressure over all could be a result of premature short this year. desiccation of early season host plants (wheat and weeds) which broke the green bridge between hosts. Soil applied and seed treatment insecticides have performed satisfactorily as a whole but are no longer likely to be suppressing thrips in any but the latest planted cotton. If immature thrips are present Monti Vandiver Extension Agent-Integrated Pest Management following soil applied or seed treatment then the Texas AgriLife Extension Service treatment has lost or is 118 West Avenue C losing its effectiveness. Muleshoe, Texas 79347 Foliar acephate has been 806-272-4583

providing very good Thrips http://txipmnet.tamu.edu Pressure control but residual http://bailey-tx.tamu.edu/

The Texas A&M System, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the Commissioners Courts of Texas Cooperating

88 Volume 10 Issue 4 Bailey and Parmer Counties June 23, 2011

The wind and sand storms Sunday and Monday (June 19 and 20) chased all but a few gluttons for punishment indoors. The very high winds were accompanied by high temperatures further stressing crops. On the brighter side the next two days provided good growing conditions; a bit lower temperature and light only breezy conditions. It goes to the old adage “if you don’t like the weather in the High

Plains of Texas just wait till tomorrow”. * DD 60 based on May 1 ** 2011 thus far has been a year of weather Based on Muleshoe long term weather data 1971-2000 extremes; hot and very windy conditions coupled with minimal rainfall. Year to date stressors in many fields. rainfall is less than 15% of normal and has The area corn crop is rapidly ramping up been spread out into small increments which moisture requirements approaching .3 inches decreases benefit to crop production. per day, high winds, hot temperature, and With all the “doom and gloom” talk one would irrigation efficiency will dramatically increase assume there are no good crops in the area, but irrigation application rates to meet that there are. High irrigation capacities, which are demand. greater than normally necessary, have been Spider mites continue to build in most corn required, and have come at a high pumping fields; infestations are at varying levels ranging cost. But, even high irrigation capacity alone from 20 to 100% infested plants. Currently has not been able to overcome other crop environmental conditions are favorable for mite development; continual monitoring of mite pressure will be critical in management 8 7 plans. One needs to know if the population is 6 increasing, decreasing or static to be able to 5 make an informed management decision. 4 Banks grass mites and two spotted mites are 3 2 very small, 1/32 inch or less, and are difficult 1 to see without magnification, especially as we 0 age. They are a yellowish to greenish color. Adults have eight legs while immature mites can have six to eight legs depending on life stage. Immature mites look similar to adults. Year to date rainfall (in inches) from Clovis, Friona, Eggs are very small pearly white spheres. It is Muleshoe, and Muleshoe Wildlife Refuge weather very important to be able to differentiate stations versus the 30 year long term average. between Banks grass mites and two spotted

89 Northwest Plains Pest Management News June 23, 2011

mites. A key distinguishing Much of the cotton has started squaring so feature is the dark food square robbing pests will need to be monitored. sacks of adults which are The cotton fleahopper is a true bug which can visible within the outer be a significant pest from 1st square to first edges of the body. The bloom in Texas High Plains cotton. food sacks extend all the Mite Pressure Fleahoppers can easily disperse from wild way down the sides of the hosts to cotton by flight. Wild hosts are not as Banks grass mite but only extend half way plentiful as normal due to extremely dry down the sides of the two spotted mite. This conditions so hopefully fleahopper numbers gives the appearance of two dark spots toward will be low. the front of the two spotted mites’ body. Both Banks grass mites and two spotted mites may Adult fleahoppers are yellowish green to produce webbing but two spotted mites almost off white and approximately 1/8 inch typically produce more. The underside of corn long with an oval leaves along the midrib is the preferred colony flattened shaped sites. body. They have piercing and Thrips continue to infest sucking area cotton, but most cotton mouthparts. is far enough along that risk Nymphs, the of yield robbing damage is immature stage, minimal. Once cotton look similar to develops five true leaves it the adult but Cotton fleahopper adult is considered to be safe Thrips smaller and without wings. Cotton from thrips damage. Pressure fleahoppers, especially nymphs, have a Leaf miners infesting some area cotton, have somewhat translucent appearance. Small black been observed as high up the plant as the 3rd spots may also be present on the back, legs, and 4th true leaf in relatively high numbers and and antennae. Fleahoppers are very flighty and on the 5th true leaf to a lesser extent. will rapidly move when disturbed. Parasitism of the leaf miners has been high but we will need to continue to monitor them to make sure they do not continue to damage leaves. There are no established economic thresholds but Dr. David Kerns suggests, based of his experience in Arizona and what he has observed locally and in south Texas, that one might consider treatment if more than an Monti Vandiver average of 3 active Extension Agent-Integrated Pest Management mines per true leaf are Texas AgriLife Extension Service present. There are a 118 West Avenue C good number of Muleshoe, Texas 79347 insecticides labeled for 806-272-4583 leaf miners but we have no data on efficacy. http://txipmnet.tamu.edu Mines on cotton leaf http://bailey-tx.tamu.edu/

The Texas A&M System, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the Commissioners Courts of Texas Cooperating

90 Volume 10 Issue 5 Bailey and Parmer Counties June 30, 2011

At risk of “beating a dead horse” current environmental conditions are brutal. At high temperatures, plants cannot take up enough water to stay cool. Once the cooling mechanism is disabled, plant cells are damaged by the heat. I refer to this visual symptom as “white leaf”. Many area corn fields have at least some white leaf in them and in some the symptoms are severe. It seems last Saturday and Sunday’s extreme heat and high winds pushed many corn fields past the point where adequate plant cooling could be achieved. * DD 60 based on May 1 ** Based on Muleshoe long term weather data 1971-2000 Adding insult to injury Area producers lost basically one full day of irrigation due to power outages as a result of a large grass fire near Muleshoe which Adjusting irrigation systems to desired time per damaged main electricity transmission lines. revolution plus 1/2 day may help combat irrigation inefficiencies related to daytime hot windy Irrigation requirements for the third week of June conditions by alternating day/night irrigation were 50% greater this year compared to the same applications within the field. period in 2010. Current crop demand (100% ET) exceeds 3 inches per week for both corn and cotton Current heat unit accumulations are 140% of the 30 Potential Daily Water Use* year long term average. Crop Inches per day Corn V12 .50 Cotton Squaring .41 Sorghum 5 leaf .28 *Daily estimated crop water demands (inches of water per day) during the week ending June 28 based on PET data from Halfway. Provided by Dana Porter.

Corn growth plateaus at temperatures above 86 degrees F and decreases when temperatures exceed 95 degrees F. If water is adequate, a few days of temperatures above 100 degrees F during ear Cotton 100% ET crop water requirements for the formation, reproduction and grain fill will not affect 2011 crop season are compared with the 10 year yield significantly. However, yields will suffer if period ending 2009 for cotton with a May 15 plant- temperatures remain that high for extended periods. ing date in Hale County, Texas. Courtesy: Dana Por- The following are highlights of information from ter, Texas High Plains AgriLife Research and Exten- “How high temperatures and stress affect corn sion Water Management pollination” (Iowa State University and a Crop

91 Northwest Plains Pest Management News June 30, 2011

Watch article written by Roger Elmore in a carefully monitored as corn enters the reproductive University of Nebraska extension newsletter stage. published June 15, 2005). Pollen shed occurs over a Spider mites continue to build in some corn fields two-week period. For kernels to develop, silks must but have declined in others; infestations are at emerge and be fertilized by viable pollen. Silks varying levels ranging from near 0 to 100% infested grow about 1 to 1.5 inches a day and will continue plants. Key natural enemies include six spotted to elongate until fertilized. Temperatures greater thrips, spider mite than 95° F with low relative humidity will desiccate destroyers, minute pirate exposed silks, but not impact silk elongation rates bugs, and predatory mites. greatly. Pollen is no longer viable once Of these the six spotted temperatures reach the mid 90's or greater, thrips and minute pirate especially with low relative humidity. Fortunately, bugs have been observed in pollen shed usually occurs from early to mid- area corn. A spider mite morning when temperatures are lower. Mite Pressure infestation in which a Drought stress slows silk elongation but accelerates population of six spotted pollen shed. This can result in pollen shed occurring thrips is established may never progress to before silk emergence. Any stress such as damaging levels. inadequate water, low soil fertility, or too thick of a Environmental conditions continue to be favorable planting rate can delay silking two or more weeks, for mite development; continual monitoring of mite thereby reducing seed set if pollen is no longer pressure will be critical in management plans. One available. The amount of pollen from one plant is needs to know if the population is increasing, sufficient for ten plants; this provides a degree of decreasing or static to be able to make an informed compensation and improves the opportunity for management decision. fertilization in stressful environments. Square set in area cotton has The bottom line is that high temperatures will not ranged from 88-near 100%. severely stress corn pollination if soil moisture is Fleahoppers and other square adequate. Drought stress along with high robbing pests have been few temperatures at pollination and silking though can and far between. Any square have serious effects. If dry-hot conditions continue loss to this point is most over the pollination window, expect to see major likely due to high winds and differences among fields based on management extreme heat. Fleahopper practices and hybrids. Potential pollination Pressure problems associated with high temperatures could be exasperated by silk feeding insects such as fall armyworm, corn Monti Vandiver earworm and corn Extension Agent-Integrated Pest Management White leaf in an area corn field rootworm beetles. Texas AgriLife Extension Service Fall armyworms have been found in area corn and 118 West Avenue C sorghum; whorl feeding has been observed in some Muleshoe, Texas 79347 Bt corn. Most of the FAW whorl feeding in corn has 806-272-4583 primarily been seen in non-Bt and older single toxin http://txipmnet.tamu.edu YieldGard hybrids. The presence of FAW should be http://bailey-tx.tamu.edu/

The Texas A&M System, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the Commissioners Courts of Texas Cooperating

92 Volume 10 Issue 6 Bailey and Parmer Counties July 7, 2011

Most people have heard the old saying “I’ve got good news and I’ve got bad news”. The good news is crops have responded well to the milder temperatures and decreased wind this past week. Its hard to call mid 90s mild but compared to 110 degrees from mid to late June it was a significant relief. Now for the bad news weather forecasts are predicting higher temperatures near 100 degrees for the next 10 days , though some are calling for mid 90s for a couple days and a 30% chance of rain one day. While some of the corn showed a marked * DD 60 based on May 1 improvement most ** Based on Muleshoe long term weather data 1971-2000 continued development at a moderate pace and severe depending on location, crop and crop stage. some fields Milder conditions have reduced potential moisture degraded further. usage by crops significantly compared to latter June Area cotton which requirements. Hopefully temperatures will not rise was well to the level observed the last part of June anytime established with soon. Any glitch in irrigation systems, including Area heat and drought adequate moisture higher drops, worn out nozzles and pads, bad nozzle stressed corn has really taken off. packages, and non-ideal pivot speeds, have really Cotton which had it’s root system severely been noticeable during the harsh growing compromised by black root rot shortly after conditions. Adjusting irrigation systems to desired emergence continues to develop at a very slow pace. time per revolution plus 1/2 day may help combat Significant hail damage has been observed in some irrigation inefficiencies related to daytime hot of the fields which received precipitation from windy conditions by alternating day/night irrigation scattered rain events. Local weather stations applications within the field. recorded 0 to .34 inch of rainfall, other isolated Spider mites continue to infest most if not all corn reports of rainfall exceeding 1 inch were also to some degree; infestations are at varying levels received. The hail damage ranges from slight to ranging from few infested plants with small colonies to 100% infested plants with large Potential Weekly Water Use* colonies. Key natural enemies include six spotted thrips, spider mite destroyers, minute pirate bugs, Crop Inches per week and predatory mites. Of Corn V13+ 2.31 these the six spotted thrips and minute pirate bugs Cotton Squaring 1.97 have been observed in area corn. A spider mite Sorghum 5 leaf 1.41 infestation in which a population of six spotted *Weekly estimated crop water demands (inches of thrips is established may water per week) during the week ending July 6 never progress to damaging Mite Pressure based on PET data from Lubbock.

93 Northwest Plains Pest Management News July 7, 2011 levels. But warrants close observation. over the targeted plant. Any fleahoppers which fly off the plant as the scout approaches should be Environmental conditions continue to be favorable counted. The plant should be held below the first for mite development and as corn transitions from fruiting branch to prevent nymphs from running to vegetative growth to reproductive (tassel and the ground. The upper and lower surfaces of leaves, beyond) it will be a much better host plant and squares and the terminal spider mite reproduction will likely increase; should be closely continual monitoring of mite pressure will be inspected. Under some critical in management plans. One needs to know if crop conditions a beat the population is increasing, decreasing or static to bucket may be used be able to make an informed management decision. rather than a visual Silk feeding insects such as fall armyworm and corn inspection. A sweep rootworm beetles, which have been observed in area net can be used to corn, should be monitored as corn begins to silk as sample for fleahoppers they could add to potential pollination problems. but there are no Cotton fleahopper nymph. established economic thresholds for this scouting Square set in area cotton continues to be very method. Square set should be determined; squares good; most fields will average 90% or better. must be counted present or absent and the percent Fleahoppers and other square robbing pests square set calculated. continue to be very light to this point . The economic threshold for cotton fleahopper is Adult fleahoppers are yellowish green to almost off based on the number of fleahopper present and the white and approximately 1/8 inch long with an oval percent square set. Twenty five to thirty cotton flattened shaped body. They have piercing and fleahoppers per 100 plants is the established number sucking mouthparts. Nymphs, the immature stage, of which must be present to meet the first level of look similar to the adult but smaller and without criteria of the economic threshold. In addition to wings. Cotton fleahoppers, especially nymphs, the numbers of fleahoppers present a poor square have a somewhat translucent appearance. Small set should be observed in order to justify an black spots may also be present on the back, legs, insecticide application; there should be less than and antennae. Fleahoppers are very flighty and will 90% square set during the 1st week of squaring, rapidly move when disturbed. less than 85% square set during the 2nd week of Both adult and immature cotton fleahoppers will squaring, and less than 75% square set from the feed on tender vegetation including terminal start of the 3rd week to first bloom. growth, leaf buds and small squares. Pinhead sized squares are most vulnerable and will take on a blasted appearance 1 to 3 days after the feeding occurs. High populations of fleahoppers may cause excessive square shed. Larger squares, blooms and bolls are not damaged by fleahopper feeding. Scouting for cotton fleahoppers is a two fold process which includes Monti Vandiver counting fleahoppers and Extension Agent-Integrated Pest Management

monitoring square set. Since Texas AgriLife Extension Service cotton fleahoppers are so weary, scouts must carefully 118 West Avenue C approach the targeted plant Muleshoe, Texas 79347 keeping a close eye on the 806-272-4583 plant. Special care should be Fleahopper http://txipmnet.tamu.edu taken not to cast a shadow Pressure http://bailey-tx.tamu.edu/

The Texas A&M System, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the Commissioners Courts of Texas Cooperating

94 Volume 10 Issue 7 Bailey and Parmer Counties July 14, 2011

Scattered thunder storms brought much needed precipitation to a few who were fortunate enough to be in the path of the storms. The following rainfall totals were recorded by weather stations over the last two weeks. Precipitation (July 1-13) Weather Station Inches Clovis, NM .12 * DD 60 based on May 1 Friona .08 ** Based on Muleshoe long term weather data 1971-2000 Muleshoe 2.31 use the term “divert” not “abandon.” The rules for MWR 1.53 determining diversion of water are in the Loss Adjustment Manual (LAM) pages 95-97, paragraph Individual reports of area rainfall have concurred 40. with weather station data. Producers considering diverting acres should: Crop moisture demands have continued to ramp up. 1. Notify their insurance agent prior to Current demand of corn easily exceeds 2 inches per diversion of water. week. This high demand, exhausted soil moisture 2. Know how many acres they will be reserves and continued hot dry weather have diverting water from and how many they continued to force producers to consider diverting will leave for grain harvest. irrigation recourses in hopes of salvaging at least 3. Their insurance company representative or some of their crop. The following information is adjustor will work with them to either: from the Texas Corn Producers Board’s discussion  Evaluate yield of corn that is standing, with USDA-Risk Management Association officials or on Friday, July 8, 2011.  Determine how many strips and the number of rows to be left for Remember, you will be diverting water from all or evaluation of grain yield prior to parts of a pivot or field insured for grain. Be sure to destroying, cutting or ensiling the remainder of the crop from the Potential Weekly Water Use* diverted acres.  Strips must be maintained as Crop Inches per week normal except they should not be Corn V13+ 2.42 watered.  Remaining irrigated portion of Cotton Squaring 2.06 crop must be maintained according normal farming Sorghum 5 leaf 1.47 practices. *Weekly estimated crop water demands (inches of 4. At harvest, the strips, if left, will determine water per week) during the week ending July 13 yield for the portion of the crop, which based on PET data from Lubbock.

95 Northwest Plains Pest Management News July 14, 2011

water was diverted from. have been doing a pretty 5. Final yield calculated for insurance will be fair job of suppressing

the equivalent of: thrips in a few fields. Some fields with a well (acres diverted x yield of the strips) + (irrigated established mite population acres harvested x yield) divided by total field acres have experienced an increase in pressure as the 6. Diverted acres chopped for silage or hay Mite Pressure corn entered the tassel will not be penalized, since all settlements stage. Once corn transitions will be made on the grain yield. Producers into reproductive mode it is a much better host plant will be able to do either of these with no and mites can rapidly reproduce. Environmental penalty, just remember to follow the conditions continue to be favorable for mite instructions for determining yield. development, continual monitoring of mite pressure will be critical in management plans. One needs to know if the population is increasing, decreasing or static to be able to make an informed management decision. Square set in area cotton continues to be very good observations have ranged from 90 to 100%; most fields will average greater than 90%. Fleahoppers and other square robbing pests continue to be very light to this point . The economic threshold for cotton fleahopper is based on the number of fleahopper present and the

percent square set. Twenty Salvage harvest of corn for silage five to thirty cotton fleahoppers per 100 plants 7. A letter from an AgriLife representative to and unacceptable square set insurance provider will be required to should be observed in order to explain why water was diverted from the justify an insecticide Fleahopper acres affected. It is our understanding the application. Pressure producer will have to personally obtain and submit this letter. Producers need to be sure to ask their extension agent about this process. Texas AgriLife Agronomist Brent Bean, stationed in Amarillo, Texas, is aware of this.

Additional resources are available at Monti Vandiver www.TexasCorn.org Extension Agent-Integrated Pest Management Texas AgriLife Extension Service Spider mites continue to infest most if not all corn 118 West Avenue C to some degree; infestations are at varying levels Muleshoe, Texas 79347 ranging from few infested plants with small 806-272-4583 colonies to 100% infested plants with large http://txipmnet.tamu.edu colonies. Six spotted thrips, a key predator of mites, http://bailey-tx.tamu.edu/

The Texas A&M System, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the Commissioners Courts of Texas Cooperating

96 Volume 10 Issue 8 Bailey and Parmer Counties July 21, 2011

Some of the area corn continues to be harvested prematurely due to extreme drought conditions. While not ideal by any means “something is better than nothing.” Some severely stressed crops, which received significant precipitation last week, have not responded to the additional moisture but later planted and crops in better condition have shown improvement. The rainfall was just to late to salvage some crops. I have noticed that some dryland cotton has started to emerge but obviously it has no chance of developing into a harvestable crop. * DD 60 based on May 1 ** Many forage crops are being planted behind recent Based on Muleshoe long term weather data 1971-2000 thunder storms in attempt to produce a bit more feed which will desperately be needed in confined grain we might be able to tell a little more about animal feeding operations. what we’ve got. Much of the irrigated cotton is going into bloom Spider mites continue to infest most if not all corn with 7-8 nodes above white flower (NAWF) with to some degree; very good square set which is an indication of good infestations are at varying yield potential assuming adequate growing season levels ranging from few to mature the crop. Cotton under more stress is , as infested plants with small expected, going into bloom with less potential and colonies to 100% infested some fields have yet to start blooming. plants with large colonies. At this point projecting yield in area corn would be Mites have began to reinfest some corn which a crap shoot, but one thing is certain yields will be Mite Pressure significantly lower than we have seen in a long had a preventative time. Yield reports for corn that has be prematurely miticide application earlier in the growing season. harvested (no ear) for silage have ranged from 3 to Six spotted thrips, continue to be the primary mite 6 tons/acre. A very rough “rule of thumb” I’ve predator in area corn. It is 1/15 inch and has three heard tossed around is one ton/acre per foot of plant small brown spots down each wing, six total thus height. Once remaining corn has pollinated and set the name six spotted thrips, (entomologists try to keep things simple). The spots are difficult to see Potential Weekly Water Use* without magnification. It is reported that the larvae of this thrips eats Crop Inches per week about ten mites eggs Corn VT 2.30 per day and the adult eats up to sixty mite Cotton 1st bloom 2.27 eggs per day. This predator has been Sorghum 5 leaf 1.34 known to completely eliminate spider mite *Weekly estimated crop water demands (inches of infestations from corn water per week) during the week ending July 13 but under current based on PET data from Lubbock. Six spotted thrips

97 Northwest Plains Pest Management News July 21, 2011 mite pressure and environmental conditions they is profitable to control the beetles. However, have their work cutout for them. But when insecticides can cause an outbreak of spider mites conserved they will make mite suppression much by destroying predators. Insecticide treatments for more stable and will limit re-infestation risks. adult beetle control should only be used when absolutely necessary. Fall armyworm egg masses and larvae have been observed in some area corn fields, while these Cotton - As mentioned previously many irrigated infestations have not cotton fields entered bloom with a high square set been extremely high and 7-8 NAWF. As these fields begin to develop to this point, this is bolls more moisture will be necessary to support the one pest that will fruit load. Moisture stress during this period may make me lose sleep lead to a shortened bloom period thus reducing at night; many times yield potential. Adequate irrigation to Maintain 6-7 it is difficult to NAWF over the next couple weeks then fading to 5 determine uniform NAWF Aug 7-10 would be a reference to shoot for. field infestation In general, pest pressure in cotton remains very levels, very difficult FAW egg mass and larva light. Once cotton is blooming fleahoppers are no to control once longer considered a pest established and no action thresholds are available but Lygus bugs can for guidance. Heavy infestations during pollination continue to damage cotton can limit grain set due to silk feeding . Control of during bloom through this pest with Bt hybrids is not as predictable and is early cutout. Lygus very dependant on the Bt technology used. Most of infestations, to this point, the newer stacked trait and Herculex hybrids have been extremely low. suppress FAW better than the old single trait Adults are 1/4 inch long, technology but this pest warrants continued have a conspicuous monitoring regardless of the Bt technology used. triangle in the center of the Western corn rootworm (WCRW) beetles have back, are winged, and vary been observed in many area fields, infestations in color from pale green to levels are highest in corn fields which were planted yellowish brown with to corn the previous year. Female western reddish brown to black Lygus adult rootworm beetles are yellow with black stripes; markings. male beetles vary from striped to nearly black.

Adult rootworm beetles feed on leaves, pollen and tassels, but they prefer silks. When adults are numerous (8 to 10 per plant) during the green silk stage and the silks Monti Vandiver are chewed back to Extension Agent-Integrated Pest Management within 1⁄2 inch of the Texas AgriLife Extension Service shuck, poorly filled 118 West Avenue C ears may result from Muleshoe, Texas 79347 poor pollination. When 806-272-4583 this amount of feeding occurs, or if excessive http://txipmnet.tamu.edu WCRW silk feeding leaf damage occurs, it http://bailey-tx.tamu.edu/

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98 Volume 10 Issue 9 Bailey and Parmer Counties July 28, 2011

Hot dry conditions continue to dominate Northwest Plains weather. Temperature forecasts for the next 7 days range from 97-101 degree highs and 68-72 degree lows. 75% of Texas is considered to be under “exceptional drought” conditions whitch is the most severe classification. Forecasts give little hope for precipitation in the next 10 days; I actually heard one weather forecaster state that precipitation was possible in the next ten days but it was also possible that he could win the lottery. If the

“weather man” wins the lottery the NW portion of * DD 60 based on May 1 Parmer County looks to have the greatest chance of ** Based on Muleshoe long term weather data 1971-2000 precipitation over the next few days. Southwestern Corn Borer (SWCB) is a major pest of non-Bt corn on the High Plains of Texas. They have a few alternative hosts including sorghum and johnsongrass but none are as preferred or suitable as corn. Adults are ¾ inch long white moths with no distinct markings other than tan scales along the veins of their wings. The wings, when at rest, are folded around the body in a tent like shape. Eggs are creamy white, flattened, approximately 1/8 inch in diameter and can be laid singly or in groups of 2 to 3 or more. When in groups eggs are laid in an Image provided by the National Weather Service overlapping pattern resembling fish scales. Eggs will develop 3 parallel red bands about 1 day after With little hope of significant precipitation in the they were laid. There are two color phases of larvae. near future, area crops will continue to struggle in In the summer larvae are white with conspicuous growth and development. dark brown to black spots.

Potential Weekly Water Use* Crop Inches per week Corn Silk 2.73 Cotton 1st bloom 2.48 Sorghum 5 leaf 1.68 SWCB adult and newly laid and red line eggs *Weekly estimated crop water demands (inches of Yield losses may occur as a direct result of stalk and water per week) during the week ending July 13 or ear shank feeding, as well as lodging. Small based on PET data from Lubbock.

99 Northwest Plains Pest Management News July 28, 2011 larvae will feed on leaves, ear shoots, husks, and Later planted fields (last week of May) have just silk for about 5 to 10 days before tunneling into the started to bloom and will need to be managed for stalk or ear shank and continuing to feed. earliness especially if adequate moisture is present and NAWF are greater than 8 going into bloom. Second generation SWCB will lay 75% of their eggs on the upper surface of the middle 7 leaves; In general, pest pressure in cotton remains very the ear leaf, two above and four below. Inspection light. Lygus infestations, to this point, have been should be concentrated in this zone. A sufficient extremely low. A few green stink bugs have been number of plants across the field should be noted in a few fields as well but again in low inspected to get an accurate representation of the numbers. percentage of plants infested with eggs or larvae. Striped flea beetles have been observed in very The established economic threshold for second high numbers (approximately 1000/100 sweeps) in generation SWCB is when 20 to 25% of plants are a field in northern Parmer infested with eggs on small larvae. County. The beetles are a Bt technology is very effective in suppressing bit over 1/8 inch long, SWCB but traditional hybrids must be carefully shiny black, with two monitored for this pest. There are a variety of yellowish stripes down insecticides available to manage SWCB in corn. their back. Adult beetles Timing is critical when making an insecticide are foliage feeders and application; insecticides must be applied prior to have been observed larvae boring into the stalk to be effective. feeding on cotton leaves Insecticides should be selected carefully; some are and bracts. There is very harsh on beneficial arthropods and may cause a little information about secondary outbreak of an existing sub-threshold this pest in cotton but spider mite population. should likely be managed Striped flea beetle based on plant defoliation. Spider mites continue to infest area corn. Corn fields which were treated early in the vegetative Other crops should be monitored for this pest as stage continue to look good but mites have began to well as the beetle has a wide host range which reinfest some fields. Curative miticide applications includes potatoes, sunflowers, tomatoes, peanuts, (Oberon for the most part) corn, cotton, peas, beans, watermelon, grapes and have performed very well pumpkins. thus far. I have several mite trials out evaluating labeled (Oberon, Onager and Comite) and some potential new products, but we are just beginning to collect Mite Pressure post treatment data. Six spotted thrips, continue to be the primary mite predator in area corn. This predator has been known Monti Vandiver to completely eliminate spider mite infestations Extension Agent-Integrated Pest Management from corn and have been making a significant Texas AgriLife Extension Service impact in mite populations. 118 West Avenue C Area Cotton has a wide range of development Muleshoe, Texas 79347 which in most cases is directly tied to available 806-272-4583 moisture. Most cotton is blooming; nodes above http://txipmnet.tamu.edu white flower (NAWF) counts have ranged from 3-9. http://bailey-tx.tamu.edu/

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100 Volume 10 Issue 10 Bailey and Parmer Counties August 4, 2011

Area irrigated agriculture producers continue to struggle maintaining their crops in these drought conditions. Dryland producers currently have nothing to maintain. According to the NOAA “US Seasonal Drought Outlook” current drought conditions will likely persist on the High Plains of Texas at least through October 31 but the eastern 1/3 of New Mexico may start to see some relief. The following map is from NOAA and depicts the US drought * DD 60 based on May 1 outlook from July 21-October 31, 2011. ** Based on Muleshoe long term weather data 1971-2000

Area Cotton for the most part is racing toward if not already reached cutout. Many fields which were at 7 nodes above white flower (NAWF) have declined to less than 5 in a week. In some cases two first position fruiting sites are blooming at the same time; under ideal conditions they should bloom 2.5-3 days apart. My theory is that under the harsh environmental conditions fruiting node development may have out paced the development of established squares. In addition plants simply do not have the resources to develop additional fruiting sites and continue to develop existing squares and bolls, something we generally don’t see till NAWF have dropped below 5. This, along with continued hot dry conditions, is resulting in some fields Potential Weekly Water Use* reaching cutout sooner than expected. Significant fruit shed is likely in many fields. I Crop Inches per week mentioned last week about managing some Corn blister 2.42 “late” fields for earliness, it appears mother nature is certainly doing her part to speed Cotton 1st bloom 2.19 maturity. Sorghum GPD 1.49 The cotton plant’s water use increases dramatically during the stage from first bloom *Weekly estimated crop water demands (inches of water per week) during the week ending July 13 to open boll. Measured as evapotranspiration based on PET data from Lubbock.

101 Northwest Plains Pest Management News August 4, 2011

vegetation in the terminal is not as attractive or suitable host plant compared to plants with lush growth. Larval survival in smaller drought stressed cotton is decreased especially when combined with high temperatures. Corn is the preferred host and with the vast maturity range of area corn, bollworm infestations could be sporadic depending on adjacent crops and crop conditions. Spider mites are present in most corn fields, infestations range from light to very heavy. Most preventative miticide applications are holding pretty well even though mites have started to build behind (water lost from the soil and the plant), water some applications in the use can be as high 0.4 inches per day or 2.8 more stressed fields. inches per week. Once blooming starts, cotton Miticide (primarily prefers frequent, low-volume applications of Oberon) applications to water rather than large, less frequent amounts. Mite Pressure well established mite This strategy minimizes the degree of water populations have performed very well and with stress between rain or irrigation and thus may a faster knock down than anticipated. increase fruit retention. Mite predators including six spotted thrips, In general, pest pressure in cotton remains very spider mite destroyers and minute pirate bugs light. As cotton continues to develop bolls, are abundant and are providing suppression but cotton bollworms may need a little help from a miticide under could become an heavy pressure. This is where choosing a issue. Adults are miticide soft on beneficials will pay big yellowish brown dividends. moths with a wing span of approximately 1.5 inches. Females have brown forewings while the male’s forewings exhibit more of an olive tint and both may have darker brown markings on their wings. Monti Vandiver Eggs are about the size Extension Agent-Integrated Pest Management of a pin head, white and Texas AgriLife Extension Service somewhat domed shaped 118 West Avenue C with ridges running from Muleshoe, Texas 79347 top to bottom. 806-272-4583

Drought stressed cotton http://txipmnet.tamu.edu General Cotton with little tender http://bailey-tx.tamu.edu/ Pest Pressure Educational programs conducted by Texas AgriLife Extension serve people of all ages regardless of socioeconomic level, race, color, sex, religion, handicap or national origin. The information given herein is for educational purposes only. References to commercial products or trade names is made with the understanding that no discrimination is intended and no endorsement by Texas AgriLife Extension is implied.

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102 Volume 10 Issue 11 Bailey and Parmer Counties August 11, 2011

Crops continue to challenge producers at every turn, many if not most, current issues are simply a culmination of this years hot, dry and windy weather conditions. At some point accumulated crop stress will overwhelm the plants ability to hold on. Dr. Bob Nielson (Extension Corn Specialist, Purdue University) presented me with a good analogy; “the crops ability to cope with stress is like a roller coaster, once you break over the top and start down there is nothing you * can do to stop it.” Some of our remaining crops DD 60 based on May 1 ** Based on Muleshoe long term weather data 1971-2000 are very near the top, some are on the way down and some have yet to get on the roller coaster. ears beginning to “hang” from the main stalk Over the last several days some corn fields have rather than remain upright. begun to shut down prematurely. It Corn can tolerate a limited number of extreme appears that the temperature days without significant impact but plants have and are continual very high temperatures, as we’ve seen simply giving up, in 2011, may eventually cause plants to begin to likely due to prematurely desiccate. Currently local weather cumulative effects stations have recorded daily temperatures equal of this summer's to or greater than 100 degrees three to five times heat and drought (depending on location) what is normally stress. Symptoms observed. These stressed plants will have include white leaves difficulty in filling grain and may cannibalize in the ear zone, ear stalks in an effort to achieve grain fill. This, in shucks turning turn, may lead to lodging issues as the field yellowish white and nears harvest. “Hanging” ear on corn plant I would consider the area irrigated cotton crop to be fair at best. Broad crop condition descriptions Potential Weekly Water Use* many times are the average of extremes. The Crop/Stage Inches per week area cotton is no different, irrigated cotton crop conditions range from very poor to pretty good. Corn/dough 2.33 Some later planted fields with good irrigation Cotton/max bloom 1.78 capacity look good but are late developing a good fruit load. Sorghum/flag 1.84 Cracked bolls have been observed in a few *Weekly estimated crop water demands (inches of cotton fields which set early fruit. As moisture water per week) during the week ending August 10 demands and temperatures ramped up the plant based on PET data from Lubbock.

103 Northwest Plains Pest Management News August 11, 2011 was unable to supply sufficient moisture to Fall armyworm egg masses have been observed maintain boll development. The bolls are not in alarming mature they are just drying up. numbers in some late planted corn A few bollworm moths have be fluttering fields. This pest around but worm infestations have not been should be closely detected in the fields I have visited. Cotton monitored in all Bt fields should be regularly monitored during technologies but periods of predicted egg lay. Whole plants this pest can wreak should be carefully inspected for eggs, larvae, havoc in non-Bt and key predators. Plants should be selected FAW egg mass and larva corn. If treatment from random sites is deemed necessary, selection of insecticide across a field to should be carefully considered. Choosing one obtain an accurate softer on beneficials will conserve natural estimate of the enemies and may prevent a subsequent spider bollworm population. mite outbreak. Numbers of bollworm eggs, Spider mite predators including six spotted larvae, and key thrips, spider mite destroyers and minute pirate predators should be bugs have really “made a hand” lately, some estimated on a per spider mite infestations near treatment levels Bollworm eggs acre basis. have been reduced to very low levels by these predators over the last Treatment may be justified in conventional week. Keep a close eye cotton if 10,000 small (1/4 inch or less) larvae on spider mite pressure as per acre are present. If larvae are 3/8 inch or they can rob yield till more in length then treatment will likely be corn reaches full dent; justified if 5,000 or more larvae per acre are after dent heavy mite present. Treatment decisions in Bt cotton should infestations may result in not be made based on small larvae since some poor stalk strength and feeding must occur before larvae are controlled. Mite Pressure lodging issues. Treatment of Bt cotton may be justified if 5,000 or more medium sized larvae (3/8 to ½ inch) per acre are present and square and/or boll damage is observed. High temperatures and small plant canopy will reduce larval survival so infestations just reaching threshold of newly hatched worms may warrant a wait and see approach for a couple days under current Monti Vandiver conditions. Extension Agent-Integrated Pest Management

A few Lygus have been Texas AgriLife Extension Service present in a few late 118 West Avenue C maturing cotton fields but Muleshoe, Texas 79347 infestations remain well 806-272-4583 below treatment General Cotton http://txipmnet.tamu.edu Pest Pressure thresholds. http://bailey-tx.tamu.edu/

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104 Volume 10 Issue 12 Bailey and Parmer Counties August 18, 2011

Harvest of mature silage corn has started in the area and “salvage” harvest of severely stressed corn continues. Some corn fields have really gone down hill this week and are not likely to finish filling grain. Cotton continues to undergo heavy fruit shed; in some instances to the point only 2-3 bolls per plant remain on the plant. Some remaining bolls are prematurely cracking as a result of extreme heat and dry conditions. With that said some area crops look * DD 60 based on May 1 pretty good for what they've gone through. So ** Based on Muleshoe long term weather data 1971-2000 what separates to good from the bad? My first thought would be different irrigation capacities Bollworm pressure remains very light thus far. which is very true in some instances but we are A few more moths have been observed in seeing extremely different crop conditions on cotton fields this fields with similar irrigation capacity. Under week compared to the extreme environmental conditions slight last but field differences in production practices may have infestations have had a significant impact on how the crop been near zero. “weathered the storm”. A few examples of Occasionally subtle production practices that appear to have slight feeding on stood out this year but might not have under blooms has been milder conditions are planting date, variety/ observed but, in hybrid selection, inter-row ripping, poor seed Cotton bollworm entering boll most cases, the bed, irrigation pattern/timing, soil compaction, culprit could not be found. Fall armyworms plant population, etc. Even slight variances (FAW) have been observed in other crops and seem to have made dramatic differences in may eventually infest cotton. It is important to current crop conditions. distinguish the two as control options will differ. Very small worms are extremely Potential Weekly Water Use* difficult to tell one from the other but as they get some size several key identifiers will be Crop/Stage Inches per week present. FAW will have Corn/dough 1.74 an inverted “Y” on it’s head, has a black spot on Cotton/max bloom 1.25 it’s side just behind the last pair of true legs, will Sorghum/boot 1.57 have a smooth somewhat *Weekly estimated crop water demands (inches of greasy appearance and water per week) during the week ending August 17 has 4 evenly spaced black Bollworm based on PET data from Lubbock. Pressure

105 Northwest Plains Pest Management News August 18, 2011 spots arranged in a rectangle on the eighth will initiate and worsen stalk rot in hybrids not abdominal segment. normally prone to stalk rot. Because of the similarity in damage and Fall armyworm egg masses detected in some difficulty in distinguishing small FAW larvae late planted corn fields last week have turned from bollworms, they should be included along into extreme infestations of worms this week. with bollworm counts and the threshold used Infestations as high as 110% have been should be accumulative. Bollworms are most observed. often controlled with pyrethroids, which are Spider mite infestations have declined to low generally weak against armyworms and FAW levels in many if not most fields. Once corn are typically controlled with a variety of reaches full dent spider mites can no longer insecticides that tend to be weak against impact yield but still could reduce stalk bollworms. Thus, when mixed populations of strength. armyworms and bollworms are encountered, it may be necessary to use tank mixes of insecticides to achieve adequate control of multiple species. Treatment may be justified in conventional cotton if 10,000 small (1/4 inch or less) larvae per acre are present. If larvae are 3/8 inch or more in length then treatment will likely be FAW Pressure Mite Pressure justified if 5,000 or more larvae per acre are present. Treatment decisions in Bt cotton should not be made based on small larvae since some feeding must occur before larvae are controlled. Treatment of Bt cotton may be Mark Your Calendar justified if 5,000 or more medium sized larvae Cotton Field Day (3/8 to ½ inch) per acre are present and square August 30, 2011 and/or boll damage is observed. High temperatures and small plant canopy will More details to follow. reduce larval survival so infestations just reaching threshold of newly hatched worms may warrant a couple days of a “wait and see” approach under current conditions. Stalk rot has been observed in area corn. Symptoms vary depending on the organism involved, but they all result in stalk decay and Monti Vandiver lodging which causes difficulty in harvesting. Extension Agent-Integrated Pest Management Yields are reduced by poor ear development Texas AgriLife Extension Service and by loss of ears on lodged plants at harvest 118 West Avenue C time. Muleshoe, Texas 79347 806-272-4583 Corn hybrids vary widely in their resistance to stalk rot and harsh environmental conditions http://txipmnet.tamu.edu http://bailey-tx.tamu.edu/

The Texas A&M System, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the Commissioners Courts of Texas Cooperating

106 Volume 10 Issue 13 Bailey and Parmer Counties August 25, 2011

Corn silage harvest is in high gear. In the past the beginning of silage harvest would bring rain but it looks like mother nature will once again go against the norm. A few mature cotton bolls have began to open in a few fields. Current heat unit accumulations (DD60) are 138% of normal (30 year long term average 1971-2000). Mother nature has provided plenty of energy for our crops but very few raw materials (precipitation). In order to build a crop with the abundant energy, we needed a lot of moisture to go along with it. Crops * DD 60 based on May 1 ** have been unable to utilize the excess energy which Based on Muleshoe long term weather data 1971-2000 has increased moisture demands in turn degrading crops due to moisture stress. condition seems to be linked to drought stress that Fall armyworm infestations in late planted corn, continues into the grain filling period. The ear shank sorghum, and forage sorghum fields have been high. simply can no longer support the ear and begins to Infestations as high as collapse. The ear shank is the supply line which 200% have been observed. delivers photosynthates to the ear to be used to fill grain. If this supply is cut off or significantly Trap capture data provided by Pat Porter have sky reduced yield will likely be compromised. If the rocketed recently which collapse occurs at dent just as the starch line forms, indicated continued high yield losses as high as 40% could be possible. Later infestation rates may onset of the condition near 50% starch line yield continue. Emerging tender losses would likely be around 12%. Most fields where ear droop is worst is in fields where moderate FAW Pressure wheat will be very attractive to FAW moths stress occurred early in the season allowing a larger and would make heavy infestations likely on early ear to develop which is now requiring more planted wheat. resources to fill. Drooping ears in corn continue to increase. This

Potential Weekly Water Use* Crop/Stage Inches per week Corn/dough 1.74 Cotton/max bloom 1.60 Sorghum/boot 1.91 *Weekly estimated crop water demands (inches of water per week) during the week ending August 24 based on PET data from Lubbock. Drooping ears in corn

107 Northwest Plains Pest Management News August 25, 2011

Spider mite infestations have declined to low levels in Cotton Field Day many if not most fields. Once corn reaches full dent spider August 30, 2011 mites can no longer impact The Texas AgriLife Extension Service will conduct yield but still could reduce a Cotton Field Day, Tuesday, August 30, 2011 stalk strength. Mite Pressure beginning at 9 a.m. The Field Day will start at the Mark Williams farm 5 miles NE of Farwell, TX on US 60 then 2 miles east on FM 3333 and will Bollworm pressure remains very light, with only conclude by noon or shortly after. occasional slight feeding on blooms has been noted Normally treatment may be justified in conventional The Field Day will be focused on three replicated cotton if 10,000 small (1/4 cotton variety trials in which 27 cotton varieties are inch or less) or 5,000 being evaluated as well as a cotton seed treatment medium (3/8 inch or greater) trial. Most cotton seed companies will have larvae per acre are present varieties represented. AgriLife Extension and ag but under current weather industry personnel will be on hand to answer and crop conditions these questions about the trials. numbers can be increased. Field Day directions are available online at the Bollworm Any boll which bloomed on Bailey AgriLife Extension web site, go to http:// Pressure or before August 5 has bailey-tx.tamu.edu and click on “Cotton Field Day accumulated 470 heat units Map” to view a map for the Field Day. The systems and is considered safe form bollworm damage. trial is NE of Farwell. You can click on each site for Minute pirate bugs are abundant in most area cotton more details of the trial at that location. For more fields. They typically inhabit the upper 1/3 of the information call AgriLife Extension; Monti cotton plant as well as other blooms. These very Vandiver or Curtis Preston at 806-272-4583 or small predators Benji Henderson at 806-481-3619. (approximately 1/8 inch) have the ability to quickly respond to increased prey. Minute pirate bugs will feed on many key cotton pests Minute pirate bug nymph and insect eggs including bollworm eggs and small larvae . They can consume one cotton bollworm egg per day and/ or 1 to 2 small larvae every 2 days. Monti Vandiver Extension Agent-Integrated Pest Management Texas AgriLife Extension Service 118 West Avenue C Muleshoe, Texas 79347 806-272-4583

http://txipmnet.tamu.edu Minute pirate bug adult feeding on bollworm http://bailey-tx.tamu.edu/

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108 Volume 10 Issue 14 Bailey and Parmer Counties September 1, 2011

Corn harvest continues in all stages of corn from salvage haying to silage chopping to combining for grain. Reported silage yields have varied greatly from field to field and have ranged from 12 to 30 tons/acre. Early grain yield reports have been very low, near 2,500 lbs/acre (likely very heavily stressed corn). I expect grain yields to improve considerably as harvest continues; there will be some very good yields but sadly they will not be the norm this year. The scenario appears to be the same in the cotton * DD 60 based on May 1 ** patch; but since cotton many times will deliver Based on Muleshoe long term weather data 1971-2000 more or less than what it looks like it might, I continue to hope for the best. With that said there conditions the numbers of small worms can be are many irrigated fields which just don’t have increased due an expected increased mortality. A much potential to surprise us for the good but mixed population of bollworms and fall armyworms hopefully those fields which do have more potential should be counted together and applied to the will deliver more than promised. There are some bollworm threshold above. When making treatment fields with tremendous yield potential in the area, decisions make sure you know if there is a mixed but as in corn, there are just not enough of them. population as treatment options will differ. Recent Bollworm pressure remains very light, a few small work done by Kerns and Anderson indicate that a worms feeding on blooms and small bolls have been tank mix of a pyrethroid and an armyworm material observed. More eggs have been found this week (Belt in this case) performed better on both species compared to last. It would be difficult for a than either product alone . significant worm population to become established in the more mature cotton which is hardened off. Normally treatment may be justified in conventional cotton if 10,000 small (1/4 inch or less) or 5,000 medium (3/8 inch or greater) larvae per acre are present but under current weather and crop

Potential Weekly Water Use* Crop/Stage Inches per week Corn 1.70 Cotton .94-1.56 Sorghum 1.61-1.87 *Weekly estimated crop water demands (inches of water per week) during the week ending August 31 based on PET data from Lubbock.

109 Northwest Plains Pest Management News September 1, 2011

There are several other Early planted wheat is a risky proposition at potential tank mix partners present. Fall armyworm, beet armyworm and army that might be considered as cutworm infestations not to mention extremely hot well as a couple new dry conditions could make stand establishment products. Prevathon difficult and costly. Delayed planting will help (rynaxypyr) is a new avoid potential armyworm damage but if cattle are lepidopteron material that scheduled for a specific delivery date one may have has shown promise as a Bollworm to get the wheat planted. If wheat must be planted it good tank mix partner and Pressure should be closely and regularly monitored after it appears to be particularly “hot” on fall armyworms. emerges for armyworm infestations. Besiege, a new all in one product, is also available; it is a premix of lamda-cyhalothrin and Cotton Field Day Chlorantraniliprole. The Chlorantraniliprole September 6, 2011 component is expected to be particularly effective on fall armyworms. 11:00 AM Any boll which bloomed on or before August 13 The turn-row meeting will be held at the Luke has accumulated 450 heat Steelman Farm directly behind Luke’s house. units or more and is Specifically on the west side of the circle which is considered safe form located on CR 14, 1 mile North of CR N and just bollworm damage. South of Parmerton Dairy. A customer appreciation Normally we would not lunch will follow at the Friona gin following the receive enough heat units turn-row meeting. For more information contact to justify protecting the Benji Henderson at 806-481-3619. later bolls but at our The Bailey–Parmer Cotton Field Day was held current pace we should be able to extend our August 30, if you were unable to attend and would effective bloom period some. like to take a look at some of the local cotton trials Verticillium wilt has began to show up in some feel free to contact the Extension office. cotton fields. Normally hot dry conditions are not There are several industry field days scheduled in favorable for verticillium development but disease September as well. These opportunities will provide symptoms have producers an chance to gather information from been observed sponsoring companies about their current and future in fields planted products. to susceptible varieties. Fields should be evaluated as fall progresses to get a handle on disease presence and density to be able to make better variety selection for individual fields next Monti Vandiver year. Extension Agent-Integrated Pest Management Texas AgriLife Extension Service Stalk rot has caused some corn to began to lodge; thus far lodging has been minimal but as corn 118 West Avenue C continues to dry, stalks will weaken further. Keep a Muleshoe, Texas 79347 close eye on fields as they dry down and schedule 806-272-4583 harvest accordingly to minimize field losses. http://txipmnet.tamu.edu http://bailey-tx.tamu.edu/

The Texas A&M System, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the Commissioners Courts of Texas Cooperating

110 Volume 10 Issue 15 Bailey and Parmer Counties October 6, 2011

Harvest operations continue in area corn fields and have began in a few cotton patches. Corn yields have been disappointing for the most part but a few fields have actually produced remarkably well considering the environmental conditions during the growing season. Extreme temperatures have taken their toll and, in addition, little precipitation was * DD 60 based on May 1 received to offset the ** Based on Muleshoe long term weather data 1971-2000 additional moisture demands caused by the which bloomed before Aug 8 has extreme temperatures. accumulated 850 heat units and is Reported grain yields considered fully mature. One caveat to this have ranged from near method is that it assumes normal crop Precipitation to date 40 bu/acre to a few development; plants under extreme drought normal = 15.6 exceeding 230 bu/acre; stress may not develop at the generally yield reports most often expected pace. Nodes above upper most fall into a range between 90 and 135 bu/ cracked boll (NACB) have ranged from acre. To put these numbers into less than 2 to over 7. Cotton is considered perspective, the Parmer County average ready for a harvest aid application when corn yield in 2009 was 217 bu/acre. NACB reaches 4. The following harvest Cotton harvest has kicked off but not on a aid information was taken from the Texas large scale. Cotton harvest aids are being AgriLife Extension Service “2011 High applied to condition the area cotton for Plains and Northern Rolling Plains Cotton harvest. Using the accumulated heat unit Harvest-Aid Guide” prepared by Dr. Mark method to determine boll maturity any boll Kelly, et al.

Potential Weekly Water Use* **Special Announcement** The Texas Department of Agriculture regulates the Crop/Stage Inches per week shipment of certain cotton products and equipment traveling from quarantined areas in the state. There Wheat .63 is a danger of reintroducing the boll weevil into Sorghum soft dough 1.20 eradicated areas by moving items such as gin waste and cotton burrs into eradicated areas. For more *Weekly estimated crop water demands (inches of information contact Dr. Robert Crocker, TDA, 512- water per week) during the week ending Oct 5 463-6332 based on PET data from Lubbock.

111 2011 HIGH PLAINS COTTON HARVEST-AID DECISION TABLE NOT ALL TREATMENTS ARE EQUALLY EFFECTIVE RATES LISTED ARE UNITS OF PRODUCT PER ACRE

CROP CONDITION DRY DRY WET TEMPERATURES TEMPERATURES TEMPERATURES GREATER THAN 80⁰ F LESS THAN 80⁰ F LESS THAN 75⁰ F (0‐3 DAYS AFTER TREATMENT) (0‐3 DAYS AFTER TREATMENT) (0‐3 DAYS AFTER TREATMENT) Gramoxone Inteon 8‐16 oz1 Gramoxone Inteon 8‐16 oz1 Gramoxone Inteon 8‐16 oz1 HEIGHT: Firestorm or Parazone 5.3‐10.7 oz1 Firestorm or Parazone 5.3‐10.7 oz1 Firestorm or Parazone 5.3‐10.7 oz1 Short Gramoxone Inteon 4‐8 oz Gramoxone Inteon 8‐12 oz Gramoxone Inteon 8‐12 oz 12‐14 inches followed by (FB) Gramoxone Inteon FB Gramoxone Inteon up to 48 oz FB Gramoxone Inteon up to 48 oz up to 48 oz total2 total2 total2 YIELD: Firestorm or Parazone 2.6‐5.3 oz Firestorm or Parazone 2.6‐5.3 oz Firestorm or Parazone 2.6‐5.3 oz up to 500 lb/acre FB Firestorm up to 32 oz total2 FB Firestorm up to 32 oz total2 FB Firestorm up to 32 oz total2 or Parazone up to 32 oz total3 or Parazone up to 32 oz total3 or Parazone up to 32 oz total3 Gramoxone Inteon 6‐10 oz Gramoxone Inteon 8‐12 oz Gramoxone Inteon 10‐24 oz + defoliant/desiccant4 + defoliant/desiccant4 + defoliant/desiccant4 Firestorm or Parazone 4‐6.7 oz + Firestorm or Parazone 5.3‐8 oz Firestorm or Parazone 6.7‐16 oz defoliant/desiccant4 + defoliant/desiccant4 + defoliant/desiccant4 Ginstar 6‐8 oz banded Ginstar 8 oz banded Ginstar 8‐10 oz banded

Aim EC 1 oz + COC Aim EC 1 oz + COC Aim EC 1 oz + COC with or without defoliant/desiccant with or without defoliant/desiccant with or without defoliant/desiccant Aim EC 1 oz + COC Aim EC 1 oz + COC Aim EC 1 oz + COC FB Aim EC 1 oz + COC5 FB Aim EC 1 oz + COC5 FB Aim EC 1 oz + COC5 ET 1.5‐2 oz + COC ET 1.5‐2 oz + COC ET 1.5‐2 oz + COC with or without defoliant/desiccant with or without defoliant/desiccant with or without defoliant/desiccant

ET 1.5‐2 oz + COC ET 1.5‐2 oz + COC ET 1.5‐2 oz + COC FB ET 1.5‐2 oz + COC5 FB ET 1.5‐2 oz + COC5 FB ET 1.5‐2 oz + COC5

Blizzard 0.5‐0.6 oz + COC Blizzard 0.5‐0.6 oz + COC Blizzard 0.5‐0.6 oz + COC with or without defoliant/desiccant with or without defoliant/desiccant with or without defoliant/desiccant

Blizzard 0.5‐0.6 oz + COC Blizzard 0.5‐0.6 oz + COC Blizzard 0.5‐0.6 oz + COC FB Blizzard 0.5‐0.6 oz + COC5 FB Blizzard 0.5‐0.6 oz + COC5 FB Blizzard 0.5‐0.6 oz + COC5 Resource 6‐8 oz + COC FB Resource Resource 6‐8 oz + COC FB Resource Resource 6‐8 oz + COC FB Resource 4‐6 oz + COC5 4‐6 oz + COC5 4‐6 oz + COC5

112 2011 HIGH PLAINS COTTON HARVEST-AID DECISION TABLE (continued) NOT ALL TREATMENTS ARE EQUALLY EFFECTIVE RATES LISTED ARE UNITS OF PRODUCT PER ACRE

CROP CONDITION DRY DRY WET TEMPERATURES TEMPERATURES TEMPERATURES GREATER THAN 80⁰ F LESS THAN 80⁰ F LESS THAN 75⁰ F (0‐3 DAYS AFTER TREATMENT) (0‐3 DAYS AFTER TREATMENT) (0‐3 DAYS AFTER TREATMENT) FOR TREATMENTS LISTED BELOW, A SEQUENTIAL APPLICATION OF PARAQUAT (OR OTHER DESICCANT ACTIVITY PRODUCT) 10‐14 DAYS AFTER INITIAL TREATMENT WILL LIKELY BE HEIGHT: NECESSARY TO SUFFICIENTLY CONDITION CROP Medium Gramoxone Inteon 6‐10 oz1 Gramoxone Inteon 8‐12 oz1 Gramoxone Inteon 10‐24 oz1 15‐24 inches + defoliant/desiccant4 + defoliant/desiccant4 + defoliant/desiccant4 1 1 1 YIELD: Firestorm or Parazone 4‐6.7 oz Firestorm or Parazone 5.3‐8 oz Firestorm or Parazone 6.7‐16 oz + 4 4 4 500+ lb/acre + defoliant/desiccant + defoliant/desiccant defoliant/desiccant Gramoxone Inteon 4‐8 oz Gramoxone Inteon 6‐8 oz followed by (FB) FB Gramoxone Inteon up to 48 oz – Gramoxone Inteon up to 48 oz total2 total2 Firestorm or Parazone 2.6‐5.3 oz Firestorm or Parazone 4‐5.3 oz FB Firestorm up to 32 oz total2 FB Firestorm up to 32 oz total2 – or Parazone up to 32 oz total3 or Parazone up to 32 oz total3 Ginstar 6‐8 oz Ginstar 8 oz Ginstar 8‐10 oz Aim EC 1 oz + COC Aim EC 1 oz + COC Aim EC 1 oz + COC + defoliant/desiccant + defoliant/desiccant + defoliant/desiccant Aim EC 1 oz + COC Aim EC 1 oz + COC Aim EC 1 oz + COC FB Aim EC 1 oz + COC5 FB Aim EC 1 oz + COC5 FB Aim EC 1 oz + COC5

ET 1.5‐2 oz + COC ET 1.5‐2 oz + COC ET 1.5‐2 oz + COC with or without defoliant/desiccant with or without defoliant/desiccant with or without defoliant/desiccant ET 1.5‐2 oz + COC ET 1.5‐2 oz + COC ET 1.5‐2 oz + COC FB ET 1.5‐2 oz + COC5 FB ET 1.5‐2 oz + COC5 FB ET 1.5‐2 oz + COC5

Blizzard 0.5‐0.6 oz + COC Blizzard 0.5‐0.6 oz + COC Blizzard 0.5‐0.6 oz + COC with or without defoliant/desiccant with or without defoliant/desiccant with or without defoliant/desiccant Blizzard 0.5‐0.6 oz + COC Blizzard 0.5‐0.6 oz + COC Blizzard 0.5‐0.6 oz + COC FB Blizzard 0.5‐0.6 oz + COC5 FB Blizzard 0.5‐0.6 oz + COC5 FB Blizzard 0.5‐0.6 oz + COC5 Resource 6‐8 oz + COC Resource 6‐8 oz + COC Resource 6‐8 oz + COC FB Resource 4‐6 oz + COC5 FB Resource 4‐6 oz + COC5 FB Resource 4‐6 oz + COC5 Prep 16 oz + Ginstar 3‐5 oz Prep 16‐21 oz6 + Ginstar 3‐5 oz Prep 21 oz6 + Ginstar 3‐5 oz Prep 16‐21 oz + Folex 8‐16 oz Prep 16‐21 oz6 + Folex 16 oz Prep 21 oz6 + Folex 16 oz Prep 16‐21 oz Prep 16‐21 oz6 Prep 21 oz6 + Aim EC 1 oz + COC + Aim EC 1 oz + COC + Aim EC 1 oz + COC or + Blizzard 0.5‐0.6 oz + COC or + Blizzard 0.5‐0.6 oz + COC or + Blizzard 0.5‐0.6 oz + COC or + ET 1.5 oz + COC or + ET 1.5 oz + COC or + ET 1.5 oz + COC 5 or + Resource 6‐8 oz + COC or + Resource 6‐8 oz5 + COC or + Resource 6‐8 oz5 + COC Finish 6 Pro 21 oz + defoliant Finish 6 Pro 21‐32 oz6 Finish 6 Pro 21‐42 oz6 (Folex 8 oz or Ginstar 3‐5 oz) (defoliant may be required) (defoliant may be required) 6 6 FirstPick 3 pts + Ginstar 3 oz FirstPick 3‐4 pts + Ginstar 5 oz FirstPick 4 pts + Ginstar 6‐8 oz

113 2011 HIGH PLAINS COTTON HARVEST-AID DECISION TABLE (continued) NOT ALL TREATMENTS ARE EQUALLY EFFECTIVE RATES LISTED ARE UNITS OF PRODUCT PER ACRE

DRY DRY WET TEMPERATURES TEMPERATURES TEMPERATURES CROP CONDITION GREATER THAN 80⁰ F LESS THAN 80⁰ F LESS THAN 75⁰ F (0‐3 DAYS AFTER TREATMENT) (0‐3 DAYS AFTER TREATMENT) (0‐3 DAYS AFTER TREATMENT) FOR TREATMENTS LISTED BELOW, A SEQUENTIAL APPLICATION OF PARAQUAT (OR OTHER DESICCANT ACTIVITY PRODUCT) 10‐14 DAYS AFTER INITIAL TREATMENT WILL LIKELY BE HEIGHT: NECESSARY TO SUFFICIENTLY CONDITION CROP Greater than 24 inches Prep 21 oz + Folex 8‐16 oz Prep 21 oz + Folex 16 oz Prep 21‐28 oz6 + Folex 16 oz Finish 6 Pro 21 oz Finish 6 Pro 21‐32 oz6 Finish 6 Pro 32‐42 oz6 YIELD: + defoliant + defoliant + defoliant 1000+ lb/acre (Folex 8 oz or Ginstar 3‐5 oz) (Folex 8‐10 oz or Ginstar 4‐6 oz) (Folex 8‐10 oz or Ginstar 6‐8 oz) Finish 6 Pro 21 oz Finish 6 Pro 21‐326 oz Finish 6 Pro 32‐426 oz + Aim EC 1 oz + COC + Aim EC 1 oz + COC + Aim EC 1 oz + COC or + Blizzard 0.5‐0.6 oz + COC or + Blizzard 0.5‐0.6 oz + COC or + Blizzard 0.5‐0.6 oz + COC or + ET 1.5 oz + COC or + ET 1.5 oz + COC or + ET 1.5 oz + COC 5 or + Resource 6‐8 oz + COC or + Resource 6‐8 oz5 + COC or + Resource 6‐8 oz5 + COC Prep 21 oz + Ginstar 3‐5 oz Prep 21‐24 oz6 + Ginstar 4‐6 oz Prep 24‐326 oz + Ginstar 6‐8 oz Prep 21 oz Prep 21‐24 oz6 Prep 24‐326 oz + Aim EC 1 oz + COC + Aim EC 1 oz + COC + Aim EC 1 oz + COC or + Blizzard 0.5‐0.6 oz + COC or + Blizzard 0.5‐0.6 oz + COC or + Blizzard 0.5‐0.6 oz + COC or + ET 1.5 oz + COC or + ET 1.5 oz + COC or + ET 1.5 oz + COC 5 or + Resource 6‐8 oz + COC or + Resource 6‐8 oz5 + COC or + Resource 6‐8 oz5 + COC FirstPick 3‐4pts + Ginstar 3‐5 oz FirstPick 4‐5 pts6 + Ginstar 6‐8 oz FirstPick 6‐7pts6 + Ginstar 6‐8 oz FirstPick 3‐4 pts FirstPick 4‐5 pts6 FirstPick 6‐7 pts6 + Aim EC 1 oz + COC + Aim EC 1 oz + COC + Aim EC 1 oz + COC or + Blizzard 0.5‐0.6 oz + COC or + Blizzard 0.5‐0.6 oz + COC or + Blizzard 0.5‐0.6 oz + COC or + ET 1.5 oz + COC or + ET 1.5 oz + COC or + ET 1.5 oz + COC 5 or + Resource 6‐8 oz + COC or + Resource 6‐8 oz5 + COC or + Resource 6‐8 oz5 + COC Ginstar 6‐8 oz Ginstar 8 oz Ginstar 8‐10 oz CONDITIONING TREATMENT ONLY (Apply after daily heat units drop below 5, but 7 days before average first killing freeze date) LATE Gramoxone Inteon 4‐8 oz Gramoxone Inteon 6‐12 oz Gramoxone Inteon 10‐16 oz MATURING Firestorm or Parazone 2.6‐5.3 oz Firestorm or Parazone 4‐8 oz Firestorm or Parazone 6.7‐10.7 oz Prep 21‐24 oz Prep 21‐32 oz6 Prep 32‐42 oz6 Prep 21‐24 oz Prep 21‐32 oz6 Prep 24‐32 oz6 + Folex 8 oz + Folex 8 oz + Folex 16 oz or + Ginstar 8 oz or + Ginstar 8 oz or + Ginstar 8‐16 oz or + Aim EC 1 oz + COC or + Aim EC 1 oz + COC or + Aim EC 1 oz + COC or + Blizzard 0.5‐0.6 oz + COC or + Blizzard 0.5‐0.6 oz + COC or + Blizzard 0.5‐0.6 oz + COC or + ET 1.5 oz + COC or + ET 1.5 oz + COC or + ET 1.5 oz + COC 5 5 5 or + Resource 6‐8 oz + COC or + Resource 6‐8 oz + COC or + Resource 6‐8 oz + COC

114 FOOTNOTES FB=Followed by 1- Use on cotton with natural leaf shed. High rates can cause green, healthy leaves to stick. Always use a non-ionic surfactant when applying paraquat-based products (Gramoxone Inteon, Firestorm, Parazone). There is some concern for the single high dose rate on hairy-leaf cotton varieties. Poor leaf grades may be obtained. Make sure the cotton has 80% open bolls at application, use enough paraquat to completely kill all foliage, then stripper harvest only when leaves are dry enough to “crunch” when crushed by hand. Avoid stripper harvesting moist, dead leaves or high leaf grades may be encountered. 2 -No more than 48 oz/acre total of Gramoxone Inteon or no more than 32 oz/acre total of Firestorm may be applied (in up to 3 multiple applications) in one season based on the Texas Special Local Need 24c label. The need for and rate of Gramoxone Inteon or Firestorm in a second application will depend upon green leaves remaining. Use higher rates if regrowth is excessive. 3 -No more than 32oz/acre total of Parazone may be applied (in up to 3 multiple applications) in one season based on the current label. The need for and rate of Parazone in a second application will depend upon green leaves remaining. Use higher rates if regrowth is excessive. 4 -Tankmix partners with Gramoxone Inteon, Firestorm, or Parazone can include sodium chlorate, Folex, Aim, Blizzard, ET, and Resource. 5 -No more than: 3.2 oz/acre total of Aim 2EC, 1.25 oz/acre total of Blizzard, 5.5 oz/acre total (in no more than 2 applications) of ET, and 14 oz/acre (in no more than 2 applications with a maximum of 8 oz/acre per single application) of Resource may be applied during the growing season. 6 -Ethephon-based product (such as Finish 6 Pro, FirstPick, Prep, Super Boll, Boll’d, Boll Buster, and Setup) activity is determined by rate and temperature. At lower temperatures, boll opening response can be enhanced by increasing rate.

Conversion Table for Gramoxone Inteon, and Firestorm and Parazone for Equivalent Paraquat Active Ingredient Rates

Paraquat FIRESTORM and PARAZONE (3 GRAMOXONE INTEON (2 LB/GAL) (Active LB/GAL) Ingredient) Approximate Approximate Product Oz / Acre Product Oz / Acre Lb/Acre Acres/Gal Acres/Gal 0.0625 4 32 2.6 48 0.0938 6 21.3 4 32 0.1250 8 16 5.3 24 0.1563 10 12.8 6.7 19 0.1870 12 10.7 8 16 0.2500 16 8 10.7 12 0.3750 24 5.3 16 8 0.5000 32 4 21.3 6 0.7500 48 2.7 32 4

115 Brand Names and Similar Products

COMMONLY USED SIMILAR PRODUCT Boll'd (Agrisolutions) Boll Buster (Loveland Products) Ethephon‐6 (Arysta Lifescience) Prep (ethephon, 6 lb/gal) Flash (3 lb/gal, Helena) Setup 6SL (MANA) Super Boll (Nufarm) Adios (Arysta Lifescience) Ginstar EC (thidiazuron + diuron) Cutout (Nufarm) Redi‐Pik 1.5EC (MANA) Daze 4SC (Agrisolutions) Dropp SC (thidiazuron ‐ not normally used in the FreeFall SC (Nufarm) High Plains due to low termperature sensitivity) Klean‐Pik (MANA) Take Down SC (Loveland Products)

Def (tribufos) ‐ Discontinued by Bayer CropScience Folex (Amvac)

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