*Regulating Growth in South Alabama Cotton ..................D. Monks and D. Delaney
*Yellow Cotton and Nematodes in North Alabama............C. Burmester
*Sulfur Deficiency on Cotton..............................................C. Mitchell
*Vote for Farm Assistance................................................ B. Goodman
*2001 Cotton Calendar......................................................D. Monks

Whether or not to apply mepiquat chloride (MC) to south Alabama cotton has been a very popular question in the last two weeks of June.  For the first time in a few springs, cotton fields are growing well as a result of the rainfall and warm temperatures that we have had to date.  However, producers seem to be a bit skeptical of applying MC to cotton grown on land that is only "a few days away from a drought" at any given time in July and August.  For that reason, many producers may be waiting until early bloom to make their first applications for vegetative growth control this year.  This seems to be a reasonable approach unless experience with particular fields and varieties or current crop height and vigor indicates otherwise.

Just like all production systems, producers have different approaches for making MC applications.  A "wickbar method" has been developed that some producers have used (see http://www.cropsci.ncsu.edu/ccn/2000/ccn-00-6b.htm).  According to N.C. State cotton specialist Dr. Keith Edmisten, "The greatest advantage the wick seems to have over spray applications
is that it is easier to apply Pix (MC) to tall cotton and avoid application to shorter, stressed cotton within the same field."  Regardless of the timing, the final results will depend on MC concentration in the plant.  For this reason, larger plants with more vegetation will have a higher dilution rate and will require higher application rates for similar effects compared to smaller plants.

Yellow Cotton:  Due to high rainfall through mid-June many fields have low areas in which cotton is noticeably yellow.  These areas were saturated with water and lost nitrogen to the atmosphere through denitrification. If these areas are large enough, additional nitrogen should be applied at a rate of 25-35 pounds per acre.  Even with the addition of N my experience is that it will take several weeks for these deficiency symptoms to disappear.  Often the cotton’s root system has been damaged by the wet conditions and recovery takes longer than we expect.

Nematodes:  Soil samples from problem fields indicate that reniform nematodes populations have  reproduced well this spring.  Symptoms are not obvious but generally include poor growth or stunted looking plants. Control of nematodes at this time of year is difficult.  Alabama research has shown some reniform nematode suppression with Temik sidedressed or a Vydate  foliar application at early squaring.  Sampling of problem fields should be done to determine if reniform nematodes are a problem.

June is when we notice it.  I used to think S deficiency on cotton was confined to the deep sandy soils of South Alabama.  That's where we usually see them.  In fact, we've seen some pretty dramatic S deficiency symptoms on cotton at E.V. Smith Research Center in Central Alabama this year.  Heavy rains in June have leached out available S in the sandy surface soils and kept cotton roots shallow, when soils dry out, we see the typical yellowing in the UPPER part of the plant.  Yellowing from nitrogen deficiency is expressed more in the lower leaves.  In fact, high N application can aggravate a marginal S deficiency.  Last year, Charlie Burmester reported S deficiency on a sandy soil in the Tennessee Valley.  We suspect but haven't confirmed S deficiency on cotton on a calcareous Black Belt soil this year.  In all cases, the topsoil is already low in S or low in organic matter, no S has been applied in the preplant or starter fertilizer, and some soil or environmental condition (e.g. wet soils, traffic pan, etc.) force the crop to have shallow roots.  Cotton at E.V. Smith Research Center that received a sulfate source of S in the starter fertilizer looks great beside the yellow, S-deficient cotton.

Diagnosing the problem:  A laboratory analysis of leaf blade samples from both "good" and "bad" cotton in the same field can quickly be used to diagnose a S deficiency.  Be sure to request both N and S analysis on the leaves and ask for a speedy turnaround time.  It is important to correct the problem quickly.  A good crop advisor may be able to diagnose a S deficiency just by asking the right questions and looking at the crop.  You can view several pictures of sulfur deficiency at our cotton website under the July 2001 Picksack Supplemental Photos.

Correcting the situation: Once cotton roots grow into the subsoil, S deficiencies usually go away.  However, a topdressing of any sulfate source of S at 20+ pounds sulfate-S per acre, will also do the job as long as rainfall or irrigation moves the fertilizer into the soil.  This can be about 100 pounds per acre of ammonium sulfate (21-0-0-24S), potassium sulfate (0-0-52-16S), potassium magnesium sulfate or sul-po-mag (0-0-21-23S), or even gypsum (18% S) if it can be applied.  Any of these products can be blended with urea or ammonium nitrate and applied over the top of cotton. Liquid ammonium thiosulfate (12-0-0-26S) can also be used with a liquid N source as a sidedress N. If moisture is adequate, the cotton will green up and grow normally within 2 weeks.  Don't use elemental or flowers of sulfur.  It's not plant available.

House Agriculture Committee Chairman Larry Combest (R-Texas) led support for House passage of economic assistance for farmers squeezed by low prices and high input costs for 2001 crops.  H.R. 2213, "The Crop Year 2001 Agricultural Economic Assistance Act," was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives without objection.  Agriculture Chairman Combest called for Senate action that must occur within weeks to ensure that the $5.5 billion funds get to producers before the funding authority expires with the end of the 2001 Fiscal Year, September 30.

"The important point is to move the process along," said Chairman Combest in advocating the bill's passage.  "Because the FY2001 funds will expire unless delivered to hard-pressed farmers by the end of September, it is imperative that a bill be sent to the President for signature before the August recess.  In my opinion, this amount is not sufficient to meet the minimum needs of our producers, and I intend to work further as this bill moves through the legislative process to improve the package."

$4.6 billion of the total is for Market Loss Assistance based on the AMTA transition payments, with the balance going to oilseeds, peanuts, wool and mohair and other producers.  Although current low  commodity prices and higher energy costs justify no less than the $5.5 billion provided in last year's Market Loss Assistance to row crop producers alone, Combest said there will be opportunities to improve upon the bill as it moves through the legislative process.

The bill includes:
Market Loss Assistance:  $4.6 billion in Market Loss Assistance to producers of AMTA crops (wheat, corn, grain sorghum, barley, oats, upland cotton, and rice);
Oilseeds Assistance:  $424 million in economic assistance to producers of oilseeds (soybeans, sunflower seed, rapeseed, canola, safflower, flaxseed, mustard seed);
Peanut Assistance:  $54 million in economic assistance to producers of peanuts;
Tobacco Assistance:  $129 million in economic assistance to producers of tobacco;
Wool and Mohair Assistance:  $17 million in economic assistance to producers of wool and mohair;
Cottonseed Assistance:  $85 million in economic assistance to producers and first handlers of cottonseed;
Specialty Crops Assistance:  Provision includes $26 million in grants to states to promote agriculture with $500,000 for each state and $1 million for Puerto Rico; $133 million in grants to states in amounts that represent the proportional value of specialty crops in each state relative to the national value of specialty crop production; and $10 million in payments to states for the processing, transportation, and distribution of commodities purchased under the Emergency Food Assistance Act (EFAP) of 1983;
Payment Limitations:  Increases payment limits on marketing loan gains and  deficiency payments to $150,000 per person for the 2001 crop.

The Senate has to vote on its version of the bill, then it goes to conference,  and then President has to sign the bill before it becomes law.  It is likely that the payment limit in the new (2002) farm bill will be raised to $150,000.  Probable "base-line" spending for ag in the new farm bill will be closer to $5 billion than $4 billion.  Remember that our "amber box" limit under the WTO is $9.1 billion.  The Sec. of Ag. chose to dump all of last years spending on commodity programs ($10+ billion) into a report to the WTO on amber box payments. This greatly upset Chair Combest and the commodity organizations.  In order to smooth things over,  the President is likely to sign this legislation.

Date                          Event                                                                                Contact
July 30, 31, Aug. 1    ALFA Commodity Conf., Birmingham                              ALFA
August 9                    Alabama Cotton Field Day                                               Chet Norris, TVSubstation
September 6              Prattville Field Day                                                           Don Moore
*CA- county agent.

Note: The DTN terminal at your local supply dealer has a category called "Local Information". The state agricultural statistics reporting service has a website update at: www.nass.usda.gov/weather/cpcurr/al-crop-weather

If you are receiving this newsletter via e-mail, please visit our website for additional cotton information at:
http://www.acesag.auburn.edu/dept/