Things are starting out fairly slow for this point in the season but basically 0.0″ of rainfall has a lot to do with it. The scouts did not check a tremendous number of fields this week but what they did look at was all basically the same as what I have seen; cotyledon to 2 true-leaves, with a handful of thrips scattered throughout the field. Beneficial numbers are pretty low, but they generally are at this point in the season. Cotton fleahoppers (CFH) are being found on wild hosts like silverleaf nightshade and croton. Keep an eye out for these weeds and CFH as cotton begins squaring. We have very low levels of cotton aphids present in the area as well. Keep this in mind when making any insecticide application and do what you can to preserve beneficial insects to prevent flaring aphids. Most fields are pretty clean as far as weeds are concerned, but when it doesn’t rain weeds don’t germinate either. Most fields are basically shooting out of the ground and then sitting there as they try to catch their breath in this heat. As they develop a root system and the temperatures cool off they will begin to take off and grow. This coming week and the next we should see improved growth in most of these fields, especially if we can land a shower along the way.