Somehow this crop manages to hang on despite most folks now reaching somewhere in the neighborhood of around 80+ days of any kind of significant rainfall of .5″ or more. We are seeing very little square or boll shed at this time. Overall square and boll retention is right around 86% at this time, which is still to high and we will see some fruit shed before the season is over regardless. We still have a small amount, somewhere between 10% and 15% of our cotton that has not started blooming. These fields will have very limited yield potential unless we have a long, warm fall and get some rain soon. About 45% of our fields are finished with blooms at the top or 1 NAWF. The remaining fields are sitting in pretty good shape with most somewhere between 4 and 6 NAWF. These fields should bloom to the top between Aug. 22nd and Aug. 29. Fairly close to our average final bloom date.
Most all pests remain low at this time, but there are a couple that we need to keep a close watch on. Stink bugs are still out there, just not in economic numbers. We can find 1-3 in many fields, but not large numbers. Also split bolls to see if they are feeding. Be sure and split 4-10 day old bolls, about 1″ in diameter. These are the bolls that the stink bugs are generally going to be feeding on. Larger bolls may be old damage. A handful of stink bugs with no damage will not warrant an application. Also keep in mind we are starting to pick up both aphids and spider mites in the area. Aphids tend to be found more in the irrigated fields and the spider mites are more in the dry land fields. Any application for stink bugs will most likely flare one or both of these pests up.
For the spider mites, I have been finding them in non-typical area this year. Not necessarily along roads, in dusty areas, or high traffic areas, or next to wheat or pastures. Instead I have been finding them 200-400 ft. out into fields. They may only be on 20-30 rows and then play out. Making a border treatment may not be an option this year. We need to do everything we can to preserve our beneficials.
