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About Us
County Impact Statements - Ashley County
Ashley County - "High on Cotton"
The 60,000 acres of cotton produced in Ashley county in 2001 represent
approximately a 9% increase from the previous year. In 2000 Ashley County was
the Number 1 yield per acre county in Arkansas with an average yield of 973
pounds per acre, with an estimated gross income of $30 million.
New challenges in cotton production have developed primarily due to the work
done by the boll weevil eradication program. As a result of this program,
producer are planting 94% of the cotton acreage in transgenic cotton varieties
for controlling the bollworm/budworm complex and for controlling weeds with
Roundup. Stink bugs have developed as the Number 1 insect pest.
Nematodes, tiny microscopic root parasites, have been identified as silent
yield robbers. Work is being done with soil fumigants to control these pests.
Hanging over the entire cotton program is low prices. Market prices well
below producers costs were consistent the entire 2001 market year.
Bruce Bond of Portland explains to producers the Telone
fumigation equipment for nematode control.
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Impacts
- Conducted Cotton Production & Marketing meeting in January for 60
producers. Discussing enhancing variety selection, nematode control, CotMan
and fertility.
- Conducted 2 cotton variety demonstrations with 42 varieties to determine
the most adapted varieties for Ashley County.
- Conducted 2 Telone demonstrations for control of nematodes.
- 100% of the 60,000 acres of cotton in the county selected the varieties
from results in the test.
- Cotton scout training was conducted in June for 17 cotton insect scouts
for both Extension and private scouts. This training prepared the scouts for
the upcoming season.
- Held weekly cotton scout and consultant meetings, to keep them
up-to-date on the latest insect pressure and situations.
- Wrote weekly cotton insect letter to 201 producers with latest
recommendations.
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