In the News - September 2009
Cotton progress: Some early-planted fields may see 30 percent yield losses
LITTLE ROCK - Estimated yield losses for cotton are growing each day rain
continues to fall, Tom Barber, extension cotton agronomist for the University of
Arkansas Division of Agriculture, said Thursday.
"As one farmer said yesterday: ‘The rain that gave us this crop is steadily
taking it away'," Barber said.
Damage to the cotton crop hinges on the amount of rain over the last few
weeks and its growth stage. Some fields have received barely an inch and some
10-12 inches. Approximately 30 percent to 40 percent of the crop got into the
ground during the early part of the planting window from April 15-May 1. The
rest was late planted.
"This cotton is showing the most damage from the rainfall and high humidity
with seeds germinating in the boll and hardlocked bolls," he said. "The damage
is greater in this early crop because the bolls were either open or cracking
when the majority of the rain hit.
"Bolls that have seeds germinating will have reduced fiber quality, weight
and little to no viable seed," Barber said. "In this early crop, many fields
will see at least 30 percent yield loss, some higher, some lower."
"The middle and late crop looks better because it is just starting to open
up, but we are losing at least 10 percent from boll rot," he said. "The late
crop was going to be lower yielding anyway so we didn't need any more
reduction."
Barber said if the rain continues through the weekend, there may be only a
"top crop" left to pick - those bolls remaining on the upper portion of the
plant.
The National Weather Service offices at North Little Rock and Memphis, Tenn.,
were both forecasting at least a 20 percent chance of rain through Saturday, but
said drier weather was expected starting Sunday.
Last year there were 620,000 acres of cotton, planted for both seed and
fiber, in Arkansas. This year, the acreage was down to 520,000, according to the
National Agricultural Statistics Service. Production in Arkansas was worth about
$349 million. Arkansas is the nation's No. 3 cotton growing state.
The Cooperative Extension Service is a part of the University of Arkansas
Division of Agriculture and offers its programs to all eligible persons
regardless of race, color, national origin, religion, gender, age, disability,
marital or veteran status, or any other legally protected status, and is an
Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.
September 24, 2009
By Mary Hightower
U of A Division of Agriculture
Media Contact: Mary Hightower
Extension Communications Specialist
U of A Division of Agriculture
Cooperative Extension Service
(501) 671-2126
mhightower@uaex.edu
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