GENERAL CONDITIONS:

Last Friday's rainfall was welcome relief for some producers but to others is a disaster with the hail accompanying the moisture. There are unofficial estimates of 25 to 50 thousand acres of crop loss in Crosby County alone. Surviving cotton ranges from emergence to 4th true leaf.

THRIPS:

These insects will certainly have to be re-evaluated due to the large amounts of rain accompanied by high winds and to what extent the crop was damaged by those factors. Any soil incorporated insecticide residual would be called into question after 2 to 3 weeks of growth dilution plus a water-soaked plow layer then compounded with a burst of new, unprotected plant growth. The bottom line is to check fields with weedy margins and those bordering late wheat for a re-infestation of thrips.

BOLL WEEVIL:

Traps placed throughout Crosby and Floyd Counties have yielded a few weevils over the last week but are primarily in locations where this was historical and somewhat expected. There is no report of feeding damage in cotton at this time and traps have not been out long enough to yield accurate data at this point.

BEET ARMYWORM:

Some "beets" have been reported in southern Crosby County in non-program cotton next to the canyon but not in high enough numbers to treat and this was before the hail storm. The problem may have diminished considerably by now. BAW traps are being placed in both Counties this week. The next generation, if a problem, should appear in squaring and blooming cotton around the first week in July. Hopefully we will miss this.

ROUNDUP READY COTTON:

Most early May cotton has advanced to the fourth true leaf stage and is near the optimum time for treatment. A foliar insecticide for thrips may be needed if pest numbers and damage justify this action.

COTTON FLEAHOPPERS:

This is the next pest in line to cause problems for squaring cotton. They are very small, extremely fast and damage pin-head to match-head size cotton. It is extremely important that Fleahoppers be recognized when cotton begins to square or the early crop may be lost.

These insects have not been noted in program fields yet, but as pastures and field margins dry down, they can become a problem if not detected early.

REPLANTING COTTON ACREAGE:

Newly established crops where cotton was lost or hail-torn grain sorghum plants may be very attractive to cutworms and armyworms since these pests have had time to establish prior to crop planting. Check newly-planted fields religiously for the first few weeks until established.

Steve Davis
Extension Agent-IPM
Crosby/Floyd Counties

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