HEAT UNIT ACCUMULATION UPDATE

As of June 13, 2002:

COTTON GROWTH: We have certainly had ample heat unit accumulation and enough time (for cotton planted in the first ten days of May) to have squaring cotton the latter part of this week. However, the majority is further behind with adverse conditions we have experienced. Seed in the ground to four true leaf is the general rule.

INSECT PROBLEMS:
Cotton is suffering from thrips infestations just about anywhere next to wheat and/or dried down turn rows. If there are any true leaves exposed, cotton will need to be scouted closely every three to four days and treated as needed . Should the thrips be reproducing (presence of adults and young is verified), and if true leaves are showing feeding damage, and an average of 1 thrips/true leaf is noted, justification certainly exists for foliar applied treatment. Acephate has been mentioned before, but other familiar and similar insecticides are :

Grasshoppers have been noted from southern counties of the High Plains and some local "hot spots" along the edge of the "Cap"-- field margins are very susceptible at this time with pastures and borders drying down with maturation of spring plants.

Should "hoppers" become a problem and the wind subsides long enough to apply an insecticide, use of organophosphate products listed below are recommended in the High Plains cotton guide:

FIELD RESEARCH has been resumed with replanting of cotton variety trials to good stands. Some short-season varieties have been implemented with some medium types as well. It will be interesting to see what happens at harvest. Thanks to Randy Boman, Eric Best, Kenny Melton, Billy Campbell and Randy Arnold for the second round of seed and to Matt Wilmeth and Jim Parkhill for allowing us to utilize planters again at such a busy time.

Bollworm, budworm and beet armyworm traps in all locations have sustained some wind damage again this week but valid trap numbers are being reported :

These are week-long samples, and at this time, numbers are insignificant to cause worry.

Boll Weevil trapping by the Texas Boll Weevil Eradication Foundation (TBWEF) remains low with only 0.013 weevils per trap in our High Plains zone as of June 2 , 2002.

REPEAT :TBWEF has issued a release regarding hailed-out cotton. Growers who destroy plants in weather-damaged fields, or who fail cotton for any other reason, by July 15 are eligible to receive a credit in the amount of their assessment provided they keep the fields free of hostable cotton until the first killing freeze. Cultural control is a very important part of Integrated Pest Management.

AFRICANIZED HONEY BEES have been captured south of Ralls. The Honey Bee Lab in College Station has confirmed the presence of these bees in Crosby County. This information ultimately means that we still have to wait another week until the bee inspector arrives from Corsicana to run his trap line(which is done on two week intervals) and determine if said bees are still present. At that time Mr. Baxter will either quarantine the county or will not depending upon evidence found. Will report when the information is available.

The scouting program is getting off to a slow start this year with early Farm Bill woes, the price of cotton in general and the adverse weather that has affected growers in our counties. We are currently scouting and finding treatable levels of thrips as reported earlier. Earlier cotton that has survived the wind, heavy rain, hail or drought will be squaring almost immediately which necessitates that young fruit will need to be monitored closely for fleahopper presence and the possibility of Lygus bugs in the very near future. The presence of these insects coupled with a square set of less than 90% during the first week of squaring is an indicator that treatment is advised. Please refer to Cotton Guides , E-6, Managing Cotton Insects in the High Plains of Texas and E-6A, Suggested Insecticides for Managing Cotton Insects in the High Plains of Texas, both available electronically and at your local County Extension Office. Information included herein will be helpful in decision-making for these elusive pests.

BENEFICIAL INSECTS and spiders are present and building in small cotton. We will be lucky to have levels similar to those recorded last year.

Steve Davis
Extension Agent-IPM
Crosby/Floyd Counties

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