General Conditions: Program cotton growth ranges from bloom/boll to cut out with fair square and boll set , however, fruit retention is questionable. Insect pest pressure is still relatively low over the two-county area.

Boll Weevil Numbers: None reported in program cotton fields or program traps this last week.

Grasshoppers have not been reported or seen as a problem in program fields this last week.

Beet Armyworm Larvae are not being reported in cotton and pumpkins this week. Moth trap numbers are decreasing and instances of larval occurrence are few.

Cotton Bollworms have been and remain sub- economic in program cotton. Populations ranging from 1500 to 3600 per acre in irrigated cotton with approximately the same number of eggs per acre are being noted. Very little ,if any damage has been recorded from these infestations. Heliothis moth traps continue to show sporadic activity at this time. Primarily, those irrigated fields that are approaching or that have reached peak bloom continue to be the ones at greatest risk for potential egg-lay and worm numbers. Dry-land program cotton has not been attractive to many insects other than infrequent infestations of the "banded-wing whitefly."

Beneficial Insects are still in cotton and pumpkins in relatively high numbers. There are still a large number of spiders in most crops . It is interesting to note that a large number of beneficials survived or were able to re-populate some pumpkins that were treated last week with Capture for squash bugs.

Pumpkins seem to be doing well with very few insect pest problems other than squash bugs . A relatively large population of Squash Bugs has been present all year but did not pose a real problem until the plants began to set fruit. With the heat , moisture and increased insect numbers, the fruiting process was more than some plants could take. No incidents of disease symptoms have been reported to date and most producers are applying preventative fungicides which have shown to be helpful in the past.

There are some meetings this month that should be worthwhile :

– August 14 – Briscoe County Cotton Meeting –
Contact Brandon Mcginty at (806) 823-2131 for information on time and location.

– August 17 – Triumph Seed Research – Contact Derek Racca at (806) 253-2584

– August 21 and 22 – Texas Corn Producers Board – (806) 763-2676 – Field tours and Legislative speakers