CURRENT CROP CONDITIONS
The area cotton crop is continuing on schedule despite the rough start that some fields endured. Program fields are ranging from three to four true leaves to over 8 squares per plant. Square sets are ranging from less than 80% to 100%. Most producers with center pivot and drip irrigation have applied 0.5 to 1" of irrigation at this time. Producers with row irrigated cotton are setting these fields up for irrigation at this time. Most of the row irrigated fields in the program that have not received any appreciable precipitation have stopped growing and are beginning to shed squares.

WHAT THE SCOUTS ARE FINDING
The scouts are finding fleahoppers ranging from 0 to over 30 per 100 terminals. Fleahopper infestations are not wide spread at this time but hot spots are occurring within the County. Lygus bugs can be found in very low populations in most program fields. Cotton aphids can be found in the terminal area of plants in most fields, but the percent plants infested are very low. The average number of Boll weevils per trap are ranging from zero to a high of 6 but compared to last year, these numbers are down. Very few program fields are being treated for overwintering boll weevils at this time. Bollworm eggs are being found in most program fields ranging from 1000 to 8000 per acre with very few larvae being found. Beet armyworm egg masses are still being found in area fields with very few larvae developing to 1/4" in size.

COTTON FLEAHOPPER REACHING ECONOMIC THRESHOLD IN SEVERAL AREA FIELDS

As mentioned earlier, cotton fleahoppers are ranging from 0 to over 30 per 100 terminals. I do not have an easy answer as to why some fields have a heavy infestation and just across the turn row you would be hard pressed to find just one. Fields with silver leaf night shade and woolyleaf bursage tend to have higher numbers but we have fields with heavy infestations of fleahoppers with no weeds present and lacking adjacent habitat.

Scouting for this pest can be difficult at best. The adults will fly readily when disturbed so care must be taken when approaching the plants. Do not cast a shadow on the plant and gently handle the plant while inspecting for this pest. The immatures are fairly easy to spot in the terminal if you have excellent to good eyesight. The adults are about 1/8" in length and are pale green in color and the immatures resemble the adults but are minute and somewhat clear until they begin to feed.

During the first week of squaring, the economic threshold is 25 to 30 cotton fleahoppers per 100 terminals combined with less than 90 percent square set. In the second week of squaring, the economic threshold is 25 to 30 cotton fleahoppers per 100 terminals combined with less than 85 percent square set. Starting with the third week of squaring up to first bloom, the economic threshold is 25 to 30 cotton fleahoppers per 100 terminals combined with less than 75 percent square set.

I think it would be pertinent for me to include a little sage advice when using these thresholds. First and foremost, these thresholds are just a starting point and are not set in stone. For example, if you are sitting at 95% square set and you have a rapidly increasing number of fleahoppers ,say, a total of 40 adult fleahoppers per 100 terminals that appeared "over night" in your field, then I would be inclined to treat. If you elect not to treat, then you need to be scouting that field every two to three days keeping a close watch on your square set. If you are scouting every seven days and elect not to treat then your square set can easily drop to less than 60%.

Chronic infestations of fleahoppers can be a headache as well. Do not sit back and let your square set drop below 70% just because your population did not reach 20-30 per 100 terminals. If you consistently have 10 to 15 fleahoppers per 100 terminals with the presence of blasted squares for a period of two weeks then at sometime you have to treat the field and do so before you get below 70% square set.

Another little problem that needs to be brought to light is the problem of stretching your water too thin. Be honest with your ability to irrigate your crop. Why keep your square set above 75% if you are going to lose this fruit by not irrigating?