CURRENT CROP CONDITIONS
The area cotton crop is continuing on schedule with program fields ranging from 1/3 grown square to bloom boll. Square sets are still ranging from less than 70% to 95%. Currently, program fields have an average of 6 to 8 nodes above upper most white bloom (NAWF) with a range of 9 to 4. Most of the row irrigated fields are are in full bloom with an average of 5 to 6 nodes above upper most white bloom.

WHAT THE SCOUTS ARE FINDING
The scouts are still finding fleahoppers ranging from 0 to 15 per 100 terminals. Fleahopper infestations are still wide spread with more adults being found this week compared to last. Remember, fleahoppers are no longer considered a pest after cotton reaches full bloom. Lygus bugs are still increasing in area fields, with a few more economic infestations being found in fields adjacent to pasture and alfalfa.

Cotton aphid numbers have decreased this week but are still being found in every program field with most of these infestations still being found in the terminal area of plants and inside squares. Beneficials are keeping most of these infestations in check. I should warn you though that if anyone elects to treat bollworms with a synthetic pyrethroid, at this time you will probably have to come back with another material to control aphids.

We are still finding boll weevil egg laying and feeding punctures in a few area fields adjacent to habitat. Percent punctured fruit in these fields are running from 1 to 4% total punctures with most being egg laying punctures.

Bollworm eggs are still being found in most program fields and are ranging from 1000 to12000 per acre with larvae ranging from 0 to over 3,000 per acre. Remember, the economic threshold for bollworms is 8000 to 10,000 per acre.

BOLLWORM INFESTATIONS ARE SLOWLY BUILDING IN BLOOMING COTTON

Bollworm egg lays were extremely variable in blooming cotton late and early this week, with numbers per acre ranging from 500 to over 4000 per acre. Small and medium sized worms of every size can be found in most program fields ranging from 300 to over 3000 per acre. Square sets are starting to drop as much as 15 % in fields that are continually receiving these

light populations. As an observation, I am finding most of the significant square damage is taking place in fields that are starting their second and third week of bloom. At this time, blooming cotton is harboring high numbers of beneficials and in combination with the extreme heat worm numbers are being held in check. In most cases, we are finding where the worms have been but not the actual pest. Over the past two weeks, fields which have had higher populations of bollworms have reduced square sets of 10 to 15% with the worms not making it past 5 days. Most of the square damage is on third grown squares or smaller. Again, this makes management decisions pretty tough. This is what I would characterized as a slow nickel and dime type infestation. If the overall total number of worms per acre over a two to three week area exceed 8,000 to 10,000 worms per acre but at present you only have 2000 per acre knowing that the heat and beneficials are probably going to completely erase this infestation in the next five days, and you will take on more damage, what do you do? In most cases due to current economic conditions, producers are electing to let nature take its course.

PEANUT FIELD MEETING
Producers from Lubbock, Crosby, and Floyd counties are invited to an Extension Field Meeting on July 25 at 4 p.m. at Rusty Buckman's farm near the Lubbock Children's Home. Extension specialists will include: Robert Lemon, Chip Lee, and Calvin Trostle.

We will meet at the Texaco Food Mart parking lot, 1.1 mile northeast of Loop 289 on US 62-82 at 4 p.m.; and then proceed to the demonstration plots. After 4 p.m., call 777-0247 for directions. Refreshments will be provided by the Western Peanut Growers Association.

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