The rain showers the past several weeks
have been a welcome site. It can still rain in the Concho Valley. It's amazing how fast everything has greened up. Cotton has really matured the past several days. Some producers have begun defoliating cotton and all the harvest-aid materials look good right now. Many producers are preparing fields for planting small grains. Refer to July 27, 2001 newsletter for results from last year's wheat variety trials.

It is approaching the time when some
decisions must be made on whether or not to wait till frost or to go ahead and apply a harvest-aid and get the crop out. Considering the potential impacts of adverse weather conditions, producers should view harvest aid applications as a means of reducing overall economic risk.

You must consider money already spent on producing this year's crop (herbicide, tech fees for RoundUp® and/or Bollgard® technology, fertilizer, etc.) and figure these expenses in on your investment in this crop. The yield potential of the crop must be factored in as well. We have many fields that are finishing up early this year. Realizing our average freeze date is around November 10-11, we could have open cotton sitting out there for six or more weeks. The highest quality that a boll has is when it first opens, and from that point on the lint and seed quality deteriorates. The weight also decreases. Hopefully, this information will help you in making harvest-aid decisions.

We have been receiving calls concerning the use of RoundUp® over-the-top to kill late-season weeds. Roundup UltraMax can be applied over-the-top once the crop has reached 20% open bolls. If producers choose to treat fields which are not 20% open bolls, they should recognize that they are still on the "salvage" portion of the Roundup UltraMax label and yield loss could occur.

Roundup UltraMax can also be applied as a harvest-aid material to conventional cotton specifically to target weed problems and/or to reduce regrowth potential. Effective silverleaf nightshade (whiteweed) control can be observed in the following season with an application of 26-52 ounces per acre of Roundup UltraMax when weeds are in the green-berry stage. Control of severe weed infestations may be increased by the higher rate. Research has shown that reductions in weed populations of up to 97 percent can be obtained from such an application. Applications made in September should target cotton that is 50-80 percent open. After October 1, cotton can be treated when 30 percent of the bolls are open. Regrowth in Roundup Ready cotton varieties will not be controlled by Roundup Ultra application. Roundup UltraMax also should not be applied to fields grown for seed production since viability and/or vigor of seed will likely be reduced.
SMALL GRAINS

There have been a lot of questions recently on variety selecting. What variety is best for forage production? Which one for grain production? Which one is best for both? First off, when choosing a wheat variety, look at seed size, germination and seedling vigor. You want a minimum test weight of at least 56 lbs. per bushel and a germination rate of at least 85%. Good quality is essential in getting a quick stand which will improve early season forage production. The seedling rate you use will depend upon seed size. Large heavy seed is better than small light seed. Use a higher seeding rate when planting, primarily for forage production.

Soil testing will help gauge the crop's fertilizer needs. The general rule of thumb on wheat fertility for grain only is to apply 1½ pounds of nitrogen for every bushel of grain the crop should produce, after residual soil nitrogen is accounted for. A rule of thumb to follow for forage production is that 60 to 80 pounds of nitrogen will be required for each ton of dry forage produced.

If grazing and grain production is your goal then apply about 2 pounds of nitrogen for every bushel of your yield goal, followed by a topdress application at jointing with 3/4 lb. of nitrogen per bushel of yield goal after you've pulled the cattle off. But don't neglect phosphorus in your fertility plan. Adequate phosphorus promotes early forage production.

Deep banding phosphorus is a better bet than a broadcast, incorporated surface application because it puts phosphorus further down in the root zone where it is likely to dry out. This is particularly important for dryland production where the surface soil dries out and uptake of immobile P cannot occur. In contrast, N is mobile in the soil and uptake is usually not a concern. Another P option is to apply phosphorus in the seed furrow at planting–by mixing dry fertilizer with the seed or by directly applying liquid fertilizer into the seed furrow.

There have been some questions about armyworms in volunteer wheat. There are some isolated infestations of fall armyworms in volunteer wheat as well as sod webworm infestations. Once the volunteer is plowed out and the new crop is planted and up to a stand, the present infestation (if there is one) will be gone and I do not foresee any later infestations. Normally, growers to the south of us experience problems before we do and they are not having any fall armyworm infestations at the present time.

RUNNELS COUNTY COTTON TOUR
TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 18, 2001

9:00 A.M. Meet at Runnels County Courthouse

Tour Stops Dry Cotton Variety Tests
Defoliation Demonstration

Noon SPJST Hall in Rowena, Texas
1 Hour of Laws and Regs
Complimentary Meal

Speakers Dr. Billy Warrick
Dr. Chris Sansone
Dr. Jason Johnson
Randal Schwartz, BWE
Chemical/Seed Co. Representatives

Participants attending the entire Runnels County Cotton Tour will be eligible to receive 2 CEU's toward their commercial or private applicator's license.

Please RSVP by September 17 before 3:00 p.m. to Runnels County Cooperative Extension at 915-365-2219 or Rick Minzenmayer at 915-365-5212 so we may have a number of attending for the caterer. Thank You.

9:00 A.M. Meet at Fire Hall in Wall, Texas

Tour Stops Irrigated Cotton Variety Tests
Defoliation Demonstration

Noon Fire Hall in Wall, Texas
1 Hour of Laws and Regs
Complimentary Meal

Speakers Dr. Billy Warrick
Dr. Chris Sansone
Dr. Jason Johnson
Randal Schwartz, BWE
Chemical/Seed Co. Representatives

Participants attending the entire Tom Green County Cotton Tour will be eligible to receive 2 CEU's toward their commercial or private applicator's license.

Please RSVP by September 17 before 3:00 p.m. to Tom Green County Cooperative Extension at 915-659-6523 or Rick Minzenmayer at 915-365-5212 so we may have a number of attending for the caterer. Thank You.

A FLOCK OF WILD GEESE had settled to rest on a pond. One of the flock had been captured by a gardener, who had clipped its wings before releasing it. When the geese started to resume their flight, this one tried frantically, but vainly, to lift itself into the air. The others, observing his struggles, flew in obvious efforts to encourage him; but it was no use.

Thereupon, the entire flock settled back on the pond and waited, even though the urge to go on was strong within them. For several days they waited until the damaged feathers had grown sufficiently to permit the goose to fly. Meanwhile, the unethical gardener, having been converted by the ethical geese, gladly watched them as they finally rose together and all resumed their long flight.

Albert Schwietzer (1875-1965)
Medical missionary

Educational programs conducted by the Texas Agricultural Extension Service serve people of all ages regardless of socioeconomic level, race, color, sex, religion, handicap or national origin. The information given herein is for educational purposes only. References to commercial products or trade names is made with the understanding that no discrimination is intended and no endorsement by the Cooperative Extension Service is implied.