GENERAL SITUATION

Cotton ranges from cotyledon to pinhead square stage. Thunderstorms last night resulted in rainfall amounts from 1/10" to 3". There have been some reports of damage from high winds and some hail south of Midkiff. Temperatures are looking good now and cotton with adequate moisture is progressing well. Insect activity is below economic levels in most fields.

SCOUTING PROGRAM

The scouts have completed scout school and are locating fields and scouting. Several missed part of this week to attend state 4-H RoundUp but should get on schedule next week. They will be counting thrips primarily on pre-squaring cotton and fleahopper and square set on squaring cotton.

SCOUT SAFETY

Please contact your scouts or me if you are spraying the field they are scouting with an insecticide. We do not want anyone to be exposed unnecessarily to pesticides.

THANK YOU

I would like to thank Mr. Chris Cole with FMC for sponsoring a meal at Uvalde for the insect scout school attendees.

FLEAHOPPERS

The older fields are just beginning to square and should be watched closely for fleahopper damage.

Adult fleahoppers are about 1/8 inch long and pale green. Nymphs resemble adults but lack wings and are light green. They move very rapidly when disturbed. Adults move into cotton from weed hosts when cotton begins to square. Both adults and numphs such sap form the tender portion of the plant, including small squares. Pinhead size and smaller squares are most susceptible to damage.

Management and decision making. The decision to apply insecticide should be based on the number of fleahoppers present, the squaring rate and the precent square set. If conditions are conducive to the rapid build up of cotton fleahoppers in alternate hosts, scouting intervals should be shortened(i.e., monitor fields every 3 to 4 days). 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.

In cotton planted after May 15, treatment decisions should be made during the first week of squaring, if possible, to avoid a potential bollworm outbreak resulting from the destruction of beneficial insects and spiders. As plants increase in size and fruit load, larger fleahopper populations can be tolerated without yield reduction. In most years treatment is rarely justified after first bloom. Howevr, occasionally, when cotton plants do not set an adequate square load during the first 3 weeks of squaring, fleahoppers can prevent the square set that is needed for an adequate crop.

BEET ARMYWORMS

A few beet armyworm egg masses and larvae have been found in area cotton but the numbers are well below damaging levels.

ROUNDUP READY® COTTON

You should be treating roundup ready cotton in the 4-5 true leaf stage to avoid possible injury. Some of you are stretching this timing considerably. Even if leaves are damaged by thrips or weather, the cotton may reach this stage before you realize it.

BASIC IPM CONCEPTS AND DEFINITIONS

Continuing series on basic IPM concepts and definitions.

What are the tactics or control methods used in IPM? The tactics or methods used in IPM include one or a combination of the following:
• Cultural control (crop rotation, use of locally adapted or pest resistant/tolerant varieties, sanitation, manipulating planting/harvest dates to avoid pests)
• Biological control (protect, enhance or import natural enemies of pests)
• Mechanical control (cultivation, trapping, pest exclusion)
• Chemical control (insect growth regulators, pheromones, biological/chemical pesticides)

What are the goals of IPM for agriculture?
• Ensure abundant, high quality food and fiber
• Increase net profits
• Maintain or improve environmental quality
• Reduce production risks

How has IPM benefitted Texas crop producers?
IPM has helped producers increase net profits while reducing pesticide use and reducing production risks. Following are examples of results of evaluations conducted:

A 1994 survey of 637 crop producers in 25 Texas counties showed the following:
• 58% decreased pesticide use by an average of 29%
• 46% increased yields
• 65% increased net profits
• $106 million increase in net profits statewide
• $340 million statewide economic impact annually

A 1996 evaluation of the pecan IPM program documented:
• insecticide use reduced 35%
• fungicide use reduced 30% * increased pecan yields
• $6.06 million annual economic benefit to producers

HEAT UNITS averaged 23 per day the past week. Heat units since 5-1 and 5-15 are in the table below.

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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.

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