Georgia Cotton Update On Rain, Plant Bugs, And Scouting

Georgia Cotton Update On Rain, Plant Bugs, And Scouting

97% planted sounds like a clean headline, but the real story is what happens next when rain turns “finally catching up” into “can’t get in the field.” We’re recording on June 24 with the UGA cotton team to sort through where Georgia cotton stands right now: acres moving into squaring and early bloom, deep soil moisture finally re-wetting, and the very real management squeeze that comes with spotty showers, standing water, and delayed field work. We get specific on cotton insect management, because this is the time when guessing gets expensive. Plant bugs are more common than they were a few years ago, and we talk sweep-net scouting, early squaring thresholds, clouded plant bugs, and how we think about protecting retention while also protecting beneficial insects. We also keep aphids and the coming aphid fungus in the back of your mind so plant bug decisions don’t create a new problem. Then we dig into programs: where Diamond fits as an insect growth regulator on immatures, why ThryvOn cotton still needs scouting, and how a premium residual product like Vertento may make the most sense later in bloom when pressure ramps up. From there, we pivot to water and application management. We talk irrigation scheduling as cotton approaches peak July water use, why overwatering can grow a beautiful plant and still cut yield, and the calibration issues that quietly cause streaking, gaps, and lost performance in fertilizer spreaders and sprayers. We also cover responsible drone applications when fields are too wet, plus a candid look at deer damage, repellents, depredation permits, and the realities of solving a “pest problem” after dark. We close with pix and PGR timing and a simple rule: if it doesn’t need it, don’t spray it. Subscribe on your favorite podcast platform, share this with a grower or consultant who’s making spray decisions this week, and leave a quick review so more cotton folks can find the show. What are you seeing in your fields right now?

Early Squaring Decisions For Georgia Cotton

Cotton can look “quiet” in early June, but the decisions you make right now decide how well the crop holds onto fruit later. We walk through a boots-on-the-ground Georgia cotton update from the UGA Cotton Team, starting with where planting and squaring stand, then moving straight into the practical pest management choices that protect retention and keep you from creating problems with the sprayer. We dig into cotton aphids the way scouts actually see them: present in every field, sometimes melting down a plant or a small spot, and often tempting people into a spray that does not pay. The key is understanding how broad-spectrum applications for other pests can wipe out beneficial insects and accidentally flare aphids. We also talk jassids and the identification reality check: immature lookalikes show up on multiple hosts, you need adults to confirm the two black spots on the wings, and hopperburn clues can help you decide when suspicion is justified. Then we pivot to real-world farm management issues that matter just as much as insects: uneven growth across fields, how planting date and early stress change growth potential, and when PGR applications make sense without overdoing it. We also cover deer damage, permit headaches, and why repellents are complicated, plus how tank mixes and timing research may make those tools more efficient. We close with breaking news from June 10: jassids are detected on okra in Tifton, and we lay out exactly how we want growers and scouts to look, document, and report through their county agents so we can track movement by county. Subscribe on your favorite podcast app, share this with a scouting crew, and leave a review so more growers can find these updates. What are you seeing in your cotton fields this week?

Georgia Cotton Update On Rainfall, Irrigation, And Stand Quality

Rain shows up, planters roll, and somehow we’re still talking about drought. That’s the tension driving cotton decisions across Georgia right now, so we sit down as the UGA Cotton Team to sort out what’s actually happening in fields and in the weather data. We look at planting progress, why some areas are still playing catch-up, and how a “wetter week” can coexist with negative water balance when evapotranspiration keeps draining the tank. If you’re trying to decide whether to push planting, pause, or line up irrigation, this conversation gives you a clearer framework. We also get practical about what we can control. We talk planter speed, seed depth, downforce, and row closers because stand quality is where a lot of seasons get won or lost. Then we pivot to irrigation management and pivot maintenance: uniformity issues like flipped drops and sideways sprays can quietly build drought stress patterns that show up later when July heat hits. We add a serious reminder on pivot safety, grounding, and why lightning damage can turn a routine check into a dangerous situation. On the pest and scouting front, we highlight upcoming scout schools and explain why scouting every acre matters as cotton approaches squaring. We cover early season insects including thrips, grasshoppers, and false chinch bugs, then talk about plant bugs and square retention. Finally, we address the big question we keep hearing: what’s the latest on jassids, where we expect first detections, and how growers and gardeners can help by watching hosts like okra and sharing suspect photos through county Extension. If this helped you make a cleaner call on planting, irrigation, or pest management, subscribe on your favorite podcast app, share it with a neighbor, and leave a review so more growers can find it.

You Can Fix A Stand Fast If You Fix Downforce

A wet stretch can feel like a gift and a trap at the same time. We sit down with the UGA cotton crew to sort out what the rain really changed across Georgia cotton fields, from how fast acres are going in to what you should do the minute you can get back in the field. We talk about planting pace, why slow rain helps stand establishment, and how to think about planting decisions when shallow moisture is back but the long-term water picture is still tight. Then we get practical. Dr. Lauren Lazaro joins us to flag what that moisture triggers next: major weed emergence. We walk through why pre-emergence herbicides matter, and how precision agriculture fundamentals like nozzle condition, boom height, and sprayer setup can be the difference between clean fields and those telltale straight stripes of escapes. We also dig into planter performance, including real-world downforce failures that leave seed on top of the ground, when active downforce helps, and when sandy, dry soils can make you overdo it. On the pest side, we cover early-season thrips management, what we are hearing about grasshoppers and false chinch bugs, and why scouting stays non-negotiable. We also push the maintenance items that pay back fast, especially irrigation pivot uniformity, before dry weather exposes problems on yield maps and in the bank account. We wrap with cotton price and acreage outlook plus upcoming UGA opportunities, including scout schools, an irrigation expo, and a preview of the National Proving Grounds weed tech work in Perry. Subscribe, share the show with a friend who is planting right now, and leave us a review so more growers can find these weekly Georgia cotton updates.

Georgia Cotton Drought Playbook

Georgia cotton is trying to get started with one hand tied behind its back: dry soil, low ponds, and more pivots running in late April than most of us like to see. We sit down with Dr. Bob Kemerait, Dr. Wes Porter, and Dr. Phillip Roberts to break down what this drought pattern means for cotton production decisions you’re making right now, from getting a stand to protecting roots and stretching limited water through the season. We dig into why soil moisture matters beyond germination, especially for nematode management and the performance of nematicides like aldicarb. Wes shares what he’s hearing on pre-watering, irrigation inefficiencies, and why a water allocation plan matters when surface water sources are already low and the state is running a major rainfall deficit. We also talk planting depth, seed placement, and how cover and residue can buffer soil temperature swings that stress seedlings. On the pest management side, Phillip gives a straight update on thrips pressure, what immatures on seedling cotton really indicate, and how seedling vigor can reduce injury. We also hit grasshoppers, the ongoing cotton jassid search (okra, sunflowers, even hibiscus checks), and early whitefly monitoring with sticky cards as hot, dry weather builds risk. We close with thoughts on cotton acres, input costs, and making ROI-based fertilizer and protection decisions even when cotton prices improve. Subscribe on your favorite podcast app, share this with a grower who’s making planting calls this week, and leave a review so more cotton folks can find the show.