Drop Cloths and PGRs - July in the Cotton Field

Cotton is progressing on schedule with 79% squaring and 32% setting bolls, and the UGA team sees strong potential for the 2025 crop despite some management challenges.

• Stink bug management critical now as cotton sets bolls, with scouts checking for internal damage
• While checking for stink bugs, scout for plant bugs using a drop cloth to ensure they are controlled if necessary
• Spider mites appearing in some fields with abamectin still effective, though severe cases may need multiple treatments
• Potassium deficiency often appears during boll formation, especially in sandy soils
• Late potassium interventions work best at third to fourth week of bloom, with foliar applications having limited rescue value
• Growth regulator timing critical during rapid growth phase from squaring through third week of flowering
• Cotton growing faster than the normal 3 days per node in many situations, making timely monitoring essential
• Focus on top five nodes where new growth occurs, using the "three-finger" test between the fourth and fifth node
• PGR applications can accelerate maturity by 2-3 weeks, critical for late-planted cotton
• Water use peaks during rapid growth phase at canopy closure and peak bloom
• With cotton at 68 cents, focus on proven inputs rather than unproven products promising miracle results
• Mid-year Cotton Meeting scheduled for July 23rd in Statesboro - register at georgiacottoncommission.org

Chapters

• 0:08 Crop Progress and Cotton Updates
• 2:08 Managing Insect Pressures
• 9:44 Fertility Management Strategies
• 17:41 Growth Regulator Timing and Application
• 30:53 Water Management and Irrigation
• 35:40 Avoiding Costly Input Mistakes
• 43:18 Season Outlook and Upcoming Meetings