From 2019 to 2023, 4.6 million corn acres and 1.4 million cotton acres in the 13-state southeast region were prevented from planting (Table 1; USDA-FSA). Prevented planting is a provision covered by the United States (US) Federal Crop Insurance Program that compensates producers for losses from delayed planting or not being able to plant an eligible crop within that crop’s …

Articles in this month’s issue include: 1. Considerations for nutrient management in cotton (Henry Sintim and Glen Harris) 2. Planter preparation (Wes Porter and Simer Virk) 3. Early season disease and nematode issues for cotton farmers – You get one change (Bob Kemerait) 4. Irrigation system prep and early season water requirements for cotton production (Wes Porter, David Hall, Jason …

In a recent Southern Ag Today article we highlighted the overwhelming need to increase commodity reference prices in the next farm bill based on hearing testimony from the commodity groups.  While we continue to believe that this is the first and most important step in making meaningful changes to our country’s farm safety net, a very close second would be to increase the …

Perry, GA – The Georgia Cotton Commission Board of Directors approved $675,340 in research for the 2025 crop year during the March board meeting. The money will fund seventeen projects that will be conducted by University of Georgia researchers and extension specialists. Projects range from funding for the UGA cotton team to research on resistant weeds, soil management practices, evaluating the …

By: Wesley Porter and Simer Virk, UGA Extension Specialists  As the warm spring continues to increase soil temperatures, corn planters will start rolling across the fields. While we still have a few more weeks until cotton planting begins across the state, this is a perfect time for growers to start checking their planters and performing any required maintenance to ensure …

If I were a WWE wrastler and had to introduce myself in the last few days, I would probably do something similar to Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. When he comes in the ring and grabs the microphone, he usually says, “FINALLY… The Rock has come back to *insert city here*!” And the crowd goes nuts. My intro lately would be …

Author: Dr. Stanley Culpepper Pesticide resistance and regulatory challenges threaten the sustainability of tools currently in a farmer’s toolbox. For most Georgians, pesticide regulations pose the greatest threat with the recent Engenia, XtendiMax, and Tavium court decisions, highlighting this reality. The 2024 Using Pesticides Wisely (UPW) training will fulfill federal label requirements ensuring each applicator is trained prior to applying …

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Joe Nicosia, a Cordova, Tenn., merchant, was elected National Cotton Council (NCC) chairman for 2024 during the organization’s annual meeting in Orlando, Florida. Patrick Johnson, a producer from Tunica, Mississippi, will serve as vice chairman for 2024. Nicosia has been a member of the board of directors of the National Cotton Council since 2011, was a segment …

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – U.S. cotton producers intend to plant 9.8 million cotton acres this spring, down 3.7 percent from 2023, according to the National Cotton Council’s 43rd Annual Early Season Planting Intentions Survey. (see table attached) Upland cotton intentions are 9.6 million acres, down 4.3 percent from 2023, while extra-long staple (ELS) intentions of 202,000 acres represent a 37.7 percent …

Washington, D.C. (Feb. 16, 2024) – Lee Cromley, a Brooklet, Ga., producer, will serve as Cotton Council International’s (CCI) president for 2024. CCI is the National Cotton Council’s (NCC) export promotion arm and carries out programs in 50 plus countries under the COTTON USA™ trademark. Cromley and other CCI officers were elected at CCI’s board meeting held as part of …

As the saying goes: a picture is worth a thousand words.  We present to you Figure 1. Figure 1: Farm Safety Net and SNAP Spending, 1962 to 2026F Source:  OMB Table 11.3 – Outlays for Payments for Individuals by Category and Major Program: 1940 – 2028 and Table 3.2 – Outlays by Function and Subfunction: 1962 – 2028. Note:  spending for budget subfunction …

In light of the February 6, 2024, ruling by the U.S. District Court of Arizona vacating the 2020 registrations for over-the-top (OTT) dicamba products, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is providing the following update. On February 14, 2024, EPA issued an Existing Stocks Order for Dicamba Products Previously Registered for Over-the-Top Use on Dicamba-Tolerant Cotton and Soybean. This Order …