By Clint Thompson
The Georgia Cotton Commission and University of Georgia (UGA) Extension remind growers about how much time is needed for cotton to dry out before it can be harvested following extended rainfall. With multiple days of rain in the forecast, producers with cotton still in the field should allow for time for the field and crop to dry out sufficiently.
Camp Hand, UGA Extension cotton agronomist, discusses what farmers need to consider when harvesting after periods of rainfall.
“You want to, of course, give it a couple of days. You need a good two or three good sunny days after a stretch like we’ve got just to brighten the crop up a little bit,” Hand said. “Of course, it needs to dry out anyway before you get a picker in the field; but just to brighten that cotton up a little bit. Whenever it rains, the burr stains that lint brown, so whenever the sun comes back out, it almost bleaches it back.
“Keep that in mind. A couple of bright sunny days are going to go a long way in terms of helping your quality whenever we have some weather like we’re looking at.” Hand estimates that between 75% and 80% of the crop has been harvested and should push 90% by the end of the week.
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