By Clint Thompson
Georgia’s cotton crop may have started late due to excessive spring rains but is starting to take off, says Camp Hand, University of Georgia Extension cotton agronomist. This summer’s high temperatures have spurred cotton growth significantly.
“Whenever we start looking at how the crop is progressing, we start looking at temperatures and models based on crop growth and based on temperature. It got my attention that our growing degree days for cotton are ahead of where we’ve been the last four years. Even two years ago it was really hot, and we progressed rapidly,” Hand said. “This year it’s hotter, and the crop is growing faster this time than it was two years ago.
“I planted some stuff in the second week of May, and within three days, it was at the same stage as the stuff that I planted in Midville on May 22. They were at first bloom within three days of each other, but they were planted about two weeks apart. That May 22nd planted crop really was picking up steam. That’s the kind of thing we need guys thinking about. In that case in particular, you’re talking two weeks, but I’d say confidently, we could be 10 days ahead of where we normally are.”
Georgia Cotton Commission Meeting
Hand spoke at the Georgia Cotton Commission’s mid-year meeting in Statesboro last Wednesday, July 24. He emphasized that growers should be mindful of potential warm temperatures in August and September and how they’ll continue to spur growth.
“The crop is going to keep going. The weather forecast looks like it isn’t cooling off any time soon, probably until October. It’s going to keep moving, and it’s going to move fast,” Hand said. “Folks need to be ready to get after it whenever it’s time. Peanuts always come first, but maybe we can jump out there on some of our earlier stuff and get it out before we make the switch.
“I’d say the potential is there for us to have a really, really good year. The crop is strong. We’ve caught some rain recently in places that we weren’t. That’s going to help us out a lot in terms of moving forward. I really think the potential is there for us to have a really, really good year.”