By Clint Thompson
Cotton plantings are nearing the scheduled start dates for many South Georgia farmers – that’s if rains start falling soon in the Southeast.
The Georgia Cotton Commission advises growers that they may have to adjust their plans amid the current drought which has “exceptional drought conditions” being observed throughout South Georgia. In some cases, dryland growers need to be ready to plant early if rain does occur, says Camp Hand, University of Georgia (UGA) Extension cotton agronomist.
“We’ve got to be in a position to take advantage of the opportunity when it presents itself. With dryland, I’d be ready to go,” said Hand, who added that some dryland farmers have already put seed in the ground. “If you’ve got a pivot, and I know that you don’t want to do it, but put some water out there before you put some seed in the ground. If you have a pivot, I wouldn’t be starting this early. The people that are starting early are the people that are dealing with dryland.
“With dryland I’d be ready to go.”
Hand also reinforced the message of growers killing cover crops to preserve what moisture is in the fields.
“That stuff needs to be dead. It needs to be dead, dead, just because if it’s green, it’s using moisture. We don’t need it stealing stuff we don’t have,” Hand said.
Hand also cautions growers against planting seed shallow (dusting in cotton) in hopes of catching rain in the future, especially when the forecast looks dire for the next couple of weeks.
“I really hate to do that in the month of April,” Hand said.