U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced this week that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is issuing up to $10 billion directly to agricultural producers through the Emergency Commodity Assistance Program (ECAP) for the 2024 crop year. Taylor Sills, executive director of the Georgia Cotton Commission (GCC), applauded the USDA’s announcement. Colquitt County cotton producer Bart Davis, who also …
Planting Tips When Moving from Corn to Cotton
By Clint Thompson Cotton planting is slated to begin near the end of April. The Georgia Cotton Commission and University of Georgia Extension Cotton Team encourage Georgia producers to look over their planters and make any necessary modifications now. University of Georgia Precision Ag Specialist Wes Porter outlines a few tips for growers to consider in advance of planting this …
Visit GPC’s Social Media During National Peanut Month
By Clint Thompson National Peanut Month is an opportunity for peanut lovers to learn more about this wonderful agricultural commodity. The Georgia Peanut Commission’s (GPC) social media accounts provide those interested a great chance to indulge in all things peanuts; from its healthy benefits to new recipes that can be used at home. Joy Crosby, assistant executive director at the …
Tips for Cotton Growers in Preparation for Planting This Year’s Crop
By Clint Thompson The Georgia Cotton Commission and Camp Hand, University of Georgia (UGA) Extension cotton agronomist, advise growers about what they could be doing now in preparation for planting this year’s crop. “Certainly, some things I’d be thinking about is getting pre-plant fertility stuff out there; of course, spraying burn-down herbicides; getting geared up for it, trying to dot …
Georgia’s Cotton Acres Expected to Be Lowest Since 1993
By Clint Thompson Georgia’s cotton acres are expected to drop to their lowest total in more than 30 years. That’s “alarming,” according to one industry expert. “(The National Cotton Council) is talking about the lowest cotton acres since 1993 in Georgia; 864,000 was their prediction,” said Camp Hand, University of Georgia (UGA) Extension cotton agronomist. “There’s quite a few people …
Promoting Peanuts: Georgia Peanut Commission Holds PB&J Day at the State Capitol
By Clint Thompson March is National Peanut Month, and the Georgia Peanut Commission celebrated on Tuesday with its annual PB&J (peanut butter and jelly) Day at the State Capitol. Joy Crosby, assistant executive director at the Georgia Peanut Commission, talked about the annual event. “The Georgia Peanut Commission kicked off National Peanut Month with a celebration in Atlanta at the …
Plant Bug Management for Georgia Cotton Farmers
By Clint Thompson Late season plant bugs have become more of a nuisance for Georgia cotton growers. It may be attributed to increased resistance in certain insecticides, says Phillip Roberts, University of Georgia Extension cotton entomologist. He discussed plant bugs during the annual Georgia Cotton Commission meeting in January. Roberts said there were very high plant bug populations last year, …
UGA Extension Cotton Agronomist: Cutting Back on Front End Doesn’t Always Pay
By Clint Thompson Cutting back on input costs will be cotton growers’ natural response to the low market prices. The Georgia Cotton Commission and Camp Hand, University of Georgia (UGA) Extension cotton agronomist, caution producers what they’re cutting back on. “It’s all the planting stuff that gets cut. Really, that’s the stuff that’s going to hurt you in the long …
No Dicamba: Herbicide’s Absence Could Linger into 2026
By Clint Thompson Georgia’s cotton producers will likely produce this year’s crop without the use of in-season dicamba products. Stanley Culpepper, University of Georgia Extension weed scientist, shared the unfortunate news during the Georgia Cotton Commission meeting on Jan. 29. “So, unless some unforeseen force helps us get the product, I think the best decision for a grower is to …
Cotton Jassid’s Potential Threat to Georgia’s Crop
By Clint Thompson Georgia’s cotton growers should be mindful that a new insect is on the radar of the University of Georgia (UGA) Cotton Team. Phillip Roberts, a UGA Extension cotton entomologist, spoke about the Cotton Jassid at the recent Georgia Cotton Commission meeting. He said the insect was observed in multiple counties in Florida in 2024, including Jackson County …