Last week, cotton planting progressed in many areas of the country. USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey says cotton planting is ahead of schedule. But Rippey says the current pace of peanut planting is behind the 5-year average. In Alabama, 41% of the cotton crop has been planted, which compares to 43% last year. The 5-year average is 42%. For the peanut …
Stink Bugs Already a Problem
By Clint Thompson Corn growers across the Southeast need to already be on the lookout for stink bugs, says Auburn University Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist Katelyn Kesheimer. “I would caution growers to get their plans in place and start scouting early. We’ve already started seeing southern green stink bugs and stink bug nymphs down in southern Alabama. Adults are …
Cotton Demand Continues to Drop
By Clint Thompson Demand for cotton has plummeted across the world. It’s reflected in the latest cotton prices update. They show cotton futures prices set at 56 cents per pound. In the latest UGA Cotton Team Newsletter, the supply chain is severely impacted globally by COVID-19, according to Yangxuan Liu, University of Georgia Cooperative Extension economist. She said, “an unexpected …
Little Projected Rainfall Means More Irrigation Needed
By Clint Thompson Limited rainfall over the next couple of weeks means row crop growers need to be irrigating early and often to get their seed producing. University of Georgia Cooperative Extension irrigation specialist Wes Porter said water requirements for cotton and peanuts is low early in the season. But they do still require water. “If we’re absolutely getting no …
Make Planter Modifications Now
By Clint Thompson Planting season is underway across the Southeast. Growers can save time and money by making modifications now before planting in certain fields. University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Ag Engineer Wes Porter reminds cotton and peanut farmers the importance of correct planter settings. “Whether it’s cotton or peanuts, when we first pull into a new field, evaluate the …
Low Temperatures Could Impact Seed Germination
By Clint Thompson Row crop farmers need to be wary of cooler temperatures this week, says Pam Knox, University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Agricultural Climatologist. Producers are planting cotton and peanuts. But if temperatures drop into the 40s as weather.com predicts for Tifton, Georgia, they could impact seed germination. “I’m not a seed specialist but I know that if you …
Planting in Full Swing
Seed is going into the ground across many areas of the Southeast right now. Tyron Spearman looks at how some of the individual crops are progressing. Sponsored ContentFlorida Cattle Enhancement Board Plays Major Role In Applied Beef Cattle ResearchOctober 17, 2025FCEB Recurring Funding Provides Opportunity for Longer Term Research ProjectsOctober 10, 2025Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Advances Forage ResearchOctober 3, 2025
Cotton and Peanut Planting Update
For the most part, planting progress is comparable to the previous five years. USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey has the latest look at cotton planting numbers across the belt. But Rippey says peanut planting progress is slightly behind the average. In Alabama, 20% of the cotton crop has been planted, which compares to 22% last year, and 21% is the 5-year …
UGA Entomologist: Thrips Are Our Most Consistent and Predictable Insect Pest of Cotton
By Clint Thompson University of Georgia Cooperative Extension cotton entomologist Phillip Roberts cautions growers about thrips as cotton planting season approaches. “Thrips are our most consistent and predictable insect pest of cotton, infesting nearly 100% of the cotton acres in Georgia every year. Thrips infestations, historically, have been higher on April or early May-planted cotton. More specifically, thrips infestations tend …
Alabama Extension Agent: Anytime We Have a Recession, Demand for Cotton Drops Off
Other Commodity Prices Could Rebound Quicker By Clint Thompson One Alabama Extension regional farm and agribusiness management agent is hopeful commodity prices will rebound once the ongoing coronavirus pandemic subsides. At least for all row crops except cotton, which could take longer to recover from. “Anytime we have a recession, or the economy takes a hit, when consumers don’t have …