by Dr. Calvin Trostle, Extension Agronomy, Lubbock, 806-746-6101, ctrostle@ag.tamu.edu
Hailstorms, wind damage, poor stands—and yes, occasionally too much rain(!)—place Texas farmers in a possible replant decision on a failed crop, usually cotton, or pushes planting back so much that cotton or other full-season crops are no longer viable. What to do? What are my options?
New for 14th annual guide for the Texas South Plains are contributions from Dr. Seth Byrd, cotton extension agronomist, Lubbock, seth.byrd@ag.tamu.edu. The guide is oriented to the South Plains, but producers in the Concho Valley to the south, the Rolling Plains to the east, and even north in to the Panhandle may find this information useful in understanding options, especially on crops that you may less familiar with.
Features of the guide include:
• Links for assessing current crop damage (leaf area, growing point, etc.) and viable plant populations for cotton, corn, grain sorghum, and sunflower. Remember that even thin stands, if healthy, for any of these crops may be a keeper.
• If you decide to terminate the crop your applied herbicides may limit replant options.
• “First things” information is provided for over a dozen possible replant/late plant crop. This will include agronomic planting dates, suggested seeding rates, and contractor information for applicable crops.
The new document is posted at http://lubbock.tamu.edu.