by Muthu Bagavathiannan, Assistant Professor of Weed Science, College Station; Peter Dotray, Professor of Weed Science, Lubbock; Paul Baumann, Extension Weed Specialist, College Station; Gaylon Morgan, State Cotton Specialist, College Station Palmer amaranth and waterhemp (known as pigweeds) have been spreadling rapidly in Texas row crops and several of these populations are likely resistant to glyphosate heribicide. Producers are increasingly recognizing the importance of preplant and pre-emergence residual herbicides and multiple modes of action to help prevent/manage glyphosate resistant pigweeds in their fields. However, much of the emphasis… Read More →

by Dr. Calvin Trostle, Extension Agronomy, Lubbock, 806-746-6101, ctrostle@ag.tamu.edu Many Texas producers are interested in having planting seed tested for various crops. This is particularly important for wheat and other small grains seed, which farmers may save for their own planting use (unless they have a variety that requires a signed agreement stating you are not permitted to do so). Texas A&M AgriLife Extension recently updated our annual document outlining seed testing certification standards as well as possible seed labs for your testing needs. Historically, many Texas producers… Read More →

by Jourdan Bell, AgriLife Extension Agronomist, Amarillo The ample rainfall during the 2015 cropping season has allowed many Texas High Plains producers to significantly reduce their number of irrigations, but in an average year, irrigation is necessary to minimize production risks. However, on the Texas High Plains, well capacities are declining and producers are having to make critical decisions on how to manage limited water resources to optimize production. In grain sorghum, irrigation is commonly applied at a fraction of the crop water requirement throughout the season (deficit… Read More →

by Dr. Josh McGinty – AgriLife Extension Agronomist, Corpus Christi, TX and Dr. Gaylon Morgan – AgriLife Extension State Cotton Specialist, College Station, TX As this year’s cotton crop is approaching harvest, the proper application of harvest aids is critical to help facilitate an efficient and timely harvest and to preserve fiber quality. Though it is grown as an annual crop, cotton is perennial shrub that will continue to produce new leaves as long as conditions are favorable. Thus, it is important to properly prepare the cotton crop… Read More →

by Emi Kimura and Gaylon Morgan Cotton is a slow growing plant and is typically grown on wide row spacing. Because of these reasons and others, cotton requires well planned weed control program, including cultivation, pre-plant (burndown and incorporated), pre-emergence, and post-emergence (directed and over-the-top) herbicide applications. Lint yield can be lost by 13-54% when 1 to 10 Palmer amaranth plants are present at every 30 ft of row, respecitvely (Morgan et al., 2001). The length of pre-emergence herbicide activity varies by herbicide, rate, soil moisture, soil texture,… Read More →

by Jason Woodward, Extension Plant Pathologist Cotton around the state is at various growth stages ranging from cutout in the south to pinhead square in parts of the High Plains. Furthermore, a high degree of variability can be seen across an area or within a county. Unseasonably wet conditions in addition to relatively cool temperatures experienced early in the growing season are responsible for some of the variability being exhibited by the crop. While temperatures in the High Plains have increased, remnants of monsoonal moisture are evident with… Read More →

by Gaylon Morgan and Mark Kelley Much of Texas’ cotton was planted at or very near the final planting date for within each region of the state. These delayed plantings have equated to one of the latest Texas cotton crops we have seen in many years. Additionally, much of South and East Texas has been further delayed by excessive rain delaying fruit set. This article will address some of the considerations for plant size management and promoting early maturity in the 2015 growing season. The University of Georgia… Read More →

by Dr. Calvin Trostle, Extension Agronomy, Lubbock, 806-746-6101, ctrostle@ag.tamu.edu May was the wettest to third wettest month on record in many counties in West Texas. Due to earlier rains and early sorghum prices substantial grain sorghum was planted early this year to take advantage of early moisture, adequate soil temperatures for germination, and grain sorghum pricing that remains equal to corn. Then the May deluge came: We have seen about all the symptoms on grain sorghum in the field you could expect to see. Stunting. Yellow older leaves…. Read More →

by Clark Neely, State Extension Small Grains Specialist, cneely@ag.tamu.edu Texas A&M AgriLife Extension and Oklahoma State University will be hosting a Canola Conference in Vernon, TX.  On July 15th, producers and allied industry interested in canola production in Texas are encouraged to attend the first ever Texas canola conference. Canola has great potential in Texas cropping systems and this event will provide good information to both experienced and novice canola growers for the Rolling Plains. Topics will include variety performance, stand establishment, fertility and more. The event will… Read More →

By Thomas Isakeit, Professor and Extension Plant Pathologist Cotton: Bacterial blight, caused by the bacterium, Xanthomonas campestris pv. malvacearum, has been observed in some fields in the Lower Rio Grande Valley and the Blacklands growing areas. The characteristic symptoms are dark brown, angular spots on leaves, confined between veins, often with water soaking (PHOTO 1).Small, circular dark brown spots are also formed (PHOTO 2). Extensive lesions on leaves can result in defoliation. Circular, water-soaked lesions can also occur on bolls (PHOTO 3). The pathogen is seedborne. Acid-delinting greatly… Read More →