At Your Service

Milam

The Missouri Agricultural Statistics Service published its Crop and Livestock Report on November 18. This report is projecting record yields and production of corn, soybean, cotton, and rice. The forecast for corn is now at 159 bushels per acre, 16 bushels more than the previous record in 2000. The soybean yield is projected at 46 bushels per acre and is expected to beat the previous record of the 1992, 1994, and 2001 seasons by 8 bushels. The rice crop is projected to be a record yield of 6,400 lbs/acre which is 270 lbs/acre higher than the record set last year. Missouri grain sorghum was not projected to be a record but was expected to be 26 bushels above last year's yield.

The Missouri Crop and Weather Report of November 21 indicated that the cotton harvest was 90 percent complete which is the same amount as last year but a week behind the 5-year average of 95 percent.

A summary of what went right with this year's cotton crop.

If all of the crops mentioned are expected to have record yields then the climatic factors should be one of the most important reasons. Planting of cotton generally occurred during the recommended period with limited replanting. The soils were warm and the crop got off to a good start. Rainfall was more than adequate and was not a limiting factor. We didn't see the usual differences between the irrigated and the dryland cotton this year. Also temperatures were within the optimal range and we had sufficient heat units to mature the crop. Even with the cooler temperatures during August, we had higher temperatures during September to make up the difference.

Some of the gains that we have made in the last five years have been because of better varieties. When the first genetically engineered varieties were introduced, producers often complained about a "yield drag." While some of it may have been due to the transgenic traits, most of it was due to having varieties that were not well adapted to this area. Some of the varieties used were very late maturing and not a good fit for this area. Along with the introduction of these traits there has been the producer's ability to learn how to grow these varieties. In some cases, it was necessary to use more growth regulators, adjust fertility and defoliation rates. The seed companies have done a good job of pointing out the need to manage varieties differently. Producers also learned which varieties worked best on their soil types. Producers who grow the "stacked" gene varieties for both weed and insect control have been pleased. The insect resistant Bt gene controls the sub-threshold levels of many of the worm species that would not have justified spraying. It has been pointed out for the last two years that we have been controlling the worm complex better and that the damage was light.

The use of cover crops has certainly helped to limit wind and sand damage. We did not have major problems with the "blowing" sand this year. In addition to preventing the damage from sand, the cover crops provide a better environment early in the season.

Generally, we did not have the damaging levels of many insect pests such as the boll and budworms. The occurrence of aphids, spider mites, and other pests were not widespread. Most of the producers who had damaging levels of tarnished plant bugs were able to keep them under control without losing yield.

In my opinion, the number one factor in increasing our cotton yields since 2001 is the Boll Weevil Eradication Program. I can remember the boll weevils that we saw in the blooms during the late season. I have counted 8-10 adults per bloom. When the diapause program began in the fall of 2001, we began to harvest the "top" crop that we had not harvested previously. As I have mentioned, the yield in 2001 was 792 lbs/acre; in 2002 at 832 lbs/acre; in 2003 lbs/ac at 862 lbs/acre with the latest projection of 960 lbs/acre for this season. The top crop has been more than adequate to pay for the program for most producers.

Some general observations for this year's cotton crop. In general, the varieties began to fruit at earlier nodes than last year. There was plenty of horsepower as measured by the nodes above white bloom. We were seeing 8-9 nodes above white bloom which is in the upper range for this trait.

Normally, when we plant map, we put most of the emphasis on the first position bolls. This is because they produce up to 70 percent of the yield. This year we were getting not only the "top" crop but we were having more bolls produced on the second and third positions and on the vegetative branches. With the excellent plant infrastructure and the ideal weather we were able to load the plants all the way to the top. Many of the fields reached "cutout" around August 10 which is our last effective bloom date. This is the date that the average number of heat units will mature a bloom that is on the plant that day. In other words, we were able to take advantage of the entire growing season.

While none of us know when we will experience unfavorable cropping conditions again, it's nice to be able to take advantage of the favorable one that we have. The producers are on the short rows and they can't wait to get this year behind them.

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Dr. Michael R. Milam is an agronomy specialist and county program director with University of Missouri Extension in Dunklin County.