Missouri Department of Agriculture extends cotton stalk destruction deadline

Due to unprecedented heavy rainfall, the Missouri Department of Agriculture, with support from the Missouri Cotton Growers Organization Board, has extended the stalk destruction deadline for cotton producers to Mar. 4. This extension applies to the 2004 crop only.

Deadline for cotton stalk destruction is mandated by regulations adopted by the department under the Missouri's Boll Weevil Eradication Program. The Southeastern Boll Weevil Eradication Foundation will provide verification and failure to destroy stalks by the extended deadline may result in a penalty of $5 per acre.

"This is the first year since the eradication program began that we have had such a high number of stalks remaining in the fields this close to the deadline," says Judy Grundler, program administrator.

"Thirty percent of the acreage is still left to be cut and we typically are down to one to two percent by this time of the year."

Boll weevil, a pest that feeds on cotton, has caused an estimated $14 billion in yield losses and control cost in the U.S. cotton industry since it's arrival in the late 1800's. Stalk destruction eliminates hibernation sites and any potential food source that would be available to the pests.

Shredding and disking are the most common practices; other alternative methods must be approved by the Southeastern Boll Weevil Eradication field staff.

In 2001, Missouri joined a 17-state effort to eliminate the boll weevil nationally by 2010. Protecting the quality of the state's cotton crop and ensuring its profitability are key goals of Missouri's Boll Weevil Eradication Program. Missouri cotton growers have seen steady increases in yield since the start of the program. Another record cotton crop was made in 2004 with an average of 1,041 pounds per acre.

For more information, contact Judy Grundler, MDA program administrator, at (573) 526-9548 or contact the Southeastern Boll Weevil Eradication Office at (573) 276-4553.