UT Institute Of Agriculture's Annual Cotton Focus Held February 9

Jan 19, 2017

Cotton producers and agricultural industry professionals can learn about the latest cotton research at the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture’s annual Cotton Focus on Thursday, February 9.

The event will be held at the West Tennessee AgResearch and Education Center, located at 605 Airways Boulevard, Jackson, Tennessee. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. CST. The half-day program will conclude with a complimentary lunch. There is no cost to attend.

Cotton Focus presentations will address weed, insect, and disease management; a detailed review of the performance of tested cotton varieties; and a look ahead at the 2017 cotton market. “After the 2016 season, I think many in Tennessee are looking forward to growing more cotton during 2017,” says Tyson Raper, cotton specialist with UTIA. “As planning is underway, this meeting will provide growers with good insights into variety selection, marketing and pest management.”

Source:tennessee.edu

Video: Dicamba Returns for Georgia Farmers: What the New EPA Ruling Means for Cotton Growers

After being unavailable in 2024 due to registration issues, dicamba products are returning for Georgia farmers this growing season — but under strict new conditions.

In this report from Tifton, Extension Weed Specialist Stanley Culpepper explains the updated EPA ruling, including new application limits, mandatory training requirements, and the need for a restricted use pesticide license. Among the key changes: a cap of two ½-pound applications per year and the required use of an approved volatility reduction agent with every application.

For Georgia cotton producers, the ruling is significant. According to Taylor Sills with the Georgia Cotton Commission, the vast majority of cotton planted in the state carries the dicamba-tolerant trait — meaning farmers had been paying for technology they couldn’t use.

While environmental groups have expressed concerns over spray drift, Georgia growers have reduced off-target pesticide movement by more than 91% over the past decade. Still, this two-year registration period will come with increased scrutiny, making stewardship and compliance more important than ever.