Thursday, March 19, 1998

Southern Rolling Plains growers have upbeat meeting

By J.T. SMITH / Abilene Reporter-News

BALLINGER -- The Southern Rolling Plains Cotton Growers had a positive annual meeting here Tuesday night as farmers anticipated having good moisture to plant the 1998 crop in a few weeks.

The growers met immediately following the conclusion of the 1998 Agri-Plex Ag Day.

Wayne Cleveland, Cotton Board representative, noted Cotton Incorporated research and promotion accomplishments.

These include work on flowable cottonseed, which will net the grower an additional $18 per ton of fuzzy cottonseed.

Brett Cypert, field man for the National Cotton Council, said the NCC is working to improve the profit margin for the growers.

Cypert said software for crop risk management is aimed at helping growers. The NCC also is working with leaders in the U.S. Congress to get an adequate level of funding in the Boll Weevil Eradication Program for work throughout the Cotton Belt.

Randall Schwartz, zone manager for the program's Southern Rolling Plains (SRP) zone, presented data that showed reductions in trap catches of weevils for the past three years.

Schwartz said growers can help reduce eradication costs by helping personnel locate cotton fields, allowing early mapping of cotton fields and providing planting date feedback.

Tommy Chapman, chairman of the gin delegation on the steering committee, said reported several recommendations to the Texas Boll Weevil Eradication Foundation:

n Planting cotton between May 10 and June 10 as weather permits.

n Using malathion ULV exclusively for early-season weevil control.

n Triggering weevil control work at two weevils per 40 acres at any time in the season.

n Using malathion ULV for fall diapause treatments as needed.

n Placing traps around <I>all<I> sides of the cotton fields -- even next to other crops.

Kenneth Gully, an Eola grower, reported on his PIE (Prodcuer Information Exchange) tour that he took last year to the Mid-South region of the Cotton Belt. Gully noted that NCC and FMC, maker of crop protection products, sponsor the PIE tour each year to let farmers see how cotton growers in other parts of the United States produce crops.

Robert Englert of Wingate, a committee member of the NCC State Support Committee, said the Texas committee works to direct research and promotion money to the sales of cotton and other projects that the growers request.

Cottonseed, market development, and genetically-altered planting seed are examples.

David Kubenka of Wall is president of the Southern Rolling Plains Cotton Growers.