Despite being slightly behind in heat units compared to last year, Oklahoma’s cotton crop is showing a lot of promise. According to Jenny Dudak, the Oklahoma State University Cotton Extension Specialist, the crop is currently in an excellent position and progressing as expected.
“Overall, I’d say our cotton crop is looking very good,” Dudak told Farm Director KC Sheperd. “We’re progressing exactly like I would hope we would this year. We’re about mid to peak bloom.”
Vigilance Against Pests is Crucial
While the crop’s health is encouraging, Dudak stressed the importance of pest management. She highlighted stink bugs as the primary concern and advised producers to remain vigilant in scouting their fields. Stink bugs can cause significant damage by feeding on developing bolls, which can lead to yield and quality losses.
Dudak outlined the following boll injury thresholds to guide growers:
- 10-15% boll injury during the first three to five weeks of bloom.
- 20% during weeks two and six.
- 30% or more seven weeks after bloom.
To check for boll injury, Dudak explained, “By boll injury, what I mean by that is picking a boll, cracking it open, and looking at the inside of that boll for warts.” These “warts” are discolored bumps, often brown, that indicate a pest has been feeding on the boll.
Dudak recommends that producers scout their cotton fields at least twice a week to keep a close eye on these pests.
Another pest to watch out for is the bollworm, especially for those with corn nearby. The specialist noted that “corn earworms coming out of corn into cotton, potentially” have been reported. She advised that producers with Bt or Wide Strike II technology should still scout for bollworms.
Upcoming Field Days and Meetings
To help producers stay informed and prepared, OSU Extension has scheduled a series of field days and meetings across the state. These events will cover a wide range of topics, including cotton varieties, weed control, and pest management.
Upcoming events include:
- August 21st: Panhandle Crops Field Day at the Panhandle Research Station in Goodwell.
- August 27th: A meeting in Washington County.
- September 3rd: A meeting at the Carnegie gin.
- September 18th: Fort Cobb Field Day.
- September 25th: Altus Field Day.
For more information and registration details, Dudak encourages producers to look for flyers on the OSU Cotton Instagram account or contact their local Extension office. She noted that many of the meetings will offer Continuing Education Units (CEUs) for attendees.
To register for Panhandle Crops Field Day click here
