Mississippi State, Mississippi
April 5, 2007
Mississippi cotton growers may
have fewer acres to plant, but not necessarily fewer challenges
in 2007.
While environmental conditions will be the biggest factor, the
boom in corn acreage may increase certain insect pressure in
Mississippi’s cotton.
Angus Catchot, entomologist with
Mississippi State University’s
Extension Service, said corn is one of the primary hosts for
bollworms, which edged out tarnished plant bugs as the state’s
No. 1 cotton pest last year.
“With such a large increase in corn acres this year, the
probability of seeing higher than normal bollworm numbers in
cotton is on growers’
minds. Since weather plays a key role in the success of
bollworms emerging from the soil after pupating, we’ll have to
wait and see what the final outcome is,” Catchot said.
“Bollworms are considered major pests in cotton, and large
numbers can develop in corn fields and then move to cotton
around late July when corn becomes less attractive.”
Catchot said many factors can influence insect numbers,
particularly timely rainfall that increases the growth of wild
host plants that pests can build up on. Cotton planting
typically occurs between April 15 and May 10.
The ongoing battle against boll weevils also may be challenged
this year. Farrell Boyd, program manager for the Southeast Boll
Weevil Eradication Foundation, said reduced cotton acreage will
mean reduced operating assessments for the eradication program.
“We have eliminated weevils throughout the majority of the state
with just very low numbers remaining in the northwest portion of
Mississippi,” Boyd said. “We may reduce the number of field
staff, but we still have to have some personnel, vehicles and
trapping within the reduced acreage. It’s harder to keep the
budget down when we are covering a larger area with fewer cotton
acres.”
Mississippi cotton growers pay between $4 and $10 per acre to
the program for boll weevil eradication.
Tom Barber, Extension cotton specialist, said a significant
reduction in cotton acres will have a negative impact on the
infrastructure of the industry, especially in small Delta
communities.
“We may not see the impact this year, but if cotton acres stay
low a second year, we likely will lose gins. Other related
businesses and services, such as seed and chemical dealers and
custom applicators (crop dusters), will certainly feel the
pinch,” he said.
By Linda Breazeale |
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