The November crop forecast from USDA has increased this year’s corn and soybean production expectations, but lowered cotton and citrus. Corn production remains lower than last year’s record but is up slightly in this month’s forecast at 13.7 billion bushels with yields expected to average 169.3 bushels per acre, up 1.3 bushels from the October forecast. If realized, this will … Read More
Farmers Need RFS Certainty to Remain Profitable
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is expected to announce final rules for the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) this November after months of delay and push back from the agriculture and biofuels industries. As it currently stands, the volume levels set for 2015 and 2016 are lower than the law mandates. As a result, a new white paper finds that American farmers … Read More
USDA Tries New Pest Control Method for Cotton
The USDA has created a YouTube video featuring new ways to control the pink bollworm. The pest has nearly been eliminated in the U.S., but flare-ups threaten the $100 billion dollar cotton industry. The solution? Moths. When outbreaks are detected sterile moths can be released to mate with the pink bollworm, preventing offspring. Watch the full video to see the … Read More
How Engenia™ Herbicide Works in Cotton
BASF Crop Protection anticipates regulatory approval for Engenia™ herbicide yet later this year, which will provide growers with the most technologically advanced dicamba formulation for control of broadleaf weeds in dicamba-tolerant crops for both soybeans and cotton. “Like all the other dicambas BASF has made in our 50 year history, (Engenia) is a highly effective post-emergent broadleaf weed control tool,” … Read More
FMC and Monsanto Expand Agreement for Growers
FMC Agricultural Solutions and Monsanto last week announced the expansion of an agreement of participation in the Roundup Ready PLUS® Crop Management Solutions platform. The exclusive agreement includes FMC’s Authority® brand sulfentrazone herbicides, and adds FMC’s Capture® LFR® insecticide as a soil-applied insecticide for corn and Hero® insecticide. “We believe growers should make use of the best technologies available,” said … Read More
Cotton and Fiber Symposium Set for November
“The fabric of our lives” will be the subject of a symposium scheduled for November. In the U.S., cotton is a $25 billion dollar industry. Because of the importance of fiber crops to the United States, there will be an “Exploring Genetic Diversity for Fiber Improvement” symposium at the Synergy in Science ASA, CSSA, SSSA International Annual Meeting in Minneapolis, … Read More
Monsanto Herbicides for Soybean, Cotton Approved
Governmental approval of some Monsanto herbicides will give cotton and soybean growers some important new tools for weed management. This news release from the company says the new, first-of-its-kind option in 2016 comes in the form of Warrant Ultra Herbicide, a premix of acetochlor and fomesafen approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) last month. Warrant® Herbicide – with … Read More
Cotton LEADS Attracts New Partners
Since 2013 the Cotton LEADS program has partnered with more than 300 companies and is now announcing the addition of several new business. Among others, HanesBrands, Jo-Ann Fabrics, Kohl’s®; and Life Is Good® have joined the partnership. The Cotton LEADS™ program was launched to illustrate, at a national level, the responsible production practices of cotton growers in Australia and the United … Read More
Upland Cotton Genome Sequenced
A joint effort by U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) scientists and their international partners have sequenced the genome of the world’s most widely cultivated and genetically complex species of cotton. This USDA news release says the discovery will make it easier to address increasing threats to cotton by tapping into its natural defenses. Sequencing the genome of Upland cotton (Gossypium … Read More
Bayer Celebrates 10th Anniversary of One Ton Club
Bayer CropScience is celebrating the 10th anniversary of the FiberMax One Ton Club and honored 183 growers for hitting the 2,000-pound-per-acre yield during 2014. During its first decade, the FiberMax One Ton Club has recognized 806 cotton growers who produced 2,000 pounds or more of lint cotton per acre on at least 20 acres using FiberMax cotton seed. In 2014, … Read More