1. LEE AND PHILLIPS COUNTY ARKANSAS
COTTON VERIFICATION PROGRAM
Robert Goodson
T. 1,B. Barber2, McClelland 3
1County Extension Agent, Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service, Phillips County, Helena AR, 72342
2Cotton Agronomist, Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service, Little Rock AR, 72204
3State Cotton Verification Coordinator, Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service, Keiser AR 72351
Cotton Verification Purpose
Program Objectives
Lee County Verification field was a project to
Problem
1. Conduct on farm field trials to verify verify that cotton could be double cropped
researched based recommendations after wheat harvest in early June
with the interest of increasing profit Due to height
2. 2. Educate producers on timely of wheat
Phillips County Verification field was a project stubble early
management decisions to verify that conventional (non Bt and non
3. Aid researchers in identifying areas plant growth in
roundup ready) could be grown in a transgenic double crop
that need additional inquiry
4. Aid local Extension personnel to learn
cotton growing area cotton was tall
more about all aspects of cotton and spindly
production Problem
Low seed
Methods quality of new
conventional
Late season cotton,
Lygus proved to be a
(tarnished plant rough start
bug) control for the crop
was vital in
producing June
planted cotton
in Arkansas
Possible Glyphosate drift
was on possible solution Problem
to low yield in
Results conventional cotton
Yield Results
Double Crop Wheat & Cotton
Double Crop Wheat Cotton
1. When planting cotton behind wheat, stubble
697 lbs lint/acre
should be cut short to prevent spindly plants early
Conventional Cotton in the season.
545 lbs lint/acre 2. Weed control and irrigation is easier due to wheat
ABSTRACT
stubble .
3. Cotton can be planted behind wheat successfully
The cotton research verification program is an interdisciplinary effort in which
recommended best management practices and production technologies are applied in a as long as inputs are kept low
timely manner. Objectives of the program are: (1) conduct on farm field trials to
verify researched based recommendations with the interest of increasing profit, (2)
educate producers on timely management decisions, (3) Aid researchers in identifying
area that need additional inquiry and (4) to aid Extension personnel to learn more about Conventional Cotton
all aspects of cotton production. In cooperation with producers in both counties, it was
decided to plant a conventional (non-transgenic) variety in Phillips County and in Lee
1. Seed quality is important in cotton production
County cotton was planted double crop behind wheat. The two issues in Phillips
County was being able to grow non roundup ready cotton when all the surrounding
whether conventional or transgenic
crops were and could the lepidopteron pests be controlled on a non Bt cotton variety 2. Pest management in conventional cotton is
The issue in Lee County was would there be enough time to produce an economical
cotton crop planting so late in the growing season. Success was measured on how each possible with current herbicides and insecticides
crop fared economically. Due to poor stand and possibly glyphosate drift the Phillips
County project lost $3.79 an acre. A success on the field was that the lepidopteron pest 3. Glyphosate drift in conventional cotton is an issue United States Department of Agriculture, University of Arkansas, and County Governments Cooperating
can be controlled with new insecticides on the market. In Lee County production cost
were kept low and due to a higher market price the program profited $415 an acre. The that must be control led. If not there will be The Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service offers its programs to all eligible persons regardless of race,
program was able to show the advantages and disadvantages of each production system
to all local producers.
excessive yield loss. color, national origin, religion, gender, age, disability, marital or veteran status, or any other legally
protected status, and is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer