Expected Conditions for Defoliation at Franklin Virginia 9-20-2018 The best conditions for the next couple of weeks will be during the next few days. Excellent results would be expected using Dropp at around 2 ounces with Finish or 3 to 4 ounces with Prep along with a herbicide or Def/Folex. Finish helps with regrowth if Dropp is hard to get. If you absolutely cannot get Dropp, in my opinion, Use Finish and about 4 ounces of Ginstar (4 oz. of Ginstar has 1 oz. of Dropp). Beginning Saturday evening, rain becomes more likely. There seems to be a weather forecasting consensus that it will Rain Sunday and Monday. By Tuesday there are differences in opinion. One forecast says Tuesday and Wed will be pretty good and another one says the rain will last for 4 days.
Some farmers have wondered if defoliating in front of this 5 day period of off and on sunshine and rain that will begin Sunday will create a cracked boll condition at the wrong time that could increase hardlock. The other side of that coin is that getting the leaves off will help cotton dry out quicker during those periods of dring time which will help reduce hardlock. I think it generally will not matter and that we will be in a similar position either way which is why I would go ahead and defoliate cotton that is ready to be defoliated during this favorable period. The best cotton to spray is the cotton that is 80 or 90% open because getting the leaves off will help it dry out quicker. Keep a close eye out for the ever changing forecast.
Date
Day
temp
Conditions
forecast
9-20 & 9-21
Thursday - Friday
84/63
Dry and Sunny
Excellent
9-22
Saturday
88/66
Rain late
Fair to marginal
9-24 & 25
Sunday - Monday
78/66
Overcast & rain
Poor
9-26
Tuesday
84/69
Rain/Sun
Mixed
9-27
Wednesday
84/67
Partly Sunny Humid
Fair
9-28
Thursday
80/59
Cloudy
Fair to Good
9-29
Friday
79/59
mixed rain
marginal?
Futures
@CT - COTTON #2 - ICEFU
Month
Open
High
Low
Last
Change
Close
Time
More
Oct 18
79.10
79.07
Dec 18
78.50
78.50
78.16
78.40
-0.07
78.47
10:37P
Mar 19
78.91
78.91
78.61
78.80
-0.11
78.91
10:37P
May 19
79.58
79.58
79.34
79.47
-0.11
79.58
10:37P
Jul 19
80.23
80.23
80.02
80.02
-0.21
80.23
10:37P
Oct 19
83.65
76.72
Dec 19
76.15
76.15
76.01
76.01
-0.04
76.05
10:37P
Mar 20
76.92
76.86
@S - SOYBEANS - CBOT
Month
Open
High
Low
Last
Change
Close
Time
More
Nov 18
846'2
849'0
842'4
843'2
-7'0
850'2
10:41P
Jan 19
860'0
862'4
856'4
857'2
-6'6
864'0
10:41P
Mar 19
872'0
875'2
869'2
870'2
-6'6
877'0
10:41P
May 19
886'2
888'0
883'0
883'0
-6'6
889'6
10:41P
Jul 19
896'0
898'4
892'4
892'6
-7'0
899'6
10:41P
@W - WHEAT - CBOT
Month
Open
High
Low
Last
Change
Close
Time
More
Dec 18
521'0
523'6
518'2
518'6
-5'2
524'0
10:41P
Mar 19
541'0
542'4
537'2
538'0
-4'4
542'4
10:41P
May 19
551'6
554'0
549'4
549'4
-4'2
553'6
10:41P
@C - CORN - CBOT
Month
Open
High
Low
Last
Change
Close
Time
More
Dec 18
352'4
355'0
352'4
353'0
0'4
352'4
10:40P
Mar 19
364'6
367'2
364'6
365'2
0'4
364'6
10:40P
May 19
373'0
375'2
373'0
373'2
0'4
372'6
10:40P
Jul 19
379'0
381'0
379'0
379'2
0'2
379'0
10:39P
Sep 19
384'2
385'6
384'0
384'0
0'0
384'0
10:39P
My Custom Markets
Symbol
Open
High
Low
Last
Change
Close
Time
More
Johnny's Blog
Excellent Defoliation Conditions through Friday 9-19-18 We are now in the middle of 4 wonderful consecutive days of sunshine that will offer the best period for defoliation that we are going to see in September. These warm to hot days with plenty of sunshine is one of the key components for fast boll opening and successful leaf removal. This period is expected to end sometime Saturday afternoon or the evening hours going into Sunday morning as the forecast changes back to more clouds and periods of rain and sun for about 5 days. It will probably be a lot like the 5 day period we got when the remnants of Gordon came through the week before Florence. I guess the crop looks pretty amazing considered how much muggy weather we have had. The greenest and largest cotton is showing the most hardlock, but most of the evaluations have been done while we have been in moist conditions. Now that we have better drying conditions, it looks a bit better. I believe we have probably suffered some yield loss and while it is still good, it is more variable. Some fields will pick three bales while others are going to be disappointing. The dry conditions in July and mixed plantbug pressure also add to the inconsistency. If you are spraying during this current period, be sure to use the Dropp as one of the key components.
DISCLAIMER: The data contained herein is for informational, conversational, and philosophical thinking and is for general purposes only. Ideas expressed apply to the Upper Southeast growing region. Although the information was obtained from various sources, which we believe to be reliable, we do not in any way guarantee its accuracy or completeness. Comments are influenced by past experiences, personal bias and hypothetical speculation by the writer and are not always accurate predictors of future events. Specific references to Agricultural Products and Rates are used for examples and do not reflect specific endorsement or recommendations for use. Always read and follow all label directions and precautions for use. We disclaim any responsibility for any errors or omissions contained herein. FULL DISCLOSURE: There is no compensation received by Johnny to promote any product referenced with in this blog. Johnny is a paid employee of Commonwealth Gin
