Talkin' Cotton Podcast

Cotton can look “quiet” in early June, but the decisions you make right now decide how well the crop holds onto fruit later. We walk through a boots-on-the-ground Georgia cotton update from the UGA Cotton Team, starting with where planting and squaring stand, then moving straight into the practical pest management choices that protect retention and keep you from creating problems with the sprayer. We dig into cotton aphids the way scouts actually see them: present in every field, sometimes m...

A wet stretch can feel like a gift and a trap at the same time. We sit down with the UGA cotton crew to sort out what the rain really changed across Georgia cotton fields, from how fast acres are going in to what you should do the minute you can get back in the field. We talk about planting pace, why slow rain helps stand establishment, and how to think about planting decisions when shallow moisture is back but the long-term water picture is still tight. Then we get practical. Dr. Lauren Laz...

Cotton season can feel like a race when it’s warm in April and the rain won’t come. We sit down with Dr. Taylor Singleton and Mrs. Sarah Hobby to get practical about what actually works in a Georgia drought spring: how to avoid “planting on hope,” what counts as a meaningful rain event, and why planting into moisture matters more than any date on the calendar. We also talk through cover crop termination timing and how a dead cover can help conserve soil moisture by creating a protective mat w...

One wrong assumption in a cotton field can get expensive fast. We sit down with UGA’s Dr. Bob Kemerait to talk through the 2026 decisions that are easy to “cut out” on a spreadsheet but hard to recover once the planter runs, especially nematode management, variety selection, and early-season disease prevention. We dig into the reality that nematodes are already there, including reniform nematode, root-knot nematode, and sting nematode, and why winter weather mostly slows them down rather tha...

The weeds aren’t waiting—and neither are the courtrooms. We sat down with Dr. Stanley Culpepper to unpack why the biggest threats to your herbicide toolbox aren’t just resistance anymore, but activist lawsuits, policy shifts, and social narratives that ignore on-farm reality. From dicamba’s re-registration to smarter, structured labels, we trace how grower voices and evidence-based comments turned a bleak outlook into workable rules that keep fields cleaner and neighbors safer. We get tactic...

Prices are stubborn, inputs aren’t getting cheaper, and acres have shifted—but we still need cotton in Georgia. We take you inside the decisions that matter most for 2026: choosing stable, above‑average varieties with multi‑year proof, pairing trait packages to your pest pressure and management style, and building a plan where timing—not just rate—drives performance. From OVT comparisons to 25 on‑farm trial sites, we explain how to read the data for stability across environments instead of ch...

We preview the Georgia Cotton Commission annual meeting in Tifton with clear updates on pests, policy, markets, and risk. Speakers from UGA, USDA, and the National Cotton Council share what growers need to do now and how to prepare for 2026. • date, location, registration link and logistics for the annual meeting • main program speakers and why their topics matter • cotton jassid status and management priorities • FSA timelines for safety nets, bridge assistance and marketing loan changes • ...

A strong crop and a tighter runway. We kick off with a clear snapshot of Georgia cotton quality and why harvest has suddenly accelerated, then dive into the decisions that will define the finish: defoliation timing ahead of a hard freeze, reading yield data for profit, and recognizing when insects actually move the needle. You’ll hear what surprised us this season—big yield gains from thrips control on slow-starting April cotton—and why jassid responses hinged on timing relative to plant decl...

The cotton crop is moving fast in Georgia this year. With 76% of the crop having open bolls—13% ahead of the five-year average—growers are making critical end-of-season decisions while planning for what comes next. Drought conditions since Labor Day weekend have created unique irrigation management challenges. The UGA cotton team discusses the surprising discovery that many fields have adequate moisture in shallow soil layers but are bone dry below 12 inches. This deep moisture depletion cou...

The Georgia cotton crop is racing toward harvest with 21% of bolls already opening—about 5% ahead of the five-year average. This early September period brings ideal "cotton weather" with cool mornings in the high 60s and daytime temperatures around 90°F, creating perfect conditions for final boll development without the stress of extreme heat. For most fields planted before mid-June, the irrigation season has ended. Water requirements drop significantly by week 18 after planting, and recent ...

The Georgia cotton crop is showing signs of change as August progresses, with growers witnessing fruit shed across fields statewide. This episode dives deep into the natural processes driving cotton fruit abscission and whether you should be concerned about those squares and young bolls on the ground. Our experts explain that even high-yielding cotton naturally sheds up to 60% of its fruit, with this process peaking between peak bloom and cutout when demand for carbohydrates is highest. Rece...

Cotton is progressing on schedule with 79% squaring and 32% setting bolls, and the UGA team sees strong potential for the 2025 crop despite some management challenges. • Stink bug management critical now as cotton sets bolls, with scouts checking for internal damage • While checking for stink bugs, scout for plant bugs using a drop cloth to ensure they are controlled if necessary • Spider mites appearing in some fields with abamectin still effective, though severe cases may need multiple tre...

Drs. Phillip Roberts, Wes Porter, Bob Kemerait, and Camp Hand discuss the current status of the Georgia crop and some thoughts surrounding insect management, management of foliar diseases, and irrigation.