January 3, 2003

It is time to request Cotton, Corn, Grain Sorghum, Forage Sorghum and other seed for 2003 result demonstrations. Please call or send an e-mail indicating your interest, I will get in touch with you and develop plot plans. The cooperating companies will be contacted in the near future.


Wheat

I still plan to establish a couple of Wild Oat control tests if the opportunity presents itself. If you have a plot that would make a good test, I would appreciate a call.

It is time to have producers put on their coats and go look at the weeds that have emerged. Small broadleaf weeds will be easier to control. They need to apply herbicides before the small weeds take needed moisture and nutrients from the developing crop. The cool air temperatures will slow the performance of the herbicides applied. When the minimum growth stage of the small grain is reached, apply the herbicide that will control the targeted weed. I have gotten better weed control results by applying herbicides when the night temperature is above 40 degrees--two days prior and two days after application. You can expect the root development of the late planted small grain to be limited. This will make the plants vulnerable to hot, dry, windy conditions in the spring.

Rick Minzenmayer and Stephen Biles both indicated that aphids are becoming a problem in some fields of wheat. Producers may want to examine their acreage and make application if the threshold is reached.

The 2003 Wheat Industry Conference will be held in Albuquerque, New Mexico in late January. The primary information for producers will be covered January 29 and 30. I plan to attend and will share the information with you when I return.

Cotton

By now, all of the cotton producing counties that sent samples to Lubbock for ginning last month should have received their summary of lint yield and quality. When you finish your result demonstration report that contains the production information, I would appreciate it if you would send me a copy. As summaries of cotton demonstrations become available I will forward them to you. If you need assistance in analyzing or compiling data, please let me know. Producers will be interested in the information from these cotton variety tests and will be needing the information to make cottonseed purchases in the near future.

Pesticide Recertification Training

The only meeting I have on my calendar for producers to earn CEUs is February 6 at Cross Plains, and February 18 and 19 at Abilene. If you are having a program in the next three months that offers CEUs please let me know, I have had several calls already this week.

On Monday, January 13, there will be a training conducted at Abilene for producers needing to obtain a Private Applicators License. For more details and to register for the meeting call Gary Bomar at (915) 672-6048.

Monthly Calendar

January

January 8, District Office, Ag Program Conference (TTVN)
January 14, Howard County, Soil and Soil Fertility
January 17, Tom Green County, Professional Ag Workers
January 20, Dawson County, Southern Mesa Production Conference
January 22, Ector County, Soil and Soil Fertility
January 23 & 24, McLennan County, B.I.G. Meeting
January 28 - 31, Albuquerque, New Mexico, Wheat Industry Conference and Expo

February

February 3, Annual Leave
February 4, Martin County, Multi-County Crop Production Meeting
February 6, Callahan County, Forage Production Meeting
February 11& 12, Tom Green County, Drought Symposium
February 18 & 19, Taylor County, West Texas Farm and Ranch Show
February 24 & 25, Randall County, Texas ASA Meeting
February 27, Brown County, Ag Day


Sincerely,


Billy E. Warrick
Extension Agronomist
Texas Cooperative Extension
Texas A&M University System