August 31, 2001

Wheat

I still need summaries from a couple of wheat demonstrations. If you have finished writing your results please send me a copy as soon as possible by e-mail, I would appreciate it.

Several counties have requested wheat and oat seed for result demonstrations. When the seed is ready to be picked up I will let you know.

The recent rains resulted in the germination of a lot of weeds. To retain the moisture and the firm seedbed for planting purposes, producers may have to apply a herbicide. A 10 to 12 ounce application of Roundup will take care of most of the small plants. However, in some fields the weeds are large and an application of paraquat may be needed. Remember that paraquat is a contact herbicide and adequate carrier and pressure will be needed to get the desired coverage.

Some small grain tests that can be conducted include: 1) Land preparation and equipment modification for controlling planting depth; 2) Effect of planting date and rate on forage and grain production; 3) Determination of forage production in the Fall and in the Spring; 4) Timing and rate of nutrient application; 5) Disease ratings of wheat; 6) Weed control; 7) Note when dormancy breaks in each variety; 8) Pull off date for grazed wheat and its impact on grain yield; 9) Insect ratings; 10) comparison of certified wheat with standard wheat; and 11) Plant height, standability, test weight per bushel, moisture and grain yield.


Cotton

All of the bolls that will make an open boll with quality lint and yield are now on the plant. The bolls will need warm temperatures through September (all 30 days) for boll maturation to occur. Several fields are approaching maturity and will need to be terminated soon. Several cotton crop termination tests have already been arranged. From tests previously conducted with paraquat, an application of the product in the late evening provided the highest level of desiccation. For defoliation purposes the chemical needs to be applied in the middle of the day. To prepare for the questions you will receive concerning cotton harvest aids please take time to review the harvest-aid recommendations for West Central Texas. This information can be found at the following web address: http://sanangelo.tamu.edu/agronomy/harvest/index.htm

I would appreciate it if you would estimate the number of cotton samples that will need ginned and let me know. Once the total is determined I can book the gin at Lubbock for either one or two days.

Weeds and Weed ID

Shown are six weeds that are developing in cropland and barditches at this time.

Antelope Horn
Asclepias viridis

Blackfoot Daisy
Melampodium leucanthum

Common Cocklebur
Xanthium strumarium

Threadleaf Groundsel
Senecio longilobus

Purple Horsemint
Monarda citriodora

Cowpen Daisy
Verbesina encelioides


Pesticide Recertification Training

On September 10, 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.

Taylor County will be having an educational meeting on November 8 that is worth 5 CEUs. I will send you an agenda on this meeting in the next newsletter.

If you have training during the next two months, please let me know so I can share that information with other agents and producers. Thanks.


Monthly Calendar

September

September 3, Holiday,
September 4, District Office, Office Conference
September 5, Mason County, Crops Field Day
September 6, Tom Green County, Sheep and Goat Field Day
September 10, Brown County, Forage Production Meeting
September 11, Glasscock/Reagan/Upton Counties, Cotton Field Day
September 12 - 23, Northeast U.S., Epsilon Sigma Phi Conference (Albany, NY)
September 24, Tom Green County, Specialist Scheduling
September 25 - 28, Tom Green County, Test Plot Establishment

October

October 1 - 3, Bandera County, Soil and Crop Sciences Project Group Meeting
October 11, Burnet County, Forage Meeting
October 15, Menard County, CEU Course for 5 hours
October 16 - 18, Brazos County, New Agents Orientation
October 19, Tom Green County, Professional Ag Workers
October 25, McCulloch County, McCulloch County Ag Day
October 29, Tom Green County, Administrative meeting for TCE employees


Sincerely,


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