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Posted 14 April 2010. Crop Management. Bayer CropScience Cotton Agronomists Help Growers Maximize Profit Potential Selecting the right variety for the right field is key to success Source: Bayer CropScience Press Release. www.bayercropscience.com Lubbock, Texas (April 7, 2010)--Cotton growers know that the seed they put in the ground directly impacts what they put in the bank after harvest. FiberMax® and Stoneville® cotton seed varieties help growers maximize profitability with high yield and excellent fiber quality potential, but great varieties are only part of the equation.
Factors such as geography, soil type, insect pressure and rotations make the variety selection process a daunting task. Growers depend on expert advice to know how varieties perform in their geography, under different soil types and in different crop rotations. “Simply put, growers want the right variety on the right field to achieve high yield potential and increase profitability,” said Steve Nichols, U.S. agronomic manager for Bayer CropScience. “We have the right varieties, and we have experienced regional agronomists in every cotton-producing region who evaluate varieties in diverse crop production scenarios and work with local Bayer CropScience representatives to make on-farm recommendations for growers.” In the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic, regional cotton agronomists Josh Mayfield and Debbie Brown test varietal performance across the entire region in varied conditions. Through Cotton Agronomic Performance (CAP) trials, they evaluate both experimental and commercial varieties with large-scale tests on growers’ farms. Mayfield is the regional cotton agronomist for Alabama, Georgia and Florida and brings six years of experience in agriculture. He has a master’s degree from Auburn University. With the problem of glyphosate-resistant pigweed in the Southeast, Mayfield believes the newer FiberMax LibertyLink varieties give growers a chance to grow high-quality, high-yielding cotton while keeping their fields clean. These newer varieties were bred for the southern region, and Mayfield said CAP trials demonstrate their fit in the geography. Growers with resistant weeds now have an alternative to glyphosate technology that can protect their farms and maximize profitability. “In my area, we offer varieties that help growers to get the right fit on their farm whether they have resistant weeds or nematode issues,” Mayfield said. “Conditions might warrant recommending a FiberMax LibertyLink variety like FM 1845LLB2, FM 1773LLB2 or FM 1735LLB2 to a grower in south Georgia, while in North Alabama a Stoneville variety like ST 4288B2F or FM 1740B2F might be just the thing to help growers maximize yields.” Brown brings 14 years of cotton experience and a Ph.D. in entomology from Clemson University to help growers in North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia. Her top recommendations for the Mid-Atlantic region include ST 4427B2RF, ST 4288B2F and FM 1740B2F, which have been extensively tested throughout the region with excellent results and consistent yields, and ST 5288B2F, which has outstanding yield potential across the geography. It’s a mid-maturing variety well-suited for both irrigated and dryland acres. “With cotton seed, one thing is a constant – one variety does not fit all growers,” Brown said. “In our on-farm CAP trials, we learn the strengths of each variety and then work with the local sales representatives to place them on the right acre to help increase grower profitability.” Growers can contact their local regional cotton agronomists through their local Bayer CropScience sales representative or by calling (866) 992-2937. For more information on FiberMax or Stoneville cotton seed, contact your local Bayer CropScience field representative and visit www.CottonExperts.com Contact: |
