Talkin' Cotton Podcast

Cotton can look great from the road and still be quietly losing yield in the rows. We sit down with a roundtable of Georgia Extension agents (Savannah Tanner - Emanuel County, Will Brown - Appling County, and Seth McAllister - Terrell County) to compare notes from across the state: where the crop stands after a rocky planting season, how far along fields really are from early square to peak bloom, and what those growth stage differences mean for every decision you make next.

We dig into the calls agents are getting right now, starting with weather-driven challenges...

Cotton can look “fine” from the road and still be one storm, one missed spray window, or one miscalibrated spreader away from losing yield. We break down the early July Georgia cotton picture, including the latest acreage numbers, where the crop sits on squaring and bloom, and why that stretch of heavy rain after drought created two problems at once: delayed fieldwork and nutrients that may have moved before plants could use them. If you are seeing yellow cotton, we talk through what might be happening and how to think about recovery without guessing. 

From there we get p...

The easiest way to get blindsided in cotton is to focus on only one thing, one pest, one headline, one price, one rumor. We’re heading to East Georgia with a packed Georgia Cotton Commission mid-year meeting, and we wanted to give you a clear preview of what’s worth your time on July 29 in Statesboro at the Neesmith Lane Conference Center.

We talk through what’s changing in the program and why the market conversation feels different this year, including the USDA Great American Cotton Plan and the growing public spotlight on clothing materials and sustainability claims...

97% planted sounds like a clean headline, but the real story is what happens next when rain turns “finally catching up” into “can’t get in the field.” We’re recording on June 24 with the UGA cotton team to sort through where Georgia cotton stands right now: acres moving into squaring and early bloom, deep soil moisture finally re-wetting, and the very real management squeeze that comes with spotty showers, standing water, and delayed field work.

We get specific on cotton insect management, because this is the time when guessing gets expensive. Plant bugs are more common than they were a...

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 melting down a plant or a small spot, and often tempting people into a spray that does not...

Rain shows up, planters roll, and somehow we’re still talking about drought. That’s the tension driving cotton decisions across Georgia right now, so we sit down as the UGA Cotton Team to sort out what’s actually happening in fields and in the weather data. We look at planting progress, why some areas are still playing catch-up, and how a “wetter week” can coexist with negative water balance when evapotranspiration keeps draining the tank. If you’re trying to decide whether to push planting, pause, or line up irrigation, this conversation gives you a clearer framework.

We also...

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 Lazaro joins us to...

Georgia cotton is trying to get started with one hand tied behind its back: dry soil, low ponds, and more pivots running in late April than most of us like to see. We sit down with Dr. Bob Kemerait, Dr. Wes Porter, and Dr. Phillip Roberts to break down what this drought pattern means for cotton production decisions you’re making right now, from getting a stand to protecting roots and stretching limited water through the season.

We dig into why soil moisture matters beyond germination, especially for nematode management and the performance of nematicides like aldicarb. We...

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 when the forecast is stingy. 

From there, we...

Jassids didn’t “ease into” Georgia cotton, they exploded across the map. We recorded this update heading into 2026 because what we learned in 2025 changes how we scout, how fast we react, and how we protect yield when a new insect pest shows up and multiplies in summer heat.

We walk through the big lessons from the UGA Cotton Team’s response: how we confirmed what kills cotton jassid, why insecticide rotation matters for resistance management, and what hopperburn tells you before losses become permanent. We also share the field reality that makes this pest so unforgiving: you can’t mi...

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 than erasing the problem. Dr. Kemerait explains how to think about nematicide choices, why rates and product types matter, and ho...

Cotton growers are juggling new label realities, tight margins, and the pressure to do right by their land and communities. We tackle all three with a practical roadmap: how to meet ESA requirements without guesswork, how to build records that prove what you already do well, and how to rethink PPE and daily habits so safety isn’t the first thing to slip when weather and workload collide.

We break down ESA label language into plain steps: confirm pesticide use limitation areas on Bulletins Live 2, set downwind drift buffers by the label, and earn mitigation points with th...

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 tactical fast. If you want to save money this year, start clean and stay ahead: no troublesome weeds at planting, overlap residual...

Stop watering cotton that’s ready to pick. We dive straight into the decisions that protect margins in 2026: getting pivots uniform, setting planters for true depth, dialing fertility with grid sampling, and timing irrigation to the crop’s changing demand. With Dr. Wes Porter from the University of Georgia, we compare what the data promises with what real systems can deliver, turning research into a framework you can actually use.

First, we tackle pivot uniformity—the cheapest, most reliable ROI in irrigation. From clogged nozzles and cracked regulators after freeze events to backwards orifices that cause yield‑robbing...

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 chasing last year’s headline yield.

We also unpack a hot question: can conventional cotton really save money? The math...

 We’re rolling out a series of recorded updates from every Georgia cotton specialist so you can hear the what, why, and when behind this season’s key recommendations—without rearranging your whole week. Consider this your on‑demand companion to the in‑person meetings, built to fit inside a busy farm day.

We walk through how the information pipeline works: production guides are already with your county agents and at the meetings, the summer newsletter keeps up with fast-moving issues like pest pressure and growth stages, and this podcast fills in the context you might miss or need a r...

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
• Plant Not Plastic goals and how growers can amplify demand
• luncheon awards and educator insights on school–farm partnersh...

Strong yields, premium fiber, and a price that refuses to budge—this season is a study in contrasts. We open with hard numbers: Georgia sits near 70% harvested and ahead of the five-year pace, while USDA’s updated estimate pegs statewide yield around 983 pounds per acre on roughly 830,000 harvested acres. Classing results are bright across the board, with color, staple, strength, and micronaire pushing many bales into premium territory, even as low 60s prices test patience and cash flow.

From there we head to the edges of the map, where a sharp freeze exposed weaknesses in late-planted and deer...

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 decline. We unpack the shift toward lower jassid thresholds, the role of potash in injury severity, and how to...

Yields are coming in hot and the lessons are even hotter. We walk the rows with real numbers—1,200 to 1,400 pounds in several spots, three-bale reports on tough ground—and dig into what actually moved the needle: on-time jassid control, patient defoliation, smart irrigation cutoff, and stalk destruction that shuts down the green bridge. From the picker seat to the lab bench, we connect field-edge efficacy trials with practical harvest decisions you can make this week.

We bring the full team perspective together—entomology, agronomy, and on-farm trial work—to explain why a seven-to-ten-day delay on jassid sprays cost yie...

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 could impact yields as plants can't access their usual "bank" of water reserves. The team addresses whether irrigating cotton that's already 20-30% open is w...

A critical transition point has arrived for Georgia cotton producers as this year's crop races toward harvest readiness. With 51% of bolls already opening—well ahead of the five-year average—growers face important decisions about defoliation timing, irrigation termination, and pest management that will impact both yield and quality.

The UGA Cotton Team dives into the unusual weather patterns affecting this year's crop, including September's surprisingly dry conditions that have necessitated more irrigation than typical for this time of year. For late-planted cotton approaching cutout, specialists recommend careful assessment of soil moisture before making irrigation termination decisions, as one...

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 rainfall has helped many fields reach adequate soil moisture levels. Unless dealing with unusually late-planted cotton or areas that missed precipitation, growers can confidently ter...

In this special episode, Dr. Stanley Culpepper breaks down the proposed regulatory changes with respect to dicamba that every cotton grower needs to understand before the September 6th comment deadline.

Dr. Culpepper first highlights Georgia's exceptional track record in pesticide stewardship, with over 19,000 training participants and multiple EPA visits to understand how Georgia farmers have successfully minimized off-target movement. This context matters because the proposed changes don't acknowledge regional differences in application success rates.

While some existing requirements remain unchanged – including restricted use status, mandatory training, and application parameters – the new temperature-based volatility mitigation requirements repr...

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. Recent overcast weather has intensified this natural process, limiting the crucial solar radiation plants need. While concerning to witness, the team...

Hot weather, resistant pests, and critical timing decisions take center stage as the University of Georgia Cotton Team tackles the challenges of mid-season cotton insect management. This episode delivers practical, field-tested guidance for growers facing the boll-feeding bug complex and other persistent cotton pests.

Cotton entomologists Dr. Phillip Roberts and Mrs. Sarah Hobby break down the subtle but crucial differences between southern green and brown stink bugs, explaining why proper identification matters for control strategies. They share their expertise on scouting techniques, emphasizing the importance of internal bowl damage assessments using quarter-sized, soft bowls that reveal feeding...

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 treatments
• Potassium deficiency often appears during boll formation, especially in sandy soils
• Late potassium interventions work best at third to f...

Mr. Taylor Sills, Executive Director of the Georgia Cotton Commission, joins Drs. Camp Hand and Phillip Roberts to discuss the 2025 Georgia Cotton Commission Mid-Year Meeting. Registration and agenda can be found at https://georgiacottoncommission.org/. 

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. 

Drs. Phillip Roberts, Wes Porter, Henry Sintim, and Camp Hand discuss considerations surrounding the current status of Georgia's cotton crop, from newly planted cotton to cotton entering peak bloom. 

Drs. Phillip Roberts, Bob Kemerait, and Camp Hand discuss some considerations as we wind up planting and thoughts about cotton that is beginning to square throughout Georgia. 

Drs. Wes Porter and Phillip Roberts and Sarah Hobby discuss planting progress and dialing in planters for current conditions as well as early season insect pest management.

Drs. Camp Hand, Henry Sintim, Wes Porter, Bob Kemerait, and Phillip Roberts join Sarah Hobby in the podcast studio on the UGA Tifton Campus to discuss planting conditions and at-plant decisions to be made.  Topics include planter setup and seeding rates, fertility including starter fertilizers, poultry litter and side-dress timings as well as the importance of Potassium.  Nematodes and disease management, thrips management and the Thrips Infestation Predictor Model, and thoughts on management of conventional cotton are also discussed.

Drs. Wes Porter, Phillip Roberts, Bob Kemerait and Camp Hand discuss early season considerations with respect to planter and irrigation setup, thrips management, nematode and seedling disease considerations, and other topics pertinent to the early part of the 2025 growing season. 

Dr. Culpepper discusses new products for 2025, ESA requirements for newly labeled herbicides, utilizing integrated weed management tactics, and the dicamba situation (prior to Christmas). 

Dr. Porter discusses considerations for irrigation scheduling and trying to make the most of inputs in 2025.

Dr. Taylor Singleton discusses updates on sustainability and pesticide stewardship for the 2025 growing season. 

Dr. Bob Kemerait discusses updates for 2025 surrounding nematode and disease management.

Dr. Phillip Roberts discusses updates for 2025, largely revolving around tarnished and clouded plant bugs and their management moving forward in Georgia. 

Dr. Camp Hand discusses updates for 2025 including variety selection, CLRDV-induced bronze wilt, PGR management of modern cotton varieties, seeding rates, and deer research in cotton.