This is the opening line of "The Tale of Two Cities" written by Charles Dickens. This is also applicable to Missouri cotton producers. In the January 14, 2015 Cotton and Wool Outlook, the projection of Missouri cotton yields has increased to 1,117 pounds per acre. This is up from the 1,097 pounds per acre in the December report. If this projection holds up, then this will be a new record yield for Missouri cotton. This is 11 pounds per acre over the previous record of 1,106 in 2008.
This is quite an accomplishment. In looking over this past season, Missouri producers got off to a slow start due to cold, wet conditions. Well over half of our cotton was planted after the optimum planting date. We had a few bumps in the road during the season and the heat units were lower than we would have liked. However, I wasn't too concerned because they were very close to what we experienced in 2008. The plant mapping that I did showed that we had good boll set and few missing positions. Without the boll weevil, producers are able to harvest the "top crop. "Overall, the harvest season was good. Arkansas, Mississippi, and Louisiana had yields of 1193, 1183, and 1171 pounds per acre, respectively. These states did not do as well as last year. But it was still impressive. I have often wondered if we had ideal climatic conditions, how much yield potential we would have.
So this is part of the best of times. Producers should be able to benefit from lower fuel prices at least from the time being. However, this is nothing that we can count on for the long haul. We can thank the Saudis, Texas, North Dakota, and Alaska. The U.S. oil boom has ten states producing 80 percent of our oil. The use of hydraulic fracturing or fracking has certainly changed the landscape. There is potential for savings with lower petroleum prices for fertilizer and other supplies.
Now for the worst of times, I looked at the U.S. Drought Monitor and I see that most of our cotton growing area is in the first or second stage of drought. We are already in the abnormally dry or moderate drought. This is potentially bad news since much of our rainfall, snow, or ice comes during the winter months. The good news is that we have a lot of irrigation potential with center pivots that can be used to provide moisture after planting to activate pre-emerge herbicides and provide moisture for seedling emergence. We have definitely had warmer temperatures during December and January.
Of concern for many farmers is the impact of the 2014 Farm Bill. Having to make decisions is somewhat simplified for cotton producers because this is a transition year and soon there will not be a traditional program. Under the new farm bill or the Agricultural Act of 2014, cotton program benefits will now be delivered through crop-insurance-based delivery systems. Cotton's program will not take effect until 2015 to give USDA more time to develop and implement its regulations.
The Stacked Income Protection Program, or Stax, is designed to provide farmers a layer of coverage between where traditional crop insurance programs stop and 100 percent of risk. Thus, it could be said to be layered or "stacked" on top of traditional crop insurance programs.
David Reinbott, agriculture business specialist, headquartered in Scott County has conducted a number of farm bill meetings with USDA Farm Service Agency personnel and many of these meetings have been sponsored by groups selling crop insurance.
On Tuesday, February 3rd, we will have our Missouri Cotton Production and Outlook Conference at the Fisher Delta Research Center in Portageville. We will cover insect and weed control, soil health, cotton variety information, Missouri water use reporting, products from industry, and cotton outlook and marketing strategies. After lunch there will be a program on the farm bill and a separate session for those needing to renew their private pesticide applicator licenses.
Although I have completed the seven pesticide applicator training sessions, those still needing the training for certification or recertification can call our office at 573-888-4722.
The Missouri Rice Producers Conference is February 19, 2015 at the Eagles Club, Dexter, MO. Registration at 8:00; Meeting 8:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Contact Sam Atwell, 573-748-5531. This meeting will have information on soil fertility weed and insect control, row rice, and marketing. The afternoon session will be devoted to the Farm bill decisions. Directions: ½ Mile South of Hwy. 25 and Hwy. 60 Intersection. After lunch, there will be information on farm bill decisions.
It is always interesting to see how our crops behave under our environmental conditions if the conditions are very favorable, we could again see record yields.
The University of Missouri Extension office is open Monday-Friday located in Kennett, Missouri at 233 North Main Street. Contact 573-888-4722 with questions or comments. MU is an equal opportunity/ADA institution.