Diesel fuel averaged about $2.20 cents a gallon, well above fuel costs in 2005. Barber said the effect of low cotton prices and high input costs is going to drive the 2007 cotton acreage in Mississippi to the lowest levels its been in years.
“My guess is we'll lose 25 percent to 30 percent and go below a million acres,” Barber said.
On top of the drought, cotton producers fought a significant battle with seedling disease and had to replant many acres.
“Our typical April and May weather conditions flip-flopped, and we had warmer weather in April than in May,” Barber said. “Almost 60 percent of the cotton was planted by May 1, rather than the usual 40 percent. When May turned cool with windy, cloudy days and some wet weather, we got a lot of seedling disease.”
After the crop was established, spider mites became a problem. Angus Catchot, an Extension entomologist, said spider mite populations reproduce rapidly in hot, dry weather. Mississippi has had these conditions for the last two years.
“In 2005, we sprayed just under 300,000 acres for spider mites,” Catchot said. “Up until that point, that was pretty much unprecedented for spider mites in Mississippi, but this year, we sprayed about 415,000 acres.”
Spider mites feed by puncturing cells on the underside of leaves, causing those with a high enough infestation to turn red and sometimes fall off prematurely. As this happens, the plant loses its ability to create photosynthesis, and this ultimately reduces yield.
Budworm and bollworm numbers spiked this year, causing producers to treat acreage for these pests. Aphid numbers increased and required treatment on many acres. Plant bugs, which in recent years have been cotton's No. 1 pest in Mississippi, were not as big a problem in 2006 as the extreme drought reduced alternate weed hosts and lowered their numbers.
Mississippi State University
marketing@alchempro.com
