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Seed treatments vital to control of cotton pestsOklahoma Oklahoma and Kansas farmers are expected to increase cotton acres in the two states by seven percent to 10 percent this year. In Oklahoma, that will translate into about 190,000 acres, up from approximately 175,000 acres in 2007. In southwestern Oklahoma, the state's prime production area for cotton, producers will begin planting early in May. At a recent producer's meeting at the Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service Southwest Research and Extension Center in Altus, Integrated Pest Management Specialist Terry Pitts offered growers an update on seedling disease and insects. "One word of caution we need give producers is to not get in too much of a hurry to plant," Pitts said. "When the cotton seed germinates it is critical that soil temperatures not drop below 50-degrees for the first five days after planting. If it does dip below 50, you can get root fragments, slow growth and it will leave the root tip vulnerable to disease." Ideally, producers want temperatures to average about 65 degrees Fahrenheit for planting. "Four years of data from the Oklahoma Mesonet shows that, in Altus, (producers need to wait) until at least May 1 before planting," he said. Pitts also suggested producers use treated seed when planting. "A 2007 seed treatment trial showed stands with untreated seed having about 75 percent germination," he said. "But with treatment, stands ranged from a low of 80 percent germination to nearly 85 percent." Those treatments protect against a number of fungal pathogens, including pythium spp., Rhizoctonia solani and fusarium solani. "Besides pathogens, seedling cotton also can be vulnerable to thrips," Pitts said. "So we recommend at planting insecticide and nematicide products. Our research in Altus over three years shows that such treatments increased yield from 11 pounds to 85 pounds compared to untreated stands. The differences in that range occur because of the different chemicals used." Pitts presentation also focused on other pests such as aphids, fleahoppers, stinkbugs and spider mites. "Producers also need to be aware insecticide options also depend upon which seed treatments were used," he said. "They need to avoid using chemicals that have the same chemistry." Additional information on seedling diseases and insects can be found on the North-Texas-Oklahoma-Kansas cotton Web site www.ntokcotton.org and at the center's Web site www.osu.altus.ok.us. "Producers are also welcome to drop by the center, e-mail us or call us," Pitts said. The center is located on U.S. Highway 283, about three miles south of downtown Altus. The phone number is 580-482-2120. 5/19/08 Date: 5/15/08
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