Talkin' Cotton Podcast

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 m...

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...

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...

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....

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...

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 moistu...

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 li...

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 termi...

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 insectic...

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,...

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...

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...

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...

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‑...

 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 co...

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 manage...

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 pu...

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 contr...

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...

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 mo...

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...

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...

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 hav...

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 t...

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 sub...