Weathering This Unusual Growing Season: Field Days Offer Answers

Record-setting rainfall is the talk of the Valley as we continue to see some wild weather and yo-yoing temperatures. It’s turning out to be a short season for cotton growers. How should growers approach their crop this summer?. Well, there will several opportunities in the coming week to ask questions and learn what to do this season from top cotton experts.

On Thursday, I will participate in our Cotton Pest Management Field Day from 10 a.m. to noon at the Bettencourt Farm in Mendota. The featured speakers: Dr. Pete Goodell of University of California Statewide Integrated Pest Management at the Kearney Ag Center on managing lygus and Dan Munk, UC Cooperative Extension farm advisor and cotton specialist, on plant development and its role in IPM. Check our Sustainable Cotton Project website for directions.

 The following week on Wednesday July 6, there will be two Cotton Production Meetings focusing on making realistic crop, nitrogen and water management decisions in a short season. Growers can attend either one. The presenters include Dan Munk, UC Statewide cotton specialist Bob Hutmacher, UCCE Tulare and Kings counties farm advisor Steve Wright and UC extension entomologist Larry Godfrey.

The first session will be from 8 to 9:15 a.m. at the Comfort Inn, 10 N. Irwin St., Hanford. Breakfast and registration begins at 7:15 a.m.

The second session will be from 10:30 a.m. to noon at the West Side Research and Education Center, 17353 W. Oakland Ave., Five Points. A lunch will follow. For more information, call Steve Wright (559) 684-3315 or Dan Munk (559) 456-7561.

Bring your questions to these free events. See you there.