The 1997 Arizona Cotton Advisory Program

Abstract

Arizona Cooperative Extension generates and distributes weather-based Planting Date and Cotton Development Advisories for 15 cotton production areas (Marana, Laveen, Paloma, Litchfield Pk., Pinal Co., Parker, Mohave Valley, Queen Creek, Safford, Yuma Valley, Aguila, Cochise Co., Greenlee Co., Harquahala and Wellton-Mohawk). Planting Date Advisories are distributed from shortly after legal first planting date until the end of April and stress 1) planting cotton varieties according to heat unit accumulations rather than calendar date and 2) the importance of weather conditions and soil temperature to good germination. Cotton Development Advisories are distributed from early May through mid- September and provide updates on crop development, insects, weather and agronomy. The Cotton Advisory Program will continue in 1997, and growers may obtain advisories by mail /fax from local extension offices or by computer from the AZMET computer bulletin board system or AZMET Internet Web Page (http://ag.arizona.edu/azmet). Major program changes planned for 1997 include 1) providing heat stress information on Crop Development Advisories and 2) the addition of an advisory for the Wellton-Mohawk area.