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 a bleak outlook into workable rules that keep fields cleaner and neighbors safer.

We get tactical fast. If you want to save money this year, start clean and stay ahead: no troublesome weeds at planting, overlap residuals, and hit early post windows before antagonism drags down grass control. We dig into troublesome weeds at burndown, including ryegrass and horseweed - which can cause serious problems in conservation tillage systems. You’ll also hear why droplet size, VRAs and DRAs, and tank-mix choices matter more than ever under the new dicamba labels. Licensing and mandatory training aren’t busywork; they’re your insurance policy for safe, legal, on-target applications.

Late-season strategy still pays. A focused layby application can break the cycle on nutsedge and tropical spiderwort, both perennials that quietly build underground banks within weeks of emerging. Morningglory cleanup, Palmer amaranth insurance, and precise directed sprays can protect yield and keep your program sustainable. Beyond the field edge, we talk about how farmer-led advocacy moves ESA implementation toward science, unlocks stalled chemistries, and speeds innovation when labels are clear and stewardship is tight.

If you care about keeping effective tools on the farm—and using them in ways that cut costs and conflict—this conversation delivers the why and the how.

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 a framework you can actually use.

First, we tackle pivot uniformity—the cheapest, most reliable ROI in irrigation. From clogged nozzles and cracked regulators after freeze events to backwards orifices that cause yield‑robbing bands, we outline why preseason testing matters and how a $2,500 to $5,000 re‑nozzling can pay back quickly. We connect aerial images and yield maps to water distribution so waste is visible, fixable, and profitable to correct.

Then we shift to precision fertility and planting. Stop trying to homogenize fields by pouring inputs into chronically weak zones. Use 2.5‑acre grid sampling to align nutrients with potential, and protect returns by reducing seed and fertility where yield never responds. On the planter, prioritize real seed‑to‑soil contact: a true one‑inch placement in hot, dry windows, lighter downforce for a small seed, and appropriate speed or high‑speed delivery when you push past 6 to 7 mph. We also unpack years of hill drop data: it boosts emergence in tough conditions but rarely adds yield unless stands are consistently poor—so deploy it tactically on crust‑prone ground.

The payoff comes with water timing. We explore stage‑based irrigation thresholds that let cotton run a little drier early, tighten through peak bloom, and relax late—always within the limits of your system’s capacity. And we address the bottom‑line finding growers ask about most: multiple years show no yield difference between terminating irrigation at cutout versus watering to 10 percent open or beyond, as long as the profile is full at termination. That’s real savings—often $10 to $40+ per acre—without sacrificing lint, and less risk of boll rot in wet finishes.

Want to turn wasted inches into margin? Listen now, take notes to tailor the framework to your fields, and send us your biggest win or sticking point. If this helped, subscribe, share with a neighbor, and leave a review so more growers can put money back in the bank.

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‑farm trial sites, we explain how to read the data for stability across environments instead of chasing last year’s headline yield.

We also unpack a hot question: can conventional cotton really save money? The math often says no once you include extra trips, worm sprays, and weed pressure. Yield per pound remains the biggest lever on profitability, so we outline where to spend and where to skip—clean starts with effective residuals, scouting‑led insect calls, and right‑time PGRs tailored to variety vigor. Small positioning choices matter too, like using semi‑smooth leaves outside whitefly zones to buy time against jassids and placing aggressive genetics on weaker ground to rein in height and hasten earliness.

Deer pressure is no longer “just a headache”—it’s measurable loss. We share new work that links NDVI satellite imagery to yield maps so you can put dollars to damage, make a case with insurers, and decide if fencing pays back in one field edge or across a whole farm. For those exploring repellents, we discuss practical ways to fold them into existing spray calendars without letting costs outrun returns. Along the way, we keep the focus where it belongs: make every input count, avoid unproven add‑ins, and keep the two‑way conversation going with your county agent.

Subscribe, share this episode with a neighbor, and leave a review with your biggest 2026 decision—what will you change to protect yield this year?

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 county agents and at the meetings, the summer newsletter keeps up with fast-moving issues like pest pressure and growth stages, and this podcast fills in the context you might miss or need a refresher on. Not every specialist can be in every room, and not every grower can get to a meeting. By capturing these updates in audio, we help you keep pace with agronomy, and pest management while you scout fields, haul modules, or catch a rare quiet moment.

More than anything, we’re focused on economic sustainability. The advice we share aims to protect yield potential, prioritize decisions under pressure, and keep cotton viable across Georgia’s diverse acres. If a topic you care about isn’t covered or you want deeper detail for your county, call your local Extension agent—they know exactly how to reach us and get you what you need.

If this approach helps you, follow the show, share it with a neighbor, and leave a quick review. Your feedback tells us which questions to chase next and helps other growers find the information when it matters most.

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 management priorities
• FSA timelines for safety nets, bridge assistance and marketing loan changes
• Plant Not Plastic goals and how growers can amplify demand
• luncheon awards and educator insights on school–farm partnerships
• new breakout on budgets, crop insurance, futures and options
• county meeting schedule and how to reach the team

We look forward to seeing everyone at the Georgia Cotton Commission Annual Meeting - please register at the link below:

https://uga.ungerboeck.com/prod/emc00/register.aspx?aat=6e6e42387452526344624c7277642f614e5848726b4130327a52504f4d4748332f4a6a365177674e335a633d

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 pushing many bales into premium territory, even as low 60s prices test patience and cash flow.

From there we head to the edges of the map, where a sharp freeze exposed weaknesses in late-planted and deer-damaged cotton. Our field notes from damage trials show how timing, wildlife pressure, and cold combine to shut down unopened bolls. If your fields are mostly open and you’re chasing leaves, a lean defoliation program at lower rates can finish the job now that temperatures have moderated. We also swap cab-seat lessons from a long day of overheated hydraulics, frayed belts, and roadside close calls—a reminder to winterize equipment, respect the road, and plan safe routes home.

Pest pressure took a turn as well. The frost likely knocked back whitefly reproduction by wiping host plants, while jassid counts on yellow sticky cards stayed highly variable, often tied to proximity to defoliated cotton and roadside goldenrod. We explain what the cards are telling us, why adult feeding isn’t the same as reproduction, and how county agents and collaborators are helping map hotspots across South Georgia. Looking ahead, we’ll bring more targeted guidance to county meetings this winter and spring, so tell your agent what you want covered, from variety selection to jassid thresholds and late-season timing.

We also take a moment for the people behind the pickers. If stress is heavy—tight margins, long days, or uncertainty—reach out. County agents can connect you with resources, and peers can be the extra strands in a cord that won’t easily break. If you found this helpful, subscribe, share with a friend, and leave a quick review so more growers can find it.

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 control on slow-starting April cotton—and why jassid responses hinged on timing relative to plant decline. We unpack the shift toward lower jassid thresholds, the role of potash in injury severity, and how to separate insect blame from drought, elevation, and fertility signals you can see on a yield map.

From the cab to the office, precision ag earns its keep. We walk through calibrating yield monitors and onboard module weighing, confirming software unlocks, and using John Deere Operations Center to turn data into profit maps that guide next year’s inputs. Instead of forcing uniformity, we talk reallocation: dialing seeding rates by zone, pushing strong areas responsibly, and reducing inputs where returns won’t follow. Elevation, soil texture, and nematode sampling help decode those stubborn 4-bale-to-1.5-bale swings inside the same field, so winter plans can do more than guess.

Urgency matters this week. A hard freeze with lows in the upper 20s means defoliants need three sunny days to work before the cold sets in. We explain why cloudy, cool conditions stall defoliation, how ethephon accelerates opening, and the difference between a helpful frost and a yield-costing freeze. We close with safety reminders around pivots and live power, plus practical tips to keep crews and equipment out of harm’s way during long harvest days.

If this helped you plan your next move, follow the show, share it with a neighbor, and leave a quick review. Got a question or a tricky map to decode? Reach out to your UGA County Extension agent and tell us what you want covered next.

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 efficacy trials with practical harvest decisions you can make this week.

We bring the full team perspective together—entomology, agronomy, and on-farm trial work—to explain why a seven-to-ten-day delay on jassid sprays cost yield, how red leaves can still take defoliants if they’re not crunchy, and where fertility turned stress into survival rather than collapse. You’ll hear why irrigated variety trials in Tifton taught more than any spreadsheet, how late-June cotton has clearly cut out, and why strategic tillage—one targeted pass instead of three—can save money without sacrificing soil health. With a warm weather window ahead, most defoliation programs should perform cleanly, and classing results already show promising color and premiums.

We also map the finish-line moves: mow low or pull stalks to starve pests before winter, document where potash fell short, and share acres-treated estimates with your county agent so we can quantify the jassid footprint and sharpen recommendations for 2025. Harvest quality looks within reach if we stick the landing. If this conversation helps you plan your next pass or avoid an unnecessary one, share it with a neighbor, subscribe for updates, and leave a review with your top harvest question—we’ll tackle it on the next show.