Some of the cut out may be due to lack of water. Another reason is that the crop is supporting a heavy boll load which is causing the plant to quit growing and add weight to bolls. Excessive sprays after cut out will only cut into net profits. At NAWF 5, bollworm, boll weevil and plant bug thresholds should be doubled since the bolls which are being protected are half size or less. Hit and miss rains have helped part of the crop in the area.
Plant bugs remain generally light.
Boll weevils are taking-off as usual. Most fields could tolerate a weevil application, and many Bt fields are being sprayed with pyrethroids to control weevils and hedge against bollworms that may slip through. Most of the Bt cotton is holding-up well to the pressure. There are several places where poor worm control has occurred in conventional cotton, and budworms are obviously in the mix. It is important to be cautious when deciding what to spray for worms on conventional cotton.