Weekly in-season Updates
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INFORMATION |
October 24, 2005 Talkin’ Cotton
Cotton fiber quality at this time has been high with only a small portion receiving discounts for high leaf content. This late in the season, the only quality measurements we can influence are fiber micronaire and trash content. Fiber strength is primarily influenced by cotton variety, and fiber length is influenced by variety and the amount of stress the plant received at approximately 16-18 days following bloom. Short fiber length results from plant stress during this period. Low micronaire results from the top bolls not reaching maturity. This can be due to early fall weather, or late planted cotton that did not have time to mature the top bolls. High micronaire normally results from cotton that has been subjected to a severe cutout in mid-August which caused a shedding of developing bolls in the top of the plant. This top crop did not have time to re-develop, resulting in only the very mature bolls being harvested. High micronaire in picker harvested cotton can result when the cotton is harvested too quickly following defoliation, before the top bolls have had a chance to open. Low micronaire can be caused by immature cotton subjected to cool fall weather, or a harvest aid application that has been applied before the cotton was ready. Since the fiber grows on the seed, low number of seeds per lock usually results in lower cotton yields. Stressful conditions just prior to pin head square can result in a low number of seeds per lock. Neps, or undeveloped seeds are usually caused by stress during pollination. High trash content usually results from poor defoliation, weedy cotton, or a hard freeze prior to defoliation. The price we receive for our crop is highly influenced by fiber quality. It is to our advantage to try our best to maximize quality when we can.
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