Land of Cotton Archives
This is the electronic version of back issues from landofcotton.com.
Articles are listed by date they were removed from the news page.
April-June 2000
April 11
Du Pont charges Monsanto stole trade secrets
Du Pont has filed a lawsuit against Monsanto, charging antitrust violations and misappropriation of trade secrets that DuPont says led to the development of Roundup Ready soybeans at the expense of soybeans that would tolerate sulfonylurea herbicides.

DuPont claims Monsanto induced its subsidiary, Asgrow Seed Co. LLC, which it acquired in 1997, "to provide it with Du Pont's proprietary molecular breeding technology used to grow a better variety of plants and get them to market sooner," according to a Reuters report.

DuPont had exchanged genetic marker technology with Asgrow since 1988, according to the Reuters report, developing a soybean variety that was resistant to the sulfonylureas. Once Monsanto gained access to Asgrow's research, it used used the gene-marker technology "to expedite and advance" development of Roundup Ready soybeans, the lawsuit says.

"Asgrow and Monsanto have acted with the joint purpose of eliminating (sulfonylurea-tolerant soybean) seeds as a competitor with Roundup Ready soybean seeds in order to facilitate Monsanto's scheme to monopolize the soybean seed and soybean herbicide markets," the lawsuit charges.

Monsanto called the lawsuit baseless said it plans to defend itself vigorously. Monsanto pointed out in a statement Friday that the two companies entered into a supply agreement in December, whereby Monsanto allows DuPont to purchase glyphosate from Monsanto for use in DuPont herbicide mixtures and straight products in the United States. The agreement also granted certain rights for the use of DuPont straight glyphosate and glyphosate mixtures with Roundup Ready cotton.

"This is an attempt to destroy the relationships that Monsanto has worked years to cultivate with growers and agricultural wholesalers," said Monsanto Company President Hendrik A. Verfaillie.
"Our business practices have been extensively reviewed by legal counsel and we are confident that we are on solid ground."

Monsanto-Pharmacia merger final
The European Commission has cleared the planned merger of Monsanto Company and Pharmacia & Upjohn, the two companies announced Friday. Based on the European approval, the companies confirmed plans to close the merger and to begin trading as Pharmacia Corp. on Monday.

The newly formed Pharmacia's corporate and pharmaceutical business headquarters will be in Peapack, N.J. The agricultural business headquarters will be in St. Louis and will retain the Monsanto name.

16.9 million bales and closing
The U.S. cotton crop for 1999 is a hair's breadth from reaching USDA's last production forecast of 17 million bales. Gins have processed 16.52 million running bales which weigh out to the equivalent of 16.96 million statistical bales, according to USDA's latest Cotton Ginnings report issued March 24.

The disparity in numbers of running and statistical bales, as one USDA official explained last season, comes from the fact that ginned bales are not perfectly uniform -- most weigh a little more than the standard 480 pounds, and some may weigh a little less.

The total includes 16.29 million statistical bales of Upland and 673,750 bales of Pima. That compares with 13.47 million bales of Upland and 442,150 bales of Pima at the same time last year.

Five states account for more than 11 million statistical bales: Texas 5.1 million, Mississippi 1.7 million, California 1.6 million, Georgia not quite 1.6 million, and Arkansas 1.4 million. The only states that saw a fall-off in production were New Mexico, North Carolina and South Carolina.

Rain down under
Rain is interfering with cotton harvest in Australia. Rainfall amounts of 50 millimeters (about a quarter-inch) up to 300 millimeters (about an inch and a quarter) have been reported nearly every day in March in New South Wales and Queensland.

Grower David Phelps reports: "Here in the lower Namoi valley I put on my first defoliation spray (Wednesday), some 12 days later than originally planned because of the rain. The cotton has definitely been affected by all the rain and every cotton region has received far more than they wanted."

Most of the country has seen above-average rainfall over the last six months, with several areas experiencing the highest rainfall on record during that period.

The (Australian) National Climate Centre's outlook for April-June rainfall shows a 60 percent to 70 percent chance of above-average rainfall over much of eastern and southern Australia.

Exports could rise 2 million bales
Increased export demand for U.S. cotton is offsetting a slight decline in domestic mill use of the
1999-2000 U.S. cotton crop,  according to the USDA's Cotton and Wool Outlook issued March 13. The production estimate remains at 16.95 million bales, about 4.5 million bales more than the previous year. Added to existing stocks of 3.9 million bales and projected raw cotton imports of 100,000 bales, the new crop brings the 1999-2000 U.S. cotton supply to 21 million bales, 15 percent above last season. U.S. exports are projected at 6.5 million bales, 2 million bales higher than last year. With domestic mill use at 10.1 million bales, total demand is expected to reach 16.6 million bales, 12.5 percent above 1998-99. Ending stocks are projected at 4.4 million bales. Although nearly 500,000 above last season, the 1999-2000 stocks-to-use ratio is expected to remain near year-ago levels at 26.5 percent.
Weekly export sales
 

April 18
Less paper, more Net work
Congress is sending President Clinton the Freedom to E-File Act, which will allow farmers and ranchers to file documents with USDA electronically. The House passed the bill Monday, substituting some language in the Senate version (S.777) which had passed earlier. The president is expected to sign the bill into law.

The bill requires the secretary of agriculture to establish an electronic filing and retrieval system to enable the public to file all required paperwork electronically. It gives the secretary 180 days to establish a user-friendly electronic filing and retrieval system, which would allow farmers to download forms from the Internet and submit completed and modified forms. The completed system must be fully operational within two years.

"As in any other business, advanced technologies and the Internet are becoming increasingly common and important tools for American farmers and ranchers," House Agriculture Committee Chairman Larry Combest said. "This bill will allow farmers to spend more time in the fields with their crops rather than inside doing paperwork."

To read the full text of the bill, go to http://thomas.loc.gov/
Then enter H.R. 852 or S. 777 in the "Search by Bill Number" field.

Petition seeks to regulate GMO foods
A coalition of more than 50 consumer, environmental, scientific, farm and health groups filed a
legal petition with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in late March demanding establishment of stringent pre-market safety testing regulations for genetically engineered foods, according to the Center for Food Safety, a Washington, D.C., based lobbying group.

The petition seeks to change FDA's current policy, which makes no distinction between genetically engineered foods and traditionally bred foods. The coalition hopes to force FDA to establish "a new regulatory system for the review of (genetically engineered) foods."

The coalition "is concerned that ... these foods are engineered to use new genes from different species, viruses and bacteria, and pose potential new health risks such as creation of new allergens, increased toxicity and altered nutritional levels."

The coalition claims that genetically engineered foods are being sold to unsuspecting consumers without ever having their safety tested.

"It is not enough for the FDA to offer slight revisions to their current policies," said Andrew Kimbrell, CFS executive director. "The agency must act in the public's interest by setting strong, new policies that will establish an enforceable regulatory framework based on pre-market safety testing, environmental review and mandatory labeling."

Submission of the petition triggered the creation of a rule-making docket that allows the public to write in to comment on the action. Comments should be addressed to Commissioner Jane Henney,
FDA Dockets Management Branch, 5630 Fishers Lane, Room 1061 (HFA-305), Rockville, MD 20852. RE: Dockets 00P-1211/CP1 and 99N-4282

Research workers grapple with cotton maladies
By  Jack Mauney

In winter growers look over their fields and spread manure, they look over the markets and assign the acreage to appropriate crops, and they spend hours looking over the seed catalogs and state and company variety trials making choices which will determine the success of the year.  It's a difficult, agonizing process.

In winter companies look at inventories of seed, fertilizer and chemicals to insure adequate, but not excessive, supplies.  Its a difficult, agonizing process.

As an example of that process, about three dozen of the best cotton research specialists met in Little Rock on March 16 and 17 to grapple with the issue of yield losses caused by “the new maladies of cotton.”  The meeting was sponsored by Cotton Incorporated, and  these scientists were trying to figure out what is causing such symptoms identified as bronze wilt, excessive boll shedding and seed rot. They wanted to decide what research needs to be done to solve the problems and return yields to profitable levels. It was a difficult, agonizing process.

What concerns these research specialists is the same thing that concerns growers. Are these recently observed symptoms just the tip of an iceberg of debilitating reactions that reflect some general problem that has put a cap on the yield of the crop?

As reflected in the annual yield calculations published by the USDA, the average yield has been stagnant since 1987. In that year the crop topped 700 lbs./ac. for the first time. Since 1987 the yield have fluctuated between 600 and 700 and averaged 640 lbs./ac.

Cotton yields have been on yield plateaus before. Beginning about 1965, yields of the U.S. crop were stagnant for 15 years at about 480 lbs./ac.  Then about 1980, with the introduction of pyrethroid insecticides and greater attention to early season pests such as plant bugs, the yield increases resumed the rate that had been the case from 1940 to 1965.  But the boom was short lived and the present plateau can be seen in the USDA data since 1988.

The list of possible causes for the plateau is not endless, but it is extensive. It includes nutrient deficiencies or imbalances, new diseases, increased nematode pressure, greater temperature and water stress due to El Niño weather patterns, and changing cultural practices and varieties. This list is the same as that suggested as possible causes of the “new maladies.”

In Little Rock there was a lively and frank exchange of observations and interpretations. Though no definite conclusions could be reached at this time, a report will be drawn to summarize the views and suggest research initiatives for the future.

What can be said is that these research workers are serious about getting to the bottom of what has caused these maladies, how they relate to the present yield plateau of U.S. cotton, and what research needs to be done to fix it.

It is a difficult, agonizing process.

Acreage going up
U.S. growers intend to plant 15.6 million acres in 2000, according to USDA's latest Prospective Plantings report issued Friday. At 5 percent above last year, this would be the largest acreage since 1995 and the second largest since 1962.

Upland acreage is expected to total 15.3 million acres, up 5 percent from 1999. While all 17 Upland cotton-producing states intend to increase acreage from last year, all Pima-producing states intend to decrease their acreage. Pima growers plan to reduce their plantings 25 percent from 1999, to 217,000 acres.

Transgenic impact on fiber: No harm, but no help
What exactly is genetic engineering doing to fiber quality? Nothing, fortunately or unfortunately, depending on how you look at it. Current genetically engineered varieties match their parents in fiber qualities, but the field is wide open for gene therapy for cotton fiber, according to research presented in January at the Beltwide Cotton Conferences.

Seed giant Delta and Pine Land Co. and genetic engineering pioneer Monsanto back in 1998 asked experts at the International Textile Center in Lubbock, Texas, to find out whether the genetic changes in Roundup Ready and Bt cottons had any impact on fiber and fabric qualities. When the original research was done, the results were confidential, but Monsanto authorized the release of the information in late 1999 as other questions arose about unintended consequences of the genetic engineering. Dr. Dean Ethridge presented the findings at the Beltwide Cotton Conferences in San Antonio.

The research showed no deleterious effects on fiber or fabric qualities. What Ethridge and collaborator Eric Hequet found was that any discernible differences were not statistically significant, although "attempts to impute meaning to the interaction effects would tend to favor the genetically modified variants" — in other words, any measurable differences were positive.

Ethridge concludes his paper with a gentle prod to the genetic engineers to look at the potential for using their technology to improve fiber quality.

"Of course it is good news that genetic modifications to the cotton varieties tested here did not result in any changes in the measurable fiber properties — given that no changes in fiber properties were targeted," he writes. "To those who are interested in improving the various fiber properties of cotton, however, it would be better news to learn that such properties were being successfully targeted by genetic engineering techniques. It is especially to be hoped that the focus on genetic engineering does not have the side effect of causing a hiatus in efforts to develop, by all means available, improved cotton fiber properties.

Read the paper
(Microsoft Word 97 file).

Nice weather we're having
The Southeast has seen some relief from the drought, thanks to six consecutive weeks with significant rainfall. The rain benefited crops already in the ground, but hampered cotton planting according to the Department of Agriculture's Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin issued this morning.

Showers last week brought April rainfall to 7.46 inches -- 245 percent of normal -- in Jackson, Miss., and 7.24 inches -- 266 percent -- in Birmingham. More than half the rainfall so far this year fell in April  in Houston -- 5.47 inches -- and in Lake Charles, La. -- 5.43 inches.

The drought is not over, however, as "unfavorable dryness persisted in portions of western and southern Texas, the central Gulf Coast region, and the lower Southeast (including northern Florida and southern Georgia). ... A few areas from near the central Gulf Coast to the  lower Southeast remained extremely dry, leaving year-to-date rainfall as low as 7.68 inches (42 percent of normal) in Baton Rouge, 7.15 inches (39 percent) in New Orleans, and 3.10 inches (35 percent) in Tampa.

Midsouth and Southeast growers who have yet to plant their cotton counted their blessings Sunday morning when they woke up to frost and near-freezing temperatures. "Lows of 27 degrees F in Jackson, Tenn., 30 degrees in Meridian, Miss., and 32 degrees in Macon, Ga., were among
nearly 20 daily-record lows.

"Meanwhile, record warmth developed in the West Coast States, where Simi Valley, Calif., noted consecutive daily-record highs (90 and 91 degrees F) on April 11-12. California growers are  taking advantage of the warmth to get their cotton in the ground early.

Planting progress: West surges, East slows
Last year at this time, California had planted 22 percent of its crop, and over the last five years, the state has averaged 22 percent planted by April 16. This year: 65 percent, according to USDA's weekly Crop Progress report.

California is virtually alone in getting such a jump start, although Missouri's 19 percent is exactly 19 percent ahead of last year and its five-year average. Most years, Missouri growers wait a little longer.

Arizona has 40 percent, which puts it even with its five-year average while almost double the progress of last year. Texas has 13 percent, just a point or two ahead of last season and its five-year average. South Carolina's 7 percent is even with last year but three points ahead of its five-year average.

All other states except Oklahoma -- which usually starts later -- are behind their five-year averages. Alabama lags the most, with 5 percent planted compared to a five-year average of 13 percent.

With 2 percent planted, Georgia is right on the money with last year and its five-year average, while Alabama's 2 percent planted puts it behind last year and its five-year average.

Mississippi and North Carolina usually have started planting by now, but they're waiting a little longer this year.

The Department of Agriculture projects U.S. growers will plant cotton to some 15.6 million acres in 2000, compared to 14.9 million acres in 1999. Planting was 11 percent complete as of April 16.

May 16
ICAC: The world wants more cotton
Despite an estimated increase in U.S. cotton production of more than a half-million tons, world cotton production may decrease by about 200,000 tons in 2000-01, the International Cotton Advisory Committee reports. (Last week, USDA published estimates that 1999-2000 world consumption would rise 6.6 percent. See story below.) World cotton stocks are projected to fall by 1.1 million tons to 7.9 million tons next season, and the Cotlook A Index  is expected to average over 60 cents per pound in 2000-01. The Cotlook A Index fell to 44 cents per pound in December 1999 and is expected to average a 14-year-low of 53 cents per pound in 1999-00. Economic growth and competitive prices are stimulating growth in world cotton consumption to 19.8 million tons this season and to morethan 20 million tons in 2000-01, according to the ICAC.
Higher consumption and an overall increase in cotton production in the leading exporting countries will probably push world cotton exports to a record of 6.4 million tons in 2000-01, the ICAC reports. The United States will be the largest cotton producer and exporter next season with an expected near-record crop of 4.2 million tons, and U.S. cotton market fundamentals have cast doubts on the sustainability of the existing upward trend in international cotton prices. Historical data indicate that it is unlikely that U.S. stocks will increase by more than 200,000 tons next season. Therefore U.S. exports will probably increase to absorb most of the rise in U.S. production. More U.S. cotton is expected to be exported to Mexico, Turkey and East Asia, while U.S. mill use will probably decline further next season to an estimated 2.1 million tons.

Missouri: Show me the cotton
It will certainly come as no surprise to Missouri cotton growers that the Department of Agriculture has revised its estimate of the state's planting in this week's Crop Progress report. The anomalous 19 percent planted USDA reported last week stood out like a corn stalk in a cotton field. The report this week is 7 percent planted as of April 23, with 0 percent planted by April 16. The five-year average is 2 percent by April 23.

California continues to charge ahead, now with 90 percent of its intended crop planted. The five-year average is 43 percent. Arizona, at 56 percent, is a little behind its five-year average of 59 percent. Louisiana, 14 percent, is ahead of its five-year average of 10 percent, while South Carolina is now even with its five-year average of 10 percent.

All other states are a little behind their five-year averages. Alabama shows the greatest disparity, with 15 percent planted compared to a five-year average of 25 percent.

USDA projects U.S. growers will plant cotton to some 15.6 million acres in 2000, compared to 14.9 million acres in 1999. Planting was 16 percent complete as of April 23.

World consumption expected to rise 6.6 percent
USDA estimates a 2.9 percent decline in world cotton consumption for 1998-99 but forecasts a 6.6 percent increase for 1999-2000. This is the largest annual percentage increase since 1986-87. The decline estimated for 1998-99 was the second largest of the last 40 years. A sharp upward revision in China's 1999-2000 cotton consumption and downward revisions in its 1997-98 and 1998-99 consumption have altered the annual percent changes in world consumption

Foreign cotton production in 1999-2000 is forecast at 70 million bales, essentially unchanged from the month before and about the same as in 1998-99. Foreign cotton consumption in 1999-2000 is
forecast at a record 80.1 million bales, 1.3 million bales higher than it was in March. Compared with 1998-99, foreign consumption in 1999-2000 is forecast to rise 7.9 percent. This would be the
largest percentage gain since 1986-87, and the third largest of the last 40 years. The year with the next largest foreign consumption was 1989-90, at 78.1 million bales. If the former Soviet Union is excluded, the next largest year was 1996-97.

Foreign cotton exports in 1999-2000 are forecast at 20.3 million bales, essentially unchanged from the month before, and up 700,000 bales from the year before. Foreign cotton imports in 1999-2000 are forecast at 27.4 million bales, 250,000 bales higher than in March, but 2.7 million bales higher than in 1998-99.

Foreign cotton ending stocks in 1999-2000 are forecast at 38.2 million bales, 2.7 million bales higher than were forecast the month before, and 3.3 million bales lower than the revised estimate for 1998-99. However, China accounts for both of these changes in their entirety. Excluding China, the April 1999-2000 forecast is unchanged from March, and 1.7 million bales above the year before.

Why USDA has revised China's numbers
Take everything you thought you knew about China's cotton consumption and throw it in the Yangtze River. A couple of papers from Chinese officials, one in September at a conference in China and the other in February at USDA's Ag Outlook Conference in Washington, have given the Department of Agriculture cause (and data) to revise most of its estimates of China's cotton consumption, yarn production and stocks since 1992.

Generally, consumption estimates have been revised downward and stocks upward, according to the latest Cotton and Wool Outlook. USDA has also increased its estimates of China's non-yarn consumption of cotton, partly offsetting the impact of reduced consumption for yarn in recent years.

While the information is certainly better than what had been available, USDA cautions, "There is still substantial uncertainty about any statistics about China."

May 22
Missouri's planting like mad -- or is it?
USDA's been wrong about Missouri before, and its latest estimate of the state's cotton planting progress suggests another mistake. The latest Crop Progress report, issued Monday, shows Missouri has planted 78 percent of its expected crop. That's 60 percentage points ahead of the state's five-year average and 41 percentage points ahead of last year. Last month, USDA revised its April 17 estimate for Missouri from 19 percent to 0 percent. We'll have to wait until next week to see if the latest number holds up.

The only state with a higher percentage of its expected crop planted is California, with 98 percent. California has been ahead of the curve all season, but its five-year average is 77 percent by May 7. Last year at this time, California growers had planted 84 percent of their crop.

Mississippi also made a lot of progress in the last week, rising 37 percentage points to 56 percent planted. The state's five-year average for the date is 37 percent. Arkansas, however, situated geographically between Mississippi and Missouri, lags behind both its neighbors in planting, with 29 percent. Its five-year average is 26 percent.

The week was prime time for cotton planting, and nearly every state made substantial progress. At the back of the pack were Texas, which added 2 percentage points to bring its total to 20 percent; and Oklahoma, which doubled its planting progress to 6 percent. Texas is a little behind its five-year average of 24 percent planted by May 7, but Oklahoma is dead even with its five-year average.

Meanwhile, it's cotton-picking time in Namoi
Picking is mostly finished in Queensland and New South Wales but still in progress in the south of Australia, reports Kym Armytage. The Namoi Valley is harvesting "respectable yields" averaging three bales per acre with a range of 2.7-3.9 bales/acre. While such yields are better than respectable in many parts of the U.S. Cotton Belt, apparently they're not up to standard Down Under: "Heavy rain in March caused a lot of boll rot, with some farms losing half a bale per acre," Kym explains. "Generally, though, it has been a good season."

In the Gwydir Valley in New South Wales, yields were considerably better -- some farms averaged four bales per acre and some fields made five. "These yields are better than expected and are taking a few growers by suprise, because the season was far from ideal (cold start; lower than average day degrees). However, warmer weather in late January and through February and March finished the crop off beautifully."

Allen to lead Texas BWEP
Dr. Charles Allen is the new program director of the the Texas Boll Weevil Eradication Foundation, reports Roger Haldenby, vice president for operations of Plains Cotton Growers Inc. The position had been vacant since January.

Allen will move back to Texas from Arkansas where he has been with the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture. Before going to Arkansas he was extension entomologist with Far West District 6 of the Texas Agricultural Extension Service .

Allen is expected to assume his duties full time by early June.

May 31
Drought or no drought, planting proceeds
At least 10 states have planted more than 75 percent of their intended cotton acreage, according to USDA’s latest Crop Progress report, and six states have planted more than 90 percent of their cotton. Overall, the crop is 72 percent planted, compared to a five-year average of 68 percent. Most states are close to their five-year averages for planting progress. The greatest discrepancies are in Missouri, which remains significantly ahead of its five-year average, and Georgia, which is behind.

Missouri farmers got off to an early start with ideal planting weather in April, and they haven’t let up. As of Sunday, they had planted 96 percent of their crop.

“For all practical purposes, Missouri is finished planting, with the exception of some spot planting and replanting wind-damaged cotton,” said Barry Bean, a Peach Orchard, Mo., cotton broker and administrator of Cotton-L, the cotton industry discussion group. “Overall the stand looks excellent, and many consider it the best start we’ve had in years,” Bean said.

“Cotton in the northern Bootheel looks excellent with the exception of some wind damage,” said University of Missouri regional agronomist Warren Cork. “Would’ve been an excellent year to have wind strips/no-till, as those fields have been sheltered from the wind-blown sand.”

Bootheel growers needed an inch of rain, Cork said, but the National Weather Service reported only .02 inch over the weekend at Poplar Bluff.

In Georgia, 68 percent of the crop had been planted as of May 21. Georgia’s five-year average for that date is 78 percent. Georgia growers are making up for lost time, bringing their progress up 14 percentage points in one week. The state has been in a severe drought for several months, and the lack of moisture is hurting the young crop and delaying planting for some farmers.

“I’d say Georgia is at least a week to 10 days behind normal,” said Don Shurley, a University of Georgia ag economist. “Most of our cotton has had no rain in three weeks, and it’s been upper 80s or lower 90s every day. Need rain desperately but none in sight. We’ll be in real trouble without rain very soon.”

The Atlanta area received more than an inch of rain over the weekend, but the southern counties where Georgia’s cotton is concentrated, got very little if any precipitation.

Alabama’s drought situation has been similar to Georgia’s, although growers there have been keeping up with their normal planting progress. Alabama’s 87 percent is an exact match for the state’s five-year average.

“There is very little cotton up — at best 20 percent,” Harpersville grower Grey McCranie said Friday. “The last significant rain was nearly six weeks ago.”

Most of the southern counties in the state have had “almost no rainfall since the first of the year and less than a half inch in many places since early to mid-April,” according to Auburn University extension crop physiologist  Dale Monks. “We are over 15 inches behind in rain since Jan. 1 in the central counties.

“Cotton planted early during the cool, wet days is doing fairly well, but anything planted after mid-April is generally up to about one-half stand with the rest of the seed either sprouted and dead or still laying in wait of rain. North Alabama has been much better from the standpoint of stands but is reaching a critical point on moisture as well,” Monks said. “Some early planted corn is tasseling at waist high and we are praying for rain.”

While one station in east Alabama reported 2.7 inches of rain Saturday and Sunday, most of the state gained less than half an inch.

Just one state over in Mississippi, rain at the wrong time has kept north Delta growers from being finished with their planting, reports consulting plant physiologist Jack Mauney. “I drove the Mississippi Delta from Vicksburg to Memphis (last) week, and the crop looks very good from the road. The south Delta crop has three to four leaves and moisture seems adequate though it’s about time for a rain. The north Delta is still planting due to excess rain (never is it just right), so they are a couple of weeks behind.” Overall, the state has planted 93 percent of its crop, compared with a five-year average of 91 percent.

The goal in Tennessee last week must have been a planter in every field, as the state’s total rose from 48 percent planted on May 14 to 82 percent planted as of Sunday.

“West Tennessee farmers are rapidly approaching completion of planting,” said Brownsville, Tenn., cotton broker Jim Nunn, who predicted that, barring rain, “planting should be complete, with a few exceptions, by midweek.” Nunn said his sources in the field were reporting some thrips damage in the young cotton.

Northern Louisiana cotton is also showing evidence of thrips, said Clayton, La., consultant Roger Carter. “Thrips are more persistent in moving to cotton fields in large numbers as rye grass and other natural vegetation or wheat fields are drying,” Carter said in his May 18 crop report. “Huge numbers (of thrips) are being blown by wind. Control has been initiated on 25 percent of the acreage.”

Louisiana growers had planted 94 percent of their crop as of Sunday, close to their five-year average of 96 percent.

“Most cotton is up and is from two to seven nodes,” Carter said, and boll weevil eradication begins this week on cotton that reached four- to five-leaf stage last week.

“Wind is destroying some stands of cotton,” he said. “Only rainfall or irrigation can help cure this problem.”

Texas, at 54 percent planted, is 10 percentage points ahead of its five-year average. In the High Plains, where growers usually are amont the last in Texas to plant, things are picking up.

“Here in Floyd County, we are 75 percent planted by my estimate,” said grower James Hinton. “Cotton planted the first few days of May is coming to a good stand. The later plantings are spotty stands. ... I still have 25 percent of my dryland to plant due to lack of planting moisture. Dryland that did not get planted into good moisture will need a rain for germination.”

Like much of the Cotton Belt, drought in Texas is interfering with planting and threatening stands of seedling cotton. Only a handful of stations across the entire state reported any rain over the weekend. The last rain Hinton saw was more than six weeks ago.

“The ground is drying out quickly,” Hinton said Friday. “We have had several windy days (30-50 mph) with 100 degree temps. Even the irrigated ground is drying too fast. We are having to buff off 2-4 inches of dry soil to get to moisture. That level is below the preplant incorporated chemicals.”

Wind and low nighttime temperatures are causing problems even in irrigated fields, Hinton said. “Ground under pivots is requiring irrigation to even out moisture to insure a stand. Some fields are blowing the day after sprinkler irrigation. Today the temp was 48 this morning, and that is slowing the emergence of these irrigated fields.”

Oklahoma growers are also scraping away the top layer of soil to reach moisture sufficient to plant into. “Southwestern Oklahoma is just getting started on marginal moisture,” reported Gordon Couger Jr. “They are having to scrape off a lot of dry soil to get to moisture. If it doesn’t rain, they only have a couple more days of planting on most soils.”

For the most part, these growers aren’t scraping off their herbicides, though. Instead of incorporating preplant herbicides, they chose to plant varieties genetically engineered to withstand over-the-top treatments. “If it weren’t for Roundup Ready cotton, they wouldn’t be planting at all because they would have to scoop all the herbicide-treated soil off the row to get to moisture,” Couger said.

Oklahoma growers are showing a lot of confidence in cotton. They had planted 63 percent of their crop as of Sunday, compared to a five-year average of 30 percent. “There are big plans for lots of cotton in Tillman county,” said Couger. “My dad’s tenant is planing on putting in 5,000 acres. Last year he had less than 500.”

USDA doesn’t report New Mexico’s planting progress, but fortunately Bob Mayberry weighed in Friday on Cotton-L and the news was good. “Southeast New Mexico is 99 percent planted,” he said. “Excellent stands, with most of the crop carrying two true leaves. Days have been hot and dry, but with 100 percent irrigation, this is what we consider good cotton weather. Most of the farmers here are pleased with the potential.”

Likewise, in Arizona, “the crop is up and looking good,” says Mauney, who lives in Phoenix. “The dry winter and spring will probably make for a light plant bug season early.” With 96 percent of its crop planted, Arizona’s progress equals its five-year average.

Finally, California was looking at some make-or-break hot weather over the weekend, said San Joaquin Valley grower  Don Cameron. After three weeks of cool weather that stopped cotton growth, temperatures soared past 100 degrees in the SJV. “This cotton will either grow or die,” Cameron said. “What a difference in just three days.”

Growers are making their first irrigations on the sandier fields at this time, he said.

Cotton planted in late March or early April all have good stands, Cameron said. “The best cotton here has five-six true leaves and should take off with the hot weather. Some small cotton may have some trouble, as cool weather has allowed for some root diseases.” Cotton that stopped growing in the cool weather also shows signs of thrips infestation, he said.

 “Looks like planted acreage may top 1 million acres for the first time in about four years,” Cameron said, with approximately 150,000 acres of pima and the remainder in Acala and California.

“Overall we’re on schedule.”

June 5
Off to a good start
The U.S. cotton crop is 86 percent planted, and more than 50 percent of that is rated good to excellent. Only 6 percent of the cotton in the ground had begun squaring by May 28, according to USDA's latest Crop Progress report, but that equals the national five-year average.

Arizona leads the nation both in planting progress, 100 percent, and in percent squaring, 12 percent, but there the correlation ends. Texas is second in squaring, with 10 percent, but is last in planting, with only 65 percent of the state's expected crop planted. Missouri also has its entire crop planted, but only 2 percent is squaring. California has planted all of its crop and has 5 percent of it squaring, while Georgia has planted 81 percent and also has 5 percent squaring. Virginia has planted 100 percent of its crop, but none of it is squaring.

While many states are reporting very good starts, California is showing the best crop so far, with 90 percent of it reported as good or excellent.Virginia reports 81 percent of its crop is good or excellent; Louisiana 75; Mississippi 70; Tennessee 68 with 18 percent rated excellent; North Carolina 68; Arkansas 63; Texas 48 with 12 percent rated excellent.

Continuing drought in the Southeast made for uneven stands and growth "due to extremely dry soils," while "adequate moisture supplies and warm weather aided conditions in the Atlantic Coastal Plains and lower Mississippi Valley," according to USDA's Weekly Weather and Crop Summary.

Congress approves $15 billion aid package
The U.S. House and Senate on May 25 approved a $15 billion ag aid package to help compensate farmers for low commodity prices and to make it easier and cheaper for farmers to buy higher levels of crop insurance. The House passed the The Agricultural Risk Protection Act unanimously by voice vote, while the Senate vote was 91 to 4. The bill now goes to President Clinton, who is expected to sign it. It will be the third major aid package for farmers in three years.

The legislation directs $5.5 billion in market-loss payments to producers in September, in amounts equal to their 1999 AMTA "transition payment" checks. A farmer growing 300 acres of cotton would receive an additional $12,000, according to an Associated Press report. An additional $1.6 billion will be distributed in the fiscal 2001 budget. More info.

A major part of the legislation is a new plan to raise the level at which farmers insure their crops against loss. "The Agricultural Risk Protection Act provides new insurance coverage based on the farmer's productive capability with comprehensive protection to manage risk from low market values and weather losses for crops as well as livestock," said House Agriculture Committee Chairman Larry Combest, R-Texas.  "Passage of this major crop insurance reform bill reduces the need for producer dependence on costly disaster assistance packages." More info.

Premium assistance for producers will be improved at all levels of coverage:
Coverage level
50/100
55/100
60/100
65/100
70/100
75/100
80/100
85/100
Current law
57%
48%
39%
 42%
32%
24%
17%
13%
Conference plan
67%
64%
64%
59%
59%
55%
48%
38%

The $1.6 billion in fiscal 2001 budgeted items include:

The conference report approved Thursday also includes "The Plant Protection Act," designed to improve the protection of U.S. agriculture and the environment from harmful pests and noxious weeds. The legislation consolidates 11 plant quarantine laws that date back to 1913 and which comprise a patchwork of sometimes confusing and inadequate authorities.

In addition, the conference report contains "The Biomass Research and Development Act of 2000" passed by the Senate and similar to legislation by Agriculture Research Subcommittee Chairman Thomas Ewing, R-Ill., which will allow the co-production of food and chemicals from a single plant and to find ways to use an entire plant more efficiently in the production of bio-based products.

It's final: 17 million bales in '99
The USDA's final report on the 1999 U.S. cotton crop is out, and it holds few surprises.
The full report became available online May 23. Here are some highlights:

No relief in sight for 2-year-old drought
From the National Climate Prediction Center's U.S. Drought Assessment:
"... Dryness in the Southern U.S. dates back about 2 years in most areas, and as long as 6 years in western Texas. January-April 2000 was the driest such period in 106 years of record for the southern half of Louisiana (10.9" below normal) while October 1999-April 2000 was the second driest in 105 years of record for Arizona (surpassed only by 1903-04).

"Long-term precipitation anomalies dating back to May 1998 are substantial over most of the region, with Georgia experiencing the 2nd driest such period statewide in 104 years (20.5" below normal), central and southern Louisiana reporting the driest such period on record (29.2" below normal), and western South Carolina slowly accruing an 18" shortfall over the course of the period.

"In west Texas, an average deficit of about 13" has accumulated since May 1994, which is about 90% of a normal year's worth of rain.

"... According to the Natural Resources Conservation Service, on each day since April 9, between 10% and 34% of Georgia's streamflow recording sites have established new daily record lows. In Florida, 10% of sites have set daily record lows each day since Feb. 22, and at least 30% have hit daily record lows each day since May 7. Farther west, wildfires consumed over a quarter-million acres in New Mexico during Jan. 1-May 10, 2000, which is more than reported during the previous three full calendar years combined, according to the National Interagency Coordination Center.

"A wetter-than-normal monsoon season is expected during July-Sept. 2000, which should bring some drought relief to the southern Rockies and extreme western Texas, though complete recovery from 6 dry years in the latter region is unlikely. Farther east, long-term deficits will likely persist in drought areas from west-central Texas eastward to the Atlantic Coast. The odds do not significantly favor either abnormal dryness or wetness for June-August, but it is unlikely that the large long-term deficits will be dramatically reduced, especially considering how agricultural, evaporative, and human water demands in the summer make moisture recharge highly unlikely even with somewhat above-normal rains. Furthermore, if the increased likelihoods for above-normal temperatures come to fruition, it would induce abnormally high evaporation rates that would further deplete surface moisture in the region."

Nitrogen still the champ in cotton chemicals
With all the Roundup Ready cotton being planted, you might think that glyphosate is the most used chemical in cotton. That’s not the case. It’s not even the most widely used herbicide. That distinction goes to trifluralin, which last year was applied to 52 percent of cotton acres, according to the Department of Agriculture’s 1999 survey of Agricultural Chemical Usage.

But the ag chemical that is used on the highest percentage of cotton acreage is nitrogen fertilizer, applied to a whopping 86 percent of upland cotton acreage during 1999 in the 10 states surveyed. The states were Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Tennessee and Texas.

The area treated with phosphates totaled 59 percent of the planted acreage in the states surveyed. Tennessee treated 99 percent of its acres with phosphates, while and Georgia treated 98 percent of its planted acreage. The largest increase in phosphate use was in California, which showed a 28 point increase from the previous year.

Potassium was applied to 52 percent of upland cotton acreage in 1999 for the states surveyed. Tennessee and Georgia producers treated their entire acreage, and the Southeast growers continued to be the largest users of potash. Arizona, with 15 percent, and California, with 19 percent, continued to be the smallest users.

Herbicides were applied to 97 percent of the upland cotton planted acreage in the states surveyed. Texas, Arkansas and Louisiana showed small increases, while Arizona’s use decreased 5 points from 1998 levels. Although trifluralin remained the most commonly used herbicide, its application was down 5 percentage points from 1998.

Overall insecticide use in cotton declined in 1999. Insecticides were used on 84 percent of the upland cotton planted acres in the 10 states surveyed. Most states showed decreases in use from the previous year, although insecticide use in Georgia and Texas increased. Louisiana and Mississippi treated the same number of acres as in the previous year. Malathion, the insecticide of choice in boll weevil eradication programs, continued to be the active ingredient with the highest total pounds applied for upland cotton — approximately 30.5 million pounds.

Area treated with other chemicals totaled 61 percent of the 1999 planted acreage. North Carolina’s use of other chemicals showed a decrease of 32 percentage points from 1998, while Louisiana had an increase of 5 points. Tennessee’s use of other chemicals was down 4 points from the previous year. Texas continued to treat the smallest percentage of acreage with other chemicals, at 32 percent, 13 points below last year’s use.

It's dry now, but just wait
If you've been thinking it'll take a hurricane to break the drought, you have some support from the National Climate Prediction Center. That's the picture painted in its latest Drought Monitor, Hurricane Outlook and La Niña Advisory.

The drought in the South has worsened to extreme in southwest Texas and along the Gulf Coast, and remains severe in bands surrounding the hardest-hit area. Dryness in the Southern states dates back about two years in most areas, and as long as six years in western Texas, according to the NCPC.

"Long-term deficits will likely persist in drought areas from west-central Texas eastward to the Atlantic Coast (through the summer). ... It is unlikely that the large long-term deficits will be dramatically reduced, especially considering how agricultural, evaporative, and human water demands in the summer make moisture recharge highly unlikely even with somewhat above-normal rains. Furthermore, if the increased likelihoods for above-normal temperatures come to fruition, it would induce abnormally high evaporation rates that would further deplete surface moisture in the region." -- U.S. Drought Assessement

However, signs point to an active Atlantic hurricane season, thanks in some part to La Niña and also to above-average sea surface temperatures in the North Atlantic.

Historically, when similar atmospheric conditions were present in an active hurricane era, 75 percent of the Atlantic hurricane seasons featured above-average activity, according to the NCPC.

"A consensus of the latest ... forecasts indicates a continuation of La Niña conditions at least through July. Thereafter, the forecasts tend to diverge, but a majority indicate either near-normal or weak La Niña conditions continuing to the end of the year. However, we expect that even if La Niña fades by late summer, the existing tropical rainfall anomalies will not be totally destroyed, and therefore will not unduly impact the favorable large-scale atmospheric circulation pattern that currently exists." -- 2000 Atlantic Hurricane Outlook
 

June 12
Williams to head new D&PL breeding program
Cotton breeder Curtis Williams will head the staff of Delta and Pine Land Co.'s new research station opening in Georgia this season, D&PL announced Wednesday. The station is in Sylvester, Ga., near Tifton.

Williams has been breeding cotton in the Midsouth since 1990, establishing the Hartz cotton breeding program which subsequently became part of Paymaster and D&PL. He earned his doctorate in plant breeding and plant pathology from the University of Arkansas and his master's and bachelor's degrees -- both in agronomy -- at Oklahoma State University.

The new breeding program in Georgia will allow D&PL to evaluate germplasm on the soils and under the growing conditions farmers face in that region, the company says. "We have found that some strains and varieties from our other stations have performed very well in Georgia and southern Alabama," said Dr. Bill Hugie, D&PL vice president for research. "At the same time, we can increase the potential for development and performance by screening possible donors in and making crosses for the Coastal Plains. Curtis has developed a successful cotton breeding program, and this experience will be invaluable as he moves to Georgia."

Williams says, "It is exciting to start a new program again. Of course, it will be different this time because I will have all of our other D&PL research stations from which to pull. That gives me a good start."

Williams and his assistant Will Lambert will conduct screening trials at six locations across south and central Georgia, as well as in southern Alabama this season. The majority of the locations are irrigated, but there are also a couple of dryland fields, which is in keeping with the area's general production practices.

June 14
Park the planters, bring on the planes
Oklahoma, South Carolina and Texas are still planting cotton. Growers in the rest of the U.S. cotton belt are done or close to it, according to USDA's latest Crop Progress report. Oklahoma has planted 88 percent of its crop, South Carolina 87 percent, and Texas 76 percent.

The quality of the stand lost a little ground over the last week, with 49 percent of the crop rated good or excellent. Last week, 54 percent of the crop was good to excellent. California reports 80 percent of its crop as good or excellent, down 10 percent from the week before. Virginia's already admirable crop improved in the last week, with 87 percent now rated good or excellent. Louisiana now reports 73 percent as good or excellent, down from 75 percent last week.  Mississippi rates 72 percent of its crop good or excellent, up from 70 percent the week before.

Arizona leads all other states in crop maturity, with 33 percent squaring. Mississippi is next with 17 percent, followed by Georgia with 14 percent and Texas with 13 percent.
 

June 22
Into the growing season
Oklahoma and Texas are still planting cotton, but all other states are either done or very close to it, USDA reports in its June 12 Crop Progress. By Sunday, Oklahoma had planted 89 percent of its crop, and of that 4 percent is rated excellent and 65 percent good. Texas has planted 86 percent of its crop, with 10 percent rated excellent and 35 percent good.

Georgia had planted 95 percent of its crop and South Carolina had planted 97 percent. Drought is hampering the crop in the Southeast, making it doubtful that any more cotton will be planted this year. In Georgia, 2 percent of the crop is rated excellent and 23 percent good. In South Carolina, 0 percent is rated excellent, although 39 percent is rated good. Perhaps hardest hit is Alabama, where 0 percent is rated excellent and 17 percent is rated good.

California appears to have the best overall crop so far, with 10 percent rated excellent and 80 percent rated good. Arizona has 21 percent rated excellent and 41 percent rated good.

Louisiana has 6 percent rated excellent and 71 percent rated good. The most severe drought in the country is in southern Louisiana around New Orleans and Baton Rouge, but most of the rest of the state has adequate to normal moisture, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.

Elsewhere in the Midsouth, cotton-producing areas are not suffering drought and the crops are in good shape. Mississippi for example, reports 14 percent excellent and 60 percent good. Arkansas, which has a large area of abnormal dryness dropping down from Missouri, has 2 percent excellent and 40 percent good. Much of Missouri is included in the Midwestern drought area, although the Bootheel is not. Missouri has 1 percent excellent and 48 percent good. Tennessee, whose cotton-growing area shares the Delta’s good fortune, has 18 percent excellent and 39 percent good.

The Southeastern drought area reaches into western North Carolina and Virginia, but the cotton-producing areas of the states are largely unaffected. North Carolina reports 10 percent excellent and 56 percent good, while Virginia has 8 percent excellent and 69 percent good.

Chlorpyrifos OK in cotton
Dow Agrosciences will continue to support chlorpyrifos for the remaining agricultural uses  allowed by EPA, according to a company press release. Chlorpyrifos is used in cotton as Dursban and Lorsban to control beet armyworm, pink bollworm, cotton aphid, cutworm and plant bugs.

EPA and Dow announced on Thursday that use of  chlorpyrifos would be canceled or allowable residues significantly lowered for tomatoes, apples and grapes, and that the widely used organophosphate would be canceled  for all home and garden uses. The action also phases out its use as a termiticide over the next four years. These actions are to be in effect by the beginning of the next growing season.

The cancellations account for approximately half of the 20 million pounds of the pesticide used in a year, according to EPA. The other half is used on some 40 crops, including cotton.

Chlorpyrifos is used in cotton production primarily for control of pink bollworm, beet armyworm, cotton aphid and plant bugs, according to the chlorpyrifos Web site. "Both ground and aerial application equipment is used for foliar application. Chlorpyrifos is often tank-mixed with pyrethroids and other organophosphate insecticides when used in cotton production to broaden the target spectrum."

The major agricultural use of chlorpyrifos is on corn, for control of cutworm and corn rootworm.

Both Dow and EPA tried to put a happy face on what was clearly a blow to the manufacturer. Despite agreeing to the requisite "voluntary" cancellations, the company reiterated its confidence in the safety of all uses of chlorpyrifos:

"Chlorpyrifos products have been on the market for more than 30 years. No pest control product has been more thoroughly studied. The latest World Health Organization/Food and Agriculture Organization, conducted last year, supported the safety of the product for all its labeled uses.

More than 3,600 studies and reports have been conducted examining critical aspects of chlorpyrifos products as they relate to health and safety. Taken together, these reports and studies show that currently labeled uses of chlorpyrifos products provide wide margins of safety for both adults and children."

Four states get Section 18s for Intrepid
The Environmental Protection Agency has granted Section 18 exemptions for the use of Intrepid 80 WSP (methoxyfenozide) on cotton to control the beet armyworm in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas.

Although each state was required to apply separately, notice of the exemptions for the four states  was released in one document because the language for each state is identical. Different EPA numbers are assigned each state, however.

A copy of the EPA approval notice must be in possession of the applicator at the time of the application. The EPA approval notice for Texas can be printed from the Texas Department of Agriculture Web site: http://www.agr.state.tx.us/pesticide/intrepid.htm

The drought lingers
Recent rains may have settled the dust in some areas of the U.S. Cotton Belt, but unless you accumulated more than an inch over a week’s time, don’t count on any drought relief.

Large areas of drought, ranging from abnormally dry, D0, to exceptional drought, D4, is hurting the cotton crop in Texas, Louisiana, Alabama, Georgia, Florida and South Carolina. North Carolina, Tennessee, Arkansas, New Mexico and Arizona also have areas of drought ranging from D0 to D3, although the impact on cotton in those states is harder to judge.

The seasonal U.S. Drought Outlook shows likely improvement in an arc across extreme southern New Mexico stretching into Arizona on the west and the Transpecos area of Texas to the east. It shows that drought conditions likely will persist elsewhere in Texas and across the Southeast.

Douglas Le Comte, who maintains the weekly Drought Monitor for the  National Weather Service’s Climate Prediction Center, cautions against getting your hopes up with every line of showers.

“Regarding the impact of the recent showers that went throught the Southeast, the net impact, I am afraid, was little change,” Le Comte wrote in answer to questions from Land of Cotton. “They did some good, but were not enough to significantly change drought boundaries or intensities. Keep in mind that high temperatures can evaporate over 1 inch of rain in 1 week, so getting an inch from thunderstorms may result in little net change over a week’s time. So, little change from Louisiana eastward to Florida and South Carolina. Showers did ease drought in far southern Florida in the Everglades.

“Heavy rains did hammer Texas, and these rains did make a difference, as 2 to 5 inch or more totals were common. The June 6 drought map shows the D2 and D3 drought did retreat southward by some 100 miles or so in the High Plains. The heaviest rains, however, stayed north of the D3, so most of this area remained intact. You will notice that D0 and D1 also retreated southward in the High Plains.”

Asked why the Drought Monitor map was not showing abnormal dryness in the High Plains when growers were scraping away inches of top soil to reach moisture adequate for germination, Le Comte answered:

“On the previous May 30 map, we did show various gradations of dryness over the southern half of the High Plains, but most of the Panhandle was clear of abnormal dryness. May was a dry month throughout the High Plains, with Amarillo and Lubbock reporting well under one-half normal rainfall. Our various drought indices did not result in our indicating abnormal dryness for the Panhandle because of earlier rains. Cumulative rainfall for the three months through May, for example, was above normal in the Panhandle.”

June 26
China plans international tech conference
There are now more details about the upcoming conference in China, according to Chinese cotton researcher Shumin Wang. Rather than an international conference on colored cotton, as was originally announced, the event is to be an international conference on engineering and technological sciences that will include a session on sustainable agriculture. This session will focus on two areas: new and high-tech seed, and information technology for agriculture and precision farming.

The official language for the conference’s eight sessions is English. Chairman Jiang Zemin, the Chinese head of state, is expected to attend the opening ceremonies and to and deliver a keynote address, according to the message forwarded to the International Cotton Advisory Committee’s ALIDA discussion group by Rafiq Chaudhry of the ICAC.

The agriculture session will have six sub-sessions, each focusing on one crop. The cotton sub-session will held at the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing. The Cotton Research  Institute, under the auspices of the academy, will preside.

The organizers are seeking presenters for the conference and will provide all the in-country expenditures for participants selected to present. This does not include expenses incurred getting to China. Persons who are interested should submit full name, nationality, field of work, sex, full address, and topic of your presentation to Shumin Wang, aysmwang@371.net. The organizer of the conference will issue the formal invitation letter.

Mail those cottonseed program applications
The deadline for returning 1999 crop cottonseed payment program applications is June 26.

Applications were mailed to each gin from Washington, D.C., said Keith Kelly, Commodity Credit Corp. executive vice president. Anyone who has not received his application should call (202) 720-8481 for a duplicate application to be faxed or mailed, Kelly said.

The signed application must be returned to CCC in Washington either by U.S. mail (return receipt is recommended) or private delivery service.

"All applications must be received before any individual payments can be computed," Kelly said.  "Payments will be based on the quantity of cottonseed CCC estimates to have been produced from the number of bales and lint weight reported on the application."

Payments are being made to gins because gins usually retain proceeds from the sale of the cottonseed. However, when applying for payments, gins must agree to share payments with the producers to the extent that the effect of low cottonseed prices was borne by the producer rather than the gin. To the extent that such funds will go to individual producers, those funds will be considered to have been received by the applicant on behalf of such producers.

Companies that operated more than one gin for the 1999 crop should submit one application for all gin locations.

Payments will be provided by direct deposit approximately two weeks after the receipt of the last application. Applicants will be informed of their payment amounts by a mailed deposit notification.