Episode Summary:

On Episode Three, Brennan and Robbie are joined by Dr. Camp Hand, UGA Extension Cotton Specialist and Host of the Talkin’ Cotton Podcast. The guys discuss the art, science, and fun of harvesting cotton. This week, you will learn some of the process cotton farmers go through to pick cotton each fall.

Dr. Camp Hand’s Faculty Profile: https://www.caes.uga.edu/about/personnel/person.html/22478/camp-hand.html

Chapter Markers:

0:00 Cold Opening Intro

0:13 Ag in the Cab Podcast Intro

1:44 Robbie and Brennan’s opening segment (discussing the weather & the Sunbelt Ag Expo)

3:42 Introduction of Dr. Camp Hand

5:00 Discussion on the state of the 2024 cotton harvest

8:22 Discussion on how a cotton farmer decides when the right time is to pick the cotton field

12:00 Discussion on why cotton has varying height between fields and regions

15:22 Discussion on crop rotation and the benefits of cotton production

19:34 Discussion on the importance of following plant back restrictions for herbicides, like Cadre, in crop rotation plans

22:14 Discussion on current ways cotton modules are made (round bale picker versus dump picker and module packer)

23:58 Discussion on scrapping cotton and why picking cotton a second time is not profitable

26:43 Discussion on recommended off season management to prepare for the next cotton production year

29:13 Discussion on the Talkin’ Podcast, a biweekly cotton production podcast that Dr. Hand hosts

29:47 Discussion on how a cotton farmer determines when a field that has had a large loss of production is not worth picking

32:54 Discussion on when to plan for insects, nematodes, and diseases for cotton production

34:50 Discussion on where to find the Talkin’ Cotton podcast to listen every other week and the challenge and fun of producing podcasts

36:47 Brennan and Robbie’s Closing Segment (discussing Hurricane Helene agriculture damage, crop insurance, and smutgrass control)

43:13 Ag in the Cab Podcast Outro

Cotton Harvest Websites and Information:

UGA Cotton Team Website: http://www.ugacotton.com/

UF/IFAS Cotton Fertility Publication: https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/AG200

UF/IFAS Cotton Growth and Development Publication: https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/AG235

UF/IFAS Perennial Grass Addition to Cotton/Peanut Rotation: https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/AG257

Video from Dr. David Wright on Perennial Grass Addition to Cotton/Peanut Rotation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4CGqI1rIG9E

Talkin Cotton Podcast: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2350262