Farming
AUBURN UNIVERSITY, Ala. — Tractors and planters are moving across Alabama as row crop planting and production are underway. That means it is time for an insect and disease scouting refresher. The Alabama Cooperative Extension System crops team will host the 66th annual Cotton, Peanut and Soybean Scouting Short Course in June in four locations throughout the state.
Scott Graham, a cotton, soybean and peanut entomologist with Alabama Extension at Auburn University, said Extension personnel will continue to provide support for producers throughout the summer, but the short course will help producers start the season on the right foot.
Scouting School
Producers have attended scouting schools for decades. Last year, Alabama Extension professionals celebrated 100 years of cotton entomology in Alabama. The first cotton scout scoured the fields of west Alabama in 1959, and the cotton scouting school took off shortly after. Today, producers, scouts and industry representatives still meet to discuss crop pests, scouting techniques and control options.
Graham said the scouting short course is an excellent opportunity for producers to refresh their memory. This year, new topics will be discussed, as Extension personnel hope to provide a robust and worthwhile experience.
“We encourage producers and field advisors to attend the scouting school because the pest pressures may be similar year after year, but they certainly have some differences—especially when it comes to control methods,” Graham said. “We work to have all of the information farmers need to head into the growing season with confidence in their ability to spot issues and make treatment applications.”
As always, the scouting short course will also provide 10 continuing education units (CEUs) for certified crop advisors and pesticide applicators.
Scouting Short Course Dates and Times
Workshops will be hosted throughout the month of June. Contact the agronomic crops agent in your area to register for the scouting schools.
June 3 — Cotton and Peanut
- 8 a.m.
- Wiregrass Research and Extension Center
- 167 State Highway 134 E., Headland, Alabama 36345
June 10 — Cotton and Soybean
- 8 a.m.
- Milstead Gin
- 5746 County Road 40, Shorter, Alabama 36075
June 17 — Cotton and Soybean
- 8 a.m.
- Tennessee Valley Research and Extension Center
- 9494 Experimental Loop, Madison, Alabama 35756
June 24 — Cotton
- 8 a.m.
- McCord’s Fire Department Station #1
- 1150 County Road 157, Centre, Alabama 35960
Topics of Discussion
Graham said topics covered will be tailored to the needs of producers that location. Scouting short course topics include:
- Beneficial insects
- Cotton agronomic management
- Cotton and peanut disease management
- Importance of sprayer set up for insect control
- In-field training opportunities
- Key soybean insect management
- Managing insects in ThryvOn cotton
- Peanut agronomic management
- Peanut insect pests
- Plant bug resistance monitoring
- Secondary cotton insect management
- Stink bug management
- Tarnished plant bug management
- Open discussion on current problems
More Information
The Alabama Extension crops team produces a regular podcast — the Alabama Crops Report Podcast. Check out past and new episodes on the Alabama Extension website or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
Subscribe to the Alabama Cotton Shorts newsletter and the Alabama Crops Report weekly newsletter for the most up-to-date cotton production information.