University of Georgia

In the farm fields of Georgia, cotton is king. Its $501 million
farm-gate value more than doubles that of peanuts ($232 million).
So why do farmers still wait to pick cotton after they harvest
peanuts?

That’s one of the questions the 11th annual Cotton Production
Workshop will explore Dec. 11-12 in Statesboro, Ga.

An afternoon session will address managing cotton for earliness.
A panel discussion will explore the question, “Can we grow and
pick cotton before peanut harvest?”

It’s just one of 10 general sessions in a program that will also
offer a half-dozen choices of nine one-hour workshops.

Information galore

The concurrent workshops will cover cotton physiology, markets,
varieties, weeds, insects, diseases, nematodes, fertilizers and
soils. An outside demonstration will help growers calibrate
equipment and understand procedures for applying nematicides.

General sessions will review the 2003 crop and discuss the
politics and economics of cotton. Other topics include irrigation
research, fiber quality, shifts in weed problems and the growing
nemesis of nematodes.

The program will be at the Nessmith-Lane Continuing Education
Building on the Georgia Southern University campus in Statesboro.
It will start at 8:30 a.m. Dec. 11 and end at noon the next day.
The cost is $20 if you sign up by Nov. 25 or $30 after that.

To learn more about the program or to sign up, contact the county
University of Georgia Extension Service office. Or call Tina Wood
at (229) 386-3416.