The 1996 Arizona Cotton Advisory Program

Arizona Cooperative Extension generates and distributes weather -based Planting Date and Cotton Development Advisories for 14 cotton production areas (Marana, Laveen, Paloma, Litchfield Pk., Pinal Co., Parker, Mohave Valley, Queen Creek, Safford, Yuma Valley, Aguila, Cochise Co., Greenlee Co. and Harquahala). Planting Date Advisories are distributed from mid -February through the end of April and stress 1) planting cotton varieties according to heat unit accumulations rather than calendar date and 2) the importance of soil temperature to good germination. Cotton Development Advisories are distributed from early May through mid - September and provide updates on crop development, insects, weather and agronomy. The Cotton Advisory Program will continue in 1996 and growers may obtain advisories by mail or fax from the local county extension office, and by computer from AZMET or the University of Arizona College of Agriculture World Wide Web Page. Major program changes planned for 1996 include 1) adjusting the Crop Development Advisories to reflect the revised legal first planting dates in low elevation production areas and 2) the addition of an advisory for Harquahala