When it Comes to Cotton, Variety Selection Comes First

Most growers are beginning to understand using glyphosate irresponsibly runs the risk of a serious resistance problem.  However, this doesn’t mean growers need to avoid planting glyphosate-tolerant crops.  In the south, successful cotton production starts with sound management production, and production starts with the seed.

Variety selection is one of the most important elements to cotton production, and as varieties become more and more effective, the decision becomes more important.  Decisions about which variety to use should be based on the performance of the variety and its ability to withstand geography-specific risks.  A resistance management plan shouldn’t be affected by choosing a glyphosate-tolerant crop, if that’s the best option, because these crops do not necessitate the use of glyphosate; they only present the opportunity.  Therefore, if a grower has decided not to use glyphosate in a season, he can still plant the glyphosate-tolerant crop, and then use other registered herbicides that are in-line with a resistance management program.

What is the most important factor in your cotton variety selection process?  What other factors are considered when evaluating variety selection? Have you chosen to plant glyphosate-tolerant cotton varieties and not used glyphosate on them? How realistic is this option?

This topic was recently discussed in a Syngenta-sponsored Webinar targeting glyphosate resistance in the South.  Both university and Syngenta experts discuss the realities of glyphosate resistance and recommendations to manage it in this hour-long presentation.  To view this free Webinar, registration is required.