QUEEN CREEK MAR 3, 2013 COTTON PLANTING DATE ADVISORY +-------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | v | ********* | ** 179 ** | ********* | | ^ normal | | PLANTING WINDOWS | | | Short Season ---------------| | | | Medium Season ----| | | | Full Season | | +---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---+ 0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 HEAT UNITS (HU) ACCUMULATED FROM JAN 1 - MAR 2 v = Heat Units accumulated from JAN 1 - FEB 23 HEAT UNITS -------------------------------- HUs are running about 17 days behind normal. HISTORICAL STATISTICS -------------------------------- Last Week : FEB 24 - MAR 2 This Week : MAR 3 - MAR 9 HIGH LOW DEWPT HUs RAIN HIGH LOW DEWPT HUs Normal 69 40 30 34 ---- Normal 73 42 31 46 Recorded 67 32 25 24 0.00 2012 72 37 34 43 SOIL TEMPERATURES -------------------------------- Last Week's 8am Soil Temp: Max = 51.4 MAR 2 ; Min = 43.7 FEB 25 WEATHER UPDATE -------------------------------- -Expect sunny, warm & dry conditions through Thursday. Another cold storm system is projected to develop late this week, resulting in below normal temperatures & a chance for precipitation Friday/Saturday. Temperatures are expected to return to normal levels by early next week. -Growers are encouraged to measure soil temperatures prior to planting. Soils are quite cool due to the cold winter weather. Soil temperatures at 8am at seed- ing depth should approach 60F prior to planting. A good weather forecast for planting would call for sunny skies with highs above 80F & lows above 47F. Soil temperatures generally remain in the acceptable range for germination under these conditions. QUEEN CREEK MAR 10, 2013 COTTON PLANTING DATE ADVISORY +-------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | v | *********** | **** 220 ** | *********** | | ^ normal | | PLANTING WINDOWS | | | Short Season ---------------| | | | Medium Season ----| | | | Full Season | | +---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---+ 0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 HEAT UNITS (HU) ACCUMULATED FROM JAN 1 - MAR 9 v = Heat Units accumulated from JAN 1 - MAR 2 HEAT UNITS -------------------------------- HUs are running about 16 days behind normal. HISTORICAL STATISTICS -------------------------------- Last Week : MAR 3 - MAR 9 This Week : MAR 10 - MAR 16 HIGH LOW DEWPT HUs RAIN HIGH LOW DEWPT HUs Normal 73 42 31 46 ---- Normal 77 44 32 61 Recorded 71 41 39 40 0.83 2012 79 43 26 66 SOIL TEMPERATURES -------------------------------- Last Week's 8am Soil Temp: Max = 61.2 MAR 8 ; Min = 50.4 MAR 9 WEATHER UPDATE -------------------------------- -High pressure will develop over AZ this week, producing sunny & dry conditions with above normal temperatures. Temperatures should peak late in the week with highs approaching 90F in central AZ & the low 90s along the River. Some cooling is expected next weekend as a low pressure system moves across the Great Basin. The current 8-14 day forecast calls for dry weather & a return to normal temper- atures by the middle of next week. Both the 6-10 day & 8-14 day forecasts may prove useful when planning planting operations. The internet addresses are: 6-10 day forecasts: http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/predictions/610day/ 8-14 day forecasts: http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/predictions/814day/ -A good planting forecast: sunny skies with highs above 80F & lows above 48F. QUEEN CREEK MAR 17, 2013 COTTON PLANTING DATE ADVISORY +-------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | v | ************** | ***** 289 **** | ************** | | ^ normal | | PLANTING WINDOWS | | | Short Season ---------------| | | | Medium Season ----| | | | Full Season | | +---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---+ 0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 HEAT UNITS (HU) ACCUMULATED FROM JAN 1 - MAR 16 v = Heat Units accumulated from JAN 1 - MAR 9 HEAT UNITS -------------------------------- HUs are running about 10 days behind normal. HISTORICAL STATISTICS -------------------------------- Last Week : MAR 10 - MAR 16 This Week : MAR 17 - MAR 23 HIGH LOW DEWPT HUs RAIN HIGH LOW DEWPT HUs Normal 77 44 32 61 ---- Normal 79 46 32 69 Recorded 81 42 42 70 0.00 2012 86 45 30 85 SOIL TEMPERATURES -------------------------------- Last Week's 8am Soil Temp: Max = 61.3 MAR 16 ; Min = 46.9 MAR 10 WEATHER UPDATE -------------------------------- --Mostly sunny & dry with mild temperatures this week. Temperatures will not be as warm as last week, but will remain above normal. A series of storms will pass through the Great Basin this week. These systems will produce periods of windy weather & some slight cooling after mid-week. The forecast for next week is less certain with one forecast model calling for more cooling while a second suggests much warmer weather. Growers should monitor forecasts if planting late this week. --A good planting forecast: sunny skies with highs above 80F & lows above 48F. --Medium term (6-10 & 8-14 day) forecasts can be obtained from the internet at: 6-10 day forecasts: http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/predictions/610day/ 8-14 day forecasts: http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/predictions/814day/ QUEEN CREEK MAR 24, 2013 COTTON PLANTING DATE ADVISORY +-------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | v | ****************** | ******* 362 ****** | ****************** | | ^ normal | | PLANTING WINDOWS | | | Short Season ---------------| | | | Medium Season ----| | | | Full Season | | +---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---+ 0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 HEAT UNITS (HU) ACCUMULATED FROM JAN 1 - MAR 23 v = Heat Units accumulated from JAN 1 - MAR 16 HEAT UNITS -------------------------------- HUs are running about 6 days behind normal. HISTORICAL STATISTICS -------------------------------- Last Week : MAR 17 - MAR 23 This Week : MAR 24 - MAR 30 HIGH LOW DEWPT HUs RAIN HIGH LOW DEWPT HUs Normal 79 46 32 69 ---- Normal 78 45 31 65 Recorded 80 48 38 72 0.00 2012 72 41 30 42 SOIL TEMPERATURES -------------------------------- Last Week's 8am Soil Temp: Max = 65.1 MAR 21 ; Min = 61.3 MAR 18 WEATHER UPDATE -------------------------------- --High pressure will develop over AZ this week resulting in sunny, warm & dry conditions through Saturday. Temperatures should average about 5 degrees above normal. Medium term forecasts indicate a storm system will develop off the coast of CA late this week & move inland early next week. This system is expected to produce windy & cooler weather with a chance for precipitation. Growers should monitor the development of this storm if planning to plant late in the week. --Planting windows are open in central & western production areas. Full season varieties should be planted before the annual accumulation of heat units exceeds 700 (see graph above). --Soil temperatures are considered acceptable for germination when minimum (8am) soil temperatures at planting depth remain at 60F or higher. QUEEN CREEK MAR 31, 2013 COTTON PLANTING DATE ADVISORY +-------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | v | ********************** | ********* 443 ******** | ********************** | | ^ normal | | PLANTING WINDOWS | | | Short Season ---------------| | | | Medium Season ----| | | | Full Season | | +---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---+ 0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 HEAT UNITS (HU) ACCUMULATED FROM JAN 1 - MAR 30 v = Heat Units accumulated from JAN 1 - MAR 23 HEAT UNITS -------------------------------- HUs are running about 5 days behind normal. HISTORICAL STATISTICS -------------------------------- Last Week : MAR 24 - MAR 30 This Week : MAR 31 - APR 6 HIGH LOW DEWPT HUs RAIN HIGH LOW DEWPT HUs Normal 78 45 31 65 ---- Normal 79 47 32 71 Recorded 83 45 28 81 0.00 2012 88 48 33 93 SOIL TEMPERATURES -------------------------------- Last Week's 8am Soil Temp: Max = 66.7 MAR 30 ; Min = 58.6 MAR 24 WEATHER UPDATE -------------------------------- --A storm system located off the CA coast will move across the Great Basin on Monday, resulting in windy & slightly cooler conditions. No precipitation is expected with this storm system. The coolest day of the week will be Tuesday when temperatures should average near normal. High pressure will return on Wednesday, resulting in clear skies & very warm conditions through the weekend. --The planting windows are open for all production areas except Graham & Cochise Counties. Full season varieties should be planted before the annual accumulation of heat units exceeds 700 (see graph above). --Soil temperatures are considered acceptable for germination when minimum (8am) temperatures at planting depth remain at 60F or higher. Soils typically reach this acceptable thermal range when minimum air temperatures remain 48F or higher. QUEEN CREEK APR 7, 2013 COTTON PLANTING DATE ADVISORY +-------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | v | *************************** | ************ 531 ********** | *************************** | | ^ normal | | PLANTING WINDOWS | | | Short Season ---------------| | | | Medium Season ----| | | | Full Season | | +---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---+ 0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 HEAT UNITS (HU) ACCUMULATED FROM JAN 1 - APR 6 v = Heat Units accumulated from JAN 1 - MAR 30 HEAT UNITS -------------------------------- HUs are running about 3 days behind normal. HISTORICAL STATISTICS -------------------------------- Last Week : MAR 31 - APR 6 This Week : APR 7 - APR 13 HIGH LOW DEWPT HUs RAIN HIGH LOW DEWPT HUs Normal 79 47 32 71 ---- Normal 81 48 32 78 Recorded 83 50 35 90 0.00 2012 79 52 31 81 SOIL TEMPERATURES -------------------------------- Last Week's 8am Soil Temp: Max = 67.8 APR 5 ; Min = 63.5 MAR 31 WEATHER UPDATE -------------------------------- --A strong storm will move across the Great Basin Monday & Tuesday, resulting in very windy conditions & much cooler temperatures. This is a relative dry storm, but light & scattered precipitation is possible Monday & Tuesday, especially in & adjacent to higher elevation areas (mountains). Temperatures will cool to below normal levels by Tuesday, then rebound to above normal levels by the weekend. --Soil temperatures are considered acceptable for germination when minimum (8am) temperatures at planting depth remain at 60F or higher. Soils typically reach this acceptable thermal range when minimum air temperatures remain 48F or higher. The cool temperatures expected early this week may push soil temperatures below this acceptable level for a few days. Growers in central & southeast AZ may want to delay planting until later in the week. A three-day delay in planting at this time of year delays peak bloom, cut-out and maturity by about one day. --Full season varieties should be planted before the annual accumulation of heat units (HU) exceeds 700. The 700 HU level will be reached in western AZ this week. QUEEN CREEK APR 14, 2013 COTTON PLANTING DATE ADVISORY +-------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | v | ****************************** | ************* 598 ************ | ****************************** | | ^ normal | | PLANTING WINDOWS | | | Short Season ---------------| | | | Medium Season ----| | | | Full Season | | +---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---+ 0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 HEAT UNITS (HU) ACCUMULATED FROM JAN 1 - APR 13 v = Heat Units accumulated from JAN 1 - APR 6 HEAT UNITS -------------------------------- HUs are running about 4 days behind normal. HISTORICAL STATISTICS -------------------------------- Last Week : APR 7 - APR 13 This Week : APR 14 - APR 20 HIGH LOW DEWPT HUs RAIN HIGH LOW DEWPT HUs Normal 81 48 32 78 ---- Normal 83 49 31 87 Recorded 79 45 38 67 0.17 2012 81 45 33 75 SOIL TEMPERATURES -------------------------------- Last Week's 8am Soil Temp: Max = 68.7 APR 8 ; Min = 59.4 APR 10 WEATHER UPDATE -------------------------------- --A strong storm system will pass through the West early in week, resulting in windy & cooler conditions through Thursday. This is expected to be a dry storm with little chance for precipitation. Below normal temperatures are expected by mid-week with the passage of this system. High pressure will redevelop over AZ late in the week & bring a return to above normal temperatures by the weekend. --Plant population should range from 25,000-50,000 plants/a. To assess, count the number of plants in 1/1000a & multiply by 1000. The row length equal to to 1/1000a: 40"row = 13'1", 38"row = 13'9", 36"row = 14'6", 30"row = 17'5". --Full season varieties should be planted before the annual accumulation of heat units (HU) exceeds 700. Most central AZ production areas will reach 700 HUs this week. Short & medium maturity varieties are recommended after 700 HUs. QUEEN CREEK APR 28, 2013 COTTON PLANTING DATE ADVISORY +-------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | v | ************************************** | ***************** 762 **************** | ************************************** | | ^ normal | | PLANTING WINDOWS | | | Short Season ---------------| | | | Medium Season ----| | | | Full Season | | +---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---+ 0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 HEAT UNITS (HU) ACCUMULATED FROM JAN 1 - APR 27 v = Heat Units accumulated from JAN 1 - APR 20 HEAT UNITS -------------------------------- HUs are running about 4 days behind normal. HISTORICAL STATISTICS -------------------------------- Last Week : APR 21 - APR 27 This Week : APR 28 - MAY 4 HIGH LOW DEWPT HUs RAIN HIGH LOW DEWPT HUs Normal 86 52 33 100 ---- Normal 88 54 31 110 Recorded 87 49 37 97 0.00 2012 86 54 28 105 SOIL TEMPERATURES -------------------------------- Last Week's 8am Soil Temp: Max = 72.1 APR 25 ; Min = 66.2 APR 21 WEATHER UPDATE -------------------------------- --Expect sunny & dry conditions through midweek with hot days & mild nights. A storm system will move through the Great Basin Thursday, producing cooler temp- eratures & windy conditions. The cooling trend will be limited with temperatures expected to remain slightly above normal. No precipitation is expected with this system. The longer term forecast for May shows a moderate bias for above normal temperatures & no bias relative to precipitation. --The transition from vegetative growth to early reproductive development occurs with the formation of the first fruiting branches at nodes 5-7. This transition, known as pinhead square (PHS), usually occurs at ~700 heat units after planting. QUEEN CREEK MAY 5, 2013 COTTON PLANTING DATE ADVISORY +-------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | v | ******************************************** | ******************** 887 ******************* | ******************************************** | | ^ normal | | PLANTING WINDOWS | | | Short Season ---------------| | | | Medium Season ----| | | | Full Season | | +---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---+ 0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 HEAT UNITS (HU) ACCUMULATED FROM JAN 1 - MAY 4 v = Heat Units accumulated from JAN 1 - APR 27 HEAT UNITS -------------------------------- HUs are running about 3 days behind normal. HISTORICAL STATISTICS -------------------------------- Last Week : APR 28 - MAY 4 This Week : MAY 5 - MAY 11 HIGH LOW DEWPT HUs RAIN HIGH LOW DEWPT HUs Normal 88 54 31 110 ---- Normal 91 56 34 121 Recorded 93 55 30 126 0.00 2012 91 52 15 111 SOIL TEMPERATURES -------------------------------- Last Week's 8am Soil Temp: Max = 74.7 MAY 2 ; Min = 71.6 APR 28 WEATHER UPDATE -------------------------------- --Cooler & less settled weather is expected this week due to the presence of a trough of low pressure. This trough, currently off the coast of CA, wll send a series of waves & impulses across the region, resulting in cooler temperatures & a slight chance for showers Tuesday & Wednesday, especially near the mountains. This system moves inland & across AZ late in the week & & may produce another period of showers in eastern production areas. High pressure & much warmer temp- eratures are expected by the weekend. --The transition from vegetative growth to early reproductive development occurs with the formation of the first fruiting branches at nodes 5-7. This transition, known as pinhead square (PHS), usually occurs at ~700 HUs after planting (HUAP). N fertilizer should be applied in split applications between PHS & early bloom which occurs at ~1200 HUAP (see publication AZ1200 on ACIS website for details).