The Best Management Practices (BMPs) identified and prioritized by The First Forty Days working group of multi-discipline, multi-state research and Extension pathologists/nematologists, agronomists, entomologists, physiologists, economists and crop consultants were developed to address an agreed-upon goal: To bring focus to the BMPs in the new, contemporary cotton production systems, addressing the changing pest spectrum, season-long pest management systems, overall plant health and earliness, with the ultimate goal of high yield, high quality fiber. This presentation focuses on the BMPs, emphasizes their importance by correlating relevant cotton production issues, such as weed resistance and shifting weed spectrums, insect resistance and shifting insect spectrums, the emergence of spider mites as significant pests in Rainbelt cotton, the impact of and increased incidence of nematodes, as well as other issues. The First Forty Days findings and recommendations provide a platform for a new, interdisciplinary working group initiative which addresses the balance of the cotton production season. The Fruiting to Finish initiative is building upon The First Forty Days to create BMPs that meet the stated goal.