Conventional Cotton Variety Performance in Georgia

Recent cotton prices have driven many producers to reexamine their production systems for ways to cut production costs.  This process can be extremely difficult and most significant saving measures result in potential for losing yield.  Variety selection is one of the most expensive inputs decisions producers deal with each year.  It is also one of the most important factors in regard to management, yield and fiber quality.  Cotton seed prices have become increasingly costly in part because of herbicide tolerance and insect management traits.  Although these traits provide significant value to producers, cotton prices paired with herbicide programs needed to control glyphosate-resistant Palmer amaranth may create a situation where conventional cotton varieties become more appealing.  To help producers make decisions regarding conventional cotton varieties, research was conducted in large-plot, on-farm trials to evaluate several potential conventional varieties along with the top-performing transgenic cotton varieties in Georgia.  All study sites utilized a randomized complete block design with three replications where each plot consisted of a variety planted in a strip four to six rows wide and at least 500 feet long.  Cotton was harvested, gin turnout was determined at the UGA Microgin and fiber quality was assessed at a USDA Classing office.  Variety performance was evaluated by examining lint yield and fiber quality averaged across all locations and by consistency of performance.  Economic analysis was conducted to more adequately determine the value or cost of utilizing conventional varieties.