Managing Cotton Through a Hurricane

• Hurricane damage to crops, equipment, and infrastructure can result in direct economic losses for growers.
• Damage can vary greatly depending on the strength of the storm and the growth stage of the crop at the time of damage.
• Detailed records and regular scouting are key components to weathering a hurricane.

Hurricanes can devastate cotton fields and cause huge economic loss. For growers in hurricane-prone regions, being proactive can help minimize the impact of a hurricane on the farm. Check insurance coverage to ensure there is enough coverage should a hurricane occur. Inventory everything on the farm by making a list, video, or by taking pictures and have this inventory saved in multiple places. Detailed crop records throughout the growing season (before and after the storm) are key when seeking recovery relief or making an insurance claim. Recovery assistance programs and insurance claims can take months to years to be finalized and having clear and accurate documentation can help the process.¹

For more information, see Hurricane Preparation and Recovery in the Southeastern United States—Cotton Producers Guide (usda.gov).

Prior to a Hurricane

In areas that are prone to hurricane events, there are management practices that can help mitigate potential losses to cotton quality and yield. Cotton fields are most vulnerable to damage when bolls are open and plants are defoliated. Limiting the number of open bolls at the time a hurricane occurs by planting a wide variety of maturities and having a larger span of planting dates can help reduce the impact on the quality and yield potential of the crop. It is also important to make sure planting is completed before the final planting date established for crop insurance to help ensure the crop is covered.¹

Controlling growth with applications of plant growth regulators (PGR) can help reduce lodging and tangled plants after a hurricane. This is beneficial for continued crop management after the storm, including helping to improve equipment access in the field. Equipment should be maintained prior to the storm so it can be used as soon as getting into the field is feasible.¹

Fields should not be defoliated prior to a hurricane unless there is enough time to harvest prior to the storm. Leaving the leaves on the plants can help protect open bolls from wind and rain, and unopened bolls can protect the lint inside the boll. If there are fields that are defoliated and ready for harvest, it is important to make a harvest strategy to first harvest any fields that flood or to which there may be limited access after a storm. Any harvested bales or modules that remain in the field should be taken to the gin or placed in higher locations and away from potential flooding.¹

After a Hurricane

Once the hurricane has passed through and it is safe to check fields and equipment, it is important to take the necessary time to assess and make detailed notes about the condition of equipment, sheds, and each field. Irrigation equipment should be checked for position of drops and any necessary repairs should be made, especially if the crop is not approaching maturity yet. The importance of regular scouting cannot be stressed enough. There are important decisions to make and knowing the condition of the crop is critical.

Wind damage is a major concern after a hurricane. Plants may be on the ground, tangled up, defoliated, or with strung out lint. After a few days of sunny and dry weather, plants may begin to stand back up. Younger plants may stand more readily than older plants with heavier boll loads.

Strong winds can defoliate cotton, especially older or damaged leaves. Older cotton leaves produce the hormones ethylene and abscisic acid, which contribute to leaf senescence. When leaves are injured—as they often are after a hurricane—this hormone production is increased leading to additional leaf drop.² This allows air and sunlight into the canopy and can act as a preconditioner.¹ Cotton plants have a remarkable ability to compensate for lost vegetation. Fields with 30 to 40% open bolls that have lost a large percentage of leaves can often continue to transport nutrients to immature bolls to finish the crop. Plants that are unable to recover from the damage will begin to open within seven to 10 days.²

Squares may begin to drop within a week after the hurricane. This can lead to a gap in boll age at maturity. Closed bolls that weather the storm are more susceptible to boll rot and hardlock. These bolls may be in contact with wet leaves or the ground, which can result in boll rot. The wind-whipped plants can have increased ethylene, which may help open bolls. However, if there is a lot of moisture in the air, then hardlock may result. Small bolls may drop after a hurricane.¹

Scouting is imperative. Regular assessment of what pests are in the field and whether their populations warrant management is critical for protecting yield and finishing the crop. It may not be possible to drive through fields with substantial wind damage, so aerial applications may be necessary. If plants have symptoms of nutrient deficiency and are not yet at the third week of bloom, then fertilizer applications may need to be considered.³

If the crop is at maturity at the time of the hurricane, with at least 60% open bolls and the uppermost harvestable boll mature, then continue with harvest aid applications. Only defoliate as many acres as can be picked within 10 to 14 days and, if possible, apply when the weather is forecasted to be warm and sunny for several days. Harvest aids can help the crop stand up and air out the canopy to reduce boll rot. Including a product with ethephon, like Finish^® 6 PRO Harvest Aid, can help the crop defoliate to limit potential boll rot. To help increase coverage for tangled fields, use hollow cone tips and apply at recommended application speeds. Controlling regrowth is a major consideration as rapid vegetative growth can occur with post-hurricane soil saturation and blown-over cotton plants. Axial buds can be exposed to sunlight when plants are blown over, initiating growth. It may be necessary to include thidiazuron (TDZ) in harvest aid applications to help protect lint quality and improve harvest efficiency by limiting regrowth.¹

Harvest fields as soon as they are ready. Prioritizing fields from least to most damaged can help reduce profit loss. Slow the picker down and harvest against leaning plants to help them stand back up. Consider picking in only one direction and deadheading back. Flooded fields should be harvested separately and noted to reflect the flooding. Flooded fields can have increased weed pressure in the following growing season due to water from other sources carrying weed seeds. Extra vigilant weed control may be necessary for the following years.¹

Sources

¹Collins, G., Edmisten, K., and Wright, D. 2021. Cotton producers guide. U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, Southern Research Station. Hurricane Preparation and Recovery in the Southeastern United States. Gen. Tech. Rep. SRS-260f. https://research.fs.usda.gov/treesearch/63396/

²Pieralisi, B.K. Questions about cotton following a hurricane. Mississippi State University Extension. http://extension.msstate.edu/content/questions-about-cotton-following-hurricane/

³Collins, G. and Edmisten, K. 2024. Should additional fertilizer be applied to cotton at this point? NC State Extension. https://cotton.ces.ncsu.edu/2024/08/should-additional-fertilizer-be-applied-to-cotton-at-this-point-collins-edmisten/

Web sources verified 09/25/24. 1414_446901