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FieldNotes
A COTTON PUBLICATION FOR FARMERS IN THE TEXAS COASTAL BEND VOLUME 8, ISSUE 2
For more information about PhytoGen or any other Dow AgroSciences products, call 800-258-3033.
Or email us at info@dow.com or visit our website at www.PhytoGen.com.
®PhytoGen and the PhytoGen Logo are trademarks of PhytoGen Seed Company, LLC. ®DOW Diamond, WideStrike and the WideStrike Logo are trademarks of The Dow Chemical Company
(“Dow”) or an affiliated company of Dow. PhytoGen Seed Company is a joint venture between Mycogen Corporation, an affiliate of Dow AgroSciences LLC, and the J.G. Boswell Company.
©2013 Dow AgroSciences LLC L12-076-032 (12/13) BR 010-34447-B DAAGPHYG3059
We Want to Hear From You
Our experienced staff is always
available to visit your farm to
discuss varieties and assist with
seed selection.
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Dow AgroSciences
Cotton Development
Specialist
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PHY 427 WRF: Early to midmaturity with a high level of rootknot-nematode resistance and excellent seedling vigor.
PHY 495 W3RF: A midmaturing variety featuring the
WideStrike® 3 Insect Protection trait package. This variety
exhibits excellent seedling vigor with superior yield potential
and broad adaptation.
Duane Canfield
General manager and portfolio marketing leader for PhytoGen
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Dow AgroSciences
Sales Representative
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This edition of FieldNotes has been sent to you on behalf of your Dow AgroSciences sales representative.
Bryan, Texas, grower Mark Carraba saves money on insurance in favor of irrigation.
Embracing Agribusiness
Mark Carrabba knows that being
part of the cotton industry means a
lot more than planting and picking.
This Bryan, Texas, grower has added
everything from owning a gin to
partnering in the family trailer
business to the mix.
Carrabba began farming in 1976,
a decade after his father stopped
farming to begin a trailer business,
the original Gooseneck Trailer
company. Still a partner in the
company, Carrabba also farms in
partnership with his brother David
and is one of five partners in the
Scarmardo Gin.
This natural-born businessman
approaches farming the way he
does all of his business ventures —
by taking calculated risks.
Carrabba make money by coming up
early and growing strong all season.
“Not a lot of farmers would risk being
self-insured,” Carrabba says. “But it
works for us.”
“We were able to harvest the
PHY 499 WRF early, and the yields
were high,” Carrabba says. “Early
harvest with great yields — that’s
what it’s all about in my book.”
In the Brazos River Bottom, irrigation
is a way of life. Carrabba has made
the choice to take the money he
would spend on crop insurance and
put it toward irrigation.
“Even in an extremely dry year,
I’m able to at least make a crop,”
Carrabba says. “I can make money.”
When Carrabba finds a cottonseed
that can help him make money in any
condition, he sticks with it. PhytoGen®
brand PHY 499 WRF has helped
Yields are critical, but it takes smart
decisions throughout the year to
realize that yield potential, and that’s
where PhytoGen representative Trey
Ramirez comes in.
“It is tremendous to have Trey come
out and offer his recommendations,”
Carrabba says. “Trey shares his
experiences and expertise to help
us make key decisions throughout
the year.”
Cold, Wet Spring Reinforces Importance of Seedling Vigor
It’s anything but a weather
bulletin to say this spring
was one of the coolest in
recent history. Mid-March
through mid-May saw
weekly cold fronts mixed
in with bouts of rain and
even a late frost.
“Even in this spring’s cold
“How soon we forget the
benefit of good seedling
vigor,” says Dr. Dan
Fromme, agronomist at
Texas A&M. “Aside from
battling weather issues, poor
seedling vigor leaves plants
vulnerable to early season thrips
pressure, which can cost growers
in our area 70 to 100 pounds of
lint at harvest.”
a PHY 499 WRF field with
Early season vigor is crucial for
development of a strong root system,
conditions, PHY 499 WRF
made a stand,” says
Dr. Robert Lemon, cotton
development specialist
with PhytoGen. “I walked a
lot of frost-damaged fields
this spring and never saw
an emergence problem.”
Varieties that failed to set
up a healthy root system
suffered significant losses at
and a strong root system is essential
for a plant to establish a good stand
in cold conditions. PhytoGen® brand
PHY 499 WRF is well-known for
its outstanding yield and quality
potential, but growers fell in love
with the variety for its strong
emergence and early season vigor.
the hand of Mother Nature.
“There were some huge differences
among varieties in trials this year,”
Success Is Worth
Celebrating
Share how PhytoGen® cottonseed
works for you and you’ll enjoy more
than great performance.
We invite you to join growers across the
Cotton Belt in the PhytoGen Best Yielder
Club. We’ll send you a free gift just for
sharing your story: a polo shirt and hat
for new members, or an outdoor sport
shirt for returning members. You’ll also
have a chance to win a portable generator
or our grand prize — a trailer with a full
pallet of PhytoGen cottonseed.
Check out MyBestYielder.com. Sign up
for the club. Read what other growers
are saying about PhytoGen.
Fromme says. “I believe growers will
not forget what happened to them this
year. Seedling vigor will impact their
variety selection for next spring.”
“PHY 499 WRF worked really well for me, and I
will plant more in 2014. It yielded very well in
very tough conditions.”
— Glen Lyon, Morton, Texas
“We have been planting more and more PhytoGen the
last few years, and it has been outperforming all the
other varieties with good grades and turnout. I plan on
planting more next year. It seems to take the heat and
drought better that any other variety we have planted.”
— Landon Wegner, Big Spring, Texas
Variety Selection
This time after harvest is a time
for reflection. Look back on your
successes this season and enjoy a
few shorter days with a little more
rest and relaxation mixed in. Review
what worked on your farm and what
Duane Canfield
didn’t as you make variety selection
decisions for 2014.
We at PhytoGen would like to help you with your variety
selection decisions. Call on our knowledgeable cotton
development specialists or sales representatives with
any questions you have.
Several new PhytoGen® brand varieties will be offered
for sale in limited quantities and geographies for 2014:
PHY 333 WRF: Early maturity with outstanding yield
potential and stability. Broadly adapted, this variety
will produce good fiber quality wherever it is grown.
PHY 417 WRF: Early to midmaturity with a high level
of root-knot-nematode resistance. This broadly adapted
variety is ready to compete in yield and quality.
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