Carolina Cotton Notes

Here are DD60 predictions based on this weather predicted for Raleigh at this site:
http://nc.weather-forecast.ws/raleigh

May 5, 2006 - 11.5
May 6 - 7.5
May 7 - 1
May 8 - 0
May 9 - 3.5
May 10 - 7.5
May 11 - 7.5
May 12 - 10.5
May 13 - 7.5

The Five day DD60 accumulation would be:

Dates	5-day DD 60's	Planting Conditions
May 5 - 9 =	23.5	Adequate
May 6 - 10 =	19.5	Adequate
May 7 - 11 =	19.5	Adequate
May 8 - 12 =	29	Good
May 9 - 13 =	36.5	Good

Some states have the luxury of avoiding planting conditions that are less than ideal in many years. Information like this is more valuable in those states than it is here. Our optimum planting season is so short that we generally have less flexibility in scheduling planting around less than optimum conditions. This is especially true for growers with large acreages to plant. Generally in North Carolina we have to plant under whatever conditions we are dealt once May arrives in order to complete planting within the optimum planting window. Hopefully we can at least avoid planting when soil temperatures are below the high 50's.

The relationship between DD60's and planting conditions.

DD60's accumulation in the 5 days following planting	Planting Conditions
Less than 10	Very Poor
11 to 15	Marginal
16 to 25	Adequate
26 to 50	Good
>50	Excellent