From a strict agronomic standpoint, it is not normally recommended to dust in cotton. However, planting cotton in dry soil may be a reasonable management decision if acreage or equipment limitations require an extended planting period, if rain is predicted, and/or if planting date and crop insurance deadlines are approaching. The dangers of planting cotton in dry soil include the occurrence of a light shower, which swells the seed but is insufficient to establish the seedling, or drought conditions that persist well past the time of normal crop establishment. In the Southeast, yearly rainfall averages generally exceed 45 inches but distribution can be problematic. Regardless of the drought, keep in mind that it will rain sometime. An estimate of how soon the drought might end relative to important calendar dates can aid the management decision about planting.

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