The First Forty Days and Fruiting to Finish initiatives had a simple objective. To bring focus to the BMPs in the new, contemporary cotton production systems by addressing the changing pest spectrum, season-long pest management systems, and overall plant health and earliness, with the ultimate goal of high yield and high quality fiber.

The Fruiting to Finish workshops expanded on the work of The First Forty Days with specific focus on:

• Developing and prioritizing BMPs specific to mid to late-season needs;

• Creating measurement criteria for the plant/crop growth stages during the Fruiting to Finish time period;

• Gaining consensus on contemporary cropping systems that best meet the stated goal; and

• Determining research and development needs for this production time period.

Three primary areas of discussion for The First Forty Days and Fruiting to Finish Initiatives included:

1. The impact of at-planting decisions on optimal season-long pest management.

2. The shifting arthropod pest spectrum, including the emergence of plant bugs (primarily Lygus spp. and cotton fleahoppers) and spider mites as significant pests, and the importance of the crop protection choices during The First Forty Days.

3. The impact of crop uniformity, plant health, and timely development on crop management, yield, and fiber quality.