Farm activities announce fall has arrived, harvest is on the horizon.
It's a beautiful, fall day on the Texas South Plains. We woke to a full moon lingering, lighting up the western skyline and cool temperatures in the upper 50s. This afternoon, while fertilizer rigs were busy applying dry fertilizer on damp wheat ground, as farmers took advantage of the weekend's much-needed moisture, aerial applicators were flying fields defoliating cotton.
There's something fascinating about watching air tractors fly the fields, nearly skimming the top of the cotton while spraying, only to quickly pull up, ascending high into the sky, looping around, and descending again. Take a look at King Ag Aviation's Pilot Robert Birney and B&W Aerial Spraying Pilot Jason Wooten as they spray Lamb County fields.
For more information about defoliation, Defoliation on horizon, tips to consider
Busy skyline
Media Type
Media Caption
Privacy Settings
DataTable subpages
Media Image
transactionID
Source ID
Busy day in the sky as aerial pilots Robert Birney, King Ag Aviation, and Jason Wooten, B&W Aerial Spray, begin to spray cotton fields.
Robert Birney
Media Type
Media Caption
Privacy Settings
DataTable subpages
Media Image
transactionID
Source ID
Pilot Robert Birney flies his Air Tractor 502 over fields in Lamb County.
High Wire
Media Type
Media Caption
Privacy Settings
DataTable subpages
Media Image
transactionID
Source ID
Flying above the high lines.
Defoliation
Media Type
Media Caption
Privacy Settings
DataTable subpages
Media Image
transactionID
Source ID
Defoliating cotton north of Olton.
39 years in the sky
Media Type
Media Caption
Privacy Settings
DataTable subpages
Media Image
transactionID
Source ID
King Ag Aviation has been spraying fields in Lamb County since 1979.
Banking
Media Type
Media Caption
Privacy Settings
DataTable subpages
Media Image
transactionID
Source ID
Banking a turn over Lamb County cotton fields.
One last round
Media Type
Media Caption
Privacy Settings
DataTable subpages
Media Image
transactionID
Source ID
Pilot Robert Birney finishes up his application on a farm north of Olton.
Defoliation Tips
Media Type
Media Caption
Privacy Settings
DataTable subpages
Media Image
transactionID
Source ID
In a recent article about defoliation Gary Schwarzlose, senior technical service rep, Bayer CropScience, at Spring Branch, Texas, says before defoliating farmers should consider their variety, timing, application techniques and environmental conditions.
Olton skyline
Media Type
Media Caption
Privacy Settings
DataTable subpages
Media Image
transactionID
Source ID
An Air Tractor 602 flies above a cotton field, with the skyline of Olton as it's backdrop.
B&W Aerial (6 of 21).jpg
Media Type
Media Caption
Privacy Settings
DataTable subpages
Media Image
transactionID
Source ID
B&W Pilot Jason Wooten defoliates cotton in Lamb County. Wooten has been flying for 18 years.
A friendly, "Hello"
Media Type
Media Caption
Privacy Settings
DataTable subpages
Media Image
transactionID
Source ID
Jason Wooten releases a puff of smoke to let me know he sees me on the ground... a hello of sorts from the air.
In the loop
Media Type
Media Caption
Privacy Settings
DataTable subpages
Media Image
transactionID
Source ID
Turning back around to fly another strip of cotton.
Getting ready
Media Type
Media Caption
Privacy Settings
DataTable subpages
Media Image
transactionID
Source ID
Irrigated cotton nearing harvest. Let the defoliation begin!
On the fly
Media Type
Media Caption
Privacy Settings
DataTable subpages
Media Image
transactionID
Source ID
When it comes to choosing a defoliant, understanding the variety of cotton a grower has planted is important, according to Gary Schwarzlose, senior technical service rep, Bayer CropScience, at Spring Branch, Texas.
“Each of the varieties defoliates differently. You could take one treatment, spray it across eight varieties and have as many as four different reactions. So, it’s important to know your variety.”
Air Tractor 602
Media Type
Media Caption
Privacy Settings
DataTable subpages
Media Image
transactionID
Source ID
Pilot Jason Wooten flies his Air Tractor 602 over a cotton field in Lamb County.