1 Cotton 2005 Ouachita Fertilizer Red River

2 Ouachita Commitment to you Increase yields Lower Costs / Unit Produced Help solve specific production problems that limit profitability Value Offering Consistency and Reliability Cost effectiveness Leveraged Investment

3 Delta Smart Systems What is DSS? A precise data-gathering system collected to improve grower profitability Records production practices used on the farm Uses on-board computers to capture yield data Uses USDA grading standards to measure impact on quality Utilizes a large data base Community to analyze data Confidential

4 Delta Smart Systems What is DSS ? More than just a database Ties together all production data with local weather station data Ties together all production data with field observations and samples

5 Ouachita Fertilizer’s method of introducing the new science of crop phenology Translation: Understanding how weather impacts crop production practices Delta Smart Systems

6 Utilizes technology to reach higher yields and lower grower’s cost per unit Increases crop uniformity, the key to higher yields Helps predict Quality grades for targeted markets Helps avoid repeated mistakes: continuous improvement

7 Cotton Acres in Louisiana From 2002 to 2003, about 34% of all cotton acres were irrigated. (USDA)

8 Cotton Yields: Lbs. Per Acre

9 Regional Analysis Split DSS data into three regions To customize recommendations To provide local solutions Identify and remove limiting factors to yield and quality

10 DSS in ,000 acres in plant tissue samples 250 field observations Two satellite weather stations

11 Plant Analysis Tool for in-season use to determine and manage plant nutrient levels and ratios Some elements can be corrected in-season with Foliar Applications

12 Value Offering Enables growers to identify nutrients that limit yields or quality: improve plant health Allows deficiencies or imbalances to be corrected in-season to increase profits. Helps avoid the application of excessive rates and unnecessary nutrient applications are avoided.

13 Disease Protection* Balanced nutrients have proven to reduce disease pressure in cotton: Verticillium Pythium, fusarium, root rot and nematodes *Management of Diseases with Macro- and Microelements, APS Press, 1993

14 Early Bloom Plant Tissue Average Cotton Plant Analysis 2004

15 Early Bloom Plant Tissue Red River: 23 samples 49% low in P 50% low or deficient in K 52% low or deficient in Zn 35% low in sulfur

16 Late Bloom Plant Tissue Cotton Plant Analysis 2004

17 Late Bloom Plant Tissue Red River: 29 samples 52% low or deficient in K 55% had K/Mn ratios out of Balance; this means the K levels are too low The expected ratio is 300 ppmK to 1ppm Mn. Our average was 156 ppm K to 1ppm Mn.

18 DSS in 2004: Red River Plant tissue samples showed that 50% or more of the samples tested low in K. In our Community 80 lbs/A of K improved cotton yields by 100 lbs/A in An investment of $20.00 in Potassium returned $50.00

19 DSS in 2004: Red River Other Results from our Community: Phosphate: 45 lbs./ A yields 120lbs. more cotton than 0 lbs. An investment of $15.00 in Phosphate returned $60.00 in income

20 DSS in 2004: Red River Sulfur in our Community 10 lbs. /A of sulfur increased cotton weight by 188lbs./acre. An investment of $6.00 in Sulfur returned $90.00

21 Sulfur on Cotton Required on sandy soils or soils with low organic matter Sulfur deficiencies look much like nitrogen deficiencies, pale-green leaves on the upper part of the plant. Sulfur deficiency appears on new growth

22 DSS in 2004: Red River Zinc: The single largest increase in yield with one management change was the 90 lb. increase with 2 lbs. of zinc per acre. An investment of $1.30 in Zinc returned $45.00

23 Zinc Problems in Cotton Laser leveling, high copper, iron and manganese concentrations Highly alkaline soils Low VAM* levels Cool wet periods which affect root movement *VAM-Vascular Microorganisms

24 Plant Tissue Summary Explains good responses to Zn, K, S and P in RR. Early Bloom: % Sample Testing Low or Deficient Red River P49% K50% S35% Zn52%

25 Plant Tissue Summary Potash levels are a problem in the Red River area. Red River Late Bloom: % Samples Testing Low or Deficient K52%

26 Cotton Fertility 2005 N80 P45 K80 S10 B1.5 Zn2 Red River (lbs. / acre) Banded Application

27 Results from DSS: Red River Varieties: top three varieties Paymaster 1218 BGRR Sure Grow 215BGRR DP 449 BGRR IST Gaucho and Cruiser were equal Other Varieties that did well in other Regions of the State were: *DPL 5415 RR *DPL 555 BGRR *Stoneville BGRR

28 Planting Date 2004: Red River Plant when weather accumulates 25 GDU the five days after planting. (forecasts)

29 Need 25 heat units cumulative within five days after planting to plant cotton. GDUs Accumulation D. Lee 2004 Planting Date 2004: Red River Date GDUs GDU’s

30 Results from DSS: Red River Population 40,000 planted seeds per acre gave the highest yields in this Region. For all of Louisiana 45,000 planted seed gave the highest yield.

31 DSS Summary 15,000 acres in plant tissue samples 250 field observations Two satellite weather stations DSS split LA cotton into three distinct areas to better understand profitable cotton production

32 DSS Summary Cotton seeding rates performed best at 40,000 seeds per acre in Using weather stations to forecast 25 GDU accumulations the first five days after planting is an effective tool to use as a planting guide. We have weather stations running now and can have the information sent to you.

33 Cotton Schedule of Events