SUCCESS STORY

In the Coastal Bend near Sinton, Texas, with its typical dry summer and wet fall, Erich Schneider fights an annual battle against high micronaire, brought on by the growing conditions in the region. He’s had much success with DP 1646 B2XF, but in 2018 he grew a variety in DP 1845 B3XF that trended away from high micronaire.

Schneider had both varieties as checks in his 2018 New Product Evaluator (NPE) plot, plus planted the balance of the field – about 165 acres – to DP 1845 B3XF. Part of the field was irrigated, the rest dryland. After ginning the varieties separately, it was apparent fiber quality was outstanding on the DP 1845 B3XF and it compared well to DP 1646 B2XF.

“While DP 1646 B2XF out-yielded DP 1845 B3XF just by a bit, the mic on DP 1845 B3XF was much lower, 4.65 compared to 5.11 with DP 1646 B2XF,” Schneider said. “The rest of the qualities on both varieties were very good and very similar. The DP 1845 B3XF did not tend to high mic in the high-mic year, it yielded well, had good fiber properties overall, had excellent lint turnout and was easier to manage.”

The 2018 growing season was tough, said Schneider. Irrigation could barely keep up, and dryland fields suffered mightily. Once cotton opened up, rain fell. Through it all, Schneider has managed to remain positive and settle on varieties for 2019.

“In 2017 and 2018, DP 1845 B3XF and DP 1646 B2XF were basically neck and neck,” he said. “I think we have two very good cotton varieties that we can hang out hats on out here.”