4D Farm

The Digital, Data-Driven Demonstration Farm

2026 Front Field Crop Plan: Dryland Cotton

Introduction

Cotton was chosen for Front Field’s 2026 crop season to follow last year’s cotton crop. This will provide two years in between peanut crops for this field. The yield goal for this crop is set at 1,000 pounds per acre because of the lack of irrigation. Dyna-Gro DG3799 cotton will be planted in Front Field at ABAC’s DATA Farm (Figure 1). This field is a 6.2-acre non-irrigated field. The soil is classified as Tifton Loamy Sandy with a 2 to 5 percent slope according to USDA’s Web Soil Survey tool. For the 2026 winter season, the plan is to graze livestock, so a mixture of oats, cereal rye, clover, and turnips was planted following the 2025 cotton harvest. Prior to planting the winter grazing mix this field was deep turned with a bottom plow. This operation was performed to bury the seed bank generated by a high pigweed population during the 2025 crop season. Table 1 shows the crop rotation history of this field dating back to 2017 when ABAC purchased the property.  

Aerial photo of the DATA Farm.
Figure 1. DATA Farm Field Map

Front Field Crop History

YearCrop
2025Cotton
2024Peanuts
2023Cotton
2022Soybeans
2021Cotton
2020Soybeans
2019Cotton
2018Soybeans
2017Cotton

This document outlines the season plan for the crop based on the print version of the 2024 UGA Cotton Production Guide (the digital copy posted is still the 2023 UGA Cotton Production Guide1), and UGA Crop Code Sheet for 1000 lb/ac Cotton2. Appendix A contains an operational timeline for this year’s crop in Front Field. The following sections provide details of the planned operations.

Planting

Before planting, the cover crop will be terminated using herbicides; details are listed in the weed management section. This operation will be performed using a Vans 12 row sprayer with a 36.5-foot boom, equipped with AgLeader ISOBUS rate controller with 5 sections.

Each year the guidance line for strip-till and planting is shifted 18 inches. This practice allows for management of compaction by shifting the row middle where machine traffic passes. This year the strip-till unit will shatter any compaction created during last season. Shifting the row also allows plants to utilize nutrients the previous year’s crop may not have accessed in the row middle.

Prior to performing strip-till and planting it is important to verify the GPS offsets of the tractor and implement profiles in the guidance system. If the profile of the strip-till unit and planter do not match this could create emergence issues because the seed is not deposited in a clean slit of soil created by the strip-till unit.

One week after the grazing mix is terminated, a 4-row KMC 6700 Series Rip/Strip with a cover crop roller accessory will be run through the field to shatter any compaction in the rooting zone and remove cover crop residue for the planter row units. This method creates a clean path for the planter row units but leaves a mat of cover crop residue in between the rows for weed suppression and moisture retention.

This year the field will be managed using conventional tillage due to an emergence study for John Deere. Prior to planting the cover residue will be mixed into the soil with a Sunflower disk harrow to create a clean seed bed for planting. The John Deere team requested conventional tillage so they can track daily emergence with a UAV from Sentera.

The cotton planting population target rate will be 22,000 seeds per acre for 1.5 seeds per foot. The actual planter setting will be 25,000 seeds per acre to account for germination rates. John Deere is sending a planter equipped with their latest technology to plant the field. The planter will be equipped with John Deere’s new E-Depth technology that can adjust seeding depth automatically using a prescription map. The seeding depths are set based on soil texture zones determined using soil ECa measured with the Veris implement. The depths are set at 0.75 inches in heavier texture zones, 1 inch in average texture zones, and 1.5 inches in lighter texture zones.

The seed variety chosen from Dyna-Gro was DG3799. This is an early—mid-maturity variety that was one of the top performers for lint yield and seed cotton yield from dryland in the 2025 UGA Variety Trials3 in Tifton, GA. Appendix C contains information published by Dyna-Gro for this variety. The variety also contains Bollgard 3 XtendFlex technology, which protects against armyworm and cotton bollworm. This seed has herbicide-resistant technology that allows the use of glyphosate, glufosinate, or dicamba.

The planting date will be chosen using the UGA Cotton Production Guide4 (2024) methodology that uses 4-inch soil temperatures (65oF minimum over 3 consecutive days) and a 5-day weather forecast showing warming conditions during the period between April 1st and May 25th. Two RealmFive soil temperature sensors at a 4-inch depth in both fields to monitor soil temperature. The production guide1 also states on page 76, “Early planting while moisture persists increases the likelihood of successful planting in non-irrigated fields.”

Fertilization

UGA Crop Code Seasonal Needs

Total nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) fertility needs for the 2026 season are shown in Figure 2. Rates were determined based on the UGA soil test handbook crop needs5, as indicated by soil test results and target yield goal. The soil test results for Front field are in Appendix D and E of this document. The N rate (75 lbs./ac.) is constant across the field. N application will be split into a pre-plant application of 25 lbs./ac. and a side dress application of 50 lbs./ac. The side dress application will occur between the first square and the first bloom. The P and K needs vary based on results of soil tests.

Front Field soil tested high in P for the entire field except for a small spot (0.2 acres). This spot is not significant enough to justify application for that nutrient. There were three zones in the field for K needs based on base saturation levels: one is 1.4 acres needing 90 lbs. K2O /ac., 4 acres needing 60 lbs. K2O /ac., and a small 0.8-acre area needing no K2O.

Figure 2. Seasonal NPK needs for Front Field.

Liming

A prescription map for lime was created in Ag Leader SMS using the grid soil results from the fall soil test results (see Appendix D for results). The pH was above 6 in a 1.3-acre zone so no lime, but the rest of the field varied from 5.7 – 5.9 so a prescription map for lime was created. Figure 3 shows the prescription map used by Ty Ty Ag Services to apply lime using a Vector spreader truck. Lime was applied on January 7th 2026, to allow time for the lime to react with the soil. 

Diagram of "lime needs for front field." The left-hand edge is light gray, labeled "lime: 0 lbs/ac" and the rest of the field is a darker gray, labeled "1000 lbs/ac."
Figure 3. Lime Prescription Maps

Pre-Plant Fertilizer

Phosphorus (P), potassium (K), and nitrogen (N) pre-plant needs in the field are shown in Figure 4. Note that nitrogen application for cotton is a constant rate per the UGA recommendation. An initial 25 lb./ac. rate of nitrogen is recommended during pre-plant fertilizer application. All applications are from products that are readily available in granular form (diammonium phosphate (DAP 18-46-0), potash (0-0-60), ammonium sulfate (21-0-0–24S), or 18% liquid nitrogen(18-0-0-3S)). 

Diagram of "NPK Pre-Plant Needs for Front Field." A red portion of field on the left edge represents approximately 15% of the field and reads "N: 25 lb/ac; P: 0 lb/ac; K: 0 lb/ac." The central portion of the field is orange and represents approximately 65% of the field; it is labeled "N: 25 lb/ac; P: 0 lb/ac; K: 60 lb/ac." A small green bubble within the orange is
Figure 4. Phosphorous and potassium zones and rates. Constant nitrogen rate is included with each zone.

Front Field Pre-Plant Prescription

To address potassium variability, potash (0-0-60) will be applied at three different rates, then an at-plant application of 18% liquid nitrogen (18-0-0-3S) will meet nitrogen needs. (Figure 5)  

  • Pre-Plant Broadcast – One pass applying nutrients to apply K, Cost: $64.92/ac, Time: 2.6 hr 
  • Potash (0-0-60) 
  • At-Plant Side-Dress, Cost: $28.40/ac, Time: 2.2 
  • Ammonium Sulfate (18-0-0-3S) at a rate of 139 lbs/ac or 15 gal/ac, 25 lbs N/ac  
Two field diagrams, one of "K variable rate" and the other of "N fixed rate." The K variable rate diagram shows three sections of the field: the leftmost one receiving no N, P, or K; the middle one receiving only K at a rate of 60 lb/ac; and the rightmost section receiving only K at a rate of 90 lb/ac. The N fixed rate diagram shows the entire field as one color, receiving 23 lb/ac of N and no P or K.
Figure 5. Pre-plant Front Field fertilizer prescription

Additional Fertilizer Needs

Additional fertilizer applications are needed to meet UGA recommendations (Figure 2). Applications are constant rates.

  • Side-dress between first square and first bloom
    • Ammonium Sulfate (18-0-0-3S) at a rate of 278 lbs/ac or 25 gal/ac, 50 lbs N/ac
    • Operation Cost: $45.53/ac
  • Elemental Boron will be applied at the recommended rate of 0.5 lb./ac. with plant growth regulator applications.

Plan For Fertilizer Operations

  • Pre-Plant 
    • Lime applied by dealer using prescription in Figure 3. Cost: $21.83/ac 
    • Apply Potash with ABAC Chandler variable rate spreader using prescription in Figure 5. Cost: $25.95/ac 
    • Apply 18-0-0-3S liquid nitrogen fertilizer at-planting, offset from the furrow to meet the UGA Crop Code pre-plant nitrogen requirement of 25 lbs/ac. Cost: $28.40/ac 
  • After First Square – Apply 18-0-0-3 liquid nitrogen fertilizer using LMC knife applicator for remaining 50 lbs/ac of UGA crop code nitrogen requirement. Cost: $45.53/ac 
  • 1st and 2nd plant growth regulator sprays – Apply boron in split 0.25 lbs/ac rates. Cost: $7.68/ac. 
  • Estimated cost of fertility plan: $129.39/ac 

Plant Growth Regulators

Plant growth regulators (PGR) such as mepiquat are used as a management tool to reduce vegetative growth in cotton.  Optimal growth control will result in plant heights that maximize harvest efficiency and prevent lodging. If plant growth is vigorous, the first application in a dryland field should occur prior to first bloom with a rate of 8 – 16 oz/ac. A follow up treatment after two weeks may be needed if vigorous plant growth continues. 
Estimated cost for 2 applications: $1.92/ac 

Irrigation

Even though this field lacks irrigation capabilities, soil temperature and moisture levels will still be monitored. Watermark soil moisture sensors will be installed at depths of 8, 16, and 24 inches after plant emergence. The temperature sensor will be 4 inches deep. Data is transmitted to the RealmFive cloud through the weather station at the farm. The location for the field sensors was chosen based on EC zones and elevation. Details on the process are outlined in the 4D Farm Soil Sensor documentation. 

Weed Management

Since the field will be managed using conventional tillage, weed management for the crop will begin with the cover crop termination using tillage. The split pre-plant incorporated (PPI) application recommended in the UGA Pesticide Management Handbook Cotton Section6 will be implemented. This program recommends spraying Pendimethalin (Prowl H2O, 2 pt/ac) with Fomesafen (Reflex 2s, 10 oz/ac) then shallow integration into top 2 inches of soil within 1 week of planting.

An Extension article from Dr. Culpepper7 recommends following pre-plant and pre-emerge applications with two post-emergence spray applications. The first will be made 15 to 17 days after planting using a combination of Glufosinate (Liberty, 29-43 oz/ac), Glyphosate (RoundUp PowerMax 3, 21 – 60 oz/ac), and S-Metolachlor (Dual Magnum, 1 pt/ac). The second will be made 15-17 days after the first application using a combination of Glufosinate (Liberty, 29-43 oz/ac) and S-Metolachlor (Dual Magnum, 1 pt/ac). A directed layby application of Diuron (1.6 – 2.4 pt/ac) with MSMA (2 pt/ac) will be made to control weeds without applying to the cotton plants.

  • Pre-Plant Incorporated ($12.92/ac)
    • Prowl H2O, (32 oz/ac) + Reflex (10 oz/ac)
  • 1st Post Emergence 15-17 DAP ($17.92/ac)
    • Glufosinate (32 oz/ac) + Glyphosate (32 oz/ac) + S-Metolachlor (16 oz/ac)
  • 2nd Post Emergence 30-34 DAP ($11.84/ac)
    • Glufosinate (32 oz/ac) + S-Metolachlor (16 oz/ac)
  • Late layby ($20.80/ac)
    • Diuron (32 oz/ac) + MSMA (32 oz/ac)
  • Total Herbicide Plan: $63.48/ac

Insect/Disease Control

At planting, Imidacloprid will be placed in furrow using the planter’s liquid system. The rate will be 9.2 oz/ac as recommended in the UGA Pest Management Handbook Cotton Section8 for at-plant thrips treatment. Cost: $8.65/ac. During the 2025 season a new insect caused damage in the cotton crops at the DATA Farm. The two spotted leaf hopper or Cotton Jassid was present in large numbers in Front Field. Fortunately, the insect showed up late in the season after the bolls were mature. To mitigate yield damage this season, planting should occur as early as possible. If the insect shows up before boll maturity, insecticides will be applied according to the UGA Pest Management Handbook. Weekly crop scouting on foot paired with aerial imagery captured by a DJI 3M multispectral Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) will be used to detect the presence of insects or diseases in the crop. The scouting reports and UAV maps will be analyzed to measure damage. Treatment from the production handbook will occur for any detected issues when an economic threshold is reached which justifies the cost. Using standard integrated pest management (IPM) practices, the affected area will be measured to determine yield loss and calculate cost of treatment. When a potential yield loss exceeds the cost of treatment then an application will be made.

Harvest

An application of UGA’s “Three-Way” defoliation mixture from the UGA Cotton Production Guide will be made. This mixture consists of Ethephon (32 oz./ac.), Thidiazuron (4 oz./ac.), Tribufos (12 oz./ac.) to remove the leaves and open the remaining bolls for harvest. The field will be monitored over the following two weeks to determine when the leaves have fallen, and the remaining bolls are open for harvest. Due to requirements for the John Deere planter study, the cotton will be harvested using a 2025 or newer John Deere CP770 roller picker which has row by row yield monitoring capabilities. 

Economics

Projected Costs$$/ac
Seed905146
Fertility802129
Plant Growth Regulators122
IrrigationTBDTBD
Weed Management39764
Insect/Disease ManagementTBDTBD
HarvestTBDTBD
Total2,115341
Projected Income$$/ac
1,000 lb lint/ac @ $0.674,154670
Total4,154670
$$/ac
Profit / Loss2,039329

Acknowledgment

This material is based upon work that is supported by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture under award number 2023-68016-39403. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Website maintained by the Southern IPM Center. 

For more information and resources about the project, please explore the other pages of this website.

This document was authored by Nick Gladden and reviewed by Alex McLemore and Erin Porter. Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, Tifton, GA, 31793.  

Appendix A. Operational Timeline

Milestone descriptionEquipmentProductWidth (ft)Operation Speed (mph)Field Eff. (%)Operation TimeStartDaysDays Before PlantingDays After Planting
Mow Cotton StalksJohn Deere 6195 and John Deere MX15 Mower124801.310/1/20251212
Pull Cotton StalksJohn Deere 6195 and Besler 4 row stalk puller1210800.510/6/20251207
Disked Stalk ResidueJohn Deere 6195 and Sunflower 1234 disk205800.610/7/20251206
Deep TurnCase Farmall and John Deere switch plow84802.010/21/20251192
Smooth FieldCase Farmall and KMC Field Cultivator124801.310/22/20251191
Soil Sample1.010/22/20251191
Plant Cover CropJohn Deere 6195 and John Deere 450 Grain Drill154.5701.111/13/20251169
Spread LimeFertilizer Dealer Spreader TruckLime306700.41/7/20261114
Terminate CoverCase Magnum and KMC Resi-Till204800.84/17/202617
Strip TillJohn Deere 6195 and KMC Gen 1 StripTill124801.34/24/2026114
Pre-Plant FertilizerJohn Deere 6195 and Chandler Variable Rate SpreaderPotash306700.44/27/202614
Pre-Plant HerbicideJohn Deere 6195 and Red Ag Leader SprayerProwl, Reflex366800.34/27/20260
Incorporate HerbicideCase 200 Magnum and Sunflower 1234 Disk205800.64/27/20260
Plant CottonJohn Deere 6R and ExactEmerge PlanterDG3799 Cotton Seed, Imidacloprid185.5700.75/1/202610
At Plant FertilizerJohn Deere 6195 and LMC 4-row Nitrogen Applicator18-0-0-3124751.45/1/20260
Emergence Count1.05/13/2026112
Postemergence Herbicide 1John Deere 6195 and Red Ag Leader SprayerLiberty, Roundup PM3, Dual Magnum365800.45/16/2026115
Postemergence Herbicide 2John Deere 6195 and Red Ag Leader SprayerLiberty, Dual Magnum365800.45/31/2026130
PGR ApplicationJohn Deere 6195 and Red Ag Leader SprayerMep42365800.46/18/2026148
Fertilizer ApplicationJohn Deere 6195 and LMC 4-row Nitrogen Applicator18-0-0-3124751.46/25/2026155
PGR ApplicationJohn Deere 6195 and Red Ag Leader SprayerMep42365800.47/2/2026162
Directed Herbicide SprayJohn Deere 6195 and Direct SprayerDiuron + MSMA125801.1TBD1
PGR ApplicationJohn Deere 6195 and Red Ag Leader SprayerMep42365800.47/16/2026176
DefoliationJohn Deere 6195 and Red Ag Leader SprayerSetup 6SL, TDZ 4SC, Folex 6EC, Trivium365800.4TBD1
HarvestJohn Deere CP770 Roller picker with yield monitor185800.7TBD

Appendix B. Front Field Fertilizer Economic Analysis

Pre-Plant Application

Field Size6.2 ac
Price$/ton$/lb
DAP8880.44
Potash4750.24
Ammonium Sulfate5130.26
18-0-0-32650.13
SpreaderSide-Dress
Width50 ft12 ft
Speed6 mph5 mph
Efficiency80%80%
Zone 11.1acProductNPKS
N0lb/acDAP18%46%0%0%
P2O50lb/acPotash0%0%60%0%
K2090lb/acAmmonium Sulfate21%0%0%24%
CostNPKS
MAP0lb/ac$-Provides:00
Potash150lb/ac$35.63Provides:90
AMS0lb/ac$-Provides:00
Cost
Field Operation29ac/hr0.2Labor$15.00$3.20
Fuel6.5gal/hr1.4Gallons of Fuel$3.35$4.64
Travel to Dealer2hr2.0Labor$30.00
Fuel3.6gal/hr7.2Gallons of Fuel$3.35$24.12
$61.96
Operation Cost$45.62per acreTotal$50.18
Zone 24acProductNPKS
N0lb/acDAP18%46%0%0%
P2O50lb/acPotash0%0%60%0%
K2060lb/acAmmonium Sulfate21%0%0%24%
CostNPKS
MAP0lb/ac$-Provides:00
Potash100lb/ac$23.75Provides:60
AMS0lb/ac$-Provides:00
Cost
Field Operation29ac/hr0.2Labor$15.00$3.20
Fuel6.5gal/hr1.4Gallons of Fuel$3.35$4.64
Travel to Dealer2hrLabor$-
Fuel3.6gal/hr0.0Gallons of Fuel$3.35$-
$7.84
Operation Cost$25.71per acreTotal$102.84
Zone 31.1acProductNPKS
N0lb/acDAP18%46%0%0%
P2O50lb/acPotash0%0%60%0%
K200lb/acAmmonium Sulfate21%0%0%24%
CostNPKS
MAP0lb/ac$-Provides:00
Potash0lb/ac$-Provides:0
AMS0lb/ac$-Provides:00
Cost
Field Operation29ac/hr0.2Labor$15.00$3.20
Fuel6.5gal/hr1.4Gallons of Fuel$3.35$4.64
Travel to Dealer2hrLabor$-
Fuel3.6gal/hr0.0Gallons of Fuel$3.35$-
$7.84
Operation Cost$7.13per acreTotal$7.84
Side Dress @ Plant6.2acProductNPKS
N25lb/acMAP10%41%0%0%
P2O5lb/acPotash0%0%60%0%
K20lb/ac18-0-0-318%0%0%3%
CostNPKS
MAP0lb/ac$-Provides:00
Potash0lb/ac$-Provides:0
18-0-0-3139lb/ac$18.40Provides:254
Cost
Field Operation29ac/hr0.2Labor$15.00$3.20
Fuel6.5gal/hr1.4Gallons of Fuel$3.35$4.64
Travel to Dealer2hr2.0Labor$30.00
Fuel3.6gal/hr7.2Gallons of Fuel$3.35$24.12
$61.96
Operation Cost$28.40per acreTotal$176.05
Operation Cost$54.34per acreTotal$336.91

Side Dress Nitrogen Application

Side DressZone Size6.2acProductNPKS
N50lb/acMAP10%41%0%0%
P2O50lb/acPotash0%0%60%0%
K200lb/ac18-0-0-318%0%0%3%
CostNPKS
MAP0lb/ac$-Provides:00
Potash0lb/ac$-Provides:0
18-0-0-3278lb/ac$36.81Provides:508
Cost
Field Operation6ac/hr0.0Labor$15.00$-
Fuel6.5gal/hr0.0Gallons of Fuel$3.35$-
Travel to Dealer2hr2.0Labor$30.00
Fuel3.6gal/hr7.2Gallons of Fuel$3.35$24.12
$54.12
NPKS
Operation Cost$45.53per acreTotal$282.31Nutrients Provided50008

Appendix C. DYNAGRO Variety Information

Screenshot of the DYNAGRO
Visit the DYNAGRO product page

Appendix D. Front Field Soil Test Results

Front Field is dry land that was seeded in a mix of EverLeaf oats, Wrens Abruzzi cereal rye, crimson clover, and purple top turnips on 11/13/25 for winter cover. The spring 2026 crop for this field will be cotton using strip till with a yield goal of 1,000 lbs/ac. The nutrients shown were chosen based on the UGA crop production recommendations9. The legends were generated based on the UGA Soil Handbook10 for cotton production.

Figure 6. Front Field Soil Sample Points.
Figure 7. Front Field Boron
Figure 8. Front Field Calcium
Figure 9. Front Field Magnesium
Figure 10. Front Field Phosphorous
Figure 11. Front Field Potassium
Figure 12. Front Field EC Shallow
Figure 13. Front Field pH
Figure 14. Front Field Buffer pH
Figure 15. Front Field CEC
Figure 16. Front Field % Calcium
Figure 17. Front Field % Potassium
Figure 18. Front Field % Magnesium
Figure 19. Front Field Surface Elevation

Appendix E. Front Field Soil Values

Sample IDB (lbs/ac)Ca (lbs/ac)CECK (lbs/ac)Mg (lbs/ac)P (lbs/ac)pHwpHbS (lbs/ac)Zn (lbs/ac)
10.306553.77087925.67.80331.9
20.408523.61271111366.17.903428.3
30.306243.7139911345.77.80294.1
40.5011384.81591331806.37.852213.5
50.7011334.92321391086.37.851718.4
60.506493.3126751815.97.852612.9
70.506763.410786475.97.85264.1
80.305363.09773615.77.85271.8
90.406983.8118772125.87.802511.2
100.609934.416812314267.853010
Average0.457953.9134.399.51295.97.8426.910.62

Discover more from 4D Farm

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.