Page 19 - 02 Cotton SA September 2013

Opkomende boere/Smallholder Farmers

13 STEPS THAT SMALLHOLDER FARMERS MUST MASTER/
IMPLEMENT TO BE SUCCESSFUL COTTON FARMERS:

1 Identify the fields to be planted and commence soil
preparation at the end of the summer season, utilizing the
late summer rains. Do a first ripping or ploughing of the
field to turn weeds and other organic waste into the soil
to assist decomposition. Determine the amount of seed,
fertilizer and herbicide that you would be requiring for
your planting in the following season.
2 Disk and harrow the fields after the first good new spring/
summer season rain.
3 Apply fertilizer according to the field’s requirement and
plant cotton seed approximately 25 mm deep in a fine
seedbed to obtain maximum seed coat-soil contact so as
to transfer enough moisture into the seed to enable good
germination. Ensure that the REFUGIA is also planted as
required by the GM regulations. It is for your own protection
and long term usability of GMO cotton.
4 At 4 weeks after germination evaluate the stand and
determine if thinning is required.
5 Consider the weed stand amongst the cotton. If cotton
seems to suffer from the weed competition, do apply the
first herbicide spray according to prescriptions on the
herbicide container.
6 Commence scouting for insect pests when squares appear,
this is before first flowers open.
11 Organize cotton pickers – human or mechanical. –
7 At first bloom opening the last fertilizer application of LAN Scales must be available if contract picking by humans is
must be done. undertaken. They want to be paid honestly for their honest
8 Spray the correct pesticide at the right dosage to control work.
the insect pest that is present when their numbers pass 12 Pack delivery bales properly and don’t include debris,
the economic threshold values. Spray pesticides registered and store them in a dry place. Debris in a bale will incur
for use on cotton. Refrain from programmed/preventative penalties.
spraying. This wastes money and increases pollution and
can increase pests developing resistance to the pesticide. 13 Arrange for delivery of stored bales to the Ginnery. Mark
The REFUGIA must NOT BE SPRAYED with pesticides. your bales clearly so that you can have correct payment
to your account. Ensure that the Ginnery has your correct
9 Repeat 8 until 50% boll burst has occurred. Late season bank details.
cotton stainer control must be continued.
If you follow the steps above you’ll have a successful cotton
10 Obtain the correct picking bags (solid plastic and not production season!
woven poly-propylene bags) and cotton storage bales,
always available at your local Ginnery. By: Antoon Cornelissen and Lekole George Mabula, ARC-IIC,
Kroondal near Rustenburg.

THE COTTON MARKS WHERE TO OBTAIN LABELS BEARING THE COTTON MARK

The following local label manufacturers are the only licensed vendors
he Cotton Mark is a registered trademark launched by authorised to manufacture labels bearing the cotton marks:
South Afri can cotton producers as a quality mark for Julius Solomon Cape Town 021 511 3135
T cotton merchan dise. Since 1985, the use of the Cotton International Trimmings Cape Town, Johannesburg
Mark was granted to most of the important players in the
cotton pipeline and the mark has become a true standard Durban 021 590 1100
against which all cotton produce is measured. PMC Sewing Systems Pinetown Johannesburg 031 700 4275

Cotton contacts • Katoenkontakte

SAKPO 012-804 1462 Corporation 086 069 3888 SACGA 012-804 1462 Cotton/Katoen SA 012-804 1462/67
NAMC 012-341 1115 Cargill Cotton 011-799 2000 SACTMA 011-615 4007 Vaalharts Pluismeule 053-474 0115
Lever Ponds Pty Ltd 011-802 5770 Kleinboer Opleiding (Katoen SA) SATIEC 021-577 4200 Noord-Kaap Pluismeule 082 948 2569
Monsanto 011-790 8200 012-804 1462 TEXFED 011-615 4007 Loskop Pluismeule 013-261 1498
Industrial Development ARC-IIC 014-536 3150 Weipe Pluismeule 015-533 3021

Katoen SA Cotton 19 September-December 2013