Zone 3 Cotton Stalk Destruction Deadline October 31

By Corrie Bowen

County Extension Agent

Wharton County

A recent recommendation for a change to the Zone 3 pest management

zone was considered by the Texas Department of agriculture, as approved by a majority vote of the Zone 3 Cotton Producer Advisory Committee.  This change in Zone 3 and the respective cotton stalk destruction date became effective on September 13, 2018.  These changes are reflected in the Texas Administrative Code, Chapter 20 Cotton Pest Control http://texasagriculture.gov/Portals/0/images/ACP/Cotton/Ch20Cotton_2018-09-13.pdf

The Zone 3 Pest Management and Cotton Stalk Destruction Zone now comprises the following Texas Counties:  Austin, Brazoria, Chambers, Colorado, Fayette, Fort Bend, Galveston, Gonzales, Harris, Jackson, Jefferson, Lavaca, Liberty, Matagorda, Orange, Waller and Wharton. The cotton stalk destruction date for these Zone 3 counties is October 31^st.  The mission of the Cotton Stalk Destruction program is to suppress boll weevil and pink bollworm populations in Texas.  For more details on the TDA Cotton Stalk Destruction regulatory program go to

http://www.texasagriculture.gov/RegulatoryPrograms/CottonStalkDestruction.aspx

From the destruction deadline of October 31^st until the end date for destruction requirements (new cotton crop emergence), all cotton plants in  Pest Management Zone 3 shall be non-hostable. 

Corrie Bowen, MS

County Extension Agent - Agriculture

Wharton County

315 E. Milam, Suite 112

Wharton, Texas 77488

(979) 532-3310