North Plains Water News - November 2023

North Plains Water News

November 2023

2023 Production Reports are Available!

The online Production Portal is now available to production report recipients for them to access their annual reports. The new online access gives report recipients the ability to fill out their report(s) online and send it directly to the district. It also allows report recipients the option to download the blank production report(s) to pdf files, fill out and send by email or mail just as they have always done. A computer will be set up in the district office and available for any producer who needs staff assistance accessing their reports whether it be download or fill them out online.

Note: Report recipients must have an updated cell phone number and email address on file with the district before accessing reports. The email address will ensure report recipients receive status updates of the production reports after they submit them.

To access the portal log in to the web browser on a computer or iPad here or through our website the link is located on the front page. Once the user clicks the link they will be prompted to sign in with their phone number the district has on file. then, a text message will be sent with an access code used to log in. This is why having the correct cell phone number on file is so important.

A step by step instructional video is available here. If you need any assistance or have questions the video does not answer for you, do not hesitate to reach out to one of the administration staff at (806) 935-6401 or email your question(s) to [email protected]

For those production report recipients who choose to download a blank report to fill out and send it, email the completed report to [email protected] or mail it to:

North Plains Groundwater Conservation District (NPGCD)

PO Box 795

Dumas TX 79029

Website Survey!

Texas Water Leaders Graduating Class of 2023

Congratulations, Texas Water Leaders Class of 2023! The Texas Water Leaders program through the Texas Water Foundation works to develop and inspire current and future water resource leaders. The program graduated its fourth class on November 9^th at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in Austin, Texas. During the final two days of the class, participants took part in a mock Senate hearing chaired by former state Senator Kip Averitt. Senator Averitt chaired the Senate Committee on Natural Resources. Senator Averitt authored Senate Bill 1 in 1997, creating the regional water planning process. Senate Bill 2 in 2001, Creating the Texas Water Advisory Council (TWCA), and Senate Bill 3 in 2007, establishing environmental flow standards for all the major river basins and bay systems in Texas.

Former Senator Kip Averitt, and NPGCD's Aquifer Science Manager, Odell Ward

Additional speakers included Stephanie Scott of Scott Consulting, her presentation discussed ways individuals can have a more fulfilling work-life balance. Scott also discussed the role of leadership in an organization and provided tips and tactics for coaching, mentoring, and staff development. She encouraged discussions with the class on challenges in their respective roles as leaders and managers and ways to solve them.

To conclude the session, Carole Baker provided her insight into public service and the need to protect the state's natural resources, with water at the forefront of those efforts. Mrs. Baker, a former CEO of the Texas Water Foundation, is the inspiration behind the Texas Water Foundation's leadership programs, the Texas Water Leaders, and the Water Fluency programs.

For more information on the Texas Water Leaders click the button below!

Texas Water Leaders

Registration Form

Cotton Growth and Development in the Texas Panhandle

As water availability continues to be an obstacle in the Texas Panhandle, adjustments toward more drought tolerant crops are essential. Cotton has become a favorable crop because of its capability to be more productive in drought conditions compared to other major field crops in the area. Having a comprehensive understanding of crop growth and development is foundational to effective crop production. Accurately staging growth and development is beneficial for producers to have efficient crop management practices.

Indeterminate vs Determinant:

Cotton is an indeterminate crop meaning the plant grows vegetatively while simultaneously developing reproductive structures. Conversely, determinate crops such as wheat or corn have a defined transition from a vegetative state to a reproductive state. The unique growth habit of cotton is well defined but the transitions between growth stages are not always straightforward. The main axis of the plant will continue to grow as vegetative (monopodia), or reproductive (sympodia) limbs begin to differentiate from the plant. Additionally, fruit development occurs with a leaf population that is consistently aging. After the first flower blooms, vegetative production should decrease as the plant diverts resources to support reproductive structures.

Target Development Curve:

The current industry standard for monitoring cotton growth and development is illustrated by the Target Development Curve (TDC) in the COTMAN Crop Management System developed by the University of Arkansas in the early 1990’s (Figure 1). The TDC illustrates the progression from 1) first flower at 35 Days After Planting (DAP), 2) vertical nodal development at a rate of 2.7 days per node, 3) first flower at 60 DAP at a peak of 9.25 nodes, and 4) the decent to physiological cutout at Nodes Above White Flower (NAWF) = 5. The ascent from first square to first flower is appraised by monitoring main stem nodal development and gives a quantitative measure of vertical nodal development. As the plant begins to flower, nodes above white flower counts (NAWF) can be recorded to monitor first flower to cutout at NAWF 5.

Our Goal:

While the TDC has remained the standard for monitoring cotton progression to maturity, this is representative of a normal non-stressed cotton crop and may not be accurate for cultivars under stress. We face many obstacles in the Texas Panhandle such as being thermally limited and our semi-arid climate. The primary objective of our study is to determine whether cotton maturity patterns differ from the industry standard and if so, define better target values to recalibrate the TDC. Preliminary analyses suggest that we could recommend target values that differ from the industry standard, specifically that we will set squares and flower later than what the TDC suggests, and we hope to investigate a more accurate NAWF cutout value. With these findings we hope to create a unique growth curve with better suited target values for growers in the area.

Emily T. Brorman¹ and Dr. Craig W. Bednarz^1,2

¹West Texas A&M University Department of Agricultural Sciences

²Texas A&M AgriLife

Acknowledgements:

This study is funded by the USDA Ogallala Aquifer Program.