Picture this: It’s early in the planting season, and John, a cotton grower in Upper Namoi anxiously watches the weather forecasts. Last year, unexpected cold snaps led to some paddocks needing re-planting, potentially risking reduced yields. This year, he’s determined to get it right. That’s where the FastStart Traffic Light System comes in.

Planting the cotton crop is one of the most critical operations on the farm, setting the standard for the entire season. With the right tools and information, growers like John can make informed decisions to optimise crop establishment. The FastStart Traffic Light System, developed by Cotton Seed Distributors (CSD) and Syngenta, is designed to help growers gauge planting conditions based on current and future soil and weather parameters.

Here’s a comprehensive guide to using this system helping to contribute to a successful planting season. In addition to temperature challenges, it is important to have suitable seed beds and proper planter setup. If these situations are not optimal, they can exaggerate the poor outcomes of cold temperatures on cotton establishment.

The Traffic Light System: Clear and Actionable Guidance

The FastStart Traffic Light System offers clear guidance based on soil and weather conditions, helping growers decide when to plant:

Red Light: STOP! Planting conditions are unsuitable. Do not proceed if the soil temperature at 10 cm depth is below 14°C at 8am (AEST) or if the forecast average temperatures for the week following planting are on a declining trend.

Amber Light: BE CAUTIOUS! If only one of the key conditions is met, you may need to make adjustments. Proceed with caution and consider potential risks.

Green Light: GO! If both key conditions are met—soil temperature at 10 cm depth above 14°C at 8am (AEST) and forecast average temperatures on a rising plane with enough heat—proceed with planting.

These tools provide valuable data that can help growers make informed decisions about planting times, ensuring the best possible outcomes for their crops.

Key Questions Before Planting

Before you start planting, consider these crucial questions to ensure your planter is prepared for the season:

• Is the planter prepared for the coming season?
• Is the planter calibrated to the correct seeding rate?
• Is the planter adjusted for the correct planting depth?
• Have planting speed limits been set?
• Does soil tilth/condition require additional operations like rolling or meshing?

Remember: Planting into cool or poor soil conditions can severely increase the chances of replanting. Avoid running the red light—it may cost you.

Practical Tips: Cotton Planter Setup – Simple Checklist
Ensuring your planter is correctly set up is crucial for a successful planting season. Here’s a simple checklist to follow:

1. Level the Planter:
   • Ensure the toolbar is horizontally/vertically level or slightly downhill.
   • Parallelograms should be horizontal or slightly below toolbar height during planting.
2. Seed Tubes:
   • Replace worn or faulty tubes.
   • Securely fasten and clean monitor sensors.
3. Bushings and Parallel Linkages:
   • Reduce bounce and lateral movement in the planter unit.
4. Press Wheels:
   • Replace redundant ball bearings and rubber tires.
   • Ensure press wheels line up on the planting disc slot and are level across the planter unit.
5. Drive Chains and Cogs:
   • Remove kinks, ensure lubrication, and confirm they are running true.
6. Disc Openers:
   • Ensure even wear and good contact.
   • Align mud scrapers properly.
7. Trash Wipers:
   • Rotate and replace redundant ball bearings.
   • Ensure they are level.
8. Calibrate Seed Rate and Meters:
   • Use the correct seeding plates and baffle settings.
   • Calibrate the seeding rate and monitor performance.
9. Spray Lines:
   • Clean spray lines, nozzles, and filters.
   • Calibrate herbicides, in-furrow insecticides, water, and chemical rates.

Insights from Dr. Michael Bange

Dr. Michael Bange, CSD’s Commercial Research Manager offers a seasoned perspective on using the FastStart program’s tools for crop establishment. Based on years of research and experience, Dr. Bange highlights the importance of understanding soil and atmospheric conditions:

Key Considerations for the Traffic Light System:

Soil Energy/Heat:
Soil temperature at 10 cm depth at 8am must be 14°C or above. Temperatures below this can damage the seed’s physiology.

Soil texture and moisture levels affect temperature stability. Lighter soils experience more significant temperature swings.

Atmospheric Energy:
Forecasted air temperatures should rise or remain stable over the next week to support soil temperature increases.

Detailed analysis of temperature patterns is crucial. Higher initial temperatures must be sustained to avoid unfavourable conditions.

Dynamic Conditions:

• Warm soil temperatures (above 14°C at 8 am) are more critical than forecasts as there is essentially a heat reserve in the soil.
• Cold soil temperatures necessitate careful consideration of forecasted patterns.
• Dr. Bange notes that while the FastStart traffic light system provides a guide, it’s essential to measure soil temperature directly in your fields to ensure accuracy. This practice helps growers achieve the first tick for a green light in the traffic light system.

Additional Tools and Resources

CSD provides several tools to support planting decisions:

Cotton Planting Rate Calculator: Helps estimate the required seeding rate considering various germination and emergence impacts.

Field Ranking Score: Assists in assessing risks associated with different seedbed conditions.

Planter Setup Impacts: Evaluates how planter setup affects seeding rate and establishment.

Additionally, the Day Degree Calculator (DDC) is a crucial tool for monitoring heat units, helping growers understand crop growth and development patterns. The DDC provides a comprehensive overview of day degree accumulation, which is essential for predicting crop development. This tool is complemented by CottonTracka®, a platform offering enhanced visualisations and growth tracking.

The FastStart Cotton Program, a collaboration between CSD and Syngenta, has marked several milestones over the past decade. It has delivered over 50 innovative research projects and developed tools like the Traffic Light Planting Signals and the Soil Temperature Network with more than 30 data collection sites across key planting zones.

Looking Forward

CSD and Syngenta continue to invest in initiatives to enhance cotton establishment. Expanding the FastStart Soil Temperature Network and improving predictive tools that better reflect soil temperatures specifically remain priorities. Growers are encouraged to utilise these resources and provide feedback to their local Extension and Development Agronomist.

By following these guidelines and leveraging the FastStart Traffic Light System, you can help optimise your cotton planting operation and set the stage for a successful growing season. Happy planting!