JACKSON, Tenn. (RFD News) — Tennessee is preparing to harvest a small but high-yielding cotton crop following favorable growing conditions this summer.
Researchers with the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture are also studying an unusual growth pattern known as “crazy cotton,” which causes branches to grow sideways and can reduce yield.
Cotton specialist Tyson Raper said the condition can interfere with normal plant development.
“Anybody who’s walked through woods and who’s ever seen a tree that forks, that’s really loss of apical dominance. That is not normal for a cotton plant.”
Early research suggests a foliar nematode could be connected to the condition, but Raper said more work is needed.
“We think we might be on to something with the foliar nematode. We don’t know and causation and correlation are two different things. But we think there’s potential for that to be the causal agent in this issue.”
Tennessee is expected to harvest about 175,000 acres of cotton in 2026. UTIA experts are also monitoring several pests and encouraging farmers who see crop damage to collect samples and contact their local Extension agent.
The National Cotton Council has provided funding for additional research into the issues affecting the crop.
