Pods, profitability, and plant growth regulators Over the past few years, farmers have shown an increased interest in plant growth regulators and many have wondered what implications they have on yield.

Cotton PGR decisions need to start early Never too early to start considering the factors that dictate the use of plant growth regulators in cotton.Past research has shown that there's no interaction between plant growth regulator and nitrogen application strategies on yield and fiber quality. KNOWING THE AGGRESSIVENESS of your cotton variety and environmental conditions during the production season are important in making plant growth regulator application decisions.

Late Planted Cotton and Plant Growth Regulators (PGR’s) We have a lot of cotton out there that was planted late because of replanting poor stands. So we often get the question about how to manage these acres with PGR’s. With late planted cotton the length of time the cotton blooms is the main thing that changes. The later you plant the shorter the window. So anything that is planted late needs to be pushed to retain all the bolls that it tries to set. This principal applies to PGR applications as well as insect management. Keep in mind that dry land acres in dry years like we are experiencing may not need a PGR.

What Is DEET and Is DEET Bad for You? Studies show the insect repellent is safe and effective at preventing insect-borne illness Nobody wants to become a buffet for bloodthirsty mosquitoes or ticks. But is dousing yourself or your kids with a DEET-based bug spray really the best answer? Applying chemicals to skin just seems … well, unhealthy. Let’s check in with dermatologist Amy Kassouf, MD, to find out whether DEET is safe for you and your family.

Is DEET Really Your Best Choice? We Explored Your Options for Insect Repellent. From picaridin to herbal solutions, there's a wide variety of non-DEET repellents on the market. But which work, and which are just snake oil?

Which mosquito repellents are proven to work best? Whether you're staying in your back garden this summer or heading somewhere tropical, you'll be keen to avoid mosquito bites. There's a wide range of repellents claiming to help you do this, and avoid anything from a nasty bite to, for those travelling abroad, dengue fever or even malaria. For BBC Radio 4's Sliced Bread, listeners Nick and Yasmine want host Greg Foot to find out which mosquito repellents actually work. Nick wants to avoid bites when he is out walking, while Yasmine often takes family trips to Zambia, including to areas where malaria is a problem.