Initially when producers became interested in researching High Plains cotton performance, most of it revolved around quality. The High Plains had garnered a poor reputation for their product when the development of“storm proof bolls” proved counterproductive to quality enhancement.

As technology advanced, improved fiber quality and cotton bolls designed to withstand the High Plains landscape were able to converge, making High Plains cotton a strong competitor in the global marketplace.

Today, fiber quality research is still ongoing; however, the hottest topics are sustainability and water conservation. At the AgriLife Regenerative Ag Field Day held in September, researchers discussed ongoing efforts to grow exceptional product with limited resources.

As our water resource continues to deplete, more and more research is focused on strengthening cotton’s resiliency to heat stress and drought, as well as pest and disease management.

2023 Research Objectives Include

• Interaction of cover crops and irrigation on thrip populations.
• High Plains Replicated Agronomic Cotton Evaluation Trials.
• Northern High Plains Replicated Agronomic Cotton Evaluation Trials.
• Enhancement of post-harvest research on High Plains cotton varieties.
• Textile performance evaluation of selected High Plains cotton varieties.
• Development of improved cotton germplasm for the High Plains production area of Texas.
• Cotton variety resistance to bacterial blight.
• Cotton variety resistance to fusarium wilt disease.