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Texas High Plains Planting Conditions – Week of May 19

By Ken Legé, Texas A&M AgriLife Cotton Extension Specialist for the Lubbock Center

Planting began a week ago today for most across West Texas and quite a bit of progress was made. This certainly was the case for our RACE trials:  nine trials in six days! This week will be no different and conditions are generally favorable for planting in terms of temperature — and perhaps some moisture later in the week.

The southern high plains area will experience a somewhat cool overnight low tonight, then resume a warming trend. Soil moisture is generally better north of Lubbock and less so south of Lubbock. Soil temperatures at 8” are very warm:  upper 60s to 70s. So even if the overnight low dips down in the upper 40s, the seed will not be experiencing damaging low temperatures for very long. That warm soil below will quickly help the soil temperatures in the seed zone recover quickly.

The panhandle area will experience perhaps two nights with lows in the upper 40s. The 8” soil temperatures are solidly in the 60s, with few exceptions. Monitor your soil temperatures closely to help guide your planting decisions. Soil moisture is generally favorable. Since your final planting date is approaching (May 31), I suspect most will continue planting Monday and Tuesday. The warming trend on Wednesday will make the planting decision much easier.

Be aware of windy days in the forecast, as surface soil moisture can disappear quickly. I hope the forecast is correct regarding the chances of rain later this week.

Be safe while moving equipment.

To download the PDF version of this chart, click the image above.

 

To download the PDF version of this chart, click the image above.

May 16, 2025

Welcome to the May 16, 2025 issue of Cotton News, a service provided by Plains Cotton Growers Inc. for the cotton industry in the Texas High Plains and beyond.

House Ag Committee Approves its Reconciliation Package May 14

The reconciliation package includes broader farm and conservation provisions, as well as new investments in farm policy and conservation programs:

  • Reference prices for all covered commodities beginning with 2025 crops would rise by 10–20%, increasing potential farm payments. Corn goes from $3.70 to $4.10 a bu., soybeans from $8.40 to $10.00 per bu. and wheat from $5.50 to $6.35 per bu. Other crops: Sorghum, $4.40. per bu., barley, $5.45 per bu., oats, $2.65, per bu. rice, $16.90 a cwt and 42 cents a pound for seed cotton. Beginning with the 2031 crop year, the reference price will automatically increase by 0.5% each year. However, it cannot be higher than 15% of the original reference price which would take about 20 plus years to hit that mark based on this small adjustment.
  • Base acres will increase by 30 million acres. It appears this will be automatically done by FSA and producers can opt-out.
  • ARC is bumped up to 90% guarantee from the current 86% level. The maximum payment amount will now be 12.5% of benchmark revenue, up from the current 10% cap. Both provisions begin with the 2025 crop year.
  • The equitable treatment of certain entities is made effective. This treats LLCs, S corporations and similar entities like a general partnership and eliminates the one payment limit for these entities. This was proposed last year, and the language appears similar.
  • The payment limit for PLC and ARC is bumped from $125,000 to $155,000 and will be indexed to inflation starting with the 2025 crop.
  • Equipment gains, agritourism and direct-to-consumer marketing of agricultural products will now be considered farm income. This is very beneficial for farmers who need to meet the more than 75% farm AGI additional payment limits. Certain programs will be exempt from AGI limits assuming the farmer has more than 75% of their AGI is from farming.
  • Loan rates have been bumped 10% for most commodities like last year’s proposal. Marketing loan rates would be increased to $3.72 a bu. for wheat, $2.42 a bu. for corn and sorghum, $2.75 a bu. for barley, $2.20 a bu. for oats, 55 cents a pound for cotton, $7.70 per cwt for rice and $6.82 a bu. for soybeans.
  • Beginning farmers and ranchers will get additional premium assistance for crop insurance for up to ten years like last year’s provisions.
  • SCO is bumped up to 90% and the cost share is increased from 65% to 80%.
  • All levels of crop insurance premium assistance are bumped 5% except for the 80 and 85% levels are only bumped 3%. For example, 38% of the premium at the 85% level was subsidized by the government. This will bump up to 41% under the reconciliation proposal.
  • Three major conservation programs would see increased funding through FY 2031:
    • Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP): $625 million in FY26, rising to $700 million in FY 2031
    • Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP): $2.7 billion in FY 2026, rising to $3.3 billion in FY 2031
    • Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP): $1.3 billion in FY 2026, rising to $1.4 billion in FY 2031
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Cottonsie Launches Disposable Diaper

Brand Replaced Plastic with 100% Cotton in Key Diaper Layers

Cottonsie launched a new diapering solution for parents who prioritize sustainability and natural ingredients in their baby care products. With its revolutionary, patent-pending technology, Cottonsie has delivered a plant-based diaper that is comparable to reusable cloth diapers in terms of natural fibers and breathability, but with the convenience and performance of disposable diapers.
Cottonsie has replaced plastic with 100% breathable cotton in key diaper layers,  including the topsheet, backsheet, acquisition distribution layer and core wrap. Cotton is a natural, breathable fiber that supports a drier, healthier microclimate that can minimize the incidence of diaper rash. While the diaper incudes synthetic materials to optimize performance, the majority of the diaper is plant-based — and 82% of it biodegrades within just 18 months — setting a new benchmark for sustainability in disposable diapering.
While reusable cloth diapers have long been seen as the greener choice, they are inconvenient, labor-intensive and often lead to increased skin irritation from moisture retention. Cottonsie solves these issues with a cutting-edge design that wicks moisture away from the diaper’s cotton topsheet into the absorbent core, delivering dryness comparable to leading national brands made from plastic and other harmful ingredients. Parents who love the sustainability of cloth diapers — but want the convenience of a disposable diaper — finally have an option that offers both.
Unlike conventional diapers made mostly of plastic, Cottonsie uses 100% natural cotton in nearly every area that touches a baby’s skin. “Plastic diapers are clogging our landfills and leaching toxins into the environment,” says Nicole Richards, founder and CEO of Cottonsie. “We created Cottonsie to give parents a real alternative: a high-performance, comfortable diaper made mostly from natural biodegradable materials and priced accessibly for everyday use.
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USDA Expediting $10 Billion in Direct Economic Assistance to Agricultural Producers

ECAP Signup Opens: March 19, 2025

ECAP Application Submission Deadline: August 15, 2025

 

WASHINGTON, March 18, 2025 – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins, on National Agriculture Day, announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is issuing up to $10 billion directly to agricultural producers through the Emergency Commodity Assistance Program (ECAP) for the 2024 crop year. Administered by USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA), ECAP will help agricultural producers mitigate the impacts of increased input costs and falling commodity prices.

“Producers are facing higher costs and market uncertainty, and the Trump Administration is ensuring they get the support they need without delay,” said Secretary Rollins. “With clear direction from Congress, USDA has prioritized streamlining the process and accelerating these payments ahead of schedule, ensuring farmers have the resources necessary to manage rising expenses and secure financing for next season.”

Authorized by the American Relief Act, 2025, these economic relief payments are based on planted and prevented planted crop acres for eligible commodities for the 2024 crop year. To streamline and simplify the delivery of ECAP, FSA will begin sending pre-filled applications to producers who submitted acreage reports to FSA for 2024 eligible ECAP commodities soon after the signup period opens on March 19, 2025. Producers do not have to wait for their pre-filled ECAP application to apply. They can visit fsa.usda.gov/ecap to apply using a login.gov account or contact their local FSA office to request an application once the signup period opens.

Eligible Commodities and Payment Rates

Producer Eligibility

Eligible producers must report 2024 crop year planted and prevented planted acres to FSA on an FSA-578, Report of Acreage form. Producers who have not previously reported 2024 crop year acreage or filed a notice of loss for prevented planted crops must submit an acreage report by the Aug. 15, 2025, deadline. Eligible producers can visit fsa.usda.gov/ecap for eligibility and payment details.

Applying for ECAP

Producers must submit ECAP applications to their local FSA county office by Aug. 15, 2025. Only one application is required for all ECAP eligible commodities nationwide. ECAP applications can be submitted to FSA in-person, electronically using Box and One-Span, by fax or by applying online at fsa.usda.gov/ecap utilizing a secure login.gov account.

If not already on file for the 2024 crop year, producers must have the following forms on file with FSA:

Form AD-2047, Customer Data Worksheet.
Form CCC-901, Member Information for Legal Entities (if applicable).
Form CCC-902, Farm Operating Plan for an individual or legal entity.
Form CCC 943, 75 percent of Average Gross Income from Farming, Ranching, or Forestry Certification (if applicable).
AD-1026, Highly Erodible Land Conservation (HELC) and Wetland Conservation (WC) Certification.
SF-3881, Direct Deposit.

Except for the new CCC-943, most producers, especially those who have previously participated in FSA programs, likely have these forms on file. However, those who are uncertain and want to confirm the status of their forms or need to submit the new Form-943, can contact their local FSA county office.

If a producer does not receive a pre-filled ECAP application, and they planted or were prevented from planting ECAP eligible commodities in 2024, they should contact their local FSA office.

ECAP Payments and Calculator

ECAP payments will be issued as applications are approved. Initial ECAP payments will be factored by 85% to ensure that total program payments do not exceed available funding. If additional funds remain, FSA may issue a second payment.

ECAP assistance will be calculated using a flat payment rate for the eligible commodity multiplied by the eligible reported acres. Payments are based on acreage and not production. For acres reported as prevented plant, ECAP assistance will be calculated at 50%.

For ECAP payment estimates, producers are encouraged to visit fsa.usda.gov/ecap to use the ECAP online calculator.

If you have any questions, you may call our office at 806-792-4904.

January 31, 2025

Welcome to the January 31, 2025 issue of Cotton News, a service provided by Plains Cotton Growers Inc. for the cotton industry in the Texas High Plains and beyond.

Get to Know Ag’s Champions in Congress, Part 3

Sen. John Hoeven (R-ND) – Chair of the Senate Ag Appropriations Subcommittee

Editor’s Note: We are introducing a short series of articles in the next few issues of Cotton News detailing the Representatives and Senators serving on the House Agriculture Committee, the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, and the House Ag Appropriations and Senate Ag Appropriations Subcommittees.

This issue will feature the Chair and Ranking Member of the Senate Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, and Food and Drug Administration Appropriations. This subcommittee will be referred to as “Senate Ag Appropriations” through the rest of the article.

This subcommittee is tasked with writing legislation that allocates federal funds to government agencies, departments and organizations for the agriculture industry.

Part 3: Senate Ag Appropriations

Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) – Ranking Member of the Senate Ag Appropriations Subcommittee

Sen. John Hoeven (R-ND), Senate Ag Appropriations Chair

  • Elected to the U.S. Senate in 2011
  • Served 10 years as North Dakota Governor
  • Member of the House Ag Committee and played a crucial role in crafting and passing the 2014 Farm Bill
  • Vice President of First Western Bank from 1986-2000
  • President and CEO of the Bank of North Dakota from 1993-2000

Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Senate Ag Appropriations Ranking Member

  • Elected to the U.S. Senate in 2009
  • Former governor of New Hampshire
  • Served in the New Hampshire Senate
  • One of 12 Senate Democrats to vote for the Laken Riley Act
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Texas State Support Projects Win Big at 2025 Beltwide Cotton Conferences

Megan Mills Singletary and Matthew Cole Woodard

We’re excited to announce that the following students took home banners at the 2025 Beltwide Cotton Conferences for their projects, which are partially funded by Cotton Incorporated’s State Support Program (Texas State Support).

Megan Mills Singletary — “Strategies for Controlling Dicamba-Resistant Palmer Amaranth in Texas and Tennessee”

First Place — Ph.D. oral presentation competition, Weed Science Conference

Project Funded by USDA NIFA and the Texas State Support Committee

Matthew Cole Woolard — “Does adjuvant selection impact AxantTM Flex cotton response when tank-mixed with topramezone and Liberty ULTRA?”

First Place — Ph.D. poster presentation competition, Weed Science Conference

Funded by BASF Corporation and the Texas State Support Committee

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2024 Cotton Quality Report

Lamesa’s average daily number of cotton samples received this week is 624. The office is currently 99% complete in the classing of their season estimate of samples.

Lubbock’s average daily number of cotton samples received this week is 5,060. The office is 99% complete in the classing of their season estimate of samples.

Lamesa Report

Lubbock Report

Reminder for Gins:

If gins are submitting samples for the Four Bale Module Averaging pilot program, the submitted modules must be designated with a R and they must be in multiples of 4. (4, 8, 12, 16 up to 48).

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What You Need to Know About Economic Assistance and Disaster Assistance

Economic Assistance Overview
  • $10 billion in total funding for all eligible commodities
  • 90-day period for USDA implementation
  • Eligibility based on 2024 FSA-certified planted acres and 50% prevent-plant acres
  • Skip-row acreage granted parity with solid plant acreage for this program

What you should know: Assuming Brooke Rollins is confirmed by the Senate as the new Secretary of Agriculture (confirmation hearing scheduled for 10 a.m. ET on January 23, 2025), then the economic assistance will be processed quickly. The 90 days is a deadline the deadline for payments to be completed (March 21, 2025); however, payments will likely be issued before this.

Disaster Assistance Overview:
  • $20.78 billion in total funding for all eligible commodities
  • Applicable to the 2023 and 2024 crop years for qualifying disaster losses

What you should know: We do not yet know how the disaster assistance will be issued or how the payment methodology will be implemented. The development of this program will not begin until we have a confirmed Secretary of Agriculture and could take some time to formulate. We do not have any payment rates or calculations at this time.

Variety Trial Results: Crosby and Lubbock County

By Ken Legé, Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center Cotton Specialist

We are about 70% harvested with our southern high plains RACE trials, and hopefully will have the remainder in the barn once the much-needed rain moves out.

I have attached all the results to date. An official, final publication will be published after the first of the year, but I want to get these results out in time to be used for variety selection decisions.

We greatly appreciate the support of our grower/cooperators, the seed companies who have invested in these trials, and the monetary support from the Texas State Support Committee of the Cotton Board, and Plains Cotton Growers/Plains Cotton Improvement Program.

Crosby County RACE Trial

Lubbock County RACE Trial

EPA Registers New Herbicide Active Ingredient Glufosinate-P

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is registering the new active ingredient glufosinate-P that controls weeds in conventional and glufosinate-resistant field corn, sweet corn, soybean, cotton, and canola. In addition to its final registration decision, EPA is also releasing its final biological evaluation for the active ingredient under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). This action is consistent with EPA’s obligations under the ESA and furthers the goals outlined in EPA’s April 2022 ESA Workplan.

The registration also contains mitigation measures to reduce exposure to non-target species and minimize impacts to federally endangered and threatened (listed) species and their designated critical habitats. Glufosinate-P is the first new active ingredient registration where EPA has used its new Herbicide Strategy Framework, released in August 2024, to inform the level of mitigation necessary to reduce exposure to listed species and critical habitat from runoff and erosion. The strategy is part of EPA’s broader plan to efficiently meet its ESA obligations by standardizing mitigation and protecting listed species from herbicides, including conventional herbicides used in agriculture, which allows EPA to meet its ESA obligations for glufosinate-P faster. Based on the Herbicide Strategy mitigation menu, glufosinate-P requires a low level of mitigations to reduce spray drift and other off-field risks.

Background on Glufosinate-P

Glufosinate-P and glufosinate-P ammonium (an isomer of the currently registered herbicide glufosinate and its ammonium salt, respectively) is a broad-spectrum herbicide that directly inhibits photosynthesis and causes excess ammonia build-up, which is generally toxic to plants in high concentrations.

Glufosinate-P has similar benefits and uses to the currently registered glufosinate herbicide products. These benefits include flexible application timing, which allows for postemergence weed control over the top of glufosinate-tolerant crops and for early season use in non-tolerant canola, corn, cotton, and soybean. The proposed glufosinate-P products result in less chemicals entering the environment compared to the currently registered glufosinate because they only require approximately half the application rate to be as effective.

Results of EPA’s Risk Assessments

Before issuing the final registration decision, EPA evaluated the potential hazardous effects and exposures to human health and the environment, as required by the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). No human health risks of concern were identified for the uses of glufosinate-P. However, EPA’s ecological draft risk assessment identified potential risks for terrestrial and aquatic plants and chronic risk to mammals, bees, and other terrestrial invertebrates that may forage in treated fields and may be exposed to residues by consuming food exposed to off-site spray drift.

Mitigations

EPA is requiring the implementation of the following mitigation measures to address on- and off-field effects to non-target species, including listed species:

  • Prohibiting application during rainfall and when soils are saturated or above field capacity;
  • Requiring users to visit EPA’s Mitigation Menu Website before application and determine an appropriate strategy for meeting or exceeding the required number of mitigation points as specified on the label;
  • Maintaining a downwind buffer between the last spray row and the protection area of 50 feet for aerial application and 10 feet for ground application; and,
  • Instructing users to access and follow any applicable endangered species bulletins for the two listed species–the Spring Creek bladderpod plant and the whorled sunflower plant–from “Bulletins Live! Two” web-based system for all additional directions and restrictions.

With these mitigations in place, EPA’s final biological evaluation predicts that the use of glufosinate-P will not result in a likelihood of future jeopardy of any listed species, or a likelihood of adverse modification for any designated critical habitat.

EPA has initiated ESA consultation and shared its findings with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service (collectively referred to as the Services). During formal consultation, the Services use the information in EPA’s final biological evaluation to inform their biological opinions. While EPA has made predictions about the potential likelihood of future jeopardy/adverse modification as part of its biological evaluation, the Services are responsible for making the actual final jeopardy/adverse modification findings and have the sole authority to do so. If the Services determine in their final biological opinions that additional mitigations are necessary to address any jeopardy/adverse modification determination or to address any unintentional harm known as incidental take, then EPA will work with the registrant to ensure that any necessary registration or labeling changes are made.

All the supporting documents related to glufosinate-P are available in EPA-HQ-OPP-2020-0250. Please note that draft labels for BASF products are available in EPA-HQ-OPP-2020-0250 and the draft labels for MCCLS products are available in EPA-HQ-OPP-2020-0533.

October 18, 2024

Welcome to the October 18, 2024 issue of Cotton News, a service provided by Plains Cotton Growers Inc. for the cotton industry in the Texas High Plains and beyond.

The Mere Exposure Effect

Why It’s Important to Familiarize Young People with Cotton Clothing

By Kara Bishop

My grandmother used to make me “coffee” starting at two years old. She’d give me my own little cup and saucer with a tiny bit of coffee and a whole lot of milk. Coffee was a staple in my family’s household. Coffee reminds me of early mornings in Colorado during the summer when I would go to my grandparent’s camper in my pajamas to watch the sunrise. It’s what we drank on Sunday afternoons watching football.

Fast forward years later, and it’s a daily ritual in my home. I drink it regardless of whether I need it. Because it’s familiar. Because it’s nostalgic. Because, as weird as it sounds, it’s part of my identity.

I contribute financially to the coffee industry in large part because of what’s known as the “Mere Exposure Effect.”

The Mere Exposure Effect describes our tendency to develop preferences for things simply because we are familiar with them. And it can be effectively used to ensure that individuals purchase cotton clothing throughout their lifespan. When you dress a child in denim from infancy to teenager, chances are, they’re going to continue to purchase jeans for life.

Therefore, it makes sense to market and promote cotton to younger generations. That’s why Cotton Incorporated has partnered with Aéropostale — a retail chain that outfits high school students.

For the month of October, all 498 U.S. Aéropostale stores will feature cotton front and center. The front window display will model cotton styles with the messaging, “Keep It Real. Choose Comfort. Wear Cotton.”

Window display of the Aéropostale store in the Galleria Dallas Mall.

With this partnership, cotton clothing is in the front of the store pushing synthetic fiber apparel to the back — an effective marketing strategy. The retail store also has a cotton shop on their website to easily order cotton styles online.

This campaign is modeled after “The Fabric of Now,” but tweaked to resonate with a younger audience. The signage in the stores read “Real. Comfortable. Cotton. Because you’ll always remember how your outfit made you feel.” Feelings are very important in purchasing decisions. Much like coffee makes me think of precious memories I have with my family, we want these young people to associate their cotton outfits with an experience that’s significant to them.

The first display you see when you walk into any Aéropostale store in October.

I was impressed with the cotton content I saw in Aéropostale — even clothing with synthetic fiber was blended with cotton fabric for the most part. And it’s affordable, which will always make purchasing decisions for this demographic easier.

If you’re looking for cotton options for your children, this is a slam dunk. Visit the Aéropostale cotton shop here.

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