Welcome to the August 9, 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 Good, The Bad and The Ugly
Crop Conditions in the PCG Service Area
By Kara Bishop
While the area received some rain in July, the High Plains of Texas is experiencing continuous 100-degree days (cold front of 90s this week) and most of the crop needs another rain now. Some fields already have plants shedding fruit to deal with the heat stress. No fruit equals no bolls to harvest.
“While some cotton could rejuvenate and start setting new fruit if it received a rain in the next couple of days, we’re running out of time on getting plants going again and putting a fruit load on for harvest,” said Burt Heinrich, producer in Lubbock County. “We’ve seen it happen before, but it usually takes a lot of rain.”
Producers are concerned about boll size in this area. The fruit is not growing like it should while the plant deals with extreme heat and little moisture, even in irrigated cotton.
The fruit that is still hanging on is now susceptible to pests like stink bugs.
“Stink bugs love quarter-size bolls,” said Suhas Vayavhare, extension entomologist for Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center in Lubbock. “They penetrate the boll trying to get to the seed, so there’s extensive damage that can be done. It also allows for pathogens to get inside, which causes the boll rot.”
Vyavhare said one stinkbug per six feet or 20% boll damage is considered the threshold where treatment is needed.
“Protecting from both stinkbugs and boll worms is key right now and we tend to miss the stinkbug activity in August, leading to yield consequences later,” he added.
Based on current conditions, it will likely be a short crop year though better than the last two, according to PCG CEO Kody Bessent.
“I’ve heard when you drive from Midland up to the Northern Panhandle, you will see the southern third of our area’s crop is in poor condition, the central third is hanging on but needs a rain now; and the northern third looks pretty good.”
Regardless of circumstance, the price is not there. The agricultural economy is moving further away from break-even conditions, much less profitability. The health of the ag industry has been on life support the past couple of years, and if Congress doesn’t pass a farmer-friendly Farm Bill along with economic stimulus support this year, then they might as well pull the plug on farm country. The ag economy has direct impact on local, state and national economies and it’s time to get serious about taking care of it. Producers and industry need to call their U.S. Senators and Representatives to let them know the dire situation they are in. Farmers and agriculture need relief now. Call Congress and let them know. It’s time to storm the gates.
Rep. Jodey Arrington: (202) 225-4005
Rep. Ronny Jackson: (202) 225-3706
Rep. August Pfluger: (202) 225-3605
Sen. John Cornyn: (202) 224-2934
Sen. Ted Cruz: (202) 224-5922