Cotton Farming

Mike Gibson
Judd Hill Farm
Trumann, Ark.

Cotton is always a surprising crop. From what I’ve seen on our research farm, it looks like we’ll have a better crop this year compared to last year. It didn’t start out that way in the spring, but we’ve received the heat units and rain to finish out the crop. I think we’ll exceed our yields from last year, and my estimate is that we’ll probably average 1,200 pounds per acre. We’re definitely looking forward to harvesting this crop, because it shows a lot of potential.

Earl Vories
USDA-ARS
Portageville, Mo.

We think we’ve got a good crop in the Missouri Bootheel with a lot of potential. Everybody has been watching the hurricane situation this fall and how it might affect our area. All it takes is an untimely weather event to occur right before harvest, and it could really damage the cotton. This is the time of year that makes everybody nervous. We’re focused on taking care of this crop and getting it to the gin.

Steve Newsom
Producer
Levelland, Texas

Earlier in the season we lost about one-third of our cotton because of hailstorms and bad weather. The remaining two-thirds turned the corner during the first week in July, and the fruit set was excellent. We lacked earliness with this crop, but if we can have good fall weather, we’ve got an excellent chance. I am cautiously optimistic that we can produce some quality cotton. We don’t have hurricanes out here, but we do have our sand storms. We just need to finish strong and give ourselves a chance to harvest in good conditions this month. Some folks were crying in June, but we’re pretty excited now.

Joel Faircloth
Dow AgroSciences
Collierville, Tenn.

It’s been a mixed bag in the upper Mississippi Delta where I’m located. But I think I pretty much say that every year because you’re always facing variable conditions in a cotton crop, depending on the location. We definitely got off to a late start here, so we were already behind. It’s turning into a late crop for us, and we actually benefited from the rainfall we received from Hurricane Gustav. All in all, I think we have a chance for a good crop, depending on how we survive weather events that potentially could affect us as we move into harvest season.

Don Shurley
Extension Economist
Tifton, Ga.

The crop in Georgia looks pretty good except for those areas that were affected by the heavy rains from Hurricane Fay. That cotton was damaged, but the rest of it looks to be in good shape. From an economic standpoint, our farmers are still trying to make the best decision with regard to the future, but cotton prices aren’t that attractive right now, and input costs have doubled and tripled. These are challenging times for Georgia cotton farmers, but we’re still hanging in there and doing the best we can.

- INDUSTRY COMMENTS - How would you evaluate the condition of the cotton crop in your region?

Mike Gibson Judd Hill Farm Trumann, Ark. Cotton is always a surprising crop. From what I’ve seen on our research farm, it looks like we’ll have a better crop this year compared to last year. It didn’t start out that way in the spring, but we’ve received the heat units and rain to finish out the crop. I think we’ll exceed our yields from last year, and my estimate is that we’ll probably average 1,200 pounds per acre. We’re definitely looking forward to harvesting this crop, because it shows a lot of potential. Earl Vories USDA-ARS Portageville, Mo. We think we’ve got a good crop in the Missouri Bootheel with a lot of potential. Everybody has been watching the hurricane situation this fall and how it might affect our area. All it takes is an untimely weather event to occur right before harvest, and it could really damage the cotton. This is the time of year that makes everybody nervous. We’re focused on taking care of this crop and getting it to the gin. Steve Newsom Producer Levelland, Texas Earlier in the season we lost about one-third of our cotton because of hailstorms and bad weather. The remaining two-thirds turned the corner during the first week in July, and the fruit set was excellent. We lacked earliness with this crop, but if we can have good fall weather, we’ve got an excellent chance. I am cautiously optimistic that we can produce some quality cotton. We don’t have hurricanes out here, but we do have our sand storms. We just need to finish strong and give ourselves a chance to harvest in good conditions this month. Some folks were crying in June, but we’re pretty excited now. Joel Faircloth Dow AgroSciences Collierville, Tenn. It’s been a mixed bag in the upper Mississippi Delta where I’m located. But I think I pretty much say that every year because you’re always facing variable conditions in a cotton crop, depending on the location. We definitely got off to a late start here, so we were already behind. It’s turning into a late crop for us, and we actually benefited from the rainfall we received from Hurricane Gustav. All in all, I think we have a chance for a good crop, depending on how we survive weather events that potentially could affect us as we move into harvest season. Don Shurley Extension Economist Tifton, Ga. The crop in Georgia looks pretty good except for those areas that were affected by the heavy rains from Hurricane Fay. That cotton was damaged, but the rest of it looks to be in good shape. From an economic standpoint, our farmers are still trying to make the best decision with regard to the future, but cotton prices aren’t that attractive right now, and input costs have doubled and tripled. These are challenging times for Georgia cotton farmers, but we’re still hanging in there and doing the best we can.

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