When you thumb through this issue of Cotton Farming, you will notice a definite Texas theme in the stories – and there is a reason for that. Our staff is preparing to travel to Lubbock next month for the...
We have known for a long time that young cotton farmers are different from their fathers in many respects. Maybe that’s a generational fact of life on the farm, but there is no denying that we are witnessing a...
It is no secret that U.S. cotton is competing in a global market today that is difficult to understand. In fact, it is downright confounding that so many factors can affect how and when a farmer’s cotton reaches the...
Is it possible that this 2014 crop season is now in the record books, and farmers already are making plans for 2015? It’s hard to believe. I know we find ourselves repeating this thought every December, but the time...
Many years ago, the process of choosing a new cotton seed variety was so much simpler – or at least it seemed that way. Obviously, the technology wasn’t nearly as advanced in those days. A producer pretty much had...
After a long journey that began six months ago, we now come to the main goal of every cotton farmer in this country. Somehow, the crop must be harvested and delivered to the gin on time – even if the weather doesn't always cooperate. That is what confronts producers today from California to the Carolinas
Through the years, I have found that it's easier to go to an expert when you want to learn more about any segment of the U.S. cotton industry. Believe it or not, there is always somebody around to answer...
This crop season appears to be moving along way too quickly. It seems like it was just yesterday that we were talking about how this year's cotton might be delayed by rain events in the Mid- South. And simultaneously...
Every summer Cotton Farming takes a closer look at a topic that never seems to go out of date. It's as relevant today as it was 10, 20 or 30 years ago. The circumstances have changed, but the message...
I heard somebody recently say that it was a bit discouraging to see all of this cool, wet weather in May. And, I had to agree with that assessment. When a farmer is trying to plant cotton on time...
There was a time a few years ago when I could drive south on US 61 from Memphis, and all I could see were cotton fields on either side of the highway. When you thought of the Mississippi Delta, this is the picture that always came to mind. The crop and region were intertwined in history, and it didn’t seem possible for the landscape to ever change.
Our northern friends will claim that southerners moan and groan way too much during the winter months. We simply don’t know what cold weather is all about, or so the critics say. When the weather forecasts call for two inches of snow, we panic and clean out the grocery stores. Our critics may be right about that.
Remember back in December when I was talking about some remarkable cotton crops produced last year in the Mid-South, Southeast and Southwest – even though weather conditions were less than ideal in those regions? Well, we stumbled onto one of those success stories in an area north of Lubbock, Texas, near Hale Center.
Are we ready to look back on 2013 and remember the events and people that made it such an unforgettable year? Some of you may already be groaning because it sounds like I’m about to travel down the nostalgia highway again. Bear with me. We’ll try not to go overboard here.
By Tommy Horton
Editor
It might seem a bit early to start thinking about what cotton varieties to plant in 2014 – especially since many producers haven't finished harvesting this year's crop. However, by the time this issue of Cotton Farming...
