Specialists Speaking
Ken Legé
TEXAS
While it is typical for the High Plains to have very little to no precipitation during late winter to early spring, the low, stagnant commodity price for cotton accentuates the need to scrutinize every input going into the 2026 season. Among the first of many inputs growers face a decision for is variety (or varieties… if you have more than one field of cotton, you potentially may need more than one variety!).
Since dryland production comprises about 70% of the region’s cotton acres, choosing the right variety for the dryland acre can be one of the most difficult. While considering price is important and a legitimate business strategy, selecting the cheapest variety may or may not be the right choice. From a performance standpoint, our data show that the average difference between the best and worst performer among 10 dryland trials in 2024 and 2025 is 70 lbs. per acre, or $47 per acre. Similarly, among 25 irrigated locations in 2024 and 2025, that average difference is 254 lbs. per acre, or $168 per acre. Growers need to weigh those performance differences with their operations’ goals to match the right variety with the right acre. You can find more variety information at the following: https://lubbock.tamu.edu/programs/crops/cotton/extension-cotton-agronomy/ and https://varietytesting.tamu.edu/cotton/.
Some West Texas growers have adopted planting configurations in hopes of saving input costs by reducing seeding rates, either through row spacings and/or seed spacing. Our data show that wide (1:1 skip, or 80” rows) and/or skip row (2:1 and many other variants) patterns yield the same or higher for up to about 525 lbs. per acre yield environments. Yield environments above 750 lbs. per acre performed better when planted to solid 30” or 40” rows. See more details at https://lubbock.tamu.edu/programs/crops/cotton/extension-cotton-agronomy/.
Seed spacing data are very inconsistent, as similar yields can be achieved with a rather wide range of seed per acre. The “sweet spots” for final plant populations are 25,000 to 45,000 plants per acre for irrigated, and 18,000 to 35,000 plants per acre for dryland. Uniform spacing and uniform plant age are important factors to success when looking at lower seeding rates, as is seed quality. Additionally, do not discount the importance of seed placement. Planter maintenance during this time of year will pay dividends when trying to fight through the inevitable marginal moisture or compacted soil. Seed depth, down pressure, seed furrow formation, and closing mechanisms can all be greatly affected by how well those components are maintained and can dramatically influence emergence. If you are considering wide or skip rows, or are reducing seeding rates down the row, avoid gaps in stand. While cotton is very compensatory and may make up for losses of stand in terms of yield and quality, harvest may be compromised (i.e., it will make for a long day for whoever has to strip that field!).
While I can make a good case for delaying fertilizer applications until there is more certainty that you’ll make a dryland crop in West Texas, sampling those fields for fertility needs is still important, especially if you have had any crop failures since the last time you soil sampled those fields. You may find that your fertility levels are better than you expected, or you may find that they are drastically worse than you thought. Knowing that information helps you to make a better decision and is worth the small investment.
One input that I do not recommend delaying or compromising this time of year is weed control. Even if you ultimately decide not to plant cotton on that dryland acre, weed flushes will still occur after the first spring rain. Choosing not to invest in weed control now may require more investment to get it under control later, regardless of your current cropping plans. The common mantra, “start clean, stay clean” is even more important in semi-arid environments like West Texas, even when cotton price is low and stagnant. ∆
Ken Legé
TEXAS
