Specialists Speaking
Ken Legé / TEXAS
West Texas growers are somewhat optimistic after having an above-average year in 2025 with good yields and very good fiber quality. That optimism unfortunately wanes because of commodity prices. Regardless, it is time to begin planning details for the 2026 crop, and one of the first items on the list is variety selection.
Yield, maturity, and fiber quality are the top three variety selection criteria. Varieties can differ in seedling vigor, so do your homework with regard to seed size and genetic vigor of any varieties you are considering. Of particular importance in West Texas is water response of varieties; that is, some varieties perform better under dryland and/or lower irrigation capacities, while others perform best when grown in fields that have moderate to high irrigation capacities. While there are some varieties that are truly broadly adapted from dryland to high irrigation capacity fields, that list is rather short.
Recent news concerning the federal labels for over-the-top dicamba formulations for dicamba-tolerant varieties has reduced confusion and concern among growers who desire that technology. If you are confused with all the letters and numbers in variety name suffixes, we have compiled a factsheet explaining the differences at https://legacy.research.agrilife.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/03/Cotton-Trait-Summary-SCSC202404.pdf.
Growers should assess any pathogens or nematodes in their fields and choose varieties with resistance or tolerance to those pests. Most seed companies have varieties that offer resistance to bacterial blight, root-knot nematode, and reniform nematode. Growers in West Texas often experience Verticillium wilt, and there are varieties that offer a range of tolerance levels to that fungal disease.
The final consideration involves the price of seed. In a free market system, you generally get what you pay for, and cotton seed is no exception…in general. Nearly every seed company offers economically priced varieties fit for dryland and light irrigation capacity fields, and choosing a lower priced variety can be, in fact, a legitimate business strategy. However, most economically priced varieties are not the most elite genetics and may not offer the highest yield potential, should 2026 be a good dryland year in West Texas. Even so, that may be the best business decision for your farming operation. This is a great time of year to do your homework on a short list of varieties you are considering before investing thousands of dollars.
Where can you find variety trial data? West Texas is fortunate to have numerous Replicated Agronomic Cotton Evaluation (RACE) trial locations from 2025. Coupled with the results from 2024 (a hot, dry year), results from 2025 (a more mild, wetter year) provide an excellent range of environments from which to evaluate variety performance and fit. See the detailed results from High Plains RACE trials at https://lubbock.tamu.edu/programs/crops/cotton/extension-cotton-agronomy/. Additionally, Dr. Carol Kelly with Texas A&M AgriLife Research has published the 2025 small-plot variety performance trials that will be posted soon to https://lubbock.tamu.edu/. Similarly, Dr. Terry Wheeler with Texas A&M AgriLife Research has published and posted her 2025 root-knot and reniform nematode variety performance data at https://lubbock.tamu.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/12/Root-knot-and-Reniform-Nematode-Variety-Trials-in-2025-in-Southern-High-Plains.pdf. These non-biased, third-party public trials provide variety performance information across a wide range of environments and cultural practices typical for West Texas.
Evaluate these results alongside any seed company, ag retail, or consultant variety trials to have a robust and thorough analysis of varieties you are considering planting for 2026. Best wishes on a successful 2026 season! ∆
Ken Legé / TEXAS