Drought

By Tommy Horton Editor Once a year Cotton Farming devotes an entire issue to water topics that have implications for cotton production across the Belt. And July is certainly an appropriate time for discussion – regardless of where the crop is...

MISSOURI Mike Milam milammr@missouri.edu DROUGHT CONTINUES IN MISSOURI Southeast Missouri is blessed with groundwater resources. Irrigation really helped us duringseveral severe droughts within the past five years. The Drought Monitor had our growing area classified as exceptional drought during much of the growing...

Nobody ever said it was easy being a crop consultant in eastern Arkansas – mainly because the weather has been downright volatile during the last two years. In 2011, cotton producers in the region were dealing with the Mississippi River and its tributaries flooding to record levels.

If something barring an epic flood doesn't happen soon, the Mississippi River could be too low for navigation. Because of the severe drought in 2012, waterborne commerce on the middle Mississippi River is in real danger. For barges to move...

BY TOMMY HORTON EDITOR What are the odds of a young producer in the High Plains of Texas delivering five-bale cotton yields in 2011 and three-bale yelds in 2012? Initially, it seems impossible if you consider drought conditions that have existed...

MISSOURI Mike Milam milammr@missouri.edu The remnants of Hurricane Isaac brought some welcome rainfall to southeast Missouri. While this drops our area out of the worst drought category, we are still listed as extreme. The good news is that we are projected to...

Based on the comments received in the September Cotton Farming Web Poll, many farmers in parts of Texas and Oklahoma are still feeling the effects of the drought on their 2012 cotton crop. In other areas of the Belt, some...

Eric Leach Crop consultant with Ag Aviation Muleshoe, Texas As they say, time does fly when you’re having fun. In 1984, I took an internship job scouting fields for Fred Locker’s business, Ag Aviation, in Muleshoe, Texas. Muleshoe is northwest of Lubbock...

By Tommy Horton Editor A year ago we were talking about how Texas cotton producers were trying to survive a drought that had to be seen to be appreciated. It’s hard to know how difficult this weather event was unless you...

Recognizing that recovery from the drought that affected much of the farm belt will be a lengthy process, Agri-culture Secretary Tom Vilsack has announced the scheduling of four regional meetings that will outline available resources to assist with local,...

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has announced $11.8 million in additional financial and technical assistance to help crop and livestock producers in 22 states apply conservation practices that reduce the impacts of drought and improve soil health and productivity. The U.S....

All of the current crop production discussion as I write this note in August for September publication has been about the loss of the U.S. corn crop due to record-breaking drought and heat in many parts of the Corn...

MISSOURI Mike Milam milammr@missouri.edu According to the Missouri Crop Progress and Condition Report for the week ending Aug. 12, cotton setting bolls and beyond was 81 percent, 10 days behind last year and 12 days behind normal. Cotton opening bolls was nine...

MISSOURI Mike Milam milammr@missouri.edu This has been such an unusual year for Missouri producers. We have set so many record highs, and we have worsening drought conditions. All of our cotton-growing area is classified as extreme drought. Although we have isolated and...

Because of excess rains and flooding to extreme drought conditions, many cotton producers were anxious to put the 2011 season behind them. Before it was completely out of mind though, Cotton Farming asked its readers to compare the progress...