Western Report

This Stalwart Of The Cotton Ginning Industry Made Significant Contributions During His Long Career. It is with deep sorrow that we announce the passing of Loyd E. Colbert, retired ginning legend from Modern Ginning in Blythe, California. Loyd passed away peacefully on Nov. 3 surrounded by his family. Loyd, an Arkansas native, began his long career and distinguished service to ... Read More »

• By Brent Murphree, Memphis, Tennessee • Throughout the Mid-South, Cotton Incorporated-funded water research is making huge impacts on how cotton farmers manage their irrigated crop. Over the past 30 years, producers have improved irrigation efficiency in cotton 82 percent, according to Field to Market, an alliance of stakeholders that emphasizes sustainable resources across the agricultural supply chain. The Cotton Sustainability ... Read More »

The National Cotton Council issued a news release in which it welcomed the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s announcement that “U.S. cotton is free — after more than 100 years — of the devastating pink bollworm.” Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue, who made the announcement at a ceremony in Washington, DC, says the pink bollworm has cost U.S. producers tens of millions ... Read More »

A reoccurring topic in regional meetings across the Cotton Belt in 2018 has been contamination — in the field, in gins, in bales, and ultimately in textile manufacturing. Unfortunately, this issue doesn’t seem to be fading for the 2018-2019 growing and ginning seasons. Cotton in the United States has long been known for being clean and contamination free, but it ... Read More »

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension agronomists talk about this year’s RACE trials. • By Kay Ledbetter •  Much like producers’ fields across the High Plains, the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service cotton trials are seeing a significant difference in performance this year between dryland and irrigated trials. “While cotton can tolerate hot and dry conditions better than many crops, this year’s drought ... Read More »

California Farmers Discuss Reasons For Switching To Cotton. • By Lisa Lieberman •  As Central Valley producers face ongoing low water allocations and stagnant processing tomato prices, farmers say they are considering allocating fewer acres to tomatoes and devoting more land to Pima cotton. Pima cotton — the primary variety grown in the Central Valley — requires less water, has lower ... Read More »

The Arkansas Natural Resources Commission is offering financial incentives in the form of tax credits to state farmers and landowners who make land improvements that help conserve water. Among the projects that may qualify are building surface water reservoirs, land leveling, converting from groundwater to surface water, and installing certain irrigation water measuring and control devices. Read More »