Posted June, 9, 2014

 

By Dr. Seshadri Ramkumar

 

LUBBOCK, Texas – The recent rains in the High Plains of Texas are positive for cotton, enabling good acreage for planting.

 

According to Shawn Wade, director of Policy Analysis and Research, Plains Cotton Growers, Inc., here, the region between 1N and 1S of High Plains is expected to plant about 4.1 million acres of cotton. Comparing last year’s acreage of 3.7 million in this region, the rains will help enhancing this number by about 10 percent.

 

Although the first 20 days of May has been bleak in High Plains of Texas in terms of rainfall, recent rains have ranged anywhere from one-hundredth of an inch to 8.5 inches.

 

“We are set up for a good situation for cotton due to recent rain, warm temperature and lack of wind,” said Jason Woodward, a Texas Tech plant pathologist who holds a joint appointment with Texas AgriLife Extension, in a recent meeting at Plains Cotton Growers here.

 

In recent years, the number of irrigated acres has been declining and a majority of cotton grown in High Plains has been on dry land. This necessitates the need for rain and good weather. It is hoped that by June 10, cotton would be completely planted in the High Plains.

 

The High Plains of Texas is the largest cotton growing region in the United States.

 

Dr. Seshadri Ramkumar is professor of Countermeasures to Chemical and Biological Threats, Nonwovens & Advanced Materials at Texas Tech University.