Posted November 21, 2017

 

By Seshadri Ramkumar

 

LUBBOCK, Texas – The High Plains of Texas is gearing up with its cotton harvest.

 

With high humidity levels putting a brake on cotton harvest recently, producers are going into high gear this week to harvest cotton. Given the high expectations in yield, the cotton harvest may continue until Christmas.

 

Stakeholders of the High Plains’ cotton industry gathered recently at Lubbock-based Plains Cotton Growers, Inc. (PCG) to talk about the harvest, yield and quality of the crop.

 

The moisture was on the minds of people, as it delayed the harvest in the region. Producers are sensitive to humidity levels while harvesting because it can impact the quality of cotton during the ginning process said Seth Byrd, extension cotton specialist, TAMU in Lubbock. On average, the harvest in the region has reached the one-third mark.

 

Variability in terms of yield and quality across the region is one to watch for this season.

 

Lubbock County has reached about 40 percent of its harvest mark and progressing north of Lubbock, harvest is around 25 percent, said Mark Brown, director of Field Services at PCG. Variability has been influenced by the late plating date well into June, said Brown.

 

While some producers felt the yield is not turning out to what they expected to start with, the High Plains will have a good crop. The November USDA puts the High Plains region’s production at 5.375 million bales (480 lbs. each). 

 

In regions where there was timely rainfall and best conditions, dryland has been yielding 1.5 to 2 bales per acre and irrigated lands up to 4 bales/acre.

 

Harvest has begun in high gear this week and may continue through well into Christmas.

 

Two of the high cotton-growing regions of the world, the High Plains of Texas and India are expected to have higher crop this season.

 

Dr. Seshadri Ramkumar, Ph.D, FTA (honorary), is a professor at the Nonwovens & Advanced Materials Laboratory at Texas Tech.