Is cotton still big in the Panhandle? (Lubbock, Lufkin: 2013, home)

[Mouldy Old Schmo]

Is cotton still an important crop in the Panhandle, or is it in decline?

[High_Plains_Retired]

Not so in the Texas Panhandle but on the South Plains the production of upland cotton is still huge. The U.S. produces most of the world's cotton and Texas produces more lint than any other state.

I once worked with certain aspects of High Plains cotton production but, whether or not it is on the decline, I've lost track of such information anymore. I do know of two factors that are, or will be soon, affecting cotton production. These are the declining supplies of ground water and the presence of the boll weevil.

Declining water supplies will definitely affect farming as new laws are already being passed to conserve what remains of the groundwater aquifers. Additionally, the boll weevil is now commonly found on the High Plains where it was not just a few years ago because of the harsh winters the Plains enjoyed in most years. Remember, it was the boll weevil that caused many of the cotton farmers in eastern Texas to come out to the High Plains. Out here they could raise cotton without having the expensive inputs of fighting the boll weevil.

My guess is that the lack of water and the presence of weevils are both likely to result in obvious changes to the High Plains cotton industry in just the few short years that remain in my life.

[Mouldy Old Schmo]

I lived in Palestine for several months in 1998 and I remember seeing cotton planted in the Brazos River valley west of Hearne in 1998 when I took a day trip there. It was as flat as the Mississippi Delta over there. Only oil wells kept it from being a clone!

[High_Plains_Retired]

I grew up on a farm near Lufkin in the 1960s but we never grew cotton. I do however recall an uncle there growing a small field of cotton in the early 1960s. I've always found that cotton production, at least in small production circles, was closely tied to family traditions, i.e., "My grandpaw raised cotton, my dad raised cotton, so By George, I will raise cotton."

My old dad once told me, if I did anything in life, to never, never, never hoe cotton. I came closer to that in my job than I would ever like to admit.

A large portion of South Plains cotton, if not most of it, is exported. With all our rain this summer, I'm guessing this year will be a good year for cotton production numbers. However, I just don't keep up anymore.

[losttechnician]

The boll weevil is considered "functionally eradicated" in the South Plains around Lubbock. In 2013, the only boll weevil captures were in the Lower Rio Grande Valley.
The boll weevil program was in high gear for a decade or so on the South Plains, but is in maintenance mode now I think, due to the successes the program has had.

TBWEF - Home Page

[High_Plains_Retired]

Originally Posted by losttechnician

The boll weevil is considered "functionally eradicated" in the South Plains around Lubbock. In 2013, the only boll weevil captures were in the Lower Rio Grande Valley.
The boll weevil program was in high gear for a decade or so on the South Plains, but is in maintenance mode now I think, due to the successes the program has had.

TBWEF - Home Page

I had not heard that. It's good to hear.

[Mouldy Old Schmo]

Have they started harvesting?

[losttechnician]

Not yet, however dry land south of Lubbock will be starting up soon. Have some family connections at a gin in that area, and they are gearing up

[Mouldy Old Schmo]

Originally Posted by losttechnician

Not yet, however dry land south of Lubbock will be starting up soon. Have some family connections at a gin in that area, and they are gearing up

Do they still use cotton strippers for harvesting?

[High_Plains_Retired]

Originally Posted by Mouldy Old Schmo

Do they still use cotton strippers for harvesting?

If I may answer; for the most part, yes. The storm-proof cotton that's grown on the South Plains requires stripper technology. Much of the cleaning of the lint still occurs at the gins.

About the only thing of significance that has changed in the past fifty years in South Plains cotton production is the use of modules instead of trailers.