Which parts of Texas are good for growing cotton? (Houston: co-op, how much)

[toeyoe1]

I'm planning to buy ~400 acres and set up a cotton farm. I grew up in Pennsylvania where my parents farm was one of the few cotton ones around. Texas is supposed to have one of the higher densities of cotton though. Which areas are best for that sort of thing?

Of the cotton-growing regions of the USA, Texas is the only one I have family in and have spent time in (quite a few trips to the state). My sister lives in Houston. Don't try and sell me on a different state.

I'd prefer to be within 2.5 hours of one of the big cities (Houston, Dallas, Austin, El Paso, etc) so I can make it there and back for a day trip.
Climate-wise anywhere that doesn't flood excessively or get little rain is fine with me.

My budget is $1.3 million for 400-500 acres. I'm not sure how much that will get me in Texas. I'm 26 moving out with lots of money saved up from working back home. I'll be moving in with my wife who will work with me. No kids.

Any help is appreciated! I hope I find my home. People look at you funny in Pennsylvania when you say you grow cotton :P

[elnina]

You probably should read this:
https://cottonbugs.tamu.edu/cotton-p...ions-of-texas/
To invest that kind of money you might need an expert opinion.
https://www.cottongrower.com/cotton-...on-specialist/

Additional reading:
https://www.agrifarming.in/cotton-cu...ng-cost-profit
https://farmflavor.com/texas/texas-c...-texas-staple/
https://texasfarmbureau.org/annual-c...light-decline/
https://www.ers.usda.gov/topics/crop...r-at-a-glance/

[RSTX]

Traditionally, the land around San Angelo, Lubbock, Amarillo, etc, are cotton areas. Flat, decent soil, arid. You might find some land west of DFW that would put you within 2.5 hours drive.

[Ghost Town]

Land within 30 min southwest of Houston, I see mostly cotton fields there. Needville area for example. Go further southwest on Hwy 59 and land gets cheaper.

[SugLandDAd]

The George Ranch, a 22,000 acre ranch near Sugar Land grows cotton in many of its fields.


There is a cotton gin in Damon, in Brazoria County, Texas that is very active.

[ChristieP]

Yes, the area around San Angelo has lots of cotton farms. Specifically, near the small towns of Wall and Ballinger. Both of those have huge co-op gins that process cotton.

Lubbock also has lots of farms of all sorts, including cotton, in the surrounding areas.

Here's a listing of all the cotton gins in Texas: https://www.depts.ttu.edu/aaec/icac/...ition_2007.pdf

[HookTheBrotherUp]

Growing up in El Paso, I can remember as a kid a sea of cotton in the Lower Valley of El Paso. The fields were irrigated by the Rio Grand. Cotton, however probably does better in sub tropical areas. El Paso is far from tropical, it is a desert, however, I think that because the nights get very cool, it was better for the plants.

[LocalPlanner]

The area of West Texas centered on Lubbock has I believe been Texas' major center of cotton farming for decades. However, the existential threat there posed by drawing down the aquifers used for irrigation, and frequent drought, should not be underestimated. You might do well to look in areas that historically get more rainfall and have water sources that are more stable over the long term.