Planting season is almost over for cotton farmers, and crop conditions aren’t great
Texas cotton farmers will soon put this year’s planting season to an end, though current crop conditions already reflect an intimidating harvesting season this fall.
While the majority of the crop is in ground – about 96% of the state’s cotton – only about 60% of it is in “fair” or better condition, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service department.
During the same period in 2021, about 93% of the state’s crop was in “fair” or better condition, with 7% labeled “excellent.” Currently, only 1% of the state’s crop is in “excellent” condition.
Crop conditions – which represent yield potential – can improve with the support of rainfall, but long-term forecasts show it is unlikely, said Shawn Wade, the director of policy and analysis for Plains Cotton Growers.
“The situation is pretty complicated. Last year, we were blessed with pretty timely rainfall,” Wade said. “This year’s situation, going into 2022, was significantly drier, and we really haven’t received the rainfall that we would’ve needed to get cotton off to a good start. There are really only a couple areas that aren’t in pretty significant drought conditions."
Although the Panhandle-South Plains region has seen rainfall in May and June, the extremely dry start to the year, still has much of the region well below the year-to-date average, according to data from the National Weather Service. As of Thursday, the U.S. Drought Monitor map for Texas shows most of the region to be under moderate or worse drought conditions.
Wade projects that the High Plains and Panhandle will yield a crop slightly less than last year’s, which totaled about 3.9 million acres and landed above the 10-year production average.
NASS public affairs officer Jim Barrett said new data becomes available each week, as “reporters” provide updates on progress and crop predictions in their areas.
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: About 96% of Texas' cotton is planted, but conditions aren't great
