Although variability in the crop is becoming more evident producers remain upbeat and optimistic about the crop throughout the Plains Cotton Growers, Inc. service area. The crop continues to progress well with open bolls peeking through in many fields as producers closely monitor dryland acres for moisture stress and weigh the timing of final irrigation activity.
Currently, there has been no significant outbreaks of insects in the area, however, Dr. Suhas Vyavhare, extension entomologist with the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service in Lubbock, says producers should continue to be watchful of Stink Bugs and Lygus especially on late planted cotton that may still have vulnerable young bolls.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency released the September certified acreage reporting data which only added 27,857 Upland cotton acres nationwide. Texas Upland cotton plantings increased by only 7,275 acres going from 6.228 million acres in August to 6.235 million acres in September.
Statewide, Texas Upland cotton acres reported as failed also increased slightly moving from 393,816 in August to 456,106 acres in September. Analyzing that change shows that 59,375 of the 62,290 additional acres reported as failed were attributable to counties in the PCG service area, raising the projected abandonment rate on the High Plains to 10.75 percent.
With the demand for cotton remaining healthy and the potential for a substantial crop this season the cotton market continues to react favorably with prices at press time trading at 93.50 cents on the December 2021 futures contract.