Given the deluge of rain the Panhandle experienced in May, some cotton acres will shift to other crops.
Severe flooding in Hereford, Deaf Smith County, Texas, over Memorial Day weekend.
“We probably had about 70% of our booked cottonseed planted,” said Steven Birkenfeld, gin manager for Top of Texas Gin in Deaf Smith County. “But 70% of that will be failed out.”
Leland Gabel, producer in Carson County, struggled to meet the May 31st planting deadline due to the excess moisture.
“I will never complain about the rain and I hope no one else does, either,” he added. “ We needed this moisture bad and at least it gives us options to still grow a crop, even if it’s not cotton.”
Quentin Shieldknight, producer in Hansford County, filed for Prevent Plant insurance on all of his irrigated acres; lost 600 dryland acres to hail and flooding; and is struggling with root rot hitting some varieties he did get planted.
Hansford County received 10 to 12 inches of rain in May, according to Shieldknight. He plans to plant cover crops at the end of June on his prevent plant acres. Many producers in the area are planting milo and corn, he said.