Harvest is well underway across the Texas High Plains. Cotton strippers are rolling amid the favorable weather patterns we’ve seen the last couple of weeks. While every year is generally a mixed bag of conditions, experts agree that both yields and quality grades are consistently better than the last three crop years.
“As a region, I would say we’re probably close to 25% harvested,” said Ken Lege, cotton extension specialist for the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center in Lubbock. “The Panhandle is probably closer to 50%.”
Some producers are waiting for a killing freeze, which is anticipated this weekend — although it’s doubtful that any fields south of Lubbock will experience cold enough temperatures to help with defoliation.
Most producers on the Texas High Plains agree that the yields are better than the years before. Not only that, but quality grades have been surprisingly optimistic as well, showing a consistency that we haven’t seen in a while.
“ We’ve now classed more than 300,000 bales out of the Lubbock classing office and the average loan rate is 57 cents, which is a great place to be,” Lege added. “I wish the price were higher, but at least we’re producing volume and the quality thus far is quite good.”