Heavy September rainfall across portions of the High Plains has added another layer of uncertainty to an already highly variable cotton crop as growers prepare for harvest.
Rainfall totals varied considerably across the region, with some locations receiving six to eight inches or more during September while others received substantially less. The moisture has been beneficial in some respects, but its timing has created challenges in fields where cotton was already open or had been defoliated. One of the most noticeable issues following the rain has been significant basal and terminal regrowth, particularly in dryland and light-water fields. That new juvenile growth could make defoliation more difficult and require growers to evaluate fields individually before moving toward harvest.
Yield potential also remains extremely variable. Cotton produced under good irrigation generally continues to look promising, while limited-irrigation acres are showing the effects of summer heat and moisture stress. Smaller bolls and lower seed counts are common in those fields, meaning traditional bollcount yield estimates may overstate actual production. Dryland cotton is similarly mixed, ranging from fields with little harvestable production to others — particularly along portions of the Post-to-Snyder-Roscoe corridor — that appear capable of producing a harvestable crop.
Harvest has begun on a limited basis, with some modules and bales already reaching gin yards, but recent rainfall is expected to delay activity in many areas. As fields dry and defoliation resumes, the next several weeks should provide a much clearer picture of both the size and quality of the 2026 High Plains cotton crop.