Nov. 22, 2005

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COLLEGE STATION - Texas cotton producers are calling 2005 a banner year with one of the best quality and largest crops on record, said Texas Cooperative Extension experts.

"Currently, we have the best color and leaf grades in the U.S.," said Dr. Randal Boman, Extension cotton agronomist in Lubbock. "Our staple length is also coming in very good to excellent."

He said quality is expected to be much higher than in 2004 due to dry fall weather. This allowed the cotton color quality to remain high and should have greatly reduced bark contamination.

"It has been an outstanding yield and quality year for our producers," Boman said.

Dr. Billy Warrick, Extension agronomist in San Angelo, said, "We should have good fiber length in our region because we had a soil profile with good moisture at the time of fiber elongation."

He said high grades are anticipated due to ideal fall weather for harvesting, and fiber strength is good due to the varieties of cotton planted.

"For the most part, micronaire should be in the range of 3.5 to 4.9," Warrick said.

According to www.cottoninc.com, micronaire is the fineness of the fiber and is rated on a range from 2 to 6.

Dr. Robert Lemon, Extension cotton agronomist in College Station, said, "The Texas Agricultural Statistics Service is projecting another record cotton crop for Texas."

The record was set last year with a crop of 7.7 million bales. Lemon expects this year's crop to break the record at 7.8 million bales.

Boman said, "The Lubbock and Lamesa (classing) offices combined have classed about 1.5 million bales thus far. It is estimated the High Plains crop will substantially exceed last year's record crop of 4.8 million bales. Our estimated crop for 2005 in the High Plains is about 5.3 million bales."

Prior to 2004, the record amount of cotton harvested in the High Plains was 3.5 million bales, he said. This year, yields in the area are expected to exceed 2004's 4.8 million bale crop by over 400,000 bales.

The substantial increase in yield can be attributed to new varieties of cotton, timely rainfall, irrigation, lack of substantial insect pressure and outstanding fall temperatures, Boman said.

Warrick said, "In our region, West Central and Far West Texas, the rain received in August was a key factor, and the warm September helped in crop development."

While High Plains producers are experiencing a boom, not all Texas producers have benefited from ideal weather.

Lemon said production will be down in the central and southern regions of the state due to lower rainfall this spring and summer.

Boman said the High Plains' anticipated yields should make up for decreases in areas that had dry summers and should still push the final number over the 2004 record.

There is still a chance the high quality crop could be damaged and downgraded. Boman said that only about 45 percent of the High Plains crop has been harvested, and Warrick said only 30 percent to 40 percent of the Far West and West Central crop was harvested.

"If rain occurs before harvest is complete, it can affect the grade," Warrick said. "With the large crop to harvest and the first freeze already occurring, the cotton still remaining to be harvested could have problem with bark (contamination)."

The following livestock, crop and weather conditions were reported by Extension districts:

PANHANDLE: Soil moisture is very short to short. Temperatures dropped when a strong cold front passed, but warm conditions soon returned. High winds caused some soil erosion. Cotton harvest was 65 percent complete; yields were good to excellent. Peanut harvest was almost complete. Soybean, sunflower and sorghum harvests continued. Wheat was rated fair to good; Wheat streak mosaic and High Plains virus were diagnosed in some crops. Rangeland conditions were poor. Dry conditions caused fire risk. Cattle were in good condition as supplemental feeding continued.

SOUTH PLAINS: Soil moisture is very short. A cold front and the first freeze of the season caused stress to area livestock and delayed harvests. Cotton harvest was 70 percent complete; yields and fiber qualities were above average. Winter wheat was in fair-to-good condition. Sorghum and peanut harvests were nearly complete. Soybean and sunflower harvests were complete. Rangelands and pastures were in fair-to-good condition. Livestock were in good condition; supplemental feeding continued.

ROLLING PLAINS: Soil moisture is short. Cool, dry conditions continued. The first freeze of the season came to a few counties. Cotton harvest continued; yield condition was good. Some ranchers were supplemental feeding livestock and hauling water to stock tanks. Livestock were in fair-to-good condition.

NORTH: Soil moisture is very short to short. Unusually warm weather was reported. Cotton, pecans, sweet potatoes, sorghum and soybeans were harvested. Oats and wheat were planted. Some early-planted ryegrass was lost due to dry conditions. Stock tanks and ponds were low or dry. Livestock producers were supplemental feeding livestock; cattle were in good condition.

EAST TEXAS: Soil moisture is very short. Dry conditions persisted. A cold front provided the first freeze of the season, light showers and low temperatures. Hay shortage was severe in many areas. Cattle conditions were good; many producers were culling herds.

FAR WEST: Soil moisture is short to adequate. Several counties reported the first frost of the season. Cotton harvest continued. Winter wheat emerged in good condition. Pecan harvest began. Rangelands were rated good; cattle had good body condition.

WEST CENTRAL: Soil moisture is very short. Cold, dry weather and the first frost of the season were reported. Cotton harvest continued; yields were rated good. Small grains were not emerging because of dry conditions. Oats and wheat were lost without moisture. Pecan harvest continued, but production was low due to early-season losses. Supplemental feeding of livestock continued; producers hauled water to stock tanks. Cattle were in fair condition.

CENTRAL: Soil moisture is very short. Dry conditions persisted. Many wheat stands did not emerge, and others struggled to survive. Some producers were selling cows and calves at low weights to avoid supplemental feeding through winter. Pasture grasses were short. Stock tanks were low or completely dry.

SOUTHEAST: Soil moisture is short. Cool temperatures arrived and dry conditions continued except for brief, isolated showers early in the week. Some pecans were harvested after freeze and high winds. Ratoon rice harvest continued. Ranchers fed hay to cattle.

SOUTHWEST: Soil moisture is very short, and dry conditions continue. Cabbage and recently-planted onions were progressing well under heavy irrigation. Spinach, cucumbers, peanuts and green beans were harvested. Ranchers thinned their cattle herds and provided heavy supplemental nutrition to remaining livestock.

COASTAL BEND: Soil moisture is very short. A cold front provided isolated showers to some areas. Field work, bed preparation and tillage continued. Pecan harvest continued; quality was rated fair. Supplemental feeding of livestock continued.

SOUTH: Soil moisture is adequate. Average temperatures were reported. Citrus, sugarcane and cabbage was harvested. Fall vegetables progressed well; fertilizer was applied. Rangelands and pastures were in fair condition.