LUBBOCK, Texas (RFD News) — Arizona cotton growers are getting clearer seed-quality information after Farm Bureau members pushed concerns about poor germination into a statewide testing effort.
Arizona Farm Bureau says farmer members raised concerns through the grassroots policy process after seeing persistent problems with cotton seed performance. The effort brought together growers, seed companies, Extension specialists, commodity groups, and the Arizona Department of Agriculture.
The testing program began during the 2025 growing season. State officials collected cotton seed samples across Arizona and submitted them for laboratory checks of both warm and cold germination rates.
Results showed warm germination rates were strong, but cold germination rates were significantly lower than expected. That surprised both growers and seed companies, leading companies to voluntarily share cold germination data with producers.
The coalition is now looking at additional seed-quality indicators, including oil content, planting timing, soil temperature, and field conditions. Better data could reduce the risk of replanting in a high-cost cotton market.
