This month’s WASDE Report offered little support to cotton growers who were already having a rough year. The Farm Bureau says the hits keep coming.
“There was an increase in estimated production numbers and a decline in exports and consumption, which caused ending stocks to increase by about nine percent. Basically, production has bounced back this year in cotton, largely due to better-growing conditions in Texas, but demand has fallen over last year. This has led to a nearly 15 percent decrease in price since last year,” said Betty Resnick.
Since the 2018 Farm Bill, cotton growers have seen their production costs go up by nearly 30 percent. Analysts say this year’s input costs likely will not provide much support.
USDA says both crops remain ahead of the five-year average as farmers continue monitoring dry Corn Belt conditions.
Texas Farm Bureau takes us behind the scenes at USDA’s sterile fly facility, considered a first line of defense against New World Screwworm, a fight Texas Ag Commissioner Sid Miller fears is “futile.”
The Texas Agriculture Commissioner says crews are still working to contain fires while farmers and ranchers begin assessing damage.
Cotton growers can use the survey to compare nutrient, herbicide, and pest-management practices against national production benchmarks.
Drought and Planting Shape Weekly State Agriculture Recap
USDA officials are increasing surveillance and sterile fly dispersal efforts as New World screwworm cases continue growing in Mexico near the Texas border.