Good Harvest Keeps Cotton The King Of Lubbock, But For How Long?

Almost 75% of the South Plains cotton crop has been through the gin and the ratings this year are so far so good.

But the season did not come with out it's share of worries.

"With the dry hot summer and the early freeze," Reed said.  "I think a lot of people were worried that the quality wouldn't be as good."

But that worry might stick around for next season.

Lubbock had no rain in the month of November and only a quarter of an inch in October.

Reed said if the area does not have a wet winter several farmers will think twice before planting cotton next year.

"Moving forward this winter is going to determine what kind of crop we plant next year," Reed said. "The grain prices are looking very well, the cotton prices aren't looking very good right now, so certainly if we have a dry winter well see a lot of acres shift to those grains to milo."

Reed said even the South Plains can not thrive without some help.

"Out here on the high plains we just don't have the water to produce a crop without any help from mother nature," Reed said.

But Reed said if she decides to send rain this way, cotton can stay king.

"If we have a wet winter, hopefully we will," Reed said.  "If prices can rebound to some degree or at least stay where they are at, we can at least maintain probably about 70% of our acres hopefully."