Lubbock Cotton Growers Stay Positive Despite New Statistics
By: Scarlett Greyson
Updated: March 4, 2013
The National Cotton Council revealed Texas farmers intend to plant about 4.9 million acres this year, down from the 6.5 million acres planted in 2012.
And with West Texas receiving more rainfall than expected, it could impact the
amount that farmers intend to plant here in Lubbock.But cotton farmers here in Lubbock remain optimistic.
"We're probably in as good of shape right now as moisture wise as we've been in the past two years," said Jerry Butman, the general manager at Lubbock Cotton Growers. : It just varies from area to area and it can change over night."
Some specialists believe with more rain some cotton farmers may opt to plant other crops such as wheat.
But we spoke to several cotton farmers here who say that Lubbock will only see a four to five percent decrease in cotton growing and that it really depends on the amount of irrigation available to each farm.
"We don't have the water to raise other crops,"said Butman. "That's what it boils down to. You raise what you can and this is a cotton growing area and we're going to raise cotton."
Butman said that some Lubbock cotton growers may produce other crops this years, but most will still to producing cotton.
"I do have one or two customers that are going to grow a little bit more grain but it will not be a large percentage in changing over to grains."
