Decision time is here for High Plains cotton farmers as planting season approaches.
With low commodity prices, input costs rising and the unpredictable weather, many cotton farmers remain uncertain about production financing for 2016.
Farmers are looking for varieties that yield well, show good vigor, are disease resistant and have desirable weed-resistance traits. Seed costs are a concern for farmers, too.
“Cotton seed is an expensive up-front cost,” Rick Minzenmayer with Fibermax told Southwest Farm Press.
Yield and quality are the top priorities for farmers.
“High quality is where the value will be,” Minzenmayer said. “Farmers we’re talking to want varieties that deliver high quality. And they have good options available.”
According to experts, some farmers are planting conventional cotton this year due to the cost and weed control issues.
Edward Jungmann, with Seed Source Genetics in Bishop, Texas, said the glyphosate-resistant weed issue has pushed some growers back to conventional varieties.
But some are still looking at other options like NexGen XtendFlex varieties 3500, 2517 and 4545.
Gary Sanders with Americot said they want to try the new technology and they hope to get a chance to use dicamba during the next growing season.
The unpredictability of the West Texas weather also plays a factor in seed selection for farmers.
Eric Best, Deltapine seed representative in Lubbock, says farmers are looking for varieties that offer “consistency, stability and predictability. Successful varieties can yield under tough conditions while maintaining high fiber quality.”
Resistance traits are also a factor farmers look for.
“They want Verticillium and root knot nematode resistance, and they want storm-proof cotton,” Ken Lege, PhytoGen seed representative, said.