By Tom Nicolette
Senior Network Producer
Cotton acreage is forecast to grow this year, but that growth won’t be met without challenges.
Cotton ginners and farmers met in Lubbock March 31 – April 1 to discuss many of those challenges and current topics such as the farm bill.
Texas Cotton Ginners Association President Chris Berry from Levelland told the Texas Farm Bureau Radio Network that gin activity was good following last year’s cotton crop.
“Some of our gins have seen record crops, and prices have been where they have not been in recent years. So, hopefully we will be able to cash in on all of these good prices, and hopefully, they will hold for the upcoming season,” Berry said.
Cotton ginners face a number of challenges, including labor shortages, supply chain issues and plastic contamination.
And cotton farmers from the 42-county Plains Cotton Growers region of the South and High Plains heard from a several speakers during the organization’s annual meeting. A farm policy panel addressed agricultural issues that need attention as the 2023 Farm Bill is developed in the next several months.
“Well, we feel we have a good, solid safety net in place today in the 2018 Farm Bill for cotton, but there’s always room for improvement,” Reece Langley, vice president for Washington operations for the National Cotton Council, said during an interview with the Texas Farm Bureau Radio Network.
Input costs for seed, fuel and fertilizer, among others, have skyrocketed, making it more difficult for farmers to break even this year despite rising commodity prices and increased demand.
“We know if we continue with this current cost environment with input prices being so high despite the strong market prices we’re seeing today, it’s going to be important to look for ways working with the agriculture committees in Congress to try to enhance and better focus that safety net,” Langley said. “Growers and their lenders need to know they can make a positive margin. That’s what it really comes down to.”