Cotton is on a comeback trail again on the strength of successive record crops in 2004 and 2005, and is becoming a major agricultural commodity from North Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas.
Oklahoma cotton farmers face challenges in 2006, says Bob Collins, Secretary of Oklahoma Cotton Council.
In 1990s, the boll weevil made cotton farming expensive in many areas. Farmers needed more insecticide applications to fight the weevil, Collins said.
There were 54 cooperative cotton gins and 30 gins owned by Chickasha Cotton Oil Co. and other independent owners which are now reduced to 18 cooperative gins and apart from two independently owned gins.
Negative effect of boll weevil attack took place occurred in 1997 in Tillman County where three cotton gins closed forever, then.
Boll weevil eradication program saved cotton industry across the United States and is no longer a problem for cotton farmers, Collins said.
More cotton is expected to be planted this year, he said. Cottonseeds available for 2006 spring planting is accounted for and shortages may be seen in certain varieties.
A new awakening in cotton cultivation is indeed taking place, he says.
Developing transgenic cotton varieties and no till cultivation are helping cotton regain its place in agricultural production.
However, cotton marketing companies are at loss to comprehend the closure of American textile mills, literally on regular basis.
But cotton can now be exported to China or South Korea, milled into shirts and sold back to US consumers cheaper than if produced in its entirity, within US.
marketing@alchempro.com
