Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Rain helped cotton growers in eastern New Mexico and west Texas in 2017, but cool weather put a damper on the quality of their crops.
Roosevelt County producer Kevin Breshears said he harvested two to three and a half bales an acre this year, which "wasn't a bumper crop by no means," but still a step in the right direction.
Breshears remained positive about his crop, but admitted that the quality of the cotton was lower than in years past.
"The grades on the cotton are not as good this year as in the past because of the cool August and September we had," he said.
Bailey County grower Chris Bass explained that cotton requires "heat units" in order to fully mature, but because of low morning temperatures caused by frequent rainfall in August and September, the cotton didn't receive adequate heat.
"Cotton is graded, and our grades are coming back with short mike, which means it's not mature. Our prices are really bringing a lot less than what they should," said Bass.
Breshears estimated he would receive around 10 cents per bale less than last year due to the lower grade.
"The yield was there, the price is not," he said.
Bass suffered a smaller yield in 2017 - 1,200 pounds - which he also blamed on the immature cotton.
"The average price right now that I've sold is around 53 cents a pound, and it should be in the 75- to 77-cents a pound range," Bass said, adding that many cotton producers are facing similar problems. "I know it's widespread this year. It's through the High Plains and the South Plains, and I'm sure eastern New Mexico, too, wherever the cotton's at."
Bass remains grateful for the rains, though they may have hindered the growth of his crop.
"We were fortunate enough to get the rains. We had twice our yearly rainfall in August. You can't turn down a rain in this country."
According to cotton.org, a website operated by the National Cotton Council of America, farmers received an average of $.68 a pound in 2017.