After one of the wettest summers in recent memory, a lack of recent rain may keep Scurry County growers from harvesting a record cotton crop.
In mid-July, Greg Gruben, the Texas A&M Agrilife Extension Service agent for Scurry County, said cotton farmers in the area could expect a great crop if the county got a few rainy days in August and little wind or hail.
August brought hardly any rain, which Gruben said has been a cause for concern among local farmers.
“We could have had maybe the best crop we’ve ever had, but that probably won’t happen now,” Gruben said. “It’s still going to be OK, but it would have been great if we got a good, good rain the first week or two of August.”
Due to the heavy rains this spring, many farmers waited later than usual to plant cotton crops. Because much of the current cotton crop is so young, Gruben said area farmers would need a normal fall and winter to help produce a good crop.
“We need a normal fall, not too cold, not too hot and not too wet,” Gruben said. “We’re supposedly expecting a cold fall and winter, but with the way this summer has been, I have no idea. I’ve never seen anything like this.”