More farmers nationwide are trying their hand at harvesting the crop this year, driven by an expectation of higher prices. Local laborers told EverythingLubbock.com this could actually backfire the industry on the South Plains.
“Cotton acres are projected to be up, there are a couple of reasons why,” Plains Cotton Growers Vice President Steve Verett said, “First of all folks are coming off of a good cotton year, 2016 for the most part, both from a production standpoint and quality standpoint…the crop price has somewhat improved.”
Nothing much should change in West Texas, but it’s what will change other places that Cotton Farmer Steven Brosch said could be of concern.
“If they do go through with their planning intentions, and we have that large of an increase in acreage and everybody has a decent year, yeah we’re going to have an excess of cotton out there that could potentially hurt the price.”
Brosch said it’s classic supply and demand, and he’s dealt with this cycle before.
“We don’t have the option of retail stores, they can just keep their price up or raise their prices up a little bit more…we don’t have that option,” Brosch said, “We’re at the mercy of the world market…we just have to do what we can.”
Verett thinks regardless of a potential excess of cotton, laborers should still be optimistic for this year’s harvest.
“We are some of the most efficient producers of cotton in the US and around the world, so we have to take that stride and do the best that we can both with prices and with what mother nature gives us as well.”
