More Cotton Acres Very Possible for Louisiana Growers in '19

LSU AgCenter Extension Service cotton specialist Dr. Dan Fromme at the Dean Lee Research Station is expecting to see cotton in the ground by mid to late April, depending of course on soil temperatures.

“Historically most of our better yields have been planted anywhere from the middle of April to the middle of May,” said Fromme. “Any earlier than the first part of April jw’ve seen some cold weather do some damage to the crop. and if you get any later than the middle of May it gets a little hotter and dryer and insect pressure becomes heavier as well.”

Fromme is fairly optimistic this year as far as cotton acres are concerned, with estimates ranging as high as 220,000 acres. “If that happens, then that will be the most acres planted since 2011.”

One possible reason cited by Fromme for the possible increased cotton acreage this season is the downward pressure on corn and soybean prices.

“But the big question remains where will all this cotton be ginned?” asks Fromme. “I know a lot of farmers would like to plant more, but it’s a little difficult to gin the crop now because we only have about 16 or 17 gins left in Louisiana.”

Something else to be considered is the lack of cotton pickers across Louisiana. Reportedly, at least one dealer has sold out of his new pickers and won’t be able to get any more. This will more than likely lead to custom pickers harvesting at least some of this years crop.