LUBBOCK, TX – West Texas cotton producers are heading toward a difficult harvest after early-season moisture gave way to a hot, dry summer. Plains Cotton Growers Vice President Keith Patrick says dryland fields suffered the most, while irrigated acres also faced pressure from heat and limited water.
Patrick says the crop began with promising moisture and good stands before rainfall largely shut off. Some pockets received useful rain, but much of the region endured prolonged heat and dryness through the summer.
The conditions are especially important because the Plains Cotton Growers region accounts for roughly 35% of U.S. cotton production. Lower production would also affect gins, warehouses and other businesses that depend on crop volume.
Cotton prices briefly rebounded near 90 cents per pound before pulling back. Patrick says prices around 82 to 85 cents remain better than levels seen during some recent periods, but production losses continue to pressure farm margins.
Harvest results will determine how much cotton survived the summer stress. Patrick says 2026 will still be a tough year for many West Texas producers despite the stronger start.
Farm-Level Takeaway: West Texas cotton growers face a difficult harvest after summer heat and drought erased much of the crop’s early promise.