by Mary Jane Buerkle, PCG
The past few weeks have been a rollercoaster of uncertainty and hope for
Texas High Plains cotton growers, as markets continue to trade lower for a
variety of reasons including the worldwide Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)
outbreak, but early-season precipitation throughout the region is setting
producers up for a favorable start to the 2020 crop.
In cotton, export sales numbers have been high, but the market hasn’t
responded and is languishing in the low 60-cent range. Markets are a
prominent factor in production-related decisions, and as they prepare for
the 2020 crop, growers are closely reviewing expenses but also assessing
opportunities for reduced input costs, such as lower fuel prices.
The 2020 version of the Plains Cotton Growers, Inc. Seed Cost Calculator
is available for download from the PCG website at
https://plainscotton.org/seed-cost-calculators/. The PCG seed cost
calculator is an interactive Microsoft Excel spreadsheet that allows
producers to calculate an estimated cost per acre, for both seed and
technology, based on published suggested retail prices.
Thanks to timely rainfall over the past few weeks, fields generally are in
pretty good shape. Rain and thunderstorms are in the forecast for the next
several days.
The COVID-19 outbreak certainly has impacted markets around the world, and
forced the cancellation of several events, including many in the ag sector.
The Texas Independent Ginners Association and Texas Agricultural
Cooperative Council both cancelled their upcoming conferences, and the
Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association postponed theirs until
their policy meeting this fall. The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo and
Rodeo Austin also cancelled their events.
For now, the Texas Cotton Ginners Association’s Annual Meeting and Trade
Show in Lubbock are still scheduled as planned (with the exception of the
Southwest Ginners School, which was cancelled), as well as PCG’s Annual
Meeting. However, both organizations continue to monitor the situation and
will make decisions as necessary for public health and safety.
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PCG Annual Meeting
Friday, April 3 • 9 a.m.
Lubbock Memorial Civic Center
Featured Speakers
Reid Wilson, National Correspondent, The Hill
Bruce Atherley, Cotton Council International
U.S. Rep. Mike Conaway
Sponsored by Farmers Cooperative Compress
More information: plainscotton.org
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DEADLINE FOR ARC/PLC ENROLLMENT FOR 2019 CROP IS MONDAY, MARCH 16
Agricultural producers who have not yet completed their 2019 crop year
elections for and enrollment in the Agriculture Risk Coverage and Price
Loss Coverage programs must schedule an appointment to do so with their
local USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) by Monday, March 16.
Producers who do not contact FSA for an appointment by close of business
local time on Monday, March 16 will not be enrolled in ARC or PLC for the
2019 crop year and will be ineligible to receive a payment should one
trigger for an eligible crop.
The programs cover the following commodities: barley, canola, large and
small chickpeas, corn, crambe, flaxseed, grain sorghum, lentils, mustard
seed, oats, peanuts, dry peas, rapeseed, long grain rice, medium and short
grain rice, safflower seed, seed cotton, sesame, soybeans, sunflower seed,
and wheat.
Online ARC and PLC election decision tools are available
at www.fsa.usda.gov/arc-plc.
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Upcoming Area Ag Conferences & Trainings
https://plainscotton.org/upcoming-area-ag-conferences/
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THOMPSON TO KEYNOTE WESTERN PEANUT GROWERS AG ISSUES CONFERENCE ON MARCH 18
Western Peanut Growers Association will host an Ag Issues Conference on
Wednesday, March 18, 2020, at the Seminole Community Center located at 801
North Main Street in Seminole. Farmers of all commodities, agribusinesses,
community leaders and those who are interested in agriculture are invited
to attend the lunch beginning at 11:30 a.m. with the conference to begin
shortly thereafter.
The 2020 Ag Issues Conference will focus on looking to the future of
agriculture with keynote speaker Glenn Thompson, US Congressman of
Pennsylvania’s 15th District. Congressman Thompson is the Senior
Republican on the House Ag Committee just behind the soon to retire
Ranking Member, Mike Conaway.
He is the heir apparent to be the next Chairman or Ranking Member of the
Ag Committee. Congressman Thompson currently serves as Republican Leader
of the Farm Commodities and Risk Management Subcommittee.
Congressman Thompson will be joined by Congressional Host Jodey Arrington,
US House Congressman of Texas District 19. There will be a question and
answer session during the conference.
Prior to the luncheon, members of the Western Peanut Growers Association
are encouraged to attend the organization’s 37th Annual Business Meeting
at 10:00 a.m.
For more information about this event, contact the Western Peanut Growers
Association at (432) 758–2050.
