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Cotton producers getting first-hand look at Texas conditions

A southeast Arkansas farmer says the Texas cotton crop has been severely impacted by drought.

Ryan Johnson is taking part in the National Cotton Council’s Producer Information Exchange tour.  We started out in the plains of Texas, Lubbock area and looking at that crop,” he says.  “We’re certainly seeing a lot of drought-stressed crops and it’s certainly been eye-opening all of the challenges they have in that area.”

He tells Brownfield this tour has provided information he can bring back to implement in his operation.  “Learning from them how they deal with those situations,” he says.  “Something definitely tangible that I can take back.  Water is not particularly a very scarce resource in my area, but I’m beginning to look at to try to be as efficient and sustainable as possible.”

Johnson says the group also visited the Rio Grande production area, where drought concerns and water availability is not currently an issue.

This is the first leg of the tour.  The second leg kicks off August 29 and runs through September 1 and takes place in North Carolina.

AUDIO: Ryan Johnson, Arkansas cotton grower