King Cotton, a phrase attributed to the South before the Civil War, is in trouble this year in Bulloch County and surrounding areas. Heavy rains have taken a toll on 2013 cotton production.

“Cotton is a perennial plant that we treat as an annual,” said Wes Harris, the extension coordinator with the Bulloch County Cooperative Extension Service. “As such, cotton has a much slower root system development, which has severely affected late plantings this year. The reduction in peanut acres translates to an increase in cotton, which means those marginal (low area) zones were planted and have suffered flooding and drowning of the plants.”

Harris projects at least a 20 percent reduction in cotton production compared to last season when a record crop was harvested in Bulloch.

“Flood damage and saturated soil conditions have brought about this reduction,” he said. “However, the well-drained fields that were planted in May have excellent potential. If weather conditions improve over the next 60 days, we could easily end up with an average yield, even with the damage sustained.”

With peanuts, corn and cotton taking a hit from extreme weather this year, farmers are anxiously awaiting harvest with cautious optimism. Cotton, however, seems to be the marginal crop.

Andy Hart of Bulloch Gin in Brooklet said he feels that cotton in the area has turned around quite a bit in the last three weeks from earlier projections.

“Those farmers who planted early have changed their projections of harvest from pretty bad to actually good,” he said. “The farmers who planted mid to late in the season are going to need a late season frost to help with production.”

Hart thinks precipitation will be greatly needed in September for the production of quality cotton.

“We need rain now to keep the projections positive,” he said. “Overall, at the present time, I estimate about a 10 percent loss in this year’s cotton crop. The cotton grown in low lying areas and in the middle of fields where water saturated for weeks will probably be lost.”

Will Clark at Tillman & Deal said he has seen both acceptable and poor crops of cotton around the Bulloch County area.

“It’s a mixed bag this year,” he said. “Some farmers in the Register area may see up to 600 pounds per acre, while those in the Brooklet area might not harvest 300 pounds.”

Clark said the market is giving 90 cents per pound, but he thinks the prices are going up in anticipation of a possible shortage. He estimates a bale of cotton per acre.

Wade McElven in the Stilson agrees that this year’s crop is a mixed bag.

“Those who planted early in the season had time for the root system to develop,” he said. “Those who planted later were not able to get a strong root system started before all the rain arrived.”

McElven said he booked some cotton at the market last week at 90 cents per pound. He hopes he will be able to bring in a bale and a half per acre at harvest time.

Chris Thompson, on Georgia Highway 24 in the Clito/Leefield area, said there is still the potential for a good crop this year, so long as there is not an early frost.

“If the heavy rains hold off at this point, we should produce an average to above-average crop,” he said. “Don’t get me wrong; we need the rain but only in moderation.”

Thompson traveled last week through the Tifton area and saw crops just as devastated as those in Bulloch County.
“Reports I’ve read about across Georgia are mixed, but somewhat favorable for cotton farmers,” he said.