AQCA Commentary

December 15th, 2009

By: Jeff Thompson

          As I sit down to write this commentary, the all too familiar sound of rainfall and distant thunder can be heard from outside.   It has always been said cotton owes its uniqueness to the fact there is never two growing seasons quite alike.  Certainly the 2009 crop will long be remembered for its struggles with Mother Nature as well as for its resilience in the face of these obstacles.  Resilience has been shown in our earlier yields which were surprisingly good despite obvious field losses.  We were as close as a dry October away from what could have been a record setting performance. Once again we were shown cotton is a crop which can promise us the most and deliver the least and at other times promise the least and deliver the most.  Either way you gotta love her!

            There appears to be no end to this long frustrating harvest season.  A November-December harvest brought on by a late crop and weather delays is a recipe for disaster.  We have only received at this time 198,000 bales from an estimated 350,000 bale crop. However, I still feel confident the remaining cotton is out there in modules with a small percentage still in the field fate unknown. Cotton in the Mid South, Alabama, and the panhandle of Florida has taken the brunt of the weather.  Some locations within this area are approaching rainfall totals of 100 inches for the year.  Most devastating has been the 3 to 4 feet which has fallen since the end of August.

            Fortunately, thanks to the geographic diversity of the cooperative all has not been a disaster in 2009.  Cotton in West Texas, Oklahoma, Georgia, and the Carolinas has yielded extremely well.  Though not completely without their own weather woes, rainfall in these locations came such as to allow for efficient and timely harvesting.  Irrigated yields in excess of 3 bales have been common with dryland acres in West Texas averaging near a bale per acre.   

AQCA News

            AQCA Progress Payment -The progress payment determination we normally make in December will be delayed until next month. This will allow time for a larger percentage of our inventory to be delivered. A meeting of the Board of Directors has been scheduled for January 19, 2010 at which time a progress payment announcement will be made.

 2010 Cotton Varieties - The introduction of several new varieties and the demise of one very popular one will place a premium on variety selection for 2010.  Finding a replacement for DP 555 will be a priority for producers in the Southeast.  Initial observations indicate this might be a difficult task since few if any varieties have shown they can match its proven performance. The major seed companies are introducing new varieties at a rapid pace; one must do their homework to find those most suitable.  Over the next few weeks, I will devote this newsletter to the discussion of cotton varieties by looking at 2009 performance trial data, field observations, and University research results.    

            2008 AQCA Quality Award Winners - In keeping with tradition, AQCA annually presents the Howard Murfee Quality Award to the producer-members delivering the highest quality fiber based on average loan value.  In addition, we recognize the gins delivering the highest quality fiber by presenting them the Charles M. Hohenberg Quality Gin Award. 

            The recipients of the Howard Murfee Quality Award for 2008 are Doug Melcher of Brownfield, Texas; Tyson Price of Roscoe, Texas; and Gary Thomas Farms of Haskell, Texas. The recipients of the Charles M. Hohenberg Quality Gin Award are Needmore Gin in Meadow, Texas and Welch Gin in Welch, Texas.  These winners will be presented plaques for their achievement.  We applaud their fine efforts.

            Holiday Greetings - This year has flown past or maybe as result of getting older it just seems that way.  Whatever the reason it's hard to believe the holiday season is upon us. With our fast paced everyday lives and society's commercialization of the Yule Tide season, it's easy to lose sight of its true meaning.  It is a time for family and friends to come together and give praise for the greatest heavenly gift of all.   Over the years I've come to learn the importance and value of close friends.   In the 17 years I have been with AQCA, I have had the privilege to develop some very good friendships along the way.  This holiday season I want to thank you for your gift of friendship and what it means to me.  On behalf of Bobbie Jo, Hayne and I, we would like to wish all of you a very merry Christmas, a happy new year, and a most successful 2010.

Until next time,