SOUTHERN JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS JULY, 1979 ECONOMIC IMPLICATIONS OF ALTERNATIVE COTTON PRODUCTION PRACTICES: TEXAS LOWER RIO GRANDE VALLEY

Cotton producers in the Lower Rio Grande factors are examined for short-season versusValley (LRGV) of Texas face continuing conventional production practice in the LRGV. economic pressures arising from increasing costs of productive inputs, yield-reducing infestations of insecticide-resistant pests, and STUDY AREA AND DATA often adverse climatic conditions. The input price increases in the LRGV are similar to The LRGV is characterized by a subtropical, those in other production regions of the U.S. semiarid climate with short, mild winters andHowever, insect problems arising from the long, hot summers. The growing season aver-LRGV climate are unique. LRGV farmers have ages 333 days/year. Average annual rainfall isbeen unable to control late-season tobacco bud- 25 inches near the Gulf Coast and 20 inches in worm infestations which often reach damaging the southwestern part of the valley. Total crop-levels when beneficial insects are destroyed by land is 1.7 million acres of which 0.6 millioninsecticide treatments for boll weevils [3]. acres is irrigated [8]. These late-season insect infestations are a Irrigation water diverted from the Rio result of the predominantly excessive rainfalls Grande River is provided principally by irriga-which occur during the harvest months of tion districts. Land that can be irrigated mustAugust and September. Moreover, high be linked to water district systems. Thus, irri-rainfall during harvest reduces both the gated acreage is reasonably stable.quality and level of cotton yields [1]. Approximately 65 percent of the averageRecent research for the Texas Wintergarden annual 270,000 acres of cotton in the valley isproduction region supports the contention that irrigated. About 66 percent of the irrigated short-season production techniques contribute land and 85 percent of the dryland areas are to reducing the risks, as measured by level and light to medium textured soil types. Gerald et variation of yield and level of costs, of late- al. [1] found that on these light soils, cotto