Cotton News from PCG

by admin

by Mary Jane Buerkle

As the first final planting date approaches for the Plains Cotton Growers
service area, conditions across the region are mixed, with some growers
enjoying beneficial rains that will boost their early crop and others
experiencing everything from painfully dry conditions to severe weather
that will force some to start over – or plant something else altogether.

Planted acreage for the PCG service area is expected to be about normal,
but it remains to be seen how much will be viable. In the northern parts
of the PCG service area, where the May 31 final planting date is in
immediate sight, most cotton has been planted and in some areas, has been
for two weeks. Generally, central counties have until June 5 to plant, and
southern counties have until June 10. For information on a specific
county’s final planting date, contact PCG.

Garza County was the target for severe weather over the Memorial Day
weekend, with a confirmed tornado, damaging hail, high winds, and anywhere
from 3 to 8 inches of rain in three hours. Growers from the affected area
report that the ground is packed and they likely will not be able to save
their planted acres. Severe storms have impacted several other counties
across the region as well.

Some areas in the region still are in desperate need of a rain, especially
on dryland acreage. For example, West Texas Mesonet stations in Seminole,
Denver City, Muleshoe, Amherst, Welch, and Plains have recorded only a few
hundredths of a inch of rainfall in the month of May.

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                    IMPORTANT PROGRAM DEADLINES

            U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE KEY PROGRAMS

        ARC-CO and PLC Election and Contract 2020 Crop Year
                              June 30

                Crop Acreage Certification Deadline
                              July 15

        Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) Application
                              August 28

                    Yield Update for PLC Program
                            September 30

    Wildfire and Hurricane Indemnity Program+ (WHIP+) Application
                            December 31
(program funds will remain available until expended or December 31)

            SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION KEY PROGRAMS

                    Paycheck Protection Program
                        Signup Ends June 30

                  Economic Injury Disaster Loan
                      Signup Ends December 31

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