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PLAINVIEW HERALD | MYPLAINVIEW.COM
COTTON IS KING
Petersburg Gin adding roller gin to adapt to changing markets TERESA YOUNG Special to the Herald
With the weather always a mystery and irrigation and other inputs constantly on the rise, Petersburg Co-Op Gin general manager Myles Ramsey says growers are continuing to diversify their crops for better yields and profits. In the cotton world, that has meant growth in extra-long staple variety cotton around the South Plains. “When you’re growing at a loss per pound, it’s not a good business model. That’s a huge risk the farmer takes, and it’s hard for them to be optimistic, push and innovate if there is no margin at the end,” says Ramsey, in his 15th year with the gin. “Extra-long staple is a different variety of cotton. It just means the longer fiber length can be a softer cotton, better
quality and greater spinnability. Often the longevity of the garment is higher, and it is considered a premium cotton.” Ramsey said the gin added a roller gin this summer to offer the service to those in the Plainview area who are already growing ELS and those who are adding it this season. The state-of-the-art, high-capacity gin uses a roller and knife to create the pinch point to process the cotton. This longer fiber length created brings a premium, which is vital in an economy where traditional upland cotton is drawing a low price.
cotton prices where they are, farmers are arguably 15-20 cents a pound away from break-even, so this will be helpful,” Ramsey explained. “They are looking at the ELS to get that premium and be able to survive.”
Petersburg CoOp Gin is unique as the only gin in the country that has a standalone roller gin and standalone saw gin in the same building and under the same roof. Ramsey said while others may use a switch gin – with some shared equipment but interchangeable mechanisms – or have two in different buildings, this model lets the gin share labor “My thought on ELS and increase efficiency. cotton is that it’s not a And that will really get-rich or save-all deal, make an impact once but it will be a tool that the gin goes to aroundguys can use on certain the-clock operation in late November. acreage to help them survive the next few “We still have the years. And that’s the key to it. With regular ROLLER GIN, cont. on Page 4
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COTTON IS KING cotton – upland and pima. Most of what traditional saw gin, Petersburg Co-Op gins and nothing is different is an upland blend with on that,” he said. “We some pima bred into ginned our first bale on it to create the longer Oct. 13 at the saw gin staple. There is also and are moving into true pima and some that season now. We true hybrid cotton in will crank up the roller the market as well. gin later in October “We have more and and go to 24 hours in more producers that November.” have been looking Ramsey said the gin at this, and some decided to make the have been growing equipment updates it for several years after seeing some area now,” Ramsey noted. farmers dip into the “As more and more ELS pond but have growers were asking, to take their cotton we saw the need to 100 miles away to be have a roller gin to ginned. He estimated meet those needs.” about 6,500 acres were Heading into grown in the region last year, with another the harvest season, Ramsey is “cautiously 3,500 -5,000 adding this growing year. Now, optimistic” that this year’s cotton crop will he’ll be able to help improve in quality. them all. He does expect better He explained that yields as the weather there are two different cooperated a bit more this summer. genetic traits of
ROLLER GIN, from Page 2
“I think generally overall the crop looks better than the last three years. We had the potential to have a pretty bang-up crop,” he said. “We didn’t see the extreme heats day and night during August, which can really be detrimental to the crop. It didn’t shut the fruit and hurt the crop as bad as what it has been.” Founded in 1944, Petersburg Co-Op Gin serves farmers in an 80-mile radius of their facility, currently around 60 growers. The farmer-owned gin has around 400 members including landlords and family landowners. The gin has long been a proponent of cotton, sharing the various uses and benefits of the fiber on its Wear Cotton page on Facebook.
Established in 1953, our family has owned and operated Service Gin by four generations of hard-working men. We pride ourselves on providing quality ginning and friendly customer service. Our dedication to the local producer and this community has remained strong throughout our 72-year history.
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COTTON IS KING
James Brothers reflecting flexibility, nimbleness of agriculture sector TERESA YOUNG Special to the Herald
Just as farmers have to pivot often with crops and inputs to get the best profit each growing year, others who work in the agricultural sector have to be nimble. James Brothers Implement has been a member of the Plainview business community since 1964, and they’ve had to learn that flexibility firsthand while serving area growers who often have to change their plan year over year. Weather patterns and business changes have necessitated changes for both producers and those who serve them, like
Ronnie Shannon and Jerry James, owners of James Brothers Implement. “Our product line has really changed as the business climate has changed,” noted Shannon. “We’ve managed to stay alive to this point. We still deal in tractors, loaders and construction equipment, but our customer base has changed quite a bit.” While real-crop farming used to be the bulk of the James Brothers business, Ronnie says these days the area dairy businesses are more frequent visitors and they favor the midrange tractors up to 140 horsepower. The
equipment though that has never been their bread and butter. Most of this growth has come through acquisitions of other lines, such as Great “We used to be a Plains Manufacturing major player in the combine business, and in Kansas. we really don’t handle “They also have those anymore,” purchased Land said Ronnie. “The size of our tractor has decreased from what we used to sell, and that has really changed industrywide. The volume of those that area sold is low and there is just not as much room for as many players in the market.”
weather and available water resources have impacted farmers to the degree that even equipment inventory has shifted.
James Brothers’ main line is Kubota, which he said is growing the product line to larger
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Pride, a wholly owned subsidiary, and we do have contracts with them and keep that equipment on our lot,” Ronnie noted. “They sell shredders, rotary tillers, box blades and construction equipment attachments that we keep on inventory.”
James Brothers is also a great partner for those who are only concerned with their home lawns and other domestic needs. Kubota offers a first-quality zero turn lawn mower that is a popular JAMES BROS., cont. on Page 7
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SATURDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2025 B7
COTTON IS KING Roberts helps farmers sustain livelihood through insurance With a profession that battles so many challenges with weather, costly inputs and low market prices, people like Debbie Roberts can be a godsend.
the world to me. I love and respect them, and I think they do the same for me. I can’t even think of retiring because they depend on me. I want them to feel that way and they rely on me. And it goes both ways.”
Debbie is owner of Roberts Ag Insurance in Plainview, working in the field since 1985 when she first handled crop insurance for the Mouser Agency. In 1998, she purchased the book of business from Mouser and another agent in Plainview and hung out her own shingle.
Raised around growers with a father who ran a grain elevator in Edmonson, Debbie said she has a heart for the producers in particular. Her husband farms as well, and after experiencing a crop loss in their early years, she said she is extra sympathetic to what growers face.
But Debbie is the first to admit it’s more of a calling to serve the growers that make the community so strong that keeps her working well past her initial retirement goal age.
“I know exactly what those farmers feel like. You are out there working and proud of what you’ve accomplished, and it’s gone in the blink of an eye. You rely on the good Lord to give you the rain in a timely manner, and it doesn’t always come like you want it to,” she said. “The market is so bad right now, and everything you buy is so expensive. I wonder
TERESA YOUNG Special to the Herald
JAMES BROS., from Page 6
product according to Shannon, and his customers love the Honda power equipment and Stihl, Red Max and Honda generators as well. The expertise of its owners and employees is added value for James Brothers customers. Ronnie and Jerry have farming backgrounds and know what it takes to make a successful agriculture venture. And you also get the service behind the sale, with maintenance available for all of their products. The family-owned and operated business had added another generation, with Jerry’s son Jeff James in sales and parts management
at the Plainview location at 3201 North Interstate 27. Ronnie’s son, John David Shannon, manages the growing Amarillo branch the family opened in 1999, now located in a new facility at 12629 Interstate 27. The Plainview location has 12-14 employees and there are eight in Amarillo. “Our customers are just the tops,” said Ronnie of the rewards of the job. “Whether its consumer products, the construction guy or the weekend farmer, we just have some good quality customers that support us. We have a lot of long-term employees with good relationships as well.”
“I love these guys like they are my own children. There are a lot of friendships I never dreamed I would have,” says Debbie. “Working for them means everything in
Debbie Roberts and her son in law, Carson Johnson, from Roberts Ag Insurance. sometimes, especially with the younger kids, what their incentive is these days. I know many have been raised on this, it’s all they know and they don’t want to quit. They just want to see if they can make a crop, and that’s
dedication.” That dedication is what drives Debbie to do her best for the growers on her side of the equation. And in her arena, that means offering the services ROBERTS, cont. on Page 8
B8 SATURDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2025
PLAINVIEW HERALD | MYPLAINVIEW.COM
COTTON IS KING ROBERTS, from Page 7
and explanations that can help growers succeed. “People often think of crop insurance as a way to get the farmers out of debt, and we are trying to help farmers. But it is not going to be like they grew a crop,” said Debbie. “Most of their coverage is nothing like if they had grown a crop, because you take their 10year history average, and that’s what their coverage is based on.” Debbie explained that her business offers several types of coverage for growers, primarily the government subsidized variety of crop insurance. Multiperil insurance covers several situations that may damage crops, all of which must be natural disasters such as hail, wind, heat, drought and the like. Crop hail adds additional coverage if farm crops are destroyed by hail, but Debbie said not as much is purchased since multiperil will cover that as well. She clarified that coverage on cotton crops can vary on the percentage paid on a
lost crop. The most common coverage is around 65 percent of that 10-year average of production. Prices are set throughout the year based on markets, and growers can choose either regular yield price or revenue coverage. Revenue coverage costs a bit more, but if the market goes up or down and they make the guarantee crop, the coverage could help increase profitability as well. “The government also has a program called stax, which looks at the average for the whole county. If that is low, they can possibly get paid more,” explained Debbie. “Not everyone takes that because the premiums are extremely high. They have to look at how much they can pay per acre if they make a crop. I guarantee you that premium is high, and if they make a good crop it can be like they had a hail since they paid that high premium.” Insurance for farm crops is like any other insurance lines: coverage can be completely optional and varies by budget. But like other items
families cover, they may be required if there are loans being provided by banks. Debbie also said participants in programs through the Farm Service Agency often require insurance at a minimum level to qualify for disaster payments. Debbie is licensed in Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Colorado. Daughterin-law Jodi Roberts lives in Oklahoma and writes policies for ranch land and grasses. Son-in-law Carson Johnson works with pasture rangeland and forage coverage at the agency from Plainview, among other tasks. He and Debbie map the farms they cover and place the crops in place to document conditions. “The crops around here we mostly work are in Hale, Floyd, Castro, Swisher, and a little in Briscoe, Lamb, Lubbock, Hockley and Lynn counties. We’ve been very fortunate to gain good clientele,” said Debbie. “I am blessed with a lot of good farmers that are respectful and really trying to do a good job. I get a lot of business from word of mouth. It’s been great work.”
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SATURDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2025 B9
COTTON IS KING Cotton crop thrives with timely rains across the state Texas Crop and Weather Report KAY LEDBETTER Special to the Herald
lower than in the past few years, McKnight said.
Despite some challenges, cotton production is expected to be better than average due to timely rains this season, according to Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service reports around the state.
Losses experienced in the Lower Rio Grande Valley, South Plains
Yields were aboveaverage at this dryland trial site at the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service Replicated Agronomic Cotton Evaluation, RACE, Trials in Wharton County. (Zack Eder/Texas A&M AgriLife)
Cotton acres in the Lower Rio Grande Valley were much lower than in previous seasons. Growers planted around 60,000 acres compared to the typical 100,000120,000 acres. Flooding in late March reduced those acres by an additional 20%. Yields are good so far in the Coastal Bend and Rio Grande Valley, with harvest about 80% complete, said Josh McGinty, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension agronomist and assistant professor,
Ben McKnight, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension statewide cotton specialist and assistant professor in the Texas A&M Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, Bryan-College Station, said the Aug. 25 acreage report from the Texas Boll Weevil Eradication Foundation has total planted Texas acres at approximately 5.41 million acres.
Corpus Christi. Harvested cotton trial acres produced above average yields with several yielding from 2.5 to over 3 bales per acre. Cotton quality was outstanding according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Corpus Christi office.
While planted acres rarely translate into “harvested acres,” it appears that cotton field abandonment may be
“We often suffer from high micronaire (fiber thickness) values this far south, but so far the majority of bales classed
have been between 3.7 and 4.9,” McGinty said.
drought conditions in August, he anticipates that overall abandonment Micronaire readings will be less than 25%, between 3.7-4.2 are significantly lower than considered premium, and the approximate 50% readings under 3.4 and in the 2023 and 2024 over 5.0 are discounted. seasons. In the South Plains Since planting, region, Ken Legé, Ph.D., frequent rainfall and AgriLife Extension cotton mild temperatures have specialist and assistant resulted in better-thanprofessor, Lubbock, average crop conditions said while they saw for dryland and irrigated some losses, he expects fields. The forecast for the much better results for remainder of the season producers this season. suggests there will be Even with stand failures sufficient heat units to and some anticipated losses due to heat and finish the crop, he said.
Harvest began in the Upper Gulf Coast with early reports of mostly above-average yields. McKnight said timely rainfall greatly helped the dryland crop this year. He said the crop also looks to be above average in the Brazos River Bottom and While this is a concern, the Blackland Prairie. the forecast for the “The overwhelming remainder of the season majority of the Blackland suggests there will be Prairie’s cotton crop is not sufficient heat units to irrigated, so producers finish the crop, he said. are at the mercy of
“This is good news for the industry, as gins, suppliers, warehouses and the entire cotton industry have endured tough economic conditions due to low cotton lint volume the last few years,” Legé said.
Harvest underway or near in Gulf Coast, Blacklands
rainfall,” he said. “Many parts of the Blacklands TEXAS CROP, cont. on Page 10
COTTON IS KING
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COTTON IS KING
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received good rainfall, and I have been hearing preliminary estimates of 2-bale and in some cases perhaps 3-bale yield potential in fields.” Defoliation and preparing the cotton crop for harvest in the Blackland Prairie will be in full swing in the coming weeks as grain harvest winds down. McKnight said irrigated cotton in the Brazos Bottom also appears to be progressing well and is nearing defoliation. Rains aid production in Central, Rolling Plains, Panhandle Cotton in Central Texas got off to a late start due to wet conditions in May, but most of the acres were planted into great moisture and had good establishment, said Reagan Noland, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension agronomist and associate professor, San Angelo. While no significant rain fell in August, earlier rains sustained the crop, and it is nearing cutout across most of the region. Some later-planted fields still need time to mature if the current blooms are to make a harvestable boll. “Overall, we have a
much better crop in the field than we have had for the past three years, but it could desperately use a rain now,” Noland said. “I anticipate us pushing harvest aid applications a bit later than normal if conditions allow.”
Emi Kimura, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension cotton agronomist and associate professor, Vernon, said growers in the Rolling Plains planted 275,000 acres of primarily dryland cotton this year. “The best part is that it rained in July and August,” Kimura said. “The rain, coupled with the cooler temperatures, has helped the dryland cotton look better than the last few years.” Jourdan Bell, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension cotton agronomist and associate professor, Amarillo, said the Panhandle region planted 332,865 acres with about a 50/50 split in irrigated and dryland. Cotton was helped by timely rains in July and August, but producers reported late-season hail that could negatively impact yields. Most fields are moving into boll filling and fiber maturation under good soil moisture conditions.
“Our irrigated producers should be shutting down irrigation,” Bell said. “As long as they have good soil moisture, the plants will not be stressed and drop bolls. If producers continue irrigating, we can see fields resume vegetative growth, and we could potentially create some fiber quality issues.”
It is typical to start spraying harvest aids on cotton in October, with most of the harvest beginning in the Central, Rolling Plains and Panhandle sometime in November. AgriLife Extension district reporters compiled the following summaries: Panhandle The district experienced cooler temperatures and widespread rainfall. Overall soil moisture conditions were short to adequate. Overall crop conditions were fair to good. Corn and sorghum harvests were in full swing, while the feed corn harvest should start in the next few weeks. If predicted rains occur, early wheat planting should follow shortly after. Pasture and range conditions were fair to good.
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COTTON IS KING Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service shares cotton jassid guidance Experts publish fact sheet providing education as invasive pest monitoring continues ADAM RUSSELL Special to the Herald
An invasive pest – the cotton jassid, also known as the two-spot cotton leafhopper – has prompted experts in the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and Texas A&M Department of Entomology to mobilize monitoring efforts, assess potential impacts and prepare strategies to protect the future of Texas cotton production.
threaten future cotton crops. Kerns said his team is in close communication with Protect your crop experts in other states, Stay ahead of this the Texas Department emerging pest. AgriLife of Agriculture and Extension’s new fact sheet U.S. Department of provides identification Agriculture Animal tips, biological and Plant Health information and Inspection Service to guidance to help protect relay information as your cotton crop. Review they continue to assess the resource to learn how the pest’s potential for to monitor and respond. establishment in Texas. David Kerns, Ph.D., professor and AgriLife Extension entomologist in the Department of Entomology, said the pest does not appear to be a threat to cotton production this season, but there is concern it could overwinter in South Texas and
“We are monitoring multiple crops for cotton jassid and addressing infestations when and where we find them,” Kerns said. To help prepare cotton producers for the threat, AgriLife Extension has published a new cotton
jassid fact sheet to help with identification and provide background and biological information about the pest.
(Adult above left, nymph above right) is an invasive pest new to Texas. The pest was introduced in nursery settings, and AgriLife Extension Cotton jassid found in and Department of retail nursery plants Entomology experts are monitoring and The invasive pest has been detected on hibiscus addressing infestations plants in retail nurseries through a coordinated effort with state and in Bellmead, McAllen, federal agencies. (Scott Weslaco, Harlingen, Victoria, Rosenberg, San Graham/Auburn University and Isaac Antonio, Cedar Park, Esquivel/University of College Station, Waco, Longview, Corpus Christi Florida) and El Paso. Kerns said Officials believe experts suspect cotton infested hibiscus plants jassid were found in a were shipped from South single cotton field in Florida to locations Fort Bend County, but across the southern U.S. the collected specimen confirmation is pending. The Texas Department of Agriculture is taking steps to find and The cotton jassid
eliminate the source, and USDA-APHIS is investigating the situation. Kerns said Extension experts in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and Alabama have reported infestations in cotton fields and are coordinating monitoring and response activities. Experts are concerned that cotton jassid infestations found on ornamental plants in nurseries may lead to their establishment in Texas and threaten future cotton crops. (Scott Graham/Auburn University) AgriLife Extension integrated pest
management specialists will continue to monitor locations that could harbor jassid populations, Kerns said. “We’re definitely staying on top of this, but we really won’t have a solid assessment of whether jassid populations successfully overwintered until spring,” he said. The cotton jassid’s native range spans from Indonesia and Japan to Iran. While the impact of the pest on U.S. cotton production is unknown, Kerns said the pest has reportedly caused up to 50% yield losses in cotton in India and is extremely JASSID, cont. on Page 12
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COTTON IS KING Ultra-low gossypol cottonseed takes next step toward humanitarian use KAY LEDBETTER Special to the Herald
JASSID, from Page 11
difficult to control. Plants are damaged by the saliva they inject during feeding. The saliva contains toxins that damage plants, and heavy infestations can kill plants. Texas leads the nation in cotton production, representing 40% of U.S. output and more than $2.4 billion in annual value. Kerns said AgriLife Extension
and Department of Entomology experts will continue working with partnering agencies and industry organizations to develop and circulate monitoring and response recommendations for cotton producers. “Right now, this is about awareness and monitoring,” he said. “We want our producers to know we are actively working on ways to mitigate this pest’s impact should it establish in our state.”
Texas A&M AgriLife Research has reached a major milestone in increasing the value of cotton, marking the initial step toward commercial adoption of food-ingredient cottonseed. This innovative development was led by Keerti Rathore, Ph.D., AgriLife Research plant biotechnologist in the Texas A&M Department value of cotton, going of Soil and Crop beyond the growers’ Sciences. focus on the fiber and concentrating on the The value of value-added use for the cottonseed could be seed, which has a high improved with the partnership between The protein and oil content. Cotton plants produce Texas A&M University System and Uzbekistan’s 1.6 times more seed than fiber by weight. Center of Genetics and Bioinformatics at the Rathore’s development Academy of Sciences, of ultra-low gossypol which is the next step cottonseed trait has toward commercial opened the market to adoption of foodexpand beyond the ingredient cottonseed. historically restricted (Beth McClosky/Texas market of dairy cows to A&M AgriLife) feed poultry, swine and With foundational aquaculture species in research support and addition to direct use regulatory funding as a protein source for provided by Cotton human consumption. Incorporated, Rathore To further advance has spent more than 30 years improving the adoption and
trait into cotton varieties adapted for Uzbekistan, in alignment with the nation’s food security objectives.
demonstrate the global humanitarian potential of ultra-low gossypol cottonseed, AgriLife Research and Cotton Incorporated collaborated to make the trait available for noncommercial use a few years ago.
In addition to validating this trait, U.S. cotton growers may see future benefits as germplasm and future biotech traits are shared back with AgriLife Research following Uzbekistan’s adoption of ultra-low gossypol cottonseed.
As a result of these efforts, Uzbekistan has become the first country to formalize a partnership with The Texas A&M University System through Texas A&M Innovation. The agreement, facilitated by Uzbekistan’s Center of Genomics and Bioinformatics of the Academy of Sciences, will support the incorporation of the
Making cottonseed edible The cotton plant produces more seeds by weight than fiber. However, gossypol, a ULTRA-LOW, cont. on Page 13
70 YEARS OF RAINFALL TOTALS Your Farm & Home HQ Q
Year 1956 1957 1958 1959 AVG.
Jan 0.06 0.23 2.38 0.06 0.68
Feb 2.14 1.10 0.26 0.08 0.90
Mar 0.02 1.16 2.25 0.04 0.87
Apr 0.00 5.33 2.67 1.20 2.30
May 3.12 5.03 2.05 2.10 3.08
Jun 3.28 4.77 2.38 3.72 3.54
Jul 0.47 0.32 1.46 4.94 1.80
Aug 0.24 3.22 1.40 0.97 1.46
Sep 0.00 0.66 2.42 0.39 0.87
Oct 0.31 3.07 0.64 2.26 1.57
Nov 0.00 1.57 0.47 0.00 0.51
Dec 0.38 0.57 0.16 2.52 0.91
Annual 10.02 27.03 18.54 18.28 18.49
1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 AVG.
1.10 1.01 0.51 0.02 0.85 0.11 0.28 0.00 0.98 0.00 0.49
1.23 1.38 0.01 1.13 0.95 0.40 0.04 0.56 1.21 0.59 0.72
0.59 1.86 0.04 0.08 0.42 0.11 1.00 0.40 1.72 1.77 0.80
0.48 0.44 1.16 0.60 0.02 0.37 2.51 0.13 0.78 1.37 0.78
1.16 3.39 5.85 2.83 1.81 1.43 1.12 4.04 3.11 6.02 2.97
3.47 3.54 4.68 5.60 2.81 7.07 4.34 4.62 4.54 2.23 4.29
11.74 3.49 3.67 3.51 0.23 0.18 1.14 3.63 2.71 2.02 3.23
0.97 0.83 0.59 2.21 3.11 1.15 6.19 0.57 3.09 1.73 2.04
3.65 0.92 4.61 1.68 4.80 1.78 2.30 1.21 1.65 4.78 2.73
6.35 0.28 3.14 0.72 0.73 1.84 0.00 0.04 0.62 4.92 1.86
0.00 1.52 1.17 1.45 0.49 0.00 0.06 0.19 1.29 0.48 0.67
1.71 0.32 0.48 0.47 0.94 0.48 0.12 0.47 0.27 0.81 0.61
32.45 18.98 25.91 20.39 17.16 14.92 19.10 15.86 21.97 26.72 21.19
1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 AVG.
0.00 0.00 0.05 0.66 0.06 1.03 0.08 0.45 0.52 0.57 0.34
0.00 0.88 0.06 0.89 0.01 1.18 0.00 0.59 1.57 0.91 0.61
2.35 0.03 0.00 3.01 1.29 0.11 0.30 0.64 0.44 1.78 0.99
0.53 1.08 0.17 1.90 0.46 0.78 2.16 2.69 0.51 0.93 1.12
1.03 2.86 3.93 1.76 1.20 1.53 0.99 8.54 3.09 4.43 2.93
0.96 3.15 2.42 0.33 3.22 3.01 1.77 1.52 3.45 5.18 2.50
0.28 1.41 3.29 2.58 0.93 4.22 5.16 0.33 0.41 6.34 2.49
1.30 1.76 2.76 1.49 8.02 2.01 0.81 4.67 1.82 3.22 2.78
0.65 5.41 1.50 1.92 4.75 1.52 2.01 0.20 2.11 1.00 2.10
1.75 2.02 1.49 1.10 5.36 1.42 1.49 1.63 0.54 1.80 1.36
0.12 0.59 1.12 0.01 0.62 0.52 0.47 0.04 2.22 0.08 0.58
0.00 1.21 0.42 0.02 0.58 0.74 0.00 0.02 0.23 0.56 0.38
8.97 20.40 17.21 15.67 26.50 18.07 15.24 20.68 16.91 26.80 18.18
1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 AVG.
0.76 0.21 0.03 2.64 0.16 0.66 0.00 0.42 0.26 0.49 0.56
1.15 0.25 0.43 0.44 0.64 0.39 1.41 1.30 0.21 0.77 0.70
0.59 1.41 0.58 0.11 0.50 1.41 0.18 0.25 0.36 0.30 0.57
1.03 2.76 0.47 0.80 0.76 1.45 1.13 0.17 2.51 0.04 1.11
3.58 0.65 3.87 1.64 0.73 3.70 2.38 6.62 3.65 3.10 2.99
1.37 2.44 6.44 1.46 3.29 10.03 2.89 1.29 3.54 7.42 4.01
0.62 2.13 1.42 0.15 0.97 3.79 1.91 1.67 7.26 1.49 2.14
0.52 4.08 0.24 0.39 3.93 0.54 4.79 1.55 3.03 2.48 2.15
3.28 2.74 0.23 0.36 1.15 4.32 3.09 3.94 4.28 4.41 2.78
0.75 2.27 0.24 5.80 1.92 3.90 4.26 0.66 0.05 0.00 1.99
1.52 0.82 1.63 0.30 1.84 0.12 2.30 0.37 0.15 0.00 0.91
0.45 0.09 1.08 0.39 1.62 0.40 1.12 2.54 0.35 0.33 0.84
15.62 19.85 16.66 14.48 17.51 30.71 25.46 20.78 25.65 20.83 20.75
1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 AVG.
0.90 1.30 1.01 1.66 0.57 0.19 0.03 0.57 0.00 2.51 0.87
1.21 0.15 0.74 0.48 0.12 0.01 0.07 1.07 1.76 0.00 0.56
0.96 0.14 0.58 2.01 1.40 0.48 0.05 0.08 1.69 1.51 0.89
2.42 0.00 4.46 0.98 3.66 1.54 0.00 5.69 0.62 2.17 2.15
0.95 4.07 4.91 1.96 2.02 4.73 1.09 3.78 1.45 4.29 2.92
1.22 2.98 7.32 1.82 0.46 0.91 1.90 3.54 0.82 1.52 2.25
1.47 3.58 4.25 4.13 4.35 0.93 2.21 2.10 0.97 1.16 2.52
1.49 3.09 0.85 1.13 0.60 2.52 3.89 4.05 4.77 0.91 2.33
1.45 5.07 0.94 0.46 1.25 4.70 2.51 2.32 0.15 1.35 2.02
0.60 1.12 0.00 1.26 0.22 0.91 0.33 1.02 6.50 0.72 1.27
1.09 1.12 0.97 0.66 0.83 0.05 1.16 0.58 1.81 0.00 1.00
0.22 2.57 0.53 0.75 0.22 1.29 0.03 1.75 0.47 1.19 0.90
13.98 25.19 26.56 17.30 15.70 21.26 13.27 26.55 21.01 17.33 19.68
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 AVG.
0.08 0.17 0.83 0.06 1.55 0.32 0.00 1.33 0.08 0.08 0.45
0.00 0.46 0.36 0.03 2.19 0.77 0.43 0.19 0.60 0.70 0.57
2.47 2.67 1.34 0.55 2.02 1.64 1.73 4.89 0.07 0.31 1.77
1.44 0.54 1.53 0.70 2.51 0.67 0.91 0.99 0.80 2.31 1.24
0.19 7.06 1.67 1.05 0.54 3.31 3.46 3.74 4.21 1.93 2.72
4.84 1.53 1.47 6.02 5.32 1.37 0.88 4.30 2.70 3.35 3.18
1.66 0.13 1.50 0.00 2.74 3.88 0.20 4.44 1.21 1.00 1.68
0.00 1.19 3.07 0.45 3.87 4.04 2.34 1.19 3.17 2.24 2.16
0.00 1.78 0.05 1.33 3.35 0.65 4.29 2.46 2.77 1.92 1.86
2.86 0.17 3.27 0.44 3.63 1.35 2.58 0.13 3.24 0.07 1.77
0.95 2.71 0.74 0.37 5.60 0.00 0.22 0.06 0.14 1.92 1.20
0.78 0.30 0.90 0.00 0.49 0.04 2.19 1.16 0.02 1.28 0.65
15.27 18.71 16.73 11.00 33.81 18.04 19.73 25.06 19.01 17.11 19.25
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 AVG.
1.71 0.01 0.00 0.76 0.00 1.34 0.15 1.87 0.00 0.00 0.58
1.75 0.38 0.63 1.74 0.14 0.77 0.17 0.43 0.72 0.03 0.68
2.38 1.00 0.75 0.38 0.32 0.60 0.21 0.91 0.58 1.37 0.85
4.44 0.00 0.49 0.82 0.55 3.01 1.30 1.96 0.27 1.29 1.41
1.90 0.16 1.06 0.10 4.39 13.24 2.41 0.32 1.18 4.63 2.94
2.37 0.01 3.36 2.23 4.83 3.42 2.62 2.93 2.50 2.84 2.71
7.27 0.19 0.48 4.89 2.63 3.81 0.68 3.92 0.98 2.39 2.72
1.74 0.02 0.86 1.86 1.10 1.51 5.35 3.84 2.22 0.58 1.91
0.84 0.51 1.47 1.05 4.18 0.36 3.42 3.70 3.42 1.80 2.07
1.83 0.17 0.23 1.64 0.60 4.60 0.41 0.86 0.30 1.08 1.17
0.65 0.12 0.00 0.92 1.62 1.13 1.10 0.00 0.87 0.68 0.71
0.00 1.15 0.62 0.15 0.16 1.30 0.46 0.03 16.93 1.08 2.19
26.88 3.72 9.95 16.54 20.52 35.09 18.28 20.77 14.93 17.77 19.94
2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 AVG.
0.41 1.35 0.34 0.57 1.24 0.12 0.67
1.11 0.16 0.03 0.06 0.78 0.01 0.36
3.25 1.33 0.05 0.06 0.44 0.35 0.91
0.10 0.19 0.00 0.26 2.43 2.43 0.90
1.19 3.86 2.69 9.13 3.18 3.08 3.86
1.39 5.04 0.67 1.75 2.67 5.06 2.76
1.26 4.57 0.22 4.56 1.66 4.97 2.87
1.35 2.39 3.31 0.68 0.21 1.17 1.52
0.11 2.05 1.17 2.22 2.63 1.38 1.59
1.03 0.60 1.15 0.44 0.00 0.99 0.70
0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
0.00 0.09 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.02
11.20 21.63 9.63 19.72 15.24 19.56 16.16
Important
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2801 Dimmit Rd. Plainview, TX 79072
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WEAR COTTON
PLAINVIEW HERALD | MYPLAINVIEW.COM
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2025 B13
COTTON IS KING ULTRA-LOW, from Page 12
naturally occurring toxic compound that deters insects, is present throughout the cotton plant, including the seeds. The gossypol prevents their use as food or feed for nonruminant animals. To date, the dairy industry’s use of cottonseed as a feed has made it the No. 1 consumer of U.S. cottonseed. Rathore’s ultra-low gossypol cottonseed, TAM 66274, partially funded by U.S. cotton growers through Cotton Incorporated, was approved for field planting and food and feed consumption by the U.S. Department of Agriculture in 2018 and U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2019. Once the cotton fibers are stripped from the cotton boll, the seeds are left and have been primarily used by the dairy industry. In the future, ultra-low gossypol cottonseed could become a food ingredient after further processing. (Michael Miller/Texas A&M AgriLife) With it fully
deregulated in the U.S., the incorporation of ultra-low gossypol cottonseed represents an untapped market and an exciting opportunity for the industry to incorporate the trait into their commercial varieties, Rathore said. Nobel Peace Laureate Norman Borlaug, Ph.D., renowned for saving a billion lives by developing highyielding wheat varieties, supported ultra-low gossypol cottonseed and Rathore’s work in a letter for a Nature manuscript back in 2005. “This research potentially opens the door to utilizing safely the more than 40 million tons of cottonseed produced annually as a large, valuable protein source for improving nutrition of monogastric animals, including man,” Borlaug wrote. Rathore’s goal is the global adoption of ultralow gossypol cottonseed. He envisions a future where cotton is valued for its fiber and as an alternative protein source. This dualpurpose use of the crop should improve the sustainability of
cotton cultivation. Former student facilitates partnership in Uzbekistan Ibrokhim Abdurakhmonov, Ph.D., Texas A&M Department of Soil and Crop Sciences former student and current Uzbekistan Minister of Agriculture, facilitated this humanitarian relationship. “The transfer of cutting-edge cotton innovation offers a significant opportunity for Uzbekistan’s cotton industry,” Abdurakhmonov said.
“It is of interest to the research community, government and farmers, aligning fully with Uzbekistan’s food security agenda.”
because of the researchers’ expertise in transferring and commercializing traits.
The availability of this technology for research will facilitate the transfer of the ultralow gossypol cottonseed trait into locally adapted Uzbek cotton cultivars soon. Rathore said the Uzbekistan partner organization, the Center of Genomics and Bioinformatics, founded by Abdurakhmonov, is well-positioned to acquire this technology
Their expertise was demonstrated by the successful breeding and commercialization of long fiber cultivars in Uzbekistan, Abdurakhmonov said. Uzbek scientists jointly developed these cultivars with Texas A&M and the USDAAgriculture Research Service. “I hope this partnership and transfer of technology will be mutually beneficial and will help promote
adoption of this technology in the U.S. and worldwide in cotton farming soon,” Rathore said. Further information regarding ultra-low gossypol cottonseed can be found in the 2020 article in Critical Reviews in Plant Sciences or by contacting Rathore at keerti.rathore@ag.tamu. edu. Inquiries regarding licensing or material transfer related to the ultra-low gossypol cottonseed should be directed to Janie Hurley, Janie.hurley@ag.tamu. edu, at Texas A&M Innovation.
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1014 Broadway, St. Plainview, TX 79072 (806) 296-7418
B14 SATURDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2025
PLAINVIEW HERALD | MYPLAINVIEW.COM
COTTON IS KING
Farming is calling to growth of land, people TERESA YOUNG Special to the Herald
Many things have changed since Steven Ebeling’s great-greatgrandfather C.S. Ebeling rode into Plainview in 1901 on a covered wagon and established a farm after his goods burned up in a fire. But the spirit of love for the land and for the people of this area live on in Steven’s farming operation on some of the same land more than a century later. A fifth-generation farmer, Steven is a lifelong Plainview resident who says farming was pretty much in his blood. Helping on the family farm from a young age with parents Donny and Cinde Ebeling, he grew up not knowing much else. The profession was a natural fit. “I guess I was pretty lucky. My daycare was the floor of the elevator office and gin office. I remember going to school in first grade and not knowing how to play with kids or talk to kids because I was used to 60- to 80-yearold grown men. I’m an old soul, but I just was blessed to be raised to be an adult,” recalled Steven, 33. “Farming was something I’ve always been passionate about. I love it. I get to work as hard as I want to, and at the end of the day, whether I fail or succeed, it’s all on my shoulders. I love the freedom of that, to be able to go out and do
something productive hopefully every day and change the world to make it better. I hope that every year that I farm I have improved what I’ve been blessed to work on.”
reasons. Economically you have to be able to pay your bills and grow your business. If you’re not profitable, then you’re not truly sustainable. One of the biggest factors in sustainability is Steven grows a variety economic. It doesn’t of crops: cotton, wheat, matter how good we are, millet, seed maize, if we can’t afford to do corn, sorghum and it next year, then we’re cucumbers, growing just a one-hit wonder those for the Best Maid that really didn’t impact company out of Fort or make change,” noted Worth. The family also Steven. “It’s important to raises cattle and has a me that what I planned feedyard and a heifer/ for the year has an calf operation. He farms opportunity to succeed with his father on the and at the very least same family land those doesn’t go backwards. first generations set up We don’t have to take a and additional acres huge leap forward; if we around it added over the can always keep moving years. forward every single year, then it adds up.” “We try to stay Being successful for diversified for many
Steven and the Ebeling family goes far beyond economic profitability. Farms rely heavily on additional labor, and Steven said helping to support other West Texas families is just as valuable to their business model. “If we can overlap our growing seasons and keep our employees busy 12 months out of the year, then we can justify paying more, and that’s important to me. They work very hard with integrity, and put in a lot of emotion, and blood, sweat and tears,” he said. “I get to employ wonderful men and women and can help them better their lives as well. It’s not always about a crop that we grow out of the ground
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but the people at work we surround ourselves with. Sometimes on bad years when you get hailed out, you have to look at that because the only successful crop you had that year was bettering those lives.”
practice with shared resources but also a product of their special relationship.
“We love working together. It’s one of the hardest things you do, but when you are passionate about Diversification also something, it’s one of the helps improve their most rewarding things return on investment, a person can do,” Steven Steven said, since the said. “To a certain point, cost of inputs such as you determine your agricultural equipment own destiny by how continue to rise. hard you work and the Stacking the biological sacrifices you make. But lifespan of planted crops at the same time, there’s helps with this equation. a lot that’s not in your control. While Steven and Donny own separate “If you are doing it tracts of land on paper, correctly, you come he said the fatherhome mentally and son combo work well physically exhausted, but together and share many you’ve given everything of the farming duties GROWTH, cont. on Page 15 as both a efficiency
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PLAINVIEW HERALD | MYPLAINVIEW.COM
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2025 B15
COTTON IS KING GROWTH, from Page 14
to the day and didn’t waste a second God gave you. That’s the most rewarding thing: to be respectful and humble and use the blessings God gave me to help people that I might not ever even meet that don’t have the opportunities I have.” Dealing with the ever-scarcening water supply on the South Plains is an ongoing challenge, but Steven said the family uses cover crops, crop rotation and no-tilling on cotton crops to help the effort. They also take advantage of technology that allows them to control irrigation from their cell phone and be most efficient. The outcome is twofold: economic savings and sustainability for the next generation. “Everything is controlled; every input is measured and quantified, so we are making sure they are good economically and for the environment too,” he said. “My ability to pass this on to the next generation is to keep the living organism healthy and
sustainable, which is the top seven inches of the land. I try to honor the previous generations of hard work, and it’s very rewarding and humbling. I hope if our children decide to come home, it’s a thriving business where they can do that as well.” The family business includes Steven’s wife Shannon, who works remotely from home as an HR director and helps on the farm as she can, and son Jack, 18 months, who loves the farm tractor already. Since Steven recalls driving a tractor before he could drive a car – perching on the edge of the seat to reach the clutch, he’s encouraged that his son might pick up the same love for the land. “When you are young you don’t understand but the older you realize more the blessing it is. There’s a lot to be said for getting up and having to work for something. The hardest days at work I come home and feel the best,” he says. “I am so blessed to get up every single day and go to work with family and friends and make a difference in
this world. In a month I can look at a crop I’m growing and know I’m making a significant change. That’s my calling in this life and how I can better this society. I hope what I did here impacts future generations and makes a better life for them.” But Steven acknowledges fully that this farming life depends highly on faith in God to provide, especially when so many factors are outside the producer’s control. “At the end of the day, we are putting a seed in the ground and giving it to God, doing what we can to be successful stewards of it. You learn a lot about life in farming, and it’s one of the greatest teachers about faith,” he adds. “It’s very like our relationship with Christ. You are asked to do something based on faith, so you have to get that started. If I don’t work as hard as I can and do it with integrity and honor, then I have already failed. He doesn’t hand it to us; he gives us two hands and expects us to do something and work and learn.”
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