Saturday, May 30, 1998

China cotton supply and local dry conditions cloud cotton picture

By J.T. Smith / Abilene Reporter-News

This farm editor has traveled extensively throughout the Rolling Plains and can report -- at this writing -- that most areas still don't have enough moisture to plant cotton.

A few places that were under a spotted shower might dust-in some cottonseed. But overall, the moisture just isn't there.

Hopefully that will change, but with the arrival of June coming Monday, time is rapidly running out to plant cotton.

Meanwhile, China's 1997-98 estimate of cotton production has been increased by 1.3 million bales, bringing the season's projection to 21.1 million bales.

This just adds to the already huge surplus of cotton in Chinese hands.

China's State Statistics Bureau gave no explantion for this latest upward revision of its most recent harvest.

But the National Cotton Council is concerned that this increase in the production estimate could be a hint that another Chinese export tender of cotton may be imminent.

Based on USDA's previous estimates, Chinese ending stocks could be 16.5 million bales -- some 43 percent of world cotton stocks.

Wow!

China is denying that its most recent cotton tendered for export was of poor quality.

There were reports of discoloration -- presumably because much of the cotton was from old Chinese crops harvested back in 1993 and 1994.

Lazy, hazy days have some folks down

Many people keep asking me when the haze is going to disappear and if crops are being hurt?

Tough to say. Mexican and U.S. weather forecasters see no quick relief for Mexico's worst drought in 70 years.

They can only hope for some rain in June.

KTXS Chief Meteorologist George Flickinger told me that although the spotted rains we have had in the Abilene region were greatly appreciated, they have no real impact whatsoever on clearing the haze from the air.

In fact, instead of rain affecting the haze, it is just vice-versa. The haze can actually help to produce some rain. In that respect, I suppose, the haze isn't all bad.

"The haze puts more particles in the air, and this actually could help create rain as those particles collect moisture," Flickinger explained.

Larry Blanchard of the National Weather Service office in San Angelo agreed with Flickinger that rain won't clear the haze.

"Rain will have very little effect on the haze simply because of the source," Blanchard said. "The fires are not being put out fast enough in Mexico and Central America."

The recent volcanic eruption in Guatemala also may be sending some aerial pollutants Texas' way. But the fires have been the main source, Blanchard said.

As far as the impact on crops, the haze actually could help some cotton that already is growing in South Texas as the overcast days keep the plants from losing as much water.

Texas Association of Dairymen endorse Combs

Susan Combs has picked up another key endorsement in her candidacy for Texas Commissioner of Agriculture.

The Republican candidate has been endorsed by the political action committee of Texas Association of Dairymen. The PAC is financed through voluntary member contributions.

Combs is the first woman to run for Texas Commissioner of Agriculture.

Some of the groups that already have endorsed Combs include the Texas Farm Bureau, Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association (TSCRA) , the Dairy Farmers of America, the Texas Association of Business and Chambers of Commerce, Texas Cattle Feeders Association, Texas Agricultural Cooperative Council, Texas Association of Nurserymen and the Texas Restaurant Association.

Combs has served on the Texas Beef Council and Texas PCA and is a TSCRA board member.