By Clint Thompson
The Georgia Cotton Commission (GCC) is encouraged by the early returns from this year’s harvest season. Taylor Sills, GCC executive director, says the crop looks positive considering all the rain accumulated during the production season.
“I would say for as much rain as we had, I would say everything’s probably going okay. We’ve had a lot of rain, and we’ve had some rain come at really poor times. I know some producers in north Georgia faced 8 to 10 inches of rain as their cotton was opening up. That’s not good for anybody,” Sills said.
“But I think at the end of the day, all things considered, with as much moisture as we’ve had at these poor times, I think we’re going to be good all things considering. We’ve seen some poor grades, but as times have gone on the grades have improved a little bit. Our farmers definitely need a good year, though.”
According to the USDA, about 50% of Georgia’s cotton had been harvested as of Nov. 7 with 97% of bolls opening.