U.S Cotton Trust Protocol’s Clint Abernathy Outlines 2022 Cotton Crop Conditions

KC Sheperd, Farm Director, last week visited with Clint Abernathy of the U.S Cotton Trust Protocol. Owner and operator of Abernathy Farms in Altus, Okla., Abernathy talks about this year’s cotton conditions on account of the lack of moisture.



“Of course, we are extremely dry, and we have been that way for quite a while, so the crop, for the most part, is poor,” Abernathy said. “There are some pockets of good cotton here and there, but the crop, for the most part, what I see looks bad. I don’t think most of it will even be harvested.”



For his personal crop, Abernathy said there was not enough water in Lake Lugert-Altus to irrigate this year. He said the lake is low because they didn’t catch any spring rains to replenish it.



“In places like Tillman County where they have water, some of that cotton looks pretty good and I think they have some places up North that have some areas with pretty good cotton, but right here in Jackson County, it is not good,” Abernathy said. “The cotton is just so far behind.”



With a chance of rain coming up, Abernathy said that moisture will finish out some of the cotton that has had irrigation and rain, but for the cotton that hasn’t had any water, it is just too late.



“We would love to see rain just for our upcoming wheat crop and for the grass,” Abernathy said. “It would be nice to have a change.”



Abernathy said the last report from USDA lowered cotton production more than ever before, so luckily the price reacted to that.



“We just have to try to get next year for the most part,” Abernathy said. “There is just not a whole lot we can do about this situation so, you know, crop insurance will help take care of us.”



“There will be another year,” Abernathy said. “This will change.”



With 2011 as the baseline for one of the worst years in recent history for a crop, Abernathy said from a cotton production standpoint it is going to be even worse than that in Oklahoma and West Texas.



“It is a significant drought, and it is going to leave some scars, but I feel like most of the farmers will get through it fine and we will just have to hope this weather pattern changes,” Abernathy said.







Click the LISTEN BAR below to hear KC Sheperd and Clint Abernathy talk about this year’s cotton crop.