Cotton Harvest

October is cotton harvest time in Dallas County, and these bountiful fields were captured on camera in 2008 by guest photographer Christine Weerts.

This year, we have lots of rain that has hindered farming as a whole. But next week, the weather is finally supposed to be cool and dry.

Photograph by Christine Weerts

Cotton Blossom

Cotton is blossoming all over Dallas County, at least where it's still planted.
Last year, only 7,100 bales were produced compared to 11,600 bales in 2000 and 17,800 bales in 1990.

Planted acreage fell from 16,800 in 1990 to 3,900 in 2008. Price the farmer receives per pound is still around 63 cents, the same as 1989.

In 2007, the year of the Great Drought, a mere 2,000 bales were harvested, and farmers decided to plant even less of the crop.

Statistics courtesy the National Cotton Council

Photo by Christine Weerts