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Crop Information
Cotton
The Arizona Cotton boom occurred during World War I as a result of the
development of Long Staple Egyptian Cotton. This type of cotton was developed with the
help of Charles Henry Waterhouse and Estmer Hudson of the United States Department
of Agriculture. It yielded a greater tensile strength that made it valuable as an industrial
fabric. The boom was a result its use in making wartime products such as making tires
and other heavy manufacturing items. Tire companies like Goodyear, Firestone, and
Dunlap relocated factories to Arizona to take advantage of the newly developed crop. The
town of Goodyear was established in 1917 by the tire company specifically for
establishing its factory and employees there. By 1920, cotton was so valuable and yielded
so much money that almost all other crop productions from alfalfa to dairy were
ceased in order to grow cotton instead. However, after World War I many of the
government contracts for cotton dried up, as there was no longer a need for it. The
resulting glut in the market resulted in the eventually end of the boom of cotton in
Arizona.
Among the cotton producing states, in 1998, Arizona ranked 8th in cotton lint and
cottonseed production. Arizona ranked 3rd among the four Pima cotton producing states
and 8th among the 17 Upland cotton producing states. Yuma County cotton acreage in
2002 was 20,000 acres, which is down from a high in 1997 of almost 28,000 acres.
However, the average yield in 2002 was just short of 3 bales per acre, at 2.85 bales,
which is the highest average yield since 1997. The average yield was 1,368 pounds per
acre. A "bale" of cotton is estimated at 500 pounds, but the actual harvest is still
recorded in pounds per acre. The cotton should sell for about $0.75 per pound. Cotton
has an undetermined shelf life, and can be stored indefinitely, which tends to be a
problem when most nations can grow their own cotton.
Cotton grows well with a very dry, hot climate, and as such is quite suited to
Yuma County’s summers. However, because of the affinity for heat, cotton is very
susceptible to a variety of insects, including aphids, boll weevils, whitefly, bollworms,
cutworms, caterpillars, and other diseases like fungus and root rot. This makes the
growing process very difficult, and a potential for higher chemical and production costs.
In the last few years seed development, some genetically, has helped to overcome some
of these potential problems. As better seeds are developed, higher yields or lower
production costs can be expected.
| Ranch Budget - Cotton |
Est. Cost |
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| Land Cost** |
$100.00 |
| Water (5.00 acre feet) |
75.00 |
| Land Preparation (Tractor Work) |
210.00 |
| Seed |
25.00 |
| Fertilizer |
75.00 |
| Chemicals |
220.00 |
| Irrigation |
35.00 |
| Harvest |
160.00 |
| Administration |
5.00 |
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| Total Cost (Per Acre) |
$905.00 |
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| Expected Yield |
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| 1,250 pounds per acre |
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| Market |
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| $0.75 per pound |
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| Total Income (Per Acre) |
$937.50 |
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| Net Crop Income (Per Acre) |
$32.50 |
** The actual land cost is dependent upon the farmers economic position in the land,
whether or not there is any debt to be serviced and/or if the land is owned or leased.
The actual cost of fertilizer and chemicals is dependent on the conditions of the
field at the time of planting. The previous crop's ground nutrients may be sufficient to
lower the fertilizer cost, and the herbicides and insecticides are determined by the current
conditions each year.
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