Spring Planting Brings Challenges, Opportunities for Farmers

Despite what the groundhog predicted, spring conditions have arrived in Texas, and farmers like Bob Reed in Matagorda County are hard at work.

For Reed, who grows corn and cotton, this year’s planting season started later than usual due to lingering moisture in the fields.

“We normally aim to start planting corn in the middle of February, but our fields were still a little bit wet, whereas others in the state are dry,” he said.

Even with the delay, Reed’s corn, planted just a week ago, is already sprouting.

“So far, we’re doing pretty good. We were dry last fall, but finally got a little rain at the end of fall and beginning of winter,” he said. “After the first of the year, we got a couple of really good rains that saturated our ground and improved our moisture profile.”

Reed feels fortunate to not be facing drying conditions like so many other farmers in Texas right now.

“We’re in good shape for moisture at this time and have enough to last a while without rain,” he said. “We’re very grateful for the moisture we have.”

He said this year’s conditions resemble last year’s.

“We weren’t quite as wet going into the spring as last year, but we still had a good moisture profile in the soil,” he said. “So, it’s good to know that you have enough reserved to carry a little ways, because every day you get a day closer to a drought and you also get a day closer to a flood down here. You never know what the weather’s going to do to you.”

While soil conditions are favorable, financial concerns cast a shadow over the season.

“Costs for seed corn and cotton are both more expensive this year. Fertilizer is about the same, although it’s gone up a little in the last week,” Reed, a Matagorda County Farm Bureau member, said. “We’re looking at a little more expense this year than we did last year.”

Market conditions are also proving challenging.

“Unfortunately, as bad as the market was last year, it’s getting off to a worse start this year,” Reed said. “It’s not unusual for us to have some corn or cotton sold before it’s planted, but I haven’t done anything yet this year just simply because of where prices are.”

Despite the uncertainty, Reed remains optimistic.

“When you look at reports and talk to economists, there’s really nothing in the cards to give us a lot of hope,” he said. “But it’s happened in the past, and we’ll just have to see. I’m optimistic for this year’s crops. The market doesn’t look real good, but comparing this start to last year, it’s very similar.”

Last year held promise until a hurricane hit just before harvest. Reed was able to harvest all his acres, but storm damage reduced yields and lowered crop quality. Without the storm, he believes they would have had record-breaking cotton and corn numbers.

Still, he’s willing to take the risk again, knowing that farming is never a sure bet.

“Every year brings challenges that prevent some farmers from planting another crop or keeping their cattle, but I think for most people, we keep doing it because it’s a passion,” Reed said. “And regardless of how the end of it works, as long as it works well enough to keep going from one year to the next, you keep doing it.”