PhD in Plant Breeding - Cotton in College Station United States | Texas A&M University

Texas dominates U.S. cotton production, serving as the state's primary cash crop with an economic influence exceeding $5 billion. Each year, Texas grows roughly a quarter of the nation's total cotton yield across approximately 6 million acres. That's equivalent to more than 9,000 square miles of cotton fields—an area comparable to the size of New Hampshire.

Virtually every corner of Texas lies within cotton territory. The state recognizes eight distinct growing regions, each with unique climates, soil types, and farming techniques. The saying "Texas is like a whole other country" rings especially true for cotton cultivation. Planting begins as early as February in the Rio Grande Valley while snow may still blanket the High Plains. By July, when the Valley harvests its first bale, farmers in the Rolling Plains are just completing their planting. The harvesting season typically spans six months, starting in July in the southern Valley and concluding in December on the High Plains. Many harvesting crews follow this seasonal migration, traveling northward from the Valley to the High Plains annually.