By William Keltner
Texas Border Business
Growing cotton is a business at the mercy of the weather, political upheavals, a fickle, world-wide market, and pervasive bug infestations. But, in spite of such variables, the Texas A & M Agrilife Extension Service at College Station is predicting a double-digit percentage increase in Texas cotton plantings over those of 2013.
The expectations are for plantings to be 6.5 million acres or more, well above the 5.8 million acres planted in 2013, said Dr Gaylon Morgan, AgriLife Extension statewide cotton agronomist. All good news for Texas cotton producers.
Dr. Morgan added that the cotton planting in the Valley started in early March, but was briefly halted by rain and cold weather. He commented: “Recent rains delayed planting again, but improved the prospects for a successful crop.
To find out what all this means for Valley cotton farmers, La Feria News spoke with Steve Wolf, well- known La Feria, Texas cotton producer.
Steve put it this way: “The weather, politics and the world-wide market are out of our control, but, we’ve got a grip on the boll-weevil problem.” He added, “If we didn’t have a boll-weevil eradication program in Texas, I’d be out of business.” But, he added, “I’m growing 3 to 4 bales an acre on my 400 acres planted in cotton. This year, we‘re planting more cotton and less grain than ever before.”
All of Steve’s fields are irrigated, and the prospects are good. “Because of winter rains, the soil is in excellent condition, and I have enough water for all my crops right now, but we are still praying for more beneficial rain,” he said. “The Department of Agriculture continues to work with Mexico to release stored water that belongs to us. When that happens, it will be a big boost. Check with me at plow-up time in September, and I’ll tell you how it turned out.”
Since a brand-new John Deere cotton picker costs better than $500,000 Dollars, Wolf hires out the picking. He hires Sam and Josh Ruiz to harvest his cotton for him. “They do a great job,” he said.
Steve Wolf has a faithful support team for his planting and cultivating chores that he can depend on each year. The crew consists of his wife, Kathy; his three beautiful daughters: Hannah, Kelly and Kate. “All these girls can drive the biggest John Deere tractor I have.”
It doesn’t stop there: Steve Wolf is a passionate aviator, and has always been. He was one of the founders of the Confederate Air Force when it was formed by Lefty Gardner, Lloyd Nolan and Dick Disney at Lefty’s Mercedes crop dusting airport.
Because of this passion, he taught all the women in his family not only to drive John Deere tractors, but fly single-engine private airplanes. Hannah regularly flies to college. Kate goes to a college in San Marcos and Kelly teaches freshman English at La Feria High School. Steve and the women in his life make for a remarkable family.
We found Steve Wolf to be a straightforward, dedicated man whose family motto is: “Git’er done.”
