An Economic Analysis of Irrigation and Tillage for Cotton in Southwest Georgia

Nearly half of all Georgia cotton acres were irrigated in 2008.  In addition, over half of all cotton acres in Georgia were produced under some form of conservation tillage.  In light of recent droughts and weed management problems, farmers continue to look for the most economical method to grow cotton.  The purpose of this project is to examine the economics of cotton grown under conventional, or deep, tillage and conservation, or strip, tillage production methods at four levels of irrigation (100%, 67%, 33% and 0% based on soil watermark sensors).  The trial was conducted during 2009 at Stripling Irrigation Research Park in Camilla, GA using DPL0935 cotton.  Results are pending harvest of the cotton and collection of yield and quality data.  Costs will be based on tillage methods and irrigation applications.  Revenues will be determined by yield and quality adjustments based on the southeast base price.