VIDEO: Cotton Is The New ‘King’ Crop

NOXUBEE COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI)- Mississippi has a love-hate relationship with cotton. Historically, it was the source of the state’s biggest income – and biggest shame.

In the 1960s, fighting bugs and disease became a secondary industry. And, finally farmers turned to alternative crops like soybeans and corn and catfish. But in the past few years one local farming cooperative is bringing cotton back.

“Right now we’re at the early stage of cotton harvest. Pretty much most of the cotton that has been harvested is the cotton that’s dry land,” says MSU Extension Specialist, Dennis Reginelli.

Cotton grows from May to September, then come the harvesters, who go out and gather the cotton.

Reginelli knows all the ins and outs of growing cotton. He says that cotton farms have been on a steady decline.

However, a fairly new local cotton gin has turned things around for the farmers in East Mississippi.

“With this new cotton gin in Noxubee County it’s locally owned by growers and therefore there’s an interest in the farmers to plant cotton. SO I think here in Noxubee County and South Lowndes County you’ll continue to see cotton and you’ll see it grow as we keep going into future years,” says Reginelli.

And local growers agree.

“It’s been fantastic, it’s been just wonderful,” says local farmer, Jack Huerkamp.

Not to mention the economic benefits.

“Cotton has more footprint on the economy than corn and soy beans do,” says Huerkamp.

Huerkamp has been farming cotton for as long as he can remember; he says it’s his favorite crop, and refers to it as more of a dedicated art form.

“It’s not just something you go out and you do. So its things like management, you’re studying it, you’re looking at it, cotton grows best with your shadow in the cotton crop, you gotta be out there, you gotta be looking at it,” says Huerkamp.

Huerkamp says that this dry weather we’ve been having is every cotton farmers dream. The sunny weather keeps the cotton bright and white while they start harvesting.

The local gin expects to see about 30,000 acres worth of cotton crop this year and produce close to 70,000 bales.