Lonely weevil delights farmers
Nov 6, 2003 12:00 PM, By Elton Robinson Farm Press Editorial Staff
There were a lot of success stories and occasional mention of the “Q” word at the fall meeting of the National Cotton Council's Boll Weevil Action Committee, in Little Rock, Ark.
According to Jim Brumley, director of the Southeast Boll Weevil Eradication Foundation, the organization that oversees eradication efforts in a number of states, the Southeast cotton-growing region “had an exceptionally good year in 2003.”
Brumley said one boll weevil, a female, was caught in the entire seven-state Southeast region, where over three million acres of cotton are grown. The escapee was found in Alabama on the western edge of the Southeast eradication zone.
Meanwhile, no weevils have been caught since 1996 in California and Arizona, which began eradication efforts in 1991. Trapping efforts in Kansas, the newest cotton-growing region, have not picked up any weevils either.
The Post Eradication Committee voted to develop a plan by Jan. 1, 2005 that would protect the cotton industry's significant investment in boll weevil eradication, according to Craig Shook, Texas cotton producer and member of the PEC and BWAC. “Those rules need to be strong and flexible.”
In the long run, there is some concern that young growers may forget the havoc the weevil caused since it migrated from Mexico in the late 1800s. “We are going to get further and further away from the generations of farmers that remember what the battle is all about,” Shook said.
Remain strong
State boll weevil organizations must remain strong in the post eradication era, noted Shook, and avoid the temptation to let the federal government be the sole entity for implementing quarantines to combat re-infestations. While the government would fund the quarantine if it intervened, their approach would be to quarantine large areas, even whole states.
The committee also recommended that “oversight groups should set minimal standards in the realm of communication, especially with post-eradication referendums. We need to make sure we get the information the growers need,” Shook said.
Here's more on how eradication is proceeding in the Southwest:
Oklahoma. The four zones of Oklahoma had the same news to share — zero weevils and a 99.9 percent reduction since the inception of the program.
Texas. The state has over 5 million acres of cotton and the longest road to success. Some regions in Texas trapped 100,000 to 2 million weevils in 2003, while others were down to less than 10 per region.
A big trouble spot is the St. Lawrence Zone, which is not under active eradication. Migrating weevils from there continue to re-infest the Southern Rolling Plains and the Texas High Plains, among others.
New Mexico. The South Central New Mexico recorded no weevils trapped in 2003.
e-mail: erobinson@primediabusiness.com
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