Production Resources and Practices in the Western Cotton Region

Excerpts from the Regional Summary: The Western region, comprising three distinct production areas (Mid-Arizona, the Imperial Valley, and the San Joaquin Valley), is a major cotton region. Relatively high yields and good quality lint characterize Far West cotton. Other characteristics of the region include a long growing season, generally flat terrain, low rainfall, and relatively fertile soils. Irrigation water is essential to the production of cotton and other crops in all parts of the region. Although available from both surface and groundwater sources, water for irrigation is a limiting resource throughout the region. Groundwater provides a much larger proportion of the irrigation water in Mid-Arizona than in either the Imperial Valley or the San Joaquin Valley. This water is generally much more expensive for irrigation than surface water; a factor that impacts on cropping patterns. Cotton is a strong competitor in the Western region, particularly in Joaquin 1. It appears to be less competitive in parts of the Imperial Valley where vegetable and fruit production may have an advantage. Shifts in the competitive strength of cotton among areas in the Far West may hinge in large measure on the availability and cost of irrigation water in the years ahead. These factors tend to work to the disadvantage of the heavier water users such as alfalfa.