{"id":12003,"date":"2019-01-31t06:05:08","date_gmt":"2019-01-31t06:05:08","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dpetrov.2create.studio\/planet\/wordpress\/is-it-possible-to-make-cotton-a-sustainable-crop\/"},"modified":"2023-02-28t18:36:21","modified_gmt":"2023-02-28t18:36:21","slug":"progress-towards-sustainable-cotton-farming","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"\/\/www.getitdoneaz.com\/story\/progress-towards-sustainable-cotton-farming\/","title":{"rendered":"is it possible to make cotton a sustainable crop?"},"content":{"rendered":"
climate change has been and continues to be an issue for people across the globe, with farmers being among the most affected groups. in the south plains of west texas, where one-quarter of u.s. cotton is grown, weather and the availability of water have major effects on the cotton market, making environmental concerns directly connected to economic ones.<\/p>\n
\u201cprofitability and economic sustainability is the biggest challenge we have,\u201d said steve verett, the executive vice president for plains cotton growers<\/a>, with strategic environmental action playing a key role in overcoming those economic challenges.<\/p>\n one area that needs further action? education on sustainable practices, as a lack of it in the past has taken an environmental toll with an aquifer quickly drying up.<\/p>\n \u201cthere\u2019s going to be a lot of things we need to be looking at, but the fact of the matter is we are transitioning into dryland agriculture,\u201d verett said.<\/p>\n however, verett and other farmers are hopeful that new developments in seed production can allow them to continue with their levels of production.<\/p>\n janice person, the online engagement director for bayer, the multinational pharmaceutical company that just acquired monsanto last year, says less water-dependent cotton is something her company has been focusing heavily on. \u201cour breeders have been working on that stuff for 20 years.\u201d<\/p>\n