Organic Cotton Could Be Summer Crop for Arizona Vegetable Farmers

University of Arizona Ph.D. student Macey Keith has been exploring how organic Upland cotton might be used as a summertime crop for organic vegetable farmers in Arizona, reports Western Farm Press. The Upland cotton withstands the region’s heat and performs well due to high numbers of beneficial insects in the area. Although growing organic cotton could help farmers cover land costs, there are challenges to making the idea work, including getting a local gin certified for organic production, defoliating the cotton organically, and finding summertime water for the crop.
Related ATTRA video: Practices Supporting Sustainable and Economic Cotton Production