He expects to gin another 400 to 500 bales. Pima acreage is also down, and the final total for that gin was 3,474 bales - under last year's count. Coyanosa Co-op has ginned 6,207 bales of Upland, with about two weeks remaining. Weather has cooperated throughout the harvest season, and grades have remained good, Kerley said. Some of the crop was Bt cotton, a variety developed by researchers to resist insect damage.
Researchers hope to build on that success with the TxCOT program.
The tranfer of genes for herbicide and insect resistance into Texas cotton varieties with field testing to begin in late 1997. Initial steps in the transfer of a fiber strength gene from Sea Island cotton to Texas cotton, an effort that would have taken 10 years under traditional breeding methods. The strength of cotton fibers is one factor in determining its value. This would provide for alternative uses of seed. Insertion of three genes that may make cotton plants more resistant to boll weevils or other insects.