Farmers across the Lubbock area are increasingly turning to drought-resistant cotton varieties as the Ogallala Aquifer — the underground water source that sustains agriculture across much of West Texas — continues its decades-long decline.
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension reports that adoption of drought-tolerant cotton strains has risen 35 percent in the South Plains region over the past two growing seasons, driven by a combination of declining well yields and improved seed technology from breeding programs at Texas Tech University and private seed companies.
“The water situation isn’t going to fix itself, so we have to adapt,” said cotton farmer Bobby Dawson, whose family has worked the land near Shallowater for three generations. “The new varieties aren’t magic, but they give us a fighting chance in a dry year.”
The Ogallala Aquifer, which stretches from South Dakota to Texas, has been drawn down significantly faster than it can recharge, particularly in the Texas Panhandle and South Plains. Some estimates suggest that portions of the aquifer in the region could be effectively depleted within 20 to 30 years at current extraction rates.
Dr. Wendy Tate, a crop scientist at Texas Tech, said the new cotton varieties are engineered to use 15 to 20 percent less water while maintaining competitive yield levels. “We’re not asking farmers to accept lower production. These plants are genuinely more efficient at converting water into fiber.”
Beyond new seed varieties, many farmers are also investing in precision irrigation technology, including soil moisture sensors and GPS-guided pivot systems that apply water only where and when it’s needed.
The High Plains Water District is offering cost-sharing programs to help farmers adopt these technologies. District manager Robert Schmidt said the combination of better seeds and smarter irrigation is essential. “There’s no single solution. We need every tool in the toolbox to sustain agriculture in this region.”
Cotton remains the dominant crop in the Lubbock area, with the South Plains producing roughly 30 percent of the nation’s cotton supply.
