What's the cost of eliminating boll weevils?

By LYNN MONTGOMERY | East Texas Edition

Cotton producers, who will be affected by the cost to eradicate boll weevils in their region, met in Greeville last week to voice their opinions. -Staff photo by Montgomery

September 5, 2002 -- Cotton producers in the Northern Blackland Zone gathered for a public hearing on Aug. 28 in Greenville to express their opinions regarding the cost of boll weevil eradication in their region. Currently on the table is a proposed cost of $13.25 per acre over a period of 10 years.

The Northern Blacklands must now approve the beginning of an eradication program and an assessment set for the zone.

Michael O'Connor, Texas Boll Weevil Eradication Foundation (TBWEF) Communications Director explained there are two propositions. "One, to approve beginning an eradication program in the zone and two, approve the assessment set for the zone. If either proposition fails, the whole measure fails. A referendum can pass either by obtaining a favorable vote of two-thirds of the eligible voters who cast ballots in the election or if the voters who approve the measure represent at least 51 percent of the acreage in the zone."

The Aug. 27 hearing was conducted by Texas Department of Agriculture's (TDA) Special Assistant for Producer Relations Brian Murray. TDA has the responsibility for holding referenda, setting assessments and approving assessment dates. They also have the oversight of the TBWEF (the Foundation) operations. TDA also sets the assessment each year, which cannot exceed the maximum amount approved in a referendum and approves the due dates for those assessments.

Most producers were in favor of the proposal but there was some opposition.

"I don't like the way they (the Foundation) drew the zones," expressed Anthony Pry from Lamar County. "The next zone line needs to be drawn south of Dallas. I've talked to (Dr. Allen) Knutson, Extension entomologis and he is in agreement. Why can't we be our own zone?"

The TBWEF has the authority (given by the state Legislature) to implement eradication throughout the state. The eradication program is a grower-initiated and funded program designed to eliminate the boll weevil from the cotton fields of Texas.

Pry, who grew up in Grimes County, added, "We (the northern section) are picking up the ticket for the southern section (of the Northern zone)." The grower indicated more cotton is grown in the southern section of the zone.

Sid Long, a representative for the Northern Blackland Steering Committee, said the committee has looked at five to six different assessments, but "they approve of the proposal."

Others expressed "they see no alternative" to the plan.

According to the Texas boll weevil website, about $70 million is spent annually to control the boll weevil, but the pest still causes an estimated $200 million in crop losses each year. In recent years, these figures may have increased by 50 percent.

The tentative schedule for mailing the ballots to all North Blacklands Zone producers is Nov. 20. Ballots have to be postmarked by Dec. 9 in order for that vote to count.