Suggested introduction for cut one:
More than four million acres in the Texas Boll Weevil Eradication zones of West Texas and the Panhandle are considered “suppressed”, meaning that less than 0.025 boll weevils are found per trap per week during the cotton growing season. Eddy Herm, vice president of Lamesa Cotton Growers, attributes solid funding and producer participation as contributors to the program’s success and thinks upcoming zone referendums will aid in decreasing infestation.
Suggested introduction for cut two:
Texas Department of Agriculture figures indicate boll weevils cause more than two hundred million dollars ($200 million) in crop losses and crop protection treatment costs in the state every year. Herm is confident his crop and others in boll weevil eradication zones benefit from the program.
Suggested introduction for cut three:
Proof is in numbers and performance, at least for Herm and his outlook on the importance the Texas Boll Weevil Eradication program has on cotton crop success.
