Since the boll weevil invaded the High Plains of Texas in 1992, infested acreage has increased each year. Mild winters and the additional overwintering sites provided by Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) grass acreage are considered the primary causes for this latest invasion. Warm, open falls have also contributed to the success of boll weevils overwintering in the area. Unlike previous incursions, this most recent one has established a resident population in most areas of the High Plains of Texas and eastern New Mexico. Boll weevil numbers have soared the last two years and reached all time highs in late 1998, in spite of the drought. While the economic impact of the boll weevil to the area economy was highest in 1997, causing losses of over $180 million to producers, losses in 1998 were still second highest, even though reduced acreage and high mid summer boll weevil mortality delayed the buildup of significant numbers of boll weevils until late September. Management guidelines have been developed for the area that capitalize on the uniqueness of the production system. Since cotton is produced in a weather-shortened season, and there is generally a mix of both irrigated and dryland production, producers are encouraged to plant early and finish the crop as early as possible to avoid late season damage, control costs and deny boll weevils a late food supply to reduce successful overwintering. Since overwintering sites in the High Plains area are at a premium, producers are also encouraged to plant cotton away from towns, burn CRP grasses periodically and to cleanup areas beneath trees accumulating broadleaf litter. While eradication plans have been thwarted until recently by producers unable to see the long term impact of the boll weevil on their operation and their unwillingness to fund eradication at levels needed for success, the increased impact of the boll weevil on the area's economy has encouraged at least one of the five High Plains zones to approve eradication to begin late 1999. Hopefully this zone's support of eradication will lead to similar support in the remaining zones. A recent assessment of the economic impact of the boll weevil on the High Plains area made it clear that the largest cotton patch in the world can not coexist with the boll weevil and remain competitive with other areas producing cotton without the presence of the boll weevil.