This study was designed to appraise the status of the bollworm problem in a 20-county area of the Texas High Plains relative to its effect on cotton yields and estimate economic impact of the bollworm in the region using data from a survey of farmers and published data for the 1979-1981 period. Results from the survey did not suggest a serious bollworm effect upon lint yield, when insecticides were used for control. However, estimated annual reduction in farmer profit due to bollworm was over $30 million. Results assuming no insecticide usage indicate that annual cotton production would decline about 300,000 bales as compared to about 30,000 bales with the use of insecticides. Current costs due to the bollworm in the region, potential losses in farm profits, and increased levels of insecticide introduced into the environment suggests potentially serious implications for the comparative economic position of cotton in this region, if insecticide resistance were to develop.