Walk'n in High Cotton: Judy and Richard Gaona, Roby, TexasShelley E. Huguley
Roby, Texas, cotton producer Richard Gaona calls himself a “skip-row guy.” He cites this field management practice as key to his cotton production success -- a technique that “always produces cotton.” Gaona, who’s been growing cotton for nearly half a century on the Texas Rolling Plains, is this year’s Southwest High Cotton Award winner.
Judy and Richard Gaona, Roby, Texas (Photo by Shelley E. Huguley)
Gaona and his wife Judy produce 3,000 acres of dryland cotton and 200 irrigated, along with 1,350 acres of wheat and hay and 700 pasture acres for their commercial Angus beef cattle.
Limited irrigation and drought are reoccurring issues in his region. He credits skip-row planting, contour terracing, crop rotation and cover crops on his irrigated ground for helping him conserve water while increasing production. Years of participating in field variety trials have helped him determine the most adaptable cottonseed for his soils. FiberMax has proven most consistent.
As Gaona’s management strategies continue to evolve, he’s most recently been experimenting with root growth stimulants, allowing him to reduce fertilizer use.
Service within his community and cotton industry is also a passion, an attribute Gaona credits to his father and first-generation Texas landowner Jeronimo.
To learn more about his operation and secrets to his success, follow this link.
High Cotton winners
The other regional winners are Andy Wendland, Autaugaville, Ala.— Edward Greer, Rayville, La.— Midsouth; and Jerry Rovey, Buckeye, Ariz. — West.
The High Cotton Award is sponsored by Americot, BASF Stonevilee/FiberMax, Deltapine, Dyna-Gro, Helena, John Deere, PhytoGen and Syngenta.
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