Twenty-five percent of the nation's cotton is produced on the High Plains. Grain sorghum, another important area crop, is important as a feed for cattle, swine and other animals. Grapes grown here contribute to the area's reputation as a leader in the emerging Texas wine industry. Other agricultural products grown here include corn, wheat, sunflowers, soybeans and vegetables. Feedlot operations are an integral part of the area's agribusiness.

Not only is the area an outstanding leader in agricultural production, but also is a center for research on many projects. With the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources at Texas Tech University, the International Textile Center, and the Texas A&M Research and Extension Center located in Lubbock, research from agricultural scientists in this area makes contributions used world-wide.

Locally, businesses related to agriculture add significantly to the area's economy. With the world' s largest cottonseed oil mill in Lubbock, the related industries to the oil mill include many gins, mills, compresses, and financial support institutions.

Many people are surprised to learn the High Plains area producer's twenty-five percent of our nation's cotton. Fifty-six percent of all cotton produced in the state of Texas is produced on the High Plains. In recent years, the value of the harvested crop has exceeded one billion dollars.

Cotton, the most important crop in the area, impacts the area's economy in a variety of ways. The success and value of any year's cotton crop has a ripple effect throughout many sectors of the areas economy. Those directly affected include cotton gins, farm implement manufacturers and dealers, and seed, chemical and fertilizer companies. Effects are strongly felt in retailing, automotive, and consumer goods and service sectors. With economists calculating the economic impact of farm dollars at three to seven times farm value, the significance of cotton volume produced and the price received is clearly evident. The economic impact for a cotton crop with a value of $1,000,000,000 would be over $3,000,000,000.

Throughout the 25-county area, there are many cotton gins, four cottonseed oil mills, a major denim plant and several processing plants. These produce cotton fabric for clothing, oil for foot, cottonseed meal for animal feed, linters for upholstery and paper, and plastics from the seed. In addition, with a large percentage of the High Plains cotton exported to foreign countries, this crop and this area play a vital role in the balance of trade in the US.

The International Textile Center, a unit of Texas Tech University, is the most extensive non-corporate textile research facility in the nation. This Center specializes in focusing the tools of both fiber and textile technology on finding ways to improve the utility and increase the value of natural fibers.

Since Texas is the nation's leading producer of cotton, wool, mohair and leather, the Center seeks to serve the entire marketing system for these products. The ITC conducts research, testing and evaluation of natural fibers and blends with manmade materials, yarns and fabrics, processing systems, dyeing and finishing and fabric treatments.

The Center has been a world leader in testing and adapting new spinning technologies, and pioneered the use of high volume instrument (HVI) technology for fiber testing. The Center is a primary resource for cotton breeders developing new varieties and new production systems, including such innovations as naturally colored cotton and organically grown cotton. Leadership in reclaiming usable fiber from waste products has led to Texas businesses which manufacture such products as oil and air filters, fireproof insulation and cotton bale coverings.

Short courses dealing with fiber selection, handling, processing and marketing are attended by domestic and international students. Hundreds of visitors come from throughout the world to review Center programs and findings in spinning technology and equipment, measurement of fiber properties and with sophisticated electronic instruments, and developments in new fabrics, fiber combinations and treatments.

The Center provided the research and development that led to combining the technologies of HVI testing and open-end spinning to produce cost-effective, high quality denim. The American Cotton growers mill in Littlefield, a farmer-owned cooperative, is now a leading denim supplier to a national clothing manufacturer. The Center also developed a fabric, called "Texcellana", from a blend of cotton and short wool obtained from shearing sheep twice per year, and is working on machinery to produce cashmere from Texas goat hair.

Sorghum was grown on the South Plains in the early 1900's and was food for mules and horses. With the improvement and expansion of irrigation, sorghum's importance to this area increased during the 1930's and 1940's. One of the values of sorghum is that it requires less intensive care than corn.

The South Plains is the supplier of sorghum seed to a large portion of the world. By researching characteristics of the grains which are most favorable to the climate and need of various parts of the world, growers insure the impact of this crop is felt world-wide. In some areas of the world, sorghum is used in place of corn or wheat. Researchers are continually working to improve disease, insect, and drought resistance in the sorghum varieties.

Alternatives uses of grain sorghum include methane, alcohol and energy products.

Although cattle were to be found in large numbers on West Texas ranches and farms and roaming the range in the late 1800's, it wasn't until the late 1950's that feedlots became an important part of the area's economy.

With the introduction of new varieties of corn and the grain sorghum already produced abundantly in the area, cattle feedlot operations became a common sight. Cottonseed hulls, a by product from the oil mills, are mixed with the grain and protein to become the main ingredient in the cattle rations - all grown and produced in the local area.

According to recent statistics, 70 percent of the cattle fed in Texas can be found d in feedlots in the High Plains. This amounts to 27 percent of the fed beef in the United States, or nearly 6 million head per year.

On the average, one animal in the feedlot will be fed 24 pounds per day for 145 days. Typical feed mix is 80 percent grain and protein and 20 percent roughage of which a portion is cottonseed hulls.

Feedlot operations employ about one person for each 1,000 head capacity. In some areas, feedlots are major employers.

The economic impact of cattle feeding in the High Plains area is calculated to be over $14,000,000,000 annually.

The variety of vegetables grown on the High Plains increases each year. Potatoes are the largest vegetable crop, grown on approximately 12,000 acres. Because of the region's climate, the High Plains grows the first Russet baking potatoes of the season standing alone in the fresh market for about three weeks in early and mid-July. This favorable time factor gives local growers a considerable edge in the national market for the tasty tubers.

Onions are the second largest vegetable crop from all classes from small sweet onions to the larger Spanish onions accounting for about 5,000 acres.

With the increase in popularity of Mexican-style foods, the importance of several kinds of peppers has also risen. Local crops include the green bell pepper, jalapenos, and chiles.

Black-eyed peas continue to be popular and often served as a backup crop in cases of loss of some or all of a farmer's cotton crop due to weather.

Diversity of new vegetable crops has come to be grown here in recent years. Among these are spinach, yellow squash, asparagus, cabbage and carrots. Pumpkins and watermelons also are grown locally.

Vegetables will gain in importance as High Plains cash crops as emphasis will be placed in mechanizing the transplanting and harvesting processes, making that production more cost effective.

Local agriculture specialists are attracting some commercial food processing plants with freezing or canning operations as possible new directions for economic development.

Since the 1950's, soybeans have been a significant crop grown on the South Plains. This area is one of three in the state where soybeans are grown. Soybeans are often planted in fields where cotton or other crops have been damaged or destroyed early in the summer. Soybeans can be planted as late as early July. Area farmers are advised to use soybeans as a crop in rotation so their characteristic of adding nitrogen and other soil-building nutrients to the soil can be maximized.

Oil and meal from the seeds are used in a variety of ways. The oil is used in cooking. The meal is an animal feed. There are also industrial uses, as in cosmetics, for the product.

Soybeans are planted, cultivated and harvested with equipment already in use on the farm, making the crop one which is very flexible and advantageous. Soybeans provide additional income to a farm operation. They are usually harvested in October or November, before the cotton crop.

The Farmer Stockman Show is sponsored by the Farmer Stockman Magazine and is held each year during the harvesting season to benefit farmers and ranchers in Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Colorado.

The show site is only 1 1/2 miles east of Loop 289, which circles the City of Lubbock, on State Farm Road 835 (East 50th Street). The Farmer Stockman Show has a long term lease with the City of Lubbock for the site which is on the City Farm.

Central Exhibit Field - A 54 acre commercial exhibit field will be the hub of the show. There will be several varied industries tents for companies who do not need a large exhibit space.

Field Demonstrations - Harvest, tillage and conservation demonstrations are conducted on 500 acres of cotton, corn and grain sorghum during the show. Harvest will be followed by no-till equipment, primary and secondary tillage tools and specialized equipment.

Crop Variety Plots - There will be plots of cotton, corn and grain sorghum varieties from the seed companies to observe.

Educational Exhibits - Staff members of Texas Tech University and Texas A&M University will be available to explain their latest research and educational programs to former. The Texas Department of Agriculture plus other federal-state organizations which serve agriculture will participate.

Family Living Programs - There will be a mixture of educational topics and entertainment programs for women and senior citizens who attend the show.

Livestock Demonstrations - Cattle demonstrations, featuring chutes, other handling equipment and health products are an important and growing part of the show.

Grape growing and wind production have become big business in the Lubbock area. As a new industry, winemaking is flourishing in the West Texas area which has 3 excellent wineries - Llano Estacado, Pheasant Ridge and Caprock Winery.

Grape growing has added a new dimension to the agricultural mix of West Texas Crops. The soil and climate combine to create a condition conducive to growing the best of the classical varieties. Grapes successfully grown here include the Cabernet Sauvignon, Chenin Blanc, Chardonnay and Sauvignon blanc. Grapes from several area vineyards combine to make some exceptional products which have received recognition both nationally and internationally.