Texas cotton farmers prepare for 'curveball' as pest invasion threatens future
AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Jon Whatley is a 4th-generation farmer in South Texas. His great-grandfather moved the family down from Tennessee to Odem, just north of Corpus Christi, to grow corn, sorghum and cotton.
"The cotton crop was excellent. Actually, one of our better cotton crops I've had in the last five years," Jon said.
Next year, he might not be so lucky. A new invasive species, the cotton jassid, is now in the state. As its name suggests, it has a favorite food. "When you're dealing with Mother Nature, you get curveballs thrown at you all the time. This is just another one," Jon said.
Earlier this month, Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller announced that the cotton jassid, also known as the two-spotted leafhopper, was found in a cotton crop in Fort Bend County, south of Houston. The insect arrived in Texas on a hibiscus plant shipped from South Florida.
"We're not just too concerned with this year's crop," said David Kerns, an entomologist with Texas A&M and the state's leading expert on the insect. "I think we'll just outrun them this year, next year, if these things actually establish, and they make it into the crop and are able to replicate and build up populations, then that's a concern."
Invasive species crossing the ocean
The cotton jassid originated in the eastern hemisphere, ranging from Iran to Japan. In 2022, it made its way to the Caribbean and Puerto Rico. "A lot of our cottonseed companies have nurseries that grow cotton in Puerto Rico," Kerns said.
Last year, the insect made its way to Florida, before spreading to Alabama, Georgia and South Carolina. This year, hibiscus plants shipped from South Florida brought the plant to Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas.
Kerns said they feed on cotton, okra and even things like peanuts.
"I've got friends at a farm in Georgia. They're actually dealing with this, with this insect. I've talked to them, you know, it's been easy to control this year. They don't know what next year brings, but they have actually had the plant in their cotton fields," Jon said.
The cotton jassids are leaf eaters. "They inject saliva into the plant while they're feeding, and that saliva has a toxic effect on the plant, kind of like a mosquito bite," Kerns said.
This winter will be the real test. The cotton jassids can't survive a deep freeze. Kerns said many infestations in North and Central Texas likely won't survive, but cotton jassids in South Texas could find plants to host them and survive through the winter.
Farming and another threat
Jon, who owns J&K Whatley Farms alongside his wife and two sons, said he's already preparing. His crews are out in the fields clearing excess plants to ensure the cotton jassids and other invasive species can't find a place to nest.
This curveball is an added frustration to an industry facing hard times. "Rural America and the AG community is really, really in a tough position. In my career, the worst I've ever seen," Jon said.
Kerns asks any farmers who see signs of the cotton jassid to report them immediately to Texas A&M Agrilife and the Department of Agriculture. Tracking their movements plays an essential role in preventing their spread next season.
"You're looking at a very tight situation, and you're throwing in more negatives. That's the scary part. That's the stuff that gets me up early in the morning worried," Jon said.